King of Underworld

Chapter 121

The First Labor - The Pride of Nemean Lions (2)

The Nemean Lion.

Born of Typhon and Echidna, this beast was of the same demigod status as its siblings, Orthrus and Hydra.

Living in the valley of Nemea, it was a monster that killed humans and animals indiscriminately.

“A pride of Nemean Lions, you say? Could you elaborate a bit? I’ve spent a long time in the Theban Hero Academy, so I’m not well-versed in worldly matters.”

“Ah... The Nemean Lion originally referred to Typhon’s child. But...”

One reason the Earth Mother Gaia had been quiet lately.

If the Plains of Phlegra, the stronghold of the Giants, could not move due to the vigilant watch of the gods...

Why not mass-produce monsters that were already powerful, or make them stronger?

Especially if they were the offspring of Typhon, who nearly single-handedly overthrew Olympus.

Thus, with Gaia's assistance, the Nemean Lion managed to reproduce.

“Recently, dozens of lions following that monster appeared and razed an entire village.”

“...Dozens?”

“Those living near there would know more about the details than I do.”

Heracles loosened his muscles as he exited the temple.

Dozens from the first labor alone—he didn’t think he would lose, but wasn’t that a bit much?

Before heading to Nemea, he prepared thoroughly.

He equipped himself with spears and arrows to face the pride of lions from the forge. He tested a hefty club made of olive wood and then...

“Do you have a club made of steel?”

“...What? Even if I made one, could you carry it around?”

“I’ll pay handsomely. If you start today, when would it be ready?”

“I am blessed by Hephaestus, so I can make it quickly.”

Finally, Heracles slung the ordered steel club over his shoulder and set off for Nemea.

In the region of Nemea, there wasn’t much useful information.

All he could gather were rumors overheard from a young man.

“It’s several times larger than other lions, with red eyes that stand out...”

“Right? That thing is the Nemean Lion. It’s not just a lion—it’s like a wolf pack, with others following it...”

“So where are they now?”

“They live in a creepy gorge about a four-day walk from here. They say it’s a place mixed with human corpses and blood. Ugh... Why do you even want to know about those horrible things?”

With no more information to gain from the man, Heracles moved directly toward the gorge.

“...Hmm.”

The thick stench of blood lingered at the entrance, and an ominous atmosphere filled the air with no sign of life.

The gorge was barren, almost like a desolate desert with little vegetation.

As Heracles, burdened with various weapons, entered the gorge, monstrous lions gradually began to appear before him.

As if catching his scent, the flesh-eating lions gathered closer and closer.

They were no ordinary monsters. These were creatures that inherited the blood of the Nemean Lion, a demigod, and child of Typhon.

Their claws were sharper than the finest swords, and their hides were much thicker than ordinary monsters.

He slowly drew his spear and club from his back. Left hand gripping the long spear, right hand clutching the steel club.

The weapon skills he had learned from the wise centaur Chiron were unmatched, but against these foes...

Pooosh! Roar-

Swinging and stabbing alone would be enough.

The head of the first lion that licked its lips and approached him was impaled on his spear.

Without giving him time to retrieve the spear, the monsters charged, but they were immediately met with his club’s crushing blows.

One, two, three... and five more...

One by one, the lion monsters that had gathered fell by his hand.

Heracles' leather tunic gradually stained red, and the monsters charged at him fearlessly, despite his fierce, almost demonic appearance.

Roarrr- Roar! Slash-

His skin, strengthened by the River Styx, was nothing in the realm of the gods. If he strangled the lion to death, he would be admitting that he couldn’t face its hide head-on.

‘...I can’t allow that! I am destined to become a god. I will not resort to tricks because I can’t break through some creature’s hide!’

So he continued to pound away at the lion's tough hide.

No matter how tough, it couldn’t be tougher than the skin dipped in the River Styx.

If it wouldn’t break easily... he would hammer it until it did.

Let’s see whether my body or this beast’s flesh is tougher!

“Dieeee!!!”

Roarrr! Roarrr!!!

Heracles, having long since abandoned his weapons, began to brawl with the beast barehanded.

His gaze was as fierce as the monster's, and his fighting style became increasingly primal.

This was his desperate struggle to maintain his pride, his ordeal to become a god.

The hero, or rather the god-in-training, grabbed the lion by the throat and slammed their heads together, again and again.

Then came the punches. His bulging muscles relentlessly hammered the lion’s nose...

Thud. Thud. Roar—!!!

Heracles absorbed the lion’s counterattacks without pause and continued his relentless assault.

The lion’s hide finally succumbed to his unwavering fists.

Thud. Thud. Squish.

The sound of the lion's nose caving in under Heracles' fists.

The Nemean Lion trembled in fear, but Heracles smiled triumphantly, focusing his blows there.

Eventually...

Roar—!!!

Thud!

The gigantic maneater collapsed, defeated, marking the hero’s victory.

The Nemean Lion lay dead with its face utterly mangled, while Heracles bore not a single scratch.

“Bleh. Spit!”

Any hero would be praised and called a great hero for this feat alone.

But as he dusted off his bloody knuckles and slung the lion's body over his shoulder, he wasn’t content with being a great hero—he was a challenger to the throne of godhood.

< When the brain falls short, the body must suffer. >

One of the lessons spread by the goddess of wisdom, Athena.

“Hmph. I thought it’d take a few more days, but it was easier than I expected.”

But when one is Heracles, the brain need not suffer.

The Nemean Lion pride that had terrorized so many...

Heracles wiped them out in a single day.