In the large depression, rose a towering golden giant.
All the Amazons saw was the colossal figure looming over their ranks, a behemoth draped in golden armor. But the fishmen in front of him saw more—the endless rage burning in his eyes as he gazed upon them like a god of wrath.
The battlefield fell silent. All who bore witness froze in terror. The presence of this being was unlike anything they had ever known.
"RAAAHHGGH!"
A bloodlust-fueled roar erupted from the giant as he charged forward.
Even the battle-hardened Amazons felt their knees weaken. At the front of the fishmen, a beast cowered.
Its eyes turned blood red as it roared—not at the giant, but at its own kind—before viciously tearing into the fishmen behind it.
"Die, you daemon scum!" the giant's voice boomed across the field as he broke into the enemy's ranks like a divine juggernaut.
The Amazons stood frozen. Some stared blankly, their minds glazed over.
The course of battle had changed.
Seeing the shift, Agave barked a command.
"Sisters, attack!!"
Snapping out of their stupor, the Amazons charged at the now-chaotic fishmen ranks.
Meanwhile...
"That was foul play. Brings back memories," Heracles muttered as he stood, disoriented. He glanced at Hippolyta, who now held his club, her sword discarded.
He rubbed his temple and then cast his eyes across the battlefield. But fear overtook him—not for the enemy, but for another ambush. He turned to Hippolyta, wary.
She, too, gazed toward the battlefield, her brow furrowed at the sight of the golden-armored titan slaughtering the fishmen.
"Looks like you've found aid. A new lover?" Heracles sneered.
Suddenly, his demeanor shifted.
He extended a hand. The club in Hippolyta's grasp trembled violently and, as if commanded by fate, flew into his hand.
"An upgrade," he said, the club glowing briefly with mysterious sigils before dimming again.
"I came for you, not them. What happens here is not my concern. You took my honor when you gave me this scar." He lifted his upper garment to reveal a large, barely healed wound above his hairy belly.
"Honor?" Hippolyta scoffed. "A man of honor does not enslave women with underhanded tricks."
"Says the queen of barbaric women who butcher helpless men and male children," Heracles spat back.
"At least I have the conscience to spare children. You slaughter your own sons."
"Why do you think Olympus never punished me?"
"Because, like your father, they are cruel. None weep for you. Only goddess who hate men turn a blind eye to your sins."
"I only wanted to change your ways," he said, his voice softening.
"Through slavery?" Hippolyta snapped, her tone sharp.
"Well... it was a start," he sighed, and just like that, the softness vanished.
He struck without warning. The club slammed into her side, launching her into a tree.
She recovered quickly, parrying his next blow, though it staggered her.
"Do you know the humiliation I faced?"
BAM! — a strike.
"The son of Zeus—King of the Gods—bested by the abandoned daughter of the God of War!"
BAM!
"Heracles, the demigod of strength, defeated by a woman! Mortals sang your name at my failure!"
He slammed the club down on her again and again.
She gasped for breath as he kicked her hard in the stomach, sending her skidding.
"I don't need to slaughter your sisters. Olympus only needs your head to appease Poseidon," he said, approaching. He crouched and grabbed her face, his large hand cupping her bloodied mouth.
Elsewhere...
"Aagh!"
An Amazon near Atrius was swatted aside like a fly, rolling in the dirt.
"Careful, sisters! He's insane!" Lysippe called as she helped the fallen woman up. Though breathless, she was unharmed.
Lysippe turned to look at the golden giant's back.
"All spear-wielders, withdraw from its proximity. Engage the outer fishmen!" Agave commanded.
Suddenly, the air vibrated.
The giant froze for a second. Then—
BOOM
He stomped, shaking the battlefield.
"I'LL PULVERIZE YOU ALL!!" he roared, rage dripping from every syllable.
"Retreat!" Agave ordered. The Amazons obeyed, pulling back to safety.
Only once they were far enough did she sigh in relief.
"This creature's too berserk to control... Let it slaughter both sides. We'll conserve our strength. If it turns on us, we'll deal with it then."
The golden-armored giant continued his slaughter, each swing reducing the fishmen to bloody mush.
The giant stretched out his arm. Suddenly, every fishman in that direction exploded into red mist.
The Amazons gasped.
"Do you think it might be a god?" Agave asked Lysippe, who now stood beside her.
"Why would the gods help us after what we did?"
"I don't know. But this thing... it's not human."
"A demigod, maybe?" Lysippe offered.
"Doesn't matter. If it becomes hostile, we'll deal with it."
Back to the duel...
BAM!
Heracles flew backward from Hippolyta's punch, panting heavily.
Quick to recover, he charged again—more vicious, more primal. This time, he left the club behind and fought with his fists.
"You don't have your girdle anymore. It's only fair I use my hands," he grinned, swinging at her.
She dodged gracefully. "Nimble as ever," he muttered as he feinted, slipping her into a chokehold.
He lifted her off the ground.
"This time I will win. Your head will be my offering to Olympus. And when you're gone... guess what will happen to your sisters?"
He broke into laughter. "HAHHAHAHA—OOMPH!"
A swift kick to his stomach silenced him.
BAM!
Her fist sent him sprawling.
A whistle pierced the air.
Moments later, a horse galloped to her side. She grabbed a coiled rope from its sash, then slapped its flank, sending it away.
Heracles groaned, rising slowly. He gave her a bloody grin.
But Hippolyta didn't wait.
She struck with the rope—now glowing golden.
Heracles rolled out of the way. "Alright, your way it is." He extended his arm.
The club trembled—then flew into his grip.
"This will be fun."
********************************
The golden giant now stood atop a hill of corpses.
His eyes, visible through his cracked helm, burned like suns—fiery red, full of wrath.
Still, the fishmen charged. hurling themselves at him.
He shook his head as the glow in his eyes flickered, but did not stop. Every motion ended a life.
Suddenly—
WHAM!
A massive tail struck him in the chest, sending him flying.
"RAAAWWWH!"
The beast with the grotesque abomination on its back had turned. Its eyes no longer glowed red, but its fury was palpable.
It charged—not at the giant, but toward the Amazons.
The abomination it carried groaned, clearly tormented.
And a horde of fishmen followed behind.