The Holy Grail War Blessed by the Gods

But things are never that simple. Alcides himself realized that he was locked in a state of being locked down.

Even if you try to dodge, you absolutely cannot avoid the arrow that has already locked onto you. The only choice you can make is to smash and destroy it head-on.

Therefore, Alcides seized the last opportunity, drew back his bowstring, and fired a magnificent arrow.

The arrow imbued with Ares' divine power was not so easily destroyed upon contact; Artemis' golden arrow was blocked by this arrow, and the two collided and shattered.

But in the brief moment between the collision and explosion of the two arrows, another arrow silently pierced through and struck Alcides' body.

However, Alcides possessed a remarkable resilience to his body, so Apollo's arrow did not tear him apart, but it did pierce through Alcides' flesh, causing a wound that reached his lungs.

“I was still wondering why something like the remnants of a god would appear here. It seems it’s because of you.”

Alcides stared thoughtfully at the arrow that had vanished into his abdomen, a very strange smile on his face.

"Since they launched their attack the moment they chose to break in, they probably weren't just passersby who got caught up in the chaos. It seems they were the source of the enemy who came in on a chariot earlier."

Bazdilot stood beside Alcádez and spoke calmly.

"That's right, this guy made no attempt to disguise himself at all. Although the aura he exuded was ambiguous, how could I not recognize him?"

Whether it's true or not, or perhaps just a fabrication, it's something that must be thoroughly analyzed and examined.

Alcides' only remaining doubt was about the aura of power. He could confirm that the power came from Apollo, but it seemed to be different from the Apollo he knew.

Just like Ares, whom we just saw, but despite the strangeness, the things that need to be done will not change.

Since it is indeed related to the gods, whether it is real or fake, it should be destroyed.

"But who is the other party?"

Bazdilot was not so good at determining the intruder's identity, but he naturally knew most of the details of this Holy Grail War.

But on the first night, so many situations arose that it was still impossible to understand them.

At least for now, we can only identify the other party as a Servant or something whose power is comparable to that of a Servant.

But it must be related to deities, although we don't know what they are.

"I'm afraid it's some fool who thinks he's favored by God, but is actually just a puppet."

"That would be rather petty. As a hero, you can only share your own experiences and not drag others into it."

Doing something like this won't ultimately diminish the target of criticism, but rather it will only diminish the person who said those words.

Manju didn't do much to hide or reveal himself here; at most, he put on a veil to make himself less obvious to others.

However, the intense divinity and other powers flowing within him can be said to be completely undisguised.

"Oh……"

Alcides merely murmured a low murmur, then continued to tuck his bowstring taut.

"Just as I thought, it was a demigod that had to be eliminated. I didn't expect that I would be able to kill such a prey from the very beginning."

The supersonic arrow arrived in front of Manshu in an instant. The power brought by the six shock waves was enough to overturn everything around.

"You're not even going to give an answer? How foolish! If you had been even a little more humble, you might have survived."

Such an attack is enough to kill the magician, but it's simply a pipe dream to break through the enemy's defenses.

"Come, god of Piton, god of the Titans!"

Manjushri simply waved his hand and uttered Apollo's name, using only the power of those few words to knock down the arrow.

Even the remaining power transformed into dragon-slaying arrows and shot out.

Alcides fired three arrows in quick succession before he could stop the force.

"There is nothing more to say to you. You are a fool who relies entirely on God and is utterly unsalvible."

Your existence and value are things that need to be denied; you don't deserve to live.

Having witnessed Manjussus release Apollo's arrow, Alcides truly needed to say nothing more.

All he needed to do was not to draw the bowstring and destroy everything, because Manju was indeed the object he needed to ravage, destroy, and utterly crush.

"You're covered in mud from head to toe, is that your reason for being so divine? You're such a twisted and unrecognizable creature, it's a real shame."

He had completed the Ten Trials and was known as Hercules…

"Shut up."

Just as Manshu uttered that name, Alcides shouted a voice that froze the air.

The red and black shadows, the same hue as his body, also surged and moved like living creatures.

It was hatred, it was fear, it was slander, it was regret... all sorts of pent-up emotions, deep in the shadows, on the verge of their limits.

"The hero by that name no longer exists. No, that guy wasn't even a hero anymore. He was a fool who chose to pay the price of his soul in order to please tyrants."

"But you still can't make that name disappear, for it is an unconquerable hero with a fearless heart, and I am here calling upon his power."

Manjus naturally retaliated when interrupted, so he unceremoniously repeated the name of Hercules.

Chapter 19, Part 12

As the greatest hero of Greece, Heracles was regarded as both a hero and a god.

According to Herodotus, the ancient Greeks worshipped him both as a hero and as a god.

During festivals of offering, people would present Hera as a hero to console his soul as a human hero, and also place him on altars to be worshipped as a god.

Just as Pindar said, Hercules is a heroic god.

Being both the son of Zeus and the son of Amphitryon, Heracles possessed a dual relationship that symbolizes the humanity and divinity that humans simultaneously possess.

Manshu's voice conveyed a meaning that couldn't be clearer, and even Alcides sensed it.

But probably no one would think in that direction right away; Alcádez only reacted with disgust and anger.

"Are you going to ask the gods for help again? Will you continue to have Ares, whom I have defeated several times, appear, or will the God-King, who is the embodiment of thunder, take action?"

If you can really do that, then perhaps I should sincerely thank you.

Alcides simply associated it with Ares, who had appeared earlier, along with the divine arrows of Artemis and Apollo.

To defeat him, these powers would certainly not be enough; even ordinary gods might not be able to surpass the great Hercules.

"No, the blood energy of the God of War can't harm you. Ares was defeated by you four times during the Battle of Pylos, so I naturally won't seek Ares's strength again."

Of course, lightning can be useful, but it is not necessary. Since you have taken up the name of Alcides and discarded the name that represents the glory of the gods.

So naturally, it should be that the name you abandoned and intended to erase should make you understand that, although it was clearly distorted, what you ultimately received was still the name Alcides. It's truly fascinating.

Alcides can indeed be considered the starting point, and it's normal for a human to pick up this name, but the meaning of this name is that of a person who reverses misfortune.

Of course, it can also be considered timely to some extent, at least for Alcádez at this moment.

"Hmm? You don't mean you're planning to bring Hera here, do you? If you can let me see that wicked woman again, then you can indeed be spared from death today."

The name Heracles can also be interpreted as the man Hera brought to power. Despite Hera's various schemes out of jealousy, she did not destroy Heracles; instead, she helped him achieve great things.

"Just look, look at the name I call, and then vent your anger and hatred, your despair and regret."

"Then let me see, you empty fool, to whom you will ultimately choose to pray after all your choices."

Alcides simply raised his hand; that was all he had to do.

The bow in his hand and the arrows he shot were enough to crush any opponent.

His skills or the divine bow he wielded have pierced through gods more than once.

But today he is not facing anyone else, but Hercules.

"Hercules, fearless heart, valiant Titan,"

Your hands are as hard as iron, unconquerable; heroic battles bring great glory.

You manifest in countless forms, Father of Time, eternal splendor!

In the hymns, Hercules was incorporated with the images of different gods, shaping him into the supreme Hercules.

At this moment, it is connected to Chronos, who is sometimes referred to as Heracles in the Orpheus version of the Theogony.

It was a deity in the form of a dragon, with three heads: a lion, a bull, and a human.

"You... what exactly are you?"

Upon hearing the name that had been called at the beginning, Alcides' expression, which had remained largely unchanged until then, twisted in an instant.

Alcides even drew the bowstring taut and released the arrow, which was imbued with divine power, without hesitation.

However, the arrows he shot could only stop in front of Manshu, as if there was a barrier in front of Manshu, stuck in the air and unable to move.

"As you can see, I am seeking divine power, and now, for safety's sake, I have allowed time to lay down its defenses around me."

Manshu spoke slowly and deliberately, knowing full well that he was not answering the question, but he did not need to elaborate further.

Since the defenses have been set up, the next step is to launch an attack, so he shouldn't waste his words on answering.

"You cannot describe it, its heart is wild, it is constantly prayed to, the absolute master."

You are invincible, possess immense strength, and are both an archer and a prophet.

You swallow all things, and create all things; the Supreme Savior, who drives away and conquers beasts for mortals.

The great hero's arrow was shot out; arrows suspended in the air would only be shattered, offering no real obstruction or resistance.

Because that arrow was formed from heavenly fire, it is the beginning and end of everything, and represents nature and destiny.

"It seems I don't recognize the Hercules you mentioned. No wonder I was also puzzled by Ares before."

"That's fine too. The gods you speak of are all people I don't know. Although the pleasure of ravaging them might be somewhat diminished, it also won't remind me of anything bad."

Alcides did not remain surprised for long; he was a highly competent warrior, and became even more impeccable after shedding the name of a hero.

He simply continued to fire arrows in rapid succession, each strike powerful enough to tear the land apart.

But what shot out from the opposite side was something even more terrifying.

The Stoics believed that the power of Chronos sustained the entire universe, and when his power was exhausted, the universe would be engulfed by a sea of ​​fire, and Chronos would return to the original fire.

Seneca connects this to Hercules' self-immolation after completing his great work in his book, and Brisson also elaborates on this event in his book.

The power that was channeled in the previous period is now being used as an arrow, and the power that represents the end of a cosmic year is being activated here.

Alcides didn't expect his arrows to do anything; they were merely a means of delaying the inevitable.