Here's the remake, things will play around the same but with a bit more dialogue between Red Hood and Hercules and their different meaning of what a hero is. And the Musashi I used was the one from Baki Dou.
I don't own Shuumatsu no Valkyrie
Chapter 5: Divine Justice Against Dark Justice! Hercules the Hero vs. Red Hood the Vigilante! The Meaning Of Being a Hero?
Some of the Gods were holding a meeting in Zeus's room, this was the second time a God had died in the Ragnarok tournament, but this was the first victory that Humanity had gained and that spoke volume.
"So… what's up with everyone's face?" Zeus asked, having a cup of tea and covered in bandages.
"Old man!" Shiva shouted, slamming his fist on the table. "This isn't the time to fuck around!"
"Your brother Poseidon was just butchered. Pretty calm, aren't you?" Loki asked.
"Hmm… well that mortal was just stronger than Poseidon… that's all there is to it." Zeus stated, plainly. "Besides… you've all seen the fight. You all know what these battles entailed." He firmly stated. "First… let us admit that Humanity is strong. Next it seems those Valkyrie girls really do intend on killing us, so knowing this we should respond."
"Now that's been settled… I'm next up! I'm not gonna let those little shits get cocky!" Shiva shouted, a dark purple aura oozing off him.
"Ah… about that…" Zeus said, which only infuriated Shiva.
"What now!? Another one of your selfish requests!?" Shiva shouted annoyed.
"My most sincere apologies, but… shouldn't we of the Greek Pantheon, repay this favor they've given us in kind?" Zeus asked, Ares, Hermes, and Hades all had a look of anger one way or another.
"Hmm…" Loki said, intrigue.
"Heh… damn… guess it can't be helped." Shiva said with a sigh. "I swear, you Greek God…"
Meanwhile with Brunhild, Null, and Geir they were preparing for the next round. Null told the two girls he had to use the bathroom for a bit and return like nothing happened.
"The God's insufferable pride won't permit them to lose twice in a row." Brunhild stated.
"She's right. This battle is one we can lose, because they'll be giving their all." Null stated.
"But Sis… Lord Null… who do you think they'll send next?" Geir asked.
"Me." A male voice said, then all three of them felt a great pressure, only Null wasn't affected by it.
"This pressure…" Brunhild thought.
Before them was a muscular redhead man, wearing Greek clothing and was wielding a club with a lion's face. Geir ran right at the male with an intense frown and looked like she was going to hit him but instead linked arm with him and had a bright smile.
"Brother Hercules." Geir said with glee.
"Haha, you've gotten big, Geir!" Hercule, The Greek God of Fortune said.
"It has been a while… brother Hercules." Bruhild said with a small smile, bowing a bit.
"It sure has, Brunhild." Hercules said. "You're just as polite as ever, huh?
"I'm glad you're looking as healthy as ever too." Brunhild stated.
"You must be the one helping Burnhild with Humanity, huh?" Hercules said, looking at Null.
"Hmm." Null said in a neutral tone, having a blank face.
"Speaking of which, that response earlier would imply…" Brunhild said, getting serious.
"Yeah… I'm going to be the one appearing in the next fight." Hercules said seriously.
Null and Brunhild looked Hercules in the eyes, they were silent as there was an unspoken truth between them, Geir looked worried.
"Although, it is not my place to say this… I wish you good luck." Brunhild told Hercules.
"Yeah… you too." Hercules said back, and walked off.
"I saw that~." Loki said, appearing out of nowhere. "You sure get along with the Valkyries, dontcha? Hercules." the Greek God remained silent. "Oh, I get it. Though our pantheons may be far apart in geography… they're both full of you half-assed demigods, huh? Isn't it going to be hard for you~?" He asked, but Hercules smirked.
"Humanity is a fearsome foe, they prove themselves that much." Hercules stated. "As a representative of the Gods and as a military man, I intend to have a fair fight."
"Hmm. Hope that works out for you." Loki stated.
"Loki… let me just say one thing to you… I'm opposed to the end of Humanity." Hercules said firmly. "However… ever since Ragnarok started, I've had no intention of losing. As a representative of the Gods, I will win without a shadow of a doubt!" He shouted. "On top of that… I will move to save Humanity…!"
"Heh. You haven't changed a bit… you don't know who side you're on." Loki stated.
"I'm always on the side of Justice." Hercules stated firmly.
"Justice, huh?" Loki stated.
Null had listened to the whole conversation and the only thing he had to comment was on how foolish it was. Brunhild was preparing for the fourth round which would have Hercules, Geir looked unsure, and Null remained unfazed by the fact.
"I see.. Our opponent for Round 4 will be brother Hercules…" Brunhild stated.
"That's right. I'm not sure who to cheer for in this case…" Geir stated.
"Yes. Troubling indeed…" Brunhild said, flicking her tongue out. Null notice and found it attractive.
"That aside, who can even stand up against Brother Hercules?" Geir asked concerned.
"Worry not. I already have the perfect opponent for him." Null stated. "He's perfect for this kind of fight, a true nightmare." He said with a stone cold serious face.
"Eh?" Geir said, confused.
In Space
Cumber was unleashing his rage on unfortunate planets, shooting Ki blast after Ki blast in random directions, he was screaming and roaring in pure anger, why? Because Saitama was dead, the Evil Saiyan wanted to be the one that killed the bald hero for that sucker punch he gave him! Now, because he was gone, his revenge is null and void, pissing him off greatly! Cumber powers up even more and a scattering barrage of dark Ki blast flares off his body and into more planets, blowing them up and turning them to dust.
"There you are, Cumber." Heart said from behind the Saiyan.
"Grrrrr…" Cumber said in a low growl, rage and bloodlust clouding his mind.
"Oh? So you plan on attacking me?" Heart said with a raised brow. "Hehehe, very well… I'll help you shake off some of that anger." He said, golden yellow aura flaring off his body and cubes forming in his hands.
Cumber let out a roar and made a fast charge at Heart, who merely smiled as the Evil Saiyan threw a powerful and rage-filled punch at him!
Back in the tournament of Ragnarok, there has been a huge change, this had to be the largest one yet, because the entertainment arena was a city. Not just any city, Gotham City, it was at the request of the one fighting Hercules, and he agreed to it.
"Make sense that "he" would request this… and that brother Hercules accepted." Geir said, not surprised.
"Of course he would accept." Brunhild stated. "How naive." She thought.
"Still… It's quite an impressive change." Null stated. "But you knew this would happen, didn't you, Brumhild?" He thought.
"FIGHTING FOR HUMANITY, IS A TRUE TERROR… ONCE FIGHTING FOR THE SIDE OF GOOD AND JUSTICE ALONG SIDE THE DARK KNIGHT, THIS MAN SUFFER A TERRIBLE INCIDENT THAT WOULD FOREVER CHANGE HIM! HE ENDURE HORRIBLE BEATENS AND UNBEARABLE TORTUE, THEN ONCE IT WAS ALL OVER HE WAS KILLED! BUT DEATH WASN'T THE END! AFTER BEING RESURRECTED, HE WAS FOREVER CHANGE! HE ABANDON THE BELIEVES OF HIS MENTOR AND TOOK ON A NEW COURSE OF ACTION!" Heimdall shouted, soon mist came rolling in as a figure was seen walking through it. "NOW BECOMING THE EMBODIMENT OF VENGEANCE, HE TOOK ON HIS OWN FORM OF JUSTICE! HE SLAUGHTER AND MURDER THE WORSE OF THE WORSE WITHOUT BLINKING AND WITHOUT HESTATING, NO ONE IS SAFE FROM THIS ASSASSINS OF DARK JUSTICE! THIS NIGHTMARE OF DEATH! COMING TO SOAK THE GROUND WITH THE BLOOD OF THE GODS… IT'S THE RED HOOD!"
Jason Todd, better known as Red Hood, walked through the mist wearing his signature red helmet and outfit, he was ready to fight. The crowd didn't like the thought of a criminal representing them even if he was a vigilante.
"Oho… I see." Loki said amused. "So this is how you want to play it… just as always… you're an unpleasant woman."
"AND FACING HIM… STANDS THE MAN THAT INTENDS TO BEAR THE BURDEN OF RETAKING THE GODS IS FIRST LOSS! HERE HE IS! THIS GALLANT DEMIGOD FORCED BOTH THE NEMEAN LION AND CERBERUS, THE HOUND OF HADES… INTO SUBMISSION WITH HIS BARE FIST! AFTER CLEARING ALL 12 LABORS ASSIGNED TO HIM, HE ADVANCED THE STEPS OF OLYMPUS!" Heimdall shouted, a chariot pulled by horse appeared. "HE SHINES LIGHT UP ON GODS AND HUMAN. THE ENVOY OF JUSTICE! UNPARALLELED IN BRAVERY! IT'S HERCULE!"
The crowd cheered for Hercules, both God and mortal alike.
Both fighters look each other in the eye, this would be a battle of Divine Justice vs Dark Justice, A Hero vs A Vigilante, God vs Man. The fourth match of Ragnarok, begins now!
Hercules didn't look pleased with who his opponent was and glared in the direction where Null and Brunhild stood.
"S-Sister… L-Lord Null… I think that brother Hercules is really glaring at you two right now…" Geir said nervously.
"Hmph." Null said unfazed, Brunhild remained silent but held a smirk.
"Why?" Hercules thought. "To date all of the representatives of Humanity have been worthy. Kenpachi Zaraki, Saitama, Miyamoto Musashi… all worthy enough to shock us Gods to the core… and yet, this man is my opponent!? A man who once swore to justice but now butchers and murders others without a care and claims it to be justice!" He thought in anger, his face swelling with rage. "Why… don't fuck with me! Brunhild!" He shouted.
"Brother Hercules is really angry!" Geir shouted in fear.
"Hmph, he doesn't know the meaning of angry." Null said calmly. "This is for Humanity's survival, not for him to have a "worthy opponent" to fair fight." He scoffed, his eyes turning bright red.
"And you do… Null?" A deep rough voice said from behind the Bookkeeper. Null was then slammed into the wall being held by the throat, the one doing this had the same cloak as Null but had dark blue eyes and was 2 feet taller and more muscular then Null. "Do you have any idea of the trouble you have caused?" They asked in a calm angry tone, pushing Null deeper into the wall.
"It…It's nice to meet you too… Lord Arcane." Null gasped out.
"Using the Book of Infinite Knowledge in such a manner for such a reason, I should banish you to the deepest hole there is in existence and leave you there to rot." Lord Arcane growled. "Give me one reason why I shouldn't…" He asked, pushing Null farther into the wall.
"W…What would you have me tell you?" Null gasped, grabbing the hand. "That I'm sorry? That I shouldn't have gotten involved? That it's none of my business?" He asked, tightening the grip on the hand on his throat. "Because… I'm not." He said, his eyes dark red.
Lord Arcane looked Null in the eyes for what felt like minutes, Geir was sweating fiercely from the aura that large being gave off, Brunhild kept a neutral face but had a single cold sweat. Finally after staring into the Bookkeeper's soul he let out a sigh and tossed him to the ground. Null coughed a bit and rubbed his throat, he picked himself up.
"You've always been a problem child, always causing trouble." Lord Arcane grunted. "But this most be you're most stupid act of defiance yet. Going against the Gods?"
"I see no reason why not, shouldn't the mortals have a chance to fight for their existence?" Null asked, getting up.
"Hmmmm." Lord Arcane answered.
"L-Lord Null… who is this?" Geir asked, confused and frightened.
"My apologies, this is Lord Arcane. My mentor, master, and previous owner of the Book of Infinite Knowledge." Null answered. "He taught me everything there is to know, so even though I may surpass in raw power he far eclisple me in terms of knowledge."
"A pleasure to meet you, Miss Valkyrie." Lord Arcane bowed.
"Likewise, Lord Arcane." Brunhild bow, Geir quickly follows suit.
"L-Lord Null… just what are you?" Geir asked, confused.
"I and my mentor are Observers." Null answered. "Basically we are beings that watch over both Humanity and Gods alike across the multiverse, watching, learning, and improving ourselves to better see across time and space in every dimension. Every major battle or event that's ever happened is placed into the Book of Infinite Knowledge, it's the Bookkeeper's job to protect it at all causes and further it's knowledge by adding what the holder has seen."
"Re-Really…?" Geir asked in shock.
"Yep." Null nodded. "That's how I was able to bring such powerful fighters, every battle they ever had the book has recorded." Null stated.
"You have a lot to answer for, Null." Lord Arcane said seriously.
"I'm fully aware, but it will have to wait…" Null stated. "For now, let's watch the fight."
"Hmmmmm…" Lord Arcane grunted.
Humanity was still skeptical about someone like Red Hood, a person who murder even for the right reason was still a killer, some thought a true Hero should be fighting but those that knew Red Hood thought better.
"It's not a surprise that he was picked." Dick Grayson better known as Nightwing and the first Robin stated. "He's just as good of a skill fighter as me, maybe even better." He said, looking at his former successor.
"But will it be enough?" Barbara Gordon or more known as Batgirl asked. "What do you think?" She asked, the Dark Knight better known as Batman or Bruce Wayne.
"She makes a point, father." Daimin Wayne or Robin stated.
"Hmmm." Batman grunted.
Back in the Arena, Hercules was glaring at Red Hood and the vigilante was doing much of the same.
"I shall warn you now… bow down and accept defeat." Hercules told him. "If you do that, then I swear that I will make Zeus accept it. And you can be saved from niflhel. I do not relish and senseless killing… but you're a special case!"
"Hmph. How about a hell no, this fight just started… so I can't accept it." Red Hood stated. "It's time to die… traitor."
"What…?" Hercules asked, confused.
"I won't back down from a fight, no matter what…" Red Hood said firmly. "I'll take down anyone that threatens Humanity, even if it has to be with my bare hands." Then he pulls out a set of dual daggers. "Feast your eyes on my Volund." He twirls them around a bit and slash through a lamp poll. "It can cut through anything in existence."
"Very well." Hercules stated. "If that is what you've decided… then I'll answer your resolve with all my might!"
Red Hood then turned around and ran off, surprising Hercules which only angered him and followed after him, he then saw Red Hood leading against a wall while drinking a can of beer, Hercules charged forward but then saw a trip wire.
"This is… a petty trick!" Hercules shouted, and set the trap. Multiple Red Hood style birdarangs came right at him, Hercules scoffed and the weapons didn't even leave a scratch on him. "Fool, didn't Brunhild tell you? Human weapons can't hurt the body of Gods!"
"We won't know until we try, traitor." Red Hood stated.
"Begone." Hercules said, raising his club.
"My words exactly." Red Hood said.
Pulling out a gun and firing it which turned out to be a grappling hook. He swung to the top of a roof with the grappling hook, Hercules grew angry and he jumped forward with all his might, cracking the ground in the process. Red Hood unleash a barrage of smokes bombs and disappear from view, Hercules was confused as he lands on the ground once more and look around for the vigilante but he had vanish just like his mentor, a few minutes later a couple more birdarangs came flying at him and Hercules deflected them with club and saw Red Hood sitting on another rooftop, waving at him. Hercules growls in anger and charges right at the former sidekick and just as he was about to smash the building to pieces with a punch but Red Hood pressed a switch and a explosion appear right beneath Hercules and it revealed a a pitfall trap, Hercules fall on a couple of sharp iron rods but the Greek God was unharmed by the trap and on top was Red Hood.
"Not expecting that, did you? That normally kills anyone else but I guess a God is above such things." Red Hood said, looking down at the Hero God. He pulled out a device, it was the gadget that his mentor used, it held the explosive gel. He quickly sprayed the surrounding stone walls and pressed it causing another explosive. "Let's see if rubble can finish the job." He said as the stone ground came falling on the Greek God.
"Red Hood!" Hercules shouted in anger.
Hercules was buried in rubble, Red Hood just watched and waited for the Greek God to reappear and in no time at all the God had dug himself out and sneered at the vigilante with a heated glare. He pull the grappling hook once more and use it to get away Hercules charge leap right at him and raised his club and was about to crush Red Hood into a pulp with it but the vigilante was able to block the blow with the dual daggers but they shattered from the impact, leaving him defenseless. Everyone thought it was over now that his Divine Weapon was broken.
"It's over…" Hercules stated.
Red Hood quickly got up and back away, he looked to be pulling out more birdarangs and one of his classic guns, Hercules thought it was pointless because they wouldn't hurt him.
"How many times must I tell it… human weapons won't harm me." Hercules told him, but Red Hood tossed the birdarangs anyway. "It's useless!" He shouted.
But a surprise event happened, all of the birdarangs had pierced the divine flesh of the God and shocked and confused him. He couldn't understand how this was possible, there was no way it was!
"Wha… h-how." Hercules said, coughing up a bit of blood.
"Remember I told you that toss daggers were my Volund, that was a lie." Red Hood told him. "But to fall for it… you're truly something stupid."
"So… your true Volund are those flying blades?" Hercules asked.
"Just watch and see, traitor." Red Hood stated, then fired a few bullets into the muscular God's chest making cough more blood, then pulled out his other gun from a pouch. "It's this pouch, with it I can make any Divine Weapon, but it's unable to make anything bigger than a bo staff. But this should be enough for a traitor like you." He stated.
"I… I don't quite understand. Why… Why did you choose this man? Even though he used to be a hero." Geir asked, confused.
"Geir… what is the one thing that Humanity excels above the Gods in…? Do you know?" Brunhild asked, but the young Valkyrie remained silent. "It is… malice." She answered with a wicked smile as her eyes formed a black swirl that seemed endless.
"She's right. In my time of observing Humanity, I've seen just how corrupt, twisted, and evil they could truly be." Null added, finding her act attractive. "But we don't need a villain that could have a secret plan." He stated. "Just someone with enough malice intent that can swallow the "righteous" God whole." He said, no one but Arcane noticing the tone in Null's voice.
"Now, mighty God… tremble before true justice!" Red Hood shouted with malice.
"Hmph. If this is the extent of your "justice" then… I'll crush it!" Hercules stated.
"I like to see you try." Red Hood stated.
Back in the stands on the side of the Gods, Loki appeared out of nowhere and floated above Ares, Hermes, and Hades.
"Oh my~. How are you feeling?" Loki asked the two Greek Gods. "Isn't this a troubling result, my Greek friends? And after you talked such a big game before too~."
"Silence." Ares stated. "That man, Hercules… I trust him wholeheartedly." He said firmly, Hermes and Hades simply smirked.
"Show time." Red Hood stated.
Red Hood threw more of his birdarang but Hercules deflected them with his club. He was unleashing a torrent of blades against the Hero God, he made a few of them curve so they hit their target. The criminals in the crowd cheered believing Hercules was scared but Ares knew better. Hercules had a calm stoic face and advanced forward to the vigilante, the truth in Hercules's power wasn't in his strength but in his will!
In the past Hercules was still mortal and had a weak body but after years of training and hard work he slowly grew but it wasn't enough. At the same time the Gods were deciding how to deal with Humanity and in that time they were going to wipe them out, Ares was the one to lead the charge against mortal kind but he mortal Hercules those firm against them with the Ambrosia, better known as the blood of Zeus. The young mortal Hercules consume the drink whole and nearly died but instead of dying he transform into the large and muscle Hercules everyone knew him for and fight off against Ares and his army and took them all out by the end of the battle it was just Hercules and Ares going blow for blow and were about to finish each other off but Zeus step in and offer Hercules to become a God, Hercules agree to descend into Godhood if they spare Humanity and does Hercules return with Zeus and complete the 12 Labour and was given the title of God.
Hercules had destroyed the last of Jason's birdarangs and raised his club to finish him, giving him an intense glare.
"False Hero. Begone from my sight!" Hercules stated.
Red Hood pulled out two katana blades and used them to deflect the blow to the side, the blow from Hercules left a huge crater in the ground. Red Hood raises one of the blades and swings at the neck of the God but the Greek God blocks with his club, Red Hood goes for another swing but it blocks as well.
"So you can deflect and fight, so you're not a normal coward." Hercules stated.
"Say what you want about me, I'm no traitor." Red Hood stated, as it began to rain. "Do you know what happened in a rainstorm?" He asked, putting the katana blades away.
"Huh?" Hercules said, confused.
"They can be a bit, shocking." Red Hood stated.
He then pulled out a taser and jammed it into Hercules's neck and gave him a nasty shock, which hurt like hell. Hercules let out a scream of pain but power through it long enough to throw a powerful punch right at the gun wielder but he quickly pull out one of the katana blades and blocked the blow it the katana snapped against the power of the punch and the force of the impact was able to send Red Hood flying to the ground, he grunted in pain and got up.
"Motherfucker…" Red Hood groaned.
"Son of a…" Hercules growled.
"You're a tough one, the last guy I used that one ended up having his whole head exploding." Red Hood stated. "Tell me, oh heroic God, just what are you gonna do against my justice?" He asked.
"You ask me what I'm gonna do, simply I'll face it head on and crush it!" Hercules shouted.
"You're gonna have a hard time doing so." Red Hood said, pulling out the remaining katana.
"Oh dear~. Still trying to overpower the competition? As strong as he is, isn't it a bit too muscle brained?" Loki asked rhetorically. "And he says he'll face it head on? Was that a bluff?"
"Don't group him in with you, fool! Your head is full of nothing but schemes!" Ares shouted.
"Tsk damn~. You really trust him that much?" Loki asked.
"If that's what he says, then that's what he'll do." Ares stated. "That's just the kind of man he is."
Red Hood charge at him and throws more birdarangs at the Hercules, he defect him with his club but they are a distraction as he slashes his across the chest with the katana, making blood gush out and causing the Greek God grunt in pain, he tries to smash the gun wielder to piece with his club but Jason is able to dodge and cut him across the right arm and right leg, Hercules throws a right punch but Red Hood dodge that as well and stab the blade into his left shoulder, Hercules catches the blade before that happened and crushed it and at the same time swing his club at Red Hood, he puts up a quick defend with his arms to avoid another fatal blow but the power behind the blow sends him flying and slamming into a wall, the vigilante let out a grunt of pain and felt his whole body trembling from the blow as he picks himself up. Hercules ready himself for what he was about to do next, he called out for the Nemean Lion and his club's eyes glowed, this worried Ares. Hercules raises his club and attacks with his First Labour: Nemean Lion and a huge explosion of energy is released! Red Hood tried to back away from the attack as fast as possible but couldn't and was sent flying into the wall once more and coughed up a bit of blood within his helmet, both Gods and mortals cheered for the Hercules but their cheers died down at the sight of Hercules tattoo growing.
It turns out it was rebound, due to the fearsome power of the 12 Labours it causes great pain for even natural Gods, if the tattoo completely covers Hercules's body he will die. Ares didn't understand how Hercules could use such techniques of scum like the Red Hood.
"Brother Hercules is strong." Geir stated.
"Indeed. But this fight is just beginning, so watch Geir." Null told her.
"Ugh, impressive." Red Hood said, he felt his shoulder and snapped it back in place. "Shit, that hurts." He mutters, he was still sore but let out a few steady breaths to recover faster. "Well, that was something else. It's safe to say the first act is over. So how about we start the second act." Jason said, pulling out two nightsticks that Nightwing used.
He charged forward and goes for a right swing but Hercules meet the blow head on with a swing of his club the mix impacts push Red Hood back and he fixed himself and attack with a large black batarang and toss it at Hercules but he dodge it, Red Hood pull out him birdarangs and toss them and also fired a few bullets at the Greek God, he deflect as many as he could but a few manage to hit his chest and torso, the giant batarang came spinning back but Hercules jump over it, Red Hood caught and used the momentum to double the speed of the throw right back at the Hero God, he was getting ready to destroy the batarang with a swing of his club but before he had the chance to it exploded! Hercules only suffers a small bit of damage but it creates a smokescreen that Red Hood took advantage of and charges through and unleashes a torrent of blunts strike with the nightstick at the heroic God, Hercules tries to counter with punch but Red Hood pull out another smoke bomb and toss it, making a explosion of smoke and what follow next was a hail of bullets, filling the chest of the Greek God with holes and following up with a roundhouse kick to the jaw. Hercules raised his club and was about to smash Red Hood with it but he used a grappling hook to get away and throw a few birdarangs at the God but Hercules took care of them with his club, Red Hood jumped down and pulls out nightsticks once and slams them against the back of the head of Hercules, or try to but it was block by the club and they nearly got ended up getting snapping in half but they held out and Red Hood jump in the air and deliver a high kick to the jaw of Hercules once more and follow with twin strike to the temple with the nightstick and they snapped in half after that but that stunned Hercules and gave Red Hood the chance to fired more bullet and toss birdarangs at him and hit the vital point of his arms and legs, Hercules recover and slams down his club but Jason jumps back and fires a few more bullets but Hercules guards against them with his arm and swings his club down but Red Hood retreats back quickly and even begins jumping in the air, until he comes to a stop and is on a rooftop.
"More of your petty tricks?" Hercules asked.
"Say, do you have an umbrella? It rains a lot here in Gotham." Red Hood stated, pulling out more birdarangs, he then tossed them into the air and they rebound against some wires. "So better be careful!"
They started moving much faster and in different directions and pierced into Hercules's flesh, Red Hood pulled out a sniper rifle and shot Hercules in the right arm, left leg, left shoulder, right thigh, and in the chest a few times until he ran out of ammo, Jason then tossed more birdarangs to add to the damage. This was becoming too much to watch for most, Hercules gritted his teeth and ready himself and this time used the Sixth Labour: Bird of Stymphalia, with one swing Hercules sent all the birdarangs right back at Jason using a wave of strong winds! Red Hood dodge as best as he could but one hit in the left forearm and one in his right leg, he wheezed in pain and fell to the ground, hard.
"Fucking dammit." Red Hood cursed, pulling them out.
"It's useless… your petty tricks… won't work on me." Hercules stated.
"Big talk coming from the likes of you…" Red Hood said, getting up.
"Really?" Hercules asked, confused and irritated.
"If you still haven't realized then it's pointless trying to tell you." Red Hood stated. "Let's continue, this is the first time I faced a God."
"Bastard…" Hercules said, angry.
"Honestly, your so-called justice is bullshit." Red Hood stated. "Just like my mentors, letting the scum of the earth live only for them to escape and cause more trouble. But you know, the fact you claim to be a Hero for Justice really pisses me off because you are nothing more than a traitor." He stated. "I'm going to make sure to fill you with holes and leave you on the ground bleeding, and show you the despair I was shown!"
"Sorry to disappoint you, but even if I die here. I won't show you what I want to see." Hercules stated. "I won't fall to the likes of you!"
"Keep telling yourself that, traitor." Red Hood stated, pulling out his duel guns.
Hercules charged forward and swung down his club, Red Hood dodged and shot more bullets at Hercules, the Greek God deflecting them with his club. He dodge the club and this time pulled out a katana sword that Damian Wayne used, he gripped it with both hands and charge forward and tries to thrust it through the chest and stab the heart of Hercules but he swing his club as a counter so Red Hood blocked with the sword instead, the force of the impact sunk his feet into the asphalt, he gritted his teeth in pain and quickly pulls out his gun with his right hands and unloads the whole chamber into the chest of Hercules and made him cough up blood and falter. Red Hood take this chance to swipe his leg and cause the God to fall on his back, Jason tries once more to stab the God but Hercules caught the blade and was going to crush it but Red Hood delivers a soccer kick to the chin, making Hercules flinch from the pain and that let Red Hood free the blade, he was about to try slash the neck of the God but Hercules swing his club and that forces him with block with the sword once more and knocks him back a bit. Hercules get up and charge forward, Red Hood lunge forward and dodge by sidestepping the swing of the club and slashes at the torso, the cut wasn't deep enough so Red Hood goes for another from behind, Hercules counter with a back swing and nearly knock Red Hood's head off but he duck and slash the Greek God across the chest and follows up with a downward slash and cut the right shoulder, Hercules gritted his teeth and swing his club downwards, Jason dodge by backing away he "tsk" because the muscle were too tough to cut through so he just aim his cuts at the legs, dodging a swing of the club and cuts the legs of Hercules a few time and the Hero God's legs are covered in cuts that bleed out, Red Hood charge forward and goes for a stab this time, Hercules saw this and attack with swing of his club with more fury, Red Hood dodge the first one, then the second one, and the third and thrust the blade into abdomen, he was about slit the abdomen but the blade was stuck! Hercules flexes his muscle to keep the blade still and instead of hitting him with his club instead he delivers a fury right punch to the chest and Red Hood sent flying to the wall, he grunts in pain and slides down the wall, Hercules pulls out the blade and snaps it in half.
"Not bad, traitor." Red Hood said, shakenly getting up.
"Why do you keep claiming me to be a traitor!? I've betrayed no one!" Hercules shouted in anger.
"That's where you're wrong, you claim to be a hero, that you're one the side of justice, you call me a false hero…" Red Hood said calmly. "But I'm fighting for what's right! You're the one who's wrong! You used to be a human just like me and yet, you're fighting for the Gods! You're fighting for their victory and if you win then Humanity will be one step closer to extinction! Your nothing more than a naïve tool of the Gods, a fucking traitor!" He shouted, pointing his finger. "I'm not the false hero here, you are and I'm not going to die here, you will." He said firmly.
These words surprised everyone, some could see the logic in his statement, other rage at his insult of Hercules, Null merely chuckled at his words. This shook Hercules a bit, Red Hood wasn't lying at what Hercules was doing but he didn't believe himself to be a traitor for the fact that he was against wiping Humanity but did that solely mean he was in the right for fighting on the side of the God? Red Hood saw the inner dilemma the Greek God was having pull out a 44 magnum and shot the God in the legs a few times and that made him flinch in pain and Jason to the chance to deliver another soccer kick to his chin and unload the rest of the ammo into his chest, making Hercules cough up blood. He glares at the vigilante and throws a punch but he backs up and changes tactics once more.
"Tell me, what's your plan? You're gonna kill me and then switch to the side of Humanity after already pushing them another step closer to complete extinction. Just how fuck up are you?" Red Hood said with a sneer. "Are we that pitiful to you? Or are you just looking for glory and praise? Did you expect to have a fair fight with whatever fighter that comes out?" He asked, adding fuel to the fire of Hercules dilemma.
"Silence!" Hercules shouted, swinging his club at him in a fit of anger.
Red Hood dodge and pulls out a flash bang from the pouch and tossed it, it went off and blind the Greek God. All he saw was darkness and ringing in his then he felt a intense pain, over and over again and more of his blood staining the grounds of the arena, Red Hood was wielding a machete with a serrated edge on the blade he keep hacking and slash at the blinded heroic God with all his might. Hercules focus his sense and when Red Hood came at him with another swing of the blade, the Greek God swing his fist down to smash his head in but the former boy wonder used the machete to guard against the blow and it shatter on impact and as the Hero God was about deliver another attack Red Hood pull out a tech 9 and empty the whole chamber by unleashing a shot of bullets at heroic God, pelleting his body with more bullets and covering him and in holes.
"You claim to be a Hero for Divine Justice among the Gods. Admire and love by both mortals and Gods… all of them are hoping for your victory, idiots. But to me, you're nothing more… than a fake, a liar, a traitor. As a representative of the Gods, if you all manage to win this tournament wouldn't that mean you just help kill over a billion innocent people across dimensions, is that what you consider Divine Justice?" Red Hood asked calmly, tossing the tech 9 to the side.
"T-That not it…!" Hercules shouted, horrified by that claim.
"Then what is it!?" Red Hood shouted with rage, making everyone and even Hercules flinch at the volume. "What is then!? Huh!? Because from my point of view that's exactly that! A traitor playing Hero! You ascended to Godhood and for what!? What have you done that benefited Humanity!?" He asked with anger in his voice.
"What would you know!?" Hercules shouted, charging at him in anger. "You've abandoning justice and became nothing more then a murder! You've taken countless lives and claimed it to be justice!" He shouted, wildly swinging his club!
"I've only even killed pieces of shit that deserve to die! I'm doing my part to make Gotham a better place for people to live!" Red Hood shouted, dodging the attacks. "What about you!? How can someone like you be a hero!? Answer, you can't! Because you're no hero! You are a fool of a God that pretends to be a hero!"
"Shut up!" Hercules shouted, trying to deny what Jason was saying.
"You're only using your strength for the Gods! You're no ally of Justice… you're just a lying piece of shit that is nothing more than a false hero!" Red Hood shouted at the top of his lungs.
"ENOUGH!" Hercules shouted in blind rage and slammed his club into the ground!
The shockwave from the blow knocks Jason into the wall of a building, he coughs more blood and grunts in pain. Hercules was panting as he glared at the vigilante, he was trembling not from rage but from the thoughts that plague his mind as Red Hood words strike a few nerves within him, he didn't wish to believe it, he couldn't believe it. Red Hood saw this and took this time to slowly pick himself up and let out a few deep and steady breaths to ease his pain.
"If you refuse to see the truth, fine. Have it your way, you're still dying here." Red Hood said firmly. "I'll kill you and save Humanity, because I'm a hero!"
Red Hood pulled out a bo staff and charged forward and jumped in the air and swung at it across the head, and followed up by smashing it against the jaw once more. Hercules wheezed in pain and tries to retaliate with a swing of of his club but Red Hood blocks with the bo staff and counter with a few harsh jabs to the vital spot of the chest and torso, he spin the bo staff and swing it at Hercules once more but he dodge and swing down his club but Red Hood blocked. He charge forward and slams it against the right knee of the God, causing him to flinch in pain and leave him open to an upward swing to the chin and follow up with a strike to the temple, Hercules grunt in pain and swung his club at Jason but he block and counter with harsh jab to the left knee and follows up with a full power swing like he was holding a bat to the face! Making blood gush out of the heroic God's nose and grunt in pain and charge forward with swing of his club, Red Hood jumped away and raised his staff and pressed a button and activated it and slammed it down and unleashed volts of electricity and gave Hercules another nasty shock, he gritted his and charged forward and swung his club right at him with all his might! Red Hood blocked with his bo staff and the force pushed him back and snapped under the pressure of the blow. The vigilante found his back against the wall, he looked up and it was the clock tower. He pulled out his grappling hook and shot up and climbed the rest of the way with his hands.
"It's useless." Hercules said firmly, he pushed the thought of their talk away and focused on the fight.
He then swung his club against the clock tower and caused it to fall and lean against another building. Red Hood hangs against the hand of the clock tower and looks down at the Greek God. Hercules used his Seventh Labour: Cretan Bull and was preparing to deliver a powerful strike, Red Hood acted quickly and grabbed the clock of the tower and tossed it like a disc!
"It's useless… how many times must I remind you!" Hercules shouted.
He then used his arm to guard against it and everyone expected it to shatter on impact, but that wasn't the case… instead the clock disc cut right through his arm! Shocking and even horrifying them to the core as Hercules's arm falls to the ground.
"I've heard you say that over and over again, dumbass. So tell me, how does it feel." Red Hood asked seriously.
Humanity and Gods, were both frozen at the sight of a God being injured by a man-made weapon.
"I see." Hercules said, figuring out the truth. "That's the real one, huh?" He asked.
"So you figure it out, guess you're not any old muscle head." Red Hood stated.
"Ah, I see~. He got us good…" Loki said with a smirk.
"Wh-What the hell just happened!?" Ares asked, still in shock.
"You still haven't figured it out?" Loki asked.
"Huh?" Ares asked, confused.
"Red Hood's little chat about the bag being his Volund was also a lie." Loki told them.
"A lie!?" Ares asked.
"Yes… his true weapon… was neither those daggers nor that bottomless pouch… it's those gloves." Loki clarified.
"Interesting, it most likely whatever those gloves touch becomes a Divine Weapon itself." Hades concluded.
"He can transform them into Divine Weapons?" Ares asked, confused.
"He pulled all his weapons from that pouch… in order to make us believe it could create them… in order to make us believe there was a size limit. Time and time again, he continues to launch barrage after barrage of attacks… all in order to have Hercules slip all for that one strike…" Loki explained. "In hindsight… Red Hood's first trick had a fairly weak result… to think that it would be used for another that would take his arm off. In any case, it would seem that he got Hercules good. Everything that man has done was a bluff until now."
"Is that so?" Baldur said, walking up and standing next to Loki. "Man… these mortals get more and more interesting." He said intrigue.
"Shit! Shit! Shit!" Ares repeated. "You damn coward!"
"Was this all according to your plan, Brunhild?" Loki thought.
"His true weapons are those gloves…?" Geir asked, confused.
"Indeed. I never informed you, did I?" Brunhild stated.
"Y-You knew, didn't you? About that weapon… and Brother Hercules would fall for it completely…" Geir said in a shaking voice. "You know this would happen all along!" She shouted.
"Well… I did have to make an executive decision to set it up, after all." Brunhild stated.
"Null, did you have a part in this?" Lord Arcane asked.
"In a way, I'd be lying if I didn't." Null answered calmly.
Earlier, Brunhild and Null approach the next Valkyrie to fight and it was Hlokk, the Seventh Valkyrie sister. But she was making a fuss about being parted with a vigilante, Null simply sweatdrop and let out a sigh while Brunhild had a blank face, Red Hood appeared out of nowhere and surprised the Valkyrie, he wasn't so thrilled about this either. In order to make things go faster, Null removed his helmet to reveal a young handsome face under, Hlokk looked at him with shock and awe with faint blush and was more willing to fight with him, Red Hood "tch" and took his helmet back from Null and the two used Volund.
"That's just like you Null." Lord Arcane stated.
"It was the best option at the time compared to what else might have happened." Null said with a shrug. "This battle needed her power."
"The Seventh Valkyrie Sister, Hlokk. Morphing the true nature of those weapons… the truth lies behind that name…" Brunhild stated.
"The unsettling one." Null finished.
"Yeah, with these gloves I can turn anything into a Divine Weapon." Red Hood stated. "With these…" He said picking up a pebble and flicking it, it hit a wall and left a dent. "A simple pebble can smash right through a wall of stone. And the simple face of a clock can kill a God." He stated. "You understand what I mean, right?"
That meant all of Gotham had become his weapon! Both Humanity and Gods alike dread for Hercules and cheer him on, Null merely sighed and Red Hood scoffed, unable to believe it.
"You're quite the famous one, it really pisses more off, well no matter… Let's begin the final act." Red Hood stated, pulling out his guns and reloading and cocking them.
"Hey! Quit screwing around and pay attention!" Hlokk shouted within his head.
"I know what I'm doing! Just do you part!" Jason thought back.
"Hercules…" Ares said, dreading the worse. But was then punched in the face by Zeus.
"What are you doing breaking before the man himself!? You foolish son of mine!" Zeus shouted, then cough in his hand spit up blood.
"Z-Zeus… b...but his right arm…" Ares stated.
"Ah, yes. You really think that's enough of an excuse for him to lose." Zeus asked. "He won't lose. Hercules just isn't that kind of man."
"Well said, brother." Hade stated.
"That's right. He is… the man who passed the trails of Zeus himself! And the man I call my greatest friend!" Ares thought with a smirk.
Hercules packed up his right thumb and stopped the bleeding, Red Hood gripped his guns and ready himself for the final act of this battle.
"You should be careful, those techniques look like they take a lot out of you." Red Hood stated.
"You needn't worry." Hercules told him.
"Hmph." Red Hood scoffed. "Don't get it twisted, I just want to make sure that it's me who puts you into the ground, nothing more nothing less, I could care less about you." He stated. "Just looking at you makes me angry, I can't stand it, I can't stand scum like you, you need to be put in the ground." He sneered with complete malice.
"I see… you have lost, haven't you?" Hercules asked, with sympathy.
"What…?" Red Hood asked seriously and in anger.
"What is it that made you fall into darkness? Was it because of the pain you suffered or was it because of the feeling of betrayal that cut your soul?" Hercules asked. "No… the reason is… irrelevant. You lost to despair and gave into bloodlust."
"... … …" Red Hood stayed silent, glaring through his helmet.
"I'm a demi-God. A human born on earth, who ascended to Olympus as a God. Humanity and Deity… as one holding both titles… I can say this… Humanity is foolish, jealous, hatred, discriminatory…" Hercules told him, he began listening to all of the sins of Humanity. "And yet… in spite of all that, I truly love Humanity." He stated.
"Spare me your speech, because if that was the cause you'd have fought for Humanity." Red Hood told him with sneer. "Just shut up and fight." He told him.
Red Hood's hands tremble with a mix of rage, hatred, and despair. The emotion that Hercules gave off reminded him of Bruce in a way, his mentor, the man that trained him. He loved Jason like a son and Joker took him away from him, Jason was never angry at Bruce, it was Joker for what he did. But now, Jason wanted nothing more to kill the Greek God and get this fight over with.
"God dammit, if things keep up like this… I'll have to use my trump card!" Red Hood thought.
"I guess you're right." Hercules stated.
"Time to get into action." Red Hood stated, he then took his helmet off and held it.
Hercules tossed his club into the air and it began to transform more sinisterly, Hercules called forth the Hound of Hades, and activated the Twelfth Labour: Cerberus. Hercules looks more beastly and monster-like than before.
"Cerberus…" Hades muttered.
"Hmmm… it's a battle of time from here on out." Zeus stated.
"Time?" Loki said, confused.
"That skill possesses an overwhelming power capacity of destruction." Hades stated.
"However it takes a great toll on its user…" Zeus added. "Will he engulf his opponent? Or be drained of his essence first?"
"That Labour can be stopped." Hades stated.
"A skill that burns through the user's own life… so if he doesn't win that tattoo will overwhelm his body, stripping it of his life in the process… a truly amazing man." Loki stated.
"Indeed." Baldur agreed.
"Hercules!" Ares shouted. "Hurry!"
Hercules charges right at Red Hood, he throws a savage punch, the vigilante dodge it and the blow a claw mark. Red Hood threw his held it at the Greek God and when it got closed it exploded! Hercules grunts in pain and does have time to dodge incoming bullets, hitting him in his vital spot but it was enough and a few missed. He pulls out a few birdarangs and tosses them at Hercules; they pierced his body and a few seconds later they exploded! Burning and making the God cough up blood, Red Hood charge forward and deliver a firm uppercut and pull out a tire iron smack it against the the face of Hercules a few time, the God of Fortitude grunts in pain and caught it and headbutts the vigilante and follow up with knee to the gut, making Jason spit up blood and hitting the ground, Hercules was about to finish him but Jason's words surface once more and that makes him hesitate. Red Hood groans in pain but quickly re by pulling out a revolver and emptying it into the legs and chest of Hercules, he gets to his feet and was ready to fight, he pulls out his duel guns.
"What the matter? Starting to believe what I said? Do you realize that I was right!?" Red Hood asked, firing bullets at the Hero God. "Do you realize you're not a hero at all!?"
"Enough of your tricks!" Hercules shouted, slamming his fist down into the ground.
"Fool…" Red Hood stated.
Red Hood put his guns away and grabbed and tossed more birdarangs at Hercules but he smashed them to pieces with a single punch. Red Hood toss birdarangs and reload his gun and fired bullets but Hercules smash them with ease, he grab a sign but Hercules smash it and the impact shook his whole arm, Hercules attack with Great Hero Blow, Red Hood jump over it and the blow destroy the ground, the Greek God swing his stump at him but Hercules missed Red Hood felt his face and there was a small cut on his cheek. Hercules goes for another punch and Jason uses a manhole cover to block it, it worked at first but Hercules forced his way through and delivered a strong blow to the face! Red Hood got sent flying, he roll across the ground and quickly fix himself, he spit out a bit of blood and fell to his knees, and grabs his grappling hook and retreats to form a plan and Hercules jump after him and slammed his fist against him, Jason blocked with both arm and ends up falling and gets impaled by a spiked fence, Jason's abdomen and right arm were hit he cough up blood and gritted his teeth in pain, he pull out a birdarang and cut himself free, first pulling out the one in his abdomen and the two in his right arm.
"Fuck! The shit hurt like hell!" Red Hood cursed, getting up and holding his abdomen in pain.
"No matter what you do, it's useless." Hercules told him. "There's nowhere you can run in this city."
"Maybe you're right, but did you forget?" Red Hood asks, pulling out a few flash bangs and tosses them at the Greek God, they went off and blinded him. "Everything in Gotham is a lethal weapon for me!" He shouted, touching a building and a few moments later he was holding the device that produces the explosive gel and coated it on a building, he pulled out six exploding birdarangs and tossed them at the building and on impact they created a big explosion, causing the small building to fall!
At the same, Red Hood charges forward and attacks with a drop kick but Hercules blocks but that leaves him open for Jason to stab two of the iron fence robs into his shoulders and uses him as a springboard to jump through a window of the falling building and escape. The building comes crashing down on Hercules, he tries to force it up but the damage to his legs had weakened Hercules a bit and he couldn't hold it up any longer so the building crashed on him! Red Hood was nowhere in sight, the crowd gasped in shock at the plan Red Hood came up with and dreaded the worse and thought Hercules was crashed, Gods and mortals pleaded and beg for him to get up and fight once more, after a moment a fist burst through the rubble, Hercules got right back up and was bloody and a took a some damage the crowd cheered for him once more, he look for any sign of Red Hood but he was gone, most thought he might have died in the building crashing, but others and Hercules knew better then that.
"Welcome back, did you like the gift?" The voice of Jason Todd asked sarcastically.
Hercules turned and saw a completely different figure, they were wearing militaristic versions of the Batsuit that Batman wears, it looked more armored and was more high-tech. They were wielding a M134 minigun, this confused Hercules and many others.
"Like the suit? I only ever used this once before, I figure I bust this out one more time." Jason said, his voice sounding distorted.
"Red Hood?" Hercules said, confused.
"It's the Arkham Knight, a trump card I was saving for this moment." Jason corrected him. "This will be the last thing you'll ever see, ready for the rising climax of the final act, traitor?"
"Traitor…" Hercules thought, Jason's words plaguing his mind once more.
Red Hood now knew as Arkham Knight aimed the minigun and unleash a stream of bullets at Hercules, the Greek God tries to dodge the shot but Arkham Knight manage to hit him and paint the ground with his blood as the bullets torn into him, the muscular God stick his hand into the ground and left it up to guard against the rest of the shots. Arkham Knight kept firing until he ran out of ammo, the piece of ground Hercules used fell apart and it revealed him to be badly damaged, Hercules had deep bullet hole wounds on his left leg up to his chest and right arm. Arkham Knight wasn't done and pull a two tommy guns and unleashed a hail of bullets on to the Greek God, who smash and deflect as many as he could but a few hit him and his right arm was cover in bullet wound and dripping with his blood, Arkham Knight still wasn't finish and pull shotgun and aim and shoot Hercules, it had explosive rounds so the damage was great when it hit Hercules! He kept shooting the Greek God over and over again, Hercules used his arm to deflect the shots as best as he could and advance forward and throws a powerful punch and Arkham Knight jump away and use the last shot to hit Hercules in the left leg causing him to fall to his knees as Arkham Knight stood over him.
"Ain't this a sight to behold, the great and "heroic" God on his knees before his enemy." Arkham Knight stated. "You truly look pitiful, pathetic. Some hero, huh? You're nothing more than a faker, you are not and never will be a hero." He scoffed, and before Hercules could retaliate he was hit in the chin by a full power soccer kick.
Hercules was sent a short distance and was laying on his back. He couldn't find any anything to counter the claim that was put before him, and in the end the realization of what was placed before him was clear. In the end, Jason Todd was right, he was a fool that picked the wrong side, he was fighting for all the wrong reasons, he was a false hero, a faker, this wasn't about him and winning a fair fight, this was about the survival of Humanity.
"You want to know who was a hero, that bald guy, Saitama, he was a real Hero. He fought to protect Humanity. He used his strength to fight against the bastard Gods." Arkham Knight said, pulling out one of his duel guns. "Not like you, you may be loved and admired but that doesn't mean shit if you can't save anyone, you have no idea what it really means to be a hero."
"My, you certainly pick an intense one, Null." Heart said, reappearing his outfit was a bit scratch up but he was fine.
"I simply pick a person with enough malice that even a God couldn't handle." Null stated.
"His little speech was interesting, I must say I enjoyed it." Hearts said with a bit of a malice smile.
"Hmmmm." Null said, observing. "You look like you've seen better days, something happened?" He asked, changing the subject.
"I was just retrieving Cumber, he was going on a little rampage so I helped him burn off some of energy." Heart said, wiping off a bit of dust.
"I see…" Null stated.
Back in the arena, Arkham Knight was aiming his gun and was about to put a bullet in the skull of Greek God. Hercules was trapped in a mental cage as he couldn't fight, he lost the resolve to finish this fight. Just as it was about to end, the crowd let out a large cry and pleaded for Hercules to get up and fight, both mortals and Gods alike were cheering him on. Jason Todd couldn't understand it but nonetheless he didn't care.
"You're pretty well like, too bad those idiots don't understand the gravity of this situation." Arkham Knight said, he let out a groan and clenched his side.
"Enough playing around! You need to finish this now while you still have the strength, I don't want to die!" Hlokk told him.
"I know that… this fight is over." Jason Todd thought, he was still wounded and bleeding out a bit, he tore up his jacket to use as makeshift bandages but the blood was soaking through now. "Goodbye, traitor." He said seriously.
Time slowed down for a bit as Hercules took in the pleads of the crowd and finally understood what needed to be done. Light return into his eyes and roll at the way quickly as the bullet hit the ground, Arkham Knight quickly shots at the Greek God but Hercules get up and deflect them with his arm and bull rush Arkham Knight and slam his good shoulder into the vigilante's chest, making him gasp and cough up blood and slam into a the ground, he grunts in pain as he clenched his abdomen.
"No matter what you say or do, the justice in my heart won't waver." Hercules stated. "Or so I thought, but… you are right. I've been living my life as a faker, I believe myself to be an ally of Divine Justice, a Hero of the Gods… but I know now that you were right, I was a false hero playing pretend." He said in a calm tone, his voice full of shame.
"Hmph, look at that… the idiot can learn." Arkham Knight stated, picking himself up. "You're impressive and look to be an honest guy, that's all the more reason I want to put a bullet in your head for picking the wrong fucking side! But… if things had been different, maybe we could have been allies… maybe more, but that's just wishful thinking" He said in a solemn tone.
"Indeed, you are right. Wishful thinking for a better life." Hercules said with a sad smile.
Arkham Knight let out a grunt of pain and pulled out two black and spiked brass knuckles and took a proper fighting stance, Hercules raised his arm and the two approached each other until they were within each other's striking distance. Arkham Knight made the first move and throw a precise and fast right punch to the face and that made Hercules grunt in pain but endures it and deliver a firm counter in the form of a powerful punch that Arkham Knight dodge but it graze his left leg and made him flinch in pain and he counters with a right high kick to the jaw and follow up with fast left uppercut to the jaw, this stunned Hercules for a bit and that left him open for a precise and fast jab to the face, the Greek God counter with strong punch to the gut making Arkham Knight cough up blood and stagger back in pain and taking another strong punch to the face, destroying his helmet and exposing his face. He staggers back a bit and spits out some blood to the ground and charges forward and unleashes a barrage of fast and strong punches and kicks to the injured areas of the God's body. Hercules grits his teeth and stops on the ground and shakes it a bit and delivers five powerful punches to the body of the vigilant and sends him flying and hitting the ground, most of his suit was destroyed and falling off, exposing badly bruised parts of his body, he was in a lot of pain but gets to his feet once more, Jason throw a strong right punch that Hercules meet with his own and the brass knuckles shatter the power behind the blow made the vigilante's whole arm tremble but he throws a fast left jab but Hercules uses his elbow shatter the other once and delivers a firm punch to his chest, sending him flying to the ground and making spit up blood but Jason get to his feet once more.
"He's truly something else, he keeps getting up despite the pain he's in. This boy is the true hero." Hercules thought.
Jason Todd pull out his guns but wheezed in pain and fell to his knees and dropped them, he clenched his bleeding abdomen with his hand and coughed up a bit of blood, he was covered in wounds and had lost a lot of blood but he picked himself and got up once more and grabbed one of his guns.
"Let's end this." Jason Todd said, wiping blood off his lips. "Time for the finale."
The curtain for this fight was coming to a close, the truth was clear to everyone that was watching. The battle between Good and Malice, which would win? The Dark Vigilante or the Divine Hero? Divine Justice or Dark Justice?
Hercules advance forward and and Jason follow suit he pick up a metal door, the two clash, Hercules kept throwing punches and Jason kept dodging and firing shots, Hercules smashed his fist against the metal door a few time until it was in pieces, leaving Jason defenseless and Hercules throw another powerful punch, he used one of his guns to block the blow but it was smash to pieces and the fist slams into his gut once more, he spat out a glob of blood and was sent flying! He hits the ground, laying down on his back for a few moments before getting back up to his feet and was panting, there isn't anymore time left and Hercules charge to finish off Jason but he swiftly avoided the fist of the Greek God until he was at the right angle and blind spot to strike and pull out the spiked rod that stabbed him and thrust it forward to stab the God in the face and skull but he missed and only got his cheek and Hercules counter with a blow to the side of his head and sent him flying once more and into the ground, Jason lay on the ground in a daze.
"Dammit, this is bad." Nightwing stated. "Is this the end?"
"Should have know, he was nothing but a vigilante punk… shouldn't have expected nothing more..." A man in the crowd said.
"Mankind's last hope, yeah right." Another man scoffed.
"So do either of you want to go down there and fight a God?" Batgirl asked. "He's out there all by himself fighting for his life and yours!"
"Say those words again, you vigilant bitch!" Another man said, offended.
"You want to say that to my face!?" Batgirl shouted.
"Calm down, this fight isn't over." Batman said in a firm tone.
Jason slowly picked himself up, his legs were shaking and his vision was bluntly. It was clear he was on his last legs, he was using the spike rod to hold himself up and drag his feet forward and advance once more for a few minutes before stopping, he found his other gun and empty and the chamber and refill it with one that was cover in his blood, he pointed the spike rod and gun at Hercules and still held a determined glare.
"So strong…" Hercules said with a smirk.
Jason was up and close with Hercules and both fighter strike at each other once more, he struck Jason across the head and he was dazed, and nearly fell to his knees but stood firm and fired five shot of bullets into the God's chest but Hercules didn't falter and throw another punch but Jason was able to parry the blow somehow and counter with punch to the chin but Hercules tank it and got the former boy wonder in the ribcage, he cough blood and counter with a uppercut with his foot and stagger back a bit, he put one hand on his knee and vomit up blood, he was pretty sure that a few ribs were now broken. He wasn't giving up though and charge forward once more, Hercules felt his end near and channel all the strength he had, his eyes turn blood red like in his fight with Ares and as Jason goes for a jab he miss and Hercules got him across the temple and Jason was stunned and slowly fall forward as his brain shook from the blow, close to blacking out.
"You've done well… Jason Todd." Hercules thought. "Rest." He said, ready to finish him off.
But this wasn't it, with a bit of energy still in Jason, he caught himself and ready himself for a strike, Hercules wasn't expecting this and tries to finish off now! There was a splash of blood and everyone widened there's eyes at the result. Jason had one of his hands going right through Hercules's chest and the other one held his gun and pressed it against the forehead of the God.
"Dear Falling God." Jason stated. "That's what I'm calling this move, made just for you."
"Why… why is a mere mortal piercing divine flesh with his bare hands…?" Ares asked, stunned.
"It's your… blood?" Hercules answered, coughing up blood. "I thought you were trying to cover your injuries but you were coating your hands in blood.
"Not just my hand, the bullets in this gun." Jason told him.
"You're something else, right to the very end." Hercules stated, but Jason didn't look happy.
"This isn't a win…" Jason stated. "You're still standing."
"I will never change…" Hercules said, clenching his fist. "Never forget I will always… love mortals." He said, hugging Jason.
"Dammit, your one stubborn bastard." Jason said softly, and pointed the gun at the chest, aimed and finished it with a single shot to the heart.
"In the end… even if he lost the strength to strike, he still possessed enough strength to embrace, hmm?" Loki said.
"I guess so…" Baldur said in a neutral tone.
"Cerberus…" Hade muttered.
"That was a good fight… I'm sorry… for yelling before." Hercules stated. "Brunhild… are you watching? I leave the rest to you… though they may be foolish, so am I. I still hold them dear… please save them all." Those were Hercules's last words before turning into light particles.
Everyone cried both mortals and Gods mourn the loss of such a lovable person. Jason Todd looked at the sky, completely exhausted and fell to his knees. He never felt so sorry for killing someone, but the death of Hercules left a bitter feeling.
"Why… why didn't you fight for Humanity?" Jason muttered in a sad tone, a single tear dripping down.
Round 4 of Ragnarok:
Red Hood vs Hercules: The victor is Red Hood
Deciding Move: Dear Falling God
Scoreboard: Humanity: 2 and God: 1
R1: Tie
R2: G
R3: H
R4: H
"T-THIS CONCLUDES OUR FOURTH MATCH… RED HOOD IS… OUR VICTOR…" Heimdall said, lacking his usual energy.
The gloves returned to normal and it was Hlokk, it took Jason a few minutes to acknowledge her.
"Hey…" Jason said, turning to her. "How do you feel?"
"Hmph! I should be asking you that." Hlokk countered. "How's it feel to kill a God?"
"I feel like shit, physically and emotionally." Jason answered. "It's definitely not what I thought."
"Jeez, you look so pitiful when you're sad." Hlokk told him. "And look at me! I'm filthy for dear sake!" She shouted, and she began to float away. "Now I have to take a shower, you better head to the infirmary! Got it, kiddo!"
"Yes ma'am." Jason said, and picked himself up.
As he was slowly making his way through the now destroyed city of Gotham, thinking over the events of his battle, he was holding his bleeding abdomen to keep any more blood from leaking out but with his other wounds, blood was still leaking out.
"If... I could have one wish, it would be… to see him once more." Jason stated.
He gritted his teeth in pain and fell to his knees once more, meanwhile the audience tremble in violent whirlpool of emotions, and what Jason was meet with instead of gratitude was scorn, the crowd chuck rock, garbage, and anything else they could at him, he brace himself it but it never touch him because standing over him was none other then, Null. He shielded the vigilante, merely taking in the words they shouted at him as this shouldn't have happened after such a long and painful fight, this went on for a few more minutes then the Bookkeeper had enough of the crowd pointless whining and with a snap of his finger and unleash a shockwave the ripple through the air and over the crowd, silencing them all.
"Honestly." Null thought. "You did well, no one has the right to judge you for this let alone any of them." Null stated, pointing to the crowd.
"Haha, you think so?" Jason muttered, not completely sure if he was right.
"No one said this would be easy." Null stated, helping him to his feet. "But it's for the greater good, or in your cause for your family, right?" He asked, Jason looked through the crowd and at the Bat family the people who were there for him.
"Right…" Jason said, with a small smile.
With the Gods, now Humanity had two victories over the Gods and that was enough to show that they couldn't let them get ahead and further. Ares was mourning over the death of his friend and crying his eyes out. Zeus unleashes a bit of his power as a reaction to the second loss to the Greek Gods, he then cough up a bit of blood as he was still recovering from his fight with Saitama. Hade had a dark mourn-filled look on his face for losing his trusted hound to Humanity.
"We can't let them move any farther." Zeus said seriously.
"Indeed, this can't continue." Hades said seriously, a dark look on his face.
"I'm sure that's exactly how they feel." Loki stated. "Who will be sent next?"
Geir was crying her eyes out for the death of Hercules, Null had returned to where Brunhild was where they are, Lord Arcane merely let out a sigh, Hearts had a small frown. Null looked at the younger Valkyrie with a look of sadness and followed Brunhild.
"Are you happy now!? Seeing brother Hercules die!? Are you satisfied!?" Geir asked angrily.
"The meaning of our name, "Valkyrie" is "chooser of the slain". There is no need for emotions in our line of work." Brunhild stated, Null put a hand on her shoulder.
"Geir, Humanity needs to be saved. All that matters is the success." Null said, calmly.
"This was never going to be easy, but we must push on." Hearts added.
Brunhild walked off while Null decided to leave her alone and walk off to get his own space, Lord Arcane followed after him, and Hearts merely left to think things over. Null was now floating in a criss-cross stance, he was meditating to clear his mind. Lord Arcane appeared behind him and Null could sense him and stopped.
"You seem distraught, Null." Lord Arcane stated.
"Hmmm." Null said back.
"I'm guessing it has something to do with the latest match." Lord Arcane stated.
"I'm… just unable to bring myself to mourn or even feel sorry for what happened to Hercules." Null stated. "He claims to love Humanity but fought for the side of the Gods… I-I just don't understand…" He stated. "Honestly, I felt nothing, but I didn't say anything for the sake of Brunhild."
"I see… still holding on to those intense feelings for the Gods?" Lord Arcane asked.
"I never lost them, I just… can't help but hate the Gods." Null said the last part darkly. "Hercules was an honest and lovable guy… but not a Hero, I have nothing against him, but… this is just how things have to be."
"Oh, Null…" Lord Arcane muttered.
Deep within the arena in Humanity, there was a door that had chains all over it. Within was a basement, two silhouettes sitting and watching the fight.
"My, there doesn't seem to be a shortage of strong fighters." A female being said with a sinister smirk.
"Indeed, general… Kenpachi, Saitama, Miyamoto Musashi, and now Red Hood." A female being said with a smile. "True fighters from all over other dimensions, being a representative is truly exciting, wouldn't you agree General" They asked.
"Indeed, Kurome." The female stated. "I can't wait for my turn in the ring, fighting a God." Esdeath, the Ice General and Representative of Humanity.
The battle was just beginning, now with Humanity having the lead for the moment will they be able to keep it or will the Gods caught up and either tie with them once more or jump ahead of them?
Here's the remake of this fight, I wanted to dive deeper into the nature of these two and the meaning of a hero between. Now I have nothing against Hercules but I just don't believe that he was a true hero given what his victory would mean. Tell me what you think, the next chapter will take a bit longer.
Peace!