Cronus' system: Against the gods

Chapter 98 Hercules Vs the Abyss

Hercules staggered, his massive frame heaving with each labored breath. Sweat glistened on his bronzed skin, and his lion-skin cloak, once a symbol of indomitable strength, now hung tattered and singed. Yet, even as fatigue gnawed at his body, his ever-defiant grin remained firmly etched on his face.

"I've wrestled lions," he muttered through clenched teeth, his voice a low rumble of defiance. "I've slain hydras. Faced giants. If I fall now, then what were all my labors for?"

Lucius hovered above, his dark form a stark contrast against the swirling, ominous skies. His shadows twisted and coiled around him like vipers, responding to his every whim. His glowing red eyes locked onto Hercules, narrowing with irritation.

"Still standing?" Lucius sneered, his voice a chilling blend of disdain and amusement. "You're more stubborn than I thought. But it won't save you."

Raising his hands high, Lucius began to summon his ultimate attack. The air crackled and hummed with raw energy as a massive sphere of darkness materialized above him, pulsating with malevolent power. Its surface shimmered with streaks of crimson, like veins pumping life into a heart of chaos. The sheer magnitude of the energy warped the space around it, causing the ground to tremble and the sky to darken further.

Hercules leaned heavily on his oversized club, its dense weight the only thing keeping him upright. He glanced up at Lucius, his bloodshot eyes narrowing against the swirling chaos. His lion-hood cloak, resting atop his head, seemed almost alive, its frayed edges fluttering like a mane in the wind.

A sharp buzz interrupted his thoughts. His communicator, strapped clumsily to his belt, emitted an irritating static.

"What in Zeus' beard is wrong with this pesky thing?" Hercules bellowed, slamming a calloused hand down on the device. It sparked pitifully before falling silent. "I'm in the middle of a fight to save the world, and you're making noise? Useless!"

Lucius, still suspended in midair, barked a cruel laugh. "Fitting. Even your tools recognize your defeat."

The dark energy above him grew larger, the pulsating orb now casting a sickly glow over the battlefield. The oppressive weight of it pressed down on Hercules, yet he forced himself to straighten, gripping his club tightly.

This chaotic energy, this abyssal force, it stirred something deep within him, a faint, nagging familiarity. He furrowed his brow, the lines on his weathered face deepening.

"I know this power," he muttered, his voice low and reflective. "It reeks of desperation... of someone trying to grasp at godhood without earning it."

Shaking the thought away, Hercules grinned once more, though it was tinged with exhaustion. "Familiar or not, it doesn't matter. A foe's a foe, and you're one to be squashed!"

He lifted his massive club, the golden engravings along its surface catching the dim light. For a fleeting moment, it seemed to glow with divine energy, but the illusion faded as the sun's rays reflected off its battered surface.

Lucius sneered, his face twisted with contempt. "Me? Disposed of? You're delusional, you relic. Do you even understand the situation you're in?" His voice carried an edge of triumph as the shadow orb above him swelled to its final size, now large enough to eclipse the battle-scarred earth beneath it.

Lucius surged forward, his hands wreathed in frost as he aimed for Hercules' chest. This time, Hercules caught the blow, his massive hands clamping around Lucius' wrists. The two strained against each other, their raw power shaking the air. Lucius growled, his shadows surging in an attempt to overwhelm the demigod.

"You're strong," Lucius admitted through gritted teeth, "but strength without speed is nothing!"

He twisted free, pivoting with fluid precision and driving a knee into Hercules' ribs. The demigod staggered, coughing as the wind was knocked from his lungs. Lucius followed up with a spinning kick that sent Hercules crashing into a nearby boulder, splitting it in half.

Hercules rose to his feet, wiping a trickle of blood from his lip. "Not bad, kid," he admitted, his voice tinged with genuine respect. "But you're forgetting one thing."

"And what's that?" Lucius sneered.

Hercules charged forward, faster than Lucius expected, and tackled him to the ground. The two rolled across the battlefield in a flurry of punches and grapples, each strike more ferocious than the last. Hercules pinned Lucius momentarily, his hands gripping the younger fighter's shoulders like iron clamps.

"I don't give up!" Hercules roared, headbutting Lucius with enough force to crack the ground beneath them. Lucius snarled, shadows erupting around him in a wave that sent Hercules flying backward.

As Hercules struggled to rise, his knees buckling under the strain, Lucius approached, his expression cold and unrelenting. He raised his hand, a blade of shadow forming in his grip. "You're finished, old man."

The blade descended, but before it could strike, a distortion rippled through the air. Time itself seemed to freeze as the shadows stopped mid-motion. Hercules, still defiant, locked eyes with Lucius in the frozen moment.

Then, from the corner of the battlefield, Rex appeared, dragging Jefferson by the collar. "Three seconds," he muttered, his voice calm but urgent. "Come on, old man."

As Rex moved, Lucius' eyes flicked toward him, narrowing in shock. Even in the suspended time, he could sense the anomaly, his gaze following Rex's movements.

Time resumed, and Lucius' blade slashed through empty air. He turned sharply, his eyes locking onto Rex, who stood several paces away, casually flipping him the middle finger.

"You..." Lucius began, his voice tinged with disbelief. "Time manipulation...?"

Rex gasped "Uh? He saw that?"

Within Rex's mind, Cronus spoke with a hint of urgency. Rex, this isn't mere strength. His connection to the void transcends mortal comprehension. He exists between moments, and you're stepping into his domain."

Of all the people Rex had fought, they only reacted with shock when he paused time. This was the first time someone noticed it.