A Certain Multiverse's Holy Right

"Your Majesty!"

Erica's voice, crisp yet trembling with urgency, echoed across the remnants of Ponza Island as she soared through the skies with her magic.

No—remnants was no longer an appropriate term. The once-beautiful tourist island had been obliterated, its scenic vistas and human traces entirely erased. From this day forward, Ponza Island would vanish from maps altogether.

Below her, the sea roiled with a massive whirlpool that had yet to dissipate, its fierce currents capable of instantly pulverizing any living creature. Erica grit her teeth and descended closer to the surface, determined to search for any sign of Roy amidst the chaos.

But as she approached, a sharp sting coursed through her body. Her fair skin began to blister, emitting faint wisps of steam as though her very moisture was being scorched away. The residual energy from Roy's authority still lingered in the waters, transforming the sea into a hellish cauldron. It was a realm no ordinary mage could withstand—not even Erica, a Grand Knight.

Frustrated and pained, Erica clenched her jaw and rose back into the sky, her azure eyes scanning desperately for any trace of her king.

Campione were not guaranteed the ability to fly. In the mystical world, flight was not as simple as it appeared but a highly advanced form of magic. Many mages could not master it, and most Campione, having been ordinary humans before their ascension, had no knowledge of such arcane techniques.

Even among the known Campione, only the Eastern Cult Leader—renowned for her mastery of both martial and magical arts—had attained the pinnacle of such abilities even prior to slaying a god.

Erica believed firmly that Roy, with his resilient Campione physique and the dominance he displayed in his battle with Metatron, could not possibly have been defeated by his own authority, nor drowned in the sea.

Now, in what she assumed to be his most vulnerable state, Erica's duty as his knight was clear: to rescue her king. Yet, no matter her determination, she lacked the strength to brave this sea of infernal energy.

Her inadequacy as a knight gnawed at her pride and filled her with guilt. The thought that her failure might leave Roy to fend for himself made her grit her teeth and push herself harder, pouring her dwindling reserves of magical energy into her flight.

Suddenly, a thunderous roar echoed across the waters—a sound like a cannon firing.

A massive plume of water erupted into the air, rising dozens of meters high. Erica's heart froze. Could it be that the enemy still lived? She tightened her grip on Cuore di Leone, readying herself for battle.

But whatever had surfaced was moving far too quickly, faster than her eyes could track—faster than sound itself. Only the mysterious workings of the mystical world prevented a sonic boom from tearing through the air.

Before Erica could react, the figure was upon her, its speed so overwhelming that no human reflex could hope to keep up. Yet, despite the blinding danger, Erica felt no fear. Her instincts told her to stand firm, her sword poised to strike.

The tension shattered as the figure spoke, its voice calm and authoritative.

"The timing was a bit off, it seems. I ended up falling into the sea."

Erica's breath caught as she finally took in the figure before her. It was Roy, but his appearance had undergone a dramatic transformation.

Behind him spread a pair of vast, flaming wings of radiant light. Above his head floated a shimmering halo inscribed with sacred symbols of the Christian faith. Ethereal feathers of pure energy drifted from his wings, descending gently to the waters below. The sight was nothing short of divine.

He was the very image of an angel.

This was Roy's fourth authority: The Lord of Radiance.

The title "Lord" denoted a prince, ruler, or sovereign—a fitting name for an authority rooted in the power of the Archangel Michael.

This ability recreated Michael's legendary battle form as described in the Bible. It was the form in which he annihilated 150,000 Assyrian soldiers in a single night, the form in which he led the heavenly host against Belial, the Ruler of Darkness.

When activated, this authority granted Roy the power of flight and the ability to move at godlike speed—Godspeed.

There were, however, limitations. The authority could only be used once per day and lasted a mere ten minutes. But during that time, Roy could move faster than the speed of sound, beyond the limits of human perception and reaction.

Other Campione had acquired similar abilities. Alexander Gascoigne, the Black Prince, possessed a godspeed authority from the angel Remiel. Gascoigne's version lacked a time limit but placed immense strain on his body, forcing him to use it sparingly. In contrast, Roy's version allowed him to operate at full power without concern for physical repercussions, though its duration was far shorter.

However, in ordinary battles between Campione and Heretic Gods, the outcome is usually decided within a few moves, so for Roy, the restriction of this power is sufficient for the time being.

Although the Campione have a lot of divine power (also called magical energy), because killing gods cannot increase the upper limit of divine power, and the use of authorities consumes too much divine power, therefore, after a Campione has used up several authorities at full strength, he usually has no divine power to continue fighting. Most Campione do not have strong sustained combat capabilities.

"Erica," Roy called with a hint of amusement, his voice cutting through her astonished silence. "You look absolutely dreadful right now."

Erica flinched, self-conscious. Her once-lustrous golden hair was singed and tangled, her fair face smudged with ash and soot. Her elegant dress was tattered, barely holding together, and her arms bore blistered burns from her earlier efforts to brave the sea's cursed heat.

"...Not that I'm much better," Roy added with a wry chuckle, gesturing to his own soaked and disheveled appearance.

Erica's lips trembled, her emotions threatening to overwhelm her. "I... I thought something terrible had happened to you, Your Majesty."

Roy's eyes softened as he observed the mix of guilt and relief in her expression. "Were you worried for me, Erica?" he asked, tilting his head. "Concerned that your Copper Black-Cross might lose its newfound patron so soon?"

Erica met his gaze, her sapphire eyes clear despite her exhaustion. "I won't deny that was part of it, Your Majesty. But more than that, I am your knight. It is my duty to safeguard you. How could I remain calm, knowing I had failed you?"

Erica sighed with a wry smile. She had long discovered that Roy still did not trust her. It seemed that the relationship between the two was only maintained by Roy's powerful strength, and it was more like an employment.

She secretly blamed herself for making some mistakes in her previous attitude, or maybe she was too smart, causing the King to be wary of her?

Roy studied her for a long moment. Despite her youthful arrogance and calculating nature, Erica's sincerity was undeniable.

"Tell me, Erica," Roy asked, his tone thoughtful. "As my knight, how far are you willing to go for me?"

Erica straightened, her battered form radiating resolve. "If it is your will, I will give you everything I have—my life, my soul, even my very existence."

Roy smiled faintly, touched by her conviction. "You're a good girl, Erica," he said softly. "Perhaps... I should trust you more."

In addition to his powerful instincts as a Campione. He had also recently studied magic about lie detection.

Erica's heart swelled with relief and determination. "Thank you, Your Majesty. I promise I will prove myself worthy of your trust."

But before she could bow in gratitude, her legs buckled, her magical reserves depleted. With a startled cry, she plummeted from the sky.

Roy reacted instantly, catching her in a graceful sweep. As he cradled her in his arms, his faint smile returned. "You've done enough, Erica," he murmured. "Now, let your king carry you to safety."

With a single, powerful beat of his radiant wings, Roy launched into godspeed, vanishing from the ruined sea in a flash of light.