King Of Underworld [EN]: Chapter 138

The King of the Underworld is Tired 138 (138/140)

The Argonauts – (5)

A red dragon suddenly rampaged, burning the royal palace and the village in the middle of the night.

The reason why the dragon guarding the Golden Fleece was attacking people was unknown, but the soldiers who were summoned to stop the monster had to grit their teeth and raise their spears and swords.

If it weren’t for Princess Medea, famous as an outstanding magician, Thanatos [the personification of death] would have claimed them long ago.

Then, unexpected reinforcements appeared.

“Meleager! Aim for its eyes or mouth with your javelin! Atalante, you too!”

“Zetes, let’s take to the sky and keep it in check!”

“Are there any more magic users?!”

The heroes, each worth a hundred men, began to fight the dragon in teams.

As if they had experienced similar situations many times, they moved in perfect order under the command of a man named Jason.

However, the dragon’s body remained unscathed.

Despite the fierce attacks of the great heroes, its iron-clad hide remained intact.

It was hard to believe it was a normal monster. Even for a dragon, with so many heroes attacking it…

It felt like moths rushing towards a god.

But from the moment *he* appeared, the situation changed.

“Jason! I was a little late because there were people buried in the rubble! I just need to kill that dragon, right?!”

A lion skin worn over his head, an iron club and a golden sword, a giant physique that made even adult men look like children.

There were those in Colchis who imitated the great hero Hercules… but this man was different.

The dragon, which had been rampaging as if it had just been playing around, charged wildly.

The soldiers closed their eyes tightly as the formation they were barely maintaining collapsed.

But…

Kuuuung!

“Wh-What! He’s blocking it!”

“…Who the hell is that guy?”

That man was different. He blocked the dragon’s claws with an iron club, claws that no hero had ever been able to withstand head-on, dodging the flames and counterattacking. He wasn’t just enduring; he was exchanging blows with the monster!

It was clear that the real Hercules had appeared before their eyes, not some fool imitating the great hero.

Feelings of relief and hope revived, and their vision blurred with tears.

In the sight of the panting soldiers, a man named Jason was seen gathering his hands and praying.

The great hero Hercules is not a god, but a mortal.

But at this moment, he was closer to them than any god.

Realizing this, the soldiers began to gather their hands and pray, one by one.

“From that terrible dragon… please save Colchis…”

God.

* * *

Kraaaaaㅡ!!!

In the fight against the dragon spewing flames from its mouth, the great hero Hercules’ face was full of excitement.

Other humans were too weak. The same goes for fighting heroes. The monsters were tricky, but they couldn’t match him in the end.

The fight with the goddess Megaira was closer to a training match, and the fight with Triton was too short.

On the other hand, this dragon was different.

Red scales as strong as a body reinforced with the water of the River Styx [a river in the Underworld said to grant invincibility].

Hot flames and sharp claws that could wound his body.

It felt like fighting a god.

It was by no means inferior as his rival!

“Haaah!!!”

Herkules eventually threw away the iron club that had been cut off by the dragon’s claws and clung to the dragon’s wings.

Fierce wing movements continued, trying to shake off the pest, but instead, the great hero tore off the annoying wings completely.

ㅡPuuhwaaaak!

Kraaaaaa!!!

The dragon, with one wing torn off, writhed in pain and screamed. Flames spewed from its huge maw, hitting him directly.

Herkules felt a burning sensation from the flames spewing out at close range.

“Hahahaha! More! Do more!”

But even in that burning pain, his wild laughter did not subside.

Is this what people call a rival? This is the feeling of a monster worth fighting, as Theseus said!

Like the Chimera that Bellerophon fought, or the Drakon Ismenios that Cadmus killed… a monster that came to him as a trial.

He now tore off the dragon’s tattered left wing with his bare hands and began to punch the dragon.

Like the punches he used to grab the Nemean lion by the collar and swing it around. The most primal violence covered the dragon.

Peoeok! Kwajijik!

A human attacking a dragon with his bare hands; it was a sight that made everyone doubt their eyes.

Even more surprising was the fact that the dragon was feeling pain and struggling to get him off.

“No… crazy.”

“A-Am I dreaming right now?”

“Zeus…”

Everyone was in awe of this mythical battle, staring blankly at Hercules.

The best magician in Greece, the heroes who had been with the great hero for a long time, and the leader of the Argonauts.

“Hahahaha!”

Kraaaaaaㅡ!!!!

A human fighting a dragon, the pinnacle of monsters, with his bare fists.

His name: Hercules.

Overflowing excitement. Strength that rises for some reason. A burning sensation that is not felt for some reason.

He kept pounding on the impenetrable scales. He tore off the other wing, broke the flying claws with his bare fists…

So fiercely that he didn’t know whose blood was flowing from his body.

Puuukㅡ

And finally, when he pulled out a sharp horn and stuck it into the monster’s neck,

the pinnacle of all things slowly died.

Kuuuung!

“Oh my god… he killed a dragon with his bare hands.”

“…God.”

“Was the great hero Hercules a god?”

“Hercules! Are you okay! Asclepius, check on his condition…”

“He’s covered in blood! No, wait a minute. Why are there no wounds on your body?”

Herkules, who was standing on the head of the fallen dragon, looked at the heroes running towards him for a moment…

Then he realized what had happened to him.

He had fought so fiercely and moved so much, but he was not tired at all.

It was as if strength was overflowing endlessly.

The visible view has changed.

He knew what he could do and what he had to do.

“Hercules. You’re different…”

“Jason.”

“Uh… Uh?”

“Thank you. It’s all thanks to you.”

He smiled at his friend, who did not understand his words, and then cut off the dragon’s neck with the golden sword he had obtained from Chrysaor and held it up high.

“Waaaaa!!! We won!”

“Thank you! Olympian gods!”

“Glory to Colchis! We protected our citizens!”

The dragon that was burning the city was defeated by the newly born god.

* * *

The battlefield was quickly cleaned up.

The Golden Fleece that came out of the dragon’s belly was handed over to the Argonauts.

This was also because the people of Colchis, who had received great help from the heroes, gave up their ownership…

“In the first place, my father died in the dragon’s flames. My younger sibling has the right to inherit the throne, but I’ve already talked to them…”

“Hmm… I express my condolences for the news of His Majesty Aeetes.”

“No. This incident was like a disaster, so there was nothing we could do… sob.”

This is because Jason and Medea fell in love through the fight with the dragon.

The marriage between the beautiful princess of Colchis and the successor of Iolcos is beneficial to both countries.

It also coincided with the unstable position of the Colchis royal family due to the rampaging dragon, and Jason’s situation where Pelias might not readily hand over the throne.

As the power of love and the need for an alliance were added, their union proceeded smoothly.

“Jason. I know the princess is beautiful, but can you step away a little?”

“Damn it. I don’t even have a fiancé, but why only that guy…”

“Hmm. Hmm. Princess. Are you really going to follow us to Iolcos?”

“Should we consider the feeling of love as a disease?”

“Anyway, we got the Golden Fleece, so the expedition was a success!”

So, with the warm welcome of the people of Colchis, Princess Medea boarded the Argo.

The Argo, with the princess of Colchis on board, returned to Iolcos even faster.

The sea monsters that appeared in the middle all ran away when Hercules glared at them…

“No. Hercules…”

“I’ve never seen monsters run away like that.”

“…Could it be.”

The bronze giant Talos, whom they met on the island of Crete.

This giant, created by Hephaestus [the Greek god of blacksmiths], sank the surrounding ships and killed those who approached…

“With one punch… well, it’s Hercules.”

“I was originally going to subdue him with magic…”

“Well, only those who lack strength use their heads. Yeah.”

He was smashed to pieces by Hercules in one blow. There were no obstacles to stop the expedition.

Of course, they also stopped by the island where Hercules’ missing servant, Hylas, had disappeared in the middle.

“Nymphs? Have you seen a handsome young man on this island? His name is Hylas.”

“Th-That…!”

“If you don’t speak properly, I will sink the entire island.”

“Hiiiik…! I’m sorry! Actually, my sisters kidnapped a handsome man…”

“It’s the first time I’ve seen nymphs trembling like that.”

“As expected… hmm.”

They also rescued Hylas from the nymphs who were so afraid that they couldn’t even make eye contact with Hercules for some reason.

Knowing the situation… the nymphs on the island who had fallen in love with him had kidnapped Hylas.

“…Thank you. I really thought I was going to die.”

“No, what on earth happened to you that your face is so haggard?”

“Your cheeks are sunken? Were you overworked?”

“Why are your legs shaking so much…?”

The expedition, having returned with so many experiences, finally set foot on land.

They had returned to Iolcos, where they had first departed.