THIRTY-FOUR

THE ONLY ONE WHO CAN SAVE THEM ALL.

COURTNEY WALKED slowly, and shadows surrounded her, forming the shape of a snake, which hissed and watched the police's movements. She's known for a long time how much of a monster she is from where she came from, so it's no surprise that they treat her as such.

"Wala akong intention na makipag-away sa inyo however, there is just one thing that I can affirm with you all,"Courtney's golden eyes are shining like a serpent, and they look just like Medusa's, and they're getting really scared. "Perhaps what I'm about to say is completely absurd, but what if we could use him to stop the Fates?"

"Magtigil ka! As if makikinig kami sa mga halimaw na tulad niyo!" Sigaw ng mga pulis at bakas sa mukha nila ang takot. As if they perceive them as monsters.

"We're not here to kill you." Yuko na lamang ni Courtney.

"Shut up! 'Di ka pa nakakapunta dito kanina, kaya paano mo nasasabing ililigtas tayo ng lalaking 'yan, ha? 'Di mo alam kung paano niya kami tratuhin na parang isang hayop!" sigaw nila.

"No." Courtney gritted her teeth and gave them a fierce look. "I tell you, he's our only remaining hope. Is it not sufficient for you to believe me that he and the Archduchess of your own nation have their own contract?"

"Sa tingin mo maniniwala kami sayo? Alam mo tama na nga 'yan! Kahit anong sabihin mo there's no way we'll listen to you.

"Ano?"

"Ang babaeng 'yon ay maaaring maging isang halimaw na din now that she sided with a monster! As if we're gonna believe you!"

Courtney appeared to be more upset with them than Henry. It just seemed like they scared them more than before. Sa itsura pa lang nila, alam mong wala silang balak makinig. This would make it even more difficult for them to persuade.

Henry grumbled and gently lifted both wrists, the chains clacking around his arms and causing his hair to tangle. 'How can I persuade them? Should I just approach them and tell them I'm the Son of Hades? No, that would be risky. They're too afraid to look at me.' Those were his thoughts right now.

Henry remained in his stance and fixed his sight on them. And now that everything has turned this way, kailangan niyang panindigan ang lahat ng kanyang ginawa. He can't use his powers now since it was terrifying the hell out of them. He's merely looking at them, observing what kind of move they'll make.

Henry's eyes once sparkled.

In the end, they're just a group of officers who were terrified of him. That's why they want to retain him here alongside the Titans. Ngunit kung siya ang tatanungin, 'di siya natatakot sa panganib na maaaring kaharapin niya.

Natahimik ang buong lugar, ang tanging maririnig ay ang paggalaw ng orasan and the steady drips of water on the metal. Parang walang bumabasag sa katahimikan sa ganitong sitwasyon.

And to cut off the homicidal desire that he produced, sakto namang pumunta si Courtney sa harap nila at higit pa doon ay sinigawan niya na lamang ang mga pulis.

And slowly gritting her teeth, "Enough with all these shits, would you? Pwede bang tumahimik kayo at makinig sa 'kin!? Para kayong mga duwag and you call yourself a respectable cops? Ha! Don't make me laugh."

Their cheeks are drenched in sweat, and their jaws tremble. If it weren't for the Headmistress, they could have killed these children right away. And technically, they have no choice.

"Is that so? Then forgive us but we're not letting that man go forward. And if you choose to go side with that monster then you're also an enemy."

"Wait!" Nagulat sila ng lumapit ang babae, it turned out to be Giovanni after all. Muntik na siyang matumba sa bigat na dinadala niya dahil sa dala-dala niyang magical book at malaking espada. Without a doubt, dito hawak ng tatay niya si Teras at Demigods na hawak niya.

And she knew something was going on from the moment she stepped inside. At si Henry lang ang makakapagsabi.

Henry pushed himself in, instantly taking Courtney on his back and running after Giovanni, dragging her with him. The cops intend to kill them, and there is no point in talking to them. They had to flee now.

"Tor itl akli," Suddenly, a powerful amount of power covered them, and something in his hands resembled black veins, and the Big Skulls were called and connected to it. 

"What's going on here!?"

"How would I know!? Sinubukan kong kausapin 'tong mga pulis Giovanni ngunit nakikita mong 'di sila nakikinig! And, seriously!? They're now pointing us towards some fucking artillery!" Sigaw ni Courtney at tinuro ang mga lalaking kukuha ng mga cannon.

"You don't mean they'll shoot us!?"Giovanni shouted, slowly laying her hand on her head. A lot was already going on, and she couldn't understand why they were targeting them.

Both girls are afraid right now. Courtney grabbed Giovanni's shirt and asked, "Where's your Book of Fate, hmm?" We need to know what our fate is immediately, or the three of us will die!"

Just the concept of being at risk approaching them feels like it is pushing them into threats they were unaware of. They set the cannon and swiftly pointed it at them at napahawak si Giovanni sa damit ni Henry, "Henry, you must take action. Now!"

"There's no need to haste, milady. I already suspected that we would be in danger, so trust me with everything."

That's what he said. There are too many of them. He may endanger them both the longer it goes on. Henry isn't sure if he can keep his skulls up while still protecting Giovanni and Courtney. His body feels hotter, and he remembers a scientist named Sai telling him something.

"Hello, little one. Do you not want to get out of here? Don't you have someone to look out for? Only you have the power to save the Archduchess and my niece. You have to keep them safe!"

☫✠_____♆_____✡♆

HE NEEDED answers. When he was imprisoned, Hades let him loose, stating he had this monstrous potential that he might employ for war. Until today, he has no idea what that means. And he simply messed his hair and groaned heavily. Even if he needed answers right now, he can't simply return to Hades.

Who knows what dangers await him. Risks are worthwhile for a while, but not every risk leads to the desired outcome.

Ngayon ay mas lumapit sila at binigyan ang tatlo ng masasamang tingin sa isa-isa, at lumapit si Courtney at ginalaw ang kanyang mga braso ng dahan-dahan para protektahan si Giovanni at 'tsaka humarang 'to sa harap niya, "Hindi ka rin titigil, 'no? Hindi ko alam kung takot lang ba kayo or what! You damn weaklings!"

Huminga na lang siya ng malalim, "Mga duwag!"

And as he made the decision to click his ring, a powerful black lightning strike occurred directly in front of them. He was trying to think of an excuse to convince them as well, but it doesn't seem to work at all. Suddenly, Courtney's gaze changed when she heard a walk coming their way.

It was an old man with a mustache and a bald head. And he drank his beer while smiling at them, "Sir Monroe, that's enough."

 "C-Commander Pyxis!?"

Commander Pyxis formed his unpleasant smile and twisted his mustache as part of his habits. "When will you stop being a baby? I just heard that you guys pointed a cannon at one of my students, along with two nobles. You really have a nerve."

Halos manlunmo na lang sila at huminga ng malalim, "That isn't possible. So you're saying, sir, that you're taking those three as students?"

"That's right. King's orders. Ngayon lumayas kayo sa harapan ko and if it's alright with you Conleth, can you lead the ladies back in the academy?"Pakiusap nito at ngumiti naman siya kay Henry.

The old man once took a sip of his beer and grinned at them. It had an amazing taste. Then he moved approaching Henry and touched him on the shoulder, "Henry, right? Why don't we have a chat?" 

Tumango siya, at sinundan niya 'to. 'Di alam ni Henry kung pinaghihinalaan niya ba 'to o hindi. Kaya sumama agad siya and the old man just smiled at him.

"Hindi ka ba nagtataka, iho, kung bakit ako ang sumundo sa 'yo?" 

"Kung gano'n sino ka?"

"One of your commanders in les Retraités, a unique military section at Phanteon Academy. Tayo ang magsisilbi sa mga Demigods inhabit the Cabin. And we need them to do their part to stop the Fates." 

"So, fix yourself. Today is your first day at Phanteon Academy," said the old guy, wrapping his arms around his back and beginning to walk. Sumunod sa kanya si Henry matapos. Paglabas nila ay nagulat siya ng may kotseng nasa harapan nila at agad na napatingin sa matanda.

"Commander Pyxis, what's this?"

"Originally, Goddess Persephone's mission was to escort you to the academy, correct? So it's simply my responsibility as your mentor to ensure your safety back at the academy."

Laking gulat niya sa sinabi sa kanya ng matanda. Kung siya ang tatanungin, marami pang bagay na gusto niyang malaman. Not just the Fates, gusto niyang malaman kung bakit patuloy na ginugulo ng mga scientist ang lugar na 'to and also wanted to know why he had been told he could save the whole world.

Was this due to his contract with the Archduchess? That was something he was unaware of.

"And while we're on the road, may I tell you about the Fates? The significance of the Fates is demonstrated not only by fearing what is written in them.

"Yes. Please do so."