The Arrow Shot by a Hero (Two-in-One)

"Orpheus, what kind of god do you think Mr. Charon is?"

Walking upon the soil of the Underworld, Thaumas suddenly asked Orpheus.

"That, I'm not entirely sure. But one can tell that Mr. Charon is actually quite kind." Orpheus replied.

"Kind? Perhaps. I can also sense that Mr. Charon is a good man who says one thing but means another. Although he seems greedy for wealth, he is actually helping these souls who wish to enter the Underworld with sincerity; collecting a little fee is only reasonable." Thaumas evaluated objectively.

Orpheus nodded, and then they came to a halt.

"Hm? Strange. Cerberus? Did this guy slack off and skip his shift?" Thaumas stopped before the Hell Gate, looking at the tightly shut entrance with a puzzled expression.

Around them, many souls of the dead were also unable to proceed because the Hell Gate was closed.

Normally, Cerberus wouldn't care if souls couldn't get in; it would only block others from coming out.

The last time Cerberus persuaded Thaumas to leave and not enter, it was only because the Honey Cake bribe was too generous, and it couldn't bear to deal with Thaumas.

But Thaumas immediately said to Orpheus:

"This shouldn't be. Cerberus isn't that kind of dog. Orpheus, do you know what's going on?"

Orpheus naturally shook his head. He had been overwhelmed by grief these past few days, washing his face with tears; he was too busy being heartbroken to care about such things.

Then, as if Thaumas had thought of something, he smiled slyly.

He took out the Honey Cake prepared in his bag, pulled out a piece, handed it to Orpheus, and said:

"Orpheus, you've been walking for so long, you must be tired. Eat some Honey Cake. It was all meant for Cerberus, but since it's not here, and we can't eat the food of the Underworld anyway, we might as well eat this!" Thaumas said, having already placed the Honey Cake into Orpheus's hands.

"Wait!"

"Dare to eat it and I'll bite you to death!"

"Don't touch it! Put it down now, hands up, head held, and squat!"

Cerberus ran out from somewhere, roaring in anger.

Orpheus did not eat the Honey Cake in his hand but looked in surprise at the suddenly appearing Cerberus. He did not understand why this Hellhound was deliberately hiding from them.

"Oh? What, you're not hiding anymore?" Thaumas asked with a smile.

"What are you talking about?"

"I don't understand, speak dog language if you have to!"

"I was busy working just now, no time to deal with you!"

Cerberus was burying its head in the sand, trying to muddle through.

"Busy working? A joke! Isn't your job to guard the Hell Gate? Tell me, why is the Hell Gate closed!" Thaumas demanded.

"This..."

"So annoying, you two heads think about it, my head is itchy right now."

"Boss, we really are working, absolutely no other intentions. We don't just do this one job, sometimes we earn a little extra on the side."

Cerberus explained.

But it was a silly dog after all; in a confrontation of this intensity, trying to spin a lie that could deceive Thaumas was still too difficult for them.

"Is that so? I know even if you don't say it—it's the decree of the Lord of the Underworld, isn't it! Admit it, Cerberus! You aren't cut out for this! You can't hide anything!" Thaumas mercilessly tore through the Hellhound's clumsy lies.

"I told you he wouldn't be fooled! You guys didn't believe me!" the left head said indignantly.

"So annoying, why don't we just fight? I'm already itching to snap my jaws." The right head bared its fangs.

"Old Right, what kind of nonsense are you spouting! Can't your dog nose smell the scent of Night? You want to die, but I still want to live! Sooner or later, I'm going to split off from you." The middle head scolded, frustrated by its counterparts' incompetence.

Watching Cerberus argue with itself, even Orpheus couldn't help but feel a sense of sorrow for it. It was clearly a mythological creature, yet it was in such a state.

"Alright, what's the point of arguing? Stalling for time is useless. Open the gate now, or I'll beat you up and then make you open the gate. Cerberus, do you really think I'm afraid of you?" Thaumas said coldly.

"Hmph!"

"ROAR--!"

"Then come on! I've long been annoyed with Night! I'll beat up her followers to collect some interest!"

The three heads of Cerberus stood on a united front and roared in unison; it seemed a fight was inevitable today.

Thaumas retreated behind Orpheus, maintaining a very tactical distance, and took out his reforged Longbow, nocking an arrow without poison.

The venom of the Hydra was something even gods could hardly endure; even Chiron had been tortured beyond recognition, so there was no need to go that far.

However, an archer must pay attention to positioning; the front line should be left to the swordsman.

"Orpheus, grab your weapon! Take it down for me!"

Before Thaumas had even finished speaking, Orpheus had already drawn his sword, facing the Hellhound head-on.

Cerberus bent its hind legs slightly, stretched its front legs forward, and assumed a pouncing stance, its eyes glowing with a sinister, ghostly light.

Though called a dog, it looked more like a wolf filled with ferocity.

That wolf was vicious and greedy, with a gaze as fierce as fire and a tail like a broom, constantly chasing down any creature of flesh!

Cerberus bared its fangs and snarled, but it did not strike first; this was its gesture of respect for the Honey Cake.

In the dim Underworld, a light as brilliant as the sun flickered—this was the authority of "Fire," a gift from the God of Fire.

Thaumas stood sideways, his left shoulder aligned with the hound's heads. He held his bow in his left hand, feet planted shoulder-width apart, weight evenly distributed as he leaned slightly forward.

Nocking the arrow, hooking the string, drawing, aiming—it was all done in one fluid motion!

The divine fire burned upon the arrowhead, capable of piercing the defenses of Cerberus.

"Merus! Move!" Thaumas commanded.

As Thaumas added tension to his right shoulder, his three fingers released the string, and the arrow whistled through the air!

Merus leaped from the ground, charging straight at Cerberus.

The blade flashed with a cold, biting light, as if countless golden rays were dancing upon it, a sight enough to make one's heart race.

Cerberus used its immense speed to dodge the arrow from Thaumas, then lunged to meet Merus.

One must admit, he was truly a hero! Though a demigod, both his parents were genuine deities, unlike the common run of demigods.

Born to the sun god Apollo and Calliope, one of the nine Muses, he possessed immense artistic talent, but that did not mean he lacked prowess in battle!

The body of a god's son was far stronger than that of any mortal!

You may doubt a hero's character, but never doubt their combat strength.

Merus caught the claws of Cerberus with his sword and shoved hard, forcing the beast to retreat step by step, then seized the chance to leap onto its back, pinning its three necks down with all his might.

Cerberus roared and thrashed, trying to shake off the annoying insect.

Unfortunately for the beast, Merus was someone who could trade blows with Heracles.

And in the myths, Heracles was capable of thrashing this three-headed dog.

Then, Merus shouted:

"Thaumas! Hurry up! Are you not ready yet!"

The Bracelet shone, divine power surged, and authority ran wild.

A massive amount of magic was converging toward Thaumas, and the True Ether in the air began to churn.

"Respected God of Fire, please grant me the divine fire that burns the darkness!

Great Goddess of Wisdom, please guide the trajectory of this arrow with your wisdom!

Noble Queen of Heaven, please use your divine power to shatter its invincible defense!

Mysterious Nyx, please let the night grant me the strength to loose this arrow!"

Thaumas prayed devoutly, three powerful divine forces converging upon the arrow, while the night surrounded him, strengthening his body—the night would support him in firing this shot!

A yellow light also flickered on the Bracelet; it was the divine power of Apollo stirring, and this time, Thaumas did not refuse.

He had not intended to use the power of Apollo, but since the god was willing to help, so be it!

"Then, Lord Apollo, please lend me your aid as well!"

As he spoke, the sun miraculously illuminated the Underworld!

The light belonging to the sun god harmonized the various, wildly different divine powers.

His gaze was resolute, his pure blue pupils stained pitch-black by the power of the night, and Thaumas locked his eyes onto the target!

Although using this arrow on Cerberus was like using a sledgehammer to crack a nut, it was merely a secondary target.

Now, he would not give the enemy blocking his path any chance!

"Take this!

This is the Arrow Piercing Hell!"

And so, A brilliant light flashed, Following which, One of the ears on the right head of Cerberus was pierced, blood spraying out.

Thaumas had not struck its skull.

This was not because his aim was lacking, but because he did not want to harm Cerberus or Merus on its back!

This was merely a small lesson for that arrogant right head.

Besides, the target of Thaumas had never been the dog; a mere hound was not worthy of such power.

At this moment, "BOOM—!"

The Hell Gate behind Cerberus, which had been tightly shut, The Hell Gate known as the eternal and indestructible, It collapsed!

A powerful shockwave kicked up clouds of dust, causing the surrounding black poplars and barren coconut trees to sway violently under the sheer force of the impact.

The ghosts, having already retreated to safety, were terrified into wailing and shrieking as they fled in every direction.

From this moment on, The structure of the Underworld had changed!

The souls of the dead would no longer need to pass through the Hell Gate, for the Hell Gate no longer existed!

Thaumas had said it: this arrow would pierce the Underworld!

It was a brilliant arrow.

It was the proof of his growth, every step of the way since he descended the mountain!

From a nameless nobody to the great hero who pierced the Underworld!

Step by step, he had plotted—first Jason, then the Queen of Heaven Hera. Although Thaumas had not expected to obtain the power of so many gods, he had earned every bit of it through his own efforts!

Had he failed in even a single task, this magnificent feat would have been impossible to complete.

Ultimately, if Apollo had not used his divine power to regulate this energy, even with the protection of the night and a body tempered by Heavenly Fire, he would have been torn apart by this very power, would he not?

Although this god was always trying to mess with him, he really owed Lord Apollo for this one; otherwise, this arrow would have truly been nothing more than a shooting star.

He had yet to bring a miracle to Orpheus, and he had yet to bring a miracle to Jason—that guy still hadn't reclaimed his throne.

He still had a mission to fulfill; he could not fall here!

"Thank you, Lord Apollo! And thank you to the four goddesses as well."

Thaumas gently stroked the Bracelet, closed his eyes, and offered his sincere thanks to the gods who had aided him.

As if they had heard his gratitude, the Bracelet flashed with five dazzling lights, actively responding to this hero!

Thaumas had a premonition that this arrow would become a powerful Noble Phantasm.

Because the feat of piercing the Hell Gate had never been achieved by anyone before; this was a legend that belonged solely to him!

This arrow brought a glimmer of light to the eternally pitch-black Underworld, drawing the gaze of many Underworld gods.

In this dark world, such a dazzling radiance was hard to ignore.

From now on, the name Thaumas would echo throughout the Underworld, and the wreckage of the Hell Gate was the best proof of that!

Every soul that arrived in the Underworld had to pass through here; this day was destined to leave a mark in human history.

The destruction of the Hell Gate, It was not merely the destruction of a gate; it represented that humanity had challenged death and succeeded!

This meant that souls were no longer restricted by the Hell Gate and could pass through directly.

Thaumas did not know if this was good or bad; after all, he had never heard of the Hell Gate serving any major purpose.

But since he had chosen to bring a miracle to Orpheus, a mere gate could not stop him! If it wouldn't open, he would simply smash it to pieces!

Even if this gate were repaired in the future, it could not cover up the fact that it had been pierced by a human.

"Ah?" the left head was speechless.

"Ah—!" the right head was in agony!

"We're dead." the middle head looked ashen.

Cerberus wore various expressions; their not-so-bright brains could not fathom how Thaumas had dared to do such a thing!

It was just a security guard; never mind the lack of a salary, it could usually make some extra pocket money, but now, its workplace had been blown to bits.

Its right head wept as it swallowed its own bloody ear, hoping it would grow back if eaten. It was truly a silly dog!

Thaumas felt a bit sorry for it; just a security guard, getting hit like this, and likely having nowhere to seek justice in the end.

Thaumas made a decision: one day in the future, he would properly compensate this silly dog.

(The side story is owed; I will make up for it later.)

After all, it was just doing its job diligently; it was not at fault, and of course, Thaumas was not at fault either—it was simply a matter of differing stances.

"Thaumas, you're doomed!"

"I hate you, woo~ why didn't you shoot him twice!"

"Thaumas, you've really gotten yourself into trouble this time. The Hell Gate symbolizes death; it is the face of the Underworld and the doorstep of many Underworld gods! Lord Hades will surely tear you to pieces!"

Ignoring the words of Cerberus, Thaumas stared intently ahead.

Because, Hades, Had arrived!

(I have checked a lot of materials for this, and I have also looked at the Lostbelts, but I really couldn't find the gender or character design of Hades. I mention this mainly because I'm afraid Nasuverse might write him as a woman in the future. Since I couldn't find it, I will respect the original legend. If it still conflicts, then it will be according to my version.)

The six chapters for today are here! Since these two were posted together, it's effectively five chapters, but the word count is more than enough.

Barring any accidents, I won't be adding more chapters before the official launch, keeping it at eight thousand words. After the launch, I'll aim for ten thousand words daily; that's the limit of what this author can manage.

My father went to great lengths to get me into my current circle, so I won't be giving up my job. I don't even have pocket money anymore; I used to just ask for it whenever I wanted, but now I really have to start supporting the family.

If I have time on weekends and holidays, I will consider adding extra chapters.

By the way, the smart recommendation system has finally kicked in, which makes my hard work worth it. It's a pity that a small fry like me doesn't qualify for the trial push.

So, I will be diligent—everyone, contribute your follow-up reads, hey! These are all earned through my hard work and typing!

Wishing everyone a happy life! Have fun!