The oppressive silen the arena was broken only by the faint crag of Hades' blue fmes, still dang along the edge of his seat. Sephiroth remained oform, standing tall despite his wavering strength, Masamuill stabbed into the stone floor for support. Helios stood iands, his mind rag. The match would be the fourth, and if Sephiroth’s earlier words were true, it might very well be his st if Helios didn’t act quickly.

  Hades stood, preparing to annouhe match, his grin as smug as ever. “Alright, dies, gentlemen, and dearly departed! It’s time for—”

  “Lord Hades!” Helios interrupted, raising his voice just enough to catch the god’s attention.

  Hades froze mid-sentence, his fming hair flickering as he turned his head toward Helios with an arched brow. “Well, now, that’s a switch. Most folks don’t bother with the ‘Lord’ part uhey’re begging me for mercy. What do you want, twerp?”

  Helios bowed low, his tone deliberately polite and reverent. “Five me for speaking out of turn, but might I request a small favor, your eminence?”

  Hades squi Helios, his expression shifting from curiosity to amusement. “’Your eminence’ huh? You’re really ying in on thick. You’ve got my attention, kid. Lay it on me.”

  Helios straightened, meeting the god’s eyes with a steady gaze. This was a gamble but knowing Hades as well as he did he felt somewhat fortable that he would succeed. “I humbly request that the match be a two-on-two battle. Allow me the honor of fighting alongside my panion Sephiroth.”

  The arena fell deathly silent. Even the despo crowd of souls seemed to sehe danger of making such a bold request of Hades. Sephiroth gnced up at Helios, his sharp gaze narrowing slightly, though he said nothing.

  Hades, oher hand, burst into ughter, the sound eg like a crack of thunder. “You? You want to tag in with tall, dark, and broody? Oh, this is rich!” He wiped an imaginary tear from his eye as his ughter subsided, then leaned forward, resting his on one hand. “You know what, kid? I like your style. Gutsy, polite, and just the right amount of groveling. Yonna make it big somewhere. But here’s the thing—what’s in it for me?”

  Helios kept his posure, masking his rising nerves. “Your audience, Lord Hades. A two-on-two match would be far more eaining than a one-sided sughter, wouldn’t you agree? Besides…” Helios allowed a sly smile to cross his lips. “It’ll give you a ce to show off the caliber of your champions. Surely, someone of your stature deserves an audiehat leaves the arena in awe.”

  Hades leaned back, rubbing his as he preteo mull it over. “Hmm, you’re n. I am a sucker food show.” He grinned suddenly, his sharp teeth glinting in the faint light. “Alright, kid. You’ve sold me.”

  Before Helios could react, Hades snapped his fingers. Bck smoke erupted around Helios, engulfing him pletely. For a brief moment, he felt weightless, the oppressive chill of the Underworld c through him. Then, just as suddenly, the smoke vanished, and Helios found himself standing on the arena floht o Sephiroth.

  “Try to keep up. Don’t slow me down,” Sephiroth muttered without looking at him, his tone low but ced with an unspoken warning.

  “I could say the same to you,” Helios shot back with a faint smirk, trying to mask the unease in his voice.

  Hades cpped his hands together, his booming voice drawing the attention of the entire arena. “Alright, folks! You heard it here first—tonight’s match is a doubleheader! Since I’m such a fair and generous god, I’ll let tall, dark, and gloomy fight alongside the twerp!”

  The crowd of lost souls stirred faintly, their empty gazes turning toward the arena with a flicker of morbid curiosity.

  Hades stood, his fmes fring brighter as he gestured dramatically toward the abyss. “Now, let’s get this show on the road! You two versus…” He jured a ball of blue fire in his palm and hurled it into the dark void below the ptform. The fmes disappeared into the abyss, their light swallowed by the inky bess.

  For a moment, there was nothing. Then, two more balls of fire shot upward from the darkness, nding oform with a resounding crack. The fmes swirled and dissipated, revealing two figures standing where they had nded.

  Hades spread his arms wide, his grin positively wicked. “Introdug my challengers: Vihe Sinner and Barret the Avanche!”

  The first man stepped forward, his crimson eyes glowing faintly beh his long bck hair. His red cloak billowed slightly, even iill air, the buckles on his chest and shoulders gleaming in the dim light. He stood with a calm, almost predatory fidence, one haing lightly on the holster at his thigh.

  The sean was a stark trast, radiating raw power and unshakable determination. His bck vest revealed broad, muscur shoulders, and his meical arm gleamed ominously as it transformed into a massive gun with a faint meical whirr. His boots thudded heavily against the stone floor as he stepped into position beside Vi.

  Helios’ eyes narrowed as he assessed their oppos. “Hades really isn’t pulling any punches, is he? This might be tougher than I initially thought.”

  “Good,” Sephiroth said ftly, lifting Masamune aing it on his shoulder. “The harder the fight, the more satisfying the victory.”

  Barret’s booming voiterrupted the brief exge. “You two don’t look like mue. Let’s see if you keep up when the bullets start flyin’!”

  Vi said nothing, his crimson eyes fixed on Sephiroth with an iy that suggested he was already analyzing his every move.

  Hades threw his hands into the air, fmes erupting around him in a dramatic dispy. “Let the fourth and final match begin!”