Shinji Matou at Your Service-Chapter 1019: Nine Lives

In this extremely perilous situation, the two warriors remained unfazed.

They had long since forgotten their surroundings, forgotten everything around them. In their eyes, there was only each other's spear and axe-sword.

These two warriors: one was the sole ruler of the Land of Shadows, a legendary female warrior who had slain countless humans, beasts, magical creatures, phantasmal beasts, and even gods—Scathach.

The other was the great hero of Greek mythology, Hercules, who had completed twelve impossible labors and had never been defeated in a direct challenge against the gods.

They had far surpassed human limits, reaching heights even gods might find difficult to attain. Their very existence was a miracle in a time when divine authority reigned supreme, and gods were the highest power.

Not to mention the collapse of a villa—even if the world were truly ending, these two on the battlefield would remain undisturbed, wholly immersed in their fight.

There seemed to be a special power in the gaze exchanged between the two warriors. No matter how the surroundings crumbled, not a single speck of dust entered the space between them, as if a force field repelled everything unrelated to the battle.

This strange stasis was only broken when a large chunk of the ceiling finally fell, breaching the force field that had been holding everything at bay.

That falling debris, obscuring their view, became the signal for the battle to begin.

At the same time, the two legendary warriors charged forward.

Hercules swung his axe-sword towards the debris.

Scathach thrust her magic spear forward.

Thus, the duel began.

In less than 0.1 seconds, the falling stone was shattered into countless fragments, crumbling into dust.

It was fast. Incredibly fast—so fast it defied belief.

Even with Shinji's eyesight, honed as it was, he couldn't fully follow their movements.

Scathach was using a spear technique Shinji had yet to master.

Anyone who hadn't reached the realm of the gods would likely be unable to even perceive the spear's trajectory before it claimed their life. Even if one had reached the divine level, falling behind in speed would lead to injury or death.

But among anyone and even if, Hercules was not included. He could see every thrust of the spear and keep up with Scáthach's movements. Not only that, he could respond in kind.

[Nine Lives]!

Though Shinji had never seen it with his own eyes, he knew that this was Hercules' proudest technique, one even Chiron couldn't help but praise.

It was the technique Hercules had developed to slay the immortal Hydra, shooting arrows in rapid succession. Over the years, Hercules had further refined this skill, turning it into a technique that could be used with any weapon, at any range.

Legend had it that the Hydra had nine heads, and if one was cut off, two more would grow in its place. To defeat it, all nine heads had to be destroyed at the same time. [Nine Lives] embodied this concept, releasing nine attacks in the blink of an eye. If performed with a bow, it was nine arrows shot simultaneously. If performed with an axe-sword, it was nine strikes, delivered in rapid succession.

The axe-sword roared, and the magic spear shrieked.

Despite being ancient cold weapons, their destructive power was no less than that of modern firearms.

Though they clashed repeatedly, no sound could be heard.

Both the axe-sword and the magic spear effortlessly tore through the atmosphere, breaking the sound barrier, and creating a brief vacuum between them.

Within that vacuum, the speed of the axe-sword and the magic spear somehow increased even further, reaching an unimaginable level.

Each strike of the axe-sword targeted Scathach's vital points:

Forehead

Throat

Heart

Left shoulder

Side abdomen

Groin

Right wrist

Knee

Each thrust of the magic spear aimed at Hercules' weak spots:

Upper arm

Collarbone

Windpipe

Skull

Heart

Ribcage

Ankle

Thigh

Both had only one goal: to bring down the other and kill them!

This was a true duel between warriors.

In the space between life and death, in a split-second, the victor would be decided.

The air twisted and surged from the change in pressure, violently swirling through the ruins.

Amidst the crumbling remains, a brilliant flower of blood bloomed between the Lancer and the Berserker, only to wither in an instant.

Scathach and Hercules, both charging at incredible speed, stopped at the same time.

This time, their clash was not just an exchange of blows, but also an exchange of weapons.

Scathach's weapon was embedded in Hercules, and Hercules' weapon was embedded in Scathach.

However, they weren't holding the weapons in the usual manner—they were lodged directly in their bodies.

Hercules' axe-sword had embedded itself in Scáthach's shoulder. With just a bit more force, it might have cleaved her left arm and a large portion of her body.

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Scathach's magic spear had pierced Hercules' chest, its tip protruding from his back.

The bloodied female warrior staggered to her knees, coughing blood as she whispered, "The match is decided."

"This is the end. I admit my defeat," Hercules said, his voice filled with a sense of release. "As expected of the Queen of the Land of Shadows, the god-slaying warrior."

"Not at all. If you were in perfect condition, the outcome might have been different."

Scathach yanked the axe-sword from her shoulder, paying no mind to the blood that sprayed from the wound.

Though Hercules had successfully unleashed [Nine Lives], he was already on the verge of death, and his condition had inevitably affected the outcome.

"I hope I get the chance to fight you again at your peak. That would be a truly exhilarating battle."

"I feel the same. And Matou Shinji, I hope to face you in battle one day as well."

As they spoke, Hercules' body grew more translucent, unable to sustain itself any longer under his [Battle Continuation] skill, rapidly disintegrating.

"You won't be disappointed. Farewell," Shinji said as he approached Hercules, raising a fist to bid him goodbye in the style of Pankration.

"It's time for me to go. Though the process was messy, the conclusion isn't bad."

The nearly transparent giant closed his eyes as if tired, voicing one last wish.

"Please don't hurt those poor women—they're innocent. And... apologize to that mother and daughter for me. It wasn't my intention, but I did hurt them. I'm truly sorry."

As if in farewell to the great hero, a wind blew through the mountains, carrying his scattered mana back to the sky, to one of the largest constellations in the heavens.

His name is Hercules, the demi-god warrior, deserving of the highest honor.