Dedicated this chapter to my hooman supporter Mystyrianza thank you for the comments!<3

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"And that's the end of the story." ganadong kwento sa akin ng babaeng nasa harap ko. I gave her a blank stare and rolled my eyes after. I can't believe that it's just a show.

Naikwento niya sa akin ang buong pangyayari, and swear to River Styx when I heard it I want to punch her right on the face. I can't believe that she tricked me. It's not the centaur's fault, inagaw niya ang gold flag because she said she wants thrill and some fun.

It's normal for the centaur to react that way because she stole the flag. Naitanong ko kung bakit hindi agad nagteleport ang centaur ng nahawakan ang gold flag, ang sabi niya ay limang minuto muna ang dapat intayin bago mateleport sa island. She knows it dahil may nakalagay daw na oras sa flag noong hinawakan niya ito.

I felt guilty on what I did for the centaur, I feel bad. Huminga ako ng malalim bago tumalikod kay Xia ngunit hinawakan nito ang braso ko ay pinigilan. "Where are you going, are you gonna left me here?" lumingon ako sa pwesto nito at nakita ko ang malungkot nitong ekspresyon.

"Get your hands off me." madiin kong wika ngunit imbis na tanggalin ang pagkakahawak sa akin ay ipinulupot niya ang braso niya dito. Akmang tatanggalin ko ito ng buong pwersa niya akong hinila kaya natangay niya ako. Naglalakad kami sa buhangin at humahampas ang malamig na simoy ng hangin dahil sa dagat na nasa kanan ko. Rinig na rinig ang bawat paghampas nito at ang natural na amoy ng tubig.

But it's not the type of island that gives me a comforting and relaxing view, this island represents the near death of us. Yes, we're already in the Island of Daemons. Kung sa kanan ay nandoon ang tubig sa kaliwa ko naman ay ang masukal na gubat kung saan naninirahan ang mga halimaw na kinakatakutan.

Ngunit ang babae sa harap ko ay tuloy pa rin sa paghila sa akin. What the is she really a girl? Her grip is so strong. Pinipilit kong tanggalin ang braso niya pero hindi man lang ito nagagalaw. "Don't bother, it's no use." she look at me and smile widely which made me irritated. She reminds me of someone who used to smile to annoy the hell out of me. Mabuti na lang at wala siyang dimple.

Really, I don't like this girl. Mas mabuti pa si Kadira sa kanya.

"Binitawan mo ako kung ayaw mo maging abo." swear my sight is starting to get dark. I'm annoyed.

"Just wait, I'm gonna show you something." napabuga ako sa hangin dahil sa inis. "I'm not interested in it, so please can you?" mukhang nakuha niya naman ang gusto kong iparating, lumuwag ang pagkakapulupot ng braso niya sa akin, akala ko ay pumayag na siya na tigilan ako ngunit bigla na lamang napalitan ang kinatatayuan ko.

From the rough sand to a stone. We are standing in a stone.

'putangina' I cursed at my mind when I look down, mataas ang bato kaya nakakalula pagtitingin ka sa baba. I have fear of heights but I don't want anyone to know that, even Elo. Alam kong aasarin ako nito at gagamitin ang ability niya magteleport para dalhin ako sa matataas na lugar.

Iniwas ko na lang ang tingin sa baba at ibinaling ito sa babaeng katabi ko na prenteng nakaupo. Nakapikit ang mata nito at nakapatong ang kamay sa tuhod. Nagtaka ako sa ginagawa nito, "Hoy anong ginagawa mo, ibaba mo na ako dito!" naiinis kong saad.

"Shh quiet, I'm focusing can't you see." singhal nito sa akin.

Aba sinusubukan ako ng babaeng to ah. The nerve! Magsasalita na sana ako ng makarinig ako ng tunog ng malakas na sipol sa gubat.

Lumingon ako dito at nakita ko na ang ibang mga halfbloods, nymphs at centaurs nakakuha ng flags. Kakaunti na sila kumpara noong nagsimula ang pagsusulit. Noong nagteleport kami dito ay walang kahit sino, so we assumed that we're the first one who capture a flag.

"Look creepy girl." naagaw ng atensyon ko ng magsalita si Xia, nang lumingon ako sa kanya ay may tinuturo at ng sundan ko ito ay nakita ko ang pagsibol ng araw. Unti unti itong sumisilip at natatamaan ako ng sinag nito.

Hindi ito masakit sa balat. Suddenly I felt an overflowing aura beside me and when I looked at my left, I saw how Xia glowed. Ang buhok niya na natatamaan ay lumiliwanag, it became light pink. Nanlaki ang mata ko at biglang natakam.

A lightsaber cotton candy!

"For the love of God Eros and blessing of the God of Sun. I, Xia, a halfblood accept your sunlight. May it lend me a great power, a ray of hope." pagkatapos niyang bigkasin ang mga salitang yon ay bumalik na sa dati ang kulay ng buhok niya at ang mabigat niyang presensya.

So what now? I see she is the descendant of God of Love, no wonder. Her face says it all, from her round eyes that has the shade of carnation pink to her sculpted pointed nose and lastly her cupid bow lips. Xia's indeed a daughter of the love deity. Besides she has the blood of the Goddess of beauty, Aphrodite, that runs through her blood.

But despite of the perfect appearance her attitude and personality is the total opposite.

"Why are you looking at me like that? You're starting to act creepy again, you know. Like what you did way back before." umismid ako dahil sa sinabi niya. It's not my fault that I stared too much to her, it's her aura that pulls me off. Like it says that I should stare at her more and don't get my eyes off.

"Let's go back, mukhang magsisimula na din ang test." bagot kong paganyaya sa kanya, I must go down now dahil kanina ko pa pinipigilan ang sarili kong wag masuka.

I can feel that my legs are shaking because I'm nervous of the heights. Hindi biro ang taas ng bato na kinatatayuan namin. Masama ko naman siyang tiningnan, kung nakakamatay lang ang tingin ko ay siguradong kanina pa siya nakabulagta sa kinatatayuan niya. She looked at me innocently like she did nothing.

"Oh sorry for that hehe, anyways before we parted ways I just wanna say thank you for lending me your time and presence, don't worry I return you a favor. You'll find out later." that's the last words I heard before I teleported back to the entrance of the island.

Mukhang nagulat ang iba dahil napatingin sila sa gawi ko habang may nagtatakhang mukha. Umiwas na lamang ako ng tingin sa kanila at dahan dahang nagtungo sa puno na nasa kaliwang parte at sumandal dito. Bigla kong naalala si Elo, nilibot ko ang paningin ko upang hanapin siya but I can't find a girl that has a light blue hair. Nagsimula na din akong maglakad lakad upang hanapin siya ngunit natigil ako ng may biglang nagsalita

"Congratulations everyone. Your presence says that you passed the first test and I'm glad to have you all here." The voice comes from the sky, but there's no figure that showed up.

"Now you are in the Island of Daemons, where the whole test will happen. To remind all of you again, your goal is to kill daemons to gain points and escape this island on the 5th day before sunrise. Those who are able to make it, will be the official student of the University. And don't worry after you come out from this Island, your wounds would be gone since this is just an imitation place." tahimik ang paligid at ramdam na ramdam ang pagiging seryoso ng lahat ng nandito.

"You may proceed now. Goodluck." biglang nawala ang mabigat na awra ng boses. And then it was followed by the sound of a whistle. Hudyat na nagsimula na ang pagsusulit.

Walang gumagalaw sa aming lahat, kita ang takot at kaba sa bawat isa hanggang may isang centaur na umuna sa paglalakad papasok sa gubat. Hindi ito nagabalang lumingon sa amin at magsalita hanggang sa papaliit ng papaliit ang kanyang pigura at tuluyang nawala sa aming paningin. He's brave.

Doon ay unti unting nagsilakad ang lahat na para bang nagkaroon sila ng lakas ng loob gumalaw, may nagkukumpulan at may iba namang solo lang maglakad. Tinitingnan ko kung nandoon si Elo ngunit sa kasawiang palad ay wala.

'elo asan ka' I tried to speak in my mind but there's no response. Also our connection is faint, that means we're too far from each other. But I'm pretty sure that she made it, after all her specials is strong.

Marahil ay nasa ibang parte lang siya ng isla kanina kaya hindi ko nakita dahil masyado kaming madami.

We're seven hundred twenty in total, that's a lot and my eyesight is not that sharp. Humugot ako ng malalim na hininga bago nagdesisyong maglakad na.

Nang makapasok ako sa loob ng masukal na gubat ay tumindig agad ang balahibo ko. This forest is giving me the eerie vibes and besides there's a fog all around. Hindi ko tuloy masyadong makita ang nasa paligid ko.

I can't hear some voices, it feels like I'm the only one here and it's not good. Inilibot ko ang paningin ko at pinakiramdamang mabuti ang paligid. I heightened all my senses so I'll be aware if there's any daemons around.

Minutes has passed when I enter the forest but there's no sign of daemons or anyone. Nang biglang umihip ng malakas ang hangin mula sa likod, marahas akong lumingon dito.

My reflexes was fast so I dodge the attack that should land on my face. Kung hindi ako nakaiwas ng maaga ay malamang lumipad na ang ulo ko.

Tumalon ako paatras at kinuha ang palaso sa likod ko. Inilagay ko ito sa pana at itinutok sa harapan ko.

Seeing the creature infront of me makes my spine shivers in fear. The appearance it has is scary and at the same time disgusting. It has two horns in its forehead, three eyes that has the shade of bloody red, black and sharp teeth with a long claws that nearly cut my head off earlier and the body full of black veins. Nanlilisik ang mga mata nito na nakatingin sa akin.

Inayos ko ang tayo ko at itinutok sa kanya ang pana, I don't know where is his vulnerable spot.

Think Ade, think. Tiningnan ko ang kabuuan niya, I don't know what's his weakness, it can be his hips or eyes or anything.

Naging alerto ako ng sumugod ito sa akin, mabilis ito at maliksi. Binitawan ko ang pana and I didn't miss, natamaan ko ang balikat niya but it doesn't seems that this creature mind the arrow.

Itinaas nito ang kuko niya at akmang itutusok sa akin ng umiwas ako at tumalon sa kaliwa. Hindi pa ako nakakatindig ng ayos ng muli itong sumugod sa akin. Puro iwas lang ang nagagawa ko dahil hindi ako makakuha ng tyempo upang makalayo sa kanya.

My weapon have a low chance when it comes in close combat, I could just use it to dodge or pierce. Unlike swords, I can slash them easily but I'm not used to it.

I observed the daemon's movements and attack patterns, and I saw that it primarily uses its claws and lacks any other weapons.

Di ko namalayan na ilang dangkal na ang lapit niya sa akin kaya naabot niya ang balikat ko. I shriek in pain when the daemon's claws come close to my shoulder.

Akmang itutusok niya mula ang kuko niya ng mabilis kong kinuha ang palaso sa likod ko at ibinaon ito sa kanyang mata. The daemon let out a loud cry and kneel in the ground while holding its eyes.

That's when I got the chance to get away from the daemon to ready myself for an attack. Kumuha ako ng palaso sa likod at nilagay sa pana. After that I pointed it to the creature, malikot itong gumagalaw dahil nagdudugo ang kanyang mata.

Its two eyes has a stain of green blood. So I didn't wait any chance, I let out the arrow from my grip. I was hoping that I'll hit its eyes but to my shock the daemon just dodge my attack. Agad na nanlaki ang mata ko.

What the fucking Olympus?! He dodge it?!

Tumayo ito na hawak pa rin ang mata niya at masamang tingin ang ipinukol sa akin. Inihanda ko ulit ang sarili ko sa sunod nitong atake ngunit nagulat ako sa sumunod nitong ginawa.

He roar loudly.

Tinakpan ko ang tainga ko sa lakas nito. Mahigit isang minuto niya iyon ginawa. I think my eardrum just got broke. Iritado akong tumingin sa kanya at papanain na sana siya ng nakita ko ang malademonyo niyang ngisi. Mas lalo akong nagulat ng may lumabas mula sa likuran niya.

From his back, two more daemons come out and they all have the demonic grin in their fucking ugly faces. So what now? Hindi ko na nga mapatay patay itong isa nagtawag pa siya ng kakampi.

I want to roast them alive, if I was just a descendant of Hephaestus. I gritted my teeth out of frustration.

What should I do now? I can feel that I'm shaking not because of fear but because I'm annoyed.

The nerve of this creature to call for another daemon! That means natatalo na siya sa akin kaya siya nagtawag.

Tsk. What a dimwit.

"Oh ano masaya ka na? Nakapagtawag ka na ng mga pangit mong tropa? Tangina neto, porke natatalo ka na sakin magyaya kang kupal ka." Gigil kong wika sa nilalang na nasa harap ko sabay irap. I'm losing my tempt. This creature is really annoying.

Nakatingin lang ito sa akin ng masama habang nakalabas ang ngipin niya. Nagtutulo ang laway nito at tila sabik na sabik akong kainin.

Walang ano ano ay sabay sabay silang sumigaw at tumakbo patungo sa akin. I know that if I'll fight in close range using my weapon, I'll lose.

I think I have to do this, I don't have any choice. Pag di ko ito ginawa, I'm pretty dead.

I closed my eyes and feel the igniting heat within my veins. When I felt the burning sensation in my hands, I open my eyes and kneel to the ground to touch it using my two palm.

From my hands, a black shadow emerge. Habang papalapit sila ay ganon din ang ginawa ng anino. When they come close in contact, the three daemons turned into ashes and disappeared in a snap.

I grinned when I smell their rotten ashes. Akmang tatayo na sana ako ng bigla akong nanghina. I fell on my knees and there's something I felt on my nose.

Nang hawakan ko ito ay basa. Teka sipon ba ito. Tiningnan ko ang kamay ko at nagulat sa nakita.

It's a blood. I rolled my eyes, I'm really weak.

It may seems that the special I have is deadly but my body can't handle it for at least ten seconds. Whenever I'm using it, my body weakens. Then it will result to my nose bleeding.

I never told anyone about this, even Elo. I don't want her to worry or be scared of me. I had my research if there is some deity who have this kind of special but to my hopes up there's none.

Natawa ako ng pagak ng may maramdaman akong presensya sa harap. Another five fucking ugly daemons huh?

Sabay sabay itong sumigaw bago sumugod papunta sa akin. I can't no longer fight in this state. My stamina is drained because I used to much stamina when I had my physical fight with that daemon plus I used my special. When in fact I can't master it.

This is not the death I imagine. I sighed. Life. Napailing na lamang ako at yumuko.

Ramdam ko ang palapit nilang yabag papunta sakin, hanggang may nakita ako ng pares ng sapatos na nasa harapan ko.

Updated na ba ang mga daemons at may sapatos na sila. I laughed at my own thought.

Sa lahat talaga ng maiisip ko bago mamatay ay yon pa, you're the real crazy Ade.

Ngunit biglang nagiba ang atmospera ng paligid. Suddenly I felt a strong aura infront of.... me?

Tumunghay ako upang makita ang nasa harap ko and to my surprise a man was standing in front of me as if he was protecting me. Nalipat ang paningin ko sa paa niya at nakita ang pares ng sapatos na nakita ko kanina.

Oh I thought it's from the daemon, my bad.

Nagulat ako ng biglang magsalita ang lalaki sa harap ko, "Hey loser get out of here, you'll just be a hindrance to me," wika niya at humarap sa akin.

He stared at me for a few seconds before he look back to the daemons. I was amazed by his eyes, it is beautiful but I can't see his face because a mask is covering it.

A silver eye halfblood.