Bloodrose

Prologue: Awakening: Dying eyes tells a story of poisonous passion

The story begins when a castle sealed in the moon begins to crumble and a blond-haired boy lying on the floor wounded as his murderer tearfully leave the falling structure back into the human world. Then he began to reminisce the past when he was still living a normal life until he got himself and the people he valued the most dragged into the mess he himself created as his existence will fade even into the deepest part of everyone he had known all his life.

Chapter 1: Opening of one’s eyes

Monsters began to attack and Soma, a 16 year old high school student was caught up in the ensuing chaos. Armed with nothing but his arnis sticks and determination, he was forced to defend himself from the monsters with relative ease. Even though he found them a bit easy to take out, when he clashed with 3 lizard-looking creatures, a dark aura surrounded him. He was about to use the aura’s power when Juliet, his love interest got caught up in the chaos as well. Rushing to her side in his reverted form, he was almost killed upon taking the blow that was meant for her. With his eyes closed, he had a dream in which instead of falling into endless darkness, he landed on a kaleidoscope floor which has an image of himself with angelic wings springing from his back holding a sword with angelic and demonic guards and a black angelic wing on the back of the blade and five of his friends holding different weapons. Upon landing on the same floor, a mysterious figure holding a sword stabbed him in the heart but instead of dying, he opened his eyes which became totally different as he pulled the sword from his chest and absorbed the figure in return.  Waking up, he found himself in Juliet’s arms, the latter crying because of fear. He got up and summoned the same sword from his dream, destroyed all the monsters and caused all those who were caught up in the attack to forget everything that happened. It all manifested from his eyes in the form of red irises with a tomoe for each eye which created a dome of energy within the range of the attack which caused the people affected by it to lose their memories of the attack and undo the damage done to certain places (bodies though are an exception since the kiseki manako is limited to undoing the damage done in places or objects and has no capacity to revive dead people though he can erase the others’ memories of the dead people involved).

Chapter 2: Destined to fight or fated to fall

Days passed after the incident, he was surprised to see a hooded masked man in front of him. What’s more surprising is that Soma is the only one seeing him as seen when the former’s new eyes automatically activated as soon as the mysterious figure appeared in front of him and casted a spell on Soma which caused everyone except the two people mentioned to be affected in a time stop. In here the hooded figure introduced himself as Ansem and explained all the events that happened yesterday on a confused Soma. It is revealed that the monsters are once among the stars but fell due to the powerful darkness inside them and ever since then, they walk the earth for one purpose, to kill and extract the darkness in their victims. However, there are stars that were able to take human form due to their constant control of the darkness. Soma, knowing that he has darkness as well despite being human, questions Ansem about it as the latter explained that even darkness lurks around in the hearts of men, though he said that Soma is a special case as he is able to give it form and use it for battle.

Then the masked man sent Soma into his subconscious mind to train in the art of fighting and using his powers at the same time. In the process of training himself, he learned how to breathe fire and transform it into various shapes(ie, dragon form, bullet form, shield form, and phoenix form) as his kiseki manako gained another tomoe in which he was able to replicate all of Ansem’s attacks and send them back at him. Before vanishing, Ansem explained the sole the purpose of the training, to prepare him for a new threat as he warned Soma of the inevitable appearance of seven dark stars due to the instant defeat of the monsters they sent during the first attack who calls themselves the seven deadly sins. Meanwhile in a castle, seven hooded men watch in a well that sees the human world implying that they started looking for Soma for unknown purposes to be revealed.

Chapter 3: Illusions and secrets

Taking the explanation seriously, he went home and tried to study the nature of his powers. The following day, he was forced to cheat due to the difficulty nature of the exam; however the proctor caught him doing so. In order to get out of trouble, he made eye contact with the proctor and used his Kiseki manako to make the former forget that he caught Soma cheating in the exam. In order to cheat without getting caught, he carefully looked at the brightest student’s right hand. With it, he was able to imitate the way the former writes and in the process, was able to copy all of the answers. Dismissal came and the focus shifts on Juliet, who was revealed to be unaffected by Soma’s eyes of oblivion. Instead of hanging out with her best friends, she confronted Soma regarding the attack that occurred weeks ago. Surprised by the fact that Juliet was totally unaffected due to the reason that the latter was able to fully recall the incident, he explained everything to her before rendering her unconscious but not before whispering to her his true feelings for her and the fact that he might die anytime due to his involvement in an inevitable battle. Then we focus on Juliet’s friends and eventually Soma’s friends who witnessed the former taking out Juliet. Together, they stalked Soma on the reason that he was acting very strange (something that doesn’t go unnoticed to Juliet ‘s friends, Denisse, Rayjane, Micah, Charlene, and Elton, even to Soma’s friends, Ciedie, Aish, and Sarah) to uncover his dark secrets out of curiosity. While they were stalking him toward the second street, they were surprised to see him materializing the sword “Yoru Kakou” from his hands, something which is familiar to Juliet. Then the focus shifts back to Soma as he prepares to fight a hooded man.

 Chapter 4: The first sin: the free shooter

Soma then asked the hooded man who he is. Then the hooded man introduced himself as Xigbar bearing the title Sloth. Then Soma realized that this man is one of the seven deadly sins the masked man from his vision was talking about. The fight between the two began when Xigbar shot fast bullets from his sharpshooter crossbow which is fast to the point that not even Soma’s friends, who were watching from the sidelines, didn’t caught sight of it. However Soma was fortunate enough to predict the bullets’ trajectory with the use of his kiseki manako as shown when he was able to perfectly deflect and dodge all the bullets. However, Xigbar disappeared in front of him as the former declared that can he see the latter even from afar. Seeing this opportunity, Soma went to his friends and asked them to leave as they might get into more trouble if they stay with him for too long without even realizing that Juliet followed him with Kevin. He then began to ran away as fast as he can he would be able to dodge the bullets from afar and eventually resorted to gliding in the air as he rose up so he could find a safe place where he and Xigbar could fight. The duel between Soma and Xigbar were intense to the point that the buildings around them were severely damaged in their fight due to bullets from Xigbar’s sharpshooter and dragon flames from Soma’s mouth and sword. Xigbar then tried shooting him from above however Soma saw through this and deflected the bullet meant for him and at the same time shoot a dark projectile from his hand which scarred Xigbar and was caught off guard from the pain. Taking advantage of this, Soma stabbed Xigbar in the back, the latter trembling in fear due to the Dark Aura surrounding Soma as Xigbar fade into nothingness, leaving his crossbows behind. However, Soma fainted due to the stress brought upon by his mysterious dark power (the origin of this is unknown, even to himself), leaving Juliet to get on her knees and Kevin heeding the call from the fallen star’s crossbow. Then the focus shifts to Kevin as he establishes a Contract with Hades, the force behind the sharpshooter. Then Soma woke up and upon realizing that Kevin established a contract with a star, asked him to close his eyes as he uses his “eye of Oblivion” to erase the memories of the battle and undo the damages done to the structures.

Chapter 5: Accomplices and Allies

This chapter is focused on Soma’s friends as they help him in handling the monsters and keeping this a secret from his family and everyone around them acquainted with Soma and the things they’ve been through to do this. It also emphasizes Kevin’s briefing upon his Mission as Soma’s new ally and their training to prepare themselves for their unpredictable confrontation with the seven deadly sins.

Chapter 6: Blessed with a curse

Soma was on his way home when mysterious man in white suddenly appeared in front of him. Summoning his “Yoru Kakou,” he demanded an introduction from the stranger. Then the stranger introduced himself as Orochi and summoned a large snake to attack Soma who repelled it albeit the cost of his energy. Kevin sensed the creature and rushed to Soma’s side to help him, revealing the fruits of his training during the last chapter as he shoot the large snake with bullets that pierced even the large creature’s hard scales to the point where the bullet pierced through as Soma fired phoenix-shaped flames on the snake. The snake, despite being wounded by Kevin’s bullets and burned by Soma’s flames, attempted to eat the two warriors. Kevin, however, glided to safety while Soma allowed himself to be eaten by the colossal snake. It was revealed that Soma planned to fight the snake from within while Kevin is dealing with it from the outside, therefore utilizing the two on one advantage between them despite the snake’s enormous size. While Kevin utilized his exploding bullets to fight the snake, Soma slashed the snake’s heart which caused the snake to growl in pain from Kevin’s exploding bullets on the head and Soma’s fire-based attacks to the heart. Then Soma used his “Guren Kai” to pierce the snake from within and create an opening in the head to get out of the beast’s body. Then he proceeded to attack Orochi but the latter easily dodged the attack, however this doesn’t stop Soma from slashing Orochi’s lower body but the latter grew a new lower body as he bit the off-guard Soma in the neck leaving a strange seal on it before he and Kevin tried to fight back. Orochi then declared that someday, Soma will seek power and he will seek him for it. Then Orochi left, leaving monsters for Soma and Kevin to fight. As the monsters were about to overcome the pair, Soma tapped into the darkness in him which triggered the seal on his neck and engulfed his body with black burn-like marks and brutally killed the monsters in sight then proceeded to attack Kevin, who was surprised by the sudden change in his friend. As he was about to be finished by the heartless beast that has become of Soma, Juliet saw this and rushed to hug Soma which caused the seal to revert and the latter to faint. Meanwhile Kallen is sitting at the café where Soma usually hangs out browsing the pictures of her camera; most of them were footages of Soma and Kevin in their previous fights.

Chapter 7: Zantetsuken

One day while Soma was walking home, he encountered twelve skeleton soldiers which he defeated with ease but when the lizard soldiers began to appear, he accidentally tapped into his cursed seal’s power which triggered the darkness inside him as it overflowed from him uncontrollably and began to take out the said creatures. Then a mysterious lady appeared in front of him and challenged him to a duel in which Soma easily lost. The lady then introduced herself as Stargazer Cornelia, the Padrigam Knight. She also explained to Soma the effects of the seal that was imbued to him by Orochi. It was revealed by Cornelia that the seal grants the user immense power but will slowly take over the soul of the user and eventually will destroy it so the user will be rendered an empty shell and is vulnerable to Orochi’s take over. In order to prevent this, she asked Soma to be trained on suppressing the seal’s control over him as well as teaching him the “lightning blade” technique.

Chapter 8: Unhappy love

Months later, Juliet heard rumors about the relationship between Soma and Kallen. When she confirmed the rumors as truth, they began to act coldly towards each other. Then dismissal time came and she saw Soma and Kallen holding hands as they went out for a date. Then Juliet requested her friends to accompany her in stalking the couple. Soma, knowing this, used his Kiseki Manako’s open nightmare to fend the stalkers off. In doing so, it attracted the skeleton monsters in which Soma fended off without tapping into his cursed seal again. The focus then shifts into Soma as he had a flashback of his fight with Orochi before he accepted Kallen as his new girlfriend. It was revealed that Kallen had known of Soma’s secret life when she saw him fighting a man in a black coat and forced him to enter in a relationship or else she will expose their dark secret via photos of the last fight. She also had knowledge of Soma’s problem with the cursed seal when she observed the back of his neck when the latter got into a fist fight with one of their classmates.

Chapter 9: Nightmares and Visions

One night when Soma was asleep, he had a dream in which Juliet was killed and when he summoned his “Yoru Kakuo,” he saw blood from his hands as well as the blade, implying that he was the one responsible for the death of Juliet. Then he saw a mysterious person with gray skin and demonic wings. As the figure landed down carefully on the floor, it turned around and to his shock; the man in front of him has his face with bloody hands and he ran away as fast as he could. Then he stumbled upon a mirror and upon looking at it, saw the demon as his reflection. The next day he had the same dream as a vision in which Kallen died and his bloody hands seemed responsible. Due to the visions, he was forced to skip the last subject and cut class before dismissal so he could find a way to ease his fears. In the process of isolating himself, he was met by a hooded woman as the latter threw lightning imbued knives which blew in front of him. Soma was forced to summon his Yoru Kakuo and fought the hooded woman.

Chapter 10: The second sin: the savage nymph

Then the hooded woman introduced herself as Larxene, bearing the title Lust. The two continued to battle each other as Larxene threw shock knives at Soma while the latter dodged them all with ease so the former resorted to fight close-ranged against Soma. Sensing this, Kevin and the others rushed to his side so Kevin could help Soma defeat the seemingly powerful opponent. Soma lay exhausted from the battle due to fighting not just from the outside but the inside because he was fighting the cursed seal and the darkness that it triggers from him. Taking advantage of this, Larxene threw knives at him but Kevin shot the knives in time though it exploded in front of Soma, sending him crashing onto a wall but he managed to stand and shoot bullet flames from his mouth onto Larxene as the latter threw explosive knives to blow up the flames while Kevin clashed with her from long range. The clash between Soma, Kevin and Larxene was intense due to the explosions from their long ranged attacks.

Chapter 11: Cursed blessing (Cursed seal of darkness level 2)

However, upon losing control over again, Soma tapped into his cursed seal and transformed into a demon with pale gray skin, his kiseki manako activated, and demonic wings as he fired a dark energy from his hands which threw Larxene off guard as Soma impaled her with the lightning-imbued Yoru Kakuo. Instead of pulling the blade from her body, he brutally slashed her with a scary grin as blood splatters all over his face without even noticing Micah establishing a contract with Zeus, the force behind Larxene’s knives as she and Kevin shoot him from behind the back so they could wake him up. Seeing this, Soma descended and grabbed Micah by the neck. Just as he was about to choke Micah, Rosaly rushed toward him but Albert just pushed her aside. The act brought Soma back to his senses and his old form as well because the seal drained what’s left of his energy. Then Cornelia arrived and took him and the others to Rayjane’s house (the latter’s parents aren’t around that time) so she could fully explain Soma’s situation to his friends before he regains consciousness. Cornelia also gave Juliet and Elton protection charms that will protect them whenever danger comes.

Chapter 12: Ruthless: The stargazer’s past

3 weeks after the said incident, Kevin took the initiative to train Micah as Soma took a break from fighting as he tries to learn to control his seal while Juliet and Elton studies the nature of their respective charms which granted them powers. One day as soon as lunch time arrives, Soma tried to spend some time alone because the previous incident made him fearful of himself as he cannot tell what will happen if he loses control again. But Kallen was worried since this will make him vulnerable to bullying. Her fears came true when Soma was tripped by someone of the lower level but older than him as he makes fun of him. Then Soma gave him a sharp look in the eye which gave the bully an impression that he wants to pick a fight so he threatened Soma that he will get hurt. Worried, Philip, one of Soma’s classmates told him to find another way out because he will only get himself hurt. But after two subjects, Soma still went out of the main gate as he sensed that he was being followed by the bully’s gang. Knowing this, he tried to find a place where no one could see them as they have him cornered. However when the gang held on his arms, Soma grabbed one of the gangsters binding his arm by the shirt as he threw him into a wall. Then he punched the other gangster in the face as the seal began to engulf him again. Wasting no time, the remaining gangsters attacked but were overpowered by Soma as he almost broke the bones of each and everyone of them. Then he cornered the bully on the wall as he kicked the latter on the neck. Then the delinquent begged for mercy but Soma’s ruthlessness got the better of him as he mercilessly beat the bully to death. However Juliet was passing by and she saw all that’s happening and she ran towards Soma and begged him to stop because it’s not like him. Instead of killing the gangster, he just knocked him out as he pulled the latter’s knife from the pocket and snapped it in two but as the gangsters are getting up, he used his Kiseki Manako to make them forget that he beated them all up ruthlessly. Aware that he almost killed someone; he went to Cornelia and asked her the whereabouts of Orochi so he could eradicate the seal from him for good. Knowing that this is a gamble for the boy, Cornelia told her that she doesn’t know but is willing to help him in looking for the man so the latter could settle the debts he owed the two. Then Cornelia narrated to Soma her reasons for hunting down Orochi, she wanted revenge against him after he killed of her entire family and almost killing her was it not for Odin’s intervention. Then she devoted her entire life in hunting down Orochi. One day she finally caught him but Orochi proved too much for Cornelia to handle as she was almost killed in the process, however, she synchronized with Odin and never again she aged as she finally became a stargazer, something that made Orochi retreat. Once again, she devoted her life in hunting down Orochi and killing him for good.

Chapter 13: Reverse this curse: A new resolve.

As they approached Orochi’s hidden lair hidden by a concealing spell, Soma agreed to use himself as bait because Orochi wanted to take over his body so he will be able to live eternally. Orochi then arrived but Cornelia struck him down which became her undoing as Orochi revealed his true form, a gigantic snake with poisonous snakes for scales and renderd her unconscious. Soma then sliced the snakes with his thunder-wrapped blade but became his undoing as well since the blood from the snakes paralyzed him. Then Orochi began to devour Soma as the latter began to struggle against Orochi from within. But he heard a voice from the outside as the voice told him to use the darkness without turning his back on the light. Agreeing on this, Soma tried hard to struggle over again and in the process, evolved his Kiseki Manako to the final level where it now has 3 tomoes for each eye. With his new powers, Soma was able to copy and reverse Orochi’s take over and was the one who took over the latter. Cornelia woke up to find Orochi’s lifeless body all but destroyed and asked Soma about it. Then she was surprised to know that Soma instead took over Orochi’s soul, therefore gaining access to the snake man’s powers. Cornelia then told him that she is willing to help him whenever she feels he needs it and leaves (Soma reminds Cornelia of her deceased brother when she first saw him which is the reason for her eagerness to help him). Then Soma decided to return to his friends with a smile on his face brought upon by his new resolve. Then Rayjane, noticing this great change, asked what happened. Soma then told her that he has found a reason to use the darkness without turning his back on the light. Kallen then ran towards him and hugged him tightly while Juliet sighed with a sign of relief on her face. The next day, Clyde, Rex, and Joseph were all bullying Soma for his weirdness while the latter gets his revenge by summoning a king cobra from his pants which made the bullies run in fear as Albert pretended to be scared while transferring seats beside Kallen who shared a laugh upon seeing the plight of the three when Cornelia suddenly arrived at Soma’s classroom this time wearing clothes of an ordinary school teacher.

Chapter 14:  Something

Soma begins to realize that he has feelings for Kallen as he willingly risked his life for her when she was about to get killed by the skeleton monsters a few days ago and he felt like distancing himself from him in order to protect her. Then as they talked, he asked Kallen if their relationship as a couple could be sincere to which she gladly accepted. Juliet tearfully accepted this and decided to let go of Soma as the latter feels happy with Kallen and so that she won’t be able to get in his way.

Chapter 15: The third sin: the Luna divider

One night, Soma was walking around so he could chill down for a little bit when monsters holding strange claymores suddenly appeared. Calling on his Yoru Kakuo, he fought the monsters and barely won due to the attacks that almost cannot be avoided by convenient means, forcing him to tap on his cursed seal so he could block them. The fighting stopped when a hooded man, who confessed that he was the one who sent the monsters to attack Soma, appeared and called them off. He then introduced himself as Saix bearing the title Envy as he declares that the moon will destroy him. Soma prepared to fight Saix as they began to attack each other. Saix then entered into berserker mode and relentlessly attacked Soma as the latter barely survived the attacks, forcing him to enter into his demonic form and attack Saix with fire bullets, summoned poisonous snakes and shoot him with lightning. But this wasn’t enough as Saix easily overpowered him and almost killed Soma if it weren’t for him shedding his wounded body and used his Kiseki Manako to dodge all of his attacks and turn the tides of the fight. Cornelia, Kevin, Micah and the others then arrived but Saix formed a barrier between them and Soma as the latter lay on the ground wounded and battered. Then Saix prepared to strike down Soma but Kallen forcibly entered the barrier, hurting her in the process, and ran up to him as she took the blow meant for Soma. Seeing the sacrifice done by Kallen, Soma screamed in horror as tears fell from his eyes and was forced to let Orochi momentarily take over but Cornelia rushed to the scene and was forced to use the sword of totsuka to stab Orochi and seal him along with the cursed seal. It was revealed that Soma asked Cornelia a few days ago prior the battle to seal Orochi if ever he resurfaces and attempts to take over his body. Then Kallen, gathering the last of her remaining strength, told everything that she feels as she asked Juliet to take care of Soma for her and asked him to be happy and erase everyone’s memories of her as she took her last breath.

Chapter 16: Shinka Kiseki Manako: The moon burns in Black flames

With tears from his eyes and blood on his hands, Soma denied Kallen’s third request as he desperately tried to wake her up but to no avail as she was already dead. All the physical and emotional pain placed Soma in a stressful condition as he tried to get up after he closed Kallen’s eyes. Then he walked up to Saix with Darkness overflowing and surrounding him as he opened his new eyes and revealed their new forms, three intersecting ellipses as the left eye produced black flames which almost burned Saix if it weren’t for his cloak. Then he attacked Soma once again but to no avail as Soma secretly manipulated the black flames from the cloak to make contact with Saix as he extends the flames to the point that Saix’s body is fully engulfed in black flames and casting Tsukoyomi upon him at the same time. When Saix was fully paralyzed from the illusion, Soma watched with tears and blood from his eyes as Kallen’s murderer burn in front of him.

Chapter 17: Harder than you know

At Kallen’s funeral, Soma swore to her coffin that he will never let a tragedy like this repeat over again as he walks away from the funeral service to mourn by himself while hearing the cries of the people close to his deceased lover.  Then Juliet followed him so she could comfort Soma but he brushes this off because she doesn’t want her to get involved anymore as he stares at the full moon with the Shinka Kiseki Manako forming in his eyes. But Juliet confessed her feelings for him as they embraced each other and Soma promised her that he will protect her.

 Chapter 18: the fourth sin: the graceful assassin

1 week after Kallen’s wake, Soma began to isolate himself from his friends as he just goes home after classes at ordinary days. This worries Soma’s friends as they already figured out long ago that he always gets attacked when he is always alone so they persisted in taking him with them for a walk. Remembering Kallen’s words to find his own happiness, he reluctantly agreed much to the delight of his friends. However this was not the case as he sensed the fourth sin, Marluxia, bearing the title Greed, following them. Then the latter called forth his weapon, a scythe named Graceful Dahila. Then Soma asked his friends to run as Kevin and Micah stayed to assist him. Then Kevin utilized his flame bullets as he noticed that their enemy uses flowers as his element. Noticing this as well, Soma began to breathe fire from his mouth as Micah’s attacks were easily blocked but it barely burned the shield as it emerged unscratched. Kevin and Micah then resorted to fight the man via close range but Kevin was wounded in the process. Seeing this, Micah, Denisse and Juliet rushed to his side as Soma distracts the assassin. Micah then returned to battle as Soma imbued Micah’s lightning knives with the power of darkness and his chidori to double the effectiveness of the knives. Even though Marluxia blocked the attack, he was sent crashing down as the attack exploded. Then he proceeded to slash the two with his scythe but each of them dodged it easily as Soma stabbed him from the back. But then this was revealed to be a clone as Marluxia transported Soma to another world where he was forced to fight the assassin in his final form alone. Though exhausted, he was still able to defeat Marluxia with the use of his Amaterasu and returned to the human world with his left eye bleeding. Then Denisse, just like what happened to Kevin and Micah, heeded the words of the scythe and established a contract with Midas, the force behind the scythe and the former king of roses. Then a few days later it was revealed that Soma trained Dennise and Elton, whose protective charm transformed into a magical staff, in harnessing and utilizing their new found powers.

Chapter 19: the fifth sin: the silent hero

Days passed since the battle with Marluxia. Soma and the others are on their specific classes when an earthquake occurs. Soma then took the initiative to investigate as he tells the others to evacuate in case another shock occurs. Then he felt the presence of a powerful force as he activated his Kiseki Manako to find it. Then a man in black cloak, who introduced himself as Lexaeus with his sword-axe in hand, bearing the title Gluttony,  appeared and challenged Soma in which the latter responded by summoning his Yoru Kakuo and activating his eye of suspension. Then the fight between them transferred to the ground floor as Juliet, Kevin, Elton, Micah and Denisse (the last four imbued with immunity to this by their star arms while the first one due to circumstances to be explained in the following chapters) summoned their respective weapons so they could help out Soma despite the fact that the two were evenly matched. As Soma collapsed from overusing his new abilities and his wounds, Denisse, Micah, and Kevin took his place while Juliet heals Soma (an ability she discovered while studying the charm’s capabilities).

Chapter 20: Colossal might

Being fully healed, Soma returned to battle as he assisted the four in fighting Lexaeus. Combined with their teamwork, they were able to subdue Lexaeus but the 5 were exhausted due to the former’s immense strength. However Lexaeus revealed his true form, an armored knight with a burning cape and utilized his earth-based attacks to subdue and defeat the four. Soma, not the type to give up that easily, rushed to attack the armored knight but was easily subdued again. Then Juliet rushed to the scene and used her sword charm to block all of Lexaeus’ attacks. However when she was healing Soma, Lexaeus critically wounded her. Remembering Kallen’s death, Soma screamed in agony as his eyes formed the Shinka Kiseki and unleashed a skeletal being. Then Soma began his assault upon Lexaeus and killed him. However Soma collapsed from his overuse of his Shinka Kiseki. Then Soma woke up in Juliet’s arms (the latter being healed due to the charm’s purpose of protecting the bearer from death), stood up and deactivated the eye of suspension.

Chapter 21: Soma’s new resolve and the sixth sin: the whirlwind lancer

After the battle against Lexaeus, Soma then decided to train Juliet against his will, in her insistence, in fighting. Then a few days later, everyone returned to their everyday routines like nothing happened. Soma is now thinking of a way to confront the last of the seven deadly sins without involving his friends again as they keep risking their lives for Soma and he lost someone to one of the seven deadly sins. Then Juliet was about to go home when three floating armored knights appeared. She then revealed the fruits of her training as she transformed her crucifix charm into a long sword with a thin blade and defeats the monsters with ease. Then she was confronted by a hooded man who never introduced himself as he overpowers Juliet easily. The next day, Soma and everyone seemed to notice that Juliet didn’t come to school and never attended her classes. What’s more weird is that her friends never even received a message that she said she was going to be absent as they stared to wonder what just happened to her. As the class commences, a hooded man suddenly appeared inside Soma’s classroom and at the snap of his fingers, materialized three monsters holding Juliet hostage who demanded to hand over Soma. Soma then stood up and shoots the man with bullet-shaped flames from his mouth. Juliet, taking advantage of the current situation, grabbed the monsters and threw them in Soma’s range therefore incinerating the three monsters as Soma then lured the hooded man outside the classroom and eventually into the ground floor to avoid unnecessary casualties. Micah and Elton rushed to the scene downstairs while Denisse and Kevin tried to calm down the people present as Soma activated his eyes of suspension. The man then introduced himself as Xaldin, bearing the title Pride, as he summoned six floating lances and attacked the three from the air. Despite the three on one advantage (Micah and Elton’s long range attacks and Soma’s fire and lightning abilities at their disposal), they were still at a disadvantage due to Xaldin’s skills with six floating spears as he used them to attack and defend at the same time. Only by becoming a 5 on 1 battle due to the arrival of Kevin and Denisse the tables turned as they outmatched Xaldin who hardly deflected and dodged the knives, petals, magic, and bullets while struggling to avoid the black flames of Amaterasu and the cutting waves of Graceful Dahila. Due to this disadvantage, Xaldin removed his burning coat and unleashed his dragoon form. He then utilized its powers and simultaneously attacked the five with his six floating lances.

Chapter 22: Angel of darkness

Soma, seeing his friends and comrades get hurt because of their willingness to help finally unleashed the final form of Seraphim as the shrouded being fired arrows from it’s bow which Xaldin hardly deflected. Then darkness began to engulf Soma over again as he ruthlessly slit Xaldin’s throat while the latter was off guard as he mentally tortured Xaldin with Tsukoyomi and burning him with the black flames of Amaterasu. Juliet, upon witnessing this act, begged for Soma to stop as she was able to pass through the seraph (a feat which is impossible, even to Ansem and Cornelia). Then the seraph disintegrates as Soma, whose eyes shed blood, fell from exhaustion due to the overuse of his Shinka Kiseki. As soon as he got up, he then acted coldly toward Juliet and the others, a result of letting the darkness inside him take over his heart. He then utilized his new powers of darkness by sprouting black angelic wings from his back and flying away from his friends but not before he and Juliet had a tearful eye-to eye contact as he used his eye of oblivion and deactivated his suspension seal. Cornelia then spoke to the others regarding Soma’s sudden change in personality. She revealed that Soma, even before he gained his new eyes, is susceptible to darkness and which grew worse when he was given the new eyes and the cursed seal as the darkness had full authority over Soma’s mind and body whenever the seal is activated. He was able to suppress it for a short time but circumstances made him succumb to it once again.

Chapter 23: the white knight awakens

Juliet, thinking that she has become a burden to Soma, asked Cornelia to train her in unlocking more of the powers of her crucifix charm. However, Ansem appeared to Juliet who explained that she and Soma were destined for something and asked Cornelia to train the girl in her place. Then she sent Juliet into her awakening station so she could undergo the same trials that Soma had been through as a dark figure that looks just like Juliet stabbed her in the back but she was able to survive and absorbed the figure as she produced the same sword used to stab her. She then woke up holding a Jian with a chain attached into the end of the handle with the crucifix charm as its key chain. Monsters began to appear as Cornelia and Juliet prepared for combat though Juliet effortlessly took them out. Then a large beast appeared and with its mace, charged at the two. Cornelia barely blocked the monster’s attack as it shifts its attention to Juliet who tried to attack the monster. But the beast was able to smash her with its mace as she faded like dust in front of it and Cornelia. Then the beast was split into two as Juliet attacked it from above. Then Cornelia praised Juliet and called her “Stellar Knight” Juliet, much to the latter’s confusion as she asked what a stellar knight is? Then Cornelia explained to her that stellar knights are people who wielded the stellar swords, weapons of immense power, to save the world countless times. It was said that for every threat brought upon by the dark stars, the three swords will randomly choose their wielder to vanquish them. She then told Juliet that the latter will be forced to fight and put an end to the last deadly sin and Soma due the latter’s power being equal to that of a dark star and the former, a dark star himself. Despite being informed of her destiny, she was disheartened as she now knew that she will be forced to fight and destroy the one she valued the most.

Chapter 24: Birth of the sage: Descent into darkness and oblivion

 Juliet and her friends decided to take a break when she heard a boy talking to his friends about a mysterious figure with six black wings caught in the act of murder. Remembering Soma, Rosaly, Denisse, and Micah looked for Kevin, Elton and two of Soma’s friends Ciedie and Sarah and headed to his house to ask his parents regarding Soma’s current whereabouts. But they replied that they only have two sons; one of them being the classmate of Juliet’s little sister, Rinnoa. They apologized for the inconvenience and went away. They realized that Soma used his eyes of oblivion upon his parents and his little brothers but wondered why. Juliet then realized that Soma has finally fallen into the darkness but couldn’t bear to hate him; instead, she was saddened by this. Making up their minds, Kevin, Elton, Denisse and Micah resolved to stop him from sinking any further. Juliet was about to go home when she saw her little sister, Rinnoa lying down on the road with Soma, who fully succumbed to the darkness, standing in front of her with orange eyes. Seeing this, she was forced to summon her Blood Cross and attacked Soma. However the latter’s skills were too much that even Juliet, who is now a stellar knight, was easily subdued by Soma. Then he flew off into the night laughing maniacally as he leaves exploding feathers in front of Juliet which was completely blocked by the latter. She told this to her parents and rushed her to the hospital. The doctor revealed that she’s in a coma, just like the other patients whose parents, friends and other witnesses claimed that they were attacked by a mysterious angelic figure. When her parents asked about this, Juliet confirmed that she too, just saw the angelic figure that attacked Rinnoa but she was too late as her little sister lay on the ground unconscious and the figure flew to escape. Meanwhile, Elton, dressed in a long coat holding his magical staff, fought several monsters when he felt the presence of darkness along with the presence of someone familiar.

Chapter 25: Destiny and forbidden arts

Juliet stormed through the faculty room and asked to talk with Cornelia. She then complied, feeling that they will talk about Soma. Juliet then asked how to stop him. Cornelia answered with grief that Soma was practicing the most dangerous arts, even among the stars, the Art of forbidden darkness. Cornelia also claims that Soma took their souls and utilizes them in summoning the “soul eater,” a sword capable of drawing out the darkness inside the user and giving him/her immense dark powers that can destroy even the stars themselves. Then she begged Juliet to stop Soma as she knew that it is Juliet’s destiny to save the world from darkness. Juliet objected at first but upon realizing that Soma became darkness itself, she hardened her resolve and declared that she will destroy Soma for the sake of those he victimized with his eyes.

Chapter 26: Angel of Darkness: Shroud of Mystery

Juliet, Micah, Denisse, Elton and Kevin trained themselves so they would finally be able to defeat their former comrade, Soma, who has finally walked the path of darkness, while looking for information regarding him from the places where he attacked.  As Denisse was about to return to her friends, time entered suspension and she saw black feathers falling from the sky. Remembering Juliet’s warnings about this based on the latter’s experience with Soma; she tried as fast as she could to get out of the feather’s explosions which really did blow up. Then a figure shrouded in a black aura that looks like a coat appeared and challenged her to a duel. The two summoned their respective weapons and fought on par with each other until Denisse slashed the figure with her scythe. The figure revealed himself as Soma and dissolved into crows as he placed Denisse in a temporary coma in which he told her that in his death, he will eternally die and the requiem will end as she fell to the ground. She was found by Juliet, Elton, and Kevin as they try to wake her up. She then regained consciousness (much to Kevin’s relief) and told the four that Soma appeared and was able to defeat her but deep inside she was haunted by his words as she stared to wonder why he didn’t took her soul like what he did to his other victims.

Chapter 27: No turning back: Fated to fall

Juliet was walking home from school when suddenly time entered into suspension. Recognizing that this was done by Soma, she summoned her “Shining Trance” and started her hunt for her fallen comrade. Shadows then began to take their own shape and became monstrous beings that attacked Juliet. She was able to defeat them all as crows began to appear and bond together, forming Soma. With a stern look on his face, he challenged Juliet on a fight to the death at the arrival of the Solar Eclipse in which she responded that she will defeat him for the sake of those he attacked.

Chapter 28: The final battle

The day when the solar eclipse will appear has arrived as it reveals the existence of a hidden castle which was used by the monsters and the seven deadly sins as a pathway from the world of the stars to the human world which caused panic among the people. Atop the castle stands Soma completely shrouded in darkness as he summons Yoru Kakuo and a new different weapon into his right hand, Kurai Getsuei as he revealed a long pathway to the castle so Juliet and her comrades can enter the castle but was forced to fight the monsters along the way. Upon reaching the gate of the castle, they were greeted by Soma as he casted a killer intent illusion on Cornelia, Micah, Denisse, Elton and Kevin which paralyzed the five of them as Soma formed a barrier to prevent them from interfering with Soma and Juliet. Then Soma declared himself as wrath, the last sin as he gave Juliet two choices; kill him and become a hero or die and be another one of his victims as Juliet summoned her weapon and fought Soma. The fighting was intense even though Soma is going blind from using his Shinka Kiseki as they clashed with each other. The other five then regained their senses as Elton, Micah, Kevin, and Denisse returned to the human world to take out the monsters that came with the eclipse while Cornelia stayed behind to assist Juliet.

Chapter 29: The ultimate Oblivion: Melodies of tragedy and sorrow

The fight continues as Juliet refused assistance from Cornelia while Soma unleashed the final form of his Susanoo which looked like a seraph as they continued to clash with each other. Tired and exhausted the two then began to power themselves as they prepare for an attack against each other for a final clash as they rushed towards each other with Juliet stabbing Soma as the latter threw his guard down because of his deteriorating eyesight. Then before he succumbs to his wounds, he tried to get close to Juliet and buries the blade deeper in the process to say that he loves her before activating his Kiseki manako by accident and replaying his memories to her when he left everyone. It was revealed that Soma purposely allowed his darkness to take over and was able to fully control it. Then the memories showed that he’s been frequently visiting Orochi’s lair to gather some information about the situation he’s been and the true intentions of the seven deadly sins. The last memory played revealed his true intentions, to place everyone he attacked in a tsukoyomi that will never stop unless he dies, among the victims were Rinnoa, Juliet’s sister, so the latter will have a valid reason to finish him off, cast an eternal oblivion upon the world so his existence will no longer be remembered permanently (Juliet is an exception though), lastly shattering the Kurai Getsugei will form a barrier that will hide the world from the dark stars. As the memories end Juliet shed tears as she fully understood that Soma was just protecting her the whole time. Juliet then cradled Soma into his lap as they shared a passionate kiss before Soma fully succumbed to his wounds and seemingly died. Then Juliet stood up and pulled the Kurai Getsugei from the floor and stabbed the sword in its eye, shattering it into pieces then along with Cornelia, she rushed to the pathway before the castle crumbles.

Chapter 30: Angel

The flashbacks ended as Soma closed his eyes but not before seeing a man with long silver hair standing in front of him. Days later, Juliet returned to a normal life where she is just hanging out with her friends who doesn’t even have the signs of remembering the incidents months ago. Then as she was about to go home a monster appeared and Juliet was forced to kick it in the face with Cornelia (who just arrived on the scene) finishing it with a slash. Then they complained that Soma left them in cleaning up all the mess he ditched. Meanwhile in a hidden laboratory, two sleeping pods were being observed by a man in black coat (implying that this man is also a deadly sin). As he turns his back, the boy with silver hair sleeping in one of the pods opened his eyes revealing three intersecting elipses with a three pointed star in it for each eyes (the one on the left eye is inverted) as the boy shouts and the sleeping pod breaks followed by the growl of a six winged figure surrounding him.