Listening to his eldest brother's cry and his father's anxious shouts, Hercules' originally suppressed anger surged in waves like a tide. His hands were still covering his face, his fingers curled, and his nails deeply embedded in his scalp. That sting was meant to wake up, but now, the sting was also overwhelmed by anger. There is a warm liquid running down the forehead.
golden. His blood, with a golden light, flowed over his brow bones, over the corners of his eyes, and over the back of his hand covering his face. The golden drops of blood fell to the ground and seeped into the crevices of the
stone slabs under his feet. "Iphicles!" His father's cry suddenly rose, and the horror in that voice penetrated into
Hercules' eardrums.
His fingers moved. He took his hand away from his face a little and looked through his fingers-The two horses were already completely frightened.
They struggled frantically and dragged the wagon forward. Amphitreon's hand touched the reins, but he was stumbled by the huge force. His fingers grazed the
reins and didn't grab them. TroRp In the next moment, the two horses took steps at the same time and galloped out.
"No!" Amphitreon was taken to the ground and fell heavily on the stone floor. He propped himself on the ground and tried to get up, staring at the carriage that was getting farther and farther away-
Iphicles is still on it. The small figure rolled in the carriage, and the cry was torn to pieces by the wind.
Oh no.
This thought just crossed the mind of Amphitreon
A figure passed by him. It was not as fast as a human.
The moment Hercules' feet suddenly stomped on the ground, the stone slabs under his feet shattered! The rubble splashed, and the cobweb-like cracks spread around the place where he stepped, and the ground of the entire courtyard
trembled. His body turned into a blurred shadow, his short brown hair pulled into a straight line in the wind, and even dragged a faint golden afterimage behind him.
It was the light that remained behind him after the speed was extremely fast. 1r5Rp
He runs. With each step, a pit exploded on the slate floor. Debris splashed behind him, and air waves surged on either side of him. He was like a thunderbolt that tore the
earth apart, chasing the galloping carriage.
Three or two steps.
In just a few steps, he caught up with the two crazed horses.
In the instant he was alongside the carriage, he suddenly reached out with both hands and grabbed the thin rope.
But the horse kept running. The momentum was astonishing, dragging his body forward. His hooves plowed two deep furrows in the cobblestones, kicking up a long trail of dust and gravel behind him. He was dragged sideways, but his hands gripping the reins remained unmoved. The next second, his body twisted violently.
Using the momentum, he flung his entire body in front of the horse's head, his eyes fixed on the two...
That beast is still going berserk.
Golden flames burned in his pupils, almost overflowing from his eye sockets.
Kill them.
The voice roared in his mind.
Kill them! Tear them apart!
He suddenly exerted force with his arm.
He forcefully brought the two galloping horses, those two beasts whose combined weight, including the ornaments they wore, exceeded two thousand pounds, to a stop.
The immense force traveled from the reins to the horse's head, to its body, and to its four still-galloping legs. The force yanked the necks of both horses back violently, their forelegs dangling in the air, their bodies almost flipping over. They let out sharp neighs, filled with terror.
Hercules placed his hand on the neck of the first horse.
Gala.
The sound was crisp and loud.
The horse's neck was twisted at an eerie angle in his hands, the sound of bones shattering clear and piercing. The horse didn't even have time for a second wail before its body went limp and it collapsed to the ground with a thud. Its heavy body crashed to the ground, sending pebbles flying and dust billowing up. Another horse reared up in terror, struggling to escape the horrifying creature.
But that hand had already reached out.
Hercules gripped its neck with his other hand. His five fingers dug deep into the horse's flesh, the knuckles almost touching the skin.
It seemed to penetrate that thick layer of skin.
Then he suddenly slammed down.
The horse's entire body was abruptly pulled off its rearing position, like an insect slapped down.
Its head slammed hard into the ground, then its neck, then its body, with a muffled thud, and a small section of the ground caved in.
The horse's body twitched a few times, then stopped moving.
The two horses died instantly.
But the carriage was still moving.
The untraction-free carriage continued to lurch forward due to inertia, tumbling violently. The sound of wood hitting the ground was heard.
A piercing sound rang out, and debris from the train car flew everywhere. A small figure was flung out of the car and tossed into the air.
That was Iphicles.
His body tumbled through the air, his limbs flailing wildly, his cries now completely morphing into terrified screams. That little...
The figure flew higher and higher, then began to fall.
Hercules was still in the strangulation position.
He looked down at the still convulsing horse, at the blood-stained hands. His arm, which had been hanging limply, rose again—his fingers curled into claws, veins bulging, golden lines visible beneath his skin.
Wandering like crazy.
What would happen to that horse's head if that punch landed?
He doesn't know.
He only knew that he wanted to do it.
I want to blast it to pieces, reduce it to dust, and leave nothing behind.
The terrified cry pierced his confused consciousness.
Iphicles.
That silly older brother who always pulls his hair, that guy who smiles every time he sees him, his eyes squinting with laughter.
The little guy with two slits. The little guy who was just calling out, "Little brother, come up here quickly."
He suddenly raised his head and looked at the falling figure.
Then the fist that was already raised and ready to strike suddenly changed direction.
It slammed hard into his own face.
Bang!!
The force was astonishing; Hercules' entire body was knocked to the side by the punch, and blood trickled from the corner of his mouth.
As he came out, he staggered and almost fell.
But that anger was somewhat diminished by that punch.
That bit of clarity is enough.
He suddenly exerted force with his feet, propelling his body skyward. The height of that leap was astonishing, as if he shouldn't have been able to do so.
Earth bound.
He reached out and caught the small, falling figure, gently pulling it into his arms. Then he landed back on the ground.
Wow!! 1r5Rp The impact of his landing was so great that the entire courtyard trembled. Smoke and dust exploded around him, and rubble...
Splashing air and surging waves caused fine cracks to appear on the ground within a radius of several meters.
He knelt on one knee, holding Iphicles tightly in his arms, smoke and dust rising around them, enveloping them.
His figure was swallowed up and then expelled. His breathing was heavy, his chest heaving violently, but he did not loosen his grip on Iphicles.
Iphicles nestled in his arms, clutching his clothes tightly, burying her face in his chest, her small body...
He was trembling, tears and snot covering his body.
Hercules lowered his head and looked at the hairy head.
His lips twitched.
I wanted to smile and tell him that everything was alright.
But he didn't laugh.
Because he suddenly noticed that the hand holding Iphicles was trembling slightly.
Trembling with fear.
I fear that in that instant, if that crying hadn't stopped me, if that punch hadn't woken me up...
What will happen? 1r5Rp
He didn't dare to think about it.
The smoke and dust slowly dissipated.
Amphitryon stumbled over. His steps were unsteady, and he hadn't even had time to brush the dust off his clothes.
Then he saw it.
I saw the two twisted horse carcasses, the shattered ground, the shallow, sunken pit, and the spreading cracks. I saw...
Hercules knelt there, on one knee, one arm around Iphicles, the other fist still stained with...
With golden blood.
Seeing the golden lines on Hercules' face that had not yet completely faded, and the light that was slowly dissipating.
His steps paused.
He stood at the edge of the smoke and dust, watching the child.
The child he had held, lifted, and taught, the child who called him "Dream," was now kneeling there, covered in blood.
A divine glow still lingered on his face.
Hercules looked up at him.
The gold in those eyes hadn't completely faded, like two embers that were dying out.
"Father.
His voice was hoarse, unlike that of a six-year-old child.
"Iphicles is alright."
Amphitryon opened his mouth, but didn't know what to say. He could only look at the child, at those eyes.
He looked up at the still trembling hand. Then he went over, knelt down, reached out, and gently placed his hand on Hercules' shoulder.
That hand was rough, but it was warm.
"Yes, I saw it. You did a good job," he said.
After the incident with the horse, the three of them were severely reprimanded by Alcmene.
However, while it was said to be blame, the real situation was that Heracles and Iphicles were flanked by Alcmene.
He held her in his arms, their two heads pressed against her chest, listening to her unilaterally describe her cheap father.
"Amphitryon! What were you thinking?! Taking two children to drive a carriage?! They're so young!!"
Hercules was only six years old!! Iphicles was only six years old too!! How dare you?! What happened to the horse?!
What to do?! What if they fall down?! They—
Amphitryon stood there, head bowed, obediently accepting the scolding.
The mighty King of Thebes, a veteran of countless battles, was now so humiliated by his wife's insults that he dared not utter a single word in response.
"Yes yes yes."
"My fault, my fault."
"It won't happen again next time."
"Really not anymore."
As he responded, he secretly glanced at the two little ones in Alcmene's arms.
Iphicles had buried his face in his mother's arms, sobbing occasionally, his small body still slightly trembling.
He trembled. Hercules leaned on his mother's shoulder, watching his father being scolded with a blank expression.
When Amphitryon met his gaze, Hercules looked away, pretending not to see anything.
Alcmene's "lecture" lasted a long time, so long that Iphicles fell asleep in her arms, so long that Hera...
Kles also began to feel sleepy, until the sun had moved from its zenith to the west.
Finally, she stopped.
It's not because I've finished talking, it's because I've talked too much and my voice is hoarse.
Amfitri quickly handed him a glass of warm water.
Alcmene took a sip, then looked up and glared at him with her red eyes.
Amphitryon's heart softened at that look.
He walked over, bent down, and hugged his wife and two sons into his arms.
"I'm sorry," he said softly. "It was my oversight."
Alcmene's tears welled up again.
But she didn't say anything more, she just buried her head in his chest and let him hold her.
Hercules was caught in the middle, feeling a little breathless from the pressure, but he didn't struggle.
He simply closed his eyes and pretended to be asleep.
That night, Alcmene coaxed her for a long time.
She sat on the edge of the bed, holding her two children, stroking their hair repeatedly. Iphicles had long ago...
He was asleep, his small body curled up in her arms, occasionally twitching. Hercules wasn't asleep, but he...
It didn't move; it just lay there quietly.
Alcmene's hand gently brushed across his forehead, across his eyebrows and eyes.
"Does it hurt?" she asked softly.
Hercules shook his head.
"Lying," Alcmene said, lightly touching the faint bruise on the corner of his mouth with his finger—his own.
The mark left by that punch, "How did this happen?"
Hercules paused for a moment.
"I did it myself."
Alcmene's hand paused.
She lowered her head, looking into his eyes. Those eyes were calm now, without the flames of madness, only a...
She had complex emotions that she couldn't quite explain.
She didn't ask why.
She simply leaned down and gently placed a kiss on his forehead.
"Don't hit yourself next time," she said softly, "it hurts."
Hercules blinked.
"Hmm,"
However, things are not over yet.
Hercules had something on his mind.
His state that day, the out-of-control anger, the madness of tearing the horses with
his bare hands, his father and eldest brother saw it.
They all saw it.
What will they think?
Hercules knew where he came from. He knew what kind of blood was flowing in
his body, and in the original myth, Hercules had done a lot of wrong things
because of his madness. The state of the day had already allowed him to see the
shadow of the beast in his body.
He will get out of control.
He can hurt.
What will happen to him if he doesn't control himself?
He didn't dare to think about it.
But what made him even more afraid to think about what his father and eldest
brother would think of him.
Will they be afraid of him? Will you hide from him?
Hercules waited.
I waited for a day, two days, three days.
Nothing.
Amphitreon still came to him every day, took him to practice, and taught him
things. His big hands were still so rough, the force on his shoulders was still so
heavy, and he was still so loud when he laughed.
"Come on, teach you a sword style today."
"Father."
"Huh?"
"That day..."
"What day?" Anfitreon didn't look back, took a wooden sword from the shelf,
"Don't talk nonsense, come here.""
Hercules stood still, looking at his back.
Iphicles also came.
The little guy ran over, hugged his leg, and looked up at him. His eyes were still
bright, and there was a smile on his round face.
"Brother, play with me!"
Hercules looked down at him, looking at the pure dependence and trust in those
eyes, without a hint of fear.
His throat suddenly tightened. 1r6Rp
"Aren't you afraid of me?" He asked.
Ipicles tilted his head, as if he didn't understand.
"What are you afraid of?"
Hercules opened his mouth, but he didn't know what to say,
Ifcles should remember what happened that day. He was thrown out of the
carriage and rolled in the air, before being caught by Hercules. He should have
seen the horse carcasses, the blood, the broken ground.
But there was nothing in his eyes.
There is only dependence.
Only trust.
Only that kind of silly, unreserved intimacy.
"Brother?" Iphicles tugged at his sleeve. "Why aren't you saying anything?"
Hercules lowered his head and looked at him.
Then he reached out and ruffled the fluffy head.
"It's okay," he said. "Let's go, I'll play with you."
That night, Hercules found Amphitryon.
My father was sitting in the courtyard, holding a cloth and wiping his usual sword. Moonlight fell on him.
Above, his shadow stretched very long.
Hercules walked over and stood beside him.
Amphitryon glanced up at him, then lowered his head to continue wiping his sword.
"Is something wrong?"
Hercules paused for a moment.
"Father," he began, "what happened that day…aren't you afraid?"
Amphitryon's hand stopped.
He looked up at Hercules; in the moonlight, the six-year-old boy's face appeared far more mature than his peers.
But in those eyes, there was a complexity that shouldn't be present at his age.
Amphitryon looked at him, then he smiled.
"Ha ha ha ha--"
The laughter echoed in the night, excessively loud; his shoulders trembled with laughter, and he nearly dropped his sword.
On the ground.
Chu.
Hercules was stunned.
He hadn't expected his father to react this way.
Amphitryon finished laughing, put his sword aside, and stood up.
Heracles might grow taller than him in the future, but for now he is much taller than Heracles.
He reached out and vigorously rubbed Hercules' head.
"Silly boy.
Hercules looked up at him.
Amphitryon lowered his head, meeting those eyes. Moonlight streamed between them, illuminating everything clearly.
"You are my son, we are family."
Hercules' pupils contracted slightly.
"family..."
"Yes, family." Amphitrite's hand slid down from above his head, rested on his shoulder, and pressed down firmly.
"What is family? Family is the people who will stand by your side no matter what you become."
"I saw it that day. I saw your eyes, I saw what you did," he said. "I also saw that you were…"
How did you catch Iphicles? I saw how you held him, protecting him in your arms.
His hand tightened slightly.
"You are my son. No matter who you are, no matter what power you have, no matter what you become, you..."
They're all my sons.
Hercules stood there, motionless.
Amphitryon looked into his eyes and suddenly smiled again.
"As for being afraid?" He shook his head. "It's just that I'm a bit stronger. Kid, don't get too cocky. Wait until you achieve something..."
Let's talk about surpassing your great-grandfather Portheus later!
He withdrew his hand and patted Hercules on the shoulder.
"Okay, don't think about those that have or don't have them. Go back to sleep.
Hercules did not speak.
He just stood there, looking at the back that turned away in the moonlight, which
was thick and strong.
He suddenly remembered that this man was not actually his biological father.
But he never made him feel it.
Never.
Hercules lowered his head and looked at his hand. The stone that has been
hanging in my heart seems to have fallen to the ground.