Two opponents stood in a torn battlefield.

The land was ravaged and its soil became dead. The surroundings were turned into ice while fire kept escaping from the cracked ground as if it was a volcano. In the skies, lightning kept flashing while giant hails of ice descended into the land.

If one were to see this scene, they would define it as hell. However, for the two enemies, this will be the resting place for one of them.

From the side, a boy no older than fifteen stood. His messy black hair was obscuring his cold grey eyes. His body was bloodied and numerous wounds from all sizes were visible on his torso. His build wasn't that impressive. His limbs weren't that muscular, and he stood in an average height.

In front of him, a woman with luscious blonde hair and white skin kneeled on the ground. Her right arm was severed and parts of her body were burned. Her chest had a hole on it as if it was pierced by something very sharp. However, despite her status, there was a large grin plastered in her face. It showed her unnatural beauty and malevolent personality.

"Fufu, even though thou hath slayeth one, the curse would still take effect. Tis' mutual defeat, is this not?"

Even though there was a large hole on her chest, the woman still spoke with a melodic captivating voice. In front of her, the black haired boy glared with his stone-gray eyes. His Authority activated and the woman and her surroundings turned into stone. However, being a deity, even though weakened, the power of the boy's Authority still took time to affect her.

"Fufufu, thou art showing an excellent expression on anger! Art thou angered for thou will not rest on thy beloved homeland?"

The woman asked with an evil smirk, in response, the young boy sneered and continued his glare.

"Idiot, who would think of that? If I were to die, I want it to be peaceful, without a single deity present. I am merely annoyed for the fact that I chased you into this unknown land, and because of that, I will end up sleeping here from an unknown amount of time! Really, even though I became a god-slayer for only a year, I've caught their lack of common sense... I should've just let you run around..."

Hearing the boy's complaints, the goddess laughed. Her lower body being turned into stone.

"Amusing as always. That is the reason why one took interest in thee, Kusanagi Godou. Thou act like thou art not from this era! An existence that is different from the god-slayer from this era! That's why... enjoy thy sleep. Once thee waketh up, thou will see how the world hath changed! If fate allowest for us to meet again, let us rejoice and throw a feast or share another passionate battle!"

The boy frowned as he felt the effect of the curse taking place. His vision was becoming blurry and his eyelids felt heavy.

"Tsk. I wouldn't want to see you in the future. Anyway... the curse is taking its place... I feel like this is the same as dying... except that I will still wake up. Heh... even if I die... Fenghua's flames... will still... revive me... what a... troublesome... power..."

The boy spoke, but his halfway words became slow and weak, as if he was forcing himself to wake up.

In that moment, Kusanagi Godou closed his eyes. Entering a slumber with no definite time where he will wake up.

Seeing the boy's lack of movements, the goddess smiled as she forced her remaining arm to move.

"Kusanagi Godou, one prayest for our meeting again, but for now, we must part. The Harp's power will only last for a few hundred years. By that time, thou will encounter humans that may accept thy strange behavior..."

Waving her remaining arm, the land began to form, enveloping the Sleeping King and burying him in the earthen catacomb.

[From the section about Kusanagi Godou, The Sleeping King, Witenagemot Mage Dictionary]

Although named Kusanagi, he doesn't have any relations from the Divine Sword, [Kusanagi no Tsurugi].

Born from in the late seventeenth century in an ancient noble family, he rebelled from his family's inhuman ways of using soldiers. Because of that, his family exiled him and removed his real name. After leaving his family, he called himself Kusanagi Godou. The boy lived his life happily by traveling by himself around Japan, even though he struggles daily just to feed himself, he enjoyed seeing the peaceful life of other citizens.

After three years of living by himself, Kusanagi Godou met and battled a deity. Successfully slaying it with his mundane knowledge in magic, gaining the title of a Campione.

Campione are those who seized a portion of the Authorities from the god they murdered. They are feared existences whom magi called Kings.

At the age of fourteen, he became the youngest Campione ever recorded in history.

During those times, Kusanagi Godou continued his life and wandered around the world, using his Authority to travel. In those times, he met a few gods and Campiones, battling them, and succeeding every time. He became a hero to some, while others viewed him as a walking disaster.

Some time later, a deity attacked Japan and attracted the attention of the one year old Campione. They dueled for many days, running around the world where they ended the fight somewhere in northern Europe.

Although he became victorious in the end, Kusanagi Godou succumed into a curse that placed him into a slumber with indefinite time. The deity that he battled used the remnants of his power to create a catacomb.

Until now, the catacomb remained hidden. The young King who lived as a Campione for only a year still continued to sleep until this time.

Because Kusanagi Godou lived before Witenagemot was even established, the complete information about his Authorities are still not confirmed and there may be many of them. Using the excerpts from earlier times, the powers that he gained through his travels are listed below.

[Zenith Tempest] his first Authority from an unknown god. It gives him the power to control weathers and use its elemental attributes into the fullest. It was said that he mastered this Authority and rode the winds to travel across the world.

[Nemean body] Gained from a Nemean Lion. It makes him impervious into any weapons, just like in the legends where the lion was defeated by Heracles' raw strength.

[God's Strength] Gained from the famous hero, Heracles whose strength could support the skies with his divine strength. This Authority gives him the power of ultimate strength.

[Fenghua's Flames] During his travel to China, Kusanagi Godou slew the phoenix, Fenghua and it have him the power of regeneration and ressurection. It also allows him to summon a legendary phoenix to burn his enemies with its powerful flames.

[Serpent's gaze] An Authority that he gained from the snake goddess, Medusa, also known as Athena. From the stories, Kusanagi Godou used it to petrify a sea because he wanted to try walking on it. Apparently, he dispelled it later whe he noticed that the fishermen are having troubles.

There are other Authorities recorded in history, but the princess of Witenagemot, Alice Louise of Navarre only picked these from the help of her spirit vision.

It is still uncertain, but the princess has declared that the Sleeping King's awakening is near.

The current situation in Italy can only be described as a catastrophe.

During the past few days, the heretic god recognized as Verethragna revived the Divine King, Melqart and dueled with him, resulting in a mutual defeat. However, after only a few days, they battled again and it ended up as Verethragna's victory.

The mages of Italy felt relieved when the battle was over. However, Verethragna continued to roam in the land, apparently searching for the sleeping Campione that was rumored to be buried underneath the lands of Sicily.

Sicily was the largest island in the Mediterranean. Like Sardinia, it was an autonomous region of Italy and a major producer of wine and olive oil. Also a major exporter of fresh fish and gelato; advertisements for these kinds of goods could be seen everywhere.

Palermo was a city that acted as the gateway to Sicily.

Historically, it had been the ancient capital famed for its harbor on the northwest part of Sicily. Once the capital of the Kingdom of Sicily, it was now the capital of the autonomous region of Sicily.

Currently. the Great Knight of Copper Black Cross, Erica Blandelli was in this city.

She had seen and battled on of the avatar of the God of Victory before. But no matter what she did, she was still forced to retreat because the power of the Divine Beast was too much for her. She doubted that even her uncle, Paolo Blandelli, will fair against an avatar of a god.

During the last days, she investigated all of the possibilities where the catacomb of the Sleeping King was located. She heard Verethragna saying to Melqart that he will find that King and battle him afterwards.

In the past years, it was also reported that Alexandre Gascoigne, the English Campione, also searched for the catacomb. However, it is unknown whether he succeeded or not.

The King of Swords, Salvatore Doni also tried to find the Sleeping Campione... but he ended up forgetting what he was finding in the first place.

"Erica Blandelli, what are you doing here?"

Erica turned her head back and saw her childhood friend standing with her usual blue and black uniform. Her silver-haired childhood friend was flawless in appearance and intellect, but lacked lady-like aspirations. She would make a good knight, a good wife and a good mother, but she would never become a flower of the court like a salon patroness.

"Oh Lily, did you came here because of the news as well?"

Erica asked as she smiled at her friend. In response, Liliana frowned and nodded slowly.

"Bronze Black Cross ordered me to investigate about the Sleeping King. They said that it would be useful if we can gain his support if we were to do a favor and wake him. But I reject the idea. There's no way to monopolize a Campione."

Liliana explained, Erica nodded while thinking of the worst possibilities if a Campione were to rampage.

"Then, won't you help me, Lily? I also want to find that Campione, if possible to report and inform him about Verethragna's Authorities. In exchange, I will ask him to not wreck havoc in this island."

Listening to her request, Liliana pondered for a moment.

"...Although working with a vixen like you is against my will... I find your request reasonable so I will join you. But don't think that I'm doing you a favor."

Erica smiled in her at response. "Oh Lily, why do you always turn me down? We're friends right?"

"...Please do not call me using such an intimate nickname. Furthermore, I don't recall being friends with a fox like you."

"Oh Lily, why are you so cold at me? I've always praised you directly, why are you always insulting me... This is why I say you are not lady-like."

The displeased Liliana immediately worsened her expression at Erica's criticism.

"Quiet! Rather than this, we should search for the Sleeping King! I don't need to talk with you about this!"

Erica chuckled at he friend's attitude. She will just never change. Once backed in a corner, she will just stutter about things and deny them like her life depended on it.

"Well then, the only clues that I have is that the sleeping Campione is located in Sicily. But I've narrowed the possibilities in areas that are located in the east. How about you Lily?"

Frowning, Liliana answered. "My Spirit Vision showed me an area... it looked like a cave with boulders on the entrace... that's the only thing that I've saw."

"I see... a cave as an entrance. How come that someone haven't seen it before? Anyway, let's go, the time for that lazy king to wake up is today!"

"Lily, I'm sure of it. This is the place where he is sleeping."

Erica mumbled as she and Liliana walked towards the cave. After seven days of searching, they've finally arrived in the place where the king was most likely sleeping. The last few days have been disastrous since Verethragna destroyed places just to search for this king. To make it worse, their king, Salvatore Doni was away, searching for something. If he were to return, it would take another three days,

"Yes, this place... it's definitely made out from an Authority. Perhaps the sleeping king made it to protect himself. Be on your guard Erica, it is most likely that he prepared some traps."

Liliana muttered as Erica stood near her. Both of their sword were gripped tightly.

The place were they exploring was a well built underground castle... There were halls and and different rooms, but there were no signs of anything, neither servants or familiars can be felt or seen. Most likely because no one has ever entered this place from the beginning

"Hey Lily... what are your thoughts about this King?" As they trek, Erica asked. "What if he's like King Salvatore..."

Hearing her question, Liliana shivered. If this King was indeed like Salvatore, they can only pray for a safe future.

"Well... legends say that he turned the seas into stone..."

"That doesn't help... not one bit."

As the two of them journeyed inside the catacomb, Liliana suddenly stopped from walking. Her eyes glowing faintly as if she was being possessed. After another moment, she returned back into reality while staring at Erica with a tragic face.

"...He's here..."

AN

Hahahahaha! My first Campione! story has been published!

Yes, it's rushed for a purpose. I won't make a long chapter just to write how they will travel just to wake a sleeping hero. I plan this to wake Godou at the second chapter and make some backstory in the process. I'm still thinking for the identity of the goddess that placed Godou into sleep. Maybe it will be a deity with relations to dreams.

By the way... do you guys know the name of the harp that made Cerberus asleep?