Shotzzy REACTS to THE STORY OF MERCULES!

In just three Call of Duty Pro events,

the rookie Hercules has not only won the

world championship.

>> Bro, he has a different cut in every in

every pick.

>> Call of Duty Pro,

>> bro.

>> Give me the Superman. Give me the

>> I don't know what to call this one.

>> Events. The rookie Hercules has not only

won the world championship, but also

claimed trophy. His rise in Black Ops 6

is incredible, and this unlikely

superstar has no plans of slowing down.

The freak of the sheet. Yo, my new mace

was

>> the story of how Hercules became a Call

of Duty pro and dominated in his first

season with Optic Texas.

>> Merciless grew up with a controller in

his hand. I actually seen that his

birthday is on July 14th, so drop a

happy birthday down to Murk in the

comments. But his older brother is an

Xbox and when he was 5 years old, he

started playing Call of Duty 4. When his

brother wasn't playing, he would play

and he fell in love with the game. He

didn't start playing competitive Call of

Duty until Black Ops 2, and his interest

only deepened over the years with

Advanced Warfare being a true game

changer. He looked up to pros like Scump

and learned the game on the 1 v one

ladders on UMG. He mainly played SND and

went 50 and0 on one of his ladder teams.

>> What was your uh what's your favorite

Call of Duty of all time?

>> AW.

>> AW. You feel like Advanced Warfare was

like this is his brother.

>> Your your best game.

>> Same old phone,

>> bro. Nah. Upgrade to the new Galaxy

Zfold 7.

>> Hey, don't buy that,

>> bro. Are you serious?

>> No, not my best, but

>> you think you were gunning me?

>> Yeah,

>> I like that.

>> No, I I had like a 50 and I literally

had like a 50 and0 one v one team.

>> He continued playing through Black Ops 4

and started making a name for himself in

the online scene, playing against top

pros like Illy and Shotsi. a bunch of

players that are in the pro league now.

Had a whole group where they played

Money8s and SND. And Murk would hop in

and play against them. He even told a

story about playing against Illy and

Shotsy in a 2v2. And I somehow found the

match that he was talking about.

>> He said he pissed himself right here.

>> Get the

nervous.

>> It's pretty crazy to look back on clips

like that, especially what we know. I

know he also play.

>> Yo, what is Maze doing right here, bro?

>> Fortnite at one point because I'm like

95% sure he beat me in a free entry

tournament back in the day, but there's

not a lot of information online about

what he was doing during the beginning.

>> But it's safe to assume that he was

grinding CMGs and UMGs, playing the game

here and there while finishing school

all the way up until Modern Warfare 3.

>> We're taking shots.

>> Playing the game here and there while

finishing school all the way up until

Modern Warfare 3.

>> What is that? Eddie

know his ass got caught. Look at him.

>> Mercury started competing in the

amateur. All right,

>> let's see. 32 during Modern Warfare

>> with comos. Holy [ __ ]

>> Three. His very first tournament dates

back to April 2024 when a team called

Nobility Rising. He didn't have any

notable.

>> MK was not only a challengers player, he

is the one that came from the gutter. We

knew he was an SND star, but we but when

Choco and I took a chance on him a year

ago, he just got a PC was teaming with

one one 128 players and had zero points.

Drop the ego, take the chance on

>> tournament placements with them, but he

did well enough individually to earn the

respect of better challengers players. A

respected challengers player took a

chance on Hercules within two better

challengers players. A respected

challengers player took a chance on

Hercules and within two months he

managed to

for stage three in June 2024. By August,

he found his best opportunity yet as

OMIT Brooklyn reached out to him to

compete with them for the end of MW3 and

the beginning of Black Ops 6. He plays

second at the Bell Esports Challenge

>> in first at the premier.

>> They lost this. Now you can force Merc.

>> Oh no, that's a different tournament,

right?

>> Hercules is up above and not anticipated

whatsoever. Hercules with the two-piece.

>> This was his first legitimate tournament

win and only made him more wellknown

through the scene. By the time Black Ops

6 rolled around, he was already on other

pro players radars. Even Ghosty had his

eye on Murk, which is kind of ironic,

and said this kid is

going to be

>> right now. I have encouraging Durk the

goat.

>> Serious. So, it's safe to say Murk was

making noise in Challengers just in time

for the biggest season of the [ __ ]

Mace. You're flexing and [ __ ]

>> His life

Hercules opened the Black Ops 6

challenger season with his best team

yet. Neptune, Fellow, too. That team

sounds pretty stacked to me. Following a

third place finish at the first

Challenger Cup, Hercules got an

opportunity he couldn't turn down. A

spot on Zuma's newly formed challenge.

Stallions. Not only did he join

alongside top challengers players, but

he also received even more attention

being part of Zuma's team. He made a

great run with the Stallion squad before

Zuma disbanded the challengers roster.

It was like a whole bunch of drama and

he ended up chalking the whole team. But

Hercules won his second challengers

event with Abe and started making a

serious name for himself in Black Ops 6.

His best challenger stint was from April

2025 to May where he won nearly every

challengers cup and the stage three

playoffs. Bro, he's played with Prolu

Crazy.

No,

>> stand

with and they are completely running

away with this one. Hercules picking up

two more. Holding that P1 forget for P4.

Hercules is going absolutely wild. He's

got full control of the middle of the

map. It doesn't matter what team does.

>> He was bouncing around. Yo, she had that

guy was another chance to prove himself.

Another shot to get noticed. But in the

franchise era of the season was taking

shots back in the day.

>> Top is narrower than ever. Wasn't just

playing against guys in his lobby. He

was fighting a system that favors

established names and proven players.

So, it's rare to get a shot in the

league. He was even triled by Carol.

>> Can't remember how well known it was at

the time, but Murk was triing with a

couple pro teams ahead of EWC last year.

had to wait a bit actually blah blah

blah

>> final Royal Ravens back in MW3 for a I

didn't know that bro that's kind of

crazy but never got the opportunity he

was talented and hungry but was entirely

on the outside looking in his chance

wasn't just coming it was about to

arrive in the most unexpected

>> what's up Ultra fam the last 12 hours

has been crazy

>> yo yo my bad Drake

>> make it to the event you good

>> issues so I'm subbing in for the team.

Excited to be here and let's get it

done.

>> So, then we get to Major 3 in Miami.

Hercules entry into the CDL was anything

but typical as he was called to play his

first CDL game for Toronto Ultra at

Major 3 with only hours to spare. It

came out right before the event that

Beans was questionable to play at the

event because of Visa issues and Toronto

had been keeping their eye on Hercules,

especially with his recent run with

Open. So, they wanted to give the young

prospect a shot. There's been a lot of

conversation about challengers players

not getting shots in the CDL because the

spots are so limited and we often see

recycle players. So whenever they found

out Beans might not be able to play,

they hit up Hercules on that Tuesday

leading up to the event which was set to

begin on Thursday. The timeline was just

insane. So with almost no practice with

the team, sleepdeprived and thrown

straight into the fire, the day of the

tournament he found out he was playing

and made his professional debut. He also

never played against any pro team

players which makes this whole situation

even crazier.

Not going to work out and now

able to lock things up early on.

>> You best believe the guy's got a beamer

on him. So

>> that's a big three dead at the right

time because now what it does to the

spawns for Ultra there. three across the

back. The rookie Mercles is able to at

least line up two

>> because he not only survived, he thrived

against all expectations. He kept his

composure, showing off his raw gun skill

and game sense. I mean, you could tell

after just watching him from the first

few series that he was extremely tough,

but yeah, you just have all the

crossfires. All the are out. Good luck

to the gorilla mates. Yeah, it seemed

like that was the directive early

yesterday, like in the opening hard

point. Go get the hard point, too. Make

it easier

time. We'll make the plays around you.

>> Oh 1.6. Slow the

>> down my friend.

>> Holy able to find another Nero but easy

trade for M. Hard point about to open up

and Ultra has the numbers.

>> Beans was hate watching just like me.

>> Going to need to find a break here. Find

it quick.

I was like, "No way. These guys, right

off Toronto, ain't no [ __ ] way at

time, bro. I'm not trying to make a team

change the gun." But the young gun in

Hercules already off to a perfect start.

5 and0. You're getting at least 25

seconds off of P1 and you're already

contesting for the like, come here, let

me get some more of that. Where do you

think you're going? Nowhere. 6 and0

start.

>> Performance, durability, affordability.

>> Yo, if I see another ad, bro does it

all.

>> I'm getting ad block. I don't give a

[ __ ]

>> Love was nearly lost

>> until Pizza Hut showed up.

>> Go get her.

>> Hi, I'm Peter.

>> I mean, he's better than a lot of the

pros in the league already, and this was

just his first event. Getting thrown

into the Toronto camp was probably the

best situation he could be in because

they're very well structured and have

the vets Kleenex and Insight.

Remarkably, with Hercules as the last

minute substitute, the Toronto Ultra

went on to secure a top three finish at

Major 3. He even showed some extra love

to the Miami Heretics. I feel like every

team in the CDL has beef with them at

this point. This performance under such

crazy conditions not only established

him as a real prospect, but also

showcases mental fortitude and raw

skill. Vancouver eventually knocked him

out, but Hercules accomplished what he

set out to do. After just one year as a

Challengers player, one chaotic weekend

put the entire league on notice. He did

go back to the challenger scene right

after this event, and I mean, everyone

was dumbfounded that he was back in

challengers.

>> Here's where I'm confused. This is where

I'm getting annoyed. Merc. Nobody wants

this. Nobody wants Merc. Nobody wants

this guy. The hell are these guys doing?

A bunch of teams started looking at him

though and the biggest

>> Wait, so how many offers did he get,

chat? I'm actually kind of confused. How

many? He had three. Who uh who were the

offers? C9.

C9. He didn't tell you.

I can't remember. I mean, he probably

did. I just forgot. Bro, I'm telling

you, I have the worst memory. Dude, I'm

telling you. Unless it's Call of Duty

related, bro.

>> Will it, bro?

>> Team in Call of Duty, a team that was in

a complete and total freefall, was

paying very close attention. So, in

order to understand how Merc joined

Optic, we got to back up a little bit

because Optic, a storied organization

with the most passionate fans, yo,

chill, bro. Yo, what's happen?

The fallout was swift and brutal. There

were changes at the beginning

hooks guys. At one point they went 0

and8 map count being the last in CDL

history. It was safe to say optic Texas

wasn't shambles at the beginning of the

year. They tried bringing a veteran like

skies in [ __ ] [ __ ]

>> But the result didn't get any better.

The team limped to another top eight

finish at major 3 and skies and dashy

were not playing well together. It was

hurting the team and seemed like the

perfect fit. Toronto actually had the

opportunity to

but they decided to keep Beans instead

once his visa issues were figured out.

Hercules was initially going to join

Ultra on a bench spot and other teams

like Cloud9 wanted to sign him but did

not make any moves yet. Baby in the back

said he knew Optic might make a roster

change, but Shotsi initially was not a

fan of this idea.

>> But I was thinking about it and I'm

like, man, I got to do I got to do I got

to do what I believe is best. I I hit up

shot I hit up Shotsi and I hit up Dashy.

Shotsi is the first one responded. I'm

like first of all let me an upand

cominging young talented dude

>> who you can sort of take who you is a GM

take under your wing to you dead set on

on on not making a change. It has to be

a decision that I have to make for you.

After discussions with Methods and

others in the league, Hex spoke to

Shotsi and the team and pretty much

said, "Hey, I'm gonna help you guys out.

I'm picking up Hercules and we're moving

skies to the bench.

>> I'm Mason. I'm just here to play some

Call of Duty."

>> So, with Hex's guidance, they made the

roster change and on May 6, Hercules

officially joined Optic Texas. At first

glance, it seemed like a huge

opportunity for him, which it was. But

deep down, there was a ton of pressure

on him. He wasn't joining a stable,

successful team, and the Optic fan base

was losing patience. But there was a lot

of hype around him, and he seemed to be

handling it well.

>> What kind of eyes does he have?

>> Now went MK in the lineup. Optic to turn

things around in major four qualifiers,

and his impact was immediate. Hercules

made his debut with Optic Texas on May

versus Boston. They didn't win, but

Hercules was already making game

changing plays.

>> Trying to close in around them. Hard

point still going. Hercules still

dancing. The contest. Oh, come on. He's

going to get another hit. He really

wants this one. The movement is on. The

trophies are in play and the snap is in.

Go on, M. One more. Get the fifth.

>> Get

still.

>> Now that the first game jitters were

gone, Hercules turned up in the next

series versus

>> Did we win the series? Oh, no. We lost

the first game. Jitters were gone.

Hercules turned up in the next series

versus Carolina Royal Ravens, dropping a

1.51. The signs of a star were there,

but Murk needed a few more matches under

his belt to get fully used to the pro

scene. Optic lost to LG Mates, then beat

Ultra, securing a winners bracket spot

at Major 4. What made this even better

is that they played in Dallas on Optic's

home turf at CD.

But with only one month in the pro

league, things were either get the

Superman or the SL by beating the team

that picked Beans over him.

>> Yo, Chad, every single time he killed

Beans this match, he said dead.

>> I was kind of confused, bro.

somewhere inside

but he is traded out enough

>> from Dashy trying to reposition to get

back but they are chasing optic sending

it back to the heads and he wins it down

to one

ward that's why we haven't really seen

the

>> I don't think that is going to happen

[Applause]

>> didn't play the best on the team. Fans

could already tell the difference with

him being on the squad. Murk plays his

life so well. It does wonders for the

team. But look at the way Shotti and

Hook are playing. They can't even track

them properly. That's the main reason

they've been amazing. I think adding MK

to the squad allowed the SMGs to play a

lot faster. Gave them more space on the

map. And MK is a good slayer, which they

didn't have this season with Kenny and

Skies, so it changed the entire game for

them. They lost to FaZe next.

Yeah, just want to break up some of

this.

>> Bro, I don't know how he went down this

one.

>> Then went on to get a 3-1 against Rocker

and Hercules got his first postgame

interview in an optic jersey.

>> Going to go play in another Sunday here

at your second event, man. How does that

feel?

>> Feels good. First Sunday in Green.

Excited.

[Applause]

>> I thought the Miami crowd was insane cuz

that was my first event, but this one

blows it out of the water.

Yo, he said that. Uh,

>> now Optic were amazing was insane.

>> General consensus among Optic fans was

similar. New roster only losing to Faze

and Thieves in a close series is not a

bad weekend at all. Better showing not

quite there. Tough first match at

Champs, but World of Possibility if they

somehow win that first one. Give Merc

the lifetime.

>> You guys talk so smart and energy

management. We get it, bro. I need to

get a smarter system. [ __ ] me, man.

>> What is up everybody? We are here at

Medieval Times and we are so excited to

take no one gives a [ __ ]

>> So, now we get to the 2025 CDL champs

ever CDL event. There was a one-mon

break from major to champs. So, Optic

had plenty of time to practice and

sharpen their skills. Throughout the

season, Optic was criticized for only

performing well in scrims. So, when

Shotsy said this, I thought they were

cursed. Wait, this is super random, but

like what's like the lowest scoring HP

that you guys ever

>> 250?

>> Yeah. Yeah. No, not in match scrim

>> in scrims. Like the other day.

>> Yeah, we literally beat someone 250 to

16 the other day.

>> That team turned out to be LA Thieves

and Optic Texas was more ready than ever

to compete at COD Champs. They were not

favorites to win this event at all.

come out and play, but there was

definitely a lot of pressure on Hercules

to perform and help the team. And their

path through winners bracket was a

statement. They didn't just win. They

destroyed the other teams. They open

with a shocking 300 versus Atlanta

phase.

>> Dirty one.

>> Yep.

Hercules.

>> He had been one of the best teams in the

game the whole year, but crumbled at

champs against Optic. Some people

thought Optic would be lucky to win a

single map. In his first ever series,

Hercules dropped an unbelievable 1.45 KD

against the best trio in the league,

announcing his arrival on the biggest

stage. And he didn't stop there. They

swept Toronto Ultra 3 to0, sending them

to the losers bracket as well.

And the full sweeps didn't stop.

>> Yo, we should have known we won chance

when he said World. One of the best

clips of the season.

>> I never heard that [ __ ] in my life.

>> Yo, I think you thought he was playing

ring chat. If if he's in the ring bag,

it's GG.

If you ever see me in his rink bat, it's

GG.

>> Trophy by any means possible.

>> So thorough. It was one of the most

>> What is this

KD?

Oh, this is our This is our Wait, so we

had a 86 KD

as a team or Oh. Oh. Oh, no. This is

him, right?

>> Impressive in CDL history. series

against Boston. He had a 1.79 and was on

the way to history. In the grand finals,

they faced Vancouver Surge, a team that

had made their own miracle run through

the lower bracket. The series was a

hard-fought back and forth. Optic

started strong, taking the first

hardpoint 250 to 151, but Vancouver

fining

Optic a perfect 6 to0 loss in search and

destroy. This map was trading maps.

Optic won the tense control, then a

close hard point to go up three to one.

It's over. Go

>> and Neptune's going to get that entry.

Keep him out of time. It is a

desperation effort. Trades up top. You

get the catwalk control. Optic.

Somebody's got to get in time. This is

where things get crazy. Shotty doesn't

finish it. Nasty down. Hard point goes

green. Optic are holding it together.

Shotty. Dashy. The kills are theirs. No

one home. Nobody home. Optic breaks the

>> Vancouver clawed back in the series with

a round 11 SND win and another tight

control. Oh wow man I cannot believe we

fed two maps left to annoy

too

unbelievable

>> pushing themselves to champ's point the

final map was the rewind hardpoint and

I'mma just roll the clip I'm holding

blue I have blue up

>> come on guys [ __ ] god

Mason's like, "Yo,

>> what what they say?"

>> Dad, come on.

>> Come on, guys. Let's [ __ ] go.

>> Oh, I thought I could have sworn he said

something else.

>> Oh my god.

>> Back to

>> Yo, did I did I interrupt this guy

again?

[Applause]

Yo, did Mace get a uh did Mace get a

pick with his trophion?

[Applause]

[Music]

>> You joined this team just a few months

ago. Did you imagine this kind of

ending?

>> Bro, look look look at this guy. He's

Drake, bro. This guy's doing interviews

on stage and [ __ ] I mean, obviously not

winning, but I knew it would be really

good just cuz I know how good all these

guys are and the work they put in. So,

I'm just glad I could fit the be the

missing piece of the puzzle, I guess.

>> Against all odds, the team that was 0

and 18 in maps at one point in the

season, almost miscod champs and pinned

on a rookie had done

backto back championships. Shotsi became

the youngest ever three-time COD World

Champion. Dashian both earned their

second rings. But the story of the

tournament undisputed MVP rookie who had

won a world title in his third

professional event. Hercules had a 1.17

across the entire event. His rise is a

one ina- million journey. He became the

quickest player in Call of Duty history

to win a world championship. An optics

coach even had some words about how

Hercules has changed the team's dynamic

in just a span of a few weeks.

>> Mason the absolute miracle worker. Dude,

this guy, this guy turned our season

around, man. I can't say enough of good

things about Mason, but this dude came

in. He's been an absolute

>> JP or a sponge to all information. Soaks

it up. You don't really have to tell him

twice. This dude, I obviously he's

confident stuff, but dude, this guy has

ice. Like, this guy just doesn't get

nervous.

>> It's safe to say that MC is the real

deal and his career is only beginning.

As the Black Ops 6 season wraps up and

the team prepares for the esports World

Cup, Hercules is no longer just the

rookie savior and a new legend of the

green wall. Thank you guys for watching

this video. Hercules story is just

insane. I'm excited to see what he does

with the team at the Esports World Cup

making the shots on. I'm excited

>> to see what he does with the team at the

Esports World Cup and in Black Ops 7. If

you guys enjoyed this video, check out

my recent video where I talked about the

funniest pro player in Call of Duty

history.

It's funny, man. That is [ __ ] Dub,

bro. Yo, shout out Mace, bro.