TWELVE.

CHAOS, THE BEGINNING.

❝Like cells develop and every breath you take, life is the most valuable thing you will ever have. It's the most important part of who you are and ever will be. A single life taken is an awful loss that you can never get back. Never give in to the pull of fate.❞ - Notes from the Book of Fate.

✙☽✛☽✙

"HINDI AKO ang kalaban dito."

Kung gano'n, sino? Saku apparently didn't understand why he was now leading them here. If he were truly an ally, he could have led them to Chaos' realm, but what's this? Thanatos wished to be free; something's wrong.

Now he's even more curious about where this is going. Saku crossed his arms, smirking at him. "Patunayan mo."

"Well..."

"Aren't you very skilled at this, Thanatos? Hanggang satsat ka lang din, 'no?" Nasa itaas ng puno ang isang lalaki at dahan-dahan niyang binababa ang hood niya and smirked at them.

Saku recognizes the person from those eyes. He meant those mocking eyes. The man who is determined about winning, the one who believes he's perfect, the man who shares his face and resembles him almost exactly—that is, if he's human. Saku let out a sigh and walked without shame towards him.

"Salvatore,"

He took another look at him, as if his words were beyond his understanding. He had not seen that person in a long time. Indeed, despite growing up with Rino, Xandria, Saku, and even enduring being test subjects when they were young, Salvatore has always felt smaller than his hated brother. In addition, he will now be a leader in Chaos' realm, helping them.

"So what now? Wala ka bang sasabihin, Kuya?" He smirked at him.

Smirking, Salvatore stood in front of him. He was sure Salvatore was sprinting with his little arms reaching out towards him when he left. Screaming at him not to go. And now he has these enraged-looking eyes. Maybe both.

"Sandali lang! Kuya! H'wag mo muna akong iwan!"

However, he hurriedly walked away, pretending Saku didn't care. Because everybody who sticks with him will be put in danger. So he had to abandon him and Xandria, and he is aware of this.

The only vivid memory that he had with his brother is when his aunt forcefully put him in the room together. As a brother, he appeared to be quite protective of Salvatore.

Dahil alam niyang wala siyang nagawa kay Xandria at wala siyang ginawa para iligtas 'to. Samakatuwid, 'di niya pinaramdam na kakaiba siya gaya ng sinabi sa kanya ng mga scientist.

Salvatore bit his lower lip at halos mapayuko na lang 'to. He was avoiding Saku's look and felt pretty heavy about how their aunt always addressed him. Na isa 'tong homunculus. His lips trembled as a flood of tears fell upon his face.

"Kuya, am I not your twin?"he asked and adjusted his glasses.

Saku could sense that he's really attempting to avoid being affected by it. Pero alam niyang apektado pa rin siya. 'Di man agad sinabi ng kambal niya pero alam niyang nagseselos siya.

Hazel is always accusing him of being nothing more than a substitute, which is why he was forced to stay with their family. Isinusumpa niya siya sa kasalanang hindi niya ginawa! 'Di kasalanan ni Salvatore kung bakit nawawala si Xandria.

At ilang beses ding pinamukha ni Hazel that Salvatore is her creation. He isn't human; he's her creation.

Na nabubuhay lamang 'to dahil sa... alchemy magic had been transferred into his body.  And his body was simply a lifeless body selected by the scientist. They created something that resembled a clone. He is created, not born.

Saku patted his head and sighed, "Kambal kita."

He lied. Obviously.

Lumuhod si Saku sa harapan ni Salvatore to reach his height, "Hindi kita iiwan, gagawin ko ang lahat para protektahan ka."

But he did it though.

That meant there was no way out of this either. He gasped a bit and couldn't look at his twin brother. He hasn't seen him in years and doesn't know how to speak with him.

"It's okay if you don't. I don't want to hear your explanations, though. As if I care," he muttered, frowning at him. "And, most importantly, are you sure you can trust my old man?"

Inakbayan na lang niya 'to at nilagay niya 'yung kamay niya sa leeg ni Saku, "Hindi ka tanga para magpagamit sa kahit na sino. You knew Thanatos worked together with Hades, so who knows what they're up to with this war?"

He lighted his cigarettes and scoffed at him, saying, "Don't you want to save the girl? Then get a hold on yourself. Trusting them, the Dieties, Greek Gods, and Scientists is the only fucking mistake you will make."

Salvatore delivered a note to him. Saku blinks and looks at the note his brother handed him, causing him to smirk. If he had the ability, he could create something truly unique.

It had no specific name, just initials. L. A. V. That's all that was discussed. Ah, sure, the human he enjoys playing with.

Perhaps this message is intended for something important. It was planned for him to meet his arch-nemesis. Knowing how desperate he's for the truth, the truth is now the one who started the game.

Agad na kinuha ni Saku ang kapirasong papel sa kanyang bulsa at tsaka naglakad papunta kay Thanatos. He knew it. May mali dito. 'Di niya maipunto kung ano man 'yon.

He could only feel frustrated and lost, like he had before. He hoped to gain clarification on all of this, but that did not happen.

He's most clearly responsible for Hades' act of war, and that is all Saku could have imagined at this point.

"Thanatos, tell me. Ano ba talagang gusto mong makuha at bakit ba desperado kang tulungan kami? And I just can't see why you should help us." Saku put his hand on his pocket tsaka niya 'to hinarap.

☫✠_____♆_____✡♆

SAKU CROSSED HIS ARMS and glared at him. Alam niyang hinahanap nila si Minami sa lahat ng 'to dahil sa kapangyarihan na taglay niya. Alam niya ang lahat. Dahil siya lang naman ang nag-pain sa kanya sa lahat ng mga bagay na 'to. Oo, tila walang dahilan si Thanatos para puntiryahin sila but then, what's his plan?

"You promised to help us. Pero paano ako maniniwala d'yan, ha? You worked for my father, and thinking about it makes me sick. Paano kung plano mo lang talaga makatakas para atakihin mo ang kapatid ko pagkatapos?"

He couldn't tell what type of expression he was making because of the hood he was wearing, and all he could see was how black his face was. Saku clearly doesn't want to work together with someone he can't even see. He reached out his hands and suddenly removed his hood, revealing his appearance.

Saku's eyes appeared to be more surprised than he already was. He's currently seeing a figure of a lean and muscular, with a regal face, honey gold eyes, and black hair flowing down his shoulders. His skin is the color of teakwood, and his dark wings glimmer in shades of blue, black, and purple. 

They say that he's merciless and undiscriminating, sharing a mutual hatred for most of the other gods and mortals. However, he may resent his job because doing so could cost his demigod rescuers their lives and he would be forced to bring them to the Underworld, prompting the other to ask if he even wanted to be free.

And there was only one reason he did all of this, which was to release him.

"Sa tingin mo ba ginawa ko ang mga bagay na 'yon dahil lang gusto kong wakasan ang anim na nation tulad ng iyong ama?"

"Who knows. As a result, your chances of getting out will be zero. So, give me this." Agad namang pinulot ni Saku ang bilog na hawak pa rin nito. That appears to be a valuable magical object to Thanatos.

It allows him to easily interact with the other Greek Gods and transfer into other realms. As a result, he was able to save them both from the abyss.

Magus Transporter. That's what it was often called.

Dumiretso siya kay Minami kung saan niya 'to iniwan. Kailangan niyang gawin 'yon dahil alam niyang 'di madaling makipag-ayos kay Thanatos. Wala na siyang panahon para magpaliwanag muli sa kanya. Wala siyang ibang ideya sa oras na 'yon kundi ang tumakas kasama siya.

Sa malayuan, nakita niya si Salvatore and he appears to be doing some magic. He stomped his death scythe, and Salvatore gazed at both of them. "H'wag na kayong mag-aksaya pa ng oras!"

Itinutok niya naman 'to and the two of them were quickly encircled by large violet energy, and a bridge came to pass in front of them. Then a violet thread appeared in Saku and Minami's hands.

"Soul Cord Destination."

"What are you doing, Salvatore!?" Thanatos shouted. Kinuha nito ang kanyang death scythe and his sweat quickly dripped across his face, making him look even more nervous than before.

"You don't understand! Your father only wanted to protect you! That's why he's forming an army to stop the scientist! The scientist had been playing with all of us! Saku! Listen to me!"

Saku smirked as he gently moved closer to Minami, pulling her waist closer to him. Napatingin sa kanya si Minami at halos mamula ang mukha nito. 'Di niya talaga alam kung ano ang iniisip niya. Pero ang ngiti niyang 'yon, it shows that he's even more dangerous than before.

"Sabi mo ikaw ang nagpadala ka ng mga halimaw para tulungan kami sa test na 'to, tama ba? That's why I had to go along with your plans," Saku explained, giving him his typical devious smile. There he is again, acting like a true villain.

Wala niyang alinlangan na pinasabog ang Magus Transporter and then he slowly moved his hands and then he casted some unknown spell para maalis niya ang hypnosis magic ng mga halimaw na 'yon. And suddenly the creatures shouted and charged toward Thanatos.

After that, an entrance slowly dragged them in. It's also the path to the realm of Chaos. That one is known as Celestial Isles. The beginning can be found here. The true test started at this point.