Chapter 520
‘If we keep pushing like this, we have a real shot at winning.’
Jinhyuk surveyed the overall battlefield.
Compared to the mighty force of Olympus, their coalition was far weaker, but the capabilities of each faction’s commanders were gradually closing the gap.
Above all, the Norse deities, empowered by Yggdrasil’s blessing, were holding the front lines—and that was making all the difference.
‘With Odin commanding personally, someone like Ares doesn’t stand a chance.’
Their odds of victory had climbed to at least sixty percent.
Unless Zeus took some drastic, all-in gamble, nothing would overturn the current momentum.
Or so he thought…
Vwooooom!
A fearsome sonic boom resounded from far off.
KWAKWA… KWAKWAKWANG!
A massive shadow darted between Mjolnir and the lightning streaking through the sky.
“Damn… If only Yggdrasil had finished growing…”
“Enough excuses. Get lost.”
Heracles slammed Thor, helmet and all, into the ground.
KWAANG!
Dust burst everywhere as a black crater split open in the earth.
It looked as if a meteor had crashed head-on.
So deep you couldn’t see the bottom.
Step.
Through the haze, Heracles strode forward, hefting his massive club.
After such an intense battle, heat radiated from his entire body, making steam rise.
But even more terrifying was the murderous aura pressing in from all around.
Shiver.
Even the Frostblade Tribe under Karakal—
“Ugh…”
“Ahhh…”
Even the elves, born with strong resistance thanks to nature’s blessing, trembled from head to toe.
Some even fainted on the spot.
“So this is one of the greatest heroes of the upper floors…”
“Heracles, huh… interesting.”
“This won’t be easy.”
The various commanders twitched.
Nervous, excited, thrilled… For a few, irrepressible fighting spirit surged up.
Each had pride in their own skills, so facing an overwhelmingly powerful opponent made their hearts pound.
KWAANG!
First to leap into action was Pudalak of the Barbarians.
When ‘Earthquake’ activated, the ground split into jagged rifts.
Heracles’s balance faltered slightly from the sudden quake.
In that moment, Pudalak rushed in and seized Heracles’s hands with both of his.
“In my tribe, I’ve never lost in a contest of strength!”
A pure contest of raw power.
Pudalak, whose bulk rivaled Heracles, poured all his might into his arms.
His thighs bulged, muscles locking his center of gravity in place.
Crack!
Heracles’s wrist bent backward.
But—
“Pathetic. You call this a contest of strength?”
It lasted only a moment.
As Heracles began to use his true strength, Pudalak’s face flushed red.
“Kh…uhhp!”
Slowly, their grip was reversed.
Soon, Pudalak’s wrist was completely bent back.
Not satisfied, Heracles began to lift Pudalak’s entire body off the ground.
Any more, and—
His arm wouldn’t just break; it might be torn clean off.
“Tch!”
“We’ll help!”
Abraham and Andrea moved in.
[Abraham activates ‘Aura Blade’!]
[Andrea activates ‘Will-o’-the-Wisp’!]
Dazzling aura flared as Andrea’s crimson flames tangled chaotically.
Slash!
Boom boom boom!
Attacks from different directions hammered Heracles’s body.
“He reacted to that?”
“That’s nothing!”
Abraham’s sword managed to slice a thin layer from Heracles’s skin.
Andrea’s flames only managed to singe the surface.
And the price for missing the first strike was enormous.
KWAANG!
Heracles’s club sent Abraham flying, sword and all.
If ever there was a time to dodge instead of block, this was it—Abraham’s body bent at a right angle as he flew.
A single blow.
“Argh!”
One hit, and the Empire’s greatest knight was rendered unable to fight.
Judging by the angle of his broken arm, he couldn’t even move on his own for now.
“Next is that meddling fox.”
Heracles’s gaze turned to Andrea.
“…”
Andrea quickly readied herself.
She had no chance in a strength contest, but her specialty was speed.
Hit-and-run attacks to rack up damage were her forte.
And her opponent seemed to be the quintessential brute, all-in on power.
“If it’s me, I can—”
Pop!
Andrea shot behind Heracles at high speed.
Her flames were about to strike his nape.
But—
“You thought you could match my speed?”
Boom boom boom!
The flames pierced through Heracles’s afterimage, burning the ground.
He hadn’t even blinked…
Heracles had simply vanished like smoke from right in front of her.
A chill ran down Andrea’s spine.
Because the voice came not from ahead—but from behind.
“I don’t know what gave you that idea, but speed battles are where I’m most confident.”
Heracles grabbed Andrea’s head in one massive fist.
With even the slightest force, her skull would be crushed like a watermelon.
But just then—
[Black Heaven Demon Emperor Fist ‘Dark Sky Fist Destruction’ is activated!]
Wham!
“…Kh!?”
Heracles was pushed a step to the side.
“Now then, why not have a go with me?”
The Dark Emperor’s fist landed squarely on Heracles’s flank.
For the first time, Heracles’s expression shifted.
The power of the Black Heaven Demon Emperor Fist transferred the full impact into his body.
“Don’t tempt fate, old man. You’re not my match.”
“Kekeke! I’ll see for myself just how far your vaunted strength can go.”
The Dark Emperor beckoned with a finger.
Heracles’s body blurred into a gale, charging.
In the time it took to draw a breath—
A giant fist swept past the Dark Emperor’s head.
BOOM!
A sonic boom that felt like it would shatter the very air stabbed at their eardrums.
The Dark Emperor narrowly dodged the blow by a paper-thin margin, countering with a punch aimed at Heracles’s jaw.
KWAANG!
This time, Heracles caught the punch.
Almost simultaneously, his club swept sideways, aiming to split the Dark Emperor’s abdomen in two.
“Pathetic!”
The Dark Emperor drew upon Black Heaven Demon Emperor Fist, twisting the trajectory of the club.
But—
“…!!!”
Not the timing, nor the technique honed through endless repetition—
Not even the internal energy behind it all—
None of it mattered against the overwhelming force of Heracles, a demigod who simply crushed everything beneath him.
Rumble!
The Dark Emperor’s body was pinned by Heracles’s club.
[Heracles activates the unique ability ‘Twelve Labors’!]
[‘Hydra’s Poison’ is infused into his fist!]
“Is this really the strength of those who’ve trained their whole lives? You sure picked a pretentious nickname for yourself.”
A fist glowing with green light targeted the Dark Emperor’s heart.
One hit—certain death.
If it landed, his body would melt to mush in an instant.
Of course, that’s only if it landed.
[Heavenly Demon Divine Art ‘Heavenly Demon Sword’ is activated!]
Slash!
A flash of swordlight, and a long spurt of blood erupted.
Heracles grabbed his throat with one hand.
“Im… pressive.”
“Dark Emperor. Take a rest. I’ll handle this one.”
Dark sword energy rippled from the Heavenly Demon’s blade.
A presence completely different from before.
Heavenly Demon Divine Art, having surpassed ten stars, was now beyond sinister—almost ominous.
“Come. I’ll show you that the martial arts of Murim are never to be taken lightly.”
“Oh? You… are impressive indeed.”
Heracles checked the depth of his wound, then grinned.
Apparently pleased to have found a worthy opponent, he began to gather his aura in earnest.
Not backing down in the slightest, the Heavenly Demon unleashed the essence of the Heavenly Demon Divine Art.
KWA KWA KWA KWA KWA!
Magics of different colors clashed.
—
‘So it really won’t be easy, huh.’
Watching the fight between Heracles and the Heavenly Demon, Jinhyuk clenched his fist.
His strongest allies—Andrea, Abraham, and his master—had been forced off the front line, and now the only one who could hope to go toe-to-toe with a chief god, the Heavenly Demon, was tied up.
There couldn’t be a bigger obstacle in the chaos of this war.
“Looks like taking out the king is the only way.”
Alice approached Jinhyuk’s side.
Seeing her mow down hundreds of Greek warriors by herself, it was clear: a true progenitor is a true progenitor.
“Will we be able to reach him?”
Teresa, clutching her dust-covered shield, chimed in.
After endless battles, she was on the verge of collapse.
Chun Yoosung, without any self-healing ability, didn’t even need to be mentioned.
“Everyone bought us this time. Whether it’s possible or not, we have to succeed no matter what.”
Chun Yoosung leveled his sword to the side.
“We all made it through alive.”
All the companions who’d faced death together.
With this team gathered, he felt like they could pull it off.
Click.
Jinhyuk reversed his grip on ‘Crimson Lotus.’
If they could just land a blow on Zeus, this battle could be completely decided.
No matter how belligerent Zeus was, once the barrier was breached, it was only a matter of time—he was on a ticking clock.
‘If he can’t finish it quickly, it’ll only prove he’s weaker than he claims.’
Watching from the sidelines, the other factions might even be tempted to turn on Olympus.
“Let’s go.”
Jinhyuk took the lead.
Veteran Corporation’s elite immediately moved toward the floating stone where Olympus was.
Wuuuung!
“I’m coming, Master!”
Undine gathered up a torrent of water.
Rumble!
A column of water exploded upward, shooting Jinhyuk and the others onto the floating stone—bringing them face to face, looking down at the chief gods of Olympus.
“You…!”
Hermes’s eyes went wide.
“Do you have any idea where you are, barging in here?!”
“Are you insane?!”
The other Olympus chief gods stamped their feet, expressing their outrage.
To have mere humans standing atop the pillars of the Pantheon’s temple—it was beyond infuriating.
And, above all, to have only four facing them was an intolerable humiliation.
“Don’t get so worked up. I’ll give you a fight that won’t disappoint.”
Jinhyuk stared the deities down.
[Unique Ability ‘Triple Magic’ is activated!]
In his left hand, magic encompassing the five great elements.
And then—
[Unique Ability ‘Grave of Swords’ is activated!]
In his right hand, he summoned the killing aura for the Sword Demon’s final technique.
That was the signal for everyone to unleash their unique abilities.
[Unique Ability ‘Song of the Sword’ is activated!]
[Unique Ability ‘Blessing of the Stars’ is activated!]
[Unique Ability ‘Blood Lord’ is activated!]
(T/N: What a cinema!)
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(T/N: Still not back to a regular upload schedule, but I’ll be uploading at least 5 chapters per series every week, in order based on the most recent series I picked up. No fixed days yet, but I’ll keep the bulk uploads coming as best as I can!)
