The heroes descended spiraling stairs of black bone into the arena below. Each step trembled as if the chamber itself had a heartbeat, scarlet light pouring from cracks to form sigils of the 33 Degrees. Maya clutched her chest, Whispercall shaking violently under the weight of thousands of trapped souls.
"This place is alive," Lacolone whispered.
Valgor cracked his knuckles, Riftquake rippling outward. Below, the Saints that Elito had tamed waited—silent, dreaming, ready to be unleashed.
The arena revealed itself as a cathedral of inverted crosses, crystal and chains, coffins suspended above. Each coffin held a Saint, eyes closed, sealed until summoned. The kid with twin knives walked ahead silently.
Jessica whispered, "They're asleep… waiting for us."
Salah countered, "No. They're dreaming."
"Dreamers sharpened into weapons."
The first coffin burst open. Basim emerged, knives whirling, eyes eclipsed. Lacolone stepped forward, katana hovering, aura flaring.
"Welcome to the slaughterhouse," Basim spat.
Their auras collided; scarlet sparks rained down. Maya's Veilward shield protected Eden and Jessica. The duel began without a horn.
Basim blurred with Driftform, appearing behind Lacolone instantly. Twin knives clashed against katana arcs, sparks dancing in every direction.
"You're still holding back," Basim grinned.
"I'm saving it for your King," Lacolone replied.
Riftquake tremors ruptured the floor beneath them. Speed met mastery.
Another coffin opened—Alister, the Blood Artist, chain dripping red aura. It lashed at Maya, barely blocked by her soul shield.
"Your soul's color is perfect for my palette."
She combined Whispercall and Driftform to dodge, the chain carving murals of blood on the arena walls.
Jessica faced Maria, the Murder Mechina. She leapt from above, guns blazing Dante-style. Jessica countered with Thunderbrand-charged bullets. Sparks and casings rained like storm.
"Let's dance, one-armed angel," Maria smirked mid-spin.
Valgor squared off with Thano, fists like meteors. The arena shook with each punch, shockwaves tearing the floor.
"Bone to bone, soul to soul," the narration said.
Walid faced Caline d'Akama. Golden weapon clashed with steel, sparks exploding like suns.
"Faith vs empire."
Maya's aura flared, channeling all five Pillars to heal Jessica mid-combat. White-scarlet threads connected to every ally. Eyes flashing with parallel-dimension memories, she shouted, "You're not dying here!"
Above, a massive hologram of Elito appeared, eyes like black suns.
"Children, purge them. Humans are poison; I am the antidote."
Lacolone snarled, "You tamed them with lies!"
"No. With truth they couldn't bear," Elito replied.
Lacolone's rage boiled over. He slammed Basim across the arena.
"You took everything from me twice!"
Elito's hologram tilted. "Then it's cheaper than I thought."
Hatred became geometry, as the arena fractured around them.
Walid took a hit from Caline to protect Salah. Blood sprayed, his soul shield failing. Maya tried to heal him, pinned by enemy attacks. Eden screamed.
Jessica channeled Driftform through her pistol; bullets vanished and reappeared behind Maria. One shot detonated, cracking her armor.
Valgor's fists broke under Thano's hammer blows. He bled into the Pillar sigil, surging Thunderbrand into Riftquake to land a vortex punch. Thano staggered.
Maya drove a healing sigil into the arena floor, binding enemies briefly. Saints howled as scarlet chains wrapped them. Nose bleeding from strain, she whispered, "Now! Hit them!" Allies struck together—thunder, bullets, fists, blades.
The twin-knife kid intervened. He snapped his fingers; bindings shattered. His aura exploded, dwarfing every Saint.
"He's not a Saint… he's worse," Lacolone realized.
Maya's healing flickered out entirely. Scarlet cracks raced across the floor, opening into a pit.
"Die or ascend," Elito's hologram thundered.
Jessica teleported Eden to safety. Walid staggered, bleeding.
"Hold the line!" Lacolone yelled.
The arena bent under their fight. Scarlet vortex opened beneath Lacolone and Basim, katana against twin knives. The Kid stepped into it, beckoning. Above, Elito's hologram loomed, smile widening into something inhuman.
"Sacrifice was no longer a choice.
It was the ticket to the next gate."