The battlefield fell silent.
Rain dripped from broken trees.
No one moved.
No one breathed.
The towering figure known as the First Agent stood among the ruins of the forest, his crimson eyes fixed on Stella.
A terrible smile crossed his face.
"She's finally awake."
Stella felt a chill run through her body.
The pressure coming from him was unlike anything she had ever felt before.
Even Raven looked tense.
Lucien slowly stepped backward.
"The seal should have held..." he whispered.
The First Agent turned his glowing eyes toward him.
"You locked me away for fifteen years."
His voice was calm.
Too calm.
"And now you're surprised I'm angry?"
Lucien didn't answer.
The First Agent suddenly vanished.
BOOM!
The ground exploded beneath him.
In less than a second, he appeared directly in front of Lucien.
The Black Veil commander barely had time to react.
CRASH!
Lucien was sent flying through the air and slammed into an armored vehicle.
Metal twisted around him.
The soldiers froze in horror.
Their commander had been defeated with a single strike.
The First Agent looked disappointed.
"Weak."
Subject 13 clenched her fists.
"He keeps getting stronger."
Stella looked at Raven.
"What is he?"
Raven's eyes never left the monster.
"He was Black Veil's greatest creation."
The First Agent slowly turned toward them.
"And their greatest mistake."
Thunder flashed overhead.
His gaze settled on Stella once again.
For a moment, his expression softened.
"You have her eyes."
Stella froze.
"What?"
The First Agent stepped forward.
"Your mother's eyes."
Everything stopped.
Stella's heart pounded.
"You knew my mother?"
The First Agent nodded.
A painful sadness appeared in his eyes.
"I did."
Before Stella could ask another question, Black Veil soldiers opened fire.
BANG! BANG! BANG!
Hundreds of bullets raced toward him.
The First Agent didn't move.
The bullets simply stopped in midair.
Every single one.
The soldiers stared in disbelief.
Then—
The bullets dropped harmlessly to the ground.
Silence.
Fear spread across the battlefield.
The First Agent looked annoyed.
"Children playing with toys."
The air around him exploded.
BOOOOM!
A wave of crimson energy swept across the battlefield.
Vehicles flipped over.
Weapons shattered.
Soldiers were thrown through the forest.
Within seconds, Black Veil's army was defeated.
Stella couldn't believe what she was seeing.
This wasn't power.
This was something beyond power.
The First Agent looked back at her.
"Your mother saved my life."
Stella's eyes widened.
"What?"
Years ago, before you were born, she helped me escape Black Veil."
Even Raven looked surprised.
The First Agent continued.
"She believed nobody should live as a weapon."
A memory flashed through Stella's mind.
Her mother's smile.
Her kindness.
Her warmth.
Tears filled Stella's eyes.
"Then why did she die?"
The First Agent's expression darkened.
"Because Black Veil discovered the truth."
"What truth?"
The forest became silent again.
The First Agent looked directly into Stella's eyes.
"The truth about your father."
Stella's breath caught.
"My father?"
Raven suddenly stepped forward.
"Don't."
The First Agent ignored him.
"Your father wasn't just a human."
Stella felt her stomach drop.
"What are you talking about?"
The First Agent slowly raised a hand.
Crimson energy swirled around his fingers.
"Your father was the second strongest Blood Agent ever created."
The world seemed to stop.
Stella stared in shock.
"No..."
"Black Veil lied to you."
Raven closed his eyes.
He already knew.
Lucien coughed from the wreckage nearby and laughed weakly.
"Looks like the secrets are finally coming out."
The First Agent's gaze became cold.
"You should stay quiet."
Lucien smiled despite his injuries.
"Tell her the whole truth."
Stella looked between them desperately.
"What truth?"
The First Agent hesitated.
For the first time, he seemed uncertain.
Then he spoke.
"The power inside you..."
Crimson lightning flashed across the sky.
"...isn't complete."
Stella frowned.
"What does that mean?"
Before he could answer—
A massive explosion erupted behind them.
BOOOOM!
Everyone turned.
Deep within the forest, a giant crimson pillar of light shot into the sky.
The clouds split apart.
The earth shook violently.
The Hollow Beast whimpered and backed away.
Even the First Agent looked alarmed.
"No..."
Subject 13 stared at the light in horror.
"They activated it."
Raven's face turned pale.
"That's impossible."
Stella looked around desperately.
"Activated what?"
Lucien smiled.
A terrible smile.
"The Final Project."
The ground trembled again.
Something beneath the earth had awakened.
Something powerful.
Something hungry.
And somewhere inside the crimson light—
a pair of glowing eyes slowly opened.
End of Chapter 9 🔥