@cgr
I mean, look at how Sasaki vs Poseidon turned out. Pretty by the numbers. If anything, this is less “predictable” by virtue of the fact that Heracles is fighting on the gods’ side. Besides, trying to do an “unpredictable twist ending” all the time is also in itself predictable. It’s knowing how to mix the unexpected with the expected together that makes these kinds of fighting stories interesting.
one of them was going to win no matter the prediction, and sasaki did. victory is always 50/50.
I was talking about 'good reforming evil' you predicted, which although is predictable in normal cliched series, doesn't apply here: since neither the winners/losers in the fights so far have been 'reformed'