As Marcus entered the Spirit Tree, he knew he was going to face his toughest challenge yet. He could feel Hercules' presence emanating from deep within the forest. Suddenly, the ground began to shake and Marcus realized that Hercules was on his way. He quickly activated his Siren Scales, sending the mermaid off to retrieve any abilities that could help him in this fight. Hercules appeared before Marcus, his bulging muscles and imposing figure making Marcus feel small in comparison. He could sense the raw strength that emanated from Hercules, and he knew that this fight was going to be a difficult one. Without a word, Hercules charged towards Marcus. Marcus took out his staff and began to prepare himself for the assault. As the two collided, a loud crack echoed across the Spirit Tree. For the first few minutes, the two warriors were evenly matched. But as the fight dragged on, Marcus began to tire while Hercules showed no signs of slowing down. Marcus realized that he would need to use his abilities if he wanted to stand a chance against the god-like warrior. He called forth the mermaid from his scales and felt his ability skyrocket. The memory of a thousand skilled fighters flooded his mind as the mermaid transferred their abilities to him. With the new strength, speed, and agility, Marcus was ready to take on Hercules once again. The two fighters clashed once more with such force that the Spirit Tree itself seemed to tremble. But this time, Marcus was able to hold his ground against the powerful Hercules. Despite his newfound strength, Marcus could sense that he was not going to be able to topple Hercules just yet. He needed another boost of power. As he struggled to keep himself from being overtaken, a sudden burst of energy surged through his veins. He could sense that the Spirit Tree was granting him a gift. From the branches above, rays of light shone down upon Marcus, and in that moment he understood that the tree had chosen him to be its protector. With this newfound power, Marcus was finally able to overpower Hercules. Using his staff, he dealt the final blow to the god of strength and heroes. With Hercules now defeated, Marcus breathed a sigh of relief. He knew that this fight had been a close one, but in the end, it was the Spirit Tree that had granted him the strength and power he needed to emerge victorious. As a reward for his bravery and determination, the Spirit Tree chose to bestow upon Marcus a new fable. The fable told the story of a forgotten hero who had triumphed over impossible odds, just as Marcus had done in his fight against Hercules. And so it was that Marcus emerged from the Spirit Tree, stronger and wiser than he had ever been before. He knew that he would face many more challenges in the future, but with the power of the Spirit Tree behind him, he was ready for whatever lay ahead.