-chapter eighty-one-

THIRD PERSON

Life and death.

Ang dalawang salita na ito ang sistema ng RWO. Two hundred players standing in the scale of life, but would unfortunately cross the scale of death in no time. The game of survival continues as long as you live but it ends once you die.

Pero sino nga bang tanga ang pipiliin ang mamatay? Even if it's the shortest route to exit the game?

These main concepts of RWO are integrated in each cities. Kung saan hinahasa ang kakayahan at pagkadesperado ng mga manlalaro. Kung saan tinitingnan ang kalimitan ng kanilang moralidad. The question every city pose is that: To which height would you go just to survive or protect your interests?

Some would betray their closest friends. Some would choose to prioritize their self-image and reputation. Some would use this as an opportunity for revenge. Some would be willing to have bloods in their hands if it's to move forward.

Some would crucify an innocent, just to hide their sins.

This city isn't any different. It has blood and dirt all over it. Nakaukit dito ang lahat ng pagpapaka-sarili na pinili ng ibang manlalaro at ang blind anger na sinunod nila upang makapagpalabas ng sama ng loob.

Right now, the concept of life and death is adapted in LoneWolves' defense against Blood Vanguard and Death Crows. As long as they're standing, the territory flag will never fall.

Kahit na silang dalawa lang kalaban ang dalawang malalakas na grupo.

Maki was already exhausted. His left leg was badly destroyed, a heap of bloody wounds decorating it. Sa kanang paa na lamang siya kumukuha ng lakas at kung hindi kaya'y hindi pinapansin ang sakit na nararamdaman sa kaliwang paa. His dark hair was caked with blood, both from him and his foes. His beautiful face was already ruined dahil sa ilang suntok at sipa na natanggap niya.

It was one of the things that triggered him most. Ayaw niya talagang nasisira ang clear skin niya. Ilang pera kaya ang nagastos niya para sa mga essentials nito! Tapos sisirain lang ng mga taong mukhang unggoy.

Pero kahit na gusto niyang umupo muna at magpahinga, he can't. What he's suffering is far more better than Finn. So Maki would do his best to stop anyone else from coming near her.

Dahil sa labanang ito, si Finn ang main target.

June, Marcella, and that girl named Carly, ang malakas ang bunganga, were ganging up on Finn. Si Finn na hindi na makatayo ng maayos, may iniindang sugat sa tiyan, at duguan ang buong katawan. Finn who dances with the blades also has a harmony with the arrows and bullets that comes her way.

It's such a sight to see. It's the Sparrow in action. Ang laban ng isang totoong rogue.

June fights in a straightforward way. Kitang-kita sa bawat paghampas niya na wala siyang takot pumatay. However, her aggressiveness in attacking is the same with her defense. Napakabilis niyang magdodge at mag-iwas ng atake, na para bang kahit daplis ay ayaw niyang makuha.

Carly looks strong but she looks awkward with a lance. Mukhang mas sanay siyang gumamit ng maiikling weapons kaysa sa mahahaba. Her stance and attacking move is a little off kaya minsa'y nahihirapan siyang lumaban ng aktibo.

Marcella really lives up to her name. She's very strong and every strike she makes is aggressive. Lahat ng mga atake niya ay calculated. Ngunit pinapakita ng bawat galaw niya na isa siyang fighter - a gallant player in battle but falls a little bit when it comes to wits.

So it's different. Really. Watching pro players vs. watching an actual rogue player.

The moves than only the assassins can master. The speed and overwhelming agility which makes up for their lack of strength. It's not that Finn's super strong that she survived, it's that no one could tear down her willpower or they could never catch her.

The clash of fire, earth, shadow and water were witnessed at their area of battle. Kasama sa mga nakikipagsawayan sa apat ay ang mga ni-summon na anino ni Finn. The rocks disassembles to hit her, the fire crackles and flies towards her, the water forms a large bubble to cage her.

But the sparrow persists.

But the sparrow never falls.

Kahit na may lumusob pang sampung tao papunta sa kaniya. Finn only made use of what she has then - her second weapon. The snake slithered towards her arm and transformed into a silver dagger. Finn held the dagger in her left hand and threw the kunais with her right. Sinasalubong niya ang bawat weapon ng sariling blade at tinatapon ang kunai sa mga papunta sa kaniya.

Suddenly, the ground she's standing on crumbled. Nakita niya ang sarili na nahulog sa isang pit ng lava kaya kaagad niyang isinarado ang katawan sa isang shadow cocoon na ipinataas ulit siya. But then, a water lance pierced inside her cage just as she rose above the pit.

Just as the shadow disappeared, tatlong sabay na atake ang nanggaling sa iba't ibang direksiyon. Finn couldn't see where each is headed, but she knows they're not stopping soon. She fell into a sitting position, avoiding the clashing of blades above, and spinning around in a circular manner to wound her enemies with the dagger.

"You bitch." June gritted as their eyes meet.

Kaagad na umatake ito. Her icepick was headed straight to Finn's eye, and the latter was lucky to avoid it by a hair. Kaya't daplis lamang sa gilid ang natamo niya. June has a side-kick and two straight punches ready though, making Finn stagger back with a pained cough.

Nang ilapit ni June ang kamay para hatakin ang buhok niya ay inunahan niya ito. She pulled June's arm towards her, twisting it around and loudly breaking the bones. Isang napakalakas na sigaw ang inilabas ni June dahil sa kakaibang sakit na naramdaman. Binali lang naman ni Finn ang kamay niya!

While June wretched in agony, Carly was the next to attack. Gamit ang physical lance ay nagform din siya ng tatlo pang water lance na nagf-float sa tabi niya. Her attacks were filled with grace and detail, but they were slow enough for Finn to read. And the exchange of strikes between lances and daggers put Carly mostly at the disadvantage.

Ang sumunod na umatake ay si Marcella. Her powerful strength was enough to ruin Finn's sense of balance, sending her to the ground.

Marcella flick her dagger towards the ground, staring at Finn from above. This. This is what she wants in this game. Finn below and her above everyone else. Ang pilit na pagpapakita ni Finn ng sariling kakayahan ay hindi nakakatulong.

Finn's selfishness may one day cost Marcella everything she's ever dreamed of.

Lahat ng iyon pwedeng mawala kung hindi niya papatumbahin si Finn.

So really, Marcella thought as she stared at the fallen rogue, wala naman talaga siyang problema kay Finn sa pagiging tao nito. It's her existence in Marcella's ranking that is a threat. So kung hindi lang sana ito namalas at kinontra si Marcella, e'di sana hindi niya ito papahirapan.

If only Finn remained in her private, little world, maybe her close friends wouldn't leave the game so early.

Higit dalawang minuto na ang lumipas at nakaupo pa rin si Finn. It was starting to worry Maki, who was busy fending off two to three players. Ang sakit na ng kamao niya sa walang-humpay na pagsuntok. Deserve niya talaga ang spa pagkatapos nitong pesteng game na 'to. But first, Finn.

"Oh ano, napagod na ba 'yan? Why isn't she moving anymore?" June asked, regaining her earlier confidence.

Sa totoo lang, wala namang masyadong tama na nakuha ang tatlo. They couldn't even be categorized as injured, maliban siguro kay June na binalian ng kamay.

"I don't know." malamig na sagot ni Marcella at humakbang palapit. "Sparrow, are you giving up? If you are, alisin mo ang magic na naka-attach sa flag."

Only silence answered her.

"Shit." mahinang napamura si Maki sa nasaksihan. Posible kayang tuluyang naggive-up ang katawan ni Finn?

He needs to go near her and check it himself!

"Uh-uh. Saan ka pupunta, darling?"

In an instant, June was in front of him, blade up and ready to strike. Maki carefully took a step back. Mahirap na ang makipag-sabayan sa ganitong trip ng baliw o baka mapugutan siya ng ulo sa isang iglap.

"Sa friend ko, bakit?" pilit na hamon ni Maki. "Tsaka 'wag mo nga akong matawag na darling. Hindi tayo close."

Tumawa si June. "Is Finn your friend? Really? Mayroon pa pala siya niyan?"

Maki narrowed his eyes at the girl. Hindi niya alam ang backstory talaga ng dalawa, but from the multiple chismis he compiled, it's traced back to their childhood. Mukhang nagkaroon ng away ang dalawa at hanggang ngayon pa ang bitterness ni June.

Well, if it's about the fall of a frienship, Maki can understand that. Hindi siya ang pinakamabait at the best na tao, but he could never hit it off with the likes of June. Diyos ko! Mas pipiliin na lang niyang maging alone kaysa makasama 'yan.

"Why? Ayaw mo bang may friends si Finn?"

June smiled, rather evilly. "Hm~ I don't really care. Alam mo bang mayroon kaming condition? Her friends are my friends- no, that's not all. Lahat ng mayroon siya ay akin. At kung hindi iyon mangyayari, well, maybe you can follow Depore to her grave."

Ha! Maki scoffed to himself at what he heard. Ito na nga't umamin ang talagang suspek sa krimen na 'yon. Mabuti na lang at mayroon siyang benefit which can record things. If ever aakusahan ni Papi Kairo si June, e'di mayroon na siyang ebidensiya.

Still... he can't help but to be nervous. Nakikipag-usap siya sa isang pwedeng psychopath, and his life may be endanger every second from now.

"Eh, double-check muna natin schedule ni Grim Reaper, 'te. Baka sobrang busy no'n at hindi na ako maasikaso. The deaths outside are already numerous, dagdag pa dito sa loob. Wala ka bang awa?"

"Awa?" June started to laugh like crazy that Maki almost sliced her head with an axe. Kung naghahanap pala si Pennywise ng kakambal, baka eto na 'yon. "Bakit, naawa ba sila sa'kin ng ginawa nila 'yon? Did they feel remorse or guilt when they saw a bloodied child? Did Finn felt sad when she couldn't help me? Naawa ba siya sa'kin nang nalaman niyang hindi ko deserve ang nangyayari?! So why should I feel that for others when I wasn't given the same treatment? Napakagaling niyo naman!"

Maki was taken aback at the sudden outburst. Now, it feels like he's in the middle of a landmine. Maling sabog lang ni June at patay na talaga siya. As in tigoks. Deads. RIP in peace. Gano'n.

"Sasabihin niyong ako ang pinakamasamang tao sa mundo! Bakit, ano ba ang ginawa kong masama? I only gave what I receive! Nakatanggap ba ako ng tulong? Hindi! So bakit kayo pwede? Did I have genuine friends? Never! So why should Finn enjoy having one? Why should I only sit in the sideways and watch her live the life I'm supposed to be living? Tell me! Huh? Ako ang mas mayaman at mas may pangalan sa'ming dalawa, so why does an orphan like her get to live my life?!"

Maki was at a total silence. Hindi niya alam ang sasabihin o kung may dapat pa bang sabihin. He didn't know that their history was far too emotional and deep.

"Because the orphan also deserves what she has now."

June froze and everyone snapped their heads at the newcomer. Hindi maipaliwanag ang gulat na mayroon sila nang makita ang pagbuhat ni Kairo sa walang-malay na Finn.

Si Maki, na matindi ang takot sa biglang pag-Hulk ni June, ay hindi napigilang tumakbo papunta sa kanila. Finn really lost consciousness because Marcella cornered her towards a dangerous spot. She fell at the spot where a sharp iron bar stood at dumiretso ito sa nasaksak na parte ng tiyan niya. She was also getting pale because of the loss of blood.

"This orphan isn't the elite person you're all thinking of. Dahil ang taong kinatatakutan niyo ay isang nobody rin naman. She's empty and hurt and avoidant. But she still feels like sacrificing herself to the world is the best thing to do, even though the world decided to burn her." Kairo continued. "At siguro kung nagfocus si Finn sa masasamang elemento sa buhay niya ay naging kagaya rin siya sa'yo. Thank God, she didn't."

"You don't know anything, Kairo! So huwag kang magsalita-salita lang diyan!" June snarled.

"Ah, talaga? We live in the same neighborhood, Julianne. Alam ko rin ang ganap sa pamilya mo."

Then, without waiting for another response, Kairo disappeared with Finn in his arms.

Marcella was quickly on guard, shouting at her men to move. "Sundan niyo sila! Finn's already weak so we can get rid of her quickly if-"

"Weh? 'Di nga?!"

The familiarly annoying voice made Marcella look back. "Eura."

"Susundan mo sila, Marcella? Oki. Sumunod ka." naging mala-demonyo ang ngisi niya. "Pero lagpasan mo muna kami."

In the surrounding rooftops stood every member of the alliance, Reaper's Oath. They are ready for battle.

-chapter end-

I'll probably make a stats overview something for next chapter! Image form ko lang siya para di gastos space. Mwash.