Conquering the Three Beast

Kai stepped through the gleaming gates of the Greek pantheon and found himself in a massive amphitheater. Marble pillars towered into the sky, and golden sunlight bathed the arena in an unusual light. The crowd was made up of ghostly figures, vague yet powerful, their voices murmuring with anticipation. In the center of it all, a raised dais held three thrones, each occupied by a supremely powerful being: Zeus, king of the gods; Athena, goddess of wisdom and strategy; and Ares, god of war.

Zeus leaned forward, his lightning bolt gleaming faintly in his grasp. His piercing gaze fell on Kai. "Mortal, you have entered the domain of Olympus. To receive the blessings of the Greek pantheon, you must prove your mettle in the face of a challenge that has brought down even the mightiest of heroes."

Ares grinned, his eyes gleaming with the lust for battle. "Show me your strength, boy. Words mean nothing here. Only actions matter."

Athena raised her hand, her calm demeanor a stark contrast to Ares' fiery intensity. "This is not just a test of strength, Ares. Strategy and courage will determine whether he is worthy of our aid."

With a wave of his hand, the amphitheater shifted. The solid marble floor cracked and crumbled, transforming into a lush, green forest. Kai stood in the center, surrounded by towering trees and the distant roar of thunder.

The first challenge came quickly. From the shadows of the forest emerged a massive figure, its golden mane gleaming like molten metal. The Nemean Lion's sharp eyes blazed with predatory hatred, and its growl echoed across the ground.

Kai instinctively summoned his Excalibur, catching his breath. Enlil's voice echoed in his mind. "Remember, its hide is impervious to weapons. You must defeat it with a sharp mind."

The lion charged, its claws tearing through the air at terrifying speed. Kai rolled to the side, narrowly avoiding the beast's slash. He retaliated, but the blade slid off the lion's hide, leaving barely a scratch.

The lion roared in triumph, circling him with predatory confidence. Kai's mind raced. He remembered the story of how Heracles had defeated the beast—by taking advantage of its overconfidence and using brute strength to strangle it.

Kai feigned exhaustion, stumbling backward and letting his sword fall to the ground. The lion seized the opportunity, leaping at him. But at the last moment, Kai shifted his weight, ducking beneath the beast and grabbing its throat with both hands. With all his might, he wrestled the lion to the ground, tightening his grip even as it struggled. Finally, the mighty creature stilled, and its hideous form transformed into golden light.

Above him, Zeus nodded approvingly. "Smart. Power matched by wit—a promising start."

The forest turned into a swamp, the water murky and foul-smelling. The air became thick with mist, obscuring Kai's vision. From the stagnant waters rose a towering creature with nine snake-like heads: the Hydra. Its glowing eyes radiated hatred, and its hissing voice filled the air.

Athena's voice rang out, calm and instructive. "Be careful, Kai. Cut off one head, and two will replace it. Think before you act."

The Hydra charged, its heads pounding at Kai from every direction. He dodged and moved swiftly, his sword blazing as he severed one of the heads. But as Athena had warned, two more heads grew in its place, their attacks faster and more aggressive.

Kai cursed under his breath, retreating to higher ground. "I can't go on like this forever," he muttered. Then an idea struck him. The tales of Heracles mentioned fire—a fire that burned wounds and stopped regeneration.

Spotting a clump of dry reeds nearby, Kai lit it with a spark from the power of Excalibur. The makeshift torch blazed, casting eerie shadows across the swamp. Armed with fire, Kai continued his assault. Each time he cut off a head, he pressed the torch into the stump, preventing it from growing back.

The battle was grueling. The Hydra's tail lashed at him, and its venomous breath burned his skin. But with tenacity and precision, he managed to cut the creature down to its last head. With one decisive blow, he plunged his sword into its skull, and the Hydra dissolved into a cloud of vapor.

"Impressive," Athena said, her voice tinged with approval. "You showed the wisdom to adapt and overcome."

The swamp faded, and the arena changed once more. Kai now stood on a rocky terrain, the air thick with the smell of sulfur. A low growl echoed across the landscape, followed by the sound of approaching footsteps. From the shadows emerged the Chimera: a terrifying mix of lion, goat, and snake, with fire spewing from its lion's mouth.

Ares clapped his hands, laughing heartily. "Now that's a challenge! Let's see if you have the guts to defeat it."

The Chimera wasted no time, charging at Kai with terrifying speed. The lion's claws clawed at him while the snake's tail hissed and snapped. Kai barely managed to dodge, feeling the heat of the beast's fiery breath singe his clothes.

"This isn't just brute strength," Kai growled, assessing his foe. Each part of the Chimera attacked with its strategy—the lion's head with ferocity, the goat's head with surprising agility, and the snake's tail with cunning.

Kai focused on isolating each part. Taking advantage of the rocky terrain, he maneuvered around a boulder to trap the snake's tail. With a swift strike, he sliced ​​it off, the tail writhing before it crumbled to ash.

The Chimera roared in rage, its attacks becoming increasingly erratic. Kai dodged the goat head's attacks and retaliated with powerful strikes, wounding it. Finally, he faced the lion's head, its fiery breath burning the ground around it.

Raising his hand, Kai summoned a shimmering shield of fortitude to block the flames. As the Chimera paused, momentarily stunned, Kai seized his chance. He leaped forward, stabbing his Excalibur into the lion's skull. The beast let out a final roar before collapsing into golden flames.

Kai knelt, his chest heaving. The amphitheater gleamed again, and the gods reappeared on their thrones.

Zeus rose, his expression full of pride. "You have faced the trials of Olympus and emerged victorious. You have shown strength, wisdom, and courage—qualities worthy of our bestowal."

Athena stepped forward, her voice steady. "Call upon us, Kai and the power of Olympus shall be yours."

Ares grinned. "You have spirit, my boy. May you not waste it."

Golden light enveloped Kai as the blessings of the Greek gods filled the Aetherium Ring. When the light faded, he found himself back in the sanctuary, the Greek gates behind him glowing dimly as a sign of his success.

Enlil's voice echoed in his mind. "Well done, Kai. The path ahead remains perilous, but today, you have taken a great step forward."

Kai nodded, determination burning in his eyes. The trials had pushed him to his limits, but they had also awakened a strength within him he had never known he had. He was ready for whatever came next.