Hermes/Plot

## Past

Gigantomachy • Adamas' Betrayal • 2000 B.C. Council

## Ragnarok

First Round • Second Round • Third Round • Fourth Round • Fifth Round • Sixth Round • Seventh Round • Eighth Round • Ninth Round • Tenth Round

## Past

### Gigantomachy

After Zeus won the Titanomachy Tournament, he became the Chief God of the Greek Pantheon, replacing Kronos. Unable to accept the fact that Zeus defeated Kronos, the Primordial Goddess, Gaia, led her spawn, the Giants, in an all-out war against the Greek Gods, known as Gigantomachy. As the Greek Gods and the Giants battled, Hermes attended a meeting between Zeus and his older brothers, along with Ares. Zeus asked Hermes for their status and Hermes reported that, while the Olympian troops were putting up a bold fight, the outcome didn't seem favorable for them. Ultimately, Zeus decided on pummeling the enemy with all their being and Hermes followed him into battle. At the end of the battle with the Giants, Hermes held up an injured Ares and asked if he was okay before telling him they won. He then looked on at Zeus as the rest of the Greek Gods celebrated their victory.

### Adamas' Betrayal

Hermes hid behind a pillar in Poseidon's grand hall, witnessing the Tyrant of the Seas grievously injuring his older brother, Adamas, with just one thrust of his trident. After Poseidon tossed Adamas' corpse to the side and began walking away, he loudly remarked to Hermes that there was a God among them that didn't deserve to be a part of the Thirteen Gods of Olympus. Impressed he knew he was there, Hermes came out of the pillar and bowed, agreeing with him.

After Poseidon left, Hermes contacted Hades about the state Adamas was in and Hades ordered him to take Adamas to Beelzebub, who created a cybernetic body for Adamas to use.

From that point on, Adamas' name was wiped from history and many accepted that there were only Twelve Gods of Olympus while Adamas assumed the identity of "Adamantine" and stayed within Helheim.

### 2000 B.C. Council

Around 4000 years ago, Hermes was present in the Gods' Council to decide the fate of Humanity. In the end, Humans were allowed to live but not without punishment, which turned out to be the destruction of the ancient Greek city of Thebes.

## Ragnarok

### First Round

Hermes watched the match alongside Zeus. As Thor and Lü Bu clashed weapons, Zeus was interested in something. Hermes shouted in his ear, asking what it was and guessed that he was curious as to why a Human could keep up with a God. Zeus admitted he was curious about that but he was more curious as to how Lü Bu could clash against Thor's Mjölnir with a manmade weapon, only to then notice Brunhilde's smirk. Lü Bu's Sky Piercer glowed and Randgriz's image appeared from it.

Lü Bu proceeded to break Thor's right glove, which was made to be able to handle Mjölnir's power. It was then that Hermes figured it out. He recalled how it's the Valkyries' job to guide souls. They descended upon the Earth, took note of Humanity's finest warriors and lead them to Valhalla, for the sake of forming an army for the Gods. But since ancient times, a certain rumour had floated around Heaven. That the Valkyries weren't creating an army for the Gods.

Rather, the warriors summoned to Valhalla bonded with the Valkyries and the Valkyries would turn into a fitting weapon for those warriors. In exchange for the Valkyrie granting their wielders the power of a God, the warriors would offer up their own being. This exchange is what was known as Völundr. Meaning the warriors that were gathered for this Ragnarok, were summoned for the sake of fighting against the Gods.

When the arena orichalcum suddenly began melting and veins appeared from underneath Mjölnir's surface , Zeus chuckled about how Mjolnir had finally woken up. He clarified to Hermes that there was a slight misunderstanding in the legends surrounding Mjölnir and Jarngreipr. The gloves didn't exist to protect Thor from Mjolnir – rather, they existed to protect Mjolnir from the full weight of Thor's swings before it awakened. After Mjölnir fully awakened and Thor prepared to throw it, Hermes received the finalised roster and showed it to Zeus, who looked at it with intrigue.

Later on, after Thor unleashed **Geirröd** and ended up snapping the bones of Lü Bu's legs, Zeus remarked to Hermes that it's wonderful to see such men die. Soon after, Red Hare came into the arena and Lü Bu decided to mount Red Hare. Hermes asked if that was alright since it technically violated the one-on-one rule but Zeus pointed out that Red Hare had already become an extension of Lü Bu. After Thor won and killed Lü Bu, Hermes stayed silent while Zeus enthusiastically cheered.

### Second Round

Before the second round began, Zeus and Hermes walked up on Shiva, who was making his way to the arena. Zeus forced Shiva down to convince him to go up next and he was annoyed, Shiva asked if Zeus wants to have a fight right now, much to Hermes' excitement. However, Shiva decided to back down in the end, which disappointed Hermes. At the arena, Heimdall announces that Shiva is coming up, only for the sky to go dark and Hermes walks in, performing "Air on the G-String" on his violin.

Zeus then appearead and told Hermes to kick it up a notch. Hermes inwardly wondered how long it's been since he last heralded Zeus' march into battle and summoned multiple violins to play his own rendition of "Air on the G-String" called "Slaughter in the Gods' Ring". Hermes then joined Zeus in dancing along before Zeus enlargened all his muscles, becoming a hulk of a man. After finishing, Hermes noted that Zeus must be the most shameless God in all of existence. Zeus asked Adam where his Völundr is and Adam said she's already here.

Riding on a pegasus, Reginleif appeared and drops down, performing Volund with Adam and becoming a knuckleduster, which made Hermes laugh. After the match begun, Zeus lee with a jab at 0.01 seconds but Adam easily dodged it. When Humanity cheered for Adam, Ares called them foolish creatures for celebrating after Adam passed his father's first test. He asked if Hermes agrees and Hermes does, cordially addressing him as his brother.

After Adam replicated Zeus' **Meteor Jab** and landed a number of hits, Hermes was visibly shocked, alongside Ares. Adam proceeded to also replicate **Divine Axe** and hit Zeus' left leg, forcing him down, prompting Hermes to guess it must've hurt. After Adam copied another attack of Zeus and kicked him back to the stands, Hermes was visibly interested. As Zeus realised it's as if he's fighting a mirror image of himself, Adam apologized and calls him "Pops", which also made Hermes laughs.

In response, Zeus prepared to unleash **The Fist That Surpassed Time**. Hermes was mildly surprised that Zeus was using such a technique on a Human. However, after Zeus ended up knocked down instead of Adam, Hermes successfully deduced that when Zeus used **The Fist That Surpassed Time**, Adam managed to copy it just a moment later (with his **Eyes of the Lord**), dodged Zeus' punch and delivered a punch of his own, twisting Zeus' head and knocking him out.

Ares suddenly picked Hermes up by his collar and asked if Hermes really saw that when he couldn't. Hermes assured Ares that it was just a guess before threateningly addressing him as his brother, causing Ares to put Hermes down. Just as Heimdall is about to declare Adam the winner, Zeus stoped him and gets back up, twisting his head back in place. While Ares cheered, Hermes realised that Zeus is really feeling all the damage now.

Realising he won't get anywhere like this, Zeus initiated his final form: **Adamas** and Hermes noted that because of all the damage he's taken, Zeus could only maintain this form for about 5 or 6 minutes at best. Zeus decided to make it a battle of attrition and alternate between using **True God's Right** and **True God's Left**, forcing Adam to use his **Eyes of the Lord** to their very limit just to dodge and counterattack. Adam begun overheating, bleeding from his nose, but neither he or Zeus back down as they continued to exchange fierce blows.

In response, Ares called the fight beautiful and Hermes agreed. However, very soon, Adam ended up blind from overusing **Eyes of the Lord** and was forced on the defensive, though Hermes didn't display any particular reaction. Hermes continuee to watch as Zeus and Adam keept exchanging blow after blow, even after Adam has gone blind. At the end, Zeus reverted to normal, falling to his knees and Heimdall realised Adam has died while standing.

Zeus praised Adam for knocking him down like this and as Adam and his knuckleduster disappears, Hermes stayed silent, not saying a word.

### Third Round

Once both combatants enter the arena, Kojiro Sasaki's unsheathing of his Monohoshizao causes the raging waters to turn still, causing Hermes to call it a pleasant surprise. After Heimdall officially starts the fight, neither combatant move even an inch for several moments. Ares guesses it's because they're waiting to counter whoever moves first but Hermes ends up laughing at his guess, telling Ares that Poseidon isn't concerned with making a counter as he'll simply kill any bug that enters his range.

As Kojiro sweats despite not making a move, Hermes figures out that he's been fighting Poseidon in his mind and points it out to an unaware Ares.After Brunhilde recounts the tale of Adamas, Ares remarks on how there was a rumour that there was a traitor among the other 12 Gods of Olympus and Hermes admits it was him. Ares questions why since it could've evolved into a conflict that would've split the heavens but Hermes admits that he thought it would've been interesting to see, even recalling how Zeus was all for the idea too.

Ares huffs about how he'll never understand Hermes before noting how Adamas was no pushover and calls Poseidon scary for killing him with one attack. Hermes says that isn't the scariest part and points out that when Poseidon requested for Adamas to be erased from history, it happened with no objection. Hermes says that's more scary than anything and Ares agrees, calling Poseidon more godlike than any other. When Kojiro suddenly sits down and wonders what to do, Hermes doesn't display any particular reaction.

Realising surrendering won't work this time around, Kojiro starts off with his **Tsubame Gaeshi** and manages to cut a bit of Poseidon's hair. Hermes is fascinated by the fact that Poseidon actually looked at Kojiro in the eye in response. After Kojiro manages to dodge all of Poseidon's attacks when he uses **Amphitrite**, Poseidon suddenly begins whistling, which reminds Hermes that this is exactly what Poseidon did when he killed Adamas.

Poseidon proceeds to unleash **Chione Tyro Demeter** after Kojiro calls his flawless existence sad and Hermes guesses that, if it were just a matter of speed, then Kojiro could read his attacks and react accordingly. But what he's seen so far is but an inkling of Poseidon's true power. He remarks on how the true depths of the ocean god remains unknown, even to its own kind. After Kojiro manages to deal with **Chione Tyro Demeter**, he attempts to slash Poseidon down with **Tiger Claw** but Poseidon easily dodged and broke Kojiro's Monohoshizao with ease, which prompts Ares to guess it's over while Hermes stays silent.

When Kojiro undergoes a Re-Völundr and reforges his Monohoshizao into two katanas, Hermes remains stone-faced. Using a combination of the sword styles of the people he met, Kojiro manages to fend off Poseidon and land a number of shallow wounds. Smiling, Poseidon begins humming and touches his wounds, which makes Hermes also smile as he seemingly knows what's coming. Poseiden then starts to overwhelm Kojiro with pure strength before using **Medusa Alope Demeter**

Ares exclaims about how his afterimages have formed a dome around Kojiro and Hermes comments on how, inside of the dome, lies a raging torrent of strikes. However, with the encouragement of his fellow swordsmen, Kojiro successfully parries all of Poseidon's attacks and enhances his **Thousand Image Defense** to begin weaving through Poseidon's thrusts, which shocks Hermes. After Kojiro gets close and kills Poseidon with **Swallow Tiger Combo – Thousand Blades**, Hermes, alongside the other Gods, reacted with utter silence.

### Fourth Round

Before the fourth round began, Hermes was present in the Palace of the Gods, standing behind a sitting Zeus alongside Ares. Zeus discussed with Loki and Shiva that in the end, Poseidon lost because Kojiro was stronger and calls Humanity strong. After Zeus says they should respond in kind, Shiva offers to go up but Zeus asks him to let someone from the Greek pantheon go, considering it was one of their own that was killed. As Zeus says this, he, Hermes and Ares release murderous auras, which convinces the Hindu God. They decide to send Heracles.

After the fourth round began, Jack the Ripper shows off his Völundr: a pair of giant scissors, which Hermes calls an unconventional weapon. Hermes is then shocked when Jack's knives are able to pierce Heracles' flesh, despite his Völundr being destroyed. He is shown to be mildly surprised when Jack reveals that the scissors weren't his Völundr – his pouches were. After Heracles swears to crush all that Jack throws at him, Loki appears inbetween Hermes and Ares.

He says it looks bad for Heracles right now and mocks them for talking a big game but Ares tells him to be quiet, much to Loki's and Hermes' surprise. After Ares declares that he fully trusts in Heracles, Hermes smiles. Hermes shows no particular reaction when Jack is able to deflect Heracles' strike by spinning an umbrella made from his pouches. After Heracles unveils the **First Labour: Nemean Lion**, Ares explains the **Herculean Exodus** to Loki while Hermes stays silent.

The fight goes on and after revealing he's laid piano wire all over the field and standing on it, Jack proceeds to hurl a large number of knives at Heracles, using the wire to accelerate their movements and attack Heracles at different angles, which makes Hermes realise that at this rate, they'll hit his vitals. Later, after Jack throws Big Ben's clockface which severs Heracles' left arm, Hermes is shown reacting with surprise. Hermes then stays silent as Loki explains to a confused Ares that Jack's true Völundr is the gloves he's wearing, which can turn anything they touch into a Divine Weapon.

Hermes then realises, along with everyone else, that the entire city of London has become a potential weapon for Jack to use against Heracles. Deciding to save Jack from his suffering, Heracles unveils the **Twelfth Labour: Cerberus** and Hermes is mildly surprised. Near the battle's end, Heracles seems to knock out Jack and tells him to rest after all his suffering, only for Jack to regain his balance and use **Dear God**, piercing through Heracles' flesh by turning the blood on his gloves into a Divine Weapon.

After Heracles embraces Jack and tells him he will always love Humans, he begins to disappear and as he dies, Hermes stays silent, alongside Zeus. Loki recounts Jack's plan to kill Heracles using his blood and bites his thumb as he admits it fooled them all. Hermes mentions how it isn't as easy as it sounds and admits he wouldn't have made such a gamble if he were in Jack's place. Hermes smiles after Ares swears to continue looking forward, despite Heracles' death, but is then surprised when Zeus suddenly destroys the viewing room as he states they cannot let Humanity to get a lead on them.

### Fifth Round

Before the fifth round begins, at the destroyed viewing room, Loki asks Hermes when Ares is coming back and Hermes guesses he hasn't finished crying yet. Both Loki and Zeus go to "take a walk" but Hermes senses their murderous auras.

As Shiva and Raiden Tameemon face off in the arena, Hermes recalls the event and mutters about how they're all such terrible liars. Done with his prep, Raiden proceeds to dropkick Shiva's face. Ares comes back and says they sent a bold Human after Shiva. Hermes asks if he finished crying but Ares, with puffy eyes, asserts he wasn't crying. After Raiden breaks his **100 Seals**, he and Shiva continue to exchange blows before Raiden uses **Kiku-Ichimonji** to clothesline Shiva.

After Shiva gets up, swaying, Hermes guesses the damage is more than expected. Raiden tries to end it there with **Jizo's Embrace** but Shiva meets his headbutt with a headbutt of his own, much to Hermes' surprise. After Shiva starts to overwhelm him, Raiden uses **Wild Boar** to crush Shiva's lower left arm. Coming back from stopping a fight between Buddha and Loki, along with the Seven Lucky Gods, Zeus asks Hermes how the fight is going and Hermes tells him to see for himself. Shocked, Zeus questions what happened and Hermes tells him that Raiden simply took Shiva's arm and crushed it.

As the Hindu Gods cheer for him, Shiva attempts to attack Raiden but Hermes observes how all of his attacks are too wide because he's lost the function of one of his arms. Hermes is then silent as Shiva and Raiden headbutt each other, six times in succession. After pushing Raiden back with an even faster headbutt, Shiva proceeds to unleash the **Hidden Treasure of Svarga**. Ares asks Hermes if he's familiar with it and Hermes recounts how it is Shiva's trump card, which he used when he brought that ragtag bunch of Svarga together.

He calls it a unique rhythm. As Shiva begins to once more overwhelm Raiden, Hermes taps his foot to the beat that Shiva is dancing to, calling it a pleasant tune. He explains how, because of its unpredictable rhythm, Shiva can keep up a multi-hit attack repeatedly while Raiden is stuck under the impression of being attacked by many different enemies at all sides. Smirking, Hermes admits he would like to "dance" with Shiva one day. Raiden attempts to defend himself against Shiva's punches with **Miyama** but Shiva's fists begin catching on fire.

When Ares points it out, Hermes explains to him that due to his intense dancing, Shiva's body has begun to superheat and combust – that is known as **Tandava**, one of the many secrets of Svarga's Destroyer.

Hermes then displays no reaction when Shiva burns open Raiden's flesh with **Krittivasa**. Realising he's found someone he can use his real sumo against, Raiden smiles and proceeds to perform his entrance procession. After that, Raiden uses **Yatagarasu**, ripping off both of Shiva's upper arms. Shiva manages to get back up but Hermes knows that, while that wasn't enough to kill Shiva, it would've been enough to hurt him badly.

Telling Raiden he can't lose here either, Shiva digs his fingers into his chest and stimulates his atman, much to Hermes' shock as Shiva activates his final move: **Tandava Karma**. Now on fire completely, Shiva clashes with Raiden multiple times, charring his flesh with each attack. Ares believes Shiva will win as long as he stays on the offensive but Hermes points out that at this rate, Shiva will end up burning himself out. Not to mention, Raiden can still use **Yatagarasu** to turn back the tides.

In response to Shiva's and Raiden's passionate fighting, the crowds all cheer and Hermes joins in by vigorously playing his violin. Near the climax, Raiden prepares to use another **Yatagarasu** and Ares questions if Shiva will really take it head-on. Hermes says he doesn't have to but that's just how Shiva wants to do it. Shiva counters Raiden's **Yatagarasu** with a spinning heel kick called **Deva Loka**, and ends up ripping Raiden's arm in half. Shiva then cuts off Raiden's head, winning the fifth round.

Ares points out that it was as close as it could get and wonders what would've happened if Raiden wasn't so adamant about doing sumo. Hermes says the exact opposite would've happened and asserts that if Raiden kept with his anything-goes style, then he would've been no match for Heaven's greatest brawler, despite his unnatural strength. It was only through sumo, honed by a daunting amount of discipline, that Raiden was able to completely push Shiva up against a wall.

### Sixth Round

Hermes watches Buddha's entrance into the arena alongside Ares and Zeus in a repaired viewing room.

However, when Buddha walks over to Humanity's side and declares he's switching sides to fight for the Humans, like many of the other Gods, Hermes reacts with silent anger. When the Seven Lucky Gods appear and they all fuse into Zerofuku, Hermes is seen reacting with surprise. Upon seeing Zerofuku, Hermes admits he's heard rumours about him before going on to say that blessings can appear out of disaster, proceeding to call the sixth round, a "fateful matchup".

He is then shocked when Buddha launches a surprise attack and kicks Zerofuku in the gut. From there, the fight gets underway as Zerofuku desperately swings around his Misery Cleaver but thanks to his **Pure Enlightenment Eighth Consciousness**, Buddha is able to dodge each and every swing that Zerofuku takes. Zerofuku gets angered and this causes his axe to get bigger. Zeus tells Ares and Hermes that the more misery Zerofuku feels, the more stronger and destructive his weapon becomes. Smirking, Hermes calls it an unconventional weapon.

Frustrated that he's not getting anywhere, all of Zerofuku's grievances transform his Misery Cleaver into an enormous, six-headed axe, which shocks Hermes and everyone else. Buddha manages to defend against the Misery Cleaver by transforming his Six Realms Staff into **Fourth Realm: Asura Realm, Eleven-Faced Kannon – Ahimsa**, blocking the giant weapon in its tracks.

After Buddha pushes it up, Zerofuku screams about how he'll shred Buddha to bits, which transforms all the axeheads into long blades. After **Ahimsa** changes into **Third Realm: Animal Realm, Horse-Faced Realm – Nirvana**, Buddha begins charging in as Zerofuku swings. By sliding on the ground, Buddha just about closes the gap and hits Zerofuku's side. When Ares expresses confusion on what just happened, Hermes breaks it down for him.

The fight continues going on. Eventually, Buddha completely overwhelms Zerofuku and tells him to start loving himself. Zerofuku is initially confused as to what Buddha is talking about before finally realising the meaning behind his words. This causes the Misery Cleaver to lose its source of power and after a brief fistfight between the two, all of the negative energy around Zerofuku dissipates and Buddha punches him to the ground, seemingly defeating him, though Hermes isn't very shocked. Just as Zerofuku decides to start trying to make people happy again, his horns (which fell off) drill themselves back into his head and force him to stand back up.

After the horns then shove themselves into Zerofuku's body and causes two dragons to emerge, Hermes is visibly confused, along with everyone else. The dragons form a shell around Zerofuku and after a few moments, Hajun appears from the shell. Ares asks Hermes if that's a God but Hermes admits he has no idea. Hades then walks in, telling them that Hajun isn't a God before ordering Ares to stand from his seat.

After Hades sits down, Hermes greets him and asks why he came up to Valhalla. Hades reveals he heard about Poseidon's death but Zeus cuts him off before he continues, wanting to know more about Hajun. Hades explains how Hajun was a legendary berserker of Helheim and that there was often a saying about him: "At white light and black shadow's blending, the horns of the Netherworld shall awaken and eternal darkness will be born." Otherwise known as the Demon Lord of the Sixth Heaven, Hajun.

Hermes asks if it has anything to do with Hades since it concerns Helheim but Hades admits this is his first time seeing Hajun too, going on to wonder how Zerofuku, a God from Valhalla, became the legendary Hajun. After Hajun busts through **Ahimsa** and gouges out Buddha's left eye, Hades relays to Hermes and the others that Hajun is stronger than most Gods. Hades continues explaining, recounting how Hajun had destroyed half of Helheim before suddenly disappearing.

Hermes wonders how Hajun can be here right now and Hades figures that someone acquired the detritus of Hajun, cultivated it, formed it into something like a seed and planted into Zerogfuku. Both Hades and Hermes realise that the only one who'd do such a thing is Beelzebub. Forced to the edge, Buddha tries reaching out to Zerofuku but Hajun informs him that Zerofuku's already dead. When Hajun begins insulting him, Buddha yells at him to shut up and in response to his hatred, the Six Realms Staff transforms into **Fifth Realm: Preta Realm, Holy Kannon – Salakayas**. When it exudes malice energy, Hermes notes it isn't exactly a fitting weapon for Buddha.

Buddha proceeds to use **Karma-Destroying Samsara Cycle** and when Hajun manages to dodge it, he employs **Karma-Destroying Samsara Cycle: Eternal**. Hajun tries blocking it with his left forearm but **Salakayas** ends up embedded in him. Nevertheless, Hajun managed to stab Buddha in the abdomen with his halberd-turned right arm, which shocked Hermes.

Despite his situation, Buddha smirks and willingly steps more into Hajun's halberd to put more pressure into **Salakayas**. After pushing Buddha back, Hajun attacks once more, seemingly beginning to overwhelm him. Ares guesses it's over but Hades calls him a fool, telling him that Buddha hasn't given up yet. Hermes agrees and guesses he has his eye on it, with Zeus confirming that Buddha wants to turn things around with yet another **Karma-Destroying Samsara Cycle**.

But when Hajun rips off his left arm (in response to him being afraid of Buddha), converts it into a sword and uses **Blaze of Glory** to shatter Buddha's scythe, Hermes is visibly shocked. Hajun then destroys Buddha's Six Realms Staff, sending him flying. While on the ground, Buddha ends up grasping onto the hilt of the Misery Cleaver that was left behind and performs Volund with the little bit of Zerofuku inside the Misery Cleaver, creating a new Divine Weapon for himself: **Great Nirvana Sword – Zero**. With it, Buddha begins to equally clash with Hajun. Observing closely, Hermes guesses that at this rate, Buddha will be the first to reach his limit.

But thanks to Hajun's soul now being visible due to his fear, Buddha is able to use **Pure Enlightenment Eighth Consciousness** to predict Hajun's moves and narrowly dodges. Frustrated, Hajun uses one more **Blaze of Glory** and seemingly cuts Buddha's head in two, surprising Hermes and the rest. But that is revealed to be an illusion and the real Buddha appears next to Hajun. Lifting up **Zero**, Buddha proceeds to use **Mahapari Nirvana**, severing Hajun's torso from his body, which also surprises Hermes. After Hajun dies, Buddha is declared the winner of the sixth round.

After Buddha makes his exit, Hermes looks over the scores and sees that they're tied up, 3-3. He calls it a bitter loss since not only have Humanity won again, but Buddha has betrayed them. He notes that if the Humans win again, the tide of the tournament will be swayed in their favour. After Zeus says they need to win the next round by any means necessary, Hermes asks what he intends to do about Buddha's slot. Zeus says they can't be too picky about who to consider and Hermes looks over at Ares, which makes Ares think Hermes wants him to go up. After a lengthy deliberation with himself, that lasted 0.25 seconds in the real world, Ares attempts to volunteer but Hades decides to go instead, much to all their surprise, revealing it's to get revenge for Poseidon.

### Seventh Round

Before the start of the seventh round, Ares exclaimed how surprised he is that Hades was going up before revealing he wanted to live up to Hermes' expectations of him. Hermes then explained he was only joking and claimed that it was a close call. Ares complained about how he hated Hermes when he was like that before marveling at how the arena had been changed to suit Hades. Hermes wondered what Human would go up against Hades and just then, Qin Shi Huang walked in.

He sat down on Hades' seat and after guessing that he's a lost Human, Ares tried getting him to stand up since he was at the Gods' VIP section. However, Qin easily flipped Ares over his head. Hermes confronted him, questioning who he was, since he dealt with Ares so handily. Qin ordered them to humble themselves as they were in the presence of an Emperor – wherever he sat, was his throne. Ares got to his feet, yelling at Qin, telling him that he'd bothered to show a human kindness and he was acting impudent. Qin merely made a remark about his seat, enraging Ares. However, Qin immediately threw him away again, the god crashing into the wall behind them. Hermes found this amusing, and offered the emperor some honey mead after he asked for something to drink. Qin gleefully expressed his enjoyment for the beverage, asking for Hermes' name. Hermes humbly introduced himself, as Ares got to his feet, furious at the both of them. However, he was interrupted by Göll, who burst into the room, accidentally hitting Ares with the door.

Brunhilde soon followed, reprimanding Qin for leaving his room and causing a commotion. Qin Shi Huang told them not to worry, as the road was where he lead, which got a laugh out of the messenger god. Brunhilde apologized to him for disturbing them, which Hermes brushed off politely. He was shown to be shocked when Brunhilde revealed that he was fighting next. He watched in intrigue as the emperor made his entrance.

When Hades started the round on the offensive, Ares remarked at how vicious his attacks were. Hermes stated that merely a graze would be enough to kill Qin Shi Huang. When Qin first used **Heavenly Hand of Defense (Chi You – Armor Form)** against Hades, Ares wondered what he'd done. Hermes explained that Qin seemed to redirect Hades' own power back at him, which to him was entirely unheard of, even in the realm of the gods. Hermes and Ares were both perplexed when Hades and Qin began laughing together, seeing it as out of character for the usually stoic god. When Hades used **Persephone Titan (Smasher of Earth)**, Ares feared that Qin would simply redirect it, but Hermes said that it was unlikely, as Hades was using two separate forces, making it impossible for Qin to redirect the attack.

After Qin injured Hades using a combination of **Mount Tai Dragon Claw (Chi You - Spear Form)** and **Tortoise Ripple (Chi You - Crossbow Form)**, Hermes and Ares were at a loss over the human's power. However, Zeus appeared behind both, saying that Hades appeared to have caught onto something. Later on, Hermes remarked at how difficult Qin's abilities were to deal with, which caused Ares to panic, picking Hermes up and shaking him for answers. The messenger god said he wasn't sure, putting a fist beneath Ares' chin, explaining that the most frightening blows were the ones the opponent couldn't see coming. However, in Qin's case, it was impossible to know where the **Tortoise Ripple** air bubbles would hit until it was too late. This caused Ares to panic further, but Zeus interrupted both, explaining that Hades had the edge in speed, strength and experience, but Qin was wearing out his own spirit to match the god.

After Hades cut himself to counter **Tortoise Ripple**, Ares noted the ingenuity of the strategy, but Hermes said that there was more to it. Hades' *Pluto Ichor* blood increased the power of his bident, turning it into **Desmos**. As Ares reminisced about Hades' contributions during the Gigantomachy, Hermes wondered why Hades loved his family so much. Adamas then walked into the V.I.P lounge, greatly shocking Ares. Hermes and Zeus politely greeted him, the former Adamas, now Adamantine, calling Hermes a suck-up. Hermes explained to a confused Ares that after Adamas was brutally injured by Poseidon's hand, Hades ordered him to help the injured Olympian. Hermes delivered Adamas to Beelzebub, who revived the god and turned him into a cyborg. Ares asked if Poseidon knew about that, to which Hermes responded in affirmation, explaining that had Poseidon truly wanted Adamas dead, there wouldn't have been a shred of him left. He stated that Adamas, the 13th god of Olympus was dead, but Adamantine was alive and doing well in Helheim. Hermes was surprised to learn from Adamas that Hades didn't have any reason to fret over his brothers, all he needed was his love for them. Hermes expressed his surprise at Hades' sheer destructive power, having never seen it before.

Hermes watched in horror as Hades was killed by Qin Shi Huang, the gods having lost the seventh round. He watched despondently as Ares and Adamas raged, asking the latter where he was going as he left. Adamas explained that he was going to deal with this in his own way, not caring about their stupid rules. Hermes asked Zeus if that was okay, but Zeus was too heartbroken over Hades' death, lamenting that Hades apologized before he died.