Imp to Demon King: A Journey of Conquest-Chapter 339: A Legend Carved in Shadow

Achilles’ fingers trembled around his Pelean Ash spear. The divine shield’s ekphrasis—depicting the world, the sky, and the concepts of peace, war, and nurturing—glinted as he stomped on the underworld’s barren soil.

This was it. A glory he had never tasted. One that would mark his name through the ages as an equal to the brutish Heracles. No! He would surpass him. After all, he was the pinnacle of excellence, the best warrior the world ever saw.

Adam followed him with a chuckle as he gave his instructions to Garduck. "Support us from behind. Don’t risk your life because of the atmosphere. Your moment will come when we reach Tartarus."

Garduck pinched the bridge of his nose, sighing at the familiar situation. "I know you didn’t bring a weak fighter like me for no reason. I trust and won’t discuss your commands."

A soft smile curled Adam’s lips. "If I could bring only one person, I would have left Achilles behind to pick you. Cheer up, Garduck. I believe you’ll become more powerful than anything we could have imagined soon enough."

"Thank you... for your continuous trust even after legends surrounded you." Garduck muttered, his soft voice contrasting the fierce snap of Cerberus’ three heads.

With visceral growls, the underworld guardian’s six blazing eyes locked on their figures. Its lips curled over its scrunched snouts, revealing sharp fangs akin to siege ballista bolts.

An ancient voice, guttural, uncompromising in its tone, reverberated in a clear threat from the three maws’ glowing depths. "The living have no place in Hades. This is your only warning: return whence you come, or pass those gates as tattered souls."

Achilles pointed his spear toward the colossal hound, a defiant smirk splitting his face. "Try."

However, Adam’s voice came like a bucket of cold water. "We can’t attract too much attention. We knock it out and enter."

Honestly, he would have preferred to sneak in. But with a relentless guardian posted before the single entrance, which possessed enhanced senses and made its heads sleep in turn to remain focused on his duty at all times? He’d have more chances to see Achilles put his weapons away to become a farmer than to succeed.

As Cerberus huffed in anger, Achilles adjusted his golden helmet. Each of his muscles tensed to the limit, and gray water wafted from his narrowed eyes. "I would have requested to fight it alone if not for your plan. Smash its heads with your war hammer while I engage it head-on."

Without waiting for an answer, his sandals raised dust as he charged fearlessly at an adversary dozens of times his size.

The thundering sound of his drumming heart overwhelmed the whistling wind, his clear blue eyes sparkling. "Guardian of the Dead, you have guarded shadows. But know this: today, a living legend will carve his name upon your hide, and the glory will echo through the ages, not just in this underworld."

Before Cerberus could manifest its rage in an answer, he crouched, the soil cracking beneath his feet.

WOOSH

Like a raging waterfall fighting against the natural order, he propelled himself up in a blonde and golden blur. His spear glinted, cleaving the wind toward his prey’s obsidian fur.

Enraged, Cerberus’ fangs shone an aura of dread as its heads snapped from three different angles with a soul-chilling roar.

"Guardian of the Dead? I am the Gate. You presume to etch your name where countless souls have begged for release? Arrogant insect. Your ’glory’ will be a fleeting stain upon obsidian. But your soul will be mine. Molded to the shadows, twisted to the whimpers of the damned. You will not be a legend, whelp. You will be lost within me."

As the promise of eternal torment rumbled through the dark sky, an ashen blur and an amused voice pierced the tension. "I didn’t think I’d meet someone more dramatic than Ifrit. Works for me, though. If anything, it just makes putting you to sleep more enjoyable."

Cerberus snapped its left head towards the source, its eyes widening as the heavy noise of blasted wind and the sheen of a hammer engulfed its vision.

Dodge! But its heart shook at the sight of the swinging demon and his unbothered smile. Instantly, alarm bells rocked its mind, the kind that only blared when its senses picked on someone on par with it. No... that speed... NO!

Before its left head moved to safety, furious gales blew its bristled fur backwards.

CRACK

A sickening crunch reverberated, the impact almost tearing its head off. Two giant fangs crashed to the ground, almost flattening the poor souls awaiting judgment.

Blood cascaded before it limply hung down as a third of its vision field darkened.

With an agonising roar, it snapped its two remaining maws on the insolent distraction first to clear its focus for the real threat. After all, Achilles’ agility was indeed legendary. But his strength palled compared to Heracles’, who could wrestle it to a standstill and hold the sky for a moment. Sometimes, brute force yielded better results than finesse, a lesson it would carve in his soul after swallowing him.

However, another wave of shock engulfed its mind as the intricate shield sparkled before its right head.

CLANG

With a deafening clang, it crashed against the side of its jaw. More surreal, a sharp pain struck its nerves as it deviated. Since when was Achilles that powerful? What divine artifact did his mother haggle to empower him so much?

"That sea witch has burned her divine favors long ago. Nothing will save you!" Its eyes narrowed into slits as tongues of flames warped the remaining mouth’s teeth in a hellish inferno.

The foul stench of sulfur blasted Achilles’ blond hair. Yet, he smirked even as the sharp fangs closed on him.

"Zeus and Poseidon desired my mother but gave her to a mortal. You fear Heracles’ strength. What shortsightedness." An icy snort escaped his lips as he planted his spear inside Cerberus’ mouth.

His muscles roared in pain, the flames devouring his skin. Yet, his eyes burned brighter, his determination hotter, and the glory at his fingertips—eternal.

He roared as the maw’s pressure collapsed on his arms. "They gave up on her because the son she would give birth to would surpass his father. I have the potential to stand above all!"freeweɓnovel.cѳm