Chapter : 21 : Heroes! Strength!
Gudako P.O.V
Heimdall: T-The winner of the third bout of Ragnarok is... Humanity! Zhongli! The Archon of Geo!!!!
Gods: This is bullshit! / How have we not won once?! / If you think about it... using Gods against us Gods is treacherous and cheating! How dare they! / How could this happen?! To someone like Lord Poseidon?!
Humanity: Cry about it! / We won! We'll live for sure! / You know what they say, fight fire with fire! Beat it! / YEAHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Odin's Crows: W-We lost again? No way...
Loki: Aww man... this is a real shitty excuse for a joke.
I smile proudly as I look upon my super awesome thematically fitting victory. Seriously, not only was Zhongli strong, but the whole land vs sea thing was cool! However, I will have to probably use For One's Glory to keep my identity hidden and stay in Lancelot form if I don't want any salty Gods to recognize me and start trying to kill me me when I'm alone and just walking around.
Göll: This means we've beaten the Gods, right?!
Brunhilde: No... we have 4 more to go...
Gudako: 4 more I have in the bag, so don't you go worrying!
I walk over and pat her on the head, worrying that much and being so anxious all the time can't be good even for a Valkyrie's heart. Maybe it's all the time I spent with Jack, but she's cute, in want to spoil them like they're your kid kind of way. Gasp! Am I getting maternal instincts now?! Did Kama get me pregnant?!
Jokes aside, at least I hope they stay jokes, those glares from the Gods over there are seriously harsh. So I'm just going to quickly run out of the arena! Nope! Back to the safety of my servants, I go! Leaving behind Göll and Brunhilde before she does either something weird or explicitly describes how she wants to shove fists up some hole of the enemy Gods.
I pull out some poor-quality cloak from the system inventory since I have a whole lot of random stuff from the gacha that I just filter out so I don't have to wait through them to finally get to the characters being summoned. After that, I activate the noble phantasm of Lancelot, For One's Glory, so my identity is obscured.
Random God: Whoever managed to get those fighters in... I'll rip their head off their shoulders when I find them!
Random God #2: B-But what if they are as strong as those fighters?
Random God: I'll fight regardless! How dare they mock us by winning so flawlessly like this!
Damn, talk about stupidity. Well, I'm lucky some of them have sense, but ones like those are the reason I need to watch out. So I continue walking along the halls until I finally make it to the area we've been staying at. Okay... which door was it... I'll be able to tell once I hear a mix of roaring and childish laughter over horrific acts of murder...
Gil: Kuahahaha! So that fool really thought he could take the Chains of Heaven head-on with his fists only? What a complete fool!
Enkidu: Ishtar's levels of foolishness?
Gil: Now that's going a bit too far, wouldn't you say?
Enkidu: Agreed.
Passing by a door I overhear that conversation. I guess it's a good thing Ishtar isn't summoned or else she'd throw a big fit if she ever heard them slandering her.
Cu: That was something! Wish I coulda fought that guy, he seemed fun.
...
Cu: What's this ominous feeling I can't shake off? I feel like a hauntingly familiar presence has just come back into my life...
Nope, that's just the dog- I mean Cu. Wonder what he's worried about though? Eh, I'll ask him some other time.
Heracles: ▂▂▃▃▅▅ーーー!!
Jack: Hey, you think Mommy will let us butcher a God sometime? What do you think?
Heracles: ▃▃▅▅!
Jack: Aww! But I wanna! I wanna! I want to gut them like a fish!
Heracles: ▃▃▅▅▃▃ー!!
Jack: Yeah! If we go together maybe we can! Yay! Let's go ask-
Heh. Time to surprise them then! Now to just abuse a door once more with a good old kick!
*Bang*
Gudako: Well I have news for you then!
-----
Third Person P.O.V
The head Gods, or at least, those representing them, had assembled in another meeting. This consecutive loss may not have had the stakes of their entire race being purged like Humanity, but some things that the Gods valued just as much, if not more so, were still on the line in this tournament. Their pride, their glory, and to some, their family.
Ares: Lord Zeus... Lord Poseidon... t-they're gone...
Hermes: Tch... this is completely unexpected...
As the two Greek Gods mourned, some others saw it as an opportunity.
Shiva: I'll be going next! Those little shits need to learn their place!
Loki: Huh? Why not me? Those humans need to learn that we Gods have had enough of their crappy jokes already. But then again, you're one pumped-up guy, so I guess you could go first.
Ares and Hermes did want to protest, to take revenge for Zeus and Poseidon, but they simply no longer had the pushing power to do so. Both of those two who wielded the authority and commanded respect along with fear were now dead. In fact, the Greek Pantheon had just lost twice in a row if one thought about it.
Shiva: Alright! It's settled! I'll be teaching those monkeys a lesson-
{ Don't even think about it. Play your roles properly. }
No words were spoken, that was just the message that every single God there felt. It was just a feeling of pure dread and fear, but they could tell that was what it was trying to imply. Yet in the next second, they simply forgot about it. All was back to normal, except there were also steps that were now approaching the door of the room everyone was in.
*Creak*
The doors slowly opened to reveal a tall muscular man with long red hair, wielding a club and wearing nothing but a fluffy pelt on his waist and a leather shoulder pad.
???: I shall be fighting next. For the sake of justice!
He stood tall at the entrance, light shining behind him, emphasizing his figure. That was until Loki spoke up tiredly yet with an obvious hint of mockery within his words.
Loki: Oh, if it isn't one of the half-assed demigods the Greek Pantheon seems to be full of-
Ares: Don't you make fun of us!
Hermes: I agree, do not make light of one of the most respected amongst us. One of our greatest heroes.
Ares: That's right! Heracles is the strongest!
Heracles: Haha, you are too kind! That aside, I shall fight in this round. No one can change my mind on this matter!
Loki: Tch, you're all so stubborn...
After witnessing that the Greek God's resolve had yet to shatter, Loki just sighed and let them do as they pleased. But another God wouldn't so easily back down, so Shiva walked right up to Heracles, an aura of annoyance and uncontainable energy emanating from him from just wanting to fight already.
Shiva: Hah? I've already given up my spot to let Zeus fight, and where did that end up going? I'm sick of waiting, I'll be taking this next fight!
Heracles: I will not back down on this matter.
Shiva: You-!
{ Act. Properly. }
Shiva: You... I like that toughness. Fine, go out there. What more is another round? Just make sure the fight's real blood pumping, that's all!
Heracles: Worry not, I intend for a fair and fearsome fight!
Ares: Do your best! I'm rooting for you!
Hermes: Upon your victory, I shall make the most splendid of pieces, return victorious, Lord Heracles.
Heracles: I'll do my best not to let you down. I'm off!
Turning around and leaving, Heracles walked away, looking for some people he wanted to meet before his battle. Eventually, he found them, talking about that very battle.
Brunhilde: Losing thrice in a row. The Gods cannot take such a large blow to their pride like this, they'll definitely keep on giving it their all. We can't expect them to lose heart and start sending out half-assed Gods, it'll probably be the exact opposite of that.
Göll: Oh? Who do you think they'll send then?
Stepping in front of them, Heracles made his entrance.
Heracles: Me.
As the Greek hero made his presence known, a powerful pressure emanated from him, producing strong winds that shook even the Valkyries.
Göll: T-This pressure!!!!
Brunhilde: ...!
Before any words were spoken, contradictory to Göll's usual timid behavior, she ran forward without hesitation.
Heracles: !!!!
Göll: Hah!!!!
Both reeled back their arms, looking as if they were preparing the mightiest of punches.
Göll: Brother Heracles!
Heracles: Nice to see you too! Haha, you've gotten bigger!
Only to meet with a friendly bump of their arms, both clearly happy to see the other.
Brunhilde: It has been a while... brother Heracles.
Heracles: It sure has, Hilde. Polite as ever too, huh?
Brunhilde: Well I'm glad you appear to be as healthy as ever, too.
Heracles: Heh, pretty sure you've gotten stronger too, though.
This cheery mood was slightly dampened as Brunhilde's face darkened as she brought up a question caused by the response of Heracles to their conversation earlier.
Brunhilde: Speaking of which... that response earlier would imply...
Heracles: Yeah, I'll be the one appearing in the next fight.
Brunhilde: ...
Göll: ...
Brunhilde kneeled down and bowed her head.
Brunhilde: Although it is not my place to say this... I wish you... good luck.
Heracles: Yeah, you too.
With those final words, both Heracles and the two Valkyrie sisters parted ways. As he walked away to prepare for his fight, however, Loki appeared mid-air right in front of him.
Loki: I saw that~ You sure get along with those Valkyries well, dont'cha?
Heracles: ...
Loki: Oh! I get it now. Though our Pantheons may be far apart geographically... they're both just full of you half-assed Demigods, huh? Isn't this fight going to be too hard for you~?
Heracles: Hmph. Humanity may be a fearsome foe, and as representative of the Gods and as a military man, I intend to have a fair fight.
Loki: Hmm... hope that works out for you then.
Heracles: Loki. Let me say this one thing to you before I go. I'm opposed to ending Humanity. However! Ever since Ragnarok started, I've had zero intentions of losing. As the representative of the Gods, I will win! Without a shadow of a doubt! Not only that, I will still move to save humanity!!!!
Loki: Heh. Hahahaha! You haven't changed one bit... you still don't know whose side you're on.
Heracles: ...
Turning around and leaving, his resolve still as firm, he spoke to Loki with his back turned.
Heracles: I'm always on the side of Justice.
-----
The arena was full of chatter once more, anxiety and excitement permeated through the air. Before the audience stood an arena, although it was slightly different than usual. It had various buildings from the time of Ancient Greece, boasting impressive pillars of stone and elaborate architecture.
Gods: Whoa! That's huge! / How nostalgic... / I'm already crying! Everyone I go I'm reminded of Lord Zeus and Lord Poseidon! Ahh! The misery!
Humanity: A Greek town? That's where they're fighting? / Hmm... another Greek God? But didn't we just beat two of those?
Heimdall: This arena before you is a recreation of the ancient Greek cities that once stood proudly ages ago! This field was chosen at the request of Humanity, and God's representative accepted happily for offering such a suitable arena!
Gods: They chose an arena that favored us? Why? / They're looking down on us clearly! How dare they! / Yeah! Those shits are getting in over their heads! Let's beat them down!
Humanity: A handicap for us? Our lives are on the line! / Nah, we'll take them easy again, it's fine! / No... there has to be some reason for this arena... I'm sure of it...
On the highest stands of the arena stood the Valkyrie sisters Brunhilde and Göll, along with the Master of Chaldea, Gudako.
Göll: Eh... why did we make this request? It seems pointless besides giving Brother Heracles some nostalgia. Do you know why, sister Hilde- Sister Hilde?!
As Göll asked her question and turned her head to face them to do so, she was greeted by both Brunhilde and Gudako smiling and giggling creepily, as if they were some sort of scheming villains.
Brunhilde: Hehehe... now that's some evil genius right there...
Gudako: Hehehe, I know, right?
Göll: ( A-Are we the baddies? )
Being a little creeped out she just went back to watching, not wanting to know about whatever had them acting like that, along with a small part of her denying that those two were indeed actually scheming against her beloved brother.
Heimdall: Moving on! I wonder what kind of battle will take place here! Well, we can only find out by looking at just who will be fighting in this arena! Representing Humanity in the fourth battle...
The sound of thunderous footsteps, cracking ground, and the clinking of metallic chains could be heard as something approached the view of the audience.
Heimdall: A legendary hero known for his many accomplishments. A world-famous Demigod of strength! The one and only- wait. Hold on a minute. This doesn't make sense.
Checking his communicator, Heimdall asked for confirmation if what he was receiving was right, and once he confirmed it indeed was, he confusedly continued.
Heimdall: A-Ahem! Someone who completed the 12 labors assigned to him that were thought all but impossible! One who ascended to the highs of Olympus with his might alone! The one and only... Heracles?!?!?!?!?!
As Heimdall finished his announcement, a monstrous roar was heard as a huge figure burst out of the darkness of the entrance corridor. Slamming his rock sword into the floor, stomping his feet, and bellowing out another earth-shaking shout, Heracles had arrived.
Gods: What. The. Fuck!? / Heracles my ass! That's just some rabid dog! / It's just like Enkidu! Why is this depiction or copy so off?! Heracles is noble and strong! Not that... thing!
Humanity: Uh... does he have rabies? Is that our strategy? Can God even get rabies? / H-Hooray for Heracles? / Say what you want to say, but that guy looks strong!
Heracles: ▂▂▃▃▅▅----▂▂▃▃▅▅■■■■ーー!!
All of the chatter was silenced by one mighty roar from Heracles. Even Heimdall was temporarily too stunned to speak, but he had his duties as an announcer, and do them he shall.
Heimdall: U-Uhm! Ahem! Facing him is the man who stands to bear the burden of God's consecutive losses! The shame of the Greek Gods from losing! Here he is!!!! This gallant Demigod forced both the Nemean Lion and Cerberus into submission with his bare fists alone! After clearing the 12 labors he ascended the steps of Olympus!
The sounds of hooves and the turning of wheels resounded throughout the arena, the heroic figure of Heracles riding atop a chariot was what soon greeted the audience.
Heimdall: He shines light upon both God and Man! The Envoy of Justice!!!! Unparalleled in bravery!!!! Heracles!!!! ( This is going to get so confusing... )
Gods: Not that's the Lord Heracles I know! / Yeah!!!! Woohoo!!!! / Go, Heracles! Don't fall to evil! Defeat that big evil monster! / Win! Win for us! Our eternal hero!!!!
Humanity: Who are we rooting for? / How do we even know who we're rooting for?! / This fight is just buff half-naked men... what happened to the hot girls- / Yeah!!!! Men!!!!
Cutting into the violent and loud cheering, Heimdall timidly brought up a valid concern.
Heimdall: Uh... Lord Heracles?
Heracles: Yes?
Heracles: ▅▅ーーー ! !
Heimdall: Hah... Lord Heracles! On the chariot! Would you be fine with using the other version of your name? Hercules? ( I doubt the one representing Humanity even understands me... )
Hercules: If it helps to avoid confusion, that is fine by me!
Heimdall: Thank you very much! Now then! In all the battles until now, has there ever been a more confusing, but also blood-pumping show of power?!
Blowing his horn, the sound signaling the beginning of the fight rang out through the air.
Heimdall: Fight!!!!
Hercules: I wish for a worthy and fair fight-
Heracles: ▂▂▃▃▅▅ーーー!!
Before Hercules had even spoken, as if Heracles had been holding back an endless tide of rage this whole time, he lunged forward in a fearsome charge. Holding his axe-sword high above his head, Heracles swung down with all his might. Before he could connect the strike, however, his chin was met by the full-powered swing of the club Hercules wielded, sending him flying back.
Hercules: I see you lack reason, but you certainly possess a strong fighting spirit! To charge head-on is admirable! This will be a legendary battle! I can feel it!
Heracles: ▂▂▃▃▃▃▂▂...
Heracles emitted a low growl as he pulled himself out of the crater on the wall he was launched into. Without even taking time to regain his bearings or recover, he charged forward again.
Heracles: ▂▂▃▃▅▅ーーー!!
Hercules: But to charge forward carelessly is still foolish! Hyah!
*Boom*
Heracles' face was greeted by the same club, this time smacking him right on his cheek. However, he was not sent flying back this time, much to Hercules' own surprise. Dust and wind were kicked up from the power of the strike, but Heracles' feet buried themselves into the ground, and he slowly turned his head to look Hercules straight in the eye.
*Slash*
In a surprising show of dexterity and flexibility, Heracles leaned extremely far backward and still managed to swing his axe-sword at an opening in Hercules' defense resulting from having just gone for an attack. As Hercules realized this and as the gash across his stomach began to bleed, he leaped backward to better analyze the situation.
Heimdall: A-Amazing! Heracles is the first to land a blow despite rampaging like a mindless monster! I guess despite looking nothing like one, he still is a legendary hero! A true God of fortitude and strength! What will Hercules do now?!
Hercules: Simple! I'll give it my all! Come at me!
Heracles: ▃▃▅▅!
Charging forwards again, Heracles brought forth a mighty horizontal swing with his axe-sword. What met that swing was an identical swing from the club Hercules wielded. That wasn't the end of the exchange, however. Both fighters pulled back and right after exchanged another fierce strike as their two weapons clashed again, causing wind and debris to fly everywhere.
Heracles: ▂▂▃▃▅▅ーーー!!
Hercules: Straightforward power! I like it! But I won't lose in this regard! Hyaahhh!!!!
Weapon met weapon, muscles tensed, blows were dodged and other attacks were met head-on. A battle of nothing but pure power. No deception, no trickery, just two unstoppable forces clashing head-on in a contest of strength. The exchange of attacks eventually grew so fierce some and violent that it simply appeared as a mess of blurs and debris.
Heimdall: A torrent of destructive attacks are being unleashed before our very eyes! The arena is shaking from the ferocity of this battle! Who will lose in this contest of strength first?! Who will come out on top!?
However, this storm of strikes that Hercules had grown used to was just about to change. As instead of simply using his axe-sword, as Heracles dodged yet another strike, he responded far differently than Hercules could have expected. Practically back-flipping away, Heracles looked as if he was just evading. That was until he delivered a powerful kick to Hercules' chin.
Hercules: !!!!
Heimdall: It seems that he is finally showing his true colors! With an unorthodox move that caught the mighty Hercules off guard, this rampaging monster is beginning to fight like a true berserker! A maddened frenzy of unpredictable attacks!
As Hercules recovered and went to defend himself with his club as Heracles dashed straight at him again, the berserk Greek hero reached out and grabbed onto his club. Using that as leverage, Heracles tossed Hercules up into the air. Jumping up after the representative of the Gods, he proceeded to grab onto his leg, and with a mighty throw, slammed him into the floor.
*Crash*
Hercules: Grghh...
Heracles: ▂▂▃▃▅▅ーーー!!
Yet Heracles gave no time for Hercules to recover. Taking the opportunity and leaping forward, he began to pummel and unleash a beatdown on Hercules. Each punch, each kick, each blow from his axe-sword swinging wildly burying Hercules further and further into the floor. Almost as if he intended to make a coffin for the Greek Hero to lie down and die in.
Heimdall: The almighty Hercules is left down for the count! Thrown like a meteor falling from the Heavens, can he recover from the unrelenting assault of his savage opponent?! Can Hercules gather the will to continue?!
Finally, Heracles stopped his assault. What was left in the crater was a mess of rubble, covering the beaten and battered body of Hercules.
Gods: W-We lost... that fast?! / How can this be?! / Hercules! Get up! We believe in you! Please!!!!
Humanity: Hah! Our Heracles is stronger! / Anger issues save the day! / When's the next round starting?! He's clearly dead!
Ares: Foolish humans... Hercules' true power lies not in his strength, but in his will. Even us Gods could not break it. So don't think for one second... that Hercules would give up after this little!
What was Ares referring to? Well, it's simple. The ever-famous tale of Hercules, his 12 labors, and his ascension to Godhood. But his story wasn't always him using his overwhelming strength to overcome the impossible, and not all of it was glorious triumph after triumph either. Although the story of this Hercules is different from the one led by the Master of Chaldea.
Born as a human named Alcides, he was but a weak and frail boy. Constantly being hit, beaten, and spat on along with his other outcast of a friend named Castor. Yet despite this, he always stood on the side of justice, no matter how unfavorable the odds may have been. No matter the hardships, no matter how many times he was beaten, he always chose to side with justice.
He was weak, that much was true. But that weakness did not deter him, even in the face of monsters and men who could send him flying with a single punch. Even if the path he must walk to be on the side of justice was tougher than any other, he walked it. If it meant being strong enough to protect those he wanted to protect, he'd walk right through hell to do it.
Eventually, it paid off, after years of training, he was about the fiercest man one could find in his homeland. The spitting image of a powerful hero who would side with justice to protect the weak and frail, just as he had once been. However, a man can only be so strong and can only protect so much with his own two hands.
For one day, just like the currently occurring Ragnarok, the Gods had decided to partake in a little genocide upon humanity. What reason? It was simple, the Gods just thought the humans were getting a little too haughty, however, it was just a pretense to keep them in check as to not have their egos damaged by the progression of their civilization.
And so the wrath of the Gods was unleashed upon the Greek city of Thebes, coincidentally where Hercules, still the man named Alcides, lived. As the jurisdiction of the area lay with the Greek pantheon, Ares was sent to impose the divine will of the Gods. Everyone simply accepted their fates as their God of War and his armies approached, yet one man didn't. He couldn't.
That man was Alcides.
He stood ever brave, siding with justice as a hero. Even in the face of the unstoppable and overwhelmingly stronger Gods, he stood ready to face them with nothing but a wooden club in hand. However, bravery and good intentions aren't enough to defeat divinity, so he is promptly kicked down without a second thought.
But that wasn't the end, he stood up again and was even offered a chance at salvation and special treatment from the Gods. Seeing through this shallow promise, however, Alcides refused immediately. Then, drinking from a cup that contained Ambrosia, a drink of the Gods, it was at that moment he became Hercules. A hero of legend and the God of strength and fortitude.
He clashed with Ares to protect his friends and family, along the way proving his strength.
He made a deal with the Gods to protect humanity, saving them from any more divine punishment.
All of this was for the sake of justice... and for the entire time...
His will never faltered even once.
Hercules: O-Of course I can...
He pushed a large piece of rubble off of him, and standing up, gripped his club with both his hands. Heracles noticed this and brought his axe-sword back to prepare for a strong strike to put his enemy down for good.
Hercules: After all...
As Hercules stood up and got into a stance, Heracles was already fast approaching. Who would strike first?
Heracles: ▂▂▃▃▅▅ーーー!!
Hercules: I'm always on the side of justice! Mighty Nemean lion! Feast on my flesh!
Heimdall: W-What's this?! The tattoo on Hercules is spreading?! Is that growling I hear too?!
This move Hercules was preparing, it is proof of his 12 labors, a proof of his will. It is...
Herculean Exodus, First Labor...
Nemean Lion.
Heracles swung upwards as Hercules' own powerful downward strike was dealt. The two clashed for a bit, but it seemed as if the mere normal strike of Heracles was no match for the power of Hercules' special move. As if a deadly lion of pure destruction had pounced on him, Heracles was crushed with so much force that his entire upper half was obliterated.
Heimdall: W-What just happened?! Hercules turned the table in one move! Heracles is dead! Annihilated! It seems that to him, this battle was just another labor to overcome!
Gods: Hah! Take that! Take that! You filthy humans! You lost! We won! / I always believed in you, Hercules! I love you! Thank you! / Behold the might of the true God of Fortitude!
Humanity: We... we actually... lost... / How could they turn the tables on us so quickly? How?! / No! No! We didn't lose! I don't want to believe it!
As Gods cheered and Humanity despaired, it was only Hercules who saw it. The lower half of Heracles stood as if he hadn't just been obliterated to meaty chunks and bloody mist. He thought it was perhaps just him being paranoid, but that was swiftly proven otherwise. Soon, the berserker's lower half erupted in flame, and appearing unscathed from them... was Heracles.
This was the power of...
God Hand.
Heimdall: Wait folks! It seems we've seen a miracle happen before our very eyes! Heracles has resurrected somehow?!
Gods: This is bullshit!!!! / Fuck me! I hate this tournament! / Cheating! I call cheating!
Humanity: Yeah! That's what I'm talking about! Get him! Win! / We don't lose! I love this tournament! / Stop being salty!
Heracles: ▅▅■■■■▅▅▂▂!
Hercules: You... you are strong... yet I will not falter! Come at me! I'll strike you down as many times as it takes!
Heracles: ▂▂▃▃▅▅-------!
A container of glass is tossed from somewhere hidden within the rubble of the arena right above Heracles, and a shadowy figure that no one, not even Heracles himself, Hercules, or any other God or human within the audience notices jumps out swiftly. A small burst of wind from the dash and a subsequent slash from the mysterious person who disappeared without a trace right after. It appears as if nothing had happened. That is until a sound is heard...
*Crack*
-----
A few hours earlier.
Gudako P.O.V
Gudako: Well I have news for you then!
Bursting into the room of Heracles and Jack, it is also where I witness the slightly concerning sight of Jack mutilating some toy dolls into unidentifiable messes, which Heracles is seemingly supporting as he obliterates a doll into fluffy particles. Never mind that though, I have a job for these two!
Jack: Oh! Orange mommy!
Orange... mommy? Well, I can work on her names for us later, for now, I have to get to the point before I end up distracted or something.
Gudako: Y-Yes, your orange... mommy... is here. Ahem! How does plotting the death of a hero sound to you two?
Jack: Oooh! It sounds fun! We want in!
Heracles: ▅▅ーーー!!
Since Jack is in, I assume Heracles is also in. Though I'm pretty sure he'd beat about anything I point at to death if I really wanted to do that. Also, I do feel a bit bad about doing their Heracles like this, but the survival of the human race and me is on the line, so I'll win at all costs. The rest of the Gods were assholes, but this one is pretty nice, so I'll try to think of something nice along the way.
Gudako: Great! So, Heracles will be fighting this round.
Heracles: ▂▂▃▃▅▅▅▅ーーー!!
Jack: Aww... b-but we wanted to dismember a person and leave people in despair and fear...
I feel bad I can't give her a starring role, but I really can't risk it. Since as far as I know, there aren't any female combatants on God's side that Jack would be super effective against. Hmm... but I still want to at least let her play a part somehow... hmm... ah!
Gudako: How about you get to sneak around the arena to watch the fight and after my signal, you will use this bottle right here to buff Heracles and watch as he decimates the enemy into pasty meat chunks! You won't even be seen or detected due to your skillset!
I pull out a suspicious bottle of ominous dark liquid and hope that my sales pitch to Jack works. I am slightly concerned with how easily I've gotten to saying such depraved and violent things for her sake, but I'm sure it's fine. However... it is awfully silent... does she not like it? Should I let her kill a few people or two around here- no! No! That's a horrible idea! Stop it, me!
Jack: Ahh! A front-row seat to a brutal murder! We want it! We want it! It's a shame we can't do it ourselves, but this will still be fun!
Oh... she likes the idea! Hooray!
Gudako: Great! Now let's get this plan underway!
I hand her the bottle and lead the two out of the room. It's time to get this show on the road!
-----
Third Person P.O.V
*Crack*
A singular crack is heard by the audience of this fight, as if a container of fragile glass has been shattered. In an instant, the fighter facing the representative of the Gods is coated in a dark swirling mud that moves as if it were alive, as if it had some malicious sentience. Swirling and swirling, it finally comes undone, vanishing as if it was never there.
Yet the menacing aura of the substance didn't seem to leave. For in its place no longer stood who had once been there, now there was a man, face covered by a long black hood. Wearing an outfit the color of dark red blood, wielding nothing but a bow, and staring straight at his opponent with clear murderous intent.
???: So you're the one who's taken up the name of Hercules? Pathetic. You're no more than a naïve fool.
The man raises his bow and arrow, aiming it at the much taller and more muscular man in front of him.
???: So die. You miserable mutt of the Gods.
Heimdall: W-Whats this?! Not only did Heracles seem to revive-
An arrow is shot at Heimdall, barely missing. As it travels, neither losing altitude nor slowing down, it pierces the clouds and soon is out of sight. The announcer, however, is shaken by this near-death experience. That arrow would have shredded him to mince meat had he even been a millimeter closer, even if the hit had not been direct.
Alcides: My name is Alcides. I do not use a name given to me by the Gods. It is the proud name I bear as Mycenaean royalty and the son of human parents. Do not dare to call me by that name.
Heimdall: M-My apologies! It seems He- Alcides not only managed to revive earlier but has transformed into a more collected and ranged-focused form to handle the techniques of Hercules! Also, folks, seeing as their names are now distinguishable, I shall be handing the name of Heracles back to its rightful owner! Sorry for the confusion folks!
Heracles: I see... so you seem to bear a resemblance to my past self, it seems.
Alcides: A past you seemed to have forsaken like the fool you are.
Heracles: I do not understand. Why do you seem to bear such hatred for me?
Alcides: I bear hatred to all the Gods. You are one of them. You also possess a name which I wish to wipe from the face of this planet. So until you are dead... my hatred will not be quenched.
Heracles: For what reason? They had tried to destroy my home, but they are not all bad, I love humans too even if I have become a God.
Alcides: I see... so you truly are as much of a naïve fool as I thought. You know not of the pain they cause, not of their cruelty, and not of their hypocrisy.
Heracles: I... cannot say they are not like that, but humans are the same as well, we are all like that. Certainly, that isn't a reason to hate them-
*Fwoosh*
Another arrow flew past, but unlike the one with Heimdall, this one was close enough to cut Heracles and draw blood from wind pressure alone.
Alcides: Silence. Do you know what it's like to be made to kill your own loved ones wracked with madness? Be asked the impossible by their killers? Complete those tasks only to be cursed with what they call a gift? That is what the Gods do. I have more than enough reason to despise them. To hate them. To wish the death of every single one.
Alcides notched another arrow and drew the string of his bow back, Heracles responded by raising his club, prepared to deflect the blow.
Alcides: Which is why I've stripped every ounce of my divinity, rejected it, unlike you who has come to accept it. Accepted being a slave to and serving those who have wronged you.
Heracles: I am not a slave and I do not serve those in the wrong! As I have said... I am always on the side of justice!
Alcides: A fool to the end. I've had enough of this talk. Die.
Letting loose the arrow, it flies forward at incredible speeds. However, Heracles still managed to react and strike at it aiming to knock it out of the air. The blow connects, but to Heracles' surprise, the arrow doesn't quite get knocked out of the air. Instead, it's almost as if he was clashing with the berserk form of his enemy he was facing earlier.
Despite this, Heracles advances. No longer having to deal with unexpected kicks or throws, it was easier in a way to handle. So advancing step by step, he began approaching Alcides. Alcides however wasn't a fool as to just stand in one place, so he leapt backwards, not relenting in his rain of arrows that kept Heracles under constant pressure.
It seemed as if it were another stalemate like before, evenly matched in an endless dance of dodging and attacking. But as Heracles went in for an overhead strike which Alcides nimbly dodged, he responded by shooting countless bronze arrows into the air, seemingly missing Heracles completely.
Heracles: Face me in melee! Stop dodging! Hagh!
Alcides: You believe I would listen to such a request? So weak.
Heracles: I am not-
*Screech*
Catching the attention of everyone in the arena, was the sounds of screeching. A cry like a bird of prey, the telltale screech of a hawk, yet what made these sounds was certainly more monstrous than any normal bird. Metallic in nature, their beaks, talons, and wings all appeared as if they had been dipped in bronze. With another screech, these monstrous avians dove at Heracles with bloodlust.
Heracles: Such tricks won't- gah!
An arrow struck Heracles as a bird clawed at him, divided between handling both, Heracles took a brutal punishment as his already heavily injured body was forced to endure more damage.
Alcides: My sixth labor... witness it.
The sixth labor both Heracles had undergone is known as...
Sixth Labor: The Stymphalian Birds
Heimdall: It appears Heracles has been outmatched! Assaulting him on all sides like a storm are these metallic birds and flesh-rending arrows from Alcides! A downpour of death! Can Heracles handle it?!
Heracles swatted away an arrow, a bird would peck and claw at him. Heracles would then swat away one such bird, only to be struck by an arrow, then another. His body was tough, that much for certain, but even a body blessed by divine powers could only take so much. Arrow after arrow struck him and wounds covered his body.
Göll: B-Brother! I can't watch this!
Brunhilde:...
Gudako: ( I have to admit... maybe bringing him out was a little overkill... )
As arrows and metallic aerial monsters assaulted him on all sides, Heracles stood firm. Planting his feet firmly into the ground and taking a stance like before, he stood bravely before certain doom. Raising his club in front of him even as his body endured even more pain, it began to morph from the head of a lion to the shape of an eagle.
Heracles: If we're talking about the challenges we've overcome... then I've more than done my fair share! Take this!
Sixth Labor: Birds of Stymphalia
Swinging upwards, a mighty current of air sweeps away all incoming arrows and birds. Mixing them all up in the conjured stream of wind, all caught within are shredded to pieces from both the wind pressure and colliding with the other things caught up in the attack. That wasn't the end though, as the wind carried these sharp debris in a tornado of fast-moving debris straight at Alcides.
Alcides: Hmph. Useless.
Picking up the old axe-sword he wielded in his berserker state, he imbued it with a strange power, seeming to enhance it greatly. However, he was careful to make sure none of it entered or enhanced his actual body, only the weapon. So, with a powerful swing of his own, Alcides easily canceled out the wind with a singular strike. This was the power of an item Alcides possesses, the...
Goddess of War: War God's Military Sash
Up above in the stands, however, a certain trickster God noticed something.
Loki: Ares~ I noticed a little something... that Alcides is using his powers left and right without care... but it seems our dear Heracles' tattoo is growing, does that mean anything?
Ares: It's the rebound. A natural God would feel immense pain from even a millimeter of growth. Due to the immense power of those skills it spreads every time he uses a skill... something the opponent seems to lack unfortunately.
Loki: So! What happens if that tattoo covers his whole body?
Ares: ... Niflhel. Death. Just as Thor, Poseidon, and Zeus did...
Loki: Hmm~ How unfortunate~
But this drawback didn't seem to stop Heracles' however. As he charged forward through the smoke kicked up by the previous clash of techniques. Already, he began to use yet another labor. Rushing forward and clearing the smoke away with his club, it had transformed into the shape of a bull this time.
Heracles: Taste my power! Hahhh!!!!
Seventh Labor: Cretan Bull
He began to reel back the club for a mighty blow as he had just gotten sight of Alcides, standing perfectly still.
Alcides: Still... weak. You'll need more than that.
Discarding his bow, to everyone's surprise, he reeled his fist back.
Alcides: Witness the difference in power.
This wasn't just any ordinary punch however, something was different. As if this punch would bring forth and draw out the maximum power of Alcides' strength for Heracles to bear. It was...
Nine Lives
*Boom*
Heracles: Gaghh!!!!
In an instant, cutting off the technique of Heracles, he was shot back and his body clearly showed signs of being hit in over a dozen places all faster than the blink of an eye. The technique of Alcides could bring out the maximum power of any weapon, including even one's bare fists, something Heracles had the misfortune of facing head-on.
Heimdall: H-Heracles has been blown back! And is his arm broken too?! This is looking bad for God's representative!
Alcides: Now, come on. Bring out your most powerful attack, it is the only chance you have at defeating me.
Picking up his bow calmly, he held a relaxed stance, waiting for Heracles to stand back up. If he didn't, it just meant he won. This wasn't a result of pride or arrogance, it was just a simple observation. There was no chance as beaten as he was that Heracles could manage to turn the tables on him. Not even using all his abilities to the fullest, he had beaten this hero to the ground thoroughly.
Gods: Heracles! No!!!! / AhhH! This can't be!!!! / WahhhH!!!!!
Humanity: ... / This is... rough to watch... / I sort of feel bad...
Göll: Ah... no...
Brunhilde: ...
Gudako: ( Okay... this might've been serious overkill... )
Jack: ( Hehe... no one has noticed me! Ah! He looks so messed up! If only we could gut him right now and end it... but then mommy would get mad... )
Away from the reactions of the audience, Heracles stood. Well, standing would be generous for his state. Using his club for support, he breathed heavily as he tried to shake off his injuries.
Heimdall: This is looking grim for Heracles! Can he even get up anymore!? Can he even fight anymore?!
Alcides: Come on. Stand up. Fight.
Heracles: Ughh...
Alcides: Is your will that weak? Were you not proud of it?
Heracles: I-I...
His voice shaky, Heracles' voice was barely audible. After a bit of silence, he took in a deep breath, and his voice became booming and loud once more as he regained a proper stance.
Heracles: I will never give up! Not on justice! Not in this battle! Not in humanity!
Gods: You can do it, Heracles! / I believe in you! / I think you're the strongest! Prove it!
Humanity: I believe in you, Heracles! / Go!!!! / Wait... am I the only one not cheering for him!?
Hearing the cries of support from both the Gods and some of Humanity, Heracles walked forward. Slowly but surely, he prepared to enter combat again.
Alcides: Idealistic fool. You say you love humanity yet you stand with those who wish to squash it like a mere insect. Surely you know you can't play both sides?
Heracles: That's where you are wrong! I am a Demigod. A human, born on Earth, who ascended to Olympus as a God. Holding the titles of being both a deity and a human... I can say with certainty. That humanity- no, even the Gods can be foolish, hateful, jealous, prideful, resentful, the list just goes on, and yet... I can say that I side with the Gods in this fight and still truly love humanity!
Alcides: How...
Getting back into a firing stance with his bow, Alcides looked at Heracles as if he was trash.
Alcides: Completely nonsensical.
Heracles: You may think that... but I don't! Justice will prevail! Hyaahhh!!!!!
Throwing his club into the air with a loud shout, an ominous portal opens up above.
Heimdall: Heracles has thrown his club away- no wait! What's this?! The fabric of reality is twisting?!
Alcides: Hmm... interesting.
The portal grows and swirls, the faces of the damned visible within.
Heracles: Come forth, Hound of Hades.
Three monstrous canine heads emerge from the portal, bearing multiple eyes each, and two of them bite into the body of Heracles. The last and third head biting right onto Heracles himself.
Twelfth Labor...
It appears as if Heracles is reduced to no more than a bloody mess afterward, but as the smoke and blood clear, he is revealed to be very much alive. His body now has sharp claws, fangs, spikes, and even more hair than before. The tattoo on his body also turns black and continues to slowly eat away at his life as it grows. This technique is...
Hound of Hades: Cerberus
Gods: L-Lord Heracles? / Ominous... / It's... edgy...
Humanity: W-What is that? / Are we sure this is supposed to be a battle of heroes? / Did he just fuse with a dog?
Ares: Heracles... you can do it!
Swinging his arm it appears as if Heracles had lost all sense of depth perception, hitting nothing but air.
*Slice*
Alcides: !!!!
For the first time, Heracles had done real damage to Alcides. Despite seemingly not hitting anything, the arena was torn apart by invisible claws, including a gash on Alcides' chest. Taking more care now, Alcides hopped backward and began letting loose arrows again. In response, Heracles swung his arms wildly, and it was as if an invisible beast tore apart every arrow.
Seeing the ineffectiveness of simply firing arrows, Alcides began to take the battle more seriously. Imbuing each arrow with the power of the War God's Military Sash, he let loose volley after volley of deadly arrows at Heracles. Despite this, the invisible claws tore apart all that was close, and the God of Fortitude was rapidly closing in the distance due to the limited arena space.
Alcides: ( If he survives this... then I'll resort to that. )
Drawing his bow back once more, Alcides drew back his bow to the point it looked like it would snap in half, in addition to imbuing it with the power of a War God. Letting loose the arrows, it appeared as if they would just get torn apart again. Which they did, but then even more came, not even a second later. Then dozens more, then hundreds more, a bow-turned machine gun fired upon Heracles. This was the combined power of...
Goddess of War: War God's Military Sash
Nine Lives
A deadly combo that would assuredly kill anyone caught by it. Yet the wild swiping reminiscent of the berserk state of Alcides from before used by Heracles to defend himself was surprisingly effective. The rate and size of the slashes effectively form a shield that could serve both offensive and defensive purposes. Seeing the power of this final ability, Alcides decided on something.
Alcides: This power... it'd be a waste to let it die along with you. So...
Heracles had finally gotten in melee range of Alcides, ready to tear him to shreds. But right as the invisible claws would have struck Alcides, he spoke something.
Heracles: I've got you! Hyahhh!!!!
Alcides: Twelfth Labor...
Heracles: What?!
Alcides: Hound of Hades: Cerberus!
Alas, whatever he had attempted was too late, as Heracles fist swung past Alcides. The invisible claws would surely cut him up into pieces at any second...
...
But... that didn't happen. In fact, the transformation Heracles had undergone had seemed to suddenly vanish.
Heimdall: What's this, folks?! Did Heracles run out of juice or has Alcides used another trick from up his sleeve?!
Heracles: W-What happened- Gah!
With a kick, Alcides sent Heracles flying backward.
Alcides: You fought well, you were strong. However in the end...
Drawing back his bow and notching a singular arrow into it, he sent it flying. The wind pressure blows back the cloth covering Alcides' face, revealing features awfully similar to Heracles' Cerberus transformation. As the arrow flew further, the surroundings were torn apart in the same manner as the invisible claws Heracles used. Thus, it dawned on those watching what had happened.
Ares: D-Don't tell me... that! That should be impossible!
Hermes: This... is truly unfortunate...
Loki: Hoh~ Now this is interesting! Too bad about Heracles-chan though~
Göll: Nooo! Brother Heracles!
Brunhilde: ( Tch... we've won... but at what cost? )
Gudako: ( I really hope my plan works out or else I'll feel bad about this much overkill later... )
Gods: Heracles! Please! Do something! / Dodge! Heracles! Dodge!/ No! No! I don't want to watch anymore!
Humanity: We won! We won! But... this victory doesn't feel as good as the last ones... / It seems humanity triumphs divinity again, huh? / Noooo! Alcides- Heracles? Alcides? Heracles? Hmm... Wahhhh!!!!!
As Heracles saw that singular arrow, to him it meant certain death. There was no escaping it, he couldn't use another labor without that being the cause of his death instead. This was it for the God of Fortitude and Strength because not even the most steadfast of Gods could stand against the hatred and desire for revenge of man.
Heracles: So this is the end, huh? This was a good fight... and even if you say it is foolish... I'll always love humanity... I'll always side with justice-
*Fwoosh*
*Boom*
The arrow struck... and nothing was left of the mighty Greek Hero.
Alcides: To the very end... a fool.
̶H̶e̶r̶a̶c̶l̶e̶s̶ Alcides vs Heracles
Deciding Move: Twelfth Labor, Hound of Hades: Cerberus / Nine Lives.
Victor: Alcides
-----
Gudako P.O.V
I watch on as Heracles begins crumbling to dust and Göll begins to cry next to me. I feel bad about this all, so I subtly snap my fingers. I feel the bottle taken out of my hand and see the faintest gray blur zip past the crumbling body of Heracles. Phew... that should take care of it... I think... I hope.
Göll: Nooo! Brother Heracles! H-He's gone! Ahhh!!!!
Brunhilde:...
Gudako: Uhh... I'm sure it'll be all righ-
I'm cut off by the boos of the Gods and a few people from the Humanities side weeping for the loss of Heracles.
Gods: Give us back our Heracles, you fake! / You didn't deserve to win! You're just a hate-filled human pretending to be a hero like him! / Go and die in a hole! I don't want to see you again!
Uh... I don't think mocking Alcides of all people is a good idea though. Especially since it is mainly the Gods doing so-
*Smack*
D-Did one of them just throw an apple at him? I think I really need to stop this before it gets out of hand-
*Smack*
*Toss*
*Bonk*
*Smack*
They keep on throwing more things?! Stop! Stop you idiots!
Alcides: You're next.
He says that while pointing at all of them... huh... can I perhaps reverse this change?
[ Notification: If you were to kill him and then revive him, the settings would revert to default, and thus, return him to his Berserker state. ]
Ah, fun. Well, I think I have someone in mind to deal with that whole problem then! Walking up to a certain shiny golden man, I tap him on the shoulder.
Gudako: Excuse me, Gil?
Gil: Hmm? What is it you require?
Gudako: Well you see that man down there? The one we just used to win the tournament?
Gil: Yes, I do. What of him?
Gudako: Well you see... he's hard to control and might go rogue, so I kind of need him... how do I put this... dead?
Gil: You want me to kill him?
Gudako: Y-Yes?
Gil: You ask of me, a king, to personally see to this task as if I were a mere assassin?
Gudako: I-I didn't mean it like that-
Gil: Very well!
What.
Gudako: E-excuse me?
Gil: Did you not hear me the first time? I said very well! I have grown bored of simply watching, a little exercise would do me some good! Fear not, Master, he shall be dead before the victory feast! Kuahahahaha!
Gudako: Good- wait, victory feast?! But I never promised anything like- and he's walked off...
Ugh... this is all a big mess right now. I really want to go home... but there are still more battles to go and more things to deal with unfortunately. As of now, things should resolve themselves by the next battle if nothing goes wrong. So, deciding I've had enough action for today I quickly dash to my comfort zone! Kama's room-
Kama: Hehehehe... Hahahahaha! Just you wait, Shiva!!!! I'll burn you to ashes! I'll make you feel my agony! Hahahahaha! I can't wait to see you writhe in agony- ah.
Gudako: Ah.
Kama: ...
Gudako: ...
Kama: Lap pillow?
Gudako: Lap pillow.
All's well that ends well, I guess!
-----
Third Person P.O.V
Sitting upon her throne, a familiar Monarch observes the kingdom which she has built. As of now, she is doing nothing particularly important, only waiting for some servants she had called to the throne room to discuss matters that had come up. Resting her chin on her hand, she waits until the telltale creak of the massive castle doors signals their arrival.
Morgan: Finally, you have arrived. We have much to discuss.
A man with a skin-tight black shirt and black pants, accompanied by a red coat enters. His short white hair and tanned skin differentiate him from the person next to him. This woman had fluffy long pink hair and was wearing a full latex bodysuit, and most distinctly of all was the fox tail she possessed.
Koyan: Your beloved secretary, Koyanskaya has returned!
Sighing, the man in red speaks up.
Emiya: Archer, Emiya. The reports were right, they're making movements towards the city.
Closing her eyes for a bit, as if pondering, Morgan opens them again and commands the two with complete confidence.
Morgan: Is that so? Then intercept them. We shall crush them here and now.
The two remained silent before bowing their heads slightly.
Koyan: Very well. I accept this assassination.
Emiya: They just never learn huh... alright. I'm on it.
The two leave right after, leaving Morgan alone in the throne room.
Morgan: Hah...
Sighing, she waves her hand and something materializes. A pillow... portraying a familiar orange-haired Master.
Morgan: How I miss you, my wife-
*Bang*
Melusine: My Queen! It appears that was a diversion!
Barghest: Shall we move to crush them-
...
Morgan: You saw nothing! Move! Intercept them!
...
Melusine / Barghest: A-Affirmative / I-I won't fail!
So the Grail War continued, along with all the shenanigans it entails.
-----
Character images:
Heracles ( RoR ):
Alcides:
EMIYA:
Koyanskaya:
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