Kingdom Hearts: Consumed by Darkness

The oppressive atmosphere of the Underworld pressed heavily on Helios and Sephiroth as they sat near the edge of the Underdrome, the inky black abyss surrounding the arena casting long, ominous shadows. Helios attempted to open a dark corridor to whisk them back to the stands so Sephiroth could at least take a seat, but nothing happened. He looked up at Hades, who lounged smugly in his seat, a sharp-toothed grin menacing as he waved.

The message was clear: the dark corridors would only work under Hades' control. Helios grimaced but quickly turned his attention to Sephiroth, who sat on the stone floor, his breathing even but visibly strained.

"You alright, champ?" Helios said, kneeling beside him and casting a Cure spell. The green and yellow energy swirled around Sephiroth, closing some of the small gashes on his body, but the healing was noticeably slower than usual. The curse of the Underworld sapped the spell's potency, making it a battle against diminishing returns.

Sephiroth didn't flinch, his stoic demeanor unshaken despite the evident toll the arena's curse was taking on him. "Don't call me that," he said flatly, his voice low but steady. After a pause, he added, "I'm fine. But this curse… it's like an infection. The more I fight, the deeper it spreads. I doubt I'll be able to beat whatever's next after this one."

Helios frowned, continuing to cast weak healing spells, hoping to stabilize Sephiroth's condition as much as possible. "I expected the curse to be rough," he admitted, his tone more serious. "But I thought you could hold out for the five matches."

Sephiroth glanced at him, his piercing gaze unwavering. "It's not about holding out. The longer I push myself, the worse it gets. Even if I win the fourth match, the fifth will be impossible at this rate."

Helios leaned back on his heels, rubbing his temples as he calculated their next move. "Hades mentioned he could only get five contenders ready since the Underdrome just reopened. That means you just have to win three more times. If you can manage that…" His voice trailed off as he sighed heavily, frustration evident. "Take as long as you can in the next match. Stall if you have to. I'll figure out the other two, but I need time."

Sephiroth gave him a long, measuring look. "You better come up with something good. I didn't come here to lose in such a way. I'm fine with losing due to my skills but not that of a useless curse."

Before Helios could respond, the black smoke that heralded Hades' interference enveloped them both. When it cleared, Sephiroth was back in middle of the arena, and Helios found himself standing beside the smug god once again.

"Well, well," Hades said, leaning forward with a devilish grin. "Your boy's still got some fight left in him, huh? Good. Because the next one's a doozy."

The ground trembled as Hades snapped his fingers. The Rock Titan appeared, a towering monstrosity of jagged stone and fragmented limbs. It wasn't as large as the original, but it was still an intimidating sight. The crowd of despondent souls groaned, their hollow voices a chilling backdrop to the arena.

"Let's see how tall, dark, and brooding handles this!" Hades declared with glee, gesturing grandly toward the arena.

"Ladies, gentlemen, and shades of all kinds," Hades boomed, his voice echoing throughout the dismal arena, "our next contender is something a little… rocky. Freshly cobbled together by yours truly, I give you: the Replica Rock Titan!"

Sephiroth, however, was already in motion. With a speed that seemed unnatural for someone supposedly weakened by the Underworld's curse, he launched himself at the Titan, Masamune flashing as it carved through the air. The blade connected with the Titan's leg, a burst of sparks flying from the impact. The cut was shallow, barely scratching the surface.

"Big guy's got some tough skin, huh? I thought you might have a hard time getting through that one." Hades quipped, grinning as he popped a piece of popcorn into his mouth.

The Titan roared, the sound rumbling like an earthquake. It swung one massive arm down, the force of the blow causing the arena to tremble. Sephiroth vanished in a blur of motion, reappearing on the Titan's shoulder. He slashed downward, aiming for the joints that connected its arm to its body, but the joints were even tougher, deflecting his blade.

The Titan retaliated, twisting its massive torso to shake Sephiroth off. Sephiroth leapt away, landing gracefully on the ground below, but the Titan was relentless. It slammed both fists into the platform, sending shockwaves rippling across the arena.

Sephiroth staggered slightly, the curse of the Underworld taking its toll. His movements, though still precise, lacked the fluidity he was known for. The Titan capitalized on his brief hesitation, swiping one colossal arm down. Sephiroth barely evaded, the edge of the attack grazing his shoulder.

Every second Sephiroth fought was another second the curse gnawed away at his strength. The swordsman's usual composure seemed strained, his breaths coming heavier.

Then it happened. The Titan, learning from Sephiroth's evasive tactics, swung its arm in a wide arc and caught Sephiroth mid-motion. Its massive hand managed to reach the swordsman slamming him into the ground with bone-shattering force.

The crowd of dreary souls let out a collective groan, and Helios winced. The impact was enough to leave a visible crater on the platform. Sephiroth lay still for a moment as the Titan roared in triumph, raising its fists as if to crush him completely.

Sephiroth stood up and leapt backward, seemingly using all his remaining strength he began slicing through the Titan's arm in a flurry of slashes. The molten streams that seemed to make up the creature's blood flowed out burning Sephiroth as he cut. However, the Titan was now vulnerable so of course Sephiroth didn't stop. His dark aura flared as he summoned orbs of "Shadow Flare," launching them at the he cut. The dark flames struck true, leaving blackened scorch cracks on the rocky surface.

The Titan reeled, stumbling backward. But Sephiroth wasn't done. He raised a hand, summoning a wall of flames—his "Firaga Wall." The pillars of fire encased the Titan, their intense heat causing more and more cracks to form in its rocky body.

In a final, devastating move, Sephiroth teleported above the Titan and unleashed a massive meteor that struck the Titan's two heads. The Titan's form crumbled under the powerful assault, its body breaking apart into smaller pieces. With one last roar, it collapsed into a heap of rubble.

Sephiroth landed lightly on the platform, his chest rising and falling as he steadied his breathing. He staggered so he used his blade to stand by stabbing it into the ground. The arena was silent for a moment before Hades clapped slowly, his grin never faltering.

"Well, well, well," Hades drawled. "Color me impressed. Didn't think you'd make it this far, tall, dark, and moody. But don't go celebrating just yet. You've still got two more matches to go."