As Darfredon descended the final steps, flanked by the two guards, and entered the fighters' antechamber, one of them barked at him in a sharp tone:
- Hand over your weapon. Otherwise, this fight will be your last.
Darfredon curled his lips into a mocking smile.
- If you want it… come and take it. But believe me, neither of you is a match for me.
At once, both guards drew their swords.
But before they could act, a clear voice rang out from the entrance corridor.
- ENOUGH!
All eyes turned toward the source of the interruption.
Persephone—a young woman with long, wavy black hair, dressed in a dark turquoise toga—was slowly descending the steps with an icy poise.
Her gaze, disturbingly intense, froze the two soldiers in place. It was as sharp as a blade.
- What are you doing? Lower your weapons and let our champion pass.
- Forgive us, my lady! the guards replied in unison, fists clenched, rage barely contained.
They knew they could do nothing against this woman. Reluctantly, they sheathed their swords.
Persephone regained her composure, then turned toward Darfredon.
- Follow me, Darfredon. My husband wishes to meet you.
Surprised to see a woman of such noble bearing come to receive him after the fight, Darfredon obeyed without protest.
But before leaving, he cast a look filled with contempt toward the two guards—he would gladly have crossed blades with them, if only for the pleasure of teaching them a lesson.
- I didn't know Death had a wife.
At those words, the young woman let out a light laugh, then replied with a sidelong smile.
- Yes, he did have one once. But after the birth of their daughter, he killed her… for no reason at all.
Fortunately, my dear husband isn't like that.
Darfredon remained silent, unsettled. He had misjudged her identity. Intrigued, he wondered who this mysterious young woman could truly be.
They continued on and descended a staircase leading deep into the underground. The brick walls were bare, dark, and saturated with a heavy presence. Reaching a wall, the young woman stopped. She gently placed her hand on a specific brick.
A click echoed.
The wall slowly sank into the ground, revealing a hidden passage. Another staircase appeared—narrower, more sinister. They began their descent.
As they went deeper, Darfredon could feel the lost souls of Purgatory pulsing against the walls. They vibrated, breathed, whispered. The cold was more spiritual than physical.
Suddenly, a sharp sound rang out behind them. The secret door had closed, sealing them within the entrails of the intermediary realm.
When they reached the bottom, Darfredon stopped short, stunned.
A deep rumble echoed. Then came barking. Three heads rose in the shadows. A massive beast stared at him, growling.
Cerberus.
He had not heard it bark for centuries.
The young woman approached the creature with unsettling ease. She gently placed a hand on one of its three heads.
- Calm yourself, Cerberus. He is our guest… for now.
At once, the beast stopped barking and growling.
When Darfredon stepped closer in turn, he felt the serpent-tail of the hound hiss near his ear. He took no offense, but remained on his guard, then followed the young woman.
She opened a large door directly ahead.
Together, they entered a dimly lit chamber—vast and imposing.
Two thrones faced one another in silence…
One of them stood empty.
The other was claimed without ceremony by the young woman, who seated herself with the confidence of one who rules.
Darfredon had never seen this place before.
As he advanced, the attack came without warning. He took a blow to the face… then another to the back. Scanning the room, he saw no one else but the young woman, watching him with a faint, knowing smile.
A discreet chuckle slipped from her lips.
A few seconds later, another flurry of strikes rained down on him—
invisible, swift, precise.
Still standing despite the impacts, Darfredon managed to block one of the assaults. At the moment of contact, a male voice rose within the chamber.
- I see you're still as resilient as ever… But without your powers, you've lost most of your reflexes.
- Who are you?! Darfredon snapped, striking toward the voice while trying to discern his attacker.
The invisible being parried the blow with ease, then replied in a mocking tone.
- My name is Hades.
As he spoke, the man stepped back slightly. He removed his black-bronze helmet, revealing his face: a dark beard, piercing eyes, a presence both calm and threatening.
With his arms extended toward the young woman, he slowly climbed the three steps of the throne to join her.
Furious at the ambush and their obvious complicity, Darfredon fixed his gaze on them in turn, then said sharply:
- Ah, Hades… Hades… It's coming back to me now.
You're one of Cronos's sons… and you're involved with Persephone, one of the daughters of your own brother, Zeus.
He paused, a disgusted sneer curling at the corner of his lips.
- I've always had trouble understanding why people worship gods who live out incestuous love stories.
- Just thinking about it… two members of the same family, in love… it disgusts me.
But what repulses me even more… is the fact that you embrace it as if it were something noble.
Hades reacted calmly, pulling Persephone closer as she sat on his lap.
- If you don't like our love, that's your choice.
- And it's none of your concern if people love us more than they love you angels.
Oh, pardon me… that's right: you're no longer an angel, but a fallen one,
Persephone added, her gaze locked onto his mismatched eyes—gray and red—with a sly, almost provocative smile.
Faced with her stare and the young goddess's open arrogance, Darfredon replied in an icy tone.
- Very amusing, Persephone… You're hardly any better than your uncle.
You set a trap for me like a lowly traitor, then sent a coward to challenge me—
me, one of the greatest warriors the Paradise has ever known.
I promise you this: one day, I will make you both pay. With your lives.
Sensing the dark energy emanating from Darfredon, Cerberus slowly approached the chamber, growling fiercely to defend his masters.
Hades reacted at once. He raised his voice, commanding.
- Cerberus, sit. Calm yourself.
The hound obeyed without hesitation. It sat down, silent, and immediately ceased its growling.
Then Hades continued in a calmer—but sharper—tone.
- You should watch your words, Darfredon.
You want to kill me? Very well… come. I'll be waiting.
I acknowledge your power. You are an exceptional warrior.
But your arrogance… and your anger… will lead you to ruin.
He cast a glance at Persephone, then added.
- If you are here, it is because she led you to me. She gave you a chance.
If I were you, I would be grateful to her.
And consider yourself fortunate… because if it were up to me, I would have already ordered Cerberus to tear you apart.
But our master has other plans for you. He wants you ready for the day your destiny is fulfilled.
His gaze darkened further.
- Now, enough talk. Persephone will escort you back to your chamber.
Darfredon, shaken by certain revelations, remained silent.
Persephone rose from the throne.
As she passed close to Darfredon, she lightly brushed her fingertips across his chest and whispered softly:
- I can see that your anger has faded… You seem to have changed your mind about us.
But Darfredon, unmoved by such flattery, brusquely pushed her hand away. He stared straight into her eyes and replied in a cold voice.
- Don't speak too soon, Persephone. Consider yourself fortunate that I am still weakened by my last fight. Next time, I will be far less accommodating with the two of you.
Frustrated by his gesture and his words, Persephone turned her back on him without a word, merely motioning for him to follow. In tense silence, she escorted him back to his chamber.
Shortly after his departure, Hades—still seated upon his throne—saw the three Erinyes sisters enter the hall.
Each bore long hair of a different color, and all three wore black armor.
They were closely followed by Death, walking slowly behind them.
At the sight of the King of Purgatory's return, Cerberus immediately lay down on the floor and remained obediently beside his master.
Death said nothing. He stepped forward with measured confidence and seated himself calmly upon his throne, while the three sisters took their places near Cerberus.
Tisiphone spoke first, slightly lifting her dark hair.
- You missed quite a show, Hades. You should have seen it… When the two Vetutius brothers fought, it was almost comical.
" No, Sextus, I refuse to fight you!
I am not Sextus. My name is Darfredon. Come on, you filthy wretch, fight better than that! "
- Ah, it still makes me laugh…
- Oh yes, you imitate him perfectly! What I liked best was when Sextus begged his brother to kill him… yet every time, he blocked the blow, as if he simply couldn't bring himself to do it.
Megaera added with a giggle, followed by the complicit laughter of her two sisters.
Faced with this mocking uproar, Hades suddenly grew serious. He shifted his posture and lightly gripped the armrests of his throne.
- I'm glad you enjoyed the spectacle, but as for me… I had something even better.
I faced the victor in person. And he was not exactly one of the Vetutius brothers.
He was a fallen angel, named Darfredon, who had taken possession of Sextus's mind.
Alecto frowned.
- And how can you be so sure? An ordinary angel would have left the place…
A fallen angel, on the other hand, would have destroyed everything before leaving.
Hades slowly nodded, his gaze heavy with certainty.
- Because our master, present here, had informed me that our new guest was a fallen angel.
But even if he hadn't told me… I would have figured it out.
His fighting style… his reflexes… had nothing in common with those of the Vetutius brothers.
And above all… his eyes. Those were not the eyes of a normal human.
At those words, the three Erinyes sisters slowly turned their gaze toward Death.
Then, in the same intrigued voice, they all asked:
- Why didn't you tell us… that one of the Vetutius brothers was possessed by a fallen angel?
Death replied calmly, his hands folded over his knee.
- Because I wanted you to discover it for yourselves. Like the rest of the Kingdom of Heroes.
Only Hades was informed. He had to test our guest's abilities.
That answer did not sit well with the Erinyes.
They had never enjoyed taking orders from a king who had himself fallen…
So welcoming another fallen angel into this place? Unthinkable. Unacceptable.
Except for Alecto, who remained silent.
She seemed neither shocked nor opposed.
Perhaps she found the situation amusing. Or simply… promising.
But Megera was seething. And at last, she exploded:
- WE'VE NEVER BEEN ABLE TO STAND ANGELS! AND FALLEN ANGELS ARE NO BETTER THAN THOSE PRETENTIOUS BEINGS OF LIGHT!
I'VE HAD ENOUGH! YOU'RE LUCKY TO BE KING OF PURGATORY, DEATH…
BECAUSE WITHOUT THAT TITLE, I WOULD HAVE ALREADY TORN YOU APART WITH MY OWN HANDS!
Death did not flinch. A sardonic smile brushed his lips as he replied in a cold—yet perfectly composed—tone.
- Well then, Megaera… if you wish to eliminate me, all you have to do is challenge Hades.
Take his place as Princess of the Kingdom of Heroes. Then we'll see.
He paused briefly, tilting his head ever so slightly.
- And besides… between us… Purgatory no longer exists.
Since the death of Famine, everything has changed.
Those words struck the room like a slap.
Megaera finally looked away, unable to sustain the gaze—too calm—of the King of Purgatory.
But before turning on her heel, she leaned forward slightly and hurled, in an acidic tone, addressed to both Death and Hades:
- One day, Death… you will lose your place as King of Purgatory. And I am certain that day is drawing near.
I can't wait to kneel before the future king… Hades.
With those final words, Megaera left the throne room, followed by her two sisters.
Together, they disappeared into the depths of Purgatory.
Once the three Erinyes were gone, Hades spoke with a faint smile.
- I see they never forgave you for eliminating their father…
And I must admit, Death… I wouldn't mind taking your place, if only for a time.
Death remained impassive, his arms resting on the armrests of his throne.
- Famine was a vile being. He created creatures solely to devour them.
Even the souls that entered his realm did not remain long… before being swallowed by his insatiable hunger.
Thanks to his disappearance, the Kingdom of Heroes has become stronger—and more stable.
And don't delude yourself, Hades. You may be a great warrior…
But you will never take my place as king of this realm.
Hades, momentarily unsettled by the king's coldness, quickly recovered.
He slowly descended the first steps, then replied with firmness:
- You may have killed Famine with Cronos's soul…
But don't forget one thing: it was I who defeated Cronos so that you could claim his essence.
Without waiting for a reply, Hades left the throne room.
He walked for a long while through the dark corridors of Purgatory…
until a familiar silhouette took shape before him.
It was Anubis.
Hades stopped before him, studied him for a moment, then spoke in a grave tone.
- Anubis… I have a special mission for you.
- I am listening, my prince,
Anubis replied, kneeling respectfully before him.
Seeing that his loyalty remained intact, Hades entrusted him with the details of his task without hesitation.
- This will not be an easy assignment. But I know I can rely on you.
Your mission is simple: keep watch over Death. Observe him discreetly… and uncover what he is plotting with the fallen angel who recently arrived here.
- A new fallen angel?
- Yes. He arrived not long ago. His name is Darfredon.
You surely saw him in the arena… He is the one who took possession of Sextus Vetutius's body.
- Yes, I witnessed part of their fight.
Now that you mention it, I understand better why Death was so eager to claim Barnabé's soul…
Hades slowly nodded, his gaze darkening.
- He is preparing something. And I want to know what.
So stay vigilant, Anubis… and inform me of everything you discover.
- Yes, my prince. I will keep you informed.
With those words, Anubis rose and bowed one last time.
Then, without another word, the two men parted ways—each heading in a different direction through the entrails of Purgatory.