"So," he said, his voice a deep rumble that seemed to emanate from the very bones of the earth. "You are the mortal who managed to survive and win my games. The one who dares to come uninvited."
I held up the invitation card, its faint glow intensifying in his presence. "Not uninvited. I earned this."
His lips quirked into what might have been a smile—or a smirk. "Indeed. But earning the invite and surviving what lies ahead are two very different things. Speak, mortal. Why have you come?"
I swallowed the lump in my throat, forcing myself to meet his gaze. "I've come to uncover the source of the corruption spreading through Mythica. It's destabilizing ecosystems, endangering creatures, and threatening the balance of life itself. I was told you could grant a wish."
Hades leaned back, studying me with an unreadable expression. "And what makes you think I care for the balance of life?"
