A violent gust of wind exploded through the arena. Alpha was hurled backward, boots scraping across broken stone. A massive staff rippled past him expanding mid-flight before crashing into the ground with a deafening BOOM, shockwaves tearing through the battlefield. The weapon shrank instantly. Beta caught it without looking. She pivoted. And hurled it again. The staff screamed through the air, enlarging as it tore toward the target. He twisted aside at the last possible second, the weapon missing his skull by inches before rocketing back into Beta's palm. Alpha moved. A blur. He dashed forward, leaping over the man and delivering a spinning kick straight into his back. The impact launched the target forward directly into Beta. Her staff expanded like a wall.
CRACK.
The strike smashed into his face, pinning him against the weapon. Alpha landed beside her, and without hesitation Both fists drove forward.
Once.
Twice.
The target's body blasted through a nearby wall, vanishing into debris. Silence. Then A voice echoed from within the rubble. Mocking. Familiar. "Y'all thought this would be easy, huh?" Blood tendrils erupted outward, shredding concrete like paper. "What can I say…" the voice continued, amused. "I taught you well, kid." Beta's eyes widened. Alpha froze. The man stepped forward. Bald head reflecting the harsh arena light. His cracked mask slid from his face, shattering against the ground. Alpha's breath hitched.
"…Cain."
His teacher stood before them.
Blood tendrils writhed behind him like a living storm. The attack came instantly. Tendrils surged in every direction. Alpha was overwhelmed by the sheer number of strikes, forced onto the defensive. Beta, despite the injury already blooming across her shoulder, weaved through the chaos
Dodging.
Sliding.
Spinning.
But the strain was visible. Dark crimson light burned within her eyes.
Blood streamed down her cheeks. Alpha stared. She was pushing too far. Hades' voice thundered through his mind. "Damn it, kiddo." A pause. Then sharp. Commanding. "Lock in." Alpha's pupils ignited.
Blue.
Cold.
Lethal.
He dashed. Cain smirked. "You already tried this once" Cain caught Alpha's fist mid-air. And hurled him across the arena. Alpha crashed hard, tendrils instantly diving toward him. Flames erupted from his hands, incinerating the incoming blood spears before they could pierce his body. He twisted his fingers. Residual mist condensed. Solidified. Blood threads snapped into existence forming web-like constructs that slammed into Cain's tendrils, smashing them violently into nearby walls. Cain's expression darkened. He vanished. Reappearing inches from Alpha. Fists already swinging. "This isn't what I taught you, kid." Before the strike landed Beta's staff blitzed between them.
BOOM.
The collision split the battlefield apart. She dashed forward, catching the staff mid-spin and driving Cain backward with a brutal swing that sent shockwaves rippling through the arena floor. Cain slid. Stopped. Grinned. Beta walked toward Alpha. Slow. Controlled. Her crimson eyes deepened. Darkened. Alpha rose beside her. Across the arena, Cain pulled himself from the rubble. The battlefield fell into an unnatural calm. Stillness before annihilation. Beta sank into her shadow. Alpha dashed forward. Cain laughed. "You really don't learn, do you" Blood exploded from Cain's arms, forming spiked gauntlets. Tendrils surged But Alpha's own blood erupted from his back, launching him skyward. His hands blazed. Blue flames spiraled violently within his palms.
BOOOOM.
Twin fire blasts detonated. Cain was engulfed. Blown backward Straight into Beta. She materialized behind him. Staff already descending.
CRASH.
The impact shattered the ground beneath Cain's feet. Alpha followed. Blood tendrils condensed mid-air, forming a colossal fist reinforced with bone. The sound echoed Crack. Snap. Fracture. The bone-armored strike smashed Cain into the arena floor like a meteor. Alpha landed atop him.
Breathing hard.
Watching.
Waiting.
Then A cruel chuckle. "…Thought I was dead?" Cain's body liquefied. Collapsed into a pool of blood. Alpha's eyes widened. The puddle surged upward. Cain reformed. Smiling. "We have to pin him down," Alpha muttered, retreating beside Beta. "Destroy the body completely." Beta wiped blood from beneath her eyes. "…How hot can your flames burn, Alpha?" Cain's tendrils lunged. Bone erupted instantly from Alpha's blood constructs, forming a rotating shield around them. Beta leapt. High. Her staff expanded Then duplicated. Dozens of colossal weapons rained from the sky like falling stars. Cain's shadow suddenly stretched. Expanded. Then It wrapped around him.
Binding.
Restraining.
Beta's crimson eyes flared brighter. Cain's movements faltered. His own blood hesitated. "…Interesting," Hades murmured. Across the arena Alpha stood still. Flames compressed between his palms.
Blue.
Red.
Blue again.
Then
Green.
Unstable.
Violent.
A bloody bone tendril spiraled around his left arm, locking into place like a brace. Cain struggled. But Beta's gaze held him captive. Probability bent. Control shattered. Cain looked up Just as Alpha appeared before him. A condensed fireball burned between his hands. Purple. Crackling with destructive force. Contact.
And
BOOOOOOOOM.
Light devoured the arena. Flames swallowed everything. Then faded. Two blood cocoons collapsed to the ground. Silence followed. Cain was gone. Nothing remained but ash. The robotic voice chimed overhead. "Well… that was quite the show." A pause. "Well, done, cadets." From the shadows, another voice whispered Low. Amused.
"…Perhaps Hades chose well this time."