Gratitude

As Ralia, Tendo, and Silva made their way back to the academy, they became increasingly aware of the unusual shadow monster presence during the exam. Ralia, the most experienced of the three, decided to lead and protect them as they hurried toward safety.

Ralia: Come on, you two. Keep moving—we're almost there.

Tendo: Right!!

Silva: On it!!

Ralia: (thinking) Something's off. It feels like we're under attack. But I haven't sensed any intruders yet. And what was that explosion earlier? (glances at Tendo and Silva) Whatever it is, I have to get these two back safely.

As the academy building came into view, Ralia suddenly sensed a presence emerging from the forest—a shadow monster had detected them and was closing in fast. Before any of them could react, a figure dropped from above, piercing the shadow monster with a swift stab of a sword, killing it instantly.

Ralia: (momentarily stunned)

Silva: (grins) It's Karla! (runs to her)

Tendo: I didn't know she was that strong.

Ralia: (thinking) Something isn't right. If she were nearby, I would've sensed her. And why does she have a sword? Mr. Jason said she doesn't use one…

At that moment, Ralia caught the dark, murderous look in Annie's eyes and felt her instincts scream in alarm. Her hunch was right—this wasn't Karla. She had to act fast before Silva got too close.

Ralia: (shouting) SILVA! GET AWAY FROM HER NOW!

Silva: (turning back in confusion) "Huh? What are you…?"

Silva felt a sudden, murderous aura emanating from "Karla," or rather, Annie. Turning, she saw Annie's dark expression, her sword drawn and ready to strike.

In a split second, just as Annie's blade swung toward Silva, Ralia acted. She sent one of her puppets to pull Silva out of harm's way while two others moved in to restrain Annie.

Tendo: (stunned by the sudden scene) Karla?

Ralia: (to Silva) Are you okay?

Silva: Yeah, I think so. I don't know what would've happened if you hadn't saved me. (glares at Annie) But what was that about, Karla?

Tendo: (turning to Annie) Why did you try to kill Silva just now?

Annie: Karla? Oh, right. I guess she never told you. (smirks) Karla's not in control right now. My name is Annie—I'm her big sister.

Tendo: (angry disbelief) WHAT KIND OF SICK JOKE IS THIS???!! KARLA!! IF YOU'RE JOKING RIGHT NOW.....

Annie: (annoyed) Huh? Are you deaf or something? I said she's not in control so she can't respond to you unless I allow it.

Silva: What the hell?

Tendo: 'Unless you allow it'? What's that supposed to mean?

Annie: We share this body. Two souls as one. We can only switch if both of us agree to it. Even if she wants to come back, I control the switch. It works both ways.

Tendo: (bewildered) What!?

Ralia: Then why did you wait until now to switch?

Annie: (grins) "Because we're both members of the Kaimi Daja. Today's attack was the plan all along.

Tendo and Silva: (in shocked unison) "Karla's with the Kaimi Daja?"

Ralia: (thinking) So it is an attack. That explains why I haven't seen any other Hunters—they're occupied with the intruders. And that explosion earlier…

Tendo: (still in denial) NO!! THIS CAN'T BE TRUE!!!!! KARLA!!!! TELL ME THAT THIS ISN'T TRUE!!!!!!

Annie: (noticing his desperation, grinning) "Oh, are you in love with her?

Ralia & Silva: (comically stunned) WHAAAAT!?

Tendo: (awkwardly flustered) Uh…well…

Ralia & Silva:(even more shocked) YOU'RE ADMITTING TO IT RIGHT NOW!!??

Annie:(smiling wickedly, her face suddenly cold) Good. YOU'RE GOING TO BE THE FIRST ONE TO DIE!

Annie shattered Ralia's puppet restraints and lunged at Tendo. He quickly manipulated his iron ore, forming a shield just in time to block her sword. Ralia sent another puppet to intercept Annie, creating a brief opening.

Silva: Are you alright Tendo??

Tendo: Yeah I am.

Ralia: Good. Now get up. We're going to fight her. I know she's your friend, but if we don't act, she'll kill us all. Let's do what it takes to bring her down.

Silva: Right!!!!

Tendo: (hesitant, stands up silently)

Ralia: This isn't the time for hesitation, kid. If you let your feelings hold you back, we're done for.

Tendo: (steeling himself) Right. Let's do this!!!

The three engaged Annie in a three-on-one battle. Annie's superhuman strength as a Lighter quickly became evident; she outmatched their combined efforts, easily countering Ralia's puppets and fending off Silva and Tendo's attempts to restrain her. Ralia kept using her puppets to create distractions, allowing Silva and Tendo moments to attack. But then, Annie vanished—turning invisible using Karla's technique.

Ralia: (annoyed) TCH!! She turns invisible? This is one hell of a pinch. (to Silva & Tendo) Stay sharp!! We don't know where she's going to attack from!!

Both Silva and Tendo tightened their focus, preparing for an unseen attack. Ralia positioned her remaining five puppets around them in a protective formation. But one by one, the puppets fell apart as Annie struck from the shadows.

Ralia: (thinking quickly, recalling Annie's earlier words) She said she'd kill Tendo first… (realizing too late) No!

Annie reappeared right in front of Tendo, her sword poised to stab him in the stomach. But Tendo, reacting fast, managed to grab her wrist, stopping her blade just short of a fatal blow.

Annie: (furious, struggling against him) BASTARD!!!!!! LET GO OF ME!!

Tendo: (ignoring her rage, calls out) KARLA!! IF YOU CAN HEAR ME COME OUT AND TAKE CONTROL!! I KNOW YOU DO NOT WANT THIS!!!

Annie: (seething) You don't get to decide what she wants. ONLY I DO!!!!!!!!!

Annie tried forcing the blade deeper, but Ralia and Silva acted swiftly, pushing her away from Tendo. Though not a fatal injury, Tendo clutched his stomach, feeling the pain and blood seeping through.

Silva: (concerned) Are you alright Tendo!?

Tendo: (holds his stomach) Yeah I am. Though it hurts like hell.

Ralia: Thank goodness it wasn't worse. But we need to stop her before she can do more damage.

Annie's gaze turned darker as she looked at Tendo, irritation in her eyes.

Annie: Did you really think Karla loved you? I saw how close you got to her while I was inside. You think she considered any of you her friends? (sneers) Where were you when things were hardest? Don't act like you love her more than I do. I'm the only one she's allowed to care about!

Ralia: (confused) What the hell?

Tendo: (bewildered)

Silva: (annoyed) So what? Just because we couldn't be there for her every second doesn't mean our friendship means nothing! You're twisting things to justify killing people? Are you insane? (points angrily) Friendship isn't yours to control! Only she decides who her friends are. If you truly loved her, you'd respect that!

Annie: (enraged) I'M GOING TO KILL YOU AFTER I KILL THE BOY!! YOU WON'T COMPLAIN WHEN YOU GET KILLED WILL YOU!?

Annie charged toward Ralia, Tendo, and Silva, ready to strike a lethal blow. But then—unexpectedly—she froze, her body refusing to move. Karla was fighting back, struggling to regain control, which momentarily paralyzed Annie.

Ralia noticed the opening but, without any puppets left, was unarmed to restrain Annie. She prepared to tackle Annie herself when, suddenly, Annie's body moved again, lunging forward. But before she could reach them, threads appeared out of nowhere, tightly binding her in place. Ralia recognized the threads instantly.

Haruto: (carrying Veto over his shoulder) Oh, it's you guys. You okay?

Ralia: Mr Haruto!! You were here too? (notices his bloody stitches) Did you...?

Haruto: (notices) Yeah I did. Turns out this guy....(point at Veto who he was carrying).....was a real piece of work.

Silva & Tendo: (wide-eyed) WHO IS HE??

Ralia: Oh, right! You haven't met Mr. Haruto yet.

Haruto: (notices Silva and Tendo) Ah, Jason's students. You both did great work in today's exams.

Silva & Tendo: THANK YOU.

Haruto: Good. Now let's head back.

Silva: Wait....what about our other friends?

Haruto: Jason & Marlo got to them so don't worry about it. (notices Annie trying to break free) I wouldn't do that if I were you. The more you resist, the tighter it gets.

Haruto, Ralia, Silva and Tendo began to make their way back to the academy.

Meanwhile, deep in her subconscious, Annie and Karla were locked in a heated confrontation.

Annie: (slaps Karla) Why did you stop me? Huh?! Why didn't you let me kill them?

Karla: (holding her left cheek) I CAN'T TAKE IT!! I CAN'T TAKE ANYMORE!!! I DON'T WANT ANY PART OF THIS! I WON'T LET YOU KILL MY FRIENDS!!!

Annie: (angered) YOU UNGRATEFUL BRAT! After everything I did for us, you think you get to make the choices now?! But you went ahead and made friends knowing exactly what I'd do to them! WHY, KARLA?!

Karla: (tears in her eyes) BECAUSE IT'S MY LIFE! I'm the one who should choose my friends, not you! Just because you're my sister and we share the same body doesn't mean you control how I live! IT'S MY BODY!"

Annie: So everything I did for you means nothing? You're just going to throw it all away?

Karla: No, Annie, you're wrong. I'm grateful for everything you did when we were kids—for providing for me without complaint. I even allowed Jokita to transfer your soul into my body so we could be closer, letting you decide how I should live. But I won't let you use that as an excuse to hurt those I care about. I won't let you control me anymore.

Annie: So you're okay with letting them take us? This wasn't part of the plan, Karla!

Karla: I don't care about the plan. I don't want to be in the Kaimi Daja if it means hurting my friends. I'm done letting you have your way, Annie.

Annie: And that boy…do you love him?

Karla: (Tendo's image flashes in her mind) Yes.