Rain crashed heavily against the broken church windows while thunder shook the sky above.
Stella stood frozen in the middle of the church, staring at the man who murdered her parents. Her hands trembled around the gun while anger burned inside her chest.
The hooded man smiled darkly.
"Yes," he said proudly. "I killed them."
Stella's breathing became uneven.
Her vision blurred.
Everything around her suddenly felt strange.
The silver necklace around her neck began glowing deep red.
The hooded man's smile slowly disappeared.
"No…" he whispered nervously.
A painful burning sensation spread through Stella's body. She dropped the gun and grabbed her chest.
"W-What's happening to me?!"
The church floor began shaking violently.
Candles exploded.
Windows cracked.
A dark red energy slowly surrounded Stella like smoke.
The hooded man stepped backward in fear.
"The Blood Agent power… it awakened already?"
Stella fell to her knees screaming.
Suddenly, memories flashed through her mind.
Her mother crying.
Her father covered in blood.
A black building with the symbol of a red eye.
Gunshots.
Fire.
Then—
A woman's voice echoed inside her head.
"Stella… run…"
"Mom?" Stella whispered weakly.
The hooded man quickly raised his gun.
"I can't let you live!"
BANG!
The bullet shot toward Stella—
—but suddenly stopped in front of her face.
Floating.
The man froze completely.
"What?!"
Stella slowly looked up.
Her eyes were glowing bright crimson.
The air inside the church became heavy and cold.
The hooded man stepped backward again.
"You're becoming just like her…"
Stella stood slowly.
Her voice no longer sounded normal.
"You took everything from me."
The lights inside the church flickered wildly.
Wood cracked around the room.
Fear appeared on the man's face for the first time.
"You don't understand your power!" he shouted. "If you lose control, you'll destroy yourself!"
"I DON'T CARE!"
BOOM!
A massive wave of red energy exploded from Stella's body and blasted the hooded man across the church. He smashed into a wall and coughed blood onto the floor.
Stella stared at her own glowing hands in horror.
"What am I?"
Before anyone answered, the church doors burst open.
Her grandfather rushed inside, breathing heavily while holding a gun.
"STELLA!"
He suddenly stopped moving after seeing her glowing eyes.
His face turned pale.
"No… it awakened too early."
"Grandpa…" Stella whispered painfully. "Tell me what's happening!"
Her grandfather lowered his head sadly.
"The Blood Agent power has chosen you."
The hooded man laughed weakly from the floor.
"She was born for this."
Stella looked between them angrily.
"STOP TALKING IN RIDDLES!"
Thunder roared outside.
Finally, Grandpa spoke.
"Years ago, a secret organization called Black Veil experimented on powerful bloodlines. They wanted to create human weapons."
Stella's heart pounded faster.
"Your parents escaped from them before you were born."
The hooded man smiled darkly.
"But Black Veil never stopped searching."
Stella slowly realized the truth.
"They killed my parents because of me…"
Silence filled the church.
Tears formed in Stella's eyes.
Her grandfather looked away painfully.
"Yes."
Stella felt her knees weaken.
All this time…
Her parents were protecting her.
The hooded man slowly stood again while wiping blood from his mouth.
"You should come with us willingly," he said calmly. "Black Veil can teach you to control your power."
Grandpa immediately pointed his gun at him.
"She's never joining you."
The man laughed.
"You think you can stop us?"
Suddenly—
Red laser dots appeared across the church walls.
Snipers.
Grandpa's eyes widened instantly.
"Get down!"
BANG! BANG! BANG!
Bullets shattered the windows as masked soldiers stormed into the church wearing black uniforms marked with a red eye symbol.
Black Veil.
One soldier grabbed Stella's arm.
"We found the target!"
"LET ME GO!"
Fear exploded inside Stella again.
And so did her power.
BOOM!
A violent shockwave blasted through the church, throwing soldiers across the room like dolls.
Wood shattered everywhere.
The masked soldiers stared at Stella in shock.
Even Grandpa looked terrified.
The hooded man smiled slowly.
"Incredible…"
Stella's eyes glowed brighter than before.
A strange symbol appeared on her hand.
The air around her twisted unnaturally.
One soldier whispered fearfully:
"She's unstable…"
Another stepped backward.
"This power level is impossible."
Stella could barely hear them anymore.
The anger inside her was growing too strong.
All she could think about was revenge.
The hooded man noticed her expression and smiled.
"Yes… that hatred is awakening the Blood Agent."
Grandpa grabbed Stella's shoulders firmly.
"Listen to me carefully!"
Stella looked at him weakly.
"If you let hatred control you completely, you'll lose yourself forever."
"But they killed Mom and Dad…" she whispered.
"I know."
Tears rolled down her cheeks.
"I want them to suffer."
For a moment, Grandpa said nothing.
Then he spoke softly.
"That's exactly what Black Veil wants."
Suddenly, the church roof exploded above them.
Everyone screamed.
A tall figure dressed in black landed in the center of the church.
The entire room became silent instantly.
Even the Black Veil soldiers looked nervous.
The stranger wore a white mask stained with blood-red markings.
And behind him—
were giant black wings made of shadow.
Stella stared in horror.
The masked figure slowly looked directly at her.
Then he spoke in a cold voice.
"At last… the true Blood Agent has awakened