A thunderous roar shattered the heavens.
The sea parted, reminiscent of Moses' miracle, splitting into two massive walls of water.
Artoria moved through the air as if treading on lotus petals, her figure an elusive blur, like a phantom.
She left an afterimage in her wake, her real body appearing beside Heracles in the blink of an eye. In one fluid motion, she unleashed three slashes of her sword, aimed at his thigh, wrist, and neck.
Heracles wielded a simple club as his weapon. With each swing, the wind it generated could cleave through the sea and scatter the clouds.
Even as Artoria's blade-light closed in on him, his resolute expression betrayed not the slightest trace of panic.
With the skill of a god, Heracles dodged the strike aimed at his neck, deflected the blow to his wrist with a sweep of his club, and countered the final attack with a forceful kick, sending Artoria's sword flying off its trajectory.
It was raw, unrestrained power. The sheer impact caused Artoria to pause momentarily.
The next instant, Heracles' club swung in a sweeping arc straight toward her.
Boom!
The shockwave from the collision unleashed a tsunami. Millions of tons of seawater were thrown into the air, turning into droplets that rained down like a deluge.
At the center of the battlefield, Artoria's holy sword clashed against Heracles' club. The diminutive woman and the towering man stared each other down across their weapons.
Heracles' club was no divine artifact forged or gifted by the gods. It was crafted from wood he had cut down himself during his hunt for the Nemean Lion. Ordinarily, it should have shattered into splinters the moment it struck Artoria's [Exaclibur Morgan], her sword.
But after Heracles ascended to godhood, his club became a divine symbol of his power.
Though skilled in all forms of combat, Heracles favored the club and bow above all else.
The immense, mountain-moving strength he channeled into his club pressed down on Artoria's sword.
For a brief moment, Artoria's expression wavered, as if she were deliberating something.
And then, suddenly, the battlefield was swept by a gust of wind.
What began as a gentle breeze grew into a searing gale.
A tremendous surge of magical energy burst forth, striking Heracles and forcing his massive frame back several steps.
Yet, despite being pushed back, Heracles' sculpted, statue-like body bore no signs of injury. His skin was harder than steel, honed to the point where even without weapons, his body alone could slay dragons and lions.
Straightening his back, Heracles fixed his godlike gaze, glowing with divine light, on the storm-shrouded Artoria.
"Have you conceded?"
"Yes, I concede…" Artoria admitted with a cold smirk. "In terms of sheer strength, I'll call you the strongest."
Since the battle began, the two had tested each other's physical capabilities and combat techniques.
Artoria was faster than Heracles and slightly superior in technique. But when it came to raw power, she was utterly outclassed.
Though their contest of strength appeared evenly matched, the reality was different.
"You were holding back, weren't you?"
Her accusatory words were met with silence, making Artoria's expression darken further.
Boom!
Dark magical energy erupted from her, a sinister flame that reached toward the heavens.
Veins of blood-red light traced their way across her face, and the black aura surrounding her armor radiated a malevolent force. She now looked less like a knight and more like a vengeful demon risen from hell.
"I'm done sparring with you… I'll crush you into worthless dust."
Heracles' eyes widened slightly in surprise, but before he could react, a torrent of black energy surged toward him.
The sudden explosion of magic filled the air with steam as boiling seawater frothed up around them.
From the mist, Heracles' massive frame was sent flying, his figure barely visible through the dense vapor.
But Artoria's blade wasn't finished yet. The cursed sword strike followed him relentlessly, like a predator refusing to let its prey escape.
"Nemean Lion! Grant me an invulnerable body, impervious to blade or arrow!"
Heracles invoked his first labor.
The Nemean Lion was said to possess a hide so tough that no weapon could pierce it. Heracles ultimately defeated the lion with his bare hands, choking it to death. He then used the lion's own claws to skin it and fashioned its pelt into armor.
Even after acquiring gifts like Hephaestus' bronze greaves and Athena's golden breastplate, the lion's pelt remained Heracles' most trusted protection.
With the invocation complete, Heracles roared and punched toward the approaching sword strike.
A terrifying shockwave erupted, shattering the cursed black flames that threatened to scorch the sea itself. The collision dispersed much of the surrounding mist.
As the vapor cleared, Artoria shot through the air like a black comet, cloaked in fire. She crashed into Heracles with enough force to shake even the mighty hero.
Teeth gritted, Heracles was momentarily forced back, but he quickly muttered another incantation.
"Cretan Bull! Lend me your strength, the might to crush all that stands in my way!"
This time, Heracles invoked his seventh labor, the subjugation of the Cretan Bull.
The myth told of how King Minos of Crete promised to sacrifice the first creature Poseidon sent from the sea. Moved by his sincerity, Poseidon summoned a magnificent white bull. However, Minos broke his vow, angering the sea god, who cursed the bull with madness. Heracles subdued it with sheer force.
With the incantation complete, Heracles' already imposing figure grew even larger. A radiant, milky-white light enveloped his body.
"Haah—!"
With a powerful roar, Heracles planted his feet, halting his backward momentum. He reached into the searing black flames surrounding Artoria and did the unthinkable—he tore the flames apart with his bare hands, as if ripping fabric.
The wall of cursed fire was split open, and Heracles grabbed Artoria's sword with one hand while gripping his club tightly with the other. With a mighty swing, he brought the club down.
Boom!
The cursed flames shattered as Heracles' club struck Artoria square on the shoulder. The impact sent shockwaves rippling across the ocean, throwing up towering waves.
From his vantage point, Heracles couldn't see Artoria's expression, obscured as it was by her bangs.
Then her low, mocking voice reached his ears.
"Hmph. That was indeed a powerful blow… I suppose I'll acknowledge you for it."
In the next instant, the blade in Heracles' grip erupted with blazing black fire.
Startled, Heracles immediately released the sword and swung his club once more.
But Artoria's counterstrike was faster.
"Perish in agony and become ash!"
Her slash, wreathed in dark flames, carved a massive crescent across the battlefield, unleashing a devastating force that seemed capable of boiling seas and scorching skies alike.
---
...
Huh. You really stuck it out all the way to the end.
Didn't think you had the patience. Guess I was wrong.
WiseTL's the one who actually made all this come together. I'm just here putting a bow on it… or, well, shoving it in a backpack and calling it a day. Same thing.
If you had fun, you know what to do:
👉 [patreon.com/WiseTL]
Heads up—Patreon's 50% off for all tiers during May. So if you were on the fence? Now's the time.
And if you're the social type, there's a Discord too. Pretty decent spot to hang out—no battles required.
👉 [discord.gg/wisetl]
Alright. That's enough standing around. Go on—before you make it weird.
—Leaf