The battle raged on, the clash of titans resonating through the very fabric of the island. The air crackled with the intensity of each blow, and the land itself seemed to tremble with every strike. Hercules, a force of nature in his own right, was a daunting opponent, but Naruto and Donna had found their rhythm, working together with seamless coordination.
Hercules, his eyes filled with a savage thrill, lashed out again, pushing off the ground and sending the mountain around them crumbling. His mighty kick shot towards Naruto with a force that could level cities, but Naruto's reflexes were honed, his senses always two steps ahead. He soared higher into the air, narrowly avoiding the kick while aiming a precise slash at Hercules' head.
Once again, the demigod met the attack with his hand, his strength more than enough to block the blow. His club followed almost immediately, and Naruto was forced to let go of his sword, retreating in a controlled motion as he took to the air. Donna, never far behind, descended upon Hercules with her shield raised, the impact of her assault driving him back.
But Hercules was not one to be easily overwhelmed. With a swift kick, he sent Donna flying high into the sky, his eyes already tracking her descent as he prepared to follow up on his previous attack. Before he could act, however, Naruto launched hundreds of kunai at him, each one cutting through the air with deadly precision. At the same time, he flew toward the demigod, his blade ready for another strike.
Hercules, ever the seasoned fighter, spun with lightning speed, using his club to clear away the projectiles with ease. His movements were fluid, his precision flawless. He did not just swipe in one direction; his spins were a whirlwind, making sure to catch every incoming kunai while keeping his eyes on both Naruto and Donna.
Naruto's mind raced. He knew the demigod's strength, his durability, and his raw power, but that wasn't all Hercules had. His battle instincts were sharp, and his unpredictability made him a nightmare to fight. As Naruto passed through the attack zone, aiming for Hercules' throat with a blade, Hercules reacted almost instinctively, his foot lashing out in the exact moment Naruto struck.
The kick landed with bone-shattering force, but Naruto, anticipating the move, used his body's incredible resilience to allow the blow to send him flying through the air instead of directly absorbing it. The distance was vast, and he barely kept himself from being tossed into the ocean. Even so, the force of the kick had left him momentarily disoriented.
Hercules, sensing the lack of resistance in Naruto's defense, flew after him, his club ready to deliver a crushing blow. But just as the demigod's strike came down, Donna, like a shadow, crashed into him from the side, using her immense power to knock him into the waters below.
The water churned violently as Hercules sank beneath the surface, but he was far from finished. Though temporarily halted by Donna's unexpected attack, he had not been hurt. With an effort of will, he pushed himself back to his feet, his expression still a mix of excitement and disdain.
Naruto, having righted himself in midair, checked his own condition. His body, protected by the armor, had taken minimal damage, and his quick reflexes had kept him from being overwhelmed. His mind raced with the knowledge that this fight was far from over. Hercules might be strong, but Naruto had a plan—and it was working.
Hercules, now growing slightly frustrated by the continued resistance, tossed his massive club toward Naruto, aiming to strike him down in a single blow. Naruto barely managed to dodge, his precognitive abilities guiding him just in time to avoid being hit. The club tore through the air with terrifying speed, and if it had connected, it would have sent Naruto flying into space.
But the fight wasn't over yet. Naruto rushed in once again, his body moving with the fluidity of water as he met Hercules head-on. The demigod swung at him, but Naruto redirected the kick, his body twisting and fluid in the process. The next moment, he punched Hercules square in the face, but the force of the blow barely made a dent.
Donna wasn't finished either. She followed Naruto's attack with a double axe kick to Hercules' shoulders, the impact sending him reeling backward. For a moment, it seemed like Hercules would crash into the ocean, but with a grunt, he pushed himself back, his muscles bulging with the effort.
Despite the pain, Donna had done something impressive. The force of her strike had hurt him, though not critically. Herc's shoulder throbbed with the impact, but it didn't slow him down for long. Meanwhile, Donna had felt her bones snap under the force, but her body quickly healed, barely registering the injury as anything more than a temporary nuisance.
Naruto pressed the attack, punching Hercules again, but this time, the demigod dodged, his speed impressive even for someone of his immense size. It was like fighting an indestructible wall, but Naruto was no stranger to overcoming such challenges. His blows might not have done much, but each strike was an attempt to wear down his opponent.
"You are an interesting fighter," Hercules said, his voice low but filled with respect. "Why don't you join me, and we can enjoy life like real men? I have everything you could ever want—power, pleasure, immortality."
The words were laced with a mixture of temptation and challenge, as if Hercules were trying to buy Naruto's loyalty or perhaps lure him into a twisted game of dominance. But Naruto's face remained impassive.
"Your idea of 'enjoyment' is repulsive," Naruto muttered, his voice filled with disgust. "I fight for something more than this—more than your empty promises."
Hercules sneered, but the respect was still there, lingering in the way he observed his opponents. "Then let's see how long you can keep up, mortal," he replied, his grin widening. "Because I'm just getting started."
Hippolyta's worries were clear as she watched the battle unfold, a mixture of admiration and concern written on her face. She had known Naruto to be strong, but seeing him in this intense fight with Hercules, a foe of unimaginable power, had shaken her confidence. The ease with which Hercules had blocked, dodged, and countered Naruto's attacks, not to mention his unyielding resilience, made it seem as though Naruto was outclassed. But deep down, Hippolyta knew this was not the case. Naruto had faced challenges like this before—only he didn't always fight the same way as others.
When Diana's calming voice echoed in her mind, offering reassurance, Hippolyta took a deep breath and allowed herself to settle slightly. Diana had always been able to sense her emotions, especially with Raven's connection binding them all together. The truth was, Hippolyta had always believed in Naruto's abilities, but seeing him up against such a relentless foe made her anxious. Still, Diana's words reminded her of something crucial: Naruto was a tactician, not a brute force fighter.
'Mother, relax and have some confidence. Naruto knows what he is doing. He is setting up the trap.'
The reminder of Naruto's tactics, of his ability to turn a battle to his favor without brute strength, gave Hippolyta the clarity she needed. Diana's voice continued, steady and reassuring.
'He's not like any warrior you've seen before. He fights with more than just strength—he uses the mind, the environment, and even his enemies' weaknesses against them. You know that better than anyone.'
A small sigh of relief passed through Hippolyta. Her thoughts shifted back to the battle, where Naruto was still keeping the upper hand despite Hercules' imposing power. What Diana said was true—Naruto wasn't bound by the rules of honor and fairness. He fought with cunning, strategy, and tricks. The fact that he was holding back, limiting his own power, made sense. If Naruto had gone all out from the start, he would have ended this fight quickly, but it would have come at a cost—the risk of his partner's life.
'You're right,' Hippolyta acknowledged, her voice softened with a new understanding. 'Naruto has always been unpredictable. He doesn't fight with the same rules as everyone else. He'll win, but he'll do it his way.'
Though her concern didn't completely vanish, Hippolyta could now see the strategy in Naruto's movements. She knew that every attack, every calculated move, was part of a larger plan. The way he and Donna worked together, pushing Hercules to the edge without ever fully committing—it was clear now that they were playing the long game. If there was anyone who could turn the tide of this battle, it was Naruto.
'Please be careful,' Hippolyta added, her voice filled with love and care, reaching out to her daughter and Naruto. Even if she understood the plan, she couldn't help but feel protective.
Diana's response was calm, full of confidence. 'He will be. We just need to trust him.'
And trust, in the end, was all they could do. Trust in Naruto's ability to rise to any challenge, no matter how insurmountable it seemed. It was his gift, and it would carry him through.
Naruto's expression was cold and resolute as he looked at Hercules, whose arrogance had been growing throughout the battle. The confidence Hercules had built from his immortality and the years of fighting seemed to evaporate in an instant. He had underestimated Naruto, thinking he could toy with him, believing that his immortality made him invincible.
"You are not worthy of such a thing and you won't be alive anymore for your disgusting plans," Naruto declared, his voice dripping with disdain as he flew toward Hercules, disappearing into the smoke he had released earlier from his bombs.
Hercules, unable to sense Naruto or Donna due to the thick cloud of smoke, found himself at a disadvantage. He couldn't anticipate their movements anymore. It was all part of Naruto's strategy. As the smoke cleared, he saw Donna coming at him first, aiming for his head. The attack was swift, but Herc reacted just in time, swinging his massive club to deflect her blade. With his other hand, he reached out for her throat, using his feet to kick below, but Naruto was already on the move, slashing at Hercules' exposed leg.
The sword tore through the flesh, drawing blood from the Olympian, and Herc was thrown back with the force of the strike. His body was strong, but the hit had still caused a reaction, and for a moment, he was off-balance.
Naruto and Donna pressed the attack, sensing the opening. But Hercules was no ordinary opponent. As they followed up, Hercules swung his club with deadly precision, knocking Naruto's sword out of his hand and dodging Donna's daggers. His movements were precise, honed over countless battles. He kicked out with ferocity, sending Naruto flying with a brutal hit. Donna, too, was caught by a devastating strike—a high-speed kick that sent her crashing through the air. The force was so great that her arm was ripped off entirely.
Naruto barely managed to dodge the follow-up kick, but it still struck him on the side, the impact so powerful that his armor cracked. The blow broke his bones, but Naruto's regenerative abilities quickly healed the injury, leaving only a dull pain behind. Herc, feeling confident that his foe was weakening, prepared to continue the onslaught.
But Naruto had other plans. He could feel Herc's growing arrogance, his belief that he had them cornered. Herc was beginning to think that his immortality meant he could take his time. That was his mistake.
Naruto's eyes glowed with intensity as he gathered his energy, and in a flash, he summoned the Immortal Killer spear. His speed was a blur, amplified by the boosters and the immense energy of the spear, as he surged forward with a force that rivaled a planet's power. Herc, lost in his enjoyment of the fight, never saw it coming.
The spear pierced through his invincible hide, ripping apart his body in one fluid, unstoppable motion. Hercules didn't even understand how it happened. One moment, he was enjoying the fight, the next, his body was destroyed, split in half by the sheer force of Naruto's speed and precision. His immortality could not protect him from an attack he had never anticipated. He crumpled to the ground, his body falling apart like a puppet with its strings cut.
Naruto caught the remains with a gust of wind, carefully holding the corpse in place. He had his reasons for keeping it—Hercules' immortal energy could be absorbed and used for something far greater. He plunged the spear into the remains, draining the golden blood from the broken body, the blood that carried the blessings of the Olympians.
As the golden liquid flowed into Naruto's body, he could feel its power surging through him. He absorbed the energy, strengthening himself, but that wasn't all. He knew what this blood could do. It could help awaken Diana's latent powers, the powers of Zeus running through her veins. With this, she would surpass Hercules in strength, unleashing a potential greater than even she knew.
The battle was over, but Naruto wasn't done. He had a greater goal in mind—one that involved not just victory in this fight, but securing the future strength of those he cared for. The fight had been brutal, but it was only a small piece of the larger plan. With Herc's power now added to his own and the golden blood stored for Diana, Naruto knew that the path ahead was clearer than ever.
"Congratulations, and thank you very much." Hippolyta said as she hugged him from behind while Raven healed Donna from the injury.
Naruto allowed the moment to linger, feeling a sense of warmth as Hippolyta's arms wrapped around him. There was no need to pull away; he understood what it meant for her. The trials they had gone through together had bonded them in ways words couldn't fully express, and he couldn't help but feel a mixture of gratitude and surprise at the connection they now shared.
Hippolyta's affection, while unexpected, didn't unsettle him. It wasn't just about the battle or the way she had helped him. She had been there for him in countless ways, supporting him in his journey, and now she was showing a side of herself that he hadn't seen before. Her vulnerability was real, and he appreciated it—especially when she was always so strong for others.
"I know that you would have still done it for us without the other reasons," Hippolyta whispered, her voice tinged with emotion as she pulled back slightly to look him in the eyes. It was clear that she saw him as more than just an ally or a friend now.
Naruto smiled softly, touched by her words. He wasn't about to downplay the importance of the moment. "Of course. It's what I do," he replied, his tone gentle, but there was a subtle undercurrent of seriousness in his words. This wasn't just a mission or a fight; it was about them, their bonds, and the trust they had built.
Diana's voice broke the silence, her tone light and teasing as she joined the two. "She isn't wrong, Naruto. Thank you for taking care of him. I wish I could have participated, but it was nice seeing him die like that, without even knowing how it happened." She grinned widely, clearly enjoying the moment of victory over the enemy.
The sight of them all standing together, sharing the smile of triumph and relief, was striking. If anyone had seen them in that moment—surrounded by the wreckage of Hercules and the golden blood that still dripped from the spear—it would have been hard to mistake them for anything but a group of victorious, unrelenting warriors. But they weren't villains, despite how it might have appeared to the outside world. They had fought for justice, for the greater good, and in the end, they had claimed victory in a battle that would have surely cost them dearly had they not been so prepared.
The gruesome end of Hercules, a being who had once stood as a symbol of strength and invincibility, now lay in stark contrast to the calm smiles on their faces. It was a moment of catharsis, a release of all the pent-up tension they had carried throughout the battle. They had done what needed to be done. They had fought for their own survival, for each other, and for their world.
But Naruto couldn't help but feel a growing sense of something deeper—a connection not just to the women standing beside him, but to the journey they were all on. He knew they weren't finished. There were more trials to come, more enemies to face. But for now, he allowed himself to savor the moment of peace, the satisfaction of having done what was necessary.