A pilr of fmes burst skyward from the gates of the Underworld—scorching violet and hellfire orange. From it emerged a figure cloaked in blue-bck robes, hair bzing like a torch. Hades, Lord of the Dead, floated above the chasmic threshold, eyes alight with fury.

  “Oh great,” he drawled, voice molten with sarcasm. “You know, I was this close to a nap, but barbecuing you will be a nice pastime.”

  Helios dropped to one knee at the base of the stone steps, blood trailing from his lips, one eye swelling shut. His transformed keybde, Slánú na nDoimhneacht, twitched in his bruised fingers, barely held. Still, he smirked.

  “Trump card… I mean Lord Hades,” he wheezed.

  Kurai nded behind him in a crouch, cloak torn, breathing ragged. Her eyes narrowed at the sight of Hades, but she made no move. Sephiroth descended slowly like a ghost, unfazed, the Masamune gleaming faintly in his hand.

  Hades' fmes fred.

  “Really, are you dumb? You served yourself up to me at my front door? Bold move. I should roast you into a s’more.”

  He raised a hand—and the ground split open beneath them. Shadows cwed upward. The three were engulfed in bck, swallowed by the Underworld.

  They reappeared moments ter in a wide, torch-lit cavern of obsidian. Jagged rocks framed the circur chamber like teeth. The River Styx snaked around the perimeter, its whispers cwing at the mind.

  Helios stumbled, catching himself on one knee. He didn’t miss the draining effect of the Underworld.

  Sephiroth flicked blood off his bde. “I dislike this pce.”

  Kurai’s eyes narrowed. She shadow-stepped—only to feel a sharp resistance. Her body froze mid-fsh.

  She scowled. “What the—?”

  “Yeah,” Hades snapped his fingers. “Welcome to my realm, sweetheart. Rules work differently here. No teleporting nonsense. You enter, you stay. Deal with it.”

  Helios pushed himself to his feet and wiped the blood from his jaw. “I’d like… to apologize.”

  Hades blinked. “Sorry, what?”

  “For tricking you. For wasting your time. For being… difficult.”

  Kurai and Sephiroth exchanged gnces knowing Helios well enough to know he had to be lying.

  Helios took a step forward. “But… I’m here to make it up to you. I’ve found something. A network of beings—like you. Ambitious. Capable. Vilinous, depending on your PR spin. And they’re building something. A witch named Maleficent has gathered a group that aims to rule. I thought—maybe—you’d like an introduction.”

  Hades stroked his chin. “Maleficent, huh? Big horns, big ego, big drama?”

  Helios nodded.

  Hades chuckled darkly. “She does know how to hold a grudge. I’ve got a few souls from those who crossed her here. Interesting.”

  “You hate Olympus,” Helios said. “They hate their worlds too. She wants to rule her world. You want yours. It’s a natural alignment.”

  “And what do you get out of this, Helios?” Hades said, eyes fring brighter. “Besides not being barbecued?”

  “A favor,” Helios said ftly. “But we’ll discuss that after you hear me out.”

  He turned to Helios and gestured with a flick of his wrist. “You’ve got my attention. But I’m still mad. You revealed my little secret to Zues st time, remember?”

  “Had to distract you,” Helios muttered.

  “You owe me.”

  “I know.”

  A long pause followed. Then:

  “I’ll call it even,” Hades said. “If you three help me with a small problem. There’s a demi-goddess—Nemesis. She stole something from me. Track her down. Bring her back. No questions asked.”

  Helios’s eyes narrowed, but he nodded. “Done. Just get Lord Hephaestus to help me make something again.”

  Hades turned to Kurai. “Looks like you’ve made use of that heart you stole.”

  Kurai stiffened.

  Helios didn’t answer, but he smiled.

  Hades barked a ugh. “You’ve got guts, kid. I’ll give you that.”

  He snapped his fingers, and a swarm of ghostly fmes coiled around the chamber.

  “Fine. Go. You’ve got my blessing. Find the girl, bring her back, and I’ll let you meet Hephaestus again. Who knows… maybe we’ll all be friends afterwards.”

  Kurai desummoned her Keybde. Sephiroth said nothing—but turned toward the far gate without compint.

  Helios exhaled slowly, his body shaking.

  The gate creaked open with the groan of ancient metal, revealing a spiraling staircase cut from pale stone and veined obsidian. A thick mist rolled in from below—too heavy, too cold, as if it fed on breath. Helios led the way, silent but composed, one hand still clutching his side where the blood hadn't quite dried. Behind him walked Kurai, quiet and alert. Sephiroth followed, slower, unbothered, but coiled like a serpent sensing prey.

  The Underworld shifted with every step—walls breathing, rivers whispering, the weight of death pressing against their skin. This pce didn’t just hold the dead—it judged the living.

  Kurai finally spoke. “So. Nemesis.”

  “Goddess of retribution and vengeance,” Helios replied without turning. “Likes punishment, fairness, and long walks in the dark.”

  “Sounds like a delight,” she said dryly.

  “She’s not my problem,” Sephiroth said, voice low. “Why force us into this deal?”

  “It’s good to see you, too. I just needed to stop you two from fighting, and words were not working. Besides, now I’m curious. Why were you two fighting again?” asked Helios

  Kurai folded her arms. “This insignificant speck said he was stronger than me, so I aimed to prove him wrong when you interfered.”

  Helios stopped and looked back at the two as if they were fools, “So… let me get this straight, you two were just fighting to see who was stronger?”