Reversed TYPE-MOON lore. Heracles and Iphicles are brother and sister in Nasuverse, believe it or not. So, apparently, I decided to do the most sensible thing possible. To take my own personal twist into that boiling pot of potential angst.

...Well, to be honest, I just wanted an OP Amazoness-like beauty with overprotective big sister tendencies. Hey, Don't judge me, I know you cultured gentleman out there love Scathach!

ANYWAYS, HERE WE GO!

Hello there, good gentlemen of culture. Have you heard of the Glory of Hera, by any chance?

Yes, the demigod of Zeus who conquered the twelve labors as atonement for his 'gruesome crimes'. And by 'gruesome crimes', I mean familicide.

To elaborate, he killed his family by burning them alive. His own children, wife, and nephews, all dead in a fit of rage and madness. A madness that was induced by Hera. The well-used 'tragic Hero' type of MC if you ask me.

Anyway, you might wonder why I'm rambling about the most famous hero in Greek mythology, though trust me, I have good reason to. You see, I'm named after someone very close to Heracles, both in blood and spirit.

Iphicles. Yes, that's my name. I heard my dad call me with that name. Somehow, I'm named after the half-brother of Heracles. Oh, and I'm currently a newborn baby. A baby half a foot away from death, quite literally speaking.

"HIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIISSSSSSSSSSSSSSS"

Have you ever seen an Anaconda in your life? Those gigantic river snakes that dwell in the Amazon rainforests? Try to imagine them twice as thick as well as long. Then, paint them black. Metallic black. A serpent with black scales that reflects the moonlight, venomous fangs as large as an adult's hand, and glowing yellow eyes.

That, was what I saw coiled beside my crib. You cannot possibly imagine the utter panic I felt when I came face to face with that giant snake staring at me like I'm a very juicy piece of ham dangling in front of his face. Well, News flash! He's not mistaken.

"HIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIISSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS"

Or was it a she? Did my internal comment somehow make him...her...it, angry? Yes, I'm still terrified beyond my mind if you still can't tell. I'm so dead.

"D-duhah, Bugh luh ah luh appah! (O-okay...s-stop! I-I taste like rotten apples!)"

"HIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIISSSSSSSSSS"

Right. I think I failed in discouraging it. Curse my underdeveloped excuse of a mouth. Thanks to it, I'm about to get swallowed. Damn, I didn't know its jaws could actually open so wide!

...Welp, I did what I could. Just my rotten luck.

On the very first day of my life, I find myself in some ancient unknown place (presumably Greek from the architecture) inside the frail body of a baby inside a wooden crib, about to be swallowed by some genetically mutated freak, aka big-ass snake.

Rebirth, I think. I couldn't remember anything about my past-if I was lucky enough to have lived through one, that is. I somehow doubt it.

With some fractured knowledge from the 21st century still intact in my tiny brain, I figured this phenomenon could only be explained as reincarnation. Looks like Christianity isn't so strong in this part of the world.

"...Mngh"

Wait. What was that? Did I just hear something suspiciously similar to a baby? Come to think of it, this crib does seem awfully cozy, cramped, and...fleshy?

"...Dah. (Aw, fuck)"

I can't believe I didn't notice until now. Like, seriously? Who mistakes a baby for a pillow? A man inside a baby, of course! ...Haha.

"..."

Slowly, deliberately, I moved in front of my drooling companion. Without memories I may be, I'll be damned if I let another seemingly innocent baby die in my place.

The right course of action may have been to cry out, wail, do everything to gather an adult's attention. However, I had a gut feeling that as soon as I have done that, the snake would have lunged forward and gobbled me up entirely.

"...Ah?"

Oh, shit. Seems like sleeping beauty is now awake. I saw my sister-don't ask me why, I just knew it-rub her eyes with her small fists and open her vibrant golden eyes.

"...(PLEASE DON'T MAKE ANY NOISE. PLEASE DON'T MAKE ANY NOISE. PLEASE. NO SOUND. OK?)"

I channeled all my inner charismatic energy into my eyes and pleaded with her via eye contact. She smiled. She giggled. Apparently, my communication skills sucks balls.

"HIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIISSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS!"

I nearly jumped out of my skin. A threatening hiss that was. Actually, that hiss was much more ominous than before. Before, it was something along the lines of 'Hey this puny human looks like a tasty snack!'. Now, it was giving off 'I FOUND YOU, INFIDEL! LEAVE THY HEAD WHERE IT BELONGS!' kind of vibes.

Its yellow eyes gleamed with malice as it reared its ugly head. My sister giggled. I whimpered.

Then, without warning, it lunged.

From then on, it was pure ultra instinct. I danced with the grace of a drunken butterfly and stung with the ferocity of an anorexic bee. Which meant, while glamorously pissing myself, I somehow managed to punch the snake in the eye with the force of a flying plushy.

The snake was not pleased by my less-than-satisfactory performance.

In the blink of an eye, I found myself strangled by the scaly beast. It wrapped around my body, crushing my lungs, suffocating me. I struggled, tried to move, but it was hopeless.

"...Guh!(RUN!)"

My adorable sister looked back at me with wide eyes. Yes, of course. Babies can't run. Besides, she must be horrified, that poor little-

"KAHK!?"

The serpent let out a choking sound. Strange, I'm pretty sure I'm the only one here who's getting strangled. What on earth-!?

I felt my jaw fall open. Before my eyes, I saw a furious baby girl stand up on her tiny legs, crushing the neck of a gigantic snake with her bare hands. She let out a cute growl as she continued choking the air out of the serpent, without mercy, without hesitation.

Finally, although it must have been no more than a few seconds, there was a sickening loud crack.

With a heavy thud, the lifeless body of the serpent crashed onto the stone floor, its crimson blood soaking into the ground beneath.

However, my sister seemed that she couldn't care less of her incredible feat, for she quickly scurried towards me with tears in her eyes, and touched my cheek with her tiny hand.

"...Heh"

'Atta girl, incredible work there!', I conveyed with a weak smile. I coughed. My tongue tasted something awfully like raw iron. Oops, I was coughing blood.

My sister started crying. My communication skills really suck.

"Alcides, Iphicles, what happened...WHAT IN THE ACTUAL HADES IS THAT DEAD MONSTER DOING INSIDE HERE!?"

A man dressed in golden ornaments and regal blue robes stormed into the room, only to be shocked by the mangled monster lying inside its own pool of steaming blood.

Wait a second.

Why in Hera's name is my sister named Alcides?

No, no, it can't be...unless...!?

I glanced back at the dead serpent on the floor, then at my sniveling sister clinging on to me like a starving Koala does to a eucalyptus tree.

Nah. It can't be, right?

Hahaha.

I fucking hate my life.

And that's the first day in Iphicles's life. Quite a wild ride, aye?

Review if you find this interesting! It helps me a lot in getting through these tough times!

Xkalibuuurr, over and out!