•••••Third Person's POV•••••

The day for the battle between Raven and her friends against her own family has finally arrived — and everyone was so occupied gearing themselves up.

However, Raven came back to that place where you can see no ground beneath your feet — only water and giant pipes at the ceiling. She walked closer towards the giant, metal bars with a giant seal as its lock.

"Hey, I know you're in there. Talk to me," Raven called out.

It took a few minutes before the water beneath her feet started to slightly wave, and the girl she saw before who had the same appearance as her appeared behind the giant, metal bars.

"We need to talk."

"We already are."

"I already knew you. Though, some of my memories are still blurry, but Hades told me everything he knew. He assured that he'd help me remember, Hashira," Raven said as she held her head.

"Aeacus, huh?" Hashira frowned. "I still haven't forgiven him for what he did to our arm. It was excruciating."

"Yeah, he was sorry, though."

"Yeah, yeah, shitte iru. Anyway, Raven," I know. Hashira curved her lips. "sometimes, fate convinces me to believe that your family was just way too clever."

"What do you mean?"

"I've lived longer than you've ever imagined, Raven. Ever since before Aeacus was born, I knew an heir from the Smith fanily would’ve the potential of protecting me, and I totally wished he would for I know how feeble you originally were. With the element of surprise, your family made Hades Aeacus Smith your royal bodyguard to protect you and me inside of you," Hashira explained. "Today's your battle against Cellion, isn’t it, Raven?"

Alam na ni Raven na alam lahat ni Hashira ang nangyayari sa kanya at sa kaniyang kapaligiran — the two of them are connected, kaya hindi na lang siya nagtanong pa kung paano nito nalaman ang tungkol sa labanan na magaganap.

"That arrogant, brainless fool. He wants to absorb me so that he'll become the most powerful being in the world." Hashira scoffed as she tightens her grip on the bars. "His jealousy towards his brother drove him to this point. I knew I had to kill Cellion before your heroic father stopped and trapped me into his own daughter's body."

Bahagya namang nanlaki ang mga mata ni Raven hindi dahil sa sinabi ni Hashira, kundi dahil bigla niyang maramdaman ang galit sa aura nito.

"Humans are selfish and disgusting... They're impossible to deal with! They think that the only thing that will make them strong is by possessing a great amount of power from a demon like me!" Raven flinched when she met Hashira's magenta purple eyes. Kahit na parehas silang dalawa ng appearance, head to toe, alam niya na malaki pa rin ang difference nila sa isa't isa. Not to mention na unti-unti na ring nagbago ang kulay ng buhok ni Hashira. "Watashi wa ningen ga kiraidesu, Raven. I despise your kind. Since the day your father trapped me here, my hatred towards humans grew even bigger than ever." I hate humans, Raven.

Hashira took a deep breath and closed her eyes to calm herself down.

"You're no exception to that hatred, Raven. Fortunately, thanks to this curse, I had no choice but to help you. If you feel pain, so will I. Worst, if you die, so will I," she uttered as she opened her eyes and looked at Raven once more.

Raven, on the other hand, released a tired sigh.

"Hashira, listen, you know what happens if I let you help me. I will lose control, and you will take that advantage to set yourself free," Raven said as she eyeballed her. "I can never let that happen."

Napapikit si Raven nang biglang hampasin ng malakas ni Hashira ang metal bars.

"Are you saying you and Aeacus will fight this one alone? Are you out of your minds?!" Hashira exclaimed. "Cellion is not an ordinary assassin, Raven. Your father may be more tenacious than him before, but he changed so much now. You can't defeat him!"

Napayuko si Raven at dahan-dahang kinuyom ang kanyang mga kamao. Hindi niya gaanong kakilala si Hashira kahit na seventeen years na itong nasa loob niya. She does not trust her, either, kaya as much as possible ay ayaw tumanggap ni Raven ng tulong galing sa kanya.

"What difference does it make, Hashira? Alam kong gusto mo lang makalaya dito, at hindi ko hahayaan na mangyari iyon. You will only bring more damage than done in the real world."

"Mā, hontōni? Since when did you start caring about the about the real world and its people, huh?" Oh, really? At that moment, Hashira's hatred became crystal clear to Raven. "I know you're smart, Raven. You know what's best, and that is to set me free!"

"I will never, Hashira! As long as I can do it, I will try my best!" Nagulat si Hashira nang tinaasan siya ng boses ni Raven. "My sole purpose of coming here was to inform you that you stay put! We do not need you, Hashira, so I am begging you to leave this matter to me."

"Raven... You dare to defy me?!"

"I do, and my decision is final, Hashira. Take it, or leave it."

Raven closed her eyes again and the next thing she knew, she could feel the night air touching her skin.

"Raven, it's me." Raven opened her eyes when she heard someone calling her name.

She was already back in the present time.

"Come in." The door behind her opened, and she felt someone walked in.

Hades' eyes landed on the glass of red liquid on the table. Then, he looked at Raven who was standing by the window, looking at the night sky. He walked towards her.

"What are you looking at?" He asked and raised his head to look at whatever Raven was looking at. "Oh, the moon. It's alluring, isn't it?"

"Yeah, it is." Hades heard Raven released a heavy sigh, so he turned to face her.

He studied Raven for a moment before realizing what was going on inside her head.

"Let me guess, you talked to her, didn't you?" he asked that made Raven face him.

"Yeah, I did. We spoke in my head, and she was infuriated at you for what you did to me." Raven cracked a smile.

Hades turned away from Raven and leaned his back against the window sill.

"As expected from her, I could feel how painful it was for her that time. It feels like I've known her for quite some time." Raven looked at him through her peripheral vision. "You seem pretty calm right now, though. Naging close na ba kayo ni Hashira?"

"Nah, just the opposite. I got to admit, I wish we could be."

"Well, then," Hades looked at Raven. "what did she say?"

Raven released a tired sigh once again and massaged her nose bridge.

"We had an argument. She never agreed with my decision of asking her to stay put," Raven said as she tucked her hair at the back of her ears. "I can feel her anger towards my uncle and all of the humans, Hades. That flowing and blazing hatred in her veins and heart, ramdam na ramdam ko iyon."

Hades did not say a thing and was just focusing on hearing Raven out.

"Even if Hashira is a demon with no other purpose but to attack and slay those who stand in her way, I owe her my life, Hades. I was born to be a feeble child, my mother felt that from the moment she carried me." She stopped to take a deep breath and continued. "There was no way I could survive when I was born. Kung hindi dahil sa kanya, malamang patay na ako ngayon."

Raven looked at her hands as she closed and opened them.

"I was a step closer to my grave. If my dad never trapped Hashira's soul in my body, and if she never gave me half of her power, there was no way I could live." Raven looked at Hades who was just looking at her also. "Hades, even if she only gave me half of her powers just for the sake of saving herself, I knew she helped me either way. I could say that she gave me a new life."

"Now, wait just a second there, Raven. I think you kind of missed the point here." Hades crossed his arms. "Nakalimutan mo ba ang ginawa ni Hashira at ang sinabi ko sa'yo? She killed both your parents when she attacked your village almost eighteen years ago. Does that mean na pinapatawad mo na siya?"

That question sort of left Raven dumbfounded. She averted her gaze from Hades and glanced back at the full moon once again. She felt nostalgic just by looking at it. Alam ni Raven na hinding-hindi magiging madali para sa kanilang lahat ang laban na magaganap.

Moreover, Hades' question made no difference to her feelings.

"Hello? Earth to Raven?" He placed a hand on her shoulder that made her jump a little in surprise. "Ayos ka lang?"

Raven nodded idly.

"Regarding your question, Hades, I think Hashira never really meant to do it. I mean, she was just defending herself when she attacked our village," she said. Raven walked away from the window towards her bed and sat. "Look, I do not really know. Maybe she... uh, this sucks."

Nang makita ni Hades ang nagugulohang ekspresyon ni Raven dahil sa kanyang tanong, napatawa siya ng mahina.

He also walked away from the window and started heading towards the table where he prepared that glass of red liquid before.

"Here, 'di ba sinabi ko sa'yo na inumin mo 'to?" He handed it over to Raven.

"Yeah, I forgot. Thanks." Tinanggap niya ang baso sa kamay ni Hades. Iinumin na niya sana ito nang biglang nabasag ang baso sa kanyang kamay. Raven blinked many times before looking back at Hades who was also flabbergasted. "H-Hades, what j-just happened?"

Hades blinked a few times, too, before saying, "I-Ikaw ang may hawak ng baso, Raven, you tell me."

Napatingin si Raven sa kanyang mga kamay pagkatapos ay sa nabasag na baso sa sahig.

"I-I guess, it was because of my strength. I do not know if you noticed, but I did feel kind of different when I woke up."

Napatingin naman kaagad si Hades kay Raven dahil sa kanyang sinabi.

"Her powers have increased in such a short amount of time!" Hades said in his mind.

However, instead of staying surprised, he cleared his throat and prepared another one for Raven to drink. Unbeknownst to Raven who was still wondering about her strength, Hades whispered to himself anew.

"You might have the chance to bring down Cellion and save Hashira from him on your birthday, Raven."

-----

Blandon High's gymnasium has started to become so crowded. The students were just too excited to kill, not knowing what was truly awaiting them.

On the other hand, despite the students who were very excited for the day to finally start, the remaining members of the Team 7-A and their comrades were standing at the side. However, Maura was making one hell of a ruckus.

"Now, wait just a second. Bakit ba kasama niyo ang babaeng 'yan, ha?!"

"Calm down, Maura. I can explain!"

"You better, Elizabeth, because we know how dangerous that girl is!" Susugurin na sana ni Maura ang isa sa mga kasama ni Elizabeth nang dali-dali namang lumapit si Blade para pigilan siya.

"Maura, calm down!" Kahit si Blade ay nahirapang pakalmahin si Maura. "Didn't she already explained herself na gusto niyang tumulong sa'tin dahil galit rin siya sa mga Kuroda?!"

"At naniniwala maman kayong lahat sa kanya?!" Maura scoffed. "Sunny must've some diabolic tricks up her sleeves!"

"Wala nga akong planong traydurin kayo, okay?! The Kurodas brainwashed my brother, and I need to save him!" This time, si Sunny naman ang sinubukang pakalmahin ni Elizabeth. "I know what happened, Maura. Hades went with Raven, right? What if she somehow manipulated h—"

"Hindi isang masamang tao si Raven, okay? She had no idea what was going on. Alam ko 'yon dahil nakita ko kung paano siya nag-suffer dahil clueless siya sa buong katotohanan," Blade was surprised by what Maura just said. "at mas lalong hindi niya minamanipulate si Hades!"

"Okay, that's enough." Reo-sensei decided to step in between the two who almost have an unstoppable, heated argument. "Maura, Sunny's here to help. Kakailanganin rin natin ang tulong niya, kaya kailangan natin siyang pagkatiwalaan."

Maura just rolled her eyes at Sunny. Sunny crossed her arms.

"You didn't try to hear me out first, Maura," she said. "What I was trying to say is try to imagine Raven manipulating Hades into doing some dirty works. You would do everything just for him, wouldn't you?"

Maura spent a couple of seconds before nodding.

"Then, 'yan rin ang ginagawa ko. You guys are my only hope para mabawi ko si Max sa kanila." Sunny eyeballed each and every one of them. "Please, I need your help."

"We will help you, Sunny," Reo-sensei assured. "I—"

He was not able to continue what he was about to say when someone just turned off the lights that made everyone gasped.

Walang kaalam-alam ang lahat sa mga nangyayari hanggang sa bigla na lang lumabas sa speaker ang mga salitang, "Let the real battle begin now!"

It was just a flawless and enough cue para magsimula na naman ang lahat na magpatayan.

However, Reo-sensei, Maura and Blade have become stronger than before. Kahit wala silang makita sa kanilang paligid, ramdam na ramdam na nila ang presensya ng kahit sino sa kanilang paligid.

"Pupunta tayo sa grounds. Sigurado ako na nando'n sila. Maura, Blade, gather everyone up!" Sinunod naman kaagad nila Maura at Blade ang kanilang sensei.

When Reo-sensei felt that everyone has been gathered up around him, he started using his power. The next thing that everyone knew, nasa ground na sila lahat, at nakita nila kung paano nakikipaglaban ang mga estudyante para ma-protektahan ang kanilang mga buhay.

"H-Hey, was that... Teleportation?" Everyone was surprised, except Maura and Blade. Reo-sensei just nodded.

"Anyway, there's no time to explain. Let's prioritize the fight first." Tumango ang lahat at nagsimula na silang gawin ang kani-kanilang mga parte.

However, Blade suddenly felt anxious. Not because of the fight, but because he knew that Raven was coming.

"Blade," Reo-sensei placed a hand on his shoulder. "remember what we talked about. Search your feelings."

Blade did not say a word as his mentor started to fight, too. He flinched a little when he suddenly felt a familiar presence. Tumingin siya sa itaas, at nanlaki ang mga mata niya nang makita si Sheena na lumilipad.

She had no wings. She just used her energy to fly.

"Maura, tingnan mo sa taas!" Maura did the same thing and she, too, was surprised.

Sheena slowly went down to let her feet touch the ground. When she successfully landed, she beckoned to both Blade and Maura. Nagtaka silang dalawa sa kilos ni Sheena, pero sinunod pa rin nila ito.

Sheena brought them to an empty hallway with quite a few lifeless body around. Sheena stopped on her tracks first followed by Blade and Maura. Then, she turned to face the two.

"Look, listen to me, I know you don't trust me, yet. After all, I wanted to kill Raven a few days ago," Sheena said.

"You're goddamn right. Hindi pa rin ako convinced sa fact na buhay ka," sabi naman ni Maura.

"Fine, I'll make this one quick. It's only a matter of time before someone will find us here." Sheena sighed and at that time, Blade and Maura knew that they should not do anything else but to listen. "Ten years ago, pinatay ako ni Rin sa mismong grounds ng mansion nila. However, I know very well how you misunderstood what you saw."

Nanlaki ang mga mata nila sa sinabi ni Sheena.

"Misunderstood? What're you saying?" nagugulohang tanong ni Blade.

"Rin never wanted to kill me... I ordered her to do so." Parang binagsakan ng langit at lupa ang dalawa dahil sa sinabi ni Sheena. Sheena noticed the apparent surprised look on their faces, but she continued, anyway dahil wala na silang sapat na oras. "I hid this truth from all of you, especially kay Rin dahil ayaw kong mag-alala kayo sa'kin. The truth why I decided to partly side with the Kuroda was because I was their ultimate lab rat."

"A-An ultimate..."

"L-Lab rat?"

Tumango si Sheena sa dalawa.

"King Cellion's obsessed with Hashira's immense power. Gusto niyang angkinin ito dahil gusto niyang maging pinakamalakas na nilalang sa buong mundo." Sheena clenched her fists as she pictured King Cellion's face in mind. "I wasn't born wealthy. Isa lang maid ang ina ko sa mga Kuroda, ngunit, naramdaman ni Cellion na parang may kakaiba sa dugo ko. Because Rin's family was way too powerful, walang nagawa ang ina ko nang kinuha ako ni Cellion para pag-aralan ng mabuti."

A piece of memory from before flashed into Sheena's mind.

"When he found out that his speculations were right, that my blood was a weapon to weaken Hashira, he never hesitated to get some of my blood as he went to the village where Rin's family were living," she continued. "It was the day of Rin's birthday. Cellion's been tracking down Hashira for years, kaya alam na alam niya kung saan at kailan ito sunod susugod."

Maura blinked a few times as she said in her mind, "So, that's why bigla na lang nanghina si Raven when she was fighting Sheena a few days ago."

"What does this Hashira look like, exactly?" tanong ni Blade.

"A demon — an enormous, raven bird with magenta purple eyes and very black feathers."

"I think I can picture it."

"Pero, Sheena, bakit naman umatake si Hashira sa village kung saan sila nakatira ni Raven?" Maura asked.

"To be honest, Hashira never intended to attack and go on rampage in their village." Biglang sumeryoso ang mga tingin ni Sheena. "Someone led her there. Someone so close to Rin and her friends."

Maura ang Blade were flabbergasted. Kahit hindi nila alam kung sino ang tinutukoy ni Sheena, bigla na lang bumilis ang tibok ng kanilang mga puso.

"Hindi ko alam kung sino but one thing's for sure, they had a perfect timing because they led her there on the very day Rin was scheduled to be born."

"D-Don't tell me..." Nanlaki ang mga mata ni Blade. "Of course! That would be the reason. Magiging vulnerable sila lahat, 'di ba? Manganganak ang ina ni Raven, so wala siyang sapat na lakas upang lumaban."

"Exactly." Sheena nodded. "No matter how strong Rin's parents were, wala pa rin silang laban kay Hashira, especially in her real form."

Biglang umihip ng malakas ang hangin sa kanilang paligid.

"When Hashira arrived at her village, Raellien, Rin's father and the younger brother of Cellion, he was flabbergasted because he never sensed her coming," Sheena explained as the wind started to make some of her hair dance. "It was a very horrible night. Marami ang namatay. When he found out it was Cellion's own doing for his own selfish reasons, nagalit siya. But despite that, he prioritized the rampaging demon first para maligtas ang lahat ng tao, lalong-lalo na ang pamilya niya."

Sheena paused for a while and took a deep breath.

"Hindi alam ni Raellien kung bakit parang nawawalan ng control sa sarili si Hashira that time. She was just way beyond his power. When Hashira slipped right into his hands, she went on to attack Cellion. Ngunit, despite sa maling ginawa ng kapatid niya, nagawa pa rin niyang iligtas ito." Sheena sighed. At the back of her mind, she thought it was a foolish idea. "When he found out that there was no other way to stop Hashira, he thought that the only way to stop her was to trap the demon's soul inside her daughter's body."

"Didn't they use your blood? Hindi ba alam ni Raellien ang tungkol sa dugo mo?" Napaisip siya sa tanong ni Maura.

"Hindi ko alam. All I know is that he sacrificed himself to cast a spell that would trap Hashira in his daughter's body," she said. "Hashira can still be extracted, but Rin's life will be the price."

"Dammit!" Biglang sinuntok ni Blade ang pader na naging dahilan upang ma-crack ito. "What happened to Raven's mother?"

"She died giving birth." Napasinghap si Maura sa narinig at napatakip ng kanyang bibig. "No one was there for Rin anymore. Cellion took her in not because she was his precious niece, pero dahil gusto niyang kunin si Hashira sa kanyang katawan sa tamang panahon."

Huminga ulit ng malalim si Sheena. The air was starting to suffocate her, somehow.

"Ever since she was little, Rin was a very strong girl with a cold personality. But to Cellion, he was just his favorite food, waiting to be eaten when the right time comes. To keep his food protected, he asked the son of one of the Kurodas' family allies — the Smith family to become the royal bodyguard for Rin." Blade and Maura flinched anew. "Yes, what you're thinking is right. That son was Hades Aeacus Smith."

Bigla na lang naiyak si Maura sa narinig, habang mas lalo pang kinuyom ni Blade ang kanyang kamao.

"As for my part, Cellion asked me, the carrier of the demon's weakness to befriend with Rin." Biglang lumungkot ang ekspresyon ni Sheena. "I really treated her as a friend, even now. Then, with the element of surprise, nakilala ko kayo, at pinakilala ko kayo sa kanya."

"This is absurd. Kung matagal na namin kayong kilala, how come we don't remember a thing?" It was apparent that hatred has started to flow into Blade's veins.

"It's because of what happened ten years ago." Sheena started feeling anxious for no good reason. "I don't rememer things very clearly, but as what they've told me, Rin erased her own memories including that of her friends' or anyone who've known her unintentionally after she killed me."

"She had the ability to do that?" Tumango si Sheena sa tanong ni Maura.

"And how are you going to elucidate to us kung paano ka nagkakaroon ng special art, ha? Royal bloods lang kagaya ni Rin ang may kayang gumawa no'n, kaya pa'no?"

"Like I said, my blood was somehow special, Blade. May potential ang dugo ko kaya because of the experiment that Cellion himself conducted, nagkaroon ako ng special art," Sheena explained.

Mas lalo pang kinuyom ni Blade ang kanyang mga kamao sa kanyang narinig. Hanggang bigla na lang silang makaramdam ng isang pamilyar na presensya.

"Wow, how fantastic. Tapos na ba kayong mag-storytelling?" They heard an applause, so they followed where the sound was coming from. Nanlaki ang kanilang mga mata nang ma-realize nila kung sino iyon. "Oh, ba't kayo parang nakakakita ng multo diyan? Sege lang, just continue what you were talking about, at handang-handa naman akong makinig."

The man who just appeared plastered a smirk on his face as Sheena's sweat started to seep at the side of hers.