Chapter 24

## Chapter Chronology

**The 12 Labors** is the 24th chapter of the "*Shuumatsu no Valkyrie: Record of Ragnarok*" manga series.

## Summary

About to bring down his club, Heracles tells Jack the Ripper to begone and Jack responds by reaching into his pouches.

He takes out two parts of an umbrella before attaching them together and opening the umbrella. When Heracles brings down his club, Jack blocks it with the umbrella before spinning it rapidly to deflect the attack into the ground. At this move, Heracles notes that Jack isn't a normal kind of coward and Jack points out that they've only just begun to learn about each other.

Some of Humanity cheer for Jack while others remain unsure. The citizens of Thebes comment on how it's hard for them to cheer for the Gods in this round but Castor asserts that they have to, even if they're the only ones, as Alcides is their hero. Jack says that one must always be prepared for rain and asks the paragon of justice what he does in the face of evil. Heracles simply states that he'll crush it head-on. Loki is shocked that he still wants to muscle through this and wonders if it's a bluff. Ares tells Loki not to compare Heracles to him and says if that's what Heracles says, then that is what he'll do.

Holding his club with both hands, the tattoo on Heracles' body begins to grow. Realizing what's happening, Ares questions if Heracles will really use "that." Letting out a breath, Heracles tells the mighty Nemean Lion to feast on his flesh. His tattoo spreads all over his right arm and the lion head on his club grows bigger. Activating the **Herculean Exodus**, Heracles proceeds to use the **First Labor: Nemean Lion**, smashing his club into the ground and creating a lion-shaped shockwave.

Moving back, Jack attempts to defend against the shockwave using his umbrella but it turns out to be too powerful as it crushes his umbrella and knocks Jack against a wall with tremendous force. The Gods begin cheering, along with the citizens of Thebes. Loki calls that a nice skill for a former Human before noticing Ares with a serious expression.

He asks what's wrong and looks on the monitor to see that Heracles' tattoo has spread even more. Ares explains how, before Heracles became a God, he had to complete the 12 Labors assigned to him and obtained 12 divine techniques in exchange. However, because of their fearsome power, each time Heracles uses a skill, it backfires on him and causes the tattoo to spread. A normal God would feel immense pain from just one millimeter of growth and Loki is astounded that Heracles looks stoic as always despite how much the tattoo grew, noting that an endurance-based move is very like him.

Loki asks what will happen if the tattoo covers Heracles' entire body and Ares reveals it will result in Niflhel, meaning Heracles will die, just as Poseidon did. Almighty techniques that can only be accessed in exchange for one's life – that is the **Herculean Exodus**. Ares is surprised that Heracles is using such a thing on scum like Jack the Ripper.

Göll exclaims Heracles is very strong and smirking, Brunhilde says they have only just begun to get to the interesting part. Getting up, Jack smirks and calls Heracles' move amazing. Noticing how limp his right arm is, Jack immediately fixes his dislocated shoulder. He then says, "The labor we delight in, is physics pain." Heracles asks what that is and Jack is mildly surprised Heracles hasn't heard of it. Arthur Conan Doyle recognizes the line and William Shakespeare reveals it's from his play, Macbeth. Shakespeare wonders if Jack is a fan of his before lamenting over how his words were unable to stop Jack from killing.

Jack calls the first act superb and assembles together a large pocket knife, suggesting they move onto the second act. For the first time in the battle, Jack charges at Heracles and clashes with weapons. Heracles pushes Jack into the air but Jack reveals the large pocket knife has many blades and throws it at the God of Fortitude. Heracles dodges it and Jack proceeds to throw a flurry of knives. Heracles begins batting them away before noticing the large pocket knife come back. Heracles backflips in order to dodge it and finishes batting away the smaller knives. Using his grappling gun, Jack moves up a building before throwing the large pocket knife at Heracles again. Landing, Jack uses the same tactic of throwing a bunch of smaller knives at Heracles and letting the bigger pocket knife spin around back to Heracles.

Using his club, Heracles smashes the larger pocket knife and attempts to close the gap between him and Jack by charging in. Jack throws more knives and Heracles takes them on with his left forearm, letting the knives pierce him. Now that Heracles is close, Jack attempts to retreat. It seems too late but Jack somehow jumps off of the air and begins to stand on it. It's then revealed that Jack has laid out piano wire all over the field. As Heracles calls it a petty trick, Jack asks if he has an umbrella. Holding a bunch of knives, Jack notes that rain is a common occurrence in London so one must take care.

After throwing the knives into the air, Jack pulls on all the piano wire that's been set up to cause the knives to accelerate and attacks Heracles from all directions. Jack continues to assault him from all sides and as Heracles gets stabbed all over, Hermes notes that his vitals will be hit if he takes on that many.

As both Göll and Castor worry for him, Heracles reactivates the **Herculean Exodus** and uses the **Sixth Labor: Birds of Stymphalia**, changing the lion head on his club to a bird. Heracles then swings his club, creating a strong tornado that redirects the knives at Jack. The serial killer tries blocking them with his cloak but a few end up grazing him and one knocks off the monocle over his right eye. As Jack lands on the ground, Heracles asserts that his tricks won't work.

Smiling, Jack calls that excellent as it's revealed his right eye is a different color to his left. Jack asks Heracles to become more confident and calls that immovable will of his, a nice color. As Heracles stands confused, Jack takes out a knife in his right thigh and holds it up, apologizing for this is his first time with a God.

## Characters in Order of Appearance

* Heracles
* Jack the Ripper
* Heimdall
* Ares
* Loki
* Hermes
* Castor
* Brunhilde
* Göll
* Arthur Conan Doyle
* William Shakespeare