52:Hero

The goddess of death and war, Morrigan, had watched everything. Every move Kevin and Cu Chulainn made over the past few days had been under her scrutiny.

Morrigan, a goddess revered in Connacht, had been brought into the fray by Maeve. Her divine presence had been the cornerstone of Maeve's success in battle over the years. With Morrigan's blessings, Maeve had never known defeat.

But the gods are as capricious as they are powerful. Morrigan found herself captivated by Cu Chulainn's unyielding courage and valor. Fascinated, she had abandoned Maeve without hesitation, descending from her divine perch to offer her love and the promise of eternal victory to the young warrior.

Morrigan raised her eyebrows at Cu Chulainn's unwavering rejection.

"Are you certain about this?" she asked, her tone dangerously calm.

Kevin, still wiping the blood from his magic spear, was stunned by Cu Chulainn's audacity. Rejecting a goddess was one thing, but to do so with such defiance?

"Goddess of Death and War," Cu Chulainn began, standing tall with his spear firmly in hand, "I do not need the tricks of the gods to achieve victory!"

Kevin groaned internally, though he didn't entirely disagree with the sentiment. Cu Chulainn continued, his voice resonant:

"I know you are the deity revered by Connacht. If you can abandon them for me today, what's to stop you from betraying me tomorrow? I rely on my own hands, my own spear, my own power to win my battles. If I fail, it will be because I am not skilled enough, and I will accept that fate with honor!"

His words rang with defiance, and Kevin couldn't help but shake his head. This guy doesn't know when to back down, he thought, though he admired the conviction behind Cu Chulainn's declaration.

Morrigan remained silent for a moment, her dark eyes searching his. Finally, she spoke again, her voice laced with both anger and disbelief:

"You know I am Connacht's goddess. You must also know that I will bring them victory, that I will stand against you. Knowing this, will you still refuse me?"

"If divine tricks can bring them victory," Cu Chulainn laughed loudly, twirling his spear, "then let them try!"

The challenge in his voice was unmistakable. Morrigan's expression darkened, her serene beauty giving way to a menacing aura. Her gaze shifted to Kevin.

"And you?" she demanded, her tone colder now.

Kevin raised an eyebrow. "What about me?"

Morrigan stepped closer. "Will you also reject me?"

Kevin, still on edge from the day's bloodshed, didn't bother softening his response. "I'm not anyone's substitute. And I already have someone I like."

A tense silence followed his words. Kevin didn't know whether he was more surprised by his own bluntness or Morrigan's lack of immediate reaction.

"You ungrateful mortals!" Morrigan's voice cut through the silence like a blade. Her hand twitched toward the whip at her waist, but she stopped herself, her expression a mixture of rage and hurt.

Instead, she turned on her heel, climbed back into her crimson chariot, and ascended into the sky.

Despite Morrigan's fury, she hadn't acted against them. Kevin knew why. The gods had their rules, and Ruger's presence loomed large over this conflict.

As their father and one of the most powerful gods of the Danann, Ruger's influence was not to be trifled with. Though he wouldn't interfere directly, any god who dared harm his sons would face his wrath. Morrigan may have been a goddess of death, but even she wasn't bold enough to provoke Ruger outright.

Cu Chulainn, emboldened by this knowledge, remained fearless in his dealings with the gods. His arrogance and defiance, combined with Kevin's steady presence, created a formidable partnership.

By afternoon, Cu Chulainn and Kevin once again infiltrated the camp of the Anti-Ulster Alliance. Their raid caused chaos, though the two warriors had killed fewer than fifty soldiers before being confronted by Fergus and Ferdia.

The two older warriors, however, didn't attack. Instead, they raised their hands in surrender, signaling they came with a message.

Maeve, desperate to prevent further chaos, had sent them to propose a compromise:

Every day, the Alliance would send two warriors to challenge Kevin and Cu Chulainn in single combat. If Kevin and Cu Chulainn accepted and defeated their opponents, the Alliance would cease their march for the remainder of the day.

Maeve's proposal was inherently unfair. With tens of thousands of soldiers at her disposal, finding brave challengers was easy. Moreover, the "ring battles" were designed to exhaust Kevin and Cu Chulainn. If they failed to finish a fight within the allotted time, more warriors would join the fray.

Despite the unfairness of the terms, Kevin and Cu Chulainn agreed. They knew they couldn't afford to let the Alliance reach the strategic high ground.

The battles took place on a wide plain. Behind Kevin and Cu Chulainn lay the Kingdom of Ulster, crippled by the curse of Macha. Before them loomed the combined armies of Connacht and its allies.

On the first day of the ring battles, Kevin and Cu Chulainn stood alone against a sea of enemies. The weight of expectation hung heavy over them.

Just as the first challengers—a pair of towering giants wielding massive clubs—stepped into the arena, a soft whisper broke the tension.

"Come on, my children."

Kevin and Cu Chulainn turned, stunned. There, bathed in sunlight, stood Ruger, their father. His blue hair gleamed, and his serene smile radiated confidence.

Maeve's forces froze, their cheers faltering as they recognized the god of light and the sun.

"I have come to watch my sons fight," Ruger announced. "I swear on my name as a god that I will not interfere."

Though Ruger had vowed not to act, his mere presence shifted the balance. The morale Maeve had so carefully cultivated crumbled in an instant.

Kevin and Cu Chulainn exchanged a look, their spirits lifted. For the first time, they felt truly supported.

"Go on, my children," Ruger said, sitting cross-legged on the ground. "Show them what you're made of."

The two brothers smiled at each other. In that moment, their determination solidified.

The giants roared as they charged forward, clubs raised high. Kevin and Cu Chulainn stood firm, their magic weapons glinting in the sunlight.

Behind them, their father watched. Before them, the entire Alliance army waited with bated breath.

For five grueling days, they would face challenger after challenger. Each fight would push them to their limits. But Kevin and Cu Chulainn, standing against impossible odds, would prove what it meant to be heroes.

They had no other choice. Behind them lay their home, and they would fight to protect it until their last breath.

In the eyes of the gods and mortals alike, two men stood as a wall against an entire army.

.

.

.

.

.

.

Go to my Patreon Account to read up to 30 Advance Chapters

patreon.com/Izanami_no_Mikoto