Rain poured from the heavens.
Thunder shook the forest.
And Stella stood in the middle of the battlefield, staring at her grandfather lying motionless on the ground.
"Grandpa..."
Her voice barely came out.
Blood mixed with the rain beneath him.
Lucien calmly lowered his silver gun.
Around him, dozens of Black Veil soldiers waited silently.
Raven immediately moved toward Stella.
"Don't do this," he warned.
But Stella wasn't listening.
Something inside her had shattered.
The glowing crimson marks spread across her neck and face like burning cracks.
The ground beneath her feet trembled.
The Hollow Beast growled loudly beside her.
Lucien watched with interest.
"Remarkable," he said softly.
Raven's expression darkened.
"She's losing control."
Stella slowly stood.
Her head was lowered.
Her hands trembled.
Not from fear.
From rage.
"You hurt him."
Lucien smiled faintly.
"He was standing in the way."
The air suddenly became heavy.
Trees bent as a powerful force exploded from Stella's body.
BOOOOM!
The shockwave blasted soldiers backward.
Vehicles overturned.
The rain itself seemed to scatter away from her.
Several Black Veil soldiers screamed.
"Power levels are rising!"
"This is impossible!"
Lucien's smile disappeared.
For the first time, he looked serious.
Stella slowly raised her head.
Her eyes were no longer crimson.
They glowed like burning scarlet fire.
The Hollow Beast lowered itself beside her like a loyal guardian.
"Stella!" Raven shouted.
But she couldn't hear him anymore.
The Blood Agent power had taken over.
A terrifying red aura surrounded her body.
One soldier nervously fired his weapon.
BANG!
The bullet stopped in midair.
Then melted.
The entire battlefield froze.
Lucien's eyes widened.
"Impossible..."
Stella looked directly at him.
"You took my parents."
The sky thundered violently.
"You hurt my grandfather."
The red aura grew stronger.
"And now..."
Her voice became cold.
"...you will pay."
BOOM!
Stella vanished.
Lucien barely had time to react.
CRASH!
He flew through three trees before smashing into a boulder.
The entire forest shook.
The soldiers stared in horror.
No one had even seen her move.
Lucien slowly stood, blood running from his mouth.
Instead of fear
he laughed.
"Perfect."
Raven immediately knew something was wrong.
"Stella! Stop!"
But Lucien spread his arms proudly.
"This is exactly what Black Veil wanted."
Stella froze.
"What?"
Lucien smiled.
"The perfect Blood Agent."
The words struck her like lightning.
"The stronger your hatred becomes, the stronger your power grows."
Raven clenched his fists.
"He's manipulating you."
Lucien nodded calmly.
"Of course I am."
Then his smile widened.
"Because I need you angry."
Suddenly, a massive metal container was lowered from one of the transport vehicles.
Everyone stared.
The container shook violently.
BOOM!
Something inside slammed against the walls.
Again.
BOOM!
Again.
BOOM!
The Hollow Beast growled nervously.
Even Raven looked concerned.
Lucien walked toward the container.
"You deserve the truth, Stella."
The locks released.
HISSSSS.
Steam poured into the rain.
The giant doors slowly opened.
What stepped out made Stella's blood run cold.
A girl.
About her age.
Long black hair.
Pale skin.
Red glowing eyes.
And identical crimson markings.
The girl looked directly at Stella.
Then smiled.
"No way..." Stella whispered.
The girl tilted her head.
"You look just like me."
Lucien laughed quietly.
"Meet Subject 13."
The girl's smile widened.
"Or if you prefer..."
Her eyes glowed brighter.
"...your sister."
Silence.
The entire battlefield froze.
Stella's heart stopped.
"My... sister?"
Lucien nodded.
"The only other successful Blood Agent."
The mysterious girl slowly stepped forward through the rain.
"I've waited a long time to meet you, Stella."
Raven's expression darkened more than ever.
Because he knew something Stella didn't.
Subject 13 wasn't just another Blood Agent.
She was Black Veil's strongest weapon.
And she had never lost a fight.