Kabanata 68
Third Person
Everyone started to panic. Ang takot na nararamdaman nila kanina'y dumoble nang maramdaman ang kakaibang puwersa na tila ba nagdudulot ng labis na pangamba sa kanilang damdamin.
The people helplessly sheltered themselves against the huge blocks of ice falling from the sky. Kasabay na dito ang kanilang pag-iwas sa kidlat namiminsala sa buong imperyo. The people were terrified looking at the sea monster devouring every person it laid its eyes on. Natataranta ang mga ito't hindi nila alam kung ano ang gagawin.
The armies of the undead were also confused. Nakikita nila ang kapwa nila kawal na isa-isang nagsibagsakan sa lupa nang matamaan ito ng nagtutulisang yelo mula sa kalangitan. The armies of the undead aren't supposed to get hurt with such things, not unless if it was from a prowess related attack.
"W-what's going on?" Hindi mapigilang tanong ni Yael.
Natigil ang mga ito sa pagsugod sa isa't-isa. Canaan's anger was replaced by fear and confusion. Mabilis itong napatingin kay Caiz at Flare na siyang nagtataka rin kung ano ang nangyayari. Looks like all of them have no idea what's going on.
Even the Kings and Queens of the empire were alarmed. None knows what's bound to happen. They lift their gazes, only to see a swirling cloud above them. Doon nagmumula ang kulog at kidlat na tumatama sa kalupaan. They saw countless body of people lying on the ground after being strucked by a lightning bolt.
The land was barren and dried out. The trees and flowers was withering. The animals was dying.
Caiz look in the dim sky when a certain star lit up. It started to fall down like a meteorite. Ang nakakasilaw nitong liwanag ay pabalugsok sa kanilang gawi kaya't kaniya-kaniyang takip ng mata ang mga ito upang hindi mabulag dito.
The people were expecting a huge explosion once it hits the ground, but it didn't. When they opened their eyes, they saw Arden. The look in his eyes were calm but Yael knew his stares better than anyone else. Arden was troubled.
"The King had fallen into the abyss." His words confirmed their conclusions in mind.
Caiz stood up even if his hands were chained. Lumapit ito sa tatlong kasama. The four of them remembered one thing. It was the order that the king gave them years ago.
If one day I will be the cause of chaos and destruction of the world, I hope the four of you will do your best to kill me.
Mariin na napapikit ang mga ito, nakakuyom ang kamao't walang salitang maapuhap sa bibig. Killing the king is the last thing they wanted to do. He's the one who taught them manners, who clothed and trained them. The one who acted as their parent when they have no one else to hold on to.
That will be and order as a king, and not yielding to my order means your death and the suffering of everyone with ties on your blood.
They have no choice but to do it. It was a vow they must commit. Kahit na hindi nila alam kung makakaya nila itong gawin ay wala silang magagawa. They have to try their best to stop him at all cost.
The four of them opened their eyes when they heard an unusual quake. Para bang may isang napakalaking hayop na naglalakad at sa bawat yapak nito'y yumayanig ang kalupaan. Hindi pa man nakakabawi ang mga ito sa takot ay nagulantang ang mga ito nang may makitang isang dambuhalang halimaw sa kanilang harapan.
It was a mythical animal. A huge dog with three heads. It was around 10-15 meter high and his savage canine teeth was a warning that it was not that friendly. It was covered with thick black fur. Each head has a different color highlight that runs down its neck and into the fur, but blue looks to be the most prevalent, appearing on the legs and back as well as the spikes.
"Cerberus..." They chorused.
Nakakabinging sigawan ang narinig mula sa mga mamamayang nakakakita sa kakaibang nilalang na iyon. This mythical creature was feed with the prince's magical prowess and they used to shine with light. But now, looking at its aura and appearance, it looks like it was given corrupted magic.
The beast hastily stomped it's left paw on the ground creating a quake. It roared like a mad dog ready to attack anyone who'd try to stop him. Above him, a dark orb of black energy was floating. The orb turned into smoke, blinding everyone in the area. In the midst of the smoke, they saw a red flare of light, it was the devil's eye.
When the smoke vanished, they saw Camaro. The King of all Kings of the Empire, who is now the King of All the Evilness of the world, The King of the Abyss. It was a very different version of himself.
His eyes were dead cold and dim. The way he look at them was like he had no ounce of care and forgiveness anymore. His lips were formed into a menacing smile, and his aura screamed nothing but to wreak chaos and assault.
His presence made everyone shuddered in fear. They felt their knees weaken, all their thoughts were clouded with fear. He was different from the last time they saw him. The king who was once kind and magnanimous has turned downright evil and ruthless.
His story was told before he became a villain, and they cannot blame him. They have no choice but to receive his wrath from the agony they caused him.
Flare look at the new form of his father. He's wearing a black cape and robe. A typical garment for a king. Half of his body was exposed and she can see those ancient tattoos and demonized veins.
"Villain is a broken hero..." She mumbled on her breath. Her father was everyone's hero, her own hero that saved her from the deceitful people around her.
Seeing him made her understand that there are no heroes and villains. There's only people who make choices in their life. Whether they live with it or not, it's up to them. Her father made his choice, and that is to become a villain in his daughter's story. A vengeance they never thought that would haunt them because of the wrong choice they did before.
And it's too late for them to ask for forgiveness.
"Devour every living soul in this land and leave no one alive. Thou shall all perish and die." The King was about to command the beast when a certain woman blocked the beast.
"Stop this!" Flare's face grimaced when she heard a familiar voice. Napatingin ito sa likuran ng babae't napakunot lalo ang noo niya nang makitang pamilyar nga sa kaniya ang pigura ng babaeng 'yon.
"I command you to stop this, Marius!" Muntik na mapasapo ng noo si Flare kung hindi lang nakatali ang magkabilang kamay niya.
"So this is the reason why you approached me? Because you wanted to destroy my land? I thought you loved me?" Sunod-sunod na malulutong na mura ang pinakawalan ni Flare matapos itong sabihin ng dalaga.
She is the daughter of the owner of Brothel's Eve. Ameri, the girl she had to pretend she was interested using her father's bare face. Hindi niya alam na buhay pa pala ito't maglalakas pa ng loob na pigilan ang kaniyang ama sa pag-aakalang iisang tao lang sila.
When Flare look at her father's reaction as she bite her lower lip. He looks emotionless, he doesn't give a flying fuck about the woman in front of her.
"If you love me-" In a split second, Camaro was in front of her. Hawak niya ito sa leeg habang walang emosyong sinsakal.
"I only loved one woman, and that is not you." Matapos niya itong sabihin ay bumagsak ang katawan ng dalaga sa lupa at wala na itong buhay.
"Kill." The Cerberus and Hydra heed his command. Nagsimula na naman itong maminsala at pumatay ng mga taong kanilang makikita.
They saw every person got devoured by the creature, it's flesh cut into pieces, and even a few parts and organs of their body were all scattered in the floor. The ground has turned into a bloodbath.
Frost created a barrier to protect the people he sheltered and tried to face the Hydra alone. The nine headed sea monster was doing the havoc much more than the Cerberus who was sipping everyone's soul.
"The weakest point is the horn in their heads! Cut them off all at once!" Napalingon ang mga ito sa naging wika ni Caiz. Mabilis na tumango ang mga prinsipe ng imperyo matapos itong marinig. The other Knight princes then understood that they need to help each other to save more lives.
In the middle of the chaotic occurrence, the chains binding Flare and Caiz' wrist suddenly vanished. Awtomatikong napatingin ang mga ito sa isa't-isa. Flare's eyes flared in red as her wounds and bruises started to heal. She can feel her body overflowing with prowess due to the blessing of the Solar Eclipse.
Lumipad ito sa himpapawid kasabay si Caiz. Each one of them are facing different heads of the Hydras. The prince of the Elysian Empire, and the Knight Princes of the Lost Continent has now joined forces to defeat the beast. With Flare they're only eight, kailangan nila ng isa pang kasama upang sabay nilang maputol ang sungay ng mga ito.
"I will help." Napakurap ang mga ito nang makita ang prinsipeng inaakala nilang patay na. Para bang binuhusan ng malamig na tubig ang mga ito't nakakita ng patay na biglang nabuhay.
"V-Vexus?" Kanda utal na bulalas ni Aerus nang makita ito. Mabilis na napatingin ang mga prinsipe kay Arden sa pag-aakalang isa lamang ito sa kaniyang konstelasyon gaya ng ginawa niya noon.
"I lied. Leether Vexus Sinas was alive. He was the parrot that you always see with Canaan in the Elysian Institute." No words can describe how utterly shock they are to see him alive.
Mabilis nila itong nilapitan upang yakapin nang mahigpit while frost on the other hand have to raise his hand for a shield dahil para bang wala ito sa kalagitnaan ng kaguluhan upang magyakapan. The nine headed snake just give them a huge blow of attack and they're hugging their gay ass out.
"Keep the reunion later, on your position." Mabilis na pumabilog ang mga ito sa maawtoridad na wika ng natatanging babae sa kanila.
They circled themselves as they face each one of the hydra's head. Flare positioned herself and released a sword in her hand. They need to destroy the horns all at once. One delay and they will have to redo it again.
"We need to do it in one try. Attempting to destroy their horns and failing will make them stronger and stronger." They nod upon Yael's instructions.
Sabay na umiwas ang mga ito nang bumuga ng bola ng enerhiya ang mga ito. One hit of those attack can pulverized them. They need to be very careful and attentive. They need to be in sync in united.
"Charge!" Mabilis pa sa alas kwatrong bumwelo ang mga ito sa paglipad at mabilis na umiwas sa atake ng halimaw. They were flying in circles trying to avoid its attack while observing everyone's pace.
Nang makahanap sila ng pagkakataon ay sabay na nagkatinginan ang mga ito't tumango. They forged their prowess in their swords as they slashed the horn in full force. Nagliwanag ang sungay ng mga ito't buong akala nila'y sapat na ang pwersang kanilang inilabas upang putulin ito subalit nagkakamali sila.
They gritted their teeth as they put more pressure to the sword. Kalahati pa lang ng espada ang nababaon sa sungay at hindi pa nila ito tuluyang napuputol. Now the heads of the beast started to move away from each other. Gumagawa ito ng paraan upang mapatalsik sila na siyang nakapuwesto sa kanilang ulo.
"Come on!" The hydra's head started to face each other and opened their mouth. Balak nilang maglabas ng bola ng enerhiya upang patamaan ang mga ito.
"Hurry up before they finish their elemental recharge!" Canaan shouted. Madiin na hinawakan ng mga ito ang kanilang espada't kasabay ng kanilang pagsigaw ay ang tuluyan na pagputol ng sungay ng mga ito at ang pagbuga ng bola ng enerhiya na siyang nagdulot upang tumama ito sa bawat ulo ng halimaw.
It self destructed.
Hingal na lumapag ang siyam sa lupa. Hindi pa man nakakabawi sa pagod ang mga ito'y kaharap naman nila ngayon ang isang dambuhalang aso na may tatlong ulo. Napaatras ang mga ito. This beast sipped a person's soul just by looking straight in their eyes.
Flare examined the creature thoroughly. Hindi niya alam kung ano ang kahinaan nito. Wala ding sinabi sil Caiz kung ano ang maaring gawin dito kaya nahinuha niyang kahit sila ay hindi alam kung ano ang maari at kaya pa nitong gawin.
When it roared, smokes appeared and the Cerberus was gone. Buong akala nila'y wala na ito subalit nagulat ang mga ito nang makakita ng tatlong bulto ng tao sa kanilang harapan. The corrupted mythical beast just transformed itself into a person.
"How is this possible..."
"Their prowess came from the king, this made them have the capability to think and act on their own. They can transform into a person due to the king's power." Payak na wika ni Yael.
Flare tilt her head when they saw the three of them looks the same. She rolled her eyes heavenwards when they turned out to be good looking. Sumeryoso naman kaagad ang ekspresyon niya nang bigla itong sumugod sa kanila.
The first person was attacking Flame, Canaan, and Yael. The second one was faced by Arden, Aerus, Vexus. While the other one was continuously being blocked by Frost, Flare, and Caiz. Bawat atake at depensa nito ay mabilis at malakas na kayang-kayang tapatan silang tatlo na kaharap nito.
"Shit!" Dahil sa naging mura ni Aerus ay napatingin ang mga ito sa kaniya.
Nasugatan ito mula sa pagkakasagi lang ng kadenang ginagamit nito upang umatake. Those chains were burning like hot magmas from volcano. That's when Caiz remembered that this beast was once the guardian of the Dragon Tribe's domain. He was in contract with the Dragon Queen to protect the tribe when it awakens.
However, Flare's Dragon Form has not been awakened yet. There's a possibility that she can tame those three. However in this situation, where everything's slowly turning into ruins, he cannot think straightly.
The three of the human formed beasts laughed in unison when all of them fell flat on the floor. It released a wave of burning chains that they were not able to shield. Masaydong mabilis ang pangyayari at nagulat na lamang ang mga ito sa kanilang biglaang pagtalsik. Puno ng pasa at sugat ang kanilang katawan mula sa atakeng humambalos sa buong katawan nila.
"Is that how weak you are?" Pang-asar ng mga ito. Sabay pa itong magsalita kaya naman naririndi si Frost dito.
They aren't weak. That's for sure. The only disadvantage they have is that, the beast's power came from the king himself. Not to mention he had received the blessings of the Solar Eclipse. His power was doubled that no one even knows who can stop him.
"Let your souls be the price for the sins you have committed." Umangat ang katawan ng mga ito't may lumabas na kulay puting anhag mula sa kanilang bibig.
It was slowly being taken away by the beast and they can't do anything about it. Flare catch her breath as she watched her comrade dying with her. Her body can't move as well, and for some reasons, she can't heal herself. She was losing hope when Frost held her hand. Napatingin siya rito.
She can see different emotions in his eyes. Nangingibabaw doon ang pagmamahal at pangungulila sa kaniya. Lumamlam ang mata ng dalaga. She missed him. And even after he let those people harm her, she knows deep inside he wanted to help her. Kitang-kita niya ang galit sa mga mata nito at kung paano nito gustong gantihan ang nanakit sa kaniya kanina.
But he held it in, because he cannot put her life at risk. He needs to endure it to make her alive.
He touched the side of her face and moved an inch closer. Sa pagbuka ng bibig nito'y nanlaki ang mata ni Flare nang makitang binabalik nito ang Fire Bid sa kaniya. She stared at him. His face looks so calm and at ease. Saglit niyang nakalimutan na nasa gitna sila ng kaguluhan. All she could think of is how this man live with pain with the responsibility of keeping her alive.
When the bid had finally returned in her body, a deafening silence covered the surrounding. Her body released a wave of fire dahilan upang matigil sa paghigop ng kaluluwa ang halimaw. Tumalsik ito't marahas na tumingin sa gawi ni Flare.
Sila Caiz naman ay uubo-ubong napasandal sa tabi habang hinang-hinang binaling ang tingin sa natatanging babaeng nakalutang sa kanilang harapan. Isang matagumpay na ngiti ang lumabas sa bibig nito nang makita ang pinakahuling anyo ng kaniyang reyna.
The Dragon Queen.
Flare's hair was ash white in color. Above her head was a crown made of a steeled dragon's tooth, and a red horn that compliments her dragon like wings. She's wearing a metallic suit, two inch above the knee with black and red color combinations. The suit cupped her chest revealing her cleavage and wobbly twin peaks. It fits her body perfectly, and it revealed her curves.
Natigilan ang mga ito nang makita ang karikitan ng dalaga. She looks like a gorgeous and seductive villainess in her own story. Walang emosyon ang mga mata nito't taimtim lang itong nakatitig sa tatlong halimaw na naka anyong tao sa kaniyang harapan.
She raised her left hand and pulled something in between her chest. Nagliwanag ang gitna ng dib-dib nito't dahan-dahang may lumabas na sandata roon. It was a scepter forge with a dragon's scale and magmas from the hottest volcano in the lost continent. It's end was a sharp blade. It was a scepter, and at the same time a polearm.
Nang mawala ang liwanag at nakita ng halimaw ang setro ay kaagad na natigilan ang mga ito. They recognize the scepter. It was owned by the Dragon Queen, their true master. It was said that before the Dragon Queen was reborn and reincarnated, the beast will obey the command of a person who feed him with strong prowess.
But once the Dragon Queen resurfaced, he had no choice but to obey her.
"Kneel." Akmang luluhod ang mga ito nang biglang umanhag ang itim na enirhiya sa kanilang katawan. It was connected to the king. Napalingon ang hari sa gawi ng kaniyang anak at nagtama ang paningin nilang dalawa.
Flare released an energy in her body. Kumokonekta ito sa katawan ng tatlong lalaki sa kaniyang harapan. Half of their body was surrounded by red and black energies trying to fight against each other.
Nagtagisan ng tingin ang mag-ama. Walang balak ang mga ito magpatalo sa isa't-isa. The one who breaks the stare will win the beasts authority. Flare has her strongest bid back. The main reason why she can't transform into her last form was because she had no capability to create fire, since her bid was gone.
And now that it has returned, there's still hope for them.
Flare held the scepter tighter when she felt her father's power slowly winning over her. She narrowed her eyes and released more prowess within her. She can't lose. She needs to control the beast to return the souls he once devoured.
"Cams," Mabilis na napalingon ang hari sa pinagmulan ng boses na iyon. When he lost his focus, Flare took the opportunity to take full control of the beast.
Mula sa malayo ay nakita niyang magkaharap ang kaniyang ama at ina. She watched the both of them look at each other. Ang paraan ng pagtingin ng hari dito ay tila ba hindi niya ito kilala, na para bang wala siyang nararamdaman na kahit katiting na pagmamahal dito. While her mother's eyes was full of love and sincerity.
"Cams, look around." The queen said while trying to have a conversation with him.
"This is not what you wanted," dagdag niya.
"What you wanted was a peaceful land. A place where we can live with unity and harmony. A place where we can forget being rulers and just live as normal people with our child." Walang naging reaksyon ang hari sa sinabi niya.
"Aren't you supposed to be dead?" Flare saw her mother swallowed a lump on her throat when she heard the king's lifeless voice.
"I copied your power of illusion, so everything that happened in that dimension was just a mirage." Pagpapaliwanag nito.
Camaro's power of illusion is that strong that he can't even detect his own power used against him.
"You were the the woman I once loved, but my heart has no room for love anymore." Aniya sabay ngisi rito.
"My emotions were nothing but pain, grief, and agony." Umiling ang reyna.
"No. You are not like that-"
"Aren't villains are supposed to feel nothing but such emotions?" Maloko nitong wika.
"You are not a villain!" Giit ng reyna.
"Every story needs a villain," Camaro paused and kept his firm face.
"They said no protagonist can be the villain in their story, but even in my own story, I will always be the villain." Flare was saddened by her father's words.
"I will be the proof that even the kindest person with the purest heart can turn into the most monstrous and ruthless evil person you wished you never should've messed with." Binaling ni Camaro ang tingin sa mga hari't reyna na siyang nahintatakutan sa isang tabi.
"Remember that you're the ones who created me," Aniya sa mga ito.
"All of you are worthless rulers who only cares about your honor and dignity. Your crowns were nothing but displays, your life was a joke, and I'm here to laugh at you." Isang nakakabinging tawa ang narinig mula sa hari.
"Pull your shit together and bring me back the man I once loved!" Faxara commanded.
Naningkit kaagad ang mata ni Camaro't mabilis pa sa alas kwatrong naglaho ito't napunta sa harapan ng reyna. Hinapit niya ito sa bewang sabay hila dito papalapit upang magkalapit ang mukha nila.
"I no longer feel anything towards you..." Umiling ito.
"I can't show myself to you, or expressed how much I love you because I carried the curse that hit me when I was alive." She confessed.
"You were my black rose, and I can't risk to kill myself because I know you will need me." Nagsusumamo nitong wika.
"I have to kill Farus first, the carrier and root of the curse to lift it up." The queen cupped his face and cried.
"I already killed him," She spoke through her sobs.
"I'm back. We can live our life together. So please..." Pinagdikit nito ang kanilang noo habang walang tigil sa pagpatak ang luha nito.
"Please, don't be like that. Mahal na mahal kita," She closed her eyes and lift her left hand to caress his hair.
"When I opened my eyes, I remembered nothing. My memories were clouded but I felt that something was missing. The only thing I have was a ring in my finger with your name engraved on it," She clutched his hair a bit tighter and traced his jaw with her right hand.
"That's why when Farus said he was my husband, I never believed him because his name is not Camaro. When I saw you that night, in the garden, your face made me remember everything. The memories we shared, the future we planned to built, everything..." She opened her eyes full of glistening tears.
"Everything was you. All I could think of was you..."
Flare released a deep breath. Siya ang lalaking nakita ng kaniyang ina sa hardin. Iyon ang panahon na ginamit niya ang mukha ng kaniyang ama upang akitin ang anak ng may-ari ng Brothel's Eve.
Napatutop na lang ng bibig ang dalaga nang makita kung paano saksakin ng kaniyang ama ang kaniyang ina sa harapan nito.
Faxara touched her stomach. She blinked an eye when she saw her hand covered with blood. Nanginginig nitong inangat nag tingin sa lalaking nasa harapan niya. Wala itong bahid na kahit na anong emosyon. He was not the man she once loved whole heartedly.
"You have no choice but to kill and defeat me," Marahas nitong tinanggal mula sa pagkakasaksak ang punyal, dahilan upang bumuga ng dugo ang reyna't mapaupo ito sa sahig.
"For when a person had fallen into the abyss, there's no way you can stop them unless you kill them." He said with finality in his voice.
Flare held the scepter with her left hand, and the other one was caressing her tummy. She have to defeat her father for the sake of everyone, for the people who strived to live.
She needs to provide Icca's daughter a better place to live in.
Itutuloy...
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