Warning: This chapter contains violence, blood, gore and death. This may be uncomfortable for some readers so please, be advised. Prioritize one's state of mind all the time. Thank you.

"CUT your crap, Rasheed."

Kakapasok lang ni Adamas sa café at ang bumungad pa talaga sa kaniya ay ang ranked one villain na nagbabalat-kayo. Sinandal niya ang katawan sa counter habang hindi inaalis ang tingin sa lalaki.

"Don't answer him, human. He's a crazy, ass lunatic."

Nalukot naman ang mukha ni Logan, nagtataka sa kaniyang sinabi. Of course, he looked like his co-worker, so he might be wondering how this person be someone else.

Rasheed chuckled. "Your sentence is redundant, Riscarte. Crazy or lunatic? Pick one."

"If you're not going to get out of that counter and stop your scheme, I'll pick you up and send you to hell," banta niya.

Ngumiti ito nang pagkatamis-tamis sa kaniya. His warm smile making someone believe he was a harmless person. "Calm down, mister author's favorite. You know, I hate threats."

"Whatever. Get away from Logan and get me an ice cream," utos niya at naghanap ng bakanteng upuan. Umupo siya sa dulong bahagi ng café at doon hinintay si Rasheed.

Ilang saglit pa bago ito dumating. May dala na itong dalawang bowl ng ice cream. Napangiwi siya dahil hindi niya gusto ang kulay.

"Here you go." He slid one bowl of ice cream toward him.

"Why the hell is it in color of green? Disgusting." Parang nawala ang appetite niya. Hindi niya gusto ang kulay. Pinagkrus niya ang dalawang braso at iniwas ang tingin. "I don't want that. I want the yogurt one."

"Yogurt is not an ice cream." Inabot nito ang teaspoon at nagsimulang kainin ang ice cream. "You know Peppermint? This ice cream is flavored by that herb."

"More reason for me to say disgusting." Tinulak niya ito pabalik kay Rasheed.

Ngumuso naman ito. "But I paid for these. Can you at least have a taste? You might like it."

"No. I can't fathom to taste that shit."

"Even if your author likes it?"

"My Noa never mentioned eating that crappy-looking ice cream."

"I see. Hindi na kita pipilitin." Muli itong ngumiti sa kaniya.

Sinimangutan niya lang ito at pinanood na kainin ang ice cream. Ang bagal-bagal pang kumain na para bang ito ang may-ari ng table na inuupuan nila. What made him more annoyed was the way he was eating it with a smile. That calm-looking face, which wasn't his, triggered him in strangling the man to death. Wala naman itong ginagawa sa kaniya pero nabuwibuwisit siya.

"What are you even doing here?" asik niya.

"As you can see, I was working. But you interrupted me and blew my cover, so here I am, eating an ice cream." He shrugged. Kinuha nito ang bowl niya at sinimulang kainin.

He wasn't convince. There was no way Rasheed would do something normal unless it would benefit him.

"So what's the progress of your revenge-themed job?" One hand carrying the bowl, Rasheed leaned against the chair.

"I took out two already. I haven't found the three because I can't use my threads." Tinawag niya ang system at tinanong ang progress.

[Response System: It is almost complete.]

Tumango naman si Rasheed sa kaniyang sagot. "Hmm. How about your progress bar?"

"Show me the progress bar," utos niya ulit sa system.

[Opening progress bar . . .]

[Character Restoration progress: 40%]

He hissed. "Damn. It's forty." It was getting faster day by day. Hindi na nalalayo ang pagbabalik niya sa Fictosa.

"That's sad."

"How about you?"

Isang mapanuyang ngisi ang dumaan sa mga labi nito. Kagat-kagat pa nito ang kutsara. "I'm still at one percent."

He just snorted in response. What an annoying face. Kahit hindi nito gamitin ang sariling mukha, nakikita niya pa rin ang totoong mukha ng lalaki dahil sa ngisi. An annoying grin which made him think Rasheed might have done something to make his progress slow. After all, the rank one villain he knew loved scheme . . . and acting.

"You should do something with that immaculate diction. It's hindering your perfect disguise."

"This is my trademark, Riscarte." He chuckled.

Hindi na siya sumagot pa. Sinulyapan niya si Logan. Nang makita niyang naghahanda nang umalis ang lalaki dahil tapos na ang shift nito at may pumalit na rin, tumayo na siya. Maglalakad na sana siya pero bigla siyang napatigil nang magsalita ang system.

[Adamas Vondrov Riscarte's recovery is complete. Power, including the gift, is ready to use.]

Kaagad na sumilay ang ngiti niya. Napatalon siya sa tuwa. "Yes!"

His voice echoed around the café making the customers turn to his direction. Not minding their gazes, he paced toward Logan with his little jumps. Sabik na sabik na siyang umuwi at gawin ang nakakasuklam niyang ganti sa mga Laurien.

"Hurry, human! I still need to get change." Suot-suot niya ang damit nito at gusto niyang ang damit na binigay ni Noa ang susuotin niya mamaya.

"Wait lang. Bakit ka ba nagmamadali? And what are you doing here in the first place?" tanong nito at naglakad na palabas.

Sumunod kaagad siya. "I got bored."

Sumakay na sila ng taxi. Pagkarating nila sa building, hinila niya kaagad si Logan papasok. Muntik na itong mapatid sa kaniyang pagmamadali.

"Can you calm down?"

"I can't. Time is running out. I will not be able to stay here for long." Sinulyapan niya ang progress bar sa kaniyang harapan.

Tumigil sila sa harap ng room number nito. He heard Logan sighed. "You didn't even lock the door."

Tinulak na nito pabukas ang pinto at naglakad na papasok pero siya ay nanatili lang sa labas. Pinagkrus niya ang mga braso at hinintay na mapansin ni Logan ang ginawa niya sa apartment nito.

Muntik na itong madulas dahil sa makinis na sahig. Naging dahilan din ito upang mapatigil ang lalaki at maglakbay ang tingin sa loob.

"Whoa, anong ginawa mo?" mangha nitong saad habang pinagmamasdan ang malinis na apartment. Mula sa sahig, sa mga upuan at pati na ang pader, kumikinang ito sa sobrang linis. Wala kahit ni isang alikabok na makikita, pati mga pakalat-kalat na bagay ay wala rin.

Ngumisi naman siya. Taas-noo siyang naglakad papasok. "As a reward for taking me in, I cleaned the entire room."

Nilingon siya nito. He looked at him from head to toe while his mouth was hanging wide open. "Ikaw ba talaga? Or is it just your threads?"

"My black threads are mine, so I still did the job." Iniwas niya ang tingin at iniba ang usapan. "Anyway, I discarded one of your tasks so you better be thankful to me."

"Thank--"

"Take some rest, human. That is what I want you to do as a thanks." He patted his head before walking toward his clothes he put on the sofa.

Logan had been looking so tired lately and he couldn't help but feel concern about the guy. Sa tuwing napapagod kasi ito, panay rin ang paglaki ng nakasunod nitong itim na emosyon. Natatakot na siya na baka bigla na lang lamunin si Logan kapag pinabayaan niya.

"Are you going somewhere?"

Napatigil siya sa pag-aayos ng kaniyang corset.

He gritted his teeth as he remembered the faces of the people who hurt his Noa. "I am going to take my revenge. I am going to horrify them, make them scream and bring hell to them."

"You could've just answered yes. I don't want to know."

He glanced at Logan. There was a hint of fear after the guy uttered those words.

Sinuot na niya ang kaniyang veil. When his vision was obstructed by the veil's cloth, he smiled. He felt like more of his self now. The soft texture of the cloth reminded him how Noa wrote him--to the very first day he came to life. He was reminded how she breathed him air through the power of her words. It was so careful. And beautiful. And strong.

Ang gaan din ng kaniyang pakiramdam, handang-handa na siyang singilin ang mga taong nanakit kay Noa.

"I'll be back."

When the clock hit six, Adamas rushed out of the room with his black thread creeping out from his hand. It was searching. Finding the remaining people who dared to indulge life without feeling any sense of conscience.

"Azaleah. Anica. To the tallest building in the north. Azure. We cannot locate."

Nagpakawala siya ng isang madilim na halakhak. "It's fine. We'll save the best for last."

Bumaba na siya ng building at sinundan ang direksyon na sinabi ng kaniyang mga sinulid. Habang papunta, hindi mawala-wala sa isipan niya ang mga paraan kung paano niya ito pagdudusahin. After seeing what they did to his Noa, he figured he was too nice to kill them fast with his cocoons.

Nakarating na siya sa lokasyon. Napaangat ang tingin niya sa pinakamatayog na hotel ng mga Laurien.

"Rooftop."

He put his hand up and let his thread crawled to the highest part of the hotel. The same thing he did to Aivan, he let the threads pulled him up. When he was almost at the top, he held the threads with his other hand. With his force he pulled his body up, landing his feet on the railing.

Yellow lights in the pattern of heart greeted him with petals on the ground. The whole place was filled with the ambiance of romance. At the center, there was a table and two people were chitchatting and enjoying each other's company.

He grinned when he saw Azaliah.

"Say, ah." Sinubuan si Azaliah ng lalaking kasama nito.

Naglakad siya papunta sa direksyon ng dalawa. "Eat well and love well, humans. There will be no other day for the both of you to date again."

Napaigtad ang dalawa sa kaniyang pagdating. Gulat ang mga mata nitong nakatingin sa kaniya.

"Who are you?" The guy frowned. Tumayo ito.

"I am your end."

"What the fuck are you saying, you crazy lunatic? Get out of here!" Nag-akma itong itulak siya subalit bago pa siya mahawakan nito, sinunggaban ang mukha ng lalaki gamit lang ang isang kamay. He summoned Azlan's thread and let it devoured his face.

Isang matinis na sigaw ang pinakawalan ni Azaliah nang iangat niya sa ere ang lalaki. Nagpumiglas pa ito pero nang tuluyang kainin ng kaniyang itim na sinulid ang buo nitong katawan, hindi na ito nakagalaw pa.

"Lunatic is crazy. They mean the same thing." Binitiwan niya ito dahilan upang bumagsak ang katawan nitong naging cocoon, unti-unti nang kinakain ang laman.

Binaling niya ang tingin kay Azaliah. "Now it's your turn, woman."

"W-what? What the hell?" Muli itong humiyaw. Tumayo ito at nag-akmang tatakbo pero kaagad niyang hinila ang braso. Sa lakas ng pagkakahila niya, tumilapon ang babae sa lamesa. Tumama ang likuran nito sa lamesa dahilan para mapadaing ito.

"I've been meaning to do that. From the moment you step in the picture of my Noa's life, I couldn't wish nothing else but to break your bones and feed it to my threads." As he thought of the memory shown to him, all the frustration and anger he felt went back into his system. It was urging him to do one thing. And it was to make the woman in front of him suffer.

Hindi nakatayo ang babae dahil sa sakit ng pagkakatama nito. Napunta ang tingin niya sa tabi nito na may bottle of wine na nalaglag sa pagkakatumba ng lamesa.

Inabot niya iyon at pinaglaruan sa kamay. "Hmm. It's not broken."

"G-get away from me. Get away or I'm going to call the police!" sigaw nito pero isang tawa lang ang ginanti niya.

"Police?" He continued laughing. Lumuhod siya sa harapan nito at inangat ang baba ng babae. "Human, do you remember when your brother got his second episode of Takotsubo?"

"B-brother?" Kumunot ang noo nito. "Adamas?"

"Yes. Adamas." He held her chin tight. "That day, you, Laurien, put all the blame to my Noa. You humiliate her and make her feel terrible."

Namilog ang mga mata nito. "W-why do you know all of that? Adamas is not known to the public! He--"

"We're not going to talk about how I know your disgusting attitudes, but we are going to tackle about how you shower Noa with your drink." He held the neck of the wine. Bumakat ang ugat niya sa kamay sa higpit ng kaniyang pagkakahawak. "You pour the drink like this."

Buong puwersa niya hinampas ang bote sa ulo ni Azaliah. When he heard the sound of the broken glasses banging on her head, he grinned. It was satisfying. Sunod na tumulo ang dugo sa ulo ng babae habang nagsisigaw ito.

Binitiwan niya si Azaliah. "I'm surprised. You didn't faint."

Tumayo siya sa pagkakaluhod at hinablot ang buhok ng babae. "How about this, human? Do you remember grabbing my Noa's hair like this?"

"W-wait! Sto--" Hindi nito natapos ang sasabihin nang kaagad niyang binagsak ang mukha sa sahig.

Isang maliit na tawa ang kumawala sa kaniyang labi nang magkaroon ng tipak ang semento. Nagsulputan ang dugo sa mukha ng babae kaya mas lalo siyang ginanahan. It felt good so he repeated what he did. He slammed Azaliah's face on the ground as harder than the first one.

The sound of the splatting blood and thick ground were like music to his ears. It damn felt good.

"Human, why are you still alive?" Umupo siya sa likuran nito. Hanggang ngayon, gumagalaw ang mga daliri ng babae. "What are you clinging on to this life? You live horridly and refuse to give kindness to people, so why bother survive?"

He looked at the color of her emotion. Confusion. It was filled with confusion and not an ounce of regret was there.

Because of that, he was displeased.

"You are indeed a disgusting human." Muli niyang hinigpitan ang pagkakahawak sa mukha nito. Inangat niya ito. "I guess I'm not good in torture. Hearing you breath wants me to end your life fast. I can't fathom to give you another second to live."

Sa huling pagkakataon, muli niyang binagsak ang mukha ng babae. Dumami ang bitak sa parteng binagsakan ng babae at kumakapit din doon ang malapot nitong dugo. Tumigil na ang paggalaw ng mga daliri nito at ang paghinga.

He stood up. He took one glance of the woman before opening his palm.

"This world don't need people like you." He summoned his Azlan's thread and let it devour the woman's body.

Nakarinig siya ng mga yabag at ingay kaya napaangat ang kaniyang tingin sa direksyon kung saan nandoon ang daanan ng rooftop.

"Hindi niyo na po kailangan pumunta rito, madam. Let us deal with it."

"Don't stand in my way! Ano bang ingay ang nandito, ha?! Hindi ako makatulog!"

Dahan-dahang umangat ang labi ni Adamas nang makita kung sino ang dumating.

The root cause of his Noa's misery.