107 Ambush

At 1:00, the practice resumed. This time, it was the individual training regimens that Hayden and Dominic has sketched up.

Felix was going to complain as to why Hayden wasn't going to practice when he noticed that Hayden was nowhere in the court at all.

"Coach." Felix approached Dominic. "No disrespect, but why is Hayden not here? Practicing?"

"You have to get to his level to understand that." Dominic ignored Felix. Felix's personality was too rampant. If not for Hayden putting a bit of value on Felix, Dominic would've kicked him out. "Besides, he's going to be more of a coach to you. He's the ace player that can take on last year's Annual Youth Pride team, can you do the same?"

Hearing this, Felix was reminded of the viral video that people posted. It was of Hayden beating Jack, Gabriel, John, Caleb, and Christian. That monstrous level of finesse was indeed pro-level basketball.

Felix got back to practicing without saying anything else. He was questioning of why he wanted to go against Hayden in the first place. In all honesty, Hayden was a person he admired.

At the end of the day, Hayden was a once-in-a-million genius, and as a Filipino, Felix couldn't be prouder.

'Strange…' It was only at this moment that he had a grasp of himself.

A few seconds earlier. On top of a high-rise building not far from the sports complex. A man was standing up there with a binocular in hand. It was Corrupter, the replacement of Crimson Enchantress. He wore a gray jacket and trousers.

"That guy's charisma is too high." Corrupter clicked his tongue in dismay. "Guess we'll have to destroy his life in some other way."

A portal opened behind him. Black Devil walked out. "I'm calling off the mission, Corrupter. I'll assassinate him myself."

"Yes, sir." Corrupter saluted, walking into the portal without another word. Black Devil squinted his eyes to check up on the sports complex.

"There people." Black Devil muttered. In his vision, he was able to perceive The Stalker, Plague Doctor, and Eva. He was stunned. "Who is that woman…? Is that? No, she was dead. I killed her myself…"

Black Devil recognized the woman as the Totem Witch that he killed a few years back. "Could it be…?"

…..

As aforementioned, Hayden didn't practice with the people in the actual Annual Youth Pride team. Instead, Hayden was practicing passes with Daniel.

Not the regular passes you'd think. It was high-speed back-to-back passes drills and irregular passes that would confuse the opponent teams, such as elbow back passes, one-hand high-velocity pass, and dribble pass.

It was awesome. It was an exhilarating feeling for Daniel. As for Hayden, he had anticipated that they'll be able to pull it off. Hence, he wasn't that surprised.

Naturally, Hayden was observing Daniel as they practiced. Daniel's awareness of his surroundings was impressive. Hayden attributed this to Daniel's innate social skills that granted him powerful empathetic capabilities and detection of people.

"You're a natural support." Hayden and Daniel's clothes were both drenched in sweat. "You can pass with 100% accuracy. Your jumping power is amazing. And the fact that you can imitate Takao's passing with flawless timing is something else."

"Heh, thanks." Daniel propped himself on his knees. He was much more out of breath than Hayden. "What kind of stamina do you have?"

"It's an acquired thing." Hayden stretched his back and arms. "When you play, your body gets accustomed to the amount of time it moves. On top of this, we're wielders."

Hayden wouldn't say that he wasn't fatigued due to his Devil's Persistence passive. That would be idiotic.

"Yeah, sure." Daniel appeared on the edge of collapsing. "This is how much you train for an entire day?"

"No, this is light." Hayden has totally reined in his heartbeat right now. "I usually play much more intense than this."

"Monster." Daniel sat on the ground. His exhalation was heavy. "What kind of high-pace basketball do you play? No wonder people say you're a genius."

"I'm not. It's hard work and Divine Perception." Hayden picked up a ball. He twirled it on his index finger. "Persistence is my one weapon."

"Sure, monster." Daniel closed his eyes. "Did I meet your expectations?"

"For the first day?" Hayden continuously twisted the ball on his index finger. "It's right on the mark. I calculated everything. However, you really have to work on your stamina. You should run to your house."

"Fuck you!" Daniel gave Hayden the middle finger. Hayden chuckled. "Is this your so-called Spartan Training? I hate it!"

"Nothing comes easy." Hayden stopped the rotation of the ball and flung it to his back. The ball went in to the basket halfway across the court without hitting the backboard. "This is all from pure muscle memory forging."

"Yeah, yeah, I watch you practice." Daniel waved his hands. Internally, he was awestruck of that shot. Hayden literally had everything committed to his instincts. It was extraordinary. "Do you really want me to run from Manila to Makati?"

"Yep." Hayden nodded. "Without your essence energy circulation and with your Origin Limiter activated. Stay in crowded places. I don't want to be the reason for your death."

"Fine, get the fuck out!" Daniel chased Hayden away. "I'll run. I'll do some practice shots for a bit before I do so."

"Okay." Hayden trusted that Daniel will do what he said he'd do. He walked to the exit. "I have somewhere to be."

"Off to see your girlfriend?" Daniel stood up.

"Yep." Hayden answered the question without turning around. "You should call Scarlet too. Don't lose time with your loved ones in spite of the practice."

Hayden exited the court. Daniel put his hands on his waist. "That guy is something else."

…..

Going to the locker room, Hayden took a transient shower. He disregarded the other people in the room and got out as fast as possible.

It was already 6:30 at that time. The starry curtain of the night has already replaced the sun. Putting the two cognizant beasts on the passenger seat and boarding his car, Hayden texted Eun-ha.

Eun-ha video called him. Of course, Hayden answered it. She was in their hotel suite, on the couch. She greeted him optimistically. "Hello!"

"Hey." Activating the lights on his car, Hayden waved to the camera. "How are you Gonjunim? Was your day good?"

"Yes it was!" Eun-ha told Hayden stories of all her adventures for the day. For the day, they went to Palawan to check out the lagoons. "Sadly, I can't send you a bikini pic. We didn't bring bikinis."

"Eh." Hayden was going to say he's seen everything. He stopped himself. Eun-ha was in the hotel. They'd get teased by that. "Anyhow, I'll come pick you up?"

"Hayden-kun!" Sayuri showed up on the screen. "How was practice?"

"Eh." Hayden shrugged. Pressing a button on the dashboard, a cellphone holder retracted. Hayden put the cellphone on the holder and drove. "It was good. I'm in Manila. Want me to get something for you guys?"

"Cook another meal for us!" Sayuri pouted, making a fuss. "I've been checking the net, and I want to taste Sinigang!"

"Fine, fine, I'll buy the ingredients." Instead of arguing with Sayuri, Hayden gave her what she wants. His death will be sooner than win against her. "Do you want dessert? What dessert do you want?"

"Surprise us." Sayuri wrapped her arm around Eun-ha and kissed her cheek. Hayden couldn't believe his eyes.

"Anyhow." Eun-ha pushed Sayuri away. She got someone to her right. "Little Chung-hee here has something to say."

Chung-hee was pulled to the display. It was Hayden's first time seeing Chung-hee flustered. Well, he saw her flustered on camera, but that was different. This time, it felt genuine. "Uh…"

"Just say it." Eun-ha urged mischievously.

"Do you want to make a webtoon with me?" Chung-hee's voice became smaller every word she spoke. In addition, she couldn't look at Hayden in the eyes. "Please?"

"Sure." Hayden agreed without much thought. "It will be fun. Also, the additional revenue and publicity will come in handy."

You see, Hayden's plans stretched far and wide. It stretched from dabbling on every artistic field: Animating, acting, singing, voice acting, film directing, even to the scientific researching and to sports.

Don't get him wrong, Hayden didn't want to monopolize all the credits in the world. It was that Hayden simply wanted to challenge himself and acquire all the skills he can get. All the experience.

Money and material objects won't be of much use to him anyways as he was a wielder. In the world of wielders, strength was everything.

Anyhow, his top priority in the present was to have a place to do all of his things. Which is why he had to build on that property in Bicol as soon as possible. 'I'd also need a fitting residence for me here in Metro Manila, the capital region.'

"Heh, look at Chung-hee-ya, being all shy." On the background, the co-members teased. "That's a first, huh?"

"Shut up!" Chung-hee's tone was that of scolding and bashful. This was a whole new side that nobody has ever seen. Usually, Chung-hee was bold. Ever since Hayden appeared, she wasn't. "I'll converse with you on the details next time… Perhaps over dinner?"

"Oooohhhh." The CHORUS members all teased Chung-hee. Eun-ha smiled at her. "Will she be the third member of Hayden-ah's harem?"

"Shut up!" Chung-hee pouted, staring at the ceiling. "Nobody wants to be in that guy's harem. No offense, Eun-ha and Sayuri eonni."

"None taken." Eun-ha and Sayuri shook their heads in amusement. "You'll be part of us sooner or later. One of us. One of us. One of us."

The signature impish combination of Eun-ha and Sayuri came out. It was one of the reasons why the fans ship them and label them as 'gay.'

"Shut up!" Chung-hee's entire face reddened. She had a bitter expression. She low key resembled a baby tiger. "I hate the two… Nay, the three of you."

Everyone in the suite laughed at Chung-hee's outburst. Yes, this was normal. As the smallest in terms of height in the group, she was viewed as the 'maknae,' or the youngest of the group, in place of Shu-Ching. You all can imagine the amount of playful teasing she gets.

"Bye, honey." When everything settled down, Hayden and Eun-ha bade goodbye to each other. Sayuri chimed in. "See you later, Hayden-kun!"

Hayden waved goodbye. With that, Eun-ha cut the call.

The moment the call was cut, a bothersome feeling crept up Hayden's heart. A feeling of imminent danger. One so intense that Hayden nearly had a heart attack.

That's when he noticed that he was in a desolate street. He stopped the car immediately, took the two cognizants, and got out of the car. He then stored the car on the spare Space Ring. It barely fit.

In that instance, a black portal opened in front of him. A man in a black oni gas mask and a suit exited. Contrary to his menacing appearance, Black Devil was civilized. He bowed respectfully, "Good evening, Hayden Emperador. I'm here to take your life."

"Let me guess." Hayden's eyebrows furrowed. "Kamay ng Lagim's Black Devil?"

With an ally formerly belonging to Kamay ng Lagim, Hayden got all of the descriptions of the appearances of the Limang Daliri. The man in front of him suited Black Devil's description. It was down to the minutest of details.

"Yes." Black Devil nodded, unsurprised that Hayden has heard of him. Snapping, the black portal closed itself. "Don't worry, it's not your fault, Hayden. You're just too much of a threat to us."

Abruptly, a message was transmitted to his brain. It was from Dusk. 'That guy is a Level 4 wielder. You can't beat him.'

'I know that.' Judging from the powerful aura that suffocated Hayden, he could tell that Black Devil was a wielder. A powerful one to boot.

Accordingly, Hayden let Dusk and Dawn down. Hayden telepathically ordered them to save themselves. He voiced out, "You will at least let my pets go, right?"

"Is that your last wish?" Black Devil scrutinized the two cognizants. Unfortunately for him, he couldn't sense that the two was cognizants as Hayden has told them to activate their versions of Origin Limiter. "I will honor it."

"An honorable man, I see." Telepathically, Hayden was conversing with Dusk and Dawn. He told them to seek refuge with the CHORUS members.

"You're not going to resist?" Black Devil was a bit thrown off due to Hayden's calm demeanor. "What happened with the fierce Hayden I've observed?"

"Well, there's no chance I'll live even if I resist." Hayden acted as if he drove away Dusk and Dawn. "Why bother? Delaying a true inevitable is one thing that I hate."

"I see." Black Devil was dismay. Hayden was a wise person. "If only you were an ally. Alas, we cannot trust you at all."

"No hard feelings." Hayden stood still. He didn't do anything at all. This time, he accepted his fate. "I wouldn't trust me either."

'I guess this is it, huh?' Hayden smiled at the moon. 'Goodbye, Eun-ha noona, Sayuri noona, Chung-hee noona. Noonas from CHORUS. I love you guys.'

"Goodbye, Hayden Emperador." Black Devil didn't feel good at all. Hayden was too good of a piece. He regretted not scouting him in the first place, endeavoring to kill him instead. 'Was I such an idiot?'

He raised his hands. Suddenly, someone flew in at an extreme speed. This someone landed in front of Hayden terminator style. In her hand was a wooden staff with a huge spherical crystal tip.

"You think you can get away from killing one of our own, Black Devil?" Eva stood up. Her killing intent was powerful. Even Hayden was affected. "You don't have the rights."

Swirling darkness came from the side of Eva. Plague Doctor and The Stalker appeared in place of the darkness when it dissipated.

"I thought so." Black Devil put down his hands. "You're alive. How did you get out?"

"You have no rights to know that." Eva coldly spoke. Her aura came out full-blast. "Will you leave on your own, or do you want to fight with a Level 5?"

Hayden was put in a daze hearing those words. No wonder her aura was that mighty. She was a Level 5!

Black Devil's eyes radiated reluctance. Ultimately, he snapped, the portal rematerializing behind him. "You win this time, Totem Druid. The thing is, till when can you protect him? You can't always be by his side, can you?"

"Well, let's see how The Boss will greet you if you ever so touch him." Eva's tone became that of mocking. "You do know that the position of your bases that are being rebuilt has already been compromised, right?"

Black Devil's eyes sunk gravely. "Curse you and your Pangkat Anino, Totem Druid."

"Be gone, foul demon." An elk materialized within the spherical crystal of Eva's staff. She pointed it to Black Devil. Numerous… Leaves? Came out of the staff.

Black Devil's figure flickered. The portal, alongside Black Devil, vanished within a microsecond.

"Tsk, filthy demon." Eva's voice was filled with wrath. "He's a slippery son of a bitch."

"Not wanting to be rude…" Hayden spoke calmly, yet with bewilderment. "But who are you guys?"

"We are from Pangkat Anino." The trio turned around. The Stalker's creepy hollow voice rang out in Hayden's ears. Hayden's skin crawled a bit. "I have been observing your activities ever since you awakened."

"I'm taking it that my status as a dual wielder is known?" From the right, Dusk and Dawn was running back to him. Hayden picked them up. "Wait, were you observing my conjugal relations with…"

"What? No!" The Stalker's voice, despite remaining creepy, was alarmed and flustered. Coughing, The Stalker continued. "However, we do have knowledge that the entire famous group of CHORUS are wielders."

"Thought so." Hayden cradled Dusk and Dawn in his arms. "I'm taking it that my relationship with my girlfriend is also the reason why you approached me?"

The trio was amazed of how straightforward Hayden was. Especially The Stalker and Plague Doctor. They were startled of the fact that Hayden had no respect for Eva at all.

"I like your straightforwardness, kid!" Eva chortled. "It's so easy having a conversation with smart people."

"And what? I have no choice but to come with you right this instant?" Hayden narrowed his eyes.

"Yep." Eva nodded. "The Boss wants to see you."

"Mhm, that's quite hard." Hayden had a pondering expression. "You see, I'm going to my girlfriend's hotel suite. What do you think she'll have to say if I don't show up? Do you want my relationship with them to be ruined?"

"Uh…" The trio was absolute dumbfounded. The gall of Hayden!

"Don't worry." Hayden spawned his SUV from his Space Ring. "I've been eyeing Pangkat Anino for quite a while. I was actually wondering when you'd approach me."

"Wait, so you're…" Thinking back of the time that he was nearly discovered by Eun-ha and Hayden's crazy instincts, The Stalker wanted to cry. "You would have joined without us saving your life?"

"I would be crazy if I didn't." Hayden put Dusk and Dawn on the passenger seat. "I like to thank you for saving my life. As a thank you, I'll hook you up with my contact in South Korea."

"Contact?" The Stalker remembered of his time in South Korea. "You mean…"

"I see, you followed me in South Korea too." Hayden sighed. A look of anger was plastered on Hayden's face. "Aha, you are the one that I've been sensing all this while!"

"Y-yes." The Stalker found Hayden's killing intent surprisingly thick. It was much worse than his own! "It was hard avoiding both you and your girlfriend's detection."

Hayden rolled his eyes in exasperation. He let it go. What's done is done. "I'll give you Christopher's Identity Number. He's a subordinate of mine. I asked him to investigate Korea's world of wielders. As for how to find me… Well, you guys handle that."

On that note, Hayden boarded the car. He left the dazed trio. Hayden was too tranquil! What the hell was up with that!? He literally stared at the eyes of death.

"Oh, man!" A belly-laugh came from Eva. This stupefied the two more. "That guy is golden! Our base will be interesting with his addition."

That's when Sophia and Dominic arrived. "What happened?"

"Oh, that guy drove away already." Plague Doctor's crazed voice was gone. It was replaced by that of a regular man's voice. He was too disconcerted to act his part. "He… Drove away"

"What? Follow him!" Dominic pressed on the trio. "What if Black Devil attacks? That person is sly. You of all people know that!"

"Oh, dang, he's right." Eva's laugh ceased. A pair of wings of light materialized on her back. "See you later."

She flew away.

"Wait for us!" The Stalker and Plague Doctor was engulfed by darkness. There were no traces of them when the darkness disappeared.

"Huh, that guy really is something." Sophia gently sighed. "Being confronted by a Level 5 wielder… And he drives away."

"He's that unique. It's kind of psychopathic." Dominic shook his head. "'She' said that he'll change the very power dynamic of our Pangkat Anino. I wonder to how much extent?"