Hercules enslaved - 3. The slave market

Hercules glared at the captain, his once-piercing gaze now dimmed by the wear of his captivity. With a cruel chuckle, Glaucetas motioned for his men to drag Hercules from the hold and onto the waiting docks. The demigod stumbled, his bare feet struggling to find purchase on the uneven terrain as he was led like a captured animal, the chained collar around his neck a constant reminder of his subjugation. Hercules' heart sank as he realized their destination – a bustling slave market, its crowded stalls and shouting vendors a far cry from the noble quests he had once pursued. The captain's malicious grin only widened as he witnessed the demigod's mounting despair. The demigod stood completely exposed, his powerful frame on display for all to see, the indignity of his situation weighing heavily upon him.

As the potential buyers gathered, their greedy eyes appraising Hercules like a prized commodity, the demigod felt a surge of rage and humiliation. He had faced countless foes and overcome seemingly insurmountable odds, but never had he been reduced to such a degrading fate. As Hercules was led onto the crowded platform, a collective gasp of awe swept through the assembled throng. Despite the demigod's battered and weakened condition, the sheer magnificence of his physique was impossible to ignore. His chiseled muscles, honed by countless battles and feats of strength, rippled beneath his bronzed skin. Even in his captive state, Hercules exuded an aura of raw, unbridled masculinity that captivated the onlookers. A murmur of disbelief and fascination quickly erupted through the crowd as the pirate captain announced the captive's identity - Hercules, the greatest hero of Greece, renowned for his unparalleled strength and heroic exploits.

"Hercules? The Hercules?" one onlooker exclaimed, his eyes wide with astonishment. "How can this be?"

The crowd surged forward, their curiosity and bewilderment palpable as they laid eyes upon the mighty demigod, now reduced to the ignominy of a slave auction.

"This must be some kind of jest!" another voice cried out. "Hercules would never allow himself to be captured, let alone sold as chattel!"

The pirate captain raised his hands, silencing the clamor as a satisfied grin spread across his weathered features. "Oh, it is no jest, my friends," he declared, his gaze sweeping across the awestruck onlookers. "This is the very same Hercules, brought low by our cunning and might."

The onlookers murmured amongst themselves, their voices rising in a crescendo of disbelief and intrigue. How could the mighty Hercules, the paragon of heroic virtue, be reduced to such a degrading fate? The very notion seemed to defy the established order of the world. As the pirate captain began to extol the virtues of his captive, highlighting Hercules' legendary feats and the impressive musculature that adorned his powerful frame, the crowd erupted in a frenzy of bidding and speculation. Never before had they borne witness to such a magnificent specimen of humanity, let alone one with the renown and mystique of the legendary Hercules. The prospect of owning such a prized captive was enough to drive the potential buyers into a fevered state of competition.

The bidding frenzy quickly descended into complete pandemonium as the crowd surged forward, driven by a primal fascination with Hercules' magnificent form. The once-orderly slave market dissolved into a chaotic maelstrom of grasping hands and jostling bodies, all desperately vying for a chance to lay their hands upon the legendary demigod. Hercules stood resolute, his proud bearing and unyielding gaze betraying none of the profound humiliation he felt as the crowd descended upon him. The once-revered hero found himself the subject of wanton groping and violation, as the onlookers shamelessly pawed at his chiseled muscles and, to his utter mortification, even his most intimate areas. The demigod's jaw clenched in a futile effort to maintain his composure. The pirate captain observed the chaos with a twisted grin, his eyes gleaming with a sadistic triumph. He had known that showcasing the legendary Hercules would incite a frenzy, but the sheer intensity of the crowd's reaction had exceeded even his most cynical expectations.

As the frenzied onlookers pressed in ever closer, Hercules felt a surge of rage and helplessness, his powerful body betrayed by the unyielding iron collar that bound him. He yearned to lash out, to break free of his captors and put an end to this mortifying display, but the relentless grip of the collar and his own diminished strength kept him firmly in the clutches of his tormentors. Amidst the cacophony of voices and the crush of grasping hands, Hercules' gaze locked onto the pirate captain, his eyes burning with fury. But the captain merely chuckled, his expression one of unbridled cruelty. He knew that Hercules' legendary status had only served to heighten the value of his prize, and he had no intention of relinquishing such a lucrative captive to the whims of the rabble. The multitude of voices and grasping hands suddenly fell silent as a booming, authoritative voice cut through the chaos. The crowd parted, revealing a formidable figure striding towards the platform, his gaze fixed upon the captive Hercules.

"I will take him," the man declared, his words carrying the weight of a decree. "Name your price, pirate, and be done with it."

Glaucetas’ eyes widened with recognition, and a twisted smile spread across his features. "Ah, my lord," he replied, bowing low, "I should have known you would not miss the opportunity to acquire such a prize."

With a snap of his fingers, the captain's henchmen surged forward, shoving the stunned onlookers back and clearing a path for the newcomer. Hercules' heart sank as he realized the identity of this powerful bidder – an assistant to the evil king who ruled this vast swath of Greece, a ruler known for his insatiable appetite for the broken and the subjugated.

The king's emissary approached Hercules, his eyes gleaming with a sinister hunger as he appraised the demigod's battered form. "So, this is the mighty Hercules," he mused, his tone dripping with mocking derision. "I must say, you are even more impressive in person."

As the king's emissary roughly seized Hercules' chains, his eyes greedily roaming over the demigod's magnificent physique, a twisted smile played across his lips.

"Ah, yes, the mighty Hercules," he purred, his gaze drinking in every sculpted contour of the hero's powerful frame. With a gloved hand, the emissary slowly traced the outline of Hercules' chest, his fingers fondling the heavy mounts of rippling muscles that spoke of the demigod's legendary strength. Hercules fought the urge to recoil, his jaw clenched in a futile effort to maintain his composure. The emissary's touch, though clothed, felt like a violation, a profanation of his very being. Yet, the demigod refused to show any sign of weakness, his piercing gaze unwavering as he met the emissary's cruel scrutiny. Emboldened by Hercules' stoic defiance, the emissary's hand continued its leisurely descent, tracing the deep grooves of the hero's chiseled abdominal muscles. "Such perfection," he murmured, his voice dripping with a perverse admiration. "Our king will be most pleased to acquire such a magnificent specimen."

Hercules felt a surge of revulsion and humiliation wash over him, as he roared, “I despise you and the tyrant you serve!”. With an evil grin, the emissary’s hand reached downwards and suddenly had Hercules’ balls locked in a maddening clutch. Hercules thrashed violently from the unimaginable pain, while the pirate captain’s henchmen quickly snatched his powerful arms. As the emissary's hand finally withdrew, Hercules steeled himself, his glared back defiantly at the emissary, his jaw set with a resolve that refused to be broken. The king's emissary chuckled, clearly unfazed by Hercules' defiant gaze. "Oh, don't worry, my dear Hercules, this is just a taste of what awaits you." he said, his voice low and sinister. "Our king has a special... appreciation for men of your caliber. He will ensure that you are well taken care of."

With a nod to the pirate captain, the emissary gestured to his own men, who quickly stepped forward and grabbed Hercules. The demigod's heart raced, a surge of dread coursing through him as he realized the fate that awaited him. The pirate captain eagerly accepted the large boxes of gold coins, his eyes gleaming with greedy satisfaction. "It has been a pleasure doing business with you, my lord," he said, bowing low. "I trust our king will find this particular specimen to his liking." Then the pirate captain quietly exchanged words with the emissary, while passing the hex key to the iron collar which deprived Hercules of his god-bestowed strength.

***