TEN.

THANATOS' PRISON.

"PLINANO MO BA TALAGA ang lahat ng 'to? Do you actually intend to test me as you please? Gano'n mo na lang ako paglaruan?" Tanong ni Minami and she crossed her arms and scowled at him.

"I told you, didn't I? It's up to me whether or not to trust you. And you're the one who approached me about the contract, remember?"

"Oo nga, pero—"

"Sinabi ko na may tiwala ako sa 'yo at walang duda tungkol do'n. Pero, Minami, may ilang bagay na kailangan mong malaman. And you're the one who'll fill it."

He suddenly moved past her, grabbed a chalk, and drew a circle. He could irritate Sloth again, but he needs to hurry up so they can get into the Spirit Sanctum as soon as possible. He extended his palm towards the circle, and a violet force surrounded the magic circle.

And then a man with long hair showed up again, "You again! What is it this time?"

"Astartoth, the Sloth. We meet again."Ngisi na lamang ni Saku sa kanya.

"After you use me just because of some little girl who—"

Dinuro naman ni Sloth si Minami and he yelled, "Yes, that little girl! My precious sleep was disturbed because of your actions."

"Little girl? That's an interesting way to approach me."Minami grabbed her sword and stretched her palms, causing the sword to float into her hands and sparkles of magic encircling her hands. At wala niyang alinlangan na binato 'yon sa kanya.

She could feel a huge magic surrounding her. By the way, she hates the fact that people have labeled her as a weak woman when she was never that way. She doesn't care who Sloth is, but she can beat him up! Is there anything he wants to say to her?

"I told you she's interesting." Saku smirked, giving Sloth a devious smile. "Right, Astartoth?"

"With that barbaric woman, I doubt!"

'Di makapaniwala si Sloth na magagamit siya ni Saku ng gano'n! Nakalimutan siguro ng lalaking 'to na kaya niyang malampasan ang mga test na hinain mismo ng challengers sa kanya.

At ano? Nagagawa lang niya na paglaruan na lamang siya ng ganito?

This guy was quite the villain, wasn't he? And he really can't do anything to him! It was part of the rules to obey him and follow his rules regardless of what happened. However, this guy sometimes goes crazy. As if he could might use the seven sins whenever he wanted.

It's not like he's angry or anything; he's just tired from all of this.

He even remembered that the seven sins had always been with him since the day he was born. Persephone held him as a baby. That day was still vivid in his memory. The first day, he met the man of wars, whose name was Henry.

He was a cute little infant back then, and he had no idea that the cute little baby in Persephone's arms would grow up to be a villain who would someday commit genocide on the entire Ethead.

Like what his father always wanted him to be. He remembers how sharp those stares are and how arrogant he can be when he speaks. Even as a child, isn't he a little wicked?

A woman with purple hair just flipped her hair, "Come on, we're supposed to be soldiers at 'di kasama sa trabaho natin ang pagbantay sa batang 'yon!"Lust flared up and she pointed at the baby with the crimson hair with a different pair of eyes.

Persephone softly strokes the child's hair, and she must have enjoyed caring for him. A thought immediately came to her.

"Don't be like that with him. I'm confident that this kid will make a difference. He'll save us all," she said, smiling.

"That kid? Impossible naman yata—"

Napahawak na lamang si Sloth sa kanyang tiyan at tumawa naman 'to ng malakas. The baby with crimson hair released his fiery aura and moved his hands at halos mabunggo niya ang flower vase sa tabi niya at halos matapon niya ang tubig nito. And now the water runs directly into Sloth's face.

Halos manlamig si Sloth dahil sa ginawa sa kanya ng bata. Hindi siya makapaniwala sa ginawa nito sa kanya. Dahan-dahan niyang itinaas ang kamay na halos magawang yakapin ang sarili dahil sa lamig ng tubig. 'Bata lang 'yon 'di' ba?'These thoughts crossed his mind.

Bakit parang ang batang tulad niya ay alam ang kanyang ginagawa? O sadyang namamalik-mata lamang siya?

"Hahaha!"Lust pointed at him at naghahampas na siya sa pader habang tumatawa na lang sa kanya ng malakas.

"He doesn't like you, Sloth!"

"Me, neither!"

The baby with crimson hair glanced at Sloth and burst into tears. Sloth moved back, sighed, and massaged his hair. Why does he think this kid has something against him? What has he done to him?

Suddenly, the place became even more eerie, to the point where Sloth had to bow his head. Dealing with this kid is highly dangerous especially since he is Hades' son.

Persephone smiled at him and moved straight to Sloth, tenderly handing him the baby with the crimson hair, "Why don't you try to care for him? Perhaps the child will change his mind if he gets to know you."

"What, me?"

Kung sana gano'n lang kadali 'yon.

Not when this kid could be the villain who brings an end to Twilight Vale. And, honestly, he can't shake the feeling that he's still a cheeky kid.

Especially with how he drew chemical formulas on his face!

☫✠_____♆_____✡♆

LUMAPIT SI SAKU sa kanya at tsaka 'to inakbayan, "Come on, are you still upset because I channel your dark energy into my dark orbs so we can enter the abyss?"

"Hindi lang 'yon, hayop ka! At isa pa, ang lakas ng loob mong mang-istorbo, eh ako lang naman gumawa ng paraan para mailigtas mo 'yung crush mo!"

"What—"

Nang makita ni Saku si Minami na nakatitig sa kanya ay agad siyang nataranta. Tumingin 'to ng diretso sa kanya and his shoulders appeared stiff, and he blushed deeply. He gulped and decided to confirm things with her.

"Did you hear anything that Sloth said?" he immediately asked.

"Huh? Ano?"

She seemed totally clueless about it. 'Oh, you're breaking down my heart even more. Ang manhid mo kahit kelan! Pero crush pa rin kita!' These are what he was thinking right now.

However, this isn't the first time she has rejected him. Pero kahit gaano ka manhid ang babaeng 'to, siya lang ata ang hahabulin niya ng ganito. And she's the one person for whom he can break all the rules in order to make sure her Fate's safety.

He raised his palms, opened Sloth's door, and quickly dispelled him. Minami desperately wanted to know more about his fate, but she shouldn't. Her major goal is to ensure his safety.

"So, shall we go to the Spirit Sanctum now?"

"Yes."

Everything was supposed to happen. Thanatos will one day be free of his cold bindings. Thanatos has now been cast out of Iceland and captured. Then, Gaea used his absence to take control of the Doors of Death forcing them open and allowing souls that would help her defeat the Olympians back into the mortal world and giving monsters the ability to reform almost instantly.

And in order to restraint Thanatos', Hades ordered Alastor to thrown him out after all Alastor was associated with both Greek and Roman mythology. In Greek mythology, Alastor is associated with the sins that pass down generations from fathers to sons.

In Roman mythology, he is notorious as the evil genius of the household who entices residents to commit sins. He is often associated with family feuds.

"Well, here it goes," Saku murmured to her, immediately grabbing his key and flicking his hand to create black thunders before turning it as if he were unlocking something.

And both of them were unexpectedly swept in by clouds. Nang imulat ni Minami ang kanyang mga mata, isang malakas na hangin ang halos sumalubong sa kanya. At halos malamig sa lahat ng dako.

And now they're in Iceland.

Nasa isang mountain sila at halos nagyeyelo ang buong lugar.

"We're in Iceland now, right?"

Saku stroked both of his fingers and felt the strong cold of the mountains. He flicked his palm, and magical sparkles showed up in his hand, allowing him to create two pairs of scarf. Both are crimson. He handed Minami the other scarf and glanced at her, his cheeks heated. Is it because of the chilly air, or something else?

"Let's go and find some clues,"

Tumingin ng diretso si Saku kay Minami at pulang pula ang mukha nito. Nakita niya ang dalawang matandang mag-asawa na umaakyat sa bundok and he quickly approached them.

"Má ég spyrja þik spurning?" He quickly asked and smiled at both of them. No fucking way! He could speak Old Norse Language!? And he just asked them, 'Can I ask you a question?'

"Hví, já. Þú sýnist vera nýr hér." The couple simply answered to him,  'Why, yes. You appear to be new here.'

Kinuha naman niya ang map at ipinakita iyon sa dalawang matanda. Mukhang naiintindihan naman nila 'yon and they seemed to be communicating effectively with Saku. Tinupi niya naman ang map na hawak-hawak niya, tsaka ngumiti kay Minami at kumaway sa kanya.

"I finally find the entrance! Let's go!"Agad naman lumapit si Saku sa kanya at hinawakan niya ang kamay nito.

She couldn't say anything. All she can do is express how amazed she is with him. He might be a pain in the ass, but she couldn't complete this task without him. And the path to Chaos' realm is close. So now they're on their own journey to the Spirit Sanctum.

He then gave me a devious smile, "If Rino got that Satyr with him it would only be natural for us to have a guide too."

Now, those mythical beings appeared in front of them, and Saku simply walked towards them. These are the Hydra, Sphinx, Chimera, and, of course, one of Hades' monsters, Alastor.

'You're kidding me! H'wag mong sabihin na dadalhin namin ang mga halimaw na 'yan? Ano bang iniisip nitong si Saku?'These are the thoughts came across her mind.

She knew what kind of person he is. And most of all, how twisted his personality is. This isn't new to her. Minami have to mentally prepared for what's going to happened.

She heaved a deep sigh and gripped her chest, "Saku, this is dangerous! Sa tingin mo ba 'di gaganti ang mga 'yan sa mga pinagagawa mo!? We just faced Tartarus a few hours ago!"Minami screamed at him, but he didn't seem troubled.

"It'll be fine. Plus, they're under my hypnosis magic, so I doubt those monsters would have attacked us by now." Saku replied, smirking, flicking his palm, and they were transported somewhere else.

"Let's go. I had a feeling Thanatos was close."

They began traveling, and the environment appeared to be rather black, with mist spreading all over it and the air appearing to be quite cold. This is the way to the Spirit Sanctum.

At dito nakakulong si Thanatos.