•••••Third Person's POV•••••

Kaagad na nanggigil si Kazen dahil sa sinabi ni Cellion.

"Stop!" Susugurin na sana ni Kazen si Cellion nang bigla siyang pigilan ni Raven.

Kazen looked at her in turmoil.

"Kira, what're you doing? H—" He was not able to continue what he was about to say when Raven's open palm landed on his left check.

He never saw it coming, and the slap stunned him. Napahawak siya sa kanyang kaliwang pisngi na namumula.

"How dare you act like that? How dare you call me by my real name naturally like not even a single thing happened?" Raven's tears started to seep from her eyes anew. "Did you really betray my parents? Did you really kill me, huh? I know isa kang sikat na artista na kinababaliwan ng karamihan, but is Kira Kazen Kuroda your real name? Is 'Simon Reyes' just a pseudonym to hide your identity?"

Hindi nakasagot si Kazen sa tanong ni Raven, habang patago namang ngumisi si Cellion na nakatingin sa kanila.

Mas lalong umiyak si Raven nang hindi pa rin sumagot si Kazen.

"Goddamn you... Your silence makes you even more guilty. W-Why the hell did you lie to me?"

"I couldn't, Kira. I realized you were much safer if you know nothing."

"You should have at least tried!" Napaluhod si Raven sa sahig habang nakahawak ang dalawang kamay sa ulo niya. "Of all people... why you? Why fucking you?!"

She was being hysterical, at wala na siyang kaalam-alam kung ano pa ang dapat niyang maramdaman.

Cellion still did not wipe off the smirk on his face.

"A newfangled place is essential for this so-called family reunion." Cellion snapped his finger and with just that, their setting has changed.

Kazen noticed the changed in their surroundings and promptly turned to face his uncle.

"Aww, don't give me that look on your face, Kazen. This family reunion deserves a better setting," he said and burst into laughter.

"Asshole." Kazen quickly scanned his surroundings.

Nasa loob pa rin sila ng Blandon High, pero nasa ground na sila. Kazen could hear and smell the screams of the students and blood. Fortunately, wala pang estudyanteng nakapansin sa kanila.

"You can't have a family reunion without me." Biglang may nag-appear na lalaki sa gilid ni Cellion.

Kaagad na nagbago ang reaksyon nito nang makita si Kazen na hindi man lang natinag nang makita siya.

"Oh, nandito ka pala, Kuya Kazen? Kamustang pagiging artista mo? Napakasikat mo na, 'no? You should have stayed in your studio or whatever. You shouldn't have sticked your nose with our business."

"Now, now, my son. Kalma lang, Grim. The more the merrier, hindi ba?" Tumawa ulit si Cellion na mas lalo pang kinainisan ni Kazen.

"Very funny, Uncle Cellion, Grim. Nagmumukha tuloy kayong mga baliw." Napatigil ang dalawa sa pagtawa. "Oh, wait, baliw na nga pala kayo. You're so crazy to think that you can ever absorb Hashira so that you'll become the strongest being in the world."

Kazen shrugged his shoulders.

"To think that you claim yourself as the rightful heir of the Kuroda family." Kazen shook his head at nag-'tsk'. "You're just a fucking chaff in a book, Uncle. You're nothing compared to Dad."

"Let me take care of him, Dad." Grim gritted his teeth. "He has no manners. Kailangan niyang matutong respetuhin tayo!"

Cellion plastered a smirk on his face.

"Do whatever you want, Son. If you can kill him, you know what awaits you." Grim's grin widened upon hearing that.

Ibinalik niya ulit ang kanyang tingin kay Kazen as he positioned himself.

"Omae wa mou shindeiru, Kazen-nii-chan." A magic circle suddenly appeared beneath Grim's feet. You are already dead, Big Brother Kazen.

Then suddenly, bigla na lang nahiwalay si Kazen kay Raven. Nakaluhod pa rin si Raven sa sahig habang nakahawak ang dalawang kamay sa kanyang ulo.

"Kir—" Bigla na lang napaubo si Kazen nang may naamoy siyang hindi maganda.

Kazen did not notice that he was trapped in a yellow sphere. Grim laughed outside the sphere as he watched how the poison rapidly choked Kazen.

"You were too occupied dahil kay Rin, Kuya. Supposed to be, a cheap trick such as this never usually works on you," Grim said as he formed a smile. "Too bad you're allergic to pineapple. Hindi naman siya mahirap. I just experimented for a few weeks just to perfect that poison para sa'yo."

Grim burst into laughter once again, while Kazen was struggling inside the sphere.

"You people should learn not to stop the inevitable," Grim said. "Don't worry, I'll stay here to watch you die."

"K-Kira..."

Inside Raven's mind, she was in utter devastation. She wanted to scream. She wanted to cry, but no tears were coming out from her eyes anymore.

"Raven, I'm your only hope. You need me in this battle."

"No, I won't let you out, Hashira," Raven said between her cries. "You'll end up destroying the whole world."

"Īkagen'ni shite! What difference does it make, Raven?!" She flinched when Hashira slammed her hands to the metal bars between them, creating a loud thud. "Cellion's stronger than you think he is. I've known your previous mentor, Angeleeka Buenavista before you were born, and she had such astounding powers. Raven, with Cellion's absorbing technique, he already absorbed her!"

"That bitch was a thief, no originality! She stole a family heirloom!"

"To make herself even more tenacious, yes. But if you consider her powers carefully, you could see her potential," Hashira said. "Raven, I'm your only chance. If you search your feelings, you'll definitely learn I'm right."

Raven was just looking at Hashira and did not answer her.

"If you truly care about this world and your friends, I'm the one and only answer." With that being said, Raven closed her eyes.

Meanwhile, back in the real world, Cellion smirked as he noticed how devastated Raven was.

"Kore wa ī," he uttered. This is good.

Cellion thought that it was the perfect time to execute his plan. Napatingin ulit siya sa direksyon kung saan na-trap si Kazen sa loob ng isang yellow sphere. He was still trying to hold on to dear life, and the smirk on his son's face made it even clearer that the coast was beyond clear for his plans to be executed.

Cellion extended his right arm forward with an open palm. Eventually, a magic circle appeared around Raven on the ground.

"You'll be mine now, Hashira," Cellion was grinning like a cheshire cat. "and happy birthday, my dear Rin. You'll soon be history."

Biglang may isang kulay pulang ilaw ang lumabas galing sa magic circle. Naagaw nito ang atensyon ng lahat ng mga estudyante sa loob ng Blandon High. Wala silang kaalam-alam na hindi na pala isang ordinaryong Death's Party ang nangyayari sa kanilang buhay.

"W-What is that? What's happening?" Gulat na gulat si Nicka sa kanyang nakita.

"D-Dammit!" Sniper gritted his teeth as he stared at the red light. "The ceremony has started. He'll soon kill Raven!"

Samantalang, nanlaki naman ang mga mata ni Reo-sensei at ang iba pa niyang kasamahan nang masilayan ang pulang ilaw.

"Fuck! We've got to help Raven!" He went straight towards the red light's direction.

"R-Reo, sandali!" Kaagad naman sumunod si Sunny, pati na rin si Elizabeth at iba pa niyang kasamahan nang bigla na lang tumakbo si Reo-sensei patungo sa pulang liwanag.

Meanwhile, back to where the red light was coming from, Cellion's confidence for his plans to succeed still did not dissipate.

"That's it... Stay that way, Raven! It'll be less painful when you don't re—" Cellion was not able to finish what he was about to say when he saw Raven's body glowed with purple aura. "Don't try to resist, Rin! Ikaw lang rin ang mag-sa-suffer! Just let me have Hashira, and I promise you'll avoid an excruciating death!"

Raven slowly stood up, however, it was apparent that the force of the red light from the magic circle of Cellion's power was trying to keep her still.

"I-I won't give u-up, Uncle... Y-You can't destroy me!" Biglang tinaasan ni Raven ang kanyang boses na nagdulot ng isang napakalakas na vibration sa buong paligid.

Napatalsik palayo sa Cellion kaya nawala ang pulang ilaw at malaking magic circle sa ilalim ng mga paa ni Raven.

In addition, Raven's purple aura became even more visible in the eyes. Nanlaki naman ang mga mata ni Grim sa nakita. Hindi siya masyadong napatalsik palayo hindi kagaya ng kanyang ama dahil medyo malayo-ayo rin siya kay Raven. Ngunit, kitang-kita niya ito pa rin ito.

"It takes more than that to destroy me," Raven said. "and I know it takes more of that scream to take you down."

Cellion was quick to recuperate and immediately went back to his feet a few meters away from Raven. Nanggigil siya dahil hindi niya inakalang magiging ganoon kalakas si Raven.

"Guess I belittled you, Rin." He wiped the blood from the side of his mouth. "You chose your own death."

Cellion stared into Raven's magenta purple eyes.

"I still don't want to fight you, Uncle. I want you to give up and reconsider everything right here, right now." She walked towards Cellion kaya nagulat siya.

"W-What are you doing? Stay back!" Hindi nakinig sa kanya ang dalaga at patuloy pa rin sa paglakad patungo sa kanya.

Cellion was surprised. He had no slightest idea what his niece was thinking.

"I'm willing to forvive you, Uncle."

"R-Really?" Nagulat si Cellion sa sinabi ni Raven. Nanlaki ang kanyang mga mata dahil hindi niya ito inexpect.

"You just want to be strong, I get it. You may have done a lot of bad things, but you can still repent for what you did." Huminto si Raven nang medyo malapit na siya kay Cellion. "Think about it, if kaya kong magbago, then kaya niyo rin. Lahat naman ng tao, kahit gaano pa nila kasama, kaya pa rin nilang magbago."

Biglang napaisip si Cellion sa sinabi ni Raven. Habang sa hindi kalayuan naman, takang-taka na si Grim sa ginagawa o kung ano ang pinaguusapan ng kanyang ama at pinsan.

"Uncle, please," Raven extended her arm for Cellion to take it. "we can still change. Me, my brother, you, Grim, everyone. Lahat pwedeng-pwede magbago."

Biglang na-speechless si Cellion kay Raven. Napalunok siya at dahan-dahang inabot ang kamay ng pamangkin niya. Raven was delighted that Cellion was going to take her hand.

However, sa hindi niya inaasan, he trusted him so easily at nakita niya kung paano ito ngumisi ng napakademonyo sa harapan niya.

"What a fool. Look how soft you've become. You're such an illegitimate child and a disgrace in the family!" A very sharp knife suddenly appeared out of nowhere in Cellion's hand. "Walang may pakealam kung magbabago ka o hindi! Just fucking die!"

Nanlaki ang mga mata ni Raven, at hindi kaagad siya nakapag-react. She got frozen on her tracks. Everything was like in slow motion. Malapit na sanang ibaon ni Cellion ang kutsilyo malapit sa puso ni Raven nang bigla na lang may humarang.

Raven and Cellion were both surprised. Biglang nanginig ang mga kamay at tuhod ni Raven nang ma-realize niya kung sino ang taong humarang — kahit si Grim at ang nag-aagaw buhay na si Kazen ay nagulat dahil sa kanilang nasaksihan sa hindi kalayuan.

"Damn you..." Cellion immediately let go of the knife and jumped backward.

Habang si Raven naman, hindi pa rin siya makapaniwala sa kanyang nakita.

"W-What... What are y-you doing here?" Nakatalikod pa rin ang tao sa kanya, at hindi niya namalayan ang pagtulo ng luha sa kanyang mga mata.

Biglang napatumba sa sahig ang taong humarang sa kanila ni Cellion, ngunit, mabilis naman itong sinalo ni Raven.

"R-Raven..."

"G-Goddamn you! Ba't mo ba g-ginawa 'yon, ha, Ethan?!" She rested his head on Raven's lap. "No, f-forget it. Don't speak. Save your energy, p-please."

Raven looked at  Ethan's wound. It was a direct hit. The sharp knife pierced very close to Ethan's heart and if she pulls it out, he will die.

Raven wept as she could not stop herself anymore. The feelings were just too much for her to bear.

"R-Raven... I-I'm s-sorry..."

"E-Ethan, please, stop talking. I should be s-sorry, okay? I-I was so dumb to think I could change my uncle." Raven tried to speak properly between her cries. "I-I should have k-killed him when I had the chance..."

Ethan tried to touch Raven's cheek. When he successfully did, Raven held it that made Ethan form a weak smile that also made Raven's tears fall even more.

"G-Glad I was o-on time to s-save you... I-I'm elated y-you're okay... R-Raven, since m-mamatay na n-naman ako... p-please, listen t-to m—" Napahinto si Ethan nang bigla siyang napaubo ng dugo.

Raven reacted and got immediately anxious.

"E-Ethan, please, 'wag k-ka ng magsalita!"

"I-I have t-to... R-Raven, a-alam kong kayang-kaya m-mong kaibiganin si H-Hashira... I-If you start b-believing in her, s-she'll start b-believing in y-you, too..." Ethan was struggling to speak, but he did not mind it. "I'm s-sorry for all the l-lies I've told y-you... P-Pero gusto kong m-malaman mo n-na binigyan mo ng s-saysay ang w-walang kwentang b-buhay ko..."

Raven's sobs were the only things that can be heard, habang nakatingin lang si Cellion, Grim, at ang nag-aagaw buhay pa rin na si Kazen sa malayo.

"E-Ethan... S-Stay with m-me..."

"W-Wish I c-can... Raven, g-gusto kong malaman m-mo na masaya a-akong naging kapatid m-mo... M-Mamimiss ko a-ang kasungitan m-mo sa kabilang m-mundo..." Unti-unti nang humina ang boses ni Ethan, at naramdaman ni Raven na malapit na ang oras nito. "I-I love you, R-Raven... Sana m-mapatawad mo a-ako... I l-love you forever... A-And always..."

Ethan slowly closed his eyes at nabitawan nito ang kamay ni Raven. Mas lalo siyang napahagulhol nang mapagtanto niyang wala na si Ethan. Napasigaw si Raven dahil napakabilis ng mga panyayari.

Samantalang sa hindi kalayuan, kasamang dumating si Reo-sensei, ang The Black Diamond, at sina Sunny, Elizabeth, Daisy, Chloe, at Yamato-sensei. It was only a few minutes nang dumating naman sina Blade, Maura, Hades at Sheena kasama si Benedict.

Nanlaki ang kanilang mga mata sa kanilang nakita. Tumindig rin ang kanilang mga balhibo nang maramdaman nila ang galit na aura ni Raven.

"Dammit," Hades spoke. "we're too late."

Napakuyom siya ng kanyang kamao. Blade also gritted his teeth. They arrived late because they were still looking for Benedict who was hiding somewhere to avoid getting himself killed. They needed his blood from the family of bats to mix with Sheena's para mas lalong maging epektibo ito kay Hashira kung sakaling mawawalan ng kontrol si Raven nito.

Nalaman kasi ni Hades through basic experiment na mas magiging epektibo kung iko-combine ang rare na dugo ni Sheena at ang dugo ni Benedict from the family of bats.

"What are we going to do now?" Walang kayang sumagot sa tanong ni Maura dahil walang nakakaalam kung ano ang tamang isasagot sa kanya.

Back to Raven, Cellion flinched when Raven slowly stood up. Hindi niya makita ang mga mata nito dahil nakayuko siya.

"R-Rin..." He gulped when he felt Raven's aura.

Raven's energy level has increased rapidly, and he knew that he was no match for her anymore.

Back inside Raven's mind, she looked at Hashira straight in the eyes.

"Hashira, I don't care anymore... You can do whatever you want," she said as Hashira was just looking at her seriously.

"Wise choice. Destroy the seal, then, and I'll take care of everything."

Raven aimed her open palm at the seal of Hashira's prison. Her eyes were dead, and her expression was blank. She was drop dead serious of what she was doing, and she had no doubts.

"Purple Death: Fire Blast." A magic circle appeared before her open palm, and a purple fire appeared — burning the seal.

Hashira plastered a smirk on her face as the giant, metal bars opened. When it was completely opened, she stepped out and once again, she felt the full power in her body.

"Don't worry, Raven," she said, but Raven did not look at her at nakayuko lang. "you've done your part. Leave the rest to me."

Back to the real world, fear was painted in all of Raven's friends' and comprades' faces.

"I-I can't move... Masyadong malakas ang power level ni Raven para sa'ting lahat!" Blade exclaimed.

Walang kahit ni isa sa kanila ang makagalaw dahil sa lakas ng power level ni Raven. Napakabigat nito para sa kanila.

"Raven, why did you give in? Dammit, looks like I failed her." Hades kept on cursing in his mind.

"Cellion, we meet again." Nanlaki ang mga mata nilang lahat sa kanilang narinig, lalong-lalo na si Cellion. "What's with that surprised look on your face? I thought you were expecting to see me?"

She raised her head, at mas lalo pang pinagpawisan si Cellion nang makita niya ang mga mata ng dalaga. Her eyes were still magenta purple, but something was definitely off about her.

Her hair grew even longer, and its color changed into scarlet. Her alluring appearance promptly sent a chill down to everyone's spines.

Meanwhile, back to Grim and Kazen, Kazen seemed to have found a way to escape his plight. Grim was too occupied looking at the sudden change of Raven's atmosphere that he was not able to notice Kazen uttering a simple spell.

He was having a hard time speaking it, pero nang matapos na niyang banggitin ang mga salita ay unti-unting nabasag ang yellow sphere hanggang sa tuloyan na nga itong nasira.

Grim was flabbergasted when he realized that Kazen have escape. However, Grim knew deep inside that he was in no condition to fight Kazen anymore due to what happened.

Kazen, on the other hand, was coughing and gasping for air. Nang makalabas na siya sa sphere, mas lalo pa niyang naramdaman ang lakas at bigat ng aura ng kapatid niya.

"K-Kira..." He also diverted his attention to the lifeless man lying on the ground, at mas lalo pang tumindi ang galit niya. "Ethan... Shit! I was so useless!"

Napatingin rin siya sa malayo nang mapansin niya ang mga kaibigan ni Raven, lalong-lalo na si Hades. Even if Raven never grew up with him, he still kept tabs on everything that is happening on her sister.

"Even when we join forces here... Even with me by their side," Kazen said and clecnhed his fists. "there's no way we can defeat the strongest devil and her heir."

Back at Raven's friends, napatingin rin si Blade kay Kazen, at nagtaka rin siya nang makita niya ito.

"H-Hades, 'di ba si Simon Reyes iyan?" He caught the attention of both Maura and Hades as he pointed at Kazen's and Grim's direction. "What's he doing right over there and with Grim?"

"You're right, Blade. Si Simon Reyes nga!" It was Maura.

Hades was shocked, but he got over it eventually.

"Of course, he'll be here. Why didn't I realize that?" Hades said. "His real name is Kira Kazen Kuroda, and he's Raven's real brother."

"He's the what?!" Napataas ng boses si Maura at Blade dahil hindi niya inexpect iyon.

Tumango lang si Hades sa kanilang dalawa.

"But I'm afraid, now's not the right time for me to explain that," he said. "Sa nakikita niyo at dahil hindi natin kayang gumalaw dahil pinipigilan tayo sa sobrang lakas ng energy level ni Raven, wala tayong choice kundi kumilos hanggang sa kumalma na siya."

Blade clenched his fists upon hearing what Hades said. However, he also noticed that Hades' clenched fists were also shaking. He knew he was right, and they had no other choice but to do as Hades say.

Back at Raven who was completely controlled by Hashira, her aura has completely changed at mas lalo pa itong lumakas. Cellion took a step backward at bakas sa mukha niya ang labis na takot.

"Seriously, you made me mad, and you can't even handle the consequences? I know you're scared, Cellion." She pointed at her head. "Your mind's open, and I can read it."

"Y-You're aura... It's mind-boggling!" Mas lalo pang pinagpawisan si Cellion. "Pero hindi mo pa rin ako mapipigilan, Hashira!"

"Oh? Let me see you trying," Hashira in her complete human form smirked. "but I'm warning you, you'll never lay a finger on my skin."

Nanggigil si Cellion, at nawalan siya ng kontrol sa kanyang sarili. Naging visible na rin ang kanyang aura, at tumaas rin ang kanyang power level.

However, Hashira's confidence was still high.

The veins on Cellion's head has started to appear as he keep forcing himself to raise his power level. Nang makontento na siya sa kanyang lakas, tumingin siya ulit kay Hashira.

"You'll pay, Hashira. Hinding-hindi ko mapapatawad ang pagpapahiya mo sa'kin." Susugod na sana si Cellion kay Hashira nang biglang humarang si Grim.

Hashira was still calm as she crossed her arms. She was just looking at the both of them, waiting for Cellion to make his first move.

"Dad, please! 'Wag niyong gawin ito! Your body can't withstand that high power level!" Grim exclaimed. "Dad, mamamatay ka kapag ipapatuloy mo ito!"

Cellion gritted his teeth and looked daggers at his son.

"'Wag kang makealam, Grim. Alam ko ang ginagawa ko, kaya tumabi ka diyan!"

"No, you don't, Dad! Nagpapadala ka lang sa emosyon, e. Nagpapadala ka lang sa galit at obsesyon mo!" Grim was worried about him.

However, the only thing that was on Cellion's mind was to kill and absorb Hashira for his own selfish reasons.

"Dad, please..."

"Grim... You're far too weak to be my son." Sa isang iglap, bigla na lang tumagos ang kamay ni Cellion sa parte ng puso ni Grim.

Nanlaki ang mga mata ng lahat ng mga taong nakatingin sa kanila. Hindi rin nakita ni Grim ang panyayari, at bigla na lang dumaloy ang napakaraming dugo galing sa katawan niya.

He could not speak anymore, either, for Cellion already grabbed his heart outside of his son's body.

"You were too scared, Grim. Wala akong anak na mahina. Hindi kita pinalaking mahina." Cellion looked straight into Hashira's eyes and squeezed his son's heart right in front of her as if he was sending a message.

Hashira was not very pleased, and she did not feel sorry. Moreover, everyone was speechless. They knew Cellion was ambitious and merciless, but they never once thought that he could take his son's own life.

Bumagsak ang katawan ni Grim sa sahig, at sinipa pa niya ito malayo sa kanya na naging sanhi upang mas lalo pang magalit ang mga nanonood; ecxept for Hashira na kalmado pa ring nakatingin sa kanya.

"Lahat ng mga tao dito ay hindi na kayang gumalaw dahil sa lakas ng mga energy at power levels natin, Hashira." Cellion smirked. "Let's finish what we started, shall we?"

Hashira looked at him for a moment, then sighed. Nagtaka naman si Cellion sa tinuran niya, pero hindi muna siya nagsalita. Hashira scanned the whole area, and she saw a lot of familiar faces, especially Raven's brother and friends.

"Are these the people that you truly care about now, Raven?" She also looked up to the sky. "And is this the world that you would willing to die for?"

Hashira laughed softly and said, "What an idiot."

"Hey, what're you mumbling about? Don't you wanna fight me, Hashira?" Cellion started to feel irritated, kaya napatingin ulit si Hashira sa kanya.

"I'd love to, King," Hashira smirked anew. "but I've got to end this one quick. I've no plans on staying here longer. Besides, you still can't beat me no matter what you do."

Cellion got infuriated, but he did not make a move when Hashira raised her arm with an open palm up to the sky.

"W-What are y-you doing?"

"Killing your son was a mistake. You're much weaker. You devoid of a lot of things that you don't even know," Hashira said as a giant magic circle appeared right above Blandon High. It was the biggest magic circle everyone has ever seen.

"W-What the h-hell?! D-Don’t tell m-me…" Cellion was freaking out. "For motherfucking sake, are you nuts? You'll blow everyone up here into smithereens!"

Hashira still did not wipe off the smirk on her face. Cellion was not the only one who was freaking out, lahat ng mga estudyante sa Blandon High na nakapansin ng magic circle sa ibabaw ay nagwawala na rin.

"Cellion, listen to me. We'll still soon see each other again. As the dark melody starts to play, the world will be overwhelmed in the hands of the rising devils." Biglang sumeryoso ang mukha ni Hashira. "We'll may become histories for now, but I won't let the rising devils win the war."

"N-No... Wait, Hashira!"

She ignored Cellion and looked at her friends. She gave them a smile and from the moment she did that, Raven's friends sensed that it was not the fearless Hashira who was smiling at them — but Raven herself.

"Purple Demon: Pluto, descend!" A very bright, purple light engulfed the whole area.

However, the light was not something very ordinary. Everyone yelped and ran for their lives. It was like they were being burnt alive in the fires of hell.

Raven's friends and comrades could not move even an inch. Despite the screams that entered in Maura, Blade, Hades, Kazen, and Reo-sensei ears, they still managed to hear the one and only word that entered their ears before they completely felt like their souls were leaving their bodies.

"Sayonara."