Deimos was walking with Kratos and Atreus to find their way. While walking, he couldn't help but think about the rewards that he had not yet uncovered. It was the summoning of the 12 labors. Unsure of what to do, he then asked the system.
'System, what would happen if I summon the 12 labors of Heracles? Won't that be problematic, considering that Kratos knows about the 12 labors and Heracles himself? Even if it's not the same character, the concept of the character comes from one Greek myth, doesn't it?' Deimos asked the system.
[Host should not worry. If you summon any creature, it will transform into a beast that is similar to Norse mythology. If you summon the 1st labor, which is the Nemean Lion, you would be getting Graðungr, but with the characteristics of the Nemean Lion: golden fur that was impervious to physical attack, and claws so sharp they can damage its fur.]
'How will you explain the sudden appearance of the creature then? We are in Midgard after all.'
[Host, fear not. It will have a backstory, such as being brought to Midgard, growing powerful enough to kill its owner, and now waiting in ruins for someone to defeat it in combat to serve as its new master. You can summon it now if you wish.]
'Alright, summon him. Make sure he is in a cave on the way to the ruins.'
[Summoning the First Labor.....5...4...3...2...1]
[Summoning Completed. You would only need to stumble upon a cave accidentally to see the creature.]
After confirming with the system, he then enthusiastically waited for the system's notification on where it was. While on the way, they stumbled upon new opponents: elemental draugr with the ice element, meaning Leviathan's Axe is useless against them.
Excited to use his new weapon, Deimos removed the strap from his shoulders. Although the size of the pillar made it look awkward in his hands, he used it efficiently.
First, he threw the pillar against the draugr; the ones that were hit directly shattered upon impact. After throwing it, he jumped to follow his weapon. He lifted it and swung at the other draugr that were not hit. Each kill he made was being tallied, and his proficiency in using the pillar was increasing, until he was unexpectedly hit by a fire draugr from his back.
"FIRE!" Atreus yelled to Deimos. As the scout of the group, he noticed the fire draugr, but Deimos didn't hear him over the noise of the pillar's impacts and the effort he was exerting.
"DEIMOS!" Kratos yelled, finishing his fight as quickly as possible to assist his son.
Deimos was hit and propelled upon impact into a lower section of a cave hidden among the woods. There, he saw a giant lion sleeping. Knowing it was his summons, he approached it carelessly and was about to touch it when Atreus yelled from above.
"DEIMOS, ARE YOU ALRIGHT?" Atreus yelled, not seeing what was happening at the bottom. The creature suddenly opened its eyes and saw Deimos's hand reaching towards its hide. Without any delay, it attacked Deimos, swinging its front claws at him with full strength. It was so fast that Deimos didn't see it coming; he only realized he was bleeding on his chest. He then grabbed the creature's front limbs and started to wrestle it. Being smaller than the creature made it hard to choke, so he was easily dismounted. After shaking off Deimos, the creature then roared so loudly that it was heard up to the top, where Kratos and Atreus were fighting.
"What was that?" Kratos asked Atreus, still busy with the draugr, who, even though weak, had a lot of numbers.
"I don't know, maybe it's fighting Deimos. Do you think he's okay?" Atreus answered Kratos, his question laced with worry.
"Trust Deimos," Kratos said after swinging his fist. "He is strong and smart, and he doesn't fight battles he knows he cannot win."
Back to Deimos, the Gulltoppr with Nemean lion features was locked in a grapple that relied on their strength. Deimos could overpower the beast but not harm it in any way due to its impenetrable hide, so he had to choke the enormous beast in front of him.
Thinking of an idea, he grabbed the Gulltoppr's horns and lifted it from the ground, then slammed its head into the ground with such force that the ground cracked, momentarily stunning the beast. Taking his chance, he stood behind the lion's head and forced it into a chokehold. Unable to properly complete the chokehold by reaching his arm around, he compromised by hugging the creature's neck. The Gulltoppr suddenly awoke from its stunned state and started struggling, bucking like a bull. Despite the beast slamming its head against the wall, Deimos, strong and durable, held on to the chokehold.
While Deimos held the Gulltoppr in a chokehold, Kratos and Atreus jumped down from their path. Kratos and Atreus both saw a massive beast with Deimos hugging its neck from behind.
After 30 minutes of struggling, the beast fell and died.
After it happened, a soul materialized near the beast, with the same appearance as the Gulltoppr that was just killed. Kratos prepared to fight the beast himself when he heard Atreus speak.
"Father, wait, it is giving its servitude to Deimos. I can feel it; it would not hurt Deimos," Atreus said.
"How do you know this?" Kratos asked Atreus, his voice filled with suspicion.
"I don't know, I just feel it," Atreus replied. After a moment, they saw the Gulltoppr's spirit enter Deimos's body. Deimos stood still momentarily, his eyes closed before opening again.
"What happened to the beast?" Kratos asked, his confusion evident.
"It became my familiar. I can now summon it whenever I want, and even if it is killed, it would just return to my soul, but its energy would recharge. I can summon it if you want," Deimos explained.
"Can you summon it? I want to see!" Atreus exclaimed excitedly.
"Proceed with caution!" Kratos warned, shielding Atreus in case something went wrong.
"Come out, Fangtoppr," Deimos said. His shadow suddenly enlarged, becoming a portal from which a claw emerged, followed by another, until the entire beast jumped out.
It was the same huge beast, now covered in armor. They didn't know where the armor came from, but it made the beast look even stronger.
"Father, do you think I can skin this beast and use its hide as a cape? When I was fighting it, my weapons couldn't penetrate its hide, which is why I had to choke it," Deimos said to Kratos.
"It was your prey; the use of its body should be decided by you," Kratos said to Deimos, who in turn started skinning it.
Deimos carefully worked at removing the thick, golden hide of Fangtoppr. The material felt strangely resilient, just as he had experienced during their brutal fight. Once the skin was completely detached, it was even more impressive up close. The golden fur shimmered with an inner light, and despite its thickness, it felt surprisingly light in his hands.
"Incredible," Deimos muttered, turning the massive pelt over. He could see why no weapon had been able to pierce it. The fibers were tightly woven and seemed to possess an almost magical quality. "This will make a good cape."
Kratos observed the process with his usual stoic expression. "The beast was formidable. Your method of subduing it was… resourceful." It was high praise coming from Kratos.
Deimos was about to leave when he suddenly noticed something in the system.
[Hidden Mission Completed
12 Labors of Heracles.
The Nemean Lion (Completed) +3%
The Lernaean Hydra. (Not Completed) ?
The Erymanthian Boar. (Not Completed)?
The Augean Stables. (Not Completed)?
The Stymphalian Birds. (Not Completed)?
The Cretan Bull. (Not Completed)?
The Mares of Diomedes. (Not Completed)?
The Belt of Hippolyta. (Not Completed)?
The Cattle of Geryon. (Not Completed)?
The Apples of the Hesperides. (Not Completed)?
The Capture of Cerberus. (Not Completed)?
Current Template Integration: 55%(52% +3%)
Bonus Skill would be unlocked in 60%]
'What? I thought I could just summon everything?'
[Subject possesses initial access to all summoning protocols. However, mission parameters have been engaged by the Subject. The current strength capacity of the Subject exceeds baseline growth parameters. Advancement is now limited to designated boss-level entities. This functionality is provided by the System to accommodate the altered growth trajectory.]
'You mean to say that, because I killed the Nemean lion, I have to complete Heracles's labors?'
[Yes. Do not worry, additional rewards will be given for each labor accomplished, like template integration or items, and skills.]