My name was Alex—or at least, it used to be. In my previous life, I was just your average twenty-something guy, scraping by in a cramped apartment in New York City. By day, I worked a dead-end job at a tech support call center, dealing with endless complaints about Wi-Fi routers and forgotten passwords. But by night? That's when I truly lived. I was a mythology nerd, the kind who devoured every book, game, and show about gods, heroes, and ancient legends. Greek myths were my favorite—Hercules smashing monsters, Zeus hurling thunderbolts, the whole epic saga. I'd play games like God of War or Assassin's Creed Odyssey until dawn, dreaming of what it would be like to wield that kind of power.
Little did I know, the universe had a twisted sense of humor.
It all ended on a rainy Tuesday. I was crossing the street, headphones blasting a podcast about Norse gods, when a delivery truck hydroplaned right into me. The impact was instantaneous—pain, then darkness. No dramatic flashbacks, no tunnel of light. Just... nothing.
Until there was something.
A sharp cry pierced the void. Wait, was that me? My eyes fluttered open, but everything was blurry, like looking through fogged glass. I tried to move, but my body felt wrong—tiny, helpless. Panic surged through me as I realized I was swaddled in rough cloth, lying in a wooden cradle. The air smelled of earth and herbs, and distant thunder rumbled like an omen.
"What the hell?" I thought, but the words came out as a baby's wail. Oh god, no. This couldn't be real. Reincarnation? Isekai? I'd read enough webnovels to recognize the trope, but experiencing it? My mind raced. "System? Status? Anything?"
As if on cue, a translucent blue screen materialized in my vision, hovering like a holographic display from one of my games.
**[Mythos System Activated]**
**[Host: Alex (Reincarnated as Hercules)]**
**[Level: 1]**
**[Strength: 5 (Demigod Potential)]**
**[Agility: 3]**
**[Vitality: 4]**
**[Intelligence: 10 (Retained from Previous Life)]**
**[Skills: None Unlocked]**
**[Quests: Pending]**
**[System Note: Welcome, Chosen One. Absorb the essence of myths to ascend. Conquer labors, slay gods, forge your legend.]**
Heracles? As in Hercules? My heart—or whatever passed for it in this infant body—pounded. I was reborn as the son of Zeus, the ultimate muscle-bound hero of Greek lore. But with a system? This was straight out of a litRPG novel. Excitement bubbled up, mixing with the terror. If this was real, I had a shot at godlike power. No more mundane life; I could be a legend.
A woman's face appeared above me, beautiful but weary, with dark hair and kind eyes. Alcmene, I realized—Hercules' mortal mother in the myths. She cooed softly, lifting me into her arms. "My little Heracles," she whispered, rocking me gently. "The gods have blessed us."
Blessed? More like cursed, if I remembered the stories right. Hera, Zeus' jealous wife, hated Hercules because he was proof of her husband's infidelity. She'd send trials, monsters... starting with—
A hiss slithered through the room, chilling my tiny spine. From the shadows of the thatched hut, two serpents emerged, their scales gleaming like polished emerald. Eyes glowing with malice, they coiled toward the cradle—now empty, since Alcmene held me. These weren't ordinary snakes; they reeked of divine magic, sent by Hera to end me before I could even crawl.
Alcmene screamed, dropping me back into the cradle as she grabbed a nearby staff. "No! Get away from my child!"
The serpents struck, fangs bared. Time slowed—or maybe it was the system kicking in. Instinct took over, a surge of unnatural strength flooding my limbs. Despite being a baby, I reached out, tiny hands grasping the first serpent's neck. It thrashed, but I squeezed, feeling bones crunch under my grip.
**[Skill Unlocked: Herculean Strength (Level 1)]**
**[Description: Channel demigod power to amplify physical might. Current Bonus: +10 Strength for short bursts.]**
The second serpent lunged, wrapping around my arm. Pain flared, but I yanked it free and smashed its head against the cradle's edge. Blood—ichor?—splattered, and both creatures went limp.
Alcmene stared in shock, her face pale. "By the gods... Heracles, you're... you're extraordinary."
I gurgled in response, but inside, I was grinning. That was easy—too easy for a baby. The system pinged again.
**[Quest Completed: Survive Hera's First Wrath]**
**[Rewards: +2 Levels, +5 Strength, Mythos Essence Absorbed (Greek Pantheon - Minor)]**
**[New Quest: Train in Secret - Reach Level 5 before your first birthday.]**
Levels already? This was addictive. As Alcmene cleaned up the mess, whispering prayers to Zeus, I lay there processing. This world wasn't just ancient Greece; the system mentioned "myths" plural. Could there be more? Norse gods? Egyptian? Even... biblical figures like Lucifer? My gamer brain spun with possibilities. If I could absorb essences from all pantheons, I could become unstoppable.
But doubts crept in. In the myths, Hercules' life was tragedy after tragedy—madness, labors, loss. With my knowledge, could I change that? Avoid the pitfalls, outsmart the gods?
As night fell, thunder boomed louder, shaking the hut. In the darkness, a vision assaulted my mind—not a dream, but something forced, like a divine intrusion. I saw Olympus, gleaming marble halls where Zeus lounged on a throne, lightning crackling in his fist. But his eyes were cruel, not heroic—lording over mortals like playthings, demanding worship while indulging in endless affairs. Hera stood beside him, seething, her jealousy a weapon that crushed innocents.
The vision shifted: wars between gods, realms colliding. Asgard's halls echoed with Odin's ravens, Egypt's sands hid Ra's secrets, and in the shadows... a figure with wings of shadow and eyes like burning coals. Lucifer Morningstar, the fallen angel, smirking as he whispered across the void.
"Little demigod," his voice echoed in my head, smooth as silk and dangerous as venom. "Zeus' tyranny binds you, but I offer true power. Break free from the chains of Olympus. Seek me when you're ready to shatter the heavens."
The vision faded, leaving me gasping—well, crying like a baby. Alcmene rushed over, soothing me. But my mind raced. Lucifer? Here? This wasn't just Greek myths; this was a multiverse mash-up. If he was involved, the stakes were cosmic.
I had to get stronger, fast. The system was my edge, my memories my weapon. Hercules' legend started with those serpents—but mine? It would end with me as the Godslayer.
Little did I know, the real labors were just beginning.