Myth: The Ruler of Spirituality

But at this step, nearly nothing in the mortal realm could stand against the great hero.

Stepping on the water, Heracles looked at the demon in front of him.

The bronze pillar holding up the sky revealed its true form, pressing the hundred-headed dragon underneath.

By now, the outcome was already decided.

"Ladon," facing the final head of the great demon, the great hero asked, "do you have anything left to say?"

"We are enemies, you want to kill me. But we didn't need to fight, it was only because I wanted to enter the Heavenly Queen's Garden."

"I won't spare you, but if you have any wishes, I might be able to fulfill them... if it doesn't go against my principles."

"...Roar..."

Without speaking, the only response to Heracles was a weak roar and Ladon's unyielding gaze.

It looked at the great hero, also like looking at the earth behind him, looking at the Mount of the Gods on the earth.

Typhon's fury burned in its bloodline and soul, even death couldn't extinguish it.

Seeing this scene, Heracles understood the other's request.

It only needed a death like Typhon's, along with the Divine King's never-ending battle spirit.

Bang——

With the final blow, it ended Ladon's life.

Heracles picked up the bronze cudgel, dragging its corpse towards the Holy Island.

The hundred-headed dragon was dead, from now on, no one would obstruct him from obtaining the golden apples.

At this moment, the River of Oblivion in the Underworld was already beckoning him.

As long as he prepared the right potion, there would be no more obstacles ahead of him.

...

"Huff..."

"Huff... Huff..."

"Is it safe outside?"

On the Heavenly Empress's Holy Island, in the garden where the golden apple tree was planted.

Peeking out from the nearly broken barrier, the sea nymph looked at everything in front of her with fear and shock.

Like a hurricane sweeping through, or a meteor falling to the ground.

Except for the core orchard, there was hardly an intact place on the entire island, looking around, all she could see was devastation.

Further out, the sea churned with terrifying waves, storms and tsunamis raged, a scene of apocalyptic disaster.

This left the sea nymph, who had never seen such a situation, stunned and not knowing what to do.

All gods treated her with respect, and mortals worshipped her, for she was Hera's servant; but the demons and natural disasters did not know who she was, so the sea nymph did not dare to run around.

Unsure if the disaster was over, she could only pray for the great Heavenly Empress to notice the danger happening here... However, at some moment, closing her eyes in prayer, the sea nymph suddenly felt herself covered by a shadow.

"Hmm?"

"What happe... Ah——!"

A deafening scream, eyes wide open, the massive body of the hundred-headed dragon Ladon came into view.

The sea nymph retreated in horror, but within a few steps, she tripped over a tree root and fell to the ground in panic.

"No... I don't want to die... I, I..."

Trembling uncontrollably, speaking incoherently.

At this moment, the shadow of death loomed over her, the sea nymph had nearly lost her ability to judge.

The garden's barrier couldn't possibly stop this demon, she was surely——

"Greetings, esteemed guardian."

Crawling out from under Ladon's corpse, the great hero greeted.

Just at the first sight of the sea nymph, he realized she seemed to have misunderstood something.

Taking a step forward, Heracles extended his hand, wanting to help her up.

"No need to be afraid... Ladon is dead, this is his corpse."

Speaking in a deep voice, the great hero explained seriously.

"C-corpse?"

The trembling body gradually calmed down, hearing this, the sea nymph finally settled a bit, and examined the demon she used to be so wary of.

Though the aura remained strong, the vitality was no longer vigorous.

All ninety-nine heads were cut off, and the last one had lost its light.

Her hanging heart finally settled, and the sea nymph breathed a sigh of relief.

Seeing the hand extended by the great hero, she was just about to use it to stand up. How could she have known that just as she stretched out her hand halfway, as if suddenly remembering something, she hesitated and asked.

"This lord looks unfamiliar... May I ask which deity you preside over, as we haven't met before?"

"I am not a god." Speaking honestly, Heracles explained, "We indeed haven't met before."

"Not a god?"

Frowning slightly, the sea nymph hesitated for a moment, then couldn't help but ask again, "Then which deity's servant are you, bestowed with immortal divinity by a noble lord?"

"No one."

Shaking his head again, faintly, Heracles sensed a change in her attitude.

"I am not a servant of any deity, nor has anyone bestowed upon me immortal divinity."

"You might not know me, I come from the earth, a human named Her——

Slap——

Before he could finish speaking, a crisp sound interrupted the great hero's self-introduction.

Attempting to swat away Heracles's extended hand but failing, the sea nymph snorted coldly and stood up on her own.

"So you are a mere mortal from the mortal realm... You are not qualified to have physical contact with me."

"Your life is still too short, this is not a place you should come."

"Alright, back off now, considering your good intentions, I won't fuss over your trespass into the Heavenly Queen's Garden."

"Leave quickly, I'll pretend I never saw you."

Her words flowed like a stream, in an instant the panic completely faded, leaving only a faint trace of pride and confidence on the sea nymph's face.

Standing aside, Heracles didn't react immediately. He was stunned for a moment, as if wanting to say something, but in the end, he said nothing.

Retracting his extended hand, the great hero also felt a bit helpless. Well, he truly hadn't expected to encounter this kind of situation beforehand.

But it didn't matter, he was just here to obtain the golden apples.

Even if this guardian had a bad attitude, he didn't plan to do anything to her.

"Alright, since you hold some prejudice against mortals, I will leave after I get the golden apples."

Shaking his head slightly, the great hero planned to bypass her.

But before he could take a step, a sharp voice came from behind him.

"What did you say? You intend to steal the golden apples?"

"Not steal," taking a deep breath, Heracles turned around and said, "These are my rightful reward after completing the trial."

Not just the previous one, looking back, the other nymphs and sea nymphs also noticed the commotion here and saw the dragon's corpse.

Frowning, the great hero did not wish to tangle with them. But upon hearing his explanation, they directly blocked his path.

"What trial, what reward?"

Righteous and stern, the sea nymph did not budge an inch.

"This is the garden of the Heavenly Empress, without her decree, no one may take the golden apples here."

"Besides, the apples are bestowed upon the gods by her, and you, a mortal, still want her apples?"

"How can that be allowed? What do you need the golden apples for, a human?"

"Hmph, I think you better stay here, as for how to deal with you, let's wait for the Empress to make her judgment!"

"?"

Not knowing what to say, looking back at Ladon's enormous corpse, Heracles's last bit of patience was exhausted.

So that's how it is, like that servant of Triton... it makes sense.

One was bound and punished since the Bronze Age, and these ones might have been guarding the golden apple tree since the end of the last era... Their understanding of humans is nearly nonexistent, still stuck on descriptions of fanatical believers and the Golden Age.

They fear demons but do not fear themselves.

Because in their eyes, humans would never defy the deities by nature, their existence is because of the gods...

Taking a step forward, the great hero remained calm. Although he had no ill feelings towards the unseen Heavenly Empress, it did not mean he would allow the sea nymph in front of him to disregard his dignity.

"Move aside."