The One Above The Heavens Chapter 23

"As the one who holds all victory in my hands, I am the strongest. Man and devil—all enemies, all who harbor enmity will be vanquished. Hence I shall smash through all enemies in my way!" I chanted with a massive divine bull interposing over myself and the Bull manifestation smashed down onto TATARI!

"You rat upjumped god slayer! I am the madness within the darkness, a shard of divinity will not slay me when not even the will of humanity or the planet itself can!" TATARI cackled out as he reformed again.

But I just raised an eyebrow and shrugged my shoulder that was stinging after he used some cursed tool to hit me with entirely too much surprise earlier. "Even if I can't kill you... You are still a perfect punching bag. And hell, I can't help but wonder if the sun itself will kill you if I keep fighting you long enough." 

The ground swelled and turned into a pit of darkness filled with countless eye's that overflowed with madness so I quickly flew away from the ground. Meanwhile TATARI snarled as Medusa came in again using her Noble Phantasm Bellerophon to control the manifestation of the divine beast Pegasus to great effect.

Normally she could only use Pegasus for but a few moments, typically a bold charge to smash into a target with insane power driving the manifested divine beast forward.

But Sakura Matou was a very powerful mage and had several tricks up her sleeves allowing Medusa to keep the powerful Noble Phantasm active and do other attacks like using it's great wings to cause massive gales that would carve through the flesh of TATARI.

"Every sinner shall tremble before my power. Now is the time, that I obtain the toughness of ten mountains, the strength of a hundred rivers, and the power of a thousand camels! Upon my mighty self, I shall bear the symbol of the raging camel!" I chanted as I used the camel aspect.

And then as TATARI reformed again with mad glee upon his face as I came down upon him, he summoned up a tide of darkness that threatened to swallow me up. But he shuddered and the shadows faltered as my Yang seal shot out of my sleeve and smashed into his face like a fiery mountain that burned his very soul.

My foot smashed into TATARI's chest and the aspect came to life with an explosion of divine mana erupted around us in a fiery white glow that burned TATARI away to but ashes...

But killing TATARI just now. Was literally worthless, as he just reformed within his domain, cackling away with mad joy as he whispered. "Oh you silly Campione. You think that beating me here will save your territory? What about my familiars ravishing the city and it's people?"

My face was stone cold as I spoke calmly. "I will personally apologise for each lost life over the next decade if need be at their graves. But you are dying here today Zepia Eltnam Oberon."

TATARI hissed like a cat whose tail had been stepped on and he screeched out. "Do not use my name! It is worthless, just like this damned world of humanity that's doomed to die!"

I actually looked at TATARI with some pity before I said with a wry smile. "Honestly... For all that you are truly an immortal monster only capable of being killed by the Grand Assassin. Hell I can't kill you frankly. You have lost that vaunted genius of Zepia Eltnam Oberon."

TATARI's bloodshot eye's glared at me with abject hatred undisguised by any form of sanity which was a clear indication of why he was ranked so low as a Dead Apostle Ancestor. Despite his great power, and literally being incapable of being killed or even properly sealed away.

He had completely lost himself to his insanity, which made perfect sense as becoming a universal constant and concept didn't sound that healthy for a mindset obviously.

Hence why despite him decrying my seal over his domain, he only paid attention to the fact that it locked him into his own realm of Wallachia. He didn't realize I was in essence condensing the realm of Wallachia itself until it was far too late.

A loud crack rang out that made my very soul shudder and TATARI's entire form twisted ninety degrees to the side with him screaming out in actual pain with Medusa pausing as I took out a swirling dark orb from my robes.

"W̷h̷a̷t̵ ̶d̴i̷d̷ ̴y̴o̶u̶ ̶d̵o̶ ̷t̶o̸ ̶m̵e̶!̵" TATARI howled at me in clear agony and I spoke coldly.

"I cannot kill you, I cannot even destroy your false texture of Wallachia without causing massive damage to the city as well. But... The thing about manifesting a False Texture upon the world is that it is just... Tacked onto the Human Order."

I held up the orb filled with swirling darkness and I spoke with some measure of joy. "I knew I would be coming up against Dead Apostle Anscestor's in being a Campione, as I am a conduit of Alaya in protecting humanity."

"And so I devised this little toy over the last couple of months. A true divine marble forged from the remnants of the cursed grail that would absorb a Dead Apostle's Reality Marble or Marble Phantasm. It makes no difference."

I could see TATARI's madness-filled eye's gain a hint of horrified clarity and I stated coldly. "And what is TATARI besides it's constant Marble Phantasm that infects the world."

My flying sword flew out from the side and then with a soft slicing noise TATARI's head fell to the ground, and the dark domain of Wallachia faded away with a madness filled crimson moon being replaced by the normal moon.

"And so ends the Curse of Wallachia, the Sixth Law." I spoke as I took in the normal moon and wondered with all the bullshit I had coming my way... If I were going to need to pull a Zeltretch and do battle with Crimson Moon.

But nope, I recalled all to quickly the fucking laundry list of BS that Yuri Mariya had told me about that she and other Hime Mikos were coming to this pass in this world. Which was just lovely.

Medusa finally dismissed Pegasus and strode over to stand beside me with her tilting her head to the side as she looked out towards the city of Misaki. "There doesn't seem to be any action... Neither has Sakura reached out to me mentally about Atalanta meeting with Vlov or another Ancestor." 

I grunted before shaking my head and saying. "Dead Apostle Ancestors are the biggest cowards in history. They love to lord their strength over other's and butcher humanity for a variety of reasons. But one thing they all share is their fear of death."

I looked away from the moon back to the city and spoke with some exhaustion in my voice after using several of my aspects of Verethragna. "Two Dead Apostle Ancestors have died and been wiped away in the last twenty-four hours. Vlov Arhkangel no matter how mad understands that.

"And Roa? You think he is hiding as well now?" Medusa asked curiously, making me snort in amusement.

"No... I know all too damned well that rat is hiding now, hell he has been hiding for the last ten plus years in his currently body without making much if any noise." 

The situation with Michael Roa Valdamjong was a bit annoying as despite my magical power's I inherited in being the Jade Emperor. There was the simple reality that he had spent the last millennia hiding from every force on the planet.

Including Arcueid who at some level was a conduit of the planet's will. So besides literally running into the bastard, I had no real way to find him besides the mages, Arcuied, and Atalanta.

I exhaled and spoke with some weight. "Go and join Atalanta in the hunt for the other Dead Apostles. I need to work on reinforcing the seals and such on this True Reality Marble."

Medsua nodded and then flickered before leaving my sight as she transformed into her spirit state to put less stress on Sakura after the fight with TATARI.

"Two down in as many days... I wonder how the church is reacting to my antics?" I mused with a wry smile as I knew that besides my 'brother' Doni, who went after targets the church pointed him at at times. The Church didn't have any real divine/campione level support.

Italy itself was overflowing with magical organizations and thus my truly idiotic brother Doni didn't listen to the church that much... According to Erica anyway.

"Speaking of which... Where the hell is my autistic sword loving brother?" I muttered as I began putting more layers of seals over the True Reality Marble.

-

"Uncle! Uncle! Uncle! I give up senior sister!" The blond Salvatori Doni screamed in agony as the second oldest Campione in Luo Hao sat on his back with her having broken his arms at ninety degree angles at five different points of his arm.

"Hmph! Challenging this seat's youngest brother and neighbor before she could taste his skill first. Do you think that I Luo Hao, the Ruler of the Martial Realm eats only grass, you little whelp!" Luo Hao scolded her oh so damned stupid little 'brother'.

Doni, even with both of his arms brutally broken so he couldn't wield his sword, gave a weak smile as he said weakly. "I thought you wouldn't find me if I came up through Cambodia and those southern countries." 

Then Doni's face was kicked through the stone floor by Luo Hao who scowled at her foolish little brother with her saying furiously. "Hmph! You court death! You should have just challenged this seat to an honorable duel and now you made me drag you in front of my mountain to beat you properly in a duel!"

With only a single small cut on the stupid man's head due to his incredibly dense and empty head. Doni spoke out clearly aggrieved. "I can't beat you! So why would I come here to be bullied by you, when I can just go bully our newest younger brother?"

Luo Hao raised an eyebrow before she nodded sagely as she spoke clear wisdom. "You speak wisdom at least for the first half, little brother of the sword path. But Yuhung Yudi is my prey to bully as his senior sister."

The mountain's wind died down as Doni muttered not nearly quietly enough. "Damned hag..."

A loud crack rang out as Luo Hao stomped Doni's head and upper body through dense stone with her face a cold mask that would make any of her countless disciples shrink in terror at the hidden fury.

As to touch the Martial Peak's reverse scale was as simple as mentioning Luo Hao's age in any negative way. Which was a swift way to face the peak of the martial way in brutal combat.

Doni just groaned as Luo Hao snorted and stepped over his form while saying blandly. "You are not to challenge my little brother. I will be the one to taste his martial might before my other siblings." 

And after a moment, Doni groaned out. "And when are you going to do that? I am sooo bored as all the heretic god's are running out of Europe after Vobann caused a huge ruckus fighting the heretic god Thor." 

Luo Hao paused at hearing that before she scoffed and said flatly. "A decent opponent for the monster in the form of a man. But the fact that he failed in his hunt proves how much he is losing his touch! No begone from the eastern lands Salvatore Doni."

The blond Campione carefully rocked himself out of the hole that Luo Hao kicked him into and with several twitches he began breaking his arms back into place while muttering. "Alright alright... I may be stupid but I know when I am unwanted."

-

The History Compilation Committee had apparently gotten on the wrong side of the church in their mass mobilization of culling the undead and searching through the city so blatantly. And when the Church complained about them being so blatant and interfering in their own operations.

The History Compilation Committee, happily told the Holy Church to go pound sand as the Jade Emperor had ordered them to clean up HIS territory of any monster's heretic's and that their input wasn't needed, required, nor desired.

In their own words anyway.

Frankly, I didn't mind per se the church's executioner's running around killing monsters and heretics. But there was a fine line to the church killing a literal deamonic entity, and then slaughtering a family of knights/samurai that had oni blood.

"So no sign of Vlov... Nor Roa, that is unfortunate. Especially with how Vlov clearly was preparing for a blood harvest and had made so many ghouls." I spoke with a frown.

The church Executioner in a man I didn't recognize, was kneeling in front of my sitting form inside of the highly ornate hotel I had been put up in, alongside a woman who was part of the four clan's that I didn't know as well was kneeling beside the other man.

I brushed a hand across my lower jaw as I took in the man who had clearly spent the better part of last night killing dozens, if not a couple hundred ghouls of poor bastard humans turned by the Dead Apostle Ancestor.

I summoned a small medal from my sleeve alongside a ten-inch dagger that I had personally enchanted. "Here hound of the Church. This medal will create a divine barrier made from holy energy that will protect you from several blows from even an ancestor, and that dagger is yours. Bless it with your blood and you can control it with your mind and it will easily accept your Church's holy oils and sacraments when you take it back."

The man paused at the gifts that flew in front of himself and then he took a breath and spoke regally. "I am a man of the Holy Church, a man of God and not a servant to you who has slain and usurped the divinity of a pagan god."

I didn't get angry at his tone I just smiled coldly and said blandly. "Good for you, but you are in my territory. And you did a service to me and my people. So you will be rewarded regardless of your opinion or beliefs."

The dagger pointedly slammed home into the floor in front of his legs with him not reacting and I continued by saying calmly. "These gifts are not only rewards for your efforts... They are also a tool for you to survive as you have killed more Ghouls than anyone besides my personal Servant's who are legends made manifest."

I leaned in and finished. "Vlov or Roa if they can help it will likely attempt to stop you and the lesser executioners from killing all their ghouls unless they flee the city under cover of night."

There was a pause before the man of the Holy Church grunted, making me smile wryly as he said gruffly. "Good. I can accept being made bait to slay the worst monsters. But do not think this makes us allies heretic."

And I just waved my hand at the man who took my motion to leave as an excuse to flee my 'repugnant' form. 

Leaving just myself in the room with the girl from the History Compilation Committee. "So who are you, and how is the report of the mages and knights of the Committee and Four Families?" I asked in a clearly more relaxed tone to put her at ease.

The large-breasted miko took a deep breath and spoke formally and very clearly submissively. "My name is Yukino Kuhoutsuka, and as for the report. I have it right here for you my lord." 

She seemingly pulled a small stack of papers from the opening of her miko outfit between her large breasts and then carefully put the papers on the table in front of myself. 'Hmm the four clans are trying to get a real IN within my group.' I mused to myself seeing the woman clearly trying to get my attention.

Though I didn't go for the offered bait as I had plenty of lovely options back home. The four clan's just wanted a spy/tool for their own benefit and had the clan's... Actually Japan's best interests at heart.

Which kinda made sense as I literally had only Rin Tohsaka and Sakura Matou close to me that had links to Japan but even then they weren't part of the four clan's and the ruling the class of mages of Japan.

Either way I began reading the reports while she patiently waited which went about as well as I assumed.

Atalanta went for the larger groups of ghouls while the mages and knights who at my orders were at least in groups of five dealt with the other ghouls without any losses besides one team... One team who assuredly ran into either Vlov or Roa.

"The lost team, where did they lose contact?" I asked firmly before adding on. "Also, here is some lifespan-extending elixirs. I want their families compensated for their losses and any children they had to be taken care of."

Yukino reverently took the small felt bag filled with the elixir of life in pill form and she spoke quietly. "Yes my lord, I will tell the clan heads of your orders."

She then took a breath and then spoke in a more centered tone. "My lord, squad six last lost contact there in sector four Z near the old industrial sector."

I exhaled with some annoyance before I grumbled. "If only I could just raze the city to expunge this cancer... That's what the damned church want's me to do anyway." 

Yukino went pale at my words with her shivering and making me roll my eye's and making me say flatly. "See, that fear at me grumbling and making a joke is why Yuri Mariya couldn't be used as a honey pot... Go on, tell the clan heads to have their mages and knights be more careful and be ready to evacuate the city." 

The miko's face actually became rather awkward as I mentioned the other miko's name who was clearly also a honey pot though her massive Campione trauma made that... Kinda impossible for her due to how I wasn't an unassuming goober who could put her at ease.

She quickly bowed her head and then left without a word and for a long moment there was silence until Atalanta left her veil of invisibility as she left her spirit form. "I expected you to take the low hanging fruit the Committee offered to you. Aren't kings supposed to take concubines to solidify their rule after all?" 

My lips twitched and I shrugged saying. "You aren't wrong about other kings at least. But I prefer any lovers I have be someone I can build a connection with. Not merely be a political tool." 

I shifted and then with a more serious tone I spoke. "So? You couldn't find either Vlov or Roa?" 

And Atalanta, the Chaste Huntress of Artemis had her expression darken before she spoke in some frustration. "No, their tracks are perfectly covered up. And their scents are masked by the hundreds of ghouls they have roaming the city that carry a perfect match for their own scent and essence." 

I tsked out loud before I wondered where the hell Merlin was here in Misaki town... Or whether this was Merlin's ploy to get me out of Fuyuki for some damned reason to mess with me.

But I just took a breath and spoke calmly. "Very well. Then for now, you get some rest for a couple of hours. I am going to go look around the site where that other team was lost. Maybe I can get some clues for where they went."

As sadly, that team didn't even manage to snap the jade message sticks I had leant them. So they had clearly been attacked too quickly for them to do so. I was leaning on either Roa doing it... Or they got mobbed by several dozen if not a literal hundred ghouls at once.

Either way, either myself or only another Servant could be looking for through that area even if I highly doubted that Roa or Vlov would remain there overnight.

But however... Beyond all other questions in where Merlin was, where was the other Dead Apostles Ancestors and anything else. I couldn't help one final thought for myself.

'I wonder who will take the place of the dead Ancestor's now? They are always very quickly replaced and elevated.' I mused to myself.