One month later.
Cao Cao's arms shook violently as he pushed himself up from the dirt again, his shirt soaked in sweat, every breath coming out like fire through his lungs.
Across from him, Heracles roared as he pushed through his own set of push-ups, but with a boulder the size of a small house strapped to his back, crushing down on him.
Meanwhile, Arthur stood lazily balanced on top of Cao Cao's back, sipping from a cold bottle of water.
"That's eight hundred and twelve. You girls better not be slacking. I want to see you both finish before lunch, or both of you won't get lunch."
Arthur called out nonchalantly, watching them both closely.
"Shut... up..."
Cao Cao hissed through gritted teeth, arms wobbling dangerously as Arthur's weight pressed further into his spine.
"More... power…"
Heracles grunted, pushing through another rep.
The ground beneath him cracked with every repetition.
His muscles bulged and twitched, veins practically bulging as a mysterious white aura flickered subtly beneath the surface of his skin, which Arthur noticed and recognized but kept it to himself.
After Heracles' complete and utter defeat against Arthur, he had surprisingly taken it with grace, and maybe a little too much excitement.
Heracles had popped right back up the next day, after a quick hospital visit, practically demanded to join Arthur's group, and swore he would follow him until he could surpass him.
Arthur, amused and slightly impressed by Heracles' determination, had agreed and lets him join Cao Cao's daily workout.
"Alright, that's enough, ladies. You both look like you're about to make love to the dirt."
Arthur finally announced as he leapt off Cao Cao's back, landing with a soft thud.
Cao Cao immediately collapsed face-first into the grass.
"Thank... the gods... It's over..."
Heracles, though shaking, managed to slowly set the boulder aside before slumping against the trunk of a tree, heaving deep breaths.
He then started laughing that came from the gut.
"Damn... I can feel it... I'm actually getting stronger! Like I could punch a mountain in half!"
Arthur leaned back against the same tree, arms crossed.
"Good. That means there's progress, and you weren't wasting my time."
Cao Cao slowly rolled onto his back, staring up at the clouds.
"Is getting strong the only thing in that thick head of yours?"
Heracles wiped sweat from his forehead and scoffed.
"What? No! I also think about good food, a comfy bed, and owning the biggest, most badass gun collection in history. Like, bazookas, miniguns, everything."
Cao Cao raised an eyebrow.
"Aren't you a hand-to-hand combatant?"
"Exactly! So just imagine the PTSD I could cause to my enemies. You're expecting fists, and then boom! I'm carrying two incendiary miniguns in each hand!"
Heracles grinned.
Arthur let out a low chuckle.
"Okay, I won't lie, that sounds kinda awesome."
"Ha! See? He gets it!"
Heracles grinned widely.
"I don't. You two are just weird."
Cao Cao muttered, sitting up with a sigh.
Arthur clapped his hands once.
"Alright, break time's over. Grab some water and get your gear together."
Heracles blinked.
"Wait, already? We just-"
"No more training for today. After lunch, we're going somewhere special."
Arthur interrupted, grabbing his red hoodie from a nearby branch and slinging it over his shoulder.
Cao Cao narrowed his eyes.
"Where exactly?"
Arthur smirked.
"It's a surprise. For Heracles."
Heracles immediately perked up, his fatigue vanishing in a flash.
"Wait... for me?"
Arthur nodded, already walking off toward their makeshift camp.
"Yeah. You've earned it for surviving the whole month. You're gonna love it."
Heracles scrambled to his feet, eyes sparkling.
"No way, really?! Is it a private armory? A high-level sparring match? A museum of ancient weapons that also has vending machines?"
Arthur just laughed.
"Better."
Heracles made a strangled sound of joy as he followed, practically vibrating with excitement.
Cao Cao watched the two of them go, then rubbed his temples slowly.
"This is gonna end up with one of us fighting, aren't we?"
Still, he couldn't help the small smirk tugging at his lips as he stood up and followed.
DxD
The boat touched land, and Arthur led them toward an old stone house nestled deep in the woods.
Cao Cao raised an eyebrow, tilting his head slightly.
"So… this is supposed to be the surprise?"
Heracles stared up at the crooked roof, his grin unfazed.
"If Arthur says it's cool, then I trust him. Who knows? It might be an old hermit who knows a secret martial arts or something. That'd be dope."
Arthur stopped in his tracks, glancing over his shoulder.
"Alright, gang. Listen up. When we go in there, I need you two to keep your mouths shut and your cool even colder. The old man who lives here—he's cranky, unpredictable, and has very specific opinions about furniture placement."
Cao Cao gave him a dry look.
"He sounds delightful."
Heracles gave a thumbs-up.
Arthur approached the door and raised his hand to knock.
But his expression twisted suddenly when his nose twitched from a certain odor.
"…Blood."
Arthur muttered, voice low and tense.
Cao Cao and Heracles immediately tensed behind him, sensing the shift in the air.
Arthur's right hand summoned Excalibur Destruction and his eyes narrowed.
"Get ready."
Without hesitation, Cao Cao summoned the True Longinus in a flash of light.
Heracles cracked his knuckles, his Variant Detonation flickering faintly around his arms.
Arthur slowly pushed open the old wooden door.
Inside was chaos.
Blood stained the walls, furniture was broken, the smell of copper was overwhelming, and in the middle of the floor lay an old man, motionless, dried blood trailing from his mouth and chest.
Arthur rushed forward and knelt beside the body, checking for any remaining signs of life.
He pressed two fingers to the man's neck, then glanced back grimly.
"…He's dead."
Cao Cao stepped in slowly, eyes wide.
Heracles stood frozen, his brows knit.
"What in the hell happened here…?"
*ROAR!*
A guttural, beast-like roar echoed from deep within the forest, trees rattled, and birds scattered.
Arthur stood up immediately.
"Looks like we'll get our answers soon. Let's move."
Without wasting time, the trio darted out of the house and ran through the dense woodland.
After several minutes, they burst into a clearing, and the sight before them made them all halt.
Corpses littered the forest floor.
Devils, most of them from a noble household, judging by their gear and clothing, were either torn apart or crushed.
The remaining survivors surrounded a massive golden lion with a purple jewel on its forehead.
The lion stood on top of a pile of Devil corpses, and it roared, a deep, thunderous sound that sent a visible shockwave across the battlefield.
One devil collapsed instantly, blood gushing from his ears.
Another tried to charge from the side, but the lion pivoted and mauled him effortlessly, claws shredding through armor like paper.
"S-Stop it! Restrain it at all costs!"
The leader devil barked, his voice shaking.
The remaining Devils launched a barrage of arrows and fireballs.
They struck, yet the lion didn't flinch as the projectiles halted on contact with its fur.
The lion lunged, cleaving one devil's head clean off.
The last attempted to flee, but a final roar turned his body into a mangled, bloodied heap.
The leader devil, panicked and crawling backward, spotted the trio at the edge of the battlefield.
"W-Wait! Please! Don't kill me! I'll do anything! Just-"
A golden blur silenced him.
The lion slammed its paw down on his back, teeth sinking into his throat with a wet, snapping crunch.
The devil spasmed once, then was still.
The golden lion stood upright, its massive body drenched in gore, and locked eyes with the newcomers.
Cao Cao was gripping his spear tight, Heracles was smiling eagerly, and Arthur didn't flinch as he smiled and waved.
"Hey there. Just to let you know, we're not with them."
He said casually, slinging Excalibur Destruction across his shoulders.
The lion sniffed, its nose twitching.
"So… you carry the Red Lizard within you, Devil boy. How curious."
Arthur raised his left hand, manifesting half of the Boosted Gear.
"Hey Ddraig. Looks like someone recognizes you from the smell."
Within Arthur's gauntlet, Ddraig stirred.
"Hmph. It has been some time, Cat. My condolences for your host."
The lion bowed his head slightly.
"Much appreciated, Lizard. He was a good man."
Then its gaze turned toward Cao Cao.
"And you… I see you possess the Holy Spear of God. Good for you, boy."
Cao Cao shifted slightly, caught off guard.
"Uh… thanks, I guess."
The lion's glowing eyes finally fell on Heracles.
For a moment, it seemed puzzled.
"You... have we... met before?"
Heracles grinned.
"Maybe not 'me' me… but I kinda remember a version of me killing you with my bare hands."
The lion froze.
"Hehe... Hahahahahaha!"
Then laughed heartily.
"Heracles. So it seems that history repeats itself. Fate truly works in mysterious ways."
Heracles laughed along, flexing.
"Yeah. I never thought I'd see the day I'd get to face you in this life."
Cao Cao leaned toward Arthur and whispered.
"Okay, seriously. Who is this lion?"
Arthur's expression was unreadable.
"Cao Cao, meet Regulus Nemea. A Longinus, just like ours. This one houses the spirit of the Nemean Lion, Regulus, the same lion Heracles killed in the Greek myth."
Cao Cao blinked, jaw tight.
"Wait, so he's literally the lion from the legends?"
"Yup. He's impervious to virtually anything, so the best you can do is fight him bare-handed."
Regulus's body tensed, muscles rippling under golden fur as he stepped toward Heracles.
The two began circling each other slowly, eyes locked.
"So, how much exactly do you remember of your past?"
Regulus said, voice rumbling.
Heracles stretched his limbs, his Variant Detonation shimmering.
"I don't remember much. Just bits and pieces. But I do remember you were tough as hell."
Regulus grinned, revealing rows of gleaming fangs.
"Then come and face me once again. Let's see how this Heracles compares to the last!"
Arthur stepped back, hands in his pockets.
"Try not to wreck the whole forest, okay? Heracles, don't hold back."
Cao Cao stood beside him, wide-eyed.
"We're just gonna let this happen?"
Arthur smirked.
"Of course we are. Besides, it's the reason why I brought Heracles here in the first place... to challenge the Regulus Nemea in combat."
DxD
Hello readers!
I have decided to remake my "I Am Okkotsu Yuta" soon, so please don't drop it, thank you!
Thank you everyone and see you later!