Verethragna, the ancient Persian God of victory. The one who seizes triumph no matter what. The ever benevolent, noble and victorious warlord who protected the people, granting divine protection while travelling across Persia, in the sacred guise of the wind. The personal bodyguard of Mithra who punished the guilty with an iron hand taking the form of a fierce boar. The perfect way to sum up this god would be kind but strict and of course, ever victorious and triumphant.

But in reality, Verethragna wasn't quite that benevolent but god nonetheless, even if a [Heretic God], one who has escaped from the [Realm of Immortality]. Maybe that's why Verethragna was duelling Melqart, the ancient god of Phoenetic cities, in a reckless battle, with utter abandon. That was also why, Kusanagi Godou, an average (Although scheming and sly) Japanese teen of fifteen, was sitting calmly inside a car looking at a legendary battle between gods ensue near a park in Sardina, Italy, while absentmindedly flexing his swordhand with the [Secret Tomb of Prometheus] in his lap.

'Battle-crazy fools.' Godou thought as Melqart and Verethragna shot lightning at each other, almost as if playing ball. Seriously, the gods took no notice of the sheer amount of damage they were causing to the island while engaging in this reckless game of theirs. Perhaps, that's why Kusanagi Godou took it upon himself to stop the two gods, sacrificing his life.

Gods knew who the fool really was! The [Heretic Gods ]fighting each other or the puny human trying to stop them.

Besides the Japanese teen, an elegant Italian beauty sat inside the car. She was obviously Erica Blandelli, the Great Knight of the Copper Black Cross, an Italian Magical Association. The blue eyed blonde was reciting sealing magic from a mother earth goddess' grimoire, utilizing the essence of earth to seal the area around the battlefield. Hopefully the weakened gods would be trapped long enough for Godou to carry out his ploy.

Unfortunately, Erica, a self-proclaimed prodigy could not understand what Kusanagi Godou would try after entrapping the [Heretic Gods], besides further angering them, drawing their wrath. It was simple really, if Kusanagi Godou was going to die, then Kusanagi Godou was going to like a warrior, a weapon on hand and the blood of not one, but two gods on it.

"Done yet?" Godou asked impatiently while tucking the [Secret Tomb of Prometheus] under the elastic if his pant, and covering it with his shirt.

"Almost." Erica replied urgently as another violent shock wave rippled through the car. Godou looked to see Melqart in a tug of war with a giant black [Boar], while Verethragna wrestled against two ridiculously big clubs, one sparkling with electricity and the other wrapped in winds.

Finally, Melqart triumphed against the [Boar] but not without a huge hole though his abdomen. On the other hand, Verethragna collapsed with the fragments of the huge clubs scattered before him. The warlord's hand looked mangled and bent in an utterly unnatural way. Melqart desperately took a few steps toward the collapsed wind god, before he succumbed to his injuries, and fell as well. The act of his body hitting the ground itself caused a huge tremor. They were not dead, but immobilized, if only temporarily.

"Done!" Erica shouted, out of breath, as Godou practically jumped out of the car. A strange sense of bravado filled him as he did some stretches, before striding toward the two [Heretic Gods] lying not more than ten meters from each other.

"It seems one has only achieved mutual defeat once again." Verethragna spoke melodiously even through his divine body was battered beyond recognition. Yet another testament to how superior the gods really were.

"But thou has progressed, O' Warlord. Unlike our previous skirmish, thee did not possess the accursed golden sword." Melqart, also known as Baal or Beelzebub spoke in his strong, but slightly strained voice. But his condition was no better than his opponent's.

"Kukuku... But thou hath been injured, yet not recovered fully, Divine King. One would have liked to battle thee in the future again. But..." Verethragna finished his sentence with an ominous chuckle. As expected of a god, Godou's presence had been sensed.

"Oy! Insignificant human boy! What business does thou have here?!" Melqart turned his eyes to Godou who carried the stone tablet in his hands.

"Well, Melqart, I'm here to slay you and Verethragna." Godou smirked as he says. Facing a god and facing a speeding vehicles were somehow similar, as in the 'one mistake and you're done for' feeling that you get. One could compare it to falling from a ten storied builder or a ten thousand storied one. Alas, both would cause death.

Melqart gave out a roar of laughter as the sky began darkening anew.

"Foolish child! Die for your insolence!" With his speech, Melqart dropped a powerful lightning bolt on Godou from the sky.

"Heed the power of my words! Let justice reveal itself, under the strength and eloquence of this incantation! For strength is ever victorious! For strength is the answer to all things!" Godou chanted holding the grimoire to his heart. A golden sword of brilliant radiance appeared in his hands, to be promptly used to intercept the lightning. Fortunately, Godou's body had been magically enforced and enhanced by Erica.

Godou's whole body burned with searing pain, but he smirked.

"Oy! Verethragna! Thou hath truly gone mad! To think one would bestow such troublesome powers on a lowly human!" Melqart screamed in rage, doing his best to stand up. The Persian god merely chuckled, while laying flat on the ground.

"Melqart is a god derived from Baal, the king of storms of the Nomadic tribes!" Ignoring the pain Godou started chanting the spell words of the [Warrior], learned from Erica.

"The Nomads raised livestock and moved constantly, thus depending on rain for grass and sustenance. Thus Baal was given the chief position amongst their pantheon. The root of your divinity comes from wind!" Godou shouted out as hundreds of light orbs danced around and shielded him from Melqart's barrage of gale and thunder.

"Gradually as the Nomads descended into war, the aspects of war and violence became associated with Baal. In Phoenetic cities, Baal became Melqart, the Divine King!" The lights multiplied manifolds, forming a more secure barrier around Godou.

"The sword of wisdom that cuts through divinity! This Defiant Melqart hath underestimated thee, human!" Melqart roared as he once again fell to his knees.

If the opponent was any less than a god, Godou would have been cautious. Deliberately showing weakness was an underhanded technique to make the opponent lower his guard, a technique Kusanagi Godou himself used. But a god, a Divine King nonetheless, would never fall to such degree even in the face of death.

Thus, this proved Kusanagi Godou's hypothesis that [Heretic Gods) were idiots of the highest level.

The lights condensed and formed a huge golden sword with various engravings. Godou took it and twirled it around. The sword was weightless and the blade blunt to all but those it was intended for. Adrenaline and battle lust intoxicated Godou as a savage grin formed on his face as he charged at the Divine King, kneeling not ten meters away.

Godou had always been fast on his feet, owing to his athletic background, which was even further enhanced by Erica's iron magic.

Melqart, the Divine King of Phonetic cities, didn't even look up when Godou's golden sword ran him clean through his oversized neck. He only laughed eerily.

"To think a human welp would do me in! Stay alive, godslayer! Until we meet again!" Melqart roared to the sky as his body collapsed. Thus, the corpse of the great Divine King laid in a small park of Sardina.

Godou had no time to notice the dying [Heretic God]'s banter as he turned to face Verethragna. The said youth with blue hair and ragged robes was standing tall, his arms healed.

"Thou art not satisfied with merely one god, Kusanagi Godou. Thee wishes to battle one." Verethragna calmly assessed.

"Similar to Melqart, Verethragna was also derived from a storm deity, Indra, this having relations to wind. Verethragna means 'smitting of resistance' and this the aspect of violence was associated with the follower of Mithra." Ignoring, or rather enduring the brain-splitting headache, Godou mouthed Verethragna's history as the sword he used to kill Melqart got brighter.

This was Kusanagi Godou's trump card. Melqart and Verethragna were both warriors of [Steel] and [Wind], associated with violence and war. Normally this level of incantation would only harm a god minimally, but both Melqart and Verethragna were heavily weakened. By connecting the dots and gaping the bridge, Godou forged the [Sword of Wisdom] capable of killing both gods at the same time.

As soon as Verethragna recognized this, he buried his hands into rock solid concrete and produced a huge boulder.

"Melqart and Verethragna both had deep ties to Heracles, the god with strength enough to lift the sky. Herculean strength became a symbol of both gods." Godou slashed the boulder in half. As soon as the sword touched it, the momentum was lost.

Godou smirked through all the pain and headache, watching Verethragna show a concerned expression.

"A truly natural and cunning warrior, Kusanagi Godou. If thee manages to survive against one, your tale shall continue for ages to come. But thou forgets, I'm the god of victory, the one who triumphs NO MATTER WHAT!" Verethragna declared as his body flared with magic.

The god charged at Godou, who wielded the Sword of Severing. Verethragna's rapid kicks were somehow blocked by Godou based on his beastly instinct, fundamental kendo lessons and of course baseball. But a particularly savage punch to Godou's abdomen had done him in.

"Truly unfortunate, Kusanagi Godou. One hath hoped to face thee after rebirth. But one cannot afford to tarry, a godslayer of the sword approaches." Verethragna spoke in the cryptic ways that gods of old did.

"Doesn't really matter, Verethragna. My mission is accomplished. Weakening you. The [Secret Tomb of Prometheus] has been bound to me by an ownership spell. Killing me with permanently seal your [Warrior] incarnation." Godou spoke while profusely coughing up insane amounts of blood. His bloody smile irked even the war god.

Verethragna picked up the grimoire and inspected it.

"'Tis so. One must deal with this thief first." Verethragna says.

By the time, the Persian fool of a god realizes his mistake, the grimoire transforms into chains binding his hands. The war god's eyes widen with shock as a sho,rt sword of radiant gold embedded itself in his chest, through his heart.

Godou didn't even finish his laughter before he lost consciousness from the pain. The human collapsed side be side with the god.

Erica Blandelli witnessed a human best two gods in a matter of minutes. A human ignorant of magic or martial arts but exceedingly intelligent, no, cunning. Maybe that's why Kusanagi Godou depended, not on fate or luck, but on his wits, as he slayed Melqart and Verethragna.

Erica left the car and ran towards the battlefield. Verethragna and Kusanagi Godou both lied on the ground. The latter barely conscious and beginning to form light particles.

"Warrior! Tell one the name of this new godslayer from the Orient!" Verethragna spoke in a melodious tone even while the golden sword was sticking out of his chest and his legs already disintegrated.

"It's Kusanagi Godou, Lord Verethragna." Erica replied stiffly and bowed. Even if Verethragna could now do nothing against her, the respect came naturally.

"One shall remember that. Tell Kusanagi Godou to become stronger than anyone else. As I, Verethragna, the ever victorious shall duel him once again." The youth declared.

Many a times, gods with unsatisfactory myths such as Titans, Pranksters and Mother Earth Goddesses rebelled against their myths. But Verethragna was different from all else. He rebelled not because his myth was unsatisfactory but for the sake of stronger opponents and legacies. Truly this god lived for battle and victory. Erica Blandelli couldn't ignore the command from such a god.