"Here's some advice ~," the boatman said with a smile, steadying his oar as he looked at Cyd and Medusa standing on the shore. "Don't eat anything here if you plan to return."
"Not bad advice from a guy like you," Cyd raised an eyebrow.
"For someone wealthy like you, it wouldn't be good for business if you couldn't go back," the boatman shrugged. "Eat something here, and you'll be stuck."
"You can shove off in that river!" Cyd retorted.
"Don't be angry ~ You'll need my boat to get back anyway," the boatman scratched his chin. "How about I tell you how to deal with that ominous dog?"
"... Fine, here's a gold coin. How about helping me get past Cerberus?" Cyd flicked a gold coin towards the boatman.
The flame in the boatman's eyes flickered intensely before returning to normal. He casually waved his hand, "Sir, you must be joking. That savage beast is infamous. I wouldn't dare make it my plaything."
"Five gold coins."
"Sir, you can't just—" the boatman reached out, trying to grasp the gold coin from Cyd's palm.
"Forget it," Cyd said, retracting his hand and putting the gold coin back in his pocket. "I admire your resolve."
"Actually, I can give you some advice," the boatman said, eyeing Cyd's pocket eagerly.
Cyd stepped onto the boat, "Just row your boat!"
He stomped firmly, and with a pitiful yell from the boatman, the small wooden boat vanished into the white fog, leaving only the spray behind.
"What's your plan?" Medusa asked, lifting her sickle. "Do you need me to distract Cerberus?"
"Just watch," Cyd winked at Medusa. "Trust me."
"Alright," Medusa nodded.
After five minutes, they stood before the colossal Cerberus.
"Do you really not need my help?" Medusa asked, pointing to the monstrous creature.
"Is this thing the Three-headed Hound?" Cyd's mouth twitched as he looked up at the creature with over 50 eyes.
"That's just a rumor," Medusa said earnestly.
"Human! This is the gate to the Underworld. No dead can leave, and no living can enter!" Cerberus roared, its more than 50 mouths opening, the sound forcing Cyd to cover his ears and step back. "Leave now, or you'll be torn apart!"
"I'm starting to think these myths are just lies," Cyd muttered, crouching down.
"It's the Underworld's guardian; it's not supposed to let anyone pass," Medusa said, gripping her sickle as a strange light glimmered in her eyes. "I don't know if this will work, but let's try to petrify it first."
"Wait!" Cyd placed a hand on Medusa's head. "I have a plan."
Cyd stepped behind Medusa and pulled out a honey cake. While it didn't have an alluring sweet scent, the sound it made, like a drumbeat, caused Cyd to smile.
In myth, Cerberus was often lulled to sleep by this treat. Once it ate the honey cake, entering the Underworld would be easy!
"Sly human! We won't fall for that! Even if we must eat, we'll do so after driving you away!" One of Cerberus' heads roared.
"Your last words, I might have believed your evil," Cyd threw the honey cake. He could clearly see at least half of Cerberus' heads eyeing the cake stubbornly. "You don't eat it, let others eat it~"
Indeed, some heads' eyes lit up...
"Don't forget our duty!" The head that spoke first tried to hit the other heads.
"Doesn't matter ~ I'll be quick, just a taste of sweets in the Underworld ~" Cyd said, moving forward to place the cake on the ground before stepping back.
"Damn!" Even with a firm resolve, Cerberus couldn't stop the other heads from approaching the honey cake. It had to act.
Cerberus' giant claw lifted slowly, mixing the honey cake with the mud.
Cyd's expression hardened. He had counted on Cerberus causing a distraction with the honey cake and had only brought one.
"Don't forget our mission," the middle head hissed.
Suddenly, the other fifty heads sharpened their gaze. With no honey cake to seduce them, and no other sweets on Cyd, they had no choice but to resume their guard duties.
"Why!" Cyd grasped his hair in frustration. Myths suggested easily bypassing this watchdog, but he couldn't manage it. Why did this beast become so diligent when it's him trying to pass?
"Leave or be defeated!"
"Outwitted to be defeated," Cyd said, rubbing his forehead and handing his package to Medusa. "Stand back."
"Understood," Medusa nodded.
"Let's get this straight!" Cyd pointed to himself. "I am very strong I can take you down!"
Cerberus' response was a swipe of its massive paw.
Fine, making it retreat in fear wasn't an option.
The cloak on Cyd's right shoulder lifted, black scales forming a giant dragon claw that caught Cerberus' paw in mid-air.
"Sit down!"
The dragon claw flung Cerberus into the air. Cyd then pounded Cerberus' waist with his fist.
Cerberus howled and crashed into the ground like a falling meteor.
Cyd crossed his arms, standing over the massive crater, scales hovering protectively around him like a shield.
"Can I go in now?" Cyd tilted his head.
"Impossible!"
Cyd leaped and plunged towards Cerberus, his form huge and imposing against the crushed stone.
"I'll never let you..."
Scales surged from his cloak like ocean waves, with more than 50 dragon claws stretching out to pin Cerberus' heads. Cyd extended his right hand, catching and crushing the stone that flew towards his face.
"Sit down!"
Cerberus' massive body was forcefully pressed down, the gusts from Cyd's actions flapping wildly. Cyd released his grip, and the crushed stone was blown towards the Styx River.
"Can I go in now?"