Imp to Demon King: A Journey of Conquest

Like the personification of the scalding sun, Karna leapt from the chariot to spare his companions from his devastating strike.

The air wailed, and the scarred plain shattered and caved in on his descent as if refusing to let him step on it, in vain.

Instead, it melted into a smoldering pool of lava, forcing Heracles' triumphant pose to waver.

He turned his head, narrowed his eyes, and smirked.

"Bring it on, ant!" He struck his giant fists against each other, creating a thunderous shockwave. "I'm indestructible!"

Everyone watched with bated breath as the colossus lunged at Karna like an unstoppable behemoth.

Mimi hid her face in Luna's bosom, her tears evaporating before they could roll down her eyes.

"Don't lose, big brother Karna!" She sobbed, her knuckles white on Luna's leather top.

"He won't lose," Luna said, her gaze firm despite the blinding radiance as her lips curled into a soft smile.

"Because I trust him!"

Ifrit shuddered behind her. Those words—coming from her?n/ô/vel/b//in dot c//om

"You changed," he muttered, his eyes blazing and a warm smile splitting his ever-so-serious face. "But can I blame you? We all did."

As they watched, Wukong crouched, his hands transforming into sharp claws, his Ruyi Jingu Bang hovering beside him, and his cloud forming under his feet.

"You won't stop him!"

Without hesitation, he controlled the cloud to rush at Heracles, his long nails glinting as his staff struck down.

BAM

Heracles slowed slightly under the staff's weight, yet that was all. He didn't stop, waver, or even groan.

However, his eyes widened the next second as giant arms and legs coiled around his limbs, restraining and slowing him further.

Enraged, he shoved his elbow at the daring monkey, hearing bones shatter under his strike.

Yet, Wukong shifted on Heracles' back, a clawed hand digging into his divine face and forcing it backward to halt him.

Then, everyone heard the pain in Wukong's voice as it cracked.

"I promised them you wouldn't pass me. Strike, Karna!"

"Fool!"

Heracles struggled, raining punches and elbow strikes at Wukong's legs and arms. Yet, the monkey remained nestled like a leech despite his agonising groans and the shattering of his stone-like skin and bones.

"It won't work. You're just throwing your life away!"

Meanwhile, Karna's eyes blazed as his charred arms aimed the searing spear at Heracles' heart.

"Reduce everything to cinders, Vasavi Shakti!"

Scalding arcs rumbled on its reddening surface as his arms began to vaporise. Yet, he clenched his jaws, a single thought reverberating in his mind.

'Dodge, Wukong.'

The spear roared, the arcs gathering at its tip before a blinding white stream engulfed the world.

Simultaneously, Wukong's broken seal reformed, depriving him of his strength.

His giant body shrank back to its original size as he coughed up blood and plunged to the molten ground like a broken doll.

"Not under my watch!"

Achilles roared, his chariot speeding through the burning air as his hand blurred to grab Wukong. With a groan, he pulled him into the chariot as they escaped into the distance.

Karna noticed them, a warm smile broadening on his lips as his hesitation vanished. Reflecting his resolve, the blinding stream of solar flames roared at maximum power, doubling in size and connecting earth to the sky.

"It won't work!"

Heracles roared, clutching Tyr's hand and crossing his arms before him as divine runes covered his body like a barrier.

However, Karna snickered as the flames collided with his adversary.

"The Vasavi Shakti only has one enchantment: utter destruction! It can kill almost anyone in a single strike!"

"RAH!"

With a thunderous roar, Heracles pushed against the raging flames, his teeth sinking into his gums and his legs' veins rupturing under the strain.

The heat burned his throat each time he breathed, seeping through his defenses to char his skin. Yet, he would prevail against all odds as he did during his twelve labors.

Locked in a standstill, his eyes darted to Karna, hate flashing in them. This bastard! He'd rip him to shreds even if he had to disobey his father and let the dragonling escape.

However, a cracking noise forced his eyes to widen in horror. The runes were dimming and shattering with each second crawling by. Without them, his skin would bear the heat, but so what? He was Heracles, the son of Zeus, the strongest mortal, the champion of mankind, bearer of the world, slayer of giants. He would endure with his own body!

With unwavering determination, he watched as the runes cracked and melted, then shoved his body against the flames with twice the strength.

"ARGH!"

Howling in agony, he smelled his skin burn and felt his muscles melt. His feet slid back against his will as an unprecedented pain overwhelmed him.

His hair caught fire, then his brows, before the scalding stream swallowed him.

Hundreds of kilometers behind, Sir Drufus trembled and gripped his companions' shoulders.

"Heracles can't lose! He'll survive, right? Tell me!"

However, Kael and War Machine didn't even hear him. How could they when they gaped at the spectacle, their faces livid and their drumming hearts deafening them?

Yet, War Machine noticed something as the flames receded, a silhouette still standing amidst the ravaged world.

"He's still alive! Victory is ours!"

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His hopeful roar pierced the air before his jaw dropped at the giant's figure.

Both Heracles' arms had turned to ashes. Golden blood dripped down his mouth, over the horrifying burns covering his powerful chest... and a gaping hole from which they could see the sky behind.

Before despair could engulf him, Sir Drufus' fingers tightened on his shoulder as he thundered.

"His eyes are still clear! Adam's fighters are out of combat. We win!"

He pointed at Karna's burned figure and the dissolving Vasavi Shakti.

Sprawled on the burning ground and breathing like an aged man about to slip into the grave, Karna gazed at the chariot.

"Merlin... Finish him now!"

A scalding gale washed his weak voice away as Merlin's fingers tightened on his crystalline staff.

"Leave it to me!"

Mana flooded his body, raging like a storm as his eyes sparkled with the colors of all the elements.

"This is my strongest spell! Sanctus Manus!"