บท 36: Chapter 36

Hearing the start, I didn't waste any time. I rushed at Heracles, channeling cursed magic through both myself and Muramasa, and swung toward him.

Not one to be challenged lightly, Heracles charged forward as well, swinging his massive club. I had forgotten that the arena hadn't changed from Jack's request, the stage was still built as 19th century London. It caused an issue I hadn't faced the first time.

"First Labor: Nemean Lion!" Heracles bellowed as he swung, while I poured more cursed magic into Muramasa.

Our weapons collided with a resounding crash, a blinding mix of blue and red energy radiating from the impact. A shockwave erupted, tearing through the nearby buildings. With our weapons locked, we both strained to overpower the other.

"You are a great warrior" Heracles shouted "but you won't win!"

I gritted my teeth and pushed more cursed magic into myself and Muramasa, but Heracles matched my power. Realizing I wasn't gaining the upper hand, I shifted my strategy. I pulled some of the cursed magic enhancing my body and poured it into Muramasa.

Heracles noticed the change, but was too late.

"Cursed Slash"

Muramasa erupted with cursed energy. The overwhelming force had nowhere to go, and in an instant, a blinding explosion detonated between us, sending me flying back into the nearby buildings.

I crashed hard, finally hitting one that stopped my momentum, only for it to collapse on top of me.

'Fucking buildings.'

Forcing the rubble off myself, I scanned the arena and spotted Heracles on the far side.

We rushed at each other again, and I noticed his red tattoos expanding, creeping further across his body. 'I can't let him keep using divine attacks.'

His club shifted, transforming into the shape of a boar. "Fourth Labor: Erymanthian Boar!" he roared, and the weapon started charging with blue light.

I poured even more cursed magic into Muramasa, determined to end this quickly. I ducked under a swing from the left, positioning myself to slash at his legs. But Heracles recovered faster than I anticipated and slammed the boar-shaped club into my right side. I barely managed to move Muramasa in time to dampen the blow, but the impact still sent me flying, crashing through several more buildings.

For a split second, everything went black. 'The hell was that?'

When I finally stopped, I collapsed onto one knee, gasping for air. Glancing down, I saw my fresh scar had torn open again, the wound now larger and leaking blood.

I heard Heracles' heavy footsteps approaching, his figure looming closer. Gritting my teeth, I forced myself to stand once more.

-With Brunhilde, Göll, and Jack the Ripper-

We watched as Ryou was thrown into the buildings for the second time, debris crumbling around him. When he rose again, blood dripped from his side, dark and thick against his skin.

Göll was the first to break the silence. "W-what attack was that?"

Brunhilde's frown deepened, her eyes narrowing. "That was his Fourth Labor: Erymanthian Boar. The longer Heracles runs in a straight line while it's active, the stronger the effect becomes. But every time he changes direction to pursue his opponent, the power weakens."

Jack, standing calmly beside us, spoke next, his voice as unsettlingly serene as ever. "I'd dare say that attack was on par with one of Zeus's divine strikes."

Brunhilde's expression hardened at Jack's words, doubt creeping into her eyes. 'Was this a mistake?'

-Back with Ryou-

We stood about thirty feet apart when Heracles stopped, raising his voice to the crowd. "I will always love humanity, despite its flaws!"

The words seemed to hit the human spectators hard, tears started falling among them. I couldn't help but roll my eyes. 'Really? They're crying over that?'

I sized him up, eyeing his movements carefully. "Of course you do. You're Heracles, the Envoy of Justice. But right now, you're also my enemy, and every human's enemy. You're aiding the Gods who wish to erase us."

His frown deepened, but his resolve didn't waver. "That may be the case, but after this fight, I will speak with the other Gods."

I admired him as a man, truly. But this wasn't something that could be talked out anymore, and I wasn't about to bleed out while he delivered a speech. Without hesitation, I channeled cursed magic into my body, not holding back this time. The energy surged through me like a violent current.

Heracles noticed. His club morphed into a bird as he swung, a powerful gust of wind rushing toward me. "Sixth Labor: Stymphalian Bird!"

The force of the wind sent debris and shattered buildings hurtling my way. I dodged and weaved between the flying rubble, closing the distance between us. That's when I saw his tattoos had grown even further.

'I really need to finish this.'

He had shifted his club into a lion just as our attacks collided again. This time, I poured more cursed magic into my body, enough to match his overwhelming strength, if only for a moment. I felt the surge of power, pushing him back, but Heracles quickly regained his footing and roared, his raw force slamming into me.

I adjusted the cursed magic flowing through me, diverting it to my legs. As I was being driven backward, I suddenly leaped, using the momentum to my advantage. I shifted my weight to my toes and surged forward with incredible speed. The surprise in his eyes was clear, he hadn't expected me to recover so quickly. I closed the distance in an instant.

"Cursed Slash!" I shouted, and in one clean motion, I severed his left arm.

But before I could capitalize on the moment, Heracles retaliated. He headbutted me, rattling my skull, and followed up with a powerful front kick that sent me skidding back several feet. I barely managed to regain my footing, my vision momentarily blurred from the impact.

The arena fell into a heavy silence, a mixture of hope and sadness hanging over the crowd.

Heracles looked at his missing arm, then back at me. His expression remained calm, almost admiring. "You are truly an amazing warrior" he said, his voice steady. "I shall no longer hold back. Prepare yourself, warrior Ryou."

I knew what was coming. I tried to rush in, but a powerful gust of wind surged from him, halting my advance. The pain in my side flared, momentarily freezing me in place. It was all the opening he needed.

Heracles threw his club into the air, and as it soared, he summoned Cerberus. The mythical hound fused with him, transforming his body. His hair grew longer, fangs and claws emerged, and fur sprouted along his skin. A spiked collar formed around his neck, and the tattoos on his body turned pitch black, spreading slowly further.

He clenched his remaining hand, the sheer power radiating off him almost suffocating. "Warrior Ryou." he growled, his voice deeper, more primal. "This is me at my peak of strength."

His eyes gleamed with unshakable resolve as he announced. "Twelfth Labor: Cerberus, Hound of Hades."