Chapter Extra: Heracles

[Arc4] - Extra: Heracles

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This was his thirteenth trial, one he had never completed before.

Was he born noble?

Probably, after all, his father was the king of the gods. Although many demi-god heroes also had the king of the gods as their father, his mother seemed to have a little bit of a connection with Zeus too. In any case...

He was not favored by Zeus's wife, Hera.

But it didn't matter!

He was who he was, and he only listened to the call of the Goddess of Virtue, doing the right thing!

Before meeting that person, he had rarely regretted what he did.

Unable to endure the baseless punishment, he accidentally killed the teacher who had taught him to read. He didn't regret it, but he knew it was wrong. Possessing an innate strength no one could resist, he chose to accept the law's judgment, though in the end, nothing happened to him.

When faced with oppressed people, he naturally led them in rebellion, easily achieving victory with his divine strength and the gods' help. And when women were offered to him, he naturally accepted them.

There was nothing wrong with that—he deserved it. He didn't force those people; after all, he simply left afterwards without compelling anyone. That was important!

He had always done what he thought was right, but the better he performed, the more Hera despised him. Her wild curses caused him to accidentally kill his companions and even his own children.

This was an unforgivable crime. His spirit was consumed by madness, and it was his hand that struck the fatal blows. He wouldn't make excuses; this was his sin, and he was willing to bear it all!

Even if it meant losing his freedom and completing those tasks designed purely to torment him, he didn't care.

However… it was because of one of those troublesome tasks that Heracles met the Pure White Hero—Cyd.

At that time, he wasn't yet a hero, but he had noble qualities. "This is not the glory I seek"—what a pure thought.

Heracles realized then that Cyd was the younger disciple his teacher often spoke of, though he didn't reveal it. Instead, he was curious about what kind of person he would become.

So, half forcefully, he dragged Cyd onto the ship.

After meeting him, Heracles often reflected on his past and examined the things before him. Were the things he had done in the name of the Goddess of Virtue truly right? In the past, he would have nodded without hesitation, but now he hesitated.

No one had done better than him before, so he naturally thought he was right. He rarely pillaged women like other heroes, and he seldom plundered the treasures of common folk, but whenever they were offered to him, he never refused. However many women you dared to send, he would take them all without hesitation.

But now, a different figure appeared before him.

Cyd naturally did things that most heroes disdained. Rather than boasting, he preferred using his extraordinary strength to help the common folk rebuild collapsed houses. Rather than killing, he used his unmatched skills to subdue enemies. And when women and treasures were offered to him, he always smiled and refused.

Because this was not the glory he sought, he had never accepted such things.

Heracles couldn't understand this—most heroes of this era couldn't understand this.

You won't rob, fine, but you won't even take what's given to you?

At first, Heracles thought Cyd refused the treasures because he worried the other heroes on the ship might covet them. He thought he rejected the women because there was a lioness nearby watching.

Thinking this way seemed reasonable, and it would have settled the little knot in his heart.

But the more he observed, the deeper he was drawn in.

Cyd truly was such a pure person. He didn't desire luxuries, so he didn't need treasures. He wasn't a man of desires, so he easily rejected the women sent his way. He wasn't without any wants, but just a single apple from the tree was enough.

He helped people simply because he could.

Heracles began to doubt more than once—between the two of them, who was really listening to the whispers of the Goddess of Virtue?

Cyd seemed to have become a new guidepost, a new definition of virtue. Though the other heroes carried on as they always did, Heracles started to think.

If he had chosen to follow the whispers of the Goddess of Virtue, then he should act accordingly. If his junior disciple had become the new definition of virtue, then he should follow!

But it was hard. When a girl's delicate fingers traced his chest, he couldn't help but have certain reactions any man would. When the people offered treasures to him, he always had the urge to take them.

His junior disciple was amazing!

Every time he awkwardly refused for a moment, then pushed away another group of girls sent his way, he would fall into deep thought.

And then he was at peace...

Cyd was Cyd. The Pure White Hero was him alone. No one could become him, and no one could replace him.

This is good enough...

He could not remain as pure as Cyd. Like other Greek heroes, all he could do was restrain himself as much as possible. However, cursed by Hera, he was destined to cause tragedy again and again.

But Cyd was different. His every action seemed instinctual—without hesitation, without confusion. He was fundamentally different from others.

But it must be exhausting, right?

It must be lonely, right?

To be the hope of everyone.

No one stood by your side.

Then just watch! He would overcome those impossible trials, just as you completed those thirteen impossible labors.

He would do it, no matter how difficult the trials were—he would triumph!

He would become a great hero who stood tall, even if he couldn't be as pure as you. At least he could stand by your side and witness this world together!

So, just wait a little longer... Brother, I'm not as amazing as you...

But the world is truly cruel...

In an accident, he unintentionally harmed his teacher. The fatal poison did not take his teacher's life but subjected him to a torment worse than death. Even though the teacher gently urged him to leave and did not blame him, he panicked...

Cyd would never forgive him.

So he ran away. The great, unrivaled hero grabbed his bow and fled. He couldn't face those clear eyes. Distracted by his curse, he lost his fighting spirit and became a prisoner during the trial.

Just let it be...

One day, Cyd would find out. He had harmed the teacher they both loved. One day, Cyd would come for him.

Gentle as you are, you would still roar in anger...

It's truly laughable that the one to anger the Pure White Hero is the great hero who only wanted to stand by his side.

Watching his former glory turned into a plaything in the hands of women, Heracles felt no emotion. He let them insult him.

If having his pride as a hero completely crushed was his punishment, he would accept it—after all, he had nothing left to lose.

That's what he had thought...

"The Pure White Hero went to Tartarus alone to save the world. He will never return."

When he heard this, everything in front of him shattered.

What had he been doing until now?

What did it mean to say he had nothing left to lose?

This time... he truly had nothing left to lose...

What kind of hero was he?

He had resolved to face the world together with him, yet he had let him shoulder everything alone...

That day, the invincible Heracles returned. His once-plucked fangs had regrown, sharper than ever. His eyes blazed with an unquenchable fire.

He picked up his past glory and dreams once again.

The Twelve Labors, twelve impossibilities—he had completed them.

Now he would undertake his thirteenth trial. It wasn't something difficult.

[He merely wanted to catch up to his long-gone friend.]

[He merely wanted to face the world with his friend.]

[He merely wanted to save his friend.]

[He merely wanted... to say sorry.]

The great hero Heracles, with boundless glory, stepped into hell. Be it gods or monsters, anything that stood in his way was just an obstacle in this trial!

This time, there was no divine interference. He had already completed the oracle. Now, he was free. He could enjoy the glory of being the great hero who finished the Twelve Labors, but he willingly placed shackles upon himself and set out on the same doomed path as his friend.

Without anyone's prayers, Heracles gave himself this thirteenth trial.

But he failed...

"Can you really make this decision? To trample on the determination of the child who willingly entered Tartarus to protect you all?"

At the end of the doomed path, Hades, the god of the underworld, awaited him.

Hades did not stop him but simply delivered the fact that made Heracles' vision go black.

He couldn't do it...

This, he couldn't do...

It was impossible...

"Why?! Aren't you a hero? Aren't you supposed to create the impossible? Save him!"

That day, the unrivaled hero knelt before the gates of Tartarus, the end of the doomed path.

If he had been with him, even facing this true hell wouldn't have mattered!

But he was one step too late, forever left behind.

Because of a moment's hesitation, he could only watch as that person remained in eternal solitude.

Heracles wept tears of blood, roaring in rage toward the hell above.

"Why did you hesitate? Why did you falter?!"

"Wasn't he your friend?!"

"What kind of great hero are you?!"

"The Twelve Labors? Twelve impossibilities? So what!"

"You are just..."

Heracles slowly closed his eyes.

"Just a coward who couldn't even save his friend."