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Damian was standing on the platform of the battle arena in the colosseum, he was anticipating to face the man he challenged to come here. When they met each other's gazes, the tension filled up the atmosphere and everyone could feel it. Sanju told him about how he need to be harsh and he won't hold back just so that he'll get revenge from their past, and stop all of his harmful actions.

"HEY, WELL LOOKIE HERE! IT'S BEEN A YEAR SINCE THE WORLD IS STILL TURMOIL!"

Both of them could remember how much of a jerk he is, because of that--that's the main reason that Haruna pushed him to his limits and he reached it. Never ever breaking the boundaries or the guidelines to begin with, more like... he'll just follow his rules or commands until he himself decided to ditch the team. "Oh, sorry... I thought we're alone here," Haruna added, making Damian facepalmed--how petty is this son of a bitch?!

"In the future, if I catch you doing shit towards people or even him again... I will make you wish you didn't," Damian threatened, making Haruna surprised a little bit by his tone of voice. "Huh, now you realized what I'm capable of. Heh, I thought you'll ignore and underestimate him. You're smart enough but you wouldn't dare," Haruna scoffed, Damian remained silent--Haruna isn't at least wrong, he still has some dignity.

Haruna tilted his head, seeing Damian's behavior suddenly changed--he wasn't neutral anymore. His demeanor was replaced with a darker expression. "What, why are you changing the behavior and not the answer?" he asked, this time Damian let out an unpleasant smirk, but he still maintained his gaze to show seriousness at the fight. "So, I heard you killed your parents... from the news?" he asked, reminding Haruna of what he did.

No wonder why he abandoned that family without warning, he can't always follow the rules and expect to not get punished at all. Haruna let out an arrogant chuckle, before the atmosphere suddenly tensed up. "Really? Come on, your friend kept lying like nothing happened in a year. Tell me, did you follow his command since birth until this point?!" he laughed, until he feel a punch in the stomach with force that pushed him a few inches backward. "What the fuck--Damian, what was that for?!" he growled, covering his pain.

"That is for murdering your parents," he answered without a hesitation, he just have to teach him a lesson he won't forget, even the scars of their past could be his strength or worst, his demise. Damian transformed into his Empyrea Raksha form, making the latter shocked and all of the sudden--people were going to watch his first challenge, starting from the outside. Haruna reverted into his Celestial Raksha form, before both of them clashing against each other--through Haruna's fist and Damian's polearm.

"Catch me before you can beat me, peasant!"

Haruna exclaimed, knocking the wind off of Damian's lungs and escaped--that motherfucker's more annoying than he expected, guess the reason why the others were hard on their heels for their fighting capabilities. "I always envied Sanjaya... honestly, why? He has something that I don't have..." Haruna said, feeling irritated again--but just like as Damian expected, this won't be easy as expected. After all, this is about justice so he needs to... use force, even his own friends are okay with it. "Why are you underrating yourself, Haruna? You have something that Sanjaya doesn't have too."

Damian blocked Haruna's fist, causing him staggered a little before he tried to make a deadly charge. Oh Lord, Haruna could almost impale him like a piece of steak but he dodge it, in an instant. It was true, he was angry at him. "Your parents were fine! They fed you, they held you, they helped you... and you killed them?! How the fuck could you do that? Killing isn't so fun after all, now your actions have consequences... and you need to face it," he added, grabbing Haruna's fist before he clenched them. "You leave me no choice, but killing you will be the right move from the situation you caused. You went beyond the boundary and now... it's time to prove my word."

When he heard it, it hurts, even he could hear his screaming behind the adrenaline rush as they fought their way through the fight. Damian created a massive blow of wind, making Haruna gasped a little and he knew he will be overpowered by him but no, not today. He was trying to find a weakness but this man isn't letting him fight his own battle, guess he has to put all his worth into this too. Damn it!

"STOP FOLLOWING HIM! STOP BELIEVING IN HIM! AND FUCKING END THIS TRY-HARD SHIT--HE DOESN'T CARE FOR YOU ANYMORE!"

Haruna yelled again, it hits another of Damian's nerve. "He cares for the people that doesn't try to cause problem for him! So stop defending the pieces of shit like you for fucks' sake, I thought we're friends!" he screamed as Damian struck another forceful punch, the latter paused his action of stopping him from making another word. "We will never be friends, not after what you did to him."

This time, he didn't hesitate to go more harder on him than before. Damian bend his arms and kicked his lower abdomen, that could almost send him flying--except he managed to dodge and slammed him on the ground. 'Sanjaya... you'll be the killing blow if I'm still alive at the end of the day,' he prayed internally while he made a mental note to make up something so that his son won't have any regrets, guess he's still hesitating to confront him for real.

But, he realized that what Sanju said is right--he had to use extreme measures, meaning Haruna is losing the benefit of the doubt from any mistakes. He sighed, hoping that this wouldn't make him a bad guy. Yet, he realized that he never fought like this, his determination hasn't wither because of his friendship with Sanju. "I made my decision," Damian stated firmly, he decided to stay true to his principle--his dignity, honor and his most valuable trust is at stake. Nothing will make him budge from his decision, ever.

"So, what decision will you choose?!"

"Facing the facts. You're a fucking disease that almost ended his fucking life, and now... I'm doing this."

Damian stated, before he spun his polearm and stabbing him in the abdomen--almost like almost, for several times. Yet Haruna always regenerated, his will to survive is great... better than what Damian can show. So, he began to retract Haruna's Core from within his body using his polearm... until he pulled it out, along with Haruna's mangled body as blood pooled underneath. Damian was panting for a second, before his resolve remained high--he really proven that sometimes in just one moment, the faith could be broken apart.

Damian decided to turn around and began to purify the Core, he didn't know that Haruna's half-dead body was looming behind him and was about to land a fist--until Sanju landed on top of Haruna and kicked him away from him, before he saw Damian who turn around by surprise--but relieved that it was Sanju who aided him. Now that Haruna is no longer able to give him nightmares, by taking advantage of him who was in here.

"I've decided to give the killer blow, remember?"

Sanju reminded him, which made Damian rolled his eyes as the downpour began to fall upon them. "Yeah, I know... also, thank you... again," he replied, patting the Senapati Raksha's shoulder. Right then, he handed him the cleaned, purified Core and after that--Sanju received a text message from his father. It is enough information of how the progress of the ADVENT members is on point with their mission. He noticed a change of Haruna's appearance, only in his Celestial Raksha form. "Wait, what...? This isn't his normal form," Damian remarked, but he didn't get a lot of details about the final forms until he discovered--first, his hair is flowing despite the gravity of the wind.

Second, the left side of his entire arm were charred, black. "What the... he's different," Damian added, Sanju wondered what has made his former friend's appearance different and even... scarred? Haruna... he's unstable... it's so strange, there's a deep scar that surrounded his eye but he still remained resilient against the opponent. "I remember now..." Sanju muttered, he remembered what Althair told him about Haruna back then--that he was once Maha's 'perfect subject' of his previous experiment... which means he's deadlier than he thought of.

It's that same trait Sanju has, so he gets the similarities they had--though Haruna betrayed his research experiment and yet, here he is... he doesn't change that much.

'Now I get it... he became like this because of that... before Maha died, he twisted his mindset into his perfection--no... if this was a prototype version, a first time... then what happened to the other? I saw a shambling... a failed experiment when he tried to murder him, I could've questioned him or ask him what happened to it. Why? Is it the same person as the one who had done this to him...'

Damian saw his friend trembled a little, please no more of that shit-stain who only took him advantage of his weakness. It was too much for both of them to withstand, he truly sympathize Haruna because he was Maha's former subject... but he was even more upset and sympathize Sanju's endless samsara of an endless hellhole. He still have some remorse, the same could be said for his former teammate.

He asked Haruna what happen with it, but the former didn't answer instead it was full of hatred and malice, the same emotions where there's no turning back. His body slowly dissolves into lights before he vanished completely. However, Sanju was silent--despite him trying to forget every betrayal and harm Haruna has done, especially hurting him but he remembered it... until one of his injuries almost led him to die. But, he still spared him because... he's his friend.

"Sanjaya..."

Sanju did not respond when the downpour still hasn't wane. Damian could see his silent tears, his dark brown eyes covered by his bangs of his short scruffy black messy hair--he merely look down. "I admit that I miss him, not only he was my closest friends but also my brother in arms and no matter how hard I try, the memories keeps coming back because of a negative emotion. We shared a lot of troubles together and I'm sure, you guys feel that too. But why must all of these happened," he whispered, he knows that Damian must've felt very regretful to kill Haruna just like he predicted that by the time the fight reached the pinnacle--but it seems like Damian had enough with Haruna's bullshit that now...

He understood of why Sanju didn't intervene and just let them be, he had every right to keep an eye on the people they will betray them one day and it was three times... which pushed Haruna out. He didn't want to make him decide with anything, or else, he'll feel conflicted. "No matter the countless warnings I gave him and his insults he throws at us to insult his betrayal to us... he's still redeemable, no matter what I did... maybe this should've be a lesson. Even though he experienced of what I had, the pain... he still not fully accepted it. Only hate and negativity."

Damian listens as he approached him slowly, he held Sanju's shoulders and hold him in his arms, a genuine gesture of having someone who understand his pain. Especially losing someone, Sanju gritted his teeth--his tears were so cold, that's the downside of when he showed kindness, his soft side and vulnerabilities, it leads him being in harm's way. "Even the one I thought of is getting redeemed, from his demise... the lessons were harsh but understandable... Haruna chose to throw everything away because of his pride. Now he will face the price, a harsh consequence on the actions he made."

Sanju truly didn't get a hold on his emotions very often, however his depressing moments are what made him worry sometimes and the nightmares weren't helping at all. Though, he was at least relieved that Damian's here and was thankful that everyone could tell the difference between a mistake and a problem. "But now... I'm glad that... he's no longer present. At least he's saved from that suffering," he said, yes, for sure. Sanju's faith have changed.

When he was doing a therapy, sometimes it keeps repeating and he grew tired of doing a therapy and counseling--except for the professionals that he really respect a lot. But now, he choose to forget about Haruna and focus on his health. "I'm also relieved, at least his influence is no longer be spread around. After all, it could lead us to the same path he made. But, that doesn't mean his kindness will be forgotten... he still helped us escape from the ruins."

This story has been stolen from Royal Road. If you read it on Amazon, please report it

Damian released him, watching Sanju's tears stopped flowing and was replaced by a smile, he wiped his tears and let out a nod. "So, what are you gonna do after this? Gonna let your friends take care of that now?" he asked, Damian nodded--he'll just take care of the aftermath and Sanju will restore it to the island... just like what he supposed to. "I'll inform Karuna about this so he won't interrogate the fuck out of you, I know he must've been impatient but we were kept from talking too much," Damian spoke, it's that rule he made--he told the group and Sanju about that rule. "Also... let's keep our friendship the same, and... Sanjaya, did you get a girlfriend yet?"

Hearing that question, Sanju smacked him at the back of his head comically--ISN'T THAT NECESSARY TO KNOW? Damian was twitching while laying on the ground as the latter huffed. "My friends in my team doesn't even have one, so am I..." Sanju answered, flaring up a bit when Damian smirked at him--sometimes Damian can be annoying but in a funny and good-natured way, Sanju's glad that he befriended him instead of ending like his past. "Asshole, I don't have one either--even the others still not in the mood for that shit."

Damian teased, causing him to facepalm. "Why am I your friend again...?" he asked, before he saw the gray clouds began to cease--seeing the night sky remained there.

It was peaceful just by seeing the moon in the sky, before they saw Kirana came here with her fingers folded. "Ah, took you long enough," Damian said, making Sanju smiled at her. The aura of her, it's like... Sanju was able to heal from his regrets from then... yeah, just a stupid idea and he already moved on from that darkest times. "Wanna see the stars together? Like how we used to do during high school? Sanjaya seems to enjoy it," she suggested, showing a genuine smile. Her sky blue eyes were bright like the colors of the moon, before she stood between them. They began to look at the stars as Sanju could predict any constellations from the skies and the moon's locations. "See? Some things can't ever change. I'm glad I don't have any," she said, they truly enjoyed the view of how the night sky looks this beautiful.

During their high school days, Sanju and his friends would've stay in the field to look at the stars, appreciating and admiring its beauty before falling asleep when it's late, often the rest would've be left looking at it and also each other for a moment or two and their eyes would shut close. They're just so chill. "Sanjaya, Damian, do you remember the time when we would spend the entire time looking at the sky?" Kirana asked, wanting to be nostalgic. Damian nodded, Sanju was glad that there's a lot of precious memories he didn't want to burn. "When we're with Haruna? He can't stop counting them and fell asleep, that motherfucker... but that time is like a dream, never forgetting it," Sanju said with a chuckle, and they all laughed.

But soon, Kirana could no longer hold back the fact of how would a world turn without a certain person who tried to improve himself, became consumed by his own ideals that were twisted by a greater master. It was Sanju who saw the fear in Haruna's eyes, now he can see it was because of him. Her hands suddenly grabbed their arms, making the two young adults surprised by her actions. Both of them grew silent until she spoke. "Are you gonna tell him, or... me?" Sanju asked, which made her head tilt.

Wait, what is this all about now?

Kirana gulped, she feels so shy and embarrassed right now... damn it, why? However, when she finally gained the confidence to speak her mind--Sanju sneezes... why must it be now?! It was a cute sneeze actually, so cute when he heard it himself and have a full-blown smile that made him flare up again. However, this time. There's no one who will tell on him, like what people love to do and sometimes he tries not to.

It's just... no one could win against their instincts, or the power of words. "I won't tell anyone," Damian reassured, Kirana knew him like her family... to a friend, an uncle but in the form of an acquaintance. "Thank you," she answered, taking a deep breath before she finally gave in. "Listen... I can't lie to the fact that... sometimes... I-I worry about you a lot! Both of you, of course! I know, I'm not very strong when it comes to a fight or everything else, especially our first attempt to help you back then and aiding you to the hospital and therapy... I was unable to keep calm. These past weeks... I told myself that... I better be careful, keep away from any pain like this again," she confessed, in the end... she actually hides her true emotions after she befriended him and Sanju made him swore to not show mercy, not even a bit when Haruna clearly threatened him too much.

"Kirana..."

Sanju could feel her hugging both of them from embarrassment, well, she's always gentle and respectful to others. No wonder why, is it because of her personality... or it could be another reason? In addition, both of them didn't expect to get a hug from her, or... her voice was more shy. Then the air was silent with a moment of nostalgia and melancholy, while the downpour stopped. Damian seems to understand and slowly wrapped his hand around Kirana's arm and shoulder gently. Sanju also does the same to make her feel safe in the middle. Both Damian and Sanju knew that all of them are human, no matter what happened... so this is only a lesson in disguise to make them improve, so the pain of their mistakes won't repeat twice.

Kirana pulled away from them, before she asked quietly. "Am I... really that weak?" Sanju didn't answer, Damian was silent too. But once they think about how she is, they answered one-by-one. "You're not weak, Kirana..." Damian reassured. He started to wipe her tears, he can't describe how long he cared for her and always tell her that she is a wonderful person he has ever met in his life and he'd rather pick himself instead. Sanju nodded, his voice was deep and soft. "Also, you're not alone... you have friends and family who care about you, so don't hold back. You're not a burden to us... in fact, you're our light and our hope," Sanju whispered.

He could tell that her emotion wasn't that stable, behind her gentle attitude. "Hey, it's alright..." he said, holding her hand. He wrapped his arms around her to hug her gently. He could tell that's not how it should be like, especially for someone like her. Sanju didn't feel very guilty after all, his empathy isn't withering but... he still the same person he used to be. After that, he pulled away as Kirana calmed down for a bit--until she shrieked when her father Rayhanda popped out and slammed both Sanju and Damian into the back of their heads. "Touch my daughter again... and I will end you guys!" he hissed, making both young adults sweat dropped.

"Fuck... I forgot about him," Sanju muttered, though Damian was rubbing the back of his head from his scolding and for slamming the side of his face, damn! It really hurts that the latter wanted to return the favor until Sanju shook his head slowly, in that means 'no'.

Wait, he has something to say to her father.

"Uhm... Mr. Tjahyadi."

Rayhanda glared at Sanju, just by addressing him already made his blood boil. He can't stand hearing his name from his mouth or else, he'll decapitate him--though he knows the consequences of being imprisoned for life so no, he still has a family to come back too. Oh wait, not just Sanju--BUT DAMIAN GOT THE WORST! "So... how's the discussion over there, huh?" he whispered, holding the two dents on the back of their heads as Sanju answered. "No, it's not about your daughter I swear!" he mumbled, almost quivering of agony by his death grip

"HELL YEAH I DO BELIEVE IN YOU, NOW WHERE I'LL PUT THIS BLADE OF--"

They yelled when Rayhanda threatened them with his spear towards them--making them avoiding his moves. "Father, wait!" she yelled, making her father stopped--before she added. "They're not done yet, please let them speak!" she begged, Rayhanda glared at them for a moment before he spun his spear and made it disappear before his eyes. "Now speak."

However, Sanju clarified by saying that... he want to inform him something important--not about his daughter. "Alright, speak up now," he demanded, Kirana shivered that her father is indeed scary when he's around men who seemed to chase after his daughter, but... that's not his case at all. He just want to thank him for saving his father's life. Damian still rubbed the back of his head, still afraid of Rayhanda due to his protective nature. "And I promise, I won't hurt Kirana... we're just trying to cheer her up," he told him, Rayhanda was reluctant of giving an answer and Sanju could tell--he was actually kind, to others. "I will admit, you're a brave person back then... don't be like those fuckers," he said, that made Sanju blush a bit.

This is truly embarrassing, who knows he's like this. "I... have a really bad news, well... not really a bad news but... it's what Althair informed me and my friends so--will you listen if you don't mind...?" Sanju asked, Rayhanda exhaled slowly before releasing the two men and he folded his arms. "Speak."

"... me and my team, including Silver Slumbering Dragon that Althair leads... we're going to undergo hibernation in the palace sanctuary in the moon, not the Moon Sanctuary--IN the moon palace that they make. Althair explained that there will be 'upcoming events' in our future and he assure me that we're safe there," he told him, Rayhanda isn't against of what he wanted to do. However, if they must go there because of the risks are really dangerous to them... then he had no choice. "We had to take turns to wake up if we slept for two weeks... so that's what he informed me and now, that's our plan."

Okay, maybe just a bit understandable... a long break? Hell, why not! But he told him to move somewhere else once the time comes or they could be taken away because if there's any danger on the moon, they might send another tsunami wave here, which means they're all in danger. This make sense, his instinct never wrong. "Good luck," Rayhanda simply replied, making the three of them comically paled when Kirana began to drag her father out of the platform--distracting him as she replied. "I'm sorry, we're in hurry... bye!"

Both of them stood there like a statue after his response to them, did he... really support on this? Unless they would want to be left by her at any cost. Yeah, that's right. Why did he helped and saved Radithya if his hatred on him haven't vanished. "I don't understand her dad sometimes... remember when we met him for the first time in high school? He's legit on his protectiveness..." Sanju said, now remembering that awkwardness if you encountered someone who has a really strict and protective nature to their family. "I heard he wasn't angry when he saved your pops, it was a thank you gesture..."

Damian slowly let his breath in relief when he heard that statement, maybe this could be his day off from the island but damn--he really needs holiday and turns out the island was almost ready. "So, when will you guys be in deep slumber?" he asked, seeing Sanju walked beside him as they left the colosseum. "Not sure yet, we have to wait for Althair's confirmation. I might explain further details... will you tell the others?" he asked back, he didn't want this to be a secret at all. "Uhhh... yeah, probably," he stuttered, crossing his fingers behind his back as the latter was wary of that statement. "Do you want to have some fun after we take a break after Haruna's death? I bet you wanna sleep like a log or just having some alone time at a resort hotel?"

Well... both of them had to lie about the shit that happened but it wasn't too bad since Sanju explained to his father, explaining the truth... even though it will lead to mixed reactions. "I don't know... besides..." Sanju trailed off, before he sneezes again... damn, why it had to be like this?! Damian wondered how could he is so adorable like that, though he already reminded it--his sneezes were really cute that Sanju wished that he could remember this whole embarrassment. "Hey, don't tell anyone about this," Sanju warned, hoping that he won't leak it out at least. "Don't worry... your sneezes will be kept a secret! A secret that I don't want to spread out, unless you like it," he teased, causing the latter to smacked him again for real.

Few days later...

Amusement park... Sanju really missed going here, but out of all options--they choose roller coaster for this shit, he hates heights. Raiden is the one who choose that option, Akito acted cool about it (deep down he's a baby for that), Karina couldn't care less as Senja choose not to give a shit because he only does what Sanju told them. Kanae yawned sleepily, while Kinana was curious about the roller coaster since this is their first time having one. "You chose the perfect ride, huh?" Sanju raised an eyebrow when Raiden smiled cunningly, everyone knew how much Sanju hates roller coasters since they're so fast. "Heh, maybe..."

Yukito sighed, he had to keep an eye on these asshats when the roller coaster's already approaching, same goes for the staff and they are nervous when they see him but... they know they won't scream their heads off of this crazy guy but... when they saw them already hopping on--he prayed that none of them either vomit or start with that. But, he was wrong--because those reactions were so hilarious that Sanju will never forget from the picture he snapped himself on his phone. In the picture, it was seen that:

Sanju is sitting like a ball behind the bar, clinging to both sides of the coaster until it seems he looks like he was screaming 'OH MY FUCKING GOD NO, SOMEONE GET ME OFF THIS FAST THING Y'ALL SHITHEADS ARE REALLY STUPID TO CHOOSE THIS SHIT'. Raiden was screaming with his hands in the air like a moron, laughing until he's being red while trying not to puke. Senja seems like he's okay with that, but inside he's actually scared and about to die, he's shivering with his face went dark. Akito was holding onto Raiden's head in a headlock (because it was the only place he could get a good hold, you know, Akito didn't want to fall down and make an idiotic grand entrance?) while holding his phone and not letting go of it because he's focusing on recording them and maybe show them in his vlog later. Kanae was dozing off and unfazed by that ride, she simply just laid her head back like that with her relaxed posture. Kinana was enjoying her time with her happy smile and hands in the air and lastly Karina...

... she was clasping a hand on her mouth while trying not to swear, her other hand held onto her seat in a death grip as a sheen of sweat glistened on her forehead as she tried not to vomit.

Yukito was laughing so loud that his younger twin Akito was glaring at him. Sanju thought they took it easy with this ride, that's not fun at all! However, the workers fixed their situation and eventually, they ended up either going to the bathroom or try another ride that isn't like this. Sanju laid down on the ground like a dead person, still recovering from the ride as Kinana poking his back--waking him up from his shock. "I feel like shit..." he muttered, before he grumbled. "This is even worse than facing HR staffs..." he grumbled, guess that kinda works.

Then, they also brought everyone into either the water park and everywhere in Hyang Seram before they had to 'open' the island and the ADVENT will be in deep slumber.

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