-Heracles POV-
I had watched the second round unfold and thought no one could possibly win against Zeus. But now, facing this young man myself, I felt a strange mix of happiness and sadness. Humanity had produced such remarkable fighters, yet I knew what I was about to do. 'Forgive me, Brunhilde.' With that thought, I summoned a labor I hadn't used in a long time.
"Eleventh Labor: The Apple of the Hesperides!" A golden apple appeared in my hand. I watched as Warrior Ryou prepared himself, going into a defensive stance. 'I'm afraid that won't do anything.' Without hesitation, I took a bite of the apple.
-Ryou POV-
I watched in disbelief as Heracles, standing just a few dozen feet away, summoned a golden apple and casually bit into it. My heart sank. 'What is that? What will it do?' I cursed my lack of knowledge about mythology, but before I could piece it together, I witnessed something that shook me to my core.
His severed arm... it grew back.
The tattoos that once covered his body shrank, retreating until they were the same size as when we'd first started the fight. In that moment, it was clear. Heracles was back at full strength.
'Did he just eat a fucking Senzu Bean?!'
Heracles's eyes met mine, filled with unmistakable pity. Before I could fully process the situation, he rushed toward me again. I barely managed to dodge at the last second, but his blow still grazed me, sending a shockwave of pain through my body.
"I told you I wouldn't hold back!" he roared, his voice echoing through the arena. "I shall fight you until the end, Warrior Ryou!"
Before I could react, his fist slammed into the center of my chest. The impact was overwhelming; I felt the air leave my lungs as I was lifted off the ground and hurled into the sky. Pain exploded through my body, and everything went black.
I woke up in the Blood River. Around me were Rias, Akeno, Koneko, Yuuto, Issei, and behind them, others I had met along the way. Their bodies littered the ground, motionless, drained of life. 'I can't stop, can I?' The weight of that thought settled in as I stared at their still forms.
I closed my eyes for a brief moment. When I opened them again, I wasn't in the Blood River anymore, I was staring at the sky, high above the arena. I had reached the apex of Heracles punch, my body weightless for an instant before gravity pulled me back down. Pain still radiated from my chest, my ribs protesting with every breath.
As I descended, I forced myself to think back, back to my fight with Zeus, back to when I needed more cursed magic to bring him down. That desperation returned, and I willed cursed magic to flow through me once more, even though I knew I had barely any left. My reserves were almost completely dry, yet I pushed harder, demanding more from my exhausted body.
I began falling faster now, the ground approaching quickly. Ignoring the sharp protests of my body, I channeled whatever cursed magic I could scrape together into Muramasa. I just kept pushing, pulling more and more into the blade, the familiar weight of my sword thrummed in my grip as if answering my call, but I couldn't shake the sensation that something was wrong.
Still, I didn't stop. I couldn't stop.
I turned around in the air, facing toward the ground as it closed in. I saw Heracles getting ready to punch again if needed.
I started preparing my next strike. Once close enough, we both yelled out, shaking the Realm. "Nemesis Cursed Slash!" "First Labor: Nemean Lion!" Our clash reverberated through the Valhalla Arena, the shockwaves of our powers colliding sending ripples through the air. I continued pulling scraps of cursed magic, strengthening my attack, while Heracles showcased that he wasn't one to be outdone, pouring more of his strength into his own strike.
We were both sent back from the attacks, and once we found our footing, we charged at each other again. Heracles summoned another golden apple and held it in his mouth, while I kept pulling scraps of cursed magic.
Once more, our voices shook the realm. "Nemesis Cursed Slash!" "Fourth Labor: The Erymanthian Boar!"
We didn't stop, even as our clash pushed us back, we continued to engage, again and again. Heracles finally ate the second golden apple, bringing him back to peak condition. Meanwhile, I grasped at every scrap of cursed magic I could find. My body wasn't recovering; I couldn't see out of my left eye anymore from the blood flowing down after a strike I barely managed to evade. My ribs felt broken, and the pain had dulled to a numbing ache.
Once more, we were pushed back, and Heracles was forced to eat another golden apple. 'How many more of those can he have?' The answer came after fifteen minutes of relentless combat. He finally spoke, "That is my last. So let's make this our true final clash!"
I barely managed to respond, the effort weighing heavily on me. "F-fine, I won't d-dodge. You?" He looked surprised, then let out a booming laugh. "Very well, Warrior Ryou! I won't either!"
Once more, I pulled scraps of cursed magic. Even the smallest amount mattered now. I pushed every last drop of cursed magic reinforcing my body into Muramasa. This had to end.
Heracles began to glow with a brilliant blue light, while I radiated a fierce red. He rushed at me, fast and relentless, while I charged forward, slightly slower but no less determined. We didn't hesitate when we got close. We unleashed everything we had left.
"Fourth Labour: The Erymanthian Boar!"
"Nemesis Cursed Slash!"
The force of our clash shook the realm again. Pain surged through my body, my spine feeling as though it was crumbling under the strain of our attacks. I realized what this would come down to, a test of endurance. Heracles had the upper hand there, but I refused to back down. With a roar, we both yelled toward the heavens and poured even more strength into our strikes, determined to finish this fight once and for all.
-With Brunhilde and the Others-
Ryou and Heracles were both launched from their attacks, the shockwaves reverberating through the arena. We held our breath, as did the spectators.
As the dust settled, it revealed both fighters lying on the ground. Neither moved.
Heracles lay facedown, a pool of blood slowly spreading beneath him. But his back was still rising and falling, he was alive. The faces of the Gods showed their relief and happiness, especially when all eyes turned to Ryou.
Ryou lay facing upwards, his hair covering his face. His once red coat was gone, leaving his blood-soaked torso exposed. His right side was torn open, and his chest no longer looked like it was moving.
A stir of movement came from Heracles' side. Slowly, painfully, he pressed a hand against the ground and forced himself to his feet. His legs trembled beneath him, and he slipped in his own blood, collapsing onto one knee. With great effort, Heracles raised his head to look at Ryou's still form. After a moment, he called off his labor.
The arena was silent as Heimdall prepared to announce the winner.
-Ryou's POV-
I couldn't breathe. No matter how hard I tried, the air refused to fill my lungs. Muramasa lay by my side, and I could hear muffled yelling in the distance.
'Right, I was in a fight... Who won?'
I forced my eyes downward, still lying on the ground. Through the blur of pain, I saw Heracles struggling to his feet. 'He really is... amazing.'
Then it hit me. 'I can't lose.'
Summoning what strength I had left, I began to push myself up. Every movement was agony, worse than anything I'd endured during the match, but I refused to stay down. I could hear Heimdall's voice falter, his announcement cut short as he noticed my attempt to rise.
My vision narrowed until it was just Heracles, and with Muramasa in hand, I limped forward, each step heavier than the last.
Heracles took another step but then stumbled, his body finally giving in as he collapsed to the ground.
I stopped.
The last thing I heard was the sound of my ragged breath finally breaking through, and Heimdall announcing my win. I raised Muramasa into the air, my body trembling, but I stood, if only for a moment.
Then, everything went dark. I passed out soon after.