The air around Helios seemed to shimmer as a small, golden mirror materialized out of thin air. Its surface gleamed with an almost otherworldly light, and its intricate frame was etched with a lightning bolt. Helios reached out and took it, feeling its cool, smooth surface in his hands.
Zeus's voice boomed from above, echoing in the ravine, commanding and authoritative. "Take this mirror, mortal. It shall serve as your proof. Find one such soul whose essence does not belong to this world, and have them gaze into it. Bring it back to me, and I shall grant you what you seek."
Helios looked up, his expression caught somewhere between irritation and resignation. "That's it? Just find a random soul, flash this thing at them, and deliver it back to you? No big deal, right?"
Zeus's presence began to fade, the booming voice receding with finality. "You dared to seek a boon from me, mortal. Do not test my patience further."
The lightning ceased, and the statue of Zeus returned to its still, lifeless state, leaving Helios standing alone at the base of the cliff with the golden mirror in hand. Helios stared at the golden mirror now resting in his hand, its surface gleaming faintly under the scattered light breaking through the cliff's edge. He ran a hand through his hair, his expression a mixture of frustration and resignation.
"Damn it," he muttered, the weight of his situation pressing down on him. "Why does everything have to turn into some damn epic quest? First, sneak into the Underworld undetected—because that's so easy. Then, find a soul from another world, convince them to look into this mirror without raising suspicion, sneak back out, deliver this thing to Zeus, hope he actually upholds his end of the bargain, and then head back to make a deal with Hades. And all this for one heart. God, it's like the universe is mocking me."
He paced back and forth at the base of the Zeus statue, his frustration simmering just beneath the surface. He knew there was no use in complaining—it wouldn't change the task ahead. Still, the sheer scope of the mission gnawed at him with every step feeling precarious.
Helios stopped and stared up at the towering statue of Zeus, his brow furrowing. "You really couldn't make this easier, could you? A little leniency from the so-called King of the Gods? No? Of course not. Figures."
The mirror pulsed lightly in his hand, its surface shimmering as though responding to his irritation. He sighed deeply, forcing himself to calm down. Losing his temper wouldn't help him now.
"Okay," he said aloud, his voice steadying as he shifted into a more analytical mindset. "First step: sneaking into the Underworld. If I remember correctly, there's an entrance near the base of the cliffs. That's manageable. Next, find a soul from another world. How do I even identify one of those? Better yet… how do I get to them without jumping into the River Styx myself? Kurai do you have any ideas? Afterall, all of this is to get you a body."
As he turned the mirror over in his hands, studying its intricate golden etchings, Kurai's voice slithered into his mind, calm and almost amused. "You're overthinking it. Since remaining hidden is likely impossible, why not just make your presence known? In fact, you might want to aim for Hades's attention."
Helios frowned, his interest piqued. "What are you getting at?"
Kurai continued smoothly, "Your memories mentioned the Underdrome—a gladiatorial arena in the Underworld that Zeus shut down long ago because of its senseless violence. It doesn't reopen until much later, when a certain hero unlocks it in the future. But Hades? He'd love to see it active again. You have the power to open it. You could use that as leverage."
Helios's grip on the mirror tightened as he considered the suggestion. "So, I offer to unlock the Underdrome in exchange for the heart. That gives me a reason to approach Hades without outright sneaking around and risking immediate retaliation."
"Exactly," Kurai confirmed. "Not only would you gain Hades's cooperation, but the Underdrome's reactivation would give you a chance to draw out those otherworldly souls Zeus wants proof of. And if you're smart about it, you could use Zeus to reseal the Underdrome once you're done. Or better yet… you could strike another deal—gaining Hephaestus, the God of Forge. Show him Aqua's armor and ask him to craft you a keyblade armor of your own. That's one of the reasons you took the armor correct? To get yourself one."
Helios smirked, the plan starting to take shape in his mind. "A two-for-one deal, huh? Get Hades to bring out his heavy hitters in exchange for the heart I want. Then use that as an opportunity to collect Zeus's proof, and walk away with both the heart and something to better ensure my safety in future battles."
He held the mirror up, watching the light dance across its surface. "It's risky, but I like it. Now I just need to figure out how to pitch this to Hades without getting myself killed."
Kurai's laughter echoed faintly in his mind. "Well, dear Helios, you've got a knack for spinning tales that move the hearts of villains so it should be easy. I'm curious to see how you pull this off."
Helios slipped the mirror carefully into his bag, his expression shifting from irritation to determination. "All right, Underworld, here I come. Let's see if this deal-making game plays in my favor."
Helios made his way down the rugged path that wound along the foot of Mount Olympus. The towering peak loomed above him, its jagged cliffs cutting into the sky, while the air grew heavier with each step he took. The vibrant light of Olympus seemed to dim as he ventured further, giving way to a gloomier, foreboding atmosphere. He could feel the shift in energy—a faint hum of power that prickled at the edges of his senses.
At last, he reached a narrow, hidden crevice at the base of the mountain. Its jagged opening seemed to exhale a faint, otherworldly chill, and wisps of shadowy mist curled outward like fingers beckoning him inside. This had to be it: the entrance to the Underworld.
Helios stood at the threshold, his eyes narrowing as he studied the darkened passage. The air here was colder, heavier, and carried a faint metallic tang that reminded him of old blood. He gripped his Keyblade tightly, its comforting weight grounding him as he steadied his breathing.
"Well," he muttered under his breath, "no turning back now."
As he stepped forward, the shadows seemed to thicken around him, the daylight from Olympus fading quickly. The faint glow of his light magic illuminated the path ahead, revealing uneven stone steps that descended into darkness. Each step he took echoed ominously, as if the mountain itself were swallowing him whole.
The oppressive air pressed against him, and the faint sounds of distant wails and whispers reached his ears. Helios could feel his strength wane with every step. At the last step, he felt he barely had enough strength to take on a single Shadow.