Campione

Campione's (champion)
Campione are those humans who have slain a Heretic God and stolen their divine Authorities.

Summary
When a mortal slays a Heretic God, they take upon themselves the Authorities of that Heretic God, and they become Campione.

Generally, a Campione will only acquire one Authority from the god they slay, which is influenced by the personality, compatibility, and skill of the Campione. Though there are rare exceptions such as the seventh Campione, Godou Kusanagi, in that case, the Authority adjusted to fit his own nature. Often losing elements or gaining limitations or requirements for use that the god didn't have.

Because of their divine Authorities, Campione are automatically designated the rulers of whatever territory they call home. In that area, among the supernatural, their very word is law itself. Only another Campione dares contradict them.

Campione are called the "Bastard/Illegitimate Children of Epimetheus", Titan of hindsight, because only someone who, like Epimetheus, acts without thinking of the consequences, would face a Heretic God rather than run away.

In Volume 4 it is revealed that Pandora controls the distribution of Authorities in some method, and that if a Campione slays a Heretic God who has been weakened in some fashion by another, or in some other fashion that she does not approve of, such as a Campione in perfect health coming across an injured Heretic God and slaying them, then she will not allow the Campione to gain a new Authority from it.

Personality
Campione, due to the method of obtaining their rank, are depicted as evil tyrannical monsters from everyone in the magic world. It is also assumed that every magician fears their wrath and serve out of fear of the frequent evil they pursue. However, this judgement is technically false.

Campione's are indeed dangerous and destructive, but that is only due to them fighting, or abusing their power. Some are indifferent of others' concern at their goals but most of the magic world forget that Campione are human in nature. This disregard puts a lot of sophistry and bias in view that all Campione as the same. Each of the 7 are different in their traits, but, because of persecution and fear, individuality on them is ignored until it is too late.

These human attributes are basically the key to defining what authorities they have or will have. Also, it doesn't matter if they have any magic or martial arts skills, a Campione is terrible not only for god slaying, but because their traits allowed for their success, such as Voban, Godou, Aisha, as well as Smith proved through hunger, friendship, kindness, and repression, to achieve kingship.

Campione in all have displayed signs of arrogance, bloodlust when attacked, cunningness, ambition, leadership, idiocy and a tendency to find amusement at pathetic arrogant worms attempting on their life. In a spectrum of ruling, they either revel in their tyranny (Voban and Hao), attempt to become good rulers (Alec and Smith), or are indifferent about their positions (Aisha, Doni, and Godou).

All Campione tend to have or develop some form of mania, somethg they become almost obsessive about. Voban's is fighting powerful foes, Luo Hao in mastery of her skills, Aisha's is traveling, Alec's is theft of object's for Holy Grail research, Godou's is being normal, and Doni's is having fun. Even John Pluto Smith's split persona act is considered an obsession.

Since they posses great power, or because of it, Campione can be seen as clumsy, as their powers cause unintentional damage.

But regardless of their flaws Campione's are grand kings. Most of the magic world revere them for the achieving the impossible. So much so that all magic organizations have deemed attacking or threatening one of them to be courageously suicidal, or completely, downright stupid. Anyone who does such a thing gets admiration for bravery or being labeled an even bigger idiot than the kings they challenge. Their power serves as a necessary evil. Heretic Gods are disasters, Campione limit the disaster by about 67%, and the fact that their selfishness indicates the human will to live. Which is why they are either determined, reckless, intellectual, or charismatic, lucky fools.

That being said, it is something of an unspoken truth that Campione (or at least the vast majority of them) are knuckleheads at heart. For they are not only the only humans to have slain a Heretic God, they are also the only humans foolish enough to try in the first place.

Variant Campione
Rokuhara Ren is a unique godslayer. His presence won't trigger god's battle instinct like other godslayer. Some gods might not be aware that Ren's a godslayer until other gods point that out or when they engage into a battle. Ren himself doesn't show to enter a battle mode where his body is filled with magical energy and fighting spirit when encounter both hostile and friendly divine being.

His circumstances behind his rebirth as a godslayer and symbiotic relationships with Stella is a reason behind this unique body constitution.

Known Campione
At present there are seven living Campione:


 * Sasha Dejanstahl Voban
 * Luo Hao
 * Madame Aisha
 * Black Prince Alec
 * John Pluto Smith
 * Lord Salvatore Doni [6th Campione]
 * Godou Kusanagi [7th Campione]
 * Uldin (Historic Campione) (Volume 14)
 * Devil King of ten lives (Historic Campione)
 * César Blandelli (First Godslayer in Shiniki no Campioness)
 * Rokuhara Ren (Godslayer in Shiniki no Campioness)
 * Theodorick (Godslayer in Lord of Realms)

Physiology
When godslayer usurped god's authority for the first time. His physical body will be enhanced, altered and augmented to accept newly acquired divine power. It is implied by Erica that godslayer can be considered as a different species from humans altogether. It's hard to produce offspring from union between godslayer and normal human. Godou and his lovers constantly made love to each other for half a year. However, Erica is the only one who's got impregnated.


 * Enhanced lifespans. (Oldest campione are 400~500 year old.)
 * When their natural enemies (the gods) appear, their bodies react instinctively, filling themselves with power to prepare for battle.
 * Their body will age proportionately to the amount of magical energy inside their bodies. The more they have the longer they can stay young. Lord Salvatore Doni is describe as a youth despite he's is in his 40s in his latest appearance.
 * Godslayer will age normaly untill they reach their prime. However, if they have magical mastery enough to reach a state of mental purity, they will stay young forever.
 * Nearly unbreakable bones, much harder than steel.
 * Reinforced musculature system.
 * Their bodies will be completely healed from prior injuries and optimized to perfect condition.
 * Enhanced vitality and recovery speed.
 * Immense stamina.
 * They have beast-like instincts.
 * Enhanced metabolism and immune system, a toxic substance such as alcohol or poison will be purge away instantly if they concentrate.
 * Their body released adrenaline about hundreds of times compared to normal humans.
 * Their body will automatically optimize itself to suit whatever task they are performing.
 * Advanced night vision, comparable to a nocturnal predator.
 * Their offspring will not inherit any godslayer characteristic from their parents.

Mortality and Immortality of Godslayers
Godslayer's natural lifespans are considerably longer than even the greatest of mages. They're still mortal capable of aging and dying of natural causes. The aging process of the godslayers are varied amongst them. Luo Hao is capable of prolonging her youth for more than 200 years while Godou has already aged into his 30s during his encounter with Rokuhara Ren. During the fight against Lancelot, Athena proclaimed that very few godslayers manage to live until their life reaches their end, since majority of them perish within the battlefield.

However, these biological limits can be circumvent with a divine authority. Sasha Dejanstahl Voban lost his aged flesh body after losing the fight between him and Kusanagi Godou. He returns with a much younger and more robust body. It is stated that his performances during the battle has increased due to a revitalized body. Luo Hao manages to stop her aging process entirely and remains in her prime with her mastery over magic. It is safe to assume that godslayers can overcome their biological limits with magics and authorities.

Powers and Abilities
The specific abilities of each Campione are dependent upon the particular Authorities of the Heretic Gods that they have slain, adapted to fit the Campione's personal qualities. However, all Campione appear to have certain powers in common.


 * Enhanced Spiritual Senses
 * Can sense magic within objects.
 * Magic Resistance
 * If they concentrate, any surrounding spells will also be dispelled.
 * Only authority level of potency is capable of bypassing their resistance. Although, its effectiveness will be reduced to a certain amount of percentage.
 * If the magic enters via respiratory or digestive systems, their resistance will be much lower.
 * Godslayers can increase their resistance by hightening their magical energy.
 * Authorities power taken from a slain god.
 * Ability to learn all languages in a short period of time, including non-human language.
 * Reserves of Magic energy (aka ki/chi/qi) hundreds of times that of a trained mage.
 * Their body can produce magical energy to fill their reserve extremely quick.
 * Campione's soul are massively stronger than normal people, their ectoplasm body has very strong presence. If they're proficient enough they can peer into other person's heart or even forcefully take possession of someone with strong aptitude for spiritual medium. However, in this state they can't properly access their authority. If they are desperate enough, activating an authority is possible.
 * Godslayers also possess an ability to resist spiritual possession of any kinds. Normal spectre can't exist within their body without suffering a great pain. On the contrary, If the possessor is a divine spirit, they can freely control an unconscious godslayer's body. However, if the godslayer regains consciousness, he or she can wrestles control back.

Their status as godslayer is permanent. Even if their soul, body and memory are reverted back to the period before their ascension. Given time and enough magical energy, they can break free from the seal and take back their power and position as godslayer.

It is suggested that Campione, and even those who have the potential to become Campione, have the ability to create good luck, or command random chance, through force of will. In games of pure chance, it is almost impossible to beat them without cheating. This ability may even be what allows them to kill gods and become Campione.

Many experienced Campione develop a skill called Manifesting an Avatar. This allows the Campione to transform their body in some fashion so as to remove a flaw in or make better use of one of their Authorities.

Trivia

 * "Keep this in mind, between [Kings] like us, there can only exist one of the following relationships -- ignoring each other, pacts of nonaggression, or eternal enemies dueling to the very end. And now, you will be my enemy!" - Quote: From Sasha Dejanstahl Voban toward Godou Kusanagi [Novel: Vol2, Ch7]
 * Campione's magic resistance is much weaker against internal magics, such as potions, spells delivered through kisses, or weapons coated in poison. Though they can still fight them off through use of an Authority, or through raw magical power.
 * Otherwise, it requires an Authority to break through their resistance. Even a normal spell backed by the magical power of a Campione will not do so.
 * Even an Authority's power and effectiveness will be reduced if used against a Campione.
 * If a Campione makes a pact with a god, the pact will force the Campione to follow through with their side of the bargain.
 * Regardless of gender, all Campione are called Kings.
 * Which should be noted as three of the seven Campione are women.
 * Though one of them is hiding their gender, and is commonly believed to be a man.
 * Campione's powers are not hereditary, but being a descendant offers substantial influence in the wizardry world. In fact, European magic associations were commonly led by, or even founded by those hailing from the lineage of kings.
 * Taking the Copper-Black Cross as an example, ten-odd generations ago, their commander-in-chief was a king's illegitimate child. He was treated like royalty and in fact, members of the Blandelli family, like Erica, are his descendants.
 * When one becomes a Campione, physical flaws (such as old injuries and possibly scars) are healed and they are restored to full health.