Hercules vs Antaeus - 5. The kill

Antaeus gained the position of utter dominance. While still sitting heavily on Hercules' back, Antaeus reached down and grasped Hercules' wrists. The demigod's mighty arms felt like mere twigs in Antaeus' powerful grip. With a slow, deliberate motion that amplified the suspense and the impending pain, Antaeus lifted Hercules' arms, pulling them upwards and outwards. The muscles in Hercules' back strained against the unexpected movement, the tendons stretching taut under the immense force. Antaeus then spread Hercules' arms wide, extending them until they lay flat upon Antaeus' powerful thighs. The position was agonizing; Hercules' shoulders were hyperextended, his arms stretched to their absolute limit while his back arched painfully upwards. With the final touch of pinning Hercules' arms between his thighs and elbows, Antaeus created an inescapable trap. Hercules’ mighty arms, usually instruments of devastating power, were now pinned, stretched, and completely controlled. His body trembled under the strain, his breath hitched in his chest, his face contorted in a mask of pain. The crowd watched in horrified silence, the brutality of the camel clutch hold surpassing even their expectations. Antaeus' mastery of leverage and his almost supernatural strength had executed a hold that was both ingenious and utterly devastating, determined to break the legendary Hercules.

But this was no ordinary camel clutch. Antaeus' immense weight, amplified by his inherent connection to Gaia, pressed down on Hercules' back with crushing force. The hero felt the earth itself pressing down on him, a physical manifestation of Antaeus' earth-bound power, exacerbating the already unbearable pressure. Hercules' powerful legs kicked wildly, desperate attempts to escape the cruel clutch, but to no avail. The weight was staggering, not just the weight of a man, but the weight of the earth itself, channeled and focused through Antaeus' body. The pain was excruciating, a searing combination of pressure, strain, and the agonizing awareness of his utter helplessness. His muscles screamed in protest, tendons stretched taut to their breaking point. He felt the bones in his back creak under the immense weight, a terrifying sensation even for the demigod. To increase the pain even further, Antaeus wrapped his hands around Hercules’ jaw and shifted his weight, leaning backward with a slow, deliberate movement that amplified the agony. This backward lean increased the strain on Hercules' already hyperextended back, pulling his spine to its absolute limit. He felt a sharp, searing pain radiate through his spine. Each strained breath sent waves of agony through his body, a constant reminder of his utter powerlessness.

Antaeus, sensing victory within his grasp, prepared to deliver the knockout blow. He was ready to end the fight, and with a chilling display of calculated cruelty, he applied the final, decisive touch to the already torturous hold. Antaeus squeezed his powerful hands onto Hercules' neck, his thumbs finding their mark with terrifying accuracy. They pressed with brutal force onto the carotid arteries on either side of Hercules' throat, the pressure immediate and intense. The effect was instantaneous and terrifying. The pressure wasn't just a squeezing sensation; it was a constriction, a deliberate cutting off of blood flow to Hercules' brain. The world around Hercules began to dim, the vibrant colors of the arena fading into a hazy gray. His breathing, already ragged and strained from the crushing weight of the camel clutch, became shallow and erratic, each gasp a desperate struggle for air. His lungs burned, his chest constricted, his head swam in a dizzying vortex of pain and oxygen deprivation. The mighty Hercules, demigod and hero, felt the chilling grip of unconsciousness, the earth-powered assault proving too much for even his legendary strength and resilience. His vision plunged into absolute, merciful blackness. The legendary hero, the master of pankration, the demigod who had conquered countless monsters and titans, lay unconscious. He was defeated, not by superior strength, but by a horrifying combination of brutal force, cunning strategy, and a devastatingly effective display of dirty fighting that left even the most seasoned warriors aghast.