Chapter 18: Illya vs Voban

The first and most vicious Campione had come to Japan.

The list of reasons why he would leave his castle consist of only two things.

Campione and Heretic Gods.

But Godou was too young to attract the attention of the first Campione and Shirou had spent a massive amount of time and energy to hide where he was based. Before Godou and Erica, the only person outside the HHC who knew where Shirou called home was John Pluto Smith.

No Heretic Gods had appeared anywhere near Japan recently, so that was also ruled out.

But several years ago, Voban had initiated a ritual to call forth a Heretic God. The main requirement of the ritual would be special magic users. Most had died, and quite a few of the survivors lost their sanity. The strongest special magic user who had survived was Yuri Mariya.

She had to be the main target, but Godou would be looped in to kill time if nothing else.

Shizuka and Ichirou were confused but could tell based upon the other's reactions that Voban was nobody good.

"Who is Sasha Dejanstahl Voban?" questioned Ichirou Kusanagi.

Yuri was the one who answered, "the oldest of the current Campione. A cruel man whose destruction of the city of Zadar via a storm authority is believed to be the inspiration for the 'The Three Little Pigs.' An enemy far out of Godou's league. Our only chance of safety is Illya's brother."

A silence fell over the room briefly, before the sounds of footsteps as everyone dashed toward the front door.

It wasn't until they reached the street that they learned it was too late. Further down the street was a small pack of wolves and several beings that could only be called ghostly, headed by a silver-haired maiden and an elderly man.

Erica recognized the girl. It was her counterpart from the Bronze-Black Cross, Liliana Kranjcar.

Illya and Yuri recognized the man. It was Voban.

"Well this is an unexpected surprise," Voban's voice chilled all who heard it to the bone, "I come here to find an individual of value, only to also find the newest Campione as well as the younger sister of the 5th. I couldn't have guessed this."

"Cut the crap, Voban. You followed Yuri's scent here. Since I arrived with her, you had to know I would be here and you'd have sensed another Campione. The only thing that could potentially be surprising is that Godou is the Campione present, not my brother," Illya's defiant voice rang out, surprising most of the people present. They couldn't believe that anybody would speak to Voban that way.

Voban wasn't surprised. He grinned and responded, "I see you still have that attitude, little girl. But you might want to take note of the fact that your brother isn't here to protect you."

A grin appeared on Illya's face, unnerving everyone but Voban and Yuri, "I'd say that you have three minutes until that is no longer true."

"Then I best not waste any time. Attack, my servants." As Voban ordered, the wolves and ghosts moved to attack. But when they reached halfway to Illya's group, they paused, much to Voban's shock. "What?"

Illya's grin widened as she slowly rotated her left hand and in doing so, revealed the wires that had the wolves tied up. Cracks were heard as the wolves' necks were broken while the dead servants were cut to pieces and then they faded away.

As most were left flabbergasted, a vicious smile slowly grew across Voban's face, "you really are his sister. You can both create magic constructs that can affect the divine. I'm curious, how's it done?"

The grin never left Illya's face as she answered, "we simply make our constructs complex enough to mimic reality. The closer a construct becomes to the real thing, the less magic resistance affects it. It may sound simple, but the vast majority magic users could spend their entire lives trying to learn that one trick and still die of old age before achieving it to the degree I am at. Also, to clarify, divine beasts like your wolves are my limit, my elder brother is the only person in the world who can create constructs that can truly affect heretic gods. I could restrain them, but I wouldn't be able to harm them."

"I see, then I can merely adjust for that. Your brother won't be able to beat me when he arrives."

Upon hearing what Voban said, Illya burst out laughing. Everyone's gaze focused on her.

Yuri was the first to speak up, "I've never seen her laugh this hard before."

Illya responded after finally getting some control over her laughing fit, "it's just so funny. My brother's constructs aren't dangerous because of what they're made of. It's what the constructs are that make them dangerous. Until you understand every trick, every possibility of what he can create, defeating my brother is nothing more than a pipe dream, Voban. Especially given that you operate under a false assumption."

Voban was starting to be greatly angered by Illya, "so enlighten me."

Illya's grin looked like it went from ear to ear, "the belief that magic cannot surpass an authority."

Illya's words struck most of the magic community dumb.

Divinity is the highest form of power and nothing can match it. That is the principle that all of the magic community is based on. And the younger sibling of one of the pinnacles of power in the magical community said that it is completely wrong.

Nobody present noticed the grin that briefly appeared on Yuri's face. She alone understood why Illya said what she said.

The silence was broken by voice that was very familiar to Illya, "couldn't have said it better myself. By the way, it seem you forgot what I said last time we met Voban. Shall I remind you?"