•••••Third Person's POV•••••

"H-Hades?" Raven was struggling to speak as she was surprised to see Hades pointing a gun behind the headmaster's head.

She could not fully comprehend why she was feeling so dizzy, and why her enemy was also writhing in pain.

Her friends and mentor—Blade, Maura, and Reo-sensei ran towards Raven because they could not bear to watch the fight and do nothing anymore.

Blade was clearly worried as he held Raven's hand.

"Raven, say something. Ano bang nangyayari sa'yo?"

"Hang in there, Kid. Maura!" Reo-sensei signaled Maura.

"Right!" Maura immediately took action and went closer to Raven. She was hesitating, but even so, she held Raven's hand and started uttering a spell without a doubt, "Heavenly sky, heed my call and lend me thy power of light: Healing Heart!"

The surrounding went quiet. They all waited for a few minutes. Unfortunately, everyone was surprised when nothing happened. Maura, the one who summoned her power, was even more flabbergasted.

"Wait, could it be?" May naisip si Reo-sensei, pero hindi muna siya nagsalita dahil hindi pa siya sigurado.

"Healing Heart!" Maura tried again, but still to no avail. She kept on trying, and trying, but the result was still the same. Maura's eyes widened in disbelief. "T-That's impossible! Bakit hindi gumagana ang mahika ko?"

"It's because it was sealed away inside of you by someone ten years ago." All of their attentions diverted to Hades when he suddenly spoke again. "You can never use magic unless the seal will be broken."

"I knew it!" Reo-sensei could not help but cuss in his mind. He never saw it coming, and he just believed that his students could successfully use their powers.

Hades released a sigh while still pointing the gun at the back of the headmaster's head.

"I can't even use mine, either," he said.

"Hades, come down here! Where have you been all this time?" Blade asked.

Blade was elated to see Hades again, but he smelled something off about him. Hades, however, just looked down at him. With that single stare, his friends and mentor knew something was definitely out of the ordinary.

"I'm afraid this is no time for reunion, Blade. All I want is Raven." Using Hades' free left hand, she pointed at Raven that made Blade, Maura, and Reo-sensei flinch.

"What the hell are you talking about right now?" Blade looked at Raven who was already unconscious in his arms.

"Gago ka ba?!" They all looked at someone who suddenly yelled and pointed a finger at Hades. "Ba't ka ba nandito, ha? Kapal naman ng mukha mong tutokan ng baril ang Headmaster! Just who the hell do you think you are?!"

It was Nickalaine Sagurano, a member of The Black Diamonds. Even with her face turning so red because of anger, she just received a bored look from Hades and spoke to her as if she was no human in his eyes.

"You're out of it, you goddamn bitch."

Nicka was surprised and obviously did not see that coming. Maura, on the other hand, could not believe what she just heard from Hades.

"Y-You... Walang h—"

"Nicka, stop it," Sniper said and placed a hand on Nicka's shoulder.

"Pero, Sni—" The leader of The Black Diamonds glared at her. It made her blanch, so she had no other choice but to just shut up.

"Did the president of the Assassin Student Council help me? Just so you know, I don't say 'thank you'," Hades said.

Sniper was just looking at him seriously and said, "Just do what you have to do, Sniper. If it's for Raven, then I can never argue with it."

The headmaster was doing nothing else but listen. Kahit na may baril pang nakatutok sa likuran ng ulo niya ay hindi lang niya ito pinapansin.

"Teka nga, why do I feel like you two are on the same page now?" Tiningnan ni Blade si Hades at Sniper na may bahid na galit ang mga mata. "Magsalita ka na nga, Hades! Sabihin mo na sa amin!"

Napakuyom si Maura sa kanyang mga kamao dahil bigla na lang itong nanginginig habang nakatingin siya kay Hades. She wanted to talk to him, but she could not even utter a word. She was just too scared and nervous to do so.

"Good grief, this is so tiring." Lahat sila, except sa Headmaster at ni Sniper ay naging alerto nang biglang itaas ni Hades ang kanyang kaliwang kamay. "The crowds are irksome. Let me get rid of them first."

He snapped his finger and in just a snap, the crowd disappeared like a bubble. Almost everyone was flabbergasted and painted a horrified look on their faces.

Si Maura na nanginginig pa rin ay gulat na napatingin sa buong paligid. There were only ten people left, including herself. The whole crowd just dissipated as if no one was ever really watching them in the first place.

"I-It can't be... T-That was a very strong magic!" Even Reo-sensei could not believe what he saw. Without a doubt, it was very beyond his reach.

"Hades, have you finally gone mad?! Ano bang ginawa mo sa mga tao?!" Blade was so furious. He never expected it to happen. He also was not able to fully fathom his friend's actions. It was as if he has never known Hades for such a long time.

"To those useless people? I've sent them to oblivion where they can never be found." Nanlaki ang mga mata nilang lahat sa sinabi ni Hades.  "But don't worry, they're still alive."

Blade and Maura could not fully comprehend what they were feeling inside. They were surprised, mad, and confused at the same time. For them, he was not the same Hades they once knew anymore.

"Y-You're not the Hades that we know anymore." Blade gritted his teeth and clenched his fists. "Ilang araw ka lang nawala tapos ganito ka na kaagad sa amin?!"

"Hindi muna ito ang tamang panahon para mag-usap tayo, Blade. Like I said, all I want right now is Raven." He diverted his gaze to the headmaster. "Stop your magic now. You being silent the whole time as if you're a good samaritan is making me sick."

Biglang tumawa ng malakas ang headmaster. He stood up still without even minding the gun that was pointed at the back of his head.

"Are you, a student, ordering me around, Hades?" The headmaster did not give off any hint of fear. "You must be out of your mind."

"I'm not, Headmaster. I have no other business here but Raven. I believe I already made it clear to all of you, and you should stop controlling that girl's mind now," Hades said calmly.

The headmaster laughed again as he turned to look at the girl who was fighting Raven a few moments ago that was also lying helplessly on the ground.

"All right." After the headmaster said that, the girl who was fighting Raven opened her eyes and immediately gasped for air.

Napatingin naman si Blade, Maura, at Reo-sensei sa kanya. Blade was being cautious and swore in his mind to protect Raven with all his might.

Dahan-dahang tumayo ang babae. Napatingin siya sa kanyang duguang braso at dali-dali itong binalot ulit ng isang tela.

Reo-sensei eyed her closely. Once again, he had a feeling. But this time, he did not keep it to himself and told his students what he had in mind.

"Blade, Maura, listen to me," he called out to them. "May feeling ako na may kinalamaan ang dugo ng babaeng 'yan sa pagiging weak ni Raven. I've a feeling it somehow drained her energy."

Maura's eyebrows met as she could not believe what her mentor just said.

"I don't get what her blood has to do with Raven," she said.

"Hindi pa rin ako sigurado, pero—" Napatingin silang tatlo nang makitang lumalakad na papalapit sa kanila ang Headmaster at ang The Black Diamonds.

Hades was walking before them now. Maura could not look at him straight in the eyes. He stopped his tracks when he was right in front of them.

"I'm going to get Raven now."

"And where the hell do you think you'll take her?" Blade was determined. He never planned on handing Raven over to Hades. "I'm not going to hand her over to you like she's some kind of a tool, Hades."

"Then, I guess I have no other choice," Hades spun his gun on his hand. "but to fight you."

"Bring it on. Hindi kita pipigilan."

"Stop it, you two!" Pumagitna si Reo-sensei sa kanilang dalawa nang mapansin niya na napaka-determinado ng dalawa na makuha si Raven. "Aren't you ashamed of yourselves? Magkaibigan kayo. Hindi kayo dapat nag-aaway dahil hindi kayo magka-away sa isa't isa!"

"I wouldn't take that word too lightly if I were you, Sensei." Biglang nagsalita ang misteryosong babae na kalaban ni Raven.

Maura could not bear her temper anymore as her blood started to boil anew the moment she laid her eyes on her again.

"Don't you know how to shut up? You're out of this, kaya huwag kang magsasalita na parang alam mo lahat."

"You imbecile—" Napatigil siya nang bigla siyang hinarangan ng headmaster. Even if they were both wearing masks, it was clear as a crystal that the mysterious girl was too afraid to defy the headmaster. "S-Sorry, Sire."

"I'm afraid I have to agree with the girl's statement. The word 'friend' should not be taken lightly." Hades caught all of their attentions once again. "Reo-sensei, I'm afraid I'm no longer part of Team 7-A."

Nagulat si Blade at Maura sa huling simabi ni Hades. Hindi maintindihan ni Maura ang sakit na nararamdaman, at hindi rin maintindihan ni Blade ang galit na kanyang nararamdaman. In fact, they were clueless on what else should they feel.

"You've really gone mad. Hindi ko na alam kung ano pa ang pinagsasasabi mo." Blade gritted his teeth, and Hades just shrugged his shoulders.

"I'm not expecting you to know. Now," Napapitlag sila nang bigla nilang maramdaman ang bigat ng aura na pumapaligid kay Hades. "hand Raven over."

"W-What's all the fuss about?" Blade was surprised when someone squeezed his hand. "What exactly happened here?"

"R-Raven..." Sniper could not believe what he saw as she was staring at Raven's innocent face.

Napatingin-tingin si Raven sa paligid, pagkatapos ay dahan-dahan rin siyang tumayo. Napahawak siya sa kanyang ulo nang bigla siyang makaramdaman ng pagkirot nito.

"I feel like I just hit my head with an enormous boulder," she said. The empty crowd seats around the battle stadium caught her attention. "Where the hell did everybody go?"

Raven looked like an innocent child who was very clueless at everything. She had no idea what was going on around her, and she had no idea what just happened that made her pass out for several minutes.

"How do you feel now?" Hades asked her.

Raven raised a brow at him.

"Like an idiot." Napatingin siya sa lahat ng mga taong nakapaligid sa kanya. "I missed a lot. Bakit ba kayo nandito lahat at nakapaligid sa akin? Hindi ko na alam kung ano ang nangyayari, o kung ano ang nangyari sa match namin ng mysterious girl na iyan."

She even pointed at her opponent. On the other hand, Nicka stole a quick glance on Sniper beside her. She scoffed when she saw how serious Sniper was looking at Raven who was still complaining about why no one was elucidating to her what happened.

"I'll explain to you when you come with me."

"Hindi nga siya sasama sa'yo, Hades, until sasabihin mo sa amin kung ano talaga ang nangyayari dito," Blade said, and that triggered Hades' cool.

"Sh—" Hindi na natapos ang sasabihin ni Hades nang bigla siyang may maramdaman na paparating sa gawi niya.

Raven noticed it as well, so he pulled Hades and Blade right behind her.

"Adamantine Shield!" The moment the enormous shield she summoned appeared right before her was the moment that it blocked the needles with venom coming their way. Raven could not help but glare at the mysterious girl.

Maura was safe since Reo-sensei managed to block the needles that were also coming their way. On Blade's perspective, dahil sa kaniyang nakita, mas lalo pa siyang nakaramdam ng galit.

"What's the big idea?!" bulyaw niya sa misteryosong babae.

"Shut up, Blade. It's none of your business."

"Tumahimik ka rin, Sniper. Hindi ikaw ang kinakausap ko!" Blade exclaimed, and all Sniper did was scoff.

It was so obvious that if he would talk back, mas lalo pang lalala ang sitwasyon nilang dalawa ni Blade.

"We still have a score to settle. 'Wag kang makealam dito," sabi ng babae habang may mga thin threads na nakalubid sa kanyang mga daliri sa kamay.

"I don't mind, actually," Raven answered. "Just don't include my friends here."

"You're the person I least expect to say such a thing right in front of my face." The mysterious girl clenched her face, and she was about to launch another attack when Hades stepped right between them.

"I'm ordering you to stop. Hindi na kayo kailangan na mag-away pa." Napatingin siya sa Headmaster na nasa likuran ng babae. "What do you think you're doing? Do you really want to kill Raven?"

"Of course not. Gusto ko lang makita ang mga improvements niya these past few years." Tumawa ng malakas ang Headmaster.

Napalingon si Raven kay Blade na para bang nagtatanong ito kung ano ba talaga ang totoong nangyari. Blade just shrugged his shoulders. Hindi na nila alam kung ano pa ang tumatakbo sa isipan ni Hades.

Matagal na nagtitigan ang Headmaster at si Hades. Nainip na si Raven kaya minabuti niyang magsalita na lang.

"I do not know what is really going on here, but if I have to fight this girl, th—"

"No, Raven. You won't fight her, at sasama ka sa'kin ngayon na." Raven was surprised to notice that there was a spark of hatred in Hades' voice.

Raven does not have any idea, but bigla na lang siyang nakaramdam ng kaba sa puso niya. Hindi niya maintindihan ang kanyang nararamdaman. All she knew was that something bad was really going to happen. The smell of the air has changed, and she does not like the scent of it even a single bit.

"Headmaster, don't you think we should le—"

"Silence, Sniper. I did not permit you to speak," The headmaster said and turned to face Sniper. Sniper flinched when he stared at the headmaster's intimidating mask. "You only speak when I permit you to. You of all people should know that."

"M-My apologies, Sir." Sniper shut his lips up for there was nothing he could do.

Maura's forehead creased. Biglang naging pamilyar sa kanya ang mga salitang lumabas sa bibig ng Headmaster.

"Sensei," Napatingin siya sa kanyang mentor na nasa gilid niya. "is it me, or the way the headmaster spoke just now is quite familiar? Ganyan ho ba talaga siya magsalita dati?"

Reo-sensei answered, "I assure you, Maura, hindi ganyan magsalita ang headmaster na kilala ko dati."

Biglang kinabahan si Maura sa sinabi ni Reo-sensei.

"I swear I've heard that way of speaking before, pero saan?" she wondered in her mind.

Ibinalik ni Maura ang kaniyang tingin sa Headmaster. Hindi maganda ang feeling niya dito, at ang sobrang bilis na ng tibok ng puso niya.

"Headmaster, I'm asking you once more to reconsider. Stop this match now, and set us free," Hades said.

The headmaster just looked at him for a minute before answering.

"And what if I won't?" Hades looked daggers at him, and that stares were something that his friends and mentor have never seen before.

"Then, I have no other choice but to use her name." The headmaster flinched the moment Hades said that.

He clearly did not see that coming from a mere student. Napakuyom siya sa kanyang kamao dahil hindi na niya alam kung ano ang kanyang sasabihin.

"Sire, anong gusto mong gawin ko sa kanya?" The mysterious girl looked at the headmaster by her shoulder. "Should I kill him, too?"

"Hey, don't you dare drag Hades into your schemes. Ako ang gusto mo, hindi ba? Then, why bother including Hades?" Bakas na rin sa boses ni Raven ang pagkairita niya. Tiningnan niya sa Hades at sinabing, "Hades, would care to tell me what the hell is going on around here? Everything around here is uncanny. Who is this 'her' you speak of? Also, why do you want to take me somewhere so bad?"

"Now's not the time for th—"

"Then, when is the fucking time? Are you all messing w—"

"She's talking about that fucking thing inside of you!" Napapitlag silang lahat nang biglang tinaasan ng misteryosong babae ng kanyang boses si Raven.

Raven could not believe what she just witnessed. Napakapula ng mukha ng babae dahil sa inis. However, walang nakakaalam sa kanila kung ano ang rason ng pagka-inis nito.

"What the hell is wrong with you, raising your voice at me like that? Hindi ikaw ang kinakausap ko, for your information." Raven rolled her eyes at her.

"Wala kasi ang may gustong magsalita, e. I might as well tell you about it." She looked at the headmaster again by her shoulder. "Do you mind if I tell her about it, Sire?"

The headmaster who was silent the whole time sighed and eventually nodded.

"I guess, it's part of the deal, so who am I to stand in your way?"

"Then..." Tumingin siya ulit kay Raven at kinuyom ulit ang kaniyang mga kamao. "Is it okay if I reveal my face to her?"

Nagulat silang lahat sa sinabi ng babae. Kahit si Nicka at John Padilla na miyembro rin ng The Black Diamonds ay naging curious na rin. Originally, hindi naman talaga sila interesado sa babae dahil para sa kanila, isa lang siyang killing machine.

However, the moment she said that, she somehow piqued their curiousity, especially to the Team 7-A. Hades remained his usual expression, but Raven, Blade, Maura, and Reo-sensei was dying to know.

"Woah, let me get this straight. Are you going to let us see your face now? Why would we bother, anyway? Are you some kind of a celebrity? Do I know you at some point?" Raven threw consecutive questions. However, the girl seemed like she does not have a plan to answer those one by one.

"You of all people should know me, Raven," she said. "I know, Raven... I know that you're here to seek vengeance."

Raven's eyes widened in surprise. No one knows aside from her team and Ethan about the reason why she decided to study at Blandon High.

Napatingin rin ang misteryosong babae sa mga kaibigan ni Raven.

"From the look of your friends, I've a feeling that you haven't told them the whole truth, yet." She smirked behind her when she saw Raven blanch.

"T-The whole truth?" Blade turned to face Raven. "W-What is she talking about, Raven?"

Raven could not find the right words to answer Blade. She still could not comprehend how the mysterious girl knew about it.

"Why is the topic always about Raven, anyway? Why can't they just talk about me?" Nicka asked in his mind. She wanted a thunder of her own, but Raven is much better.

"If you won't tell them, I will." The mysterious girl snapped her finger as she turned to looked at Blade, Maura, and Reo-sensei one by one. "You fools, you think you've known Raven? Ang babaeng tinagurian ninyong kaibigan, may maraming sekretong tinatago. One of which is the fact that she already has an Assassin's License."

Nanlaki ang mga mata ng kaibigan ni Raven. Kahit ang si Nicka at John ay nagulat rin. Nicka was being toxic towards Raven a few moments ago, but it changed when she just heard what the mysterious girl said.

"This is the coolest part. Did you know where she graduated? The second wealthiest assassin school of all time, Abeyara University.  No one else knows about this, except you, right, Pres?" She gestured towards Sniper who was also speechless at the moment.

Nakayuko lang si Raven at wala siyang masabi kahit isang salita man lang. She was not clenching her fists, nor trembling in fear. She was just being silent.

"Oh, and in order to get her license and graduate," Biglang nagbago ang boses at mga galaw ng babae. She looked and sounded like a fully developed crazy psycho. Para siyang na-e-excite sa lahat ng mga kasunod na mangyayari. "she killed every student in Abeyara University that whole school year. I mean, can you even believe it? Twelve years old pa lang siya that time which, obviously, made her the youngest assassin who ever graduated at Abeyara for killing everyone!"

She was very elated. Na-a-amaze siya sa lahat ng mga ginawa niya. The Black Diamonds and the whole Team 7-A, except Hades was in utter shock. The headmaster, on the other hand ay parang wala lang rin. He was just staying put.

"R-Raven... T-Totoo ba lahat ng mga s-sinabi niya?" Blade walked towards Raven. Nakakuyom pa rin ang kanyang mga kamao, at hindi niya alam kung paano niya kakausapin si Raven.

She did not answer him. Nakayuko pa rin siya kaya walang nakaalam kung ano talaga ang ekspresyon na ipininta niya sa kanyang mukha.

"Hindi pa ako tapos. Meron pa siyang hindi sinabi sa inyo tungkol sa kaibigan niyang nama—"

"For once in your life, learn to shut the fuck up, Bitch." The mysterious girl gasped when she felt something sharp on the side of her neck, and Raven was already in front of her.

No one, not even the headmaster anticipated her move. Napakabilis niya na parang isang kidlat.

"Oh? Ako ba'ng tinatakot mo?" Raven raised her head to look at her opponent straight in the eyes, kaya bahagya itong nagulat nang makita ng malapitan ang mga kulay ng mga mata ni Raven.

"I'm daring you. You've already crossed the line." The girl smirked behind her mask at Raven's statement.

"Then, why don't you just kill me now since nakabaon na rin naman sa balat ko ang kutsilyo mo?" Raven stared at her mask for a moment, pero inilayo rin niya ang kutsilyo sa leeg ng babae.

She also stepped a few inches back from the girl. Napahawak ang babae sa kanyang leeg, and she was disappointed.

"Ba't 'di mo tinuloy? Did you become a softy all of a sudden?"

"I only intend to kill one person," Iba pa rin ang kulay ng mga mata ni Raven kahit na kalmado na siyang nagsalita. "and that's the person who killed my best friend."

"'Best friend' my ass." The mysterious girl scoffed in disbelief. "Then, why don't you consider killing yourself?"