The earth shattered beneath them as Alcy's massive sword met Rakan's claws. The impact sent shockwaves rippling across the plains, carving trenches into the soil and scattering dust into the air. For a moment, the two combatants hung in the balance, their weapons locked, their eyes burning with mutual recognition.
Rakan grinned, his sharpened teeth gleaming in the fading light. His wild mane of hair framed his face, and his yellow eyes studied Alcy with a predatory hunger that went beyond mere combat. He pushed her back with a single shove, sending her skidding across the ground.
"Ah...A beautiful woman...." he rumbled, his voice thick with amusement. "And a strong one at that. I have not seen a female capable of matching my strength in centuries."
Alcy planted her sword into the earth, stopping her momentum. She rose, dusting off her shoulders, her expression flat and unimpressed. "Is that supposed to be a compliment?"
Rakan laughed, a deep, guttural sound that echoed across the battlefield. "It is. You are strong. Fierce. A worthy mate." He stepped closer, his massive form casting a shadow over her. "I have been searching for a woman who can keep up with me. One who will not break under my touch." His grin widened. "You will do nicely."
Alcy's eyes narrowed. Her grip on her sword tightened. "Mate?"
"Yes." Rakan spread his arms wide, as if presenting himself. "I am Rakan, King of Beasts. The strongest of my kind. Together, we would create offspring that would shake the foundations of this world. Join me, and you will never want for anything."
For a moment, Alcy was silent. Then she laughed....a cold, sharp sound that cut through the air like a blade. "Disgusting."
Rakan's grin faltered. "What?"
"I said you are disgusting." Alcy raised her sword, pointing it directly at his heart. "You think because you are strong, you can simply claim me? I am not some prize to be won. I am not some beast to be mounted." Her voice dropped, becoming something colder, harder. "I am Heracles. Daughter of Zeus. Slayer of monsters. And I would rather die than let a creature like you touch me."
Rakan's expression shifted...the amusement fading, replaced by something darker. A flicker of anger, of wounded pride. "You refuse me?"
"I refuse you."
His laugh returned, but it was different now. Harder. Crueler. "You do not have a choice, little one. In the world of beasts, strength is all that matters. Power is the only law." He cracked his neck, his claws extending further. "And I am stronger than you. You do not have to consent. I will take what I want."
Alcy's blood ran cold. Not from fear...from rage. Her knuckles whitened around her sword.
"Try it," she said, her voice barely a whisper. "And I will show you what happens when a beast oversteps."
Rakan laughed and charged.
Alcy activated Belt of Ares.
The familiar rush of power flooded her veins...strength, speed, agility, mana, all of it surging in a single, overwhelming wave. Her vision sharpened. Her muscles coiled. Her mind cleared.
She followed it with Belt of Hippolyta.
The world slowed. The chaos of battle became a series of clear, precise calculations. Every movement, every angle, every possible outcome...her mind processed it all with clinical efficiency. The pain of exhaustion faded. The weight of fear vanished. There was only the fight. Only the victory.
She moved.
Her sword carved toward Rakan's throat. He caught it with his claws, the impact sending sparks flying. She spun, her blade slashing at his side. He twisted, avoiding the strike by inches. She followed with a kick, driving her heel into his chest.
He barely moved.
Rakan grinned, his eyes gleaming with savage delight. "Fast. Faster than I expected." He lunged, his claws raking toward her face. She ducked, rolling to the side, and came up swinging.
Erymanthian Boar.
Massive red aura erupted around her, the strength of the great boar surging through her limbs. She charged, her sword leading the way, her body a battering ram of force.
Rakan caught her.
His hands closed around her blade, stopping it cold. The impact sent shockwaves rippling through the air, but he did not budge. His grin widened.
"Strong," he admitted. "But not strong enough."
He shoved her back, sending her skidding across the ground. She planted her feet, her sword raised, her breath coming in sharp gasps.
He was toying with her.
Rakan's true strength emerged.
His body grew larger, his muscles bulging, his claws extending into wicked talons. His yellow eyes blazed with primal hunger, and his grin stretched across his face like a wound.
"Now you see, little one" he rumbled, his voice deeper, more bestial. "This is the real King of Beasts."
He attacked.
His claws came faster than she could track. She blocked, dodged, parried—but he was relentless. Each strike drove her back, each blow chipping away at her defenses. He was faster. Stronger. More savage.
His claw raked across her shoulder, drawing blood. She gasped, stumbling back.
His fist slammed into her gut, doubling her over.
His knee drove into her face, sending her flying.
She crashed into the ground, rolling to a stop. Her vision blurred. Her body screamed in protest. She forced herself to rise, her sword still in her hand.
Rakan stood over her, his shadow blocking out the sun. "You fight well," he admitted. "But you cannot win. Surrender, and I will make your submission gentle."
Alcy's response was a snarl.
She activated Stymphalian Birds.
Feathered steel erupted from her, a swarm of razor-sharp projectiles that shot toward Rakan's face. He raised his arms to block, his claws deflecting most of them, but the distraction was enough.
She coated her blade in Hydra poison.
Lernaean Hydra.
She lunged, her sword driving toward his neck. He saw it coming, but he was still recovering from the birds. The blade struck home...barely. It pierced his skin, drawing a thin line of black blood, before his claws knocked it aside.
But the poison was in.
Rakan stumbled back, his hand pressed against his neck. He looked at the blood on his fingers, then at Alcy. His grin returned. "You think poison can hurt me? I am the King of Beasts. I am immune to..."
He stopped.
His eyes widened. His body swayed. The poison was already spreading, weakening his muscles, slowing his reflexes.
For the first time, fear flickered across his face.
"What... is this?" he snarled.
Alcy smiled. "Hydra venom. Even if it does not kill you, it will slow you down. It will weaken you. And that is all I need."
Rakan laughed....a raw, desperate sound. "Clever girl. Very clever." He straightened, forcing his body to move despite the poison. "But cleverness will not save you."
He lunged.
Alcy activated Cerberus.
Three copies of herself materialized around her, each one identical, each one wielding the same massive sword. They moved as one, surrounding Rakan, their blades flashing.
Rakan met them head-on.
His claws tore through the first copy, dispersing it into mist. His fist slammed into the second, sending it flying. The third copy drove her sword into his side, but he caught her by the throat and crushed her.
Alcy herself faced the real Rakan.
But even weakened, even slowed, he was a monster. His claws raked across her arm. His fist slammed into her ribs. She felt something crack, felt the pain lance through her body, but she did not stop.
She could not stop.
Damn it, she thought, her mind racing. He is still too strong. Even with everything I have, he is still too strong.
She thought of Damien. Of his power. Of the ease with which he had defeated her in training. Of the gap between them that seemed to grow wider with every passing day.
'If I cannot beat this beast... how can I ever hope to stand beside him?'
Rakan's claw raked across her chest, sending her flying. She crashed into the ground, her sword skidding out of reach.
He stood over her, his chest heaving, his body trembling with the effort of fighting the poison. "You fight well," he admitted, his voice ragged. "Better than any other I have faced. But you are still not strong enough."
Alcy lay on the ground, staring up at him. Her body was broken. Her strength was fading. But her will was not.
She thought of Damien. Of the way he smiled. Of the way he looked at her with pride. Of the way he had said she could stand beside him.
'I will not fail him' she vowed. 'I will not be the weakest link. I will not be the one he has to protect'
Her hand found her pouch. Her fingers closed around the golden apple.
This is the last time, she told herself. 'After this, I will train harder. I will become stronger. I will no longer need these crutches'
She bit into the apple.
Golden Apples.
For two seconds...only two seconds...she gained the power of Atlas. The strength to hold the world on her shoulders. The power to crush mountains with a single blow.
Time slowed.
Rakan's eyes widened. He saw the golden aura erupt around her, felt the shift in the air, the sudden, overwhelming pressure of her power.
He had no time to react.
She moved.
Her hand shot forward, faster than thought, faster than light, faster than anything he had ever seen. It slammed into his face, the force of the blow sending shockwaves rippling across the plains.
His head exploded.
His body crumpled, falling to the ground with a heavy thud. The King of Beasts lay still, his reign of terror ended in a single, devastating strike.
Alcy fell to her knees.
The golden aura faded. The power of Atlas left her, leaving only exhaustion and pain. She stared at Rakan's body, her chest heaving, her mind reeling.
She had won.
But the cost was immense.
She looked at the remaining golden apples in her pouch. Only four left. Four chances to gain the power of Atlas. Four chances to turn the tide in a hopeless battle.
Once they were gone, what would she do? How would she face enemies like this? How would she ever hope to catch up to Damien?
Tears welled in her eyes. Not of sadness, but of frustration. Of determination.
'I need to get stronger I need to become stronger than this. Strong enough to stand beside him without relying on the apples. Strong enough to be worthy of him'
She pushed herself to her feet, her body screaming in protest. She retrieved her sword, her fingers closing around the familiar hilt.
She looked at Rakan's body one last time, then turned and walked away. The battle was won. But the war was far from over.
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