Chapter 119

The oppressive silence in the arena was broken only by the faint crackling of Hades' blue flames, still dancing along the edge of his seat. Sephiroth remained on the platform, standing tall despite his wavering strength, Masamune still stabbed into the stone floor for support. Helios stood in the stands, his mind racing. The next match would be the fourth, and if Sephiroth's earlier words were true, it might very well be his last if Helios didn't act quickly.

Hades stood, preparing to announce the next match, his grin as smug as ever. "Alright, ladies, 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 flaming 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 unless they're begging me for mercy. What do you want, twerp?"

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

Hades squinted at Helios, his expression shifting from curiosity to amusement. "'Your eminence' huh? You're really laying 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 comfortable that he would succeed. "I humbly request that the next match be a two-on-two battle. Allow me the honor of fighting alongside my companion Sephiroth."

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

Hades, on the other hand, burst into laughter, the sound echoing 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 laughter subsided, then leaned forward, resting his chin on one hand. "You know what, kid? I like your style. Gutsy, polite, and just the right amount of groveling. You're gonna make it big somewhere. But here's the thing—what's in it for me?"

Helios kept his composure, masking his rising nerves. "Your audience, Lord Hades. A two-on-two match would be far more entertaining than a one-sided slaughter, wouldn't you agree? Besides…" Helios allowed a sly smile to cross his lips. "It'll give you a chance to show off the caliber of your champions. Surely, someone of your stature deserves an audience that leaves the arena in awe."

Hades leaned back, rubbing his chin as he pretended to mull it over. "Hmm, you're not wrong. I am a sucker for a good 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. Black smoke erupted around Helios, engulfing him completely. For a brief moment, he felt weightless, the oppressive chill of the Underworld coursing through him. Then, just as suddenly, the smoke vanished, and Helios found himself standing on the arena floor, right next to Sephiroth.

"Try to keep up. Don't slow me down," Sephiroth muttered without looking at him, his tone low but laced 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 clapped 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 flames flaring brighter as he gestured dramatically toward the abyss. "Now, let's get this show on the road! You two versus…" He conjured a ball of blue fire in his palm and hurled it into the dark void below the platform. The flames disappeared into the abyss, their light swallowed by the inky blackness.

For a moment, there was nothing. Then, two more balls of fire shot upward from the darkness, landing on the platform with a resounding crack. The flames swirled and dissipated, revealing two figures standing where they had landed.

Hades spread his arms wide, his grin positively wicked. "Introducing my next challengers: Vincent the Sinner and Barret the Avalanche!"

The first man stepped forward, his crimson eyes glowing faintly beneath his long black hair. His red cloak billowed slightly, even in the still air, the buckles on his chest and shoulders gleaming in the dim light. He stood with a calm, almost predatory confidence, one hand resting lightly on the holster at his thigh.

The second man was a stark contrast, radiating raw power and unshakable determination. His black vest revealed broad, muscular shoulders, and his mechanical arm gleamed ominously as it transformed into a massive gun with a faint mechanical whirr. His boots thudded heavily against the stone floor as he stepped into position beside Vincent.

Helios' eyes narrowed as he assessed their opponents. "Hades really isn't pulling any punches, is he? This might be tougher than I initially thought."

"Good," Sephiroth said flatly, lifting Masamune and resting it on his shoulder. "The harder the fight, the more satisfying the victory."

Barret's booming voice interrupted the brief exchange. "You two don't look like much to me. Let's see if you can keep up when the bullets start flyin'!"

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

Hades threw his hands into the air, flames erupting around him in a dramatic display. "Let the fourth and final match begin!"