-chapter sixty-eight-

THIRD PERSON

When the large gates slammed to a close, the crimson sky was filled with winged beasts.

It started at one small dragon, screeching as it passed by. Ang mga manlalarong naiwan sa labas ay nagtatakang napatingin sa taas. Ngunit dahil hindi naman talaga sila interesado dito, they ignored it.

Until about a dozen flew by, wings flapping aggressively and shadowing the hundred of them below.

Dierran, who was already on alert at the first dragon, pulled Wes into a dark alley. He's still unconscious and it's Dierran's fault. Akala niya ay healing potion ang ibinigay ni Marcella kanina, but it was actually to put Wes to sleep. It baffled Dierran at first dahil hindi niya alam ang rason sa likod nito.

But when he saw Finn in the center of undeserved criticisms, he understood it.

Marcella knows that Wes wouldn't care about the situation their alliance is currently in. Dahil alam ni Marcella na wala sa kaniya ang loyalty ni Wes, her plan would break if he ever speaks up. While he's not popularly known for his gaming skills, he is respected as a smart and wise strategist. Kaya naman kung kokontrahin niya ang sinabi ni Marcella or provide doubts for the people to hesitate. It can destroy Marcella's plan of destroying Finn's image.

Hindi alam ni Dierran kung bakit niya ito ginagawa, ngunit hindi din siya nakapagsalita kanina dahil sa sitwasyong kasalukuyang hinaharap niya. They really crafted the plan carefully, making sure that there are no holes.

"Sebastian." tawag niya sa lalaking nakaupo sa may gilid. He has both hands on his downcasted head, shoulders slumped in defeat. "Go and hide next to Wes. You can't fight in your current condition."

"I'm always useless." mahinang tugon nito. "I don't even know why I came here, hoping I could protect Finn when I can't even do shit-"

His words were cut off when Dierran pulled him up, pushing him next to Wes. The voices behind them are getting louder as the dragons keep on appearing. They weren't attacking, just circling around the city. Pero kailangan pa rin nilang maging alerto in case of any sudden attacks.

They don't know what's happening inside.

"Don't say that. Dadating din ang araw na masasabi mo kay Finn kung bakit wala ka sa tabi niya ngayon."

Hindi sumagot si Sebastian sa sinabi ni Dierran. It still doesn't excuse how helpless he is. Kahit siguro mapatawad siya ni Finn, he still can't forgive himself for just standing in the side as she suffered those insults.

He still can't believe it. How everything fell into a chaos when Finn lost consciousness.

Right now, the world they're in is under different filtered truths. It's painted in colorful lies where everyone has their own faults and sins.

A world that is currently being attacked by dragons.

The winged beasts swooped down without hesitation, wings tucked behind for a quicker speed and fangs out, ready to bite. Biglang nagkagulo sa nagkukumpulang manlalaro. Dahil sa sobrang pagpapanic ay napapatakbo sila sa iba't ibang direksiyon, causing them to bump against each other.

May mga manlalaro namang naalerto na kanina at agad na nilabas ang kanilang weapons. Different daggers and blades were pulled out. Some were used to fend off the sharp talons, while others cut through the air, piercing dragon heads.

"Eura!"

Louise shouted, throwing one of her daggers to the dragon that's about to attack Eura. Kakalabas lang ng babaeng pagkatapos itago si Gavin sa isang gilid. Kaagad siyang yumuko, letting the injured dragon fly above her and crashing to a nearby wall.

Gagi, muntik na ko do'n, sa isip niya.

Eura heaved a sigh of relief, shooting a thumbs up at Louise's direction. Umirap lang ang kaibigan niya at bumalik sa pakikipaglaban sa mga dragons.

"Luh, maldita." komento niya bago kinuha ang flamethrower na nakasabit sa likod.

May dragon na malapit sa kaniya, sniffing along the alleys. Ito na sana ang aatakehin niya nang makuha ng mga maiingay na boses ang atensiyon. Nakasimangot siyang lumingon sa malalaking gates ng arena kung saan may mga manlalarong gumagawa ng gulo.

"Anong ginagawa nila do'n?"

"Ay tangina mo!" napamura si Eura sa biglang nagsalita. Sapphire's confused face appeared when she glanced behind. "Magwarning ka nga."

"Anong warning pa ba kailangan mo?" Sapphire sarcastically asked before nodding at the crowd again. "Sa tingin mo, anong gusto nila?"

Eura moved her gaze to the gates. Nang makapasok ang tatlo ay parang nakahinga ng maluwag ang mga manlalaro. They expressed their worries about being on the same place as a murderer, which actually infuriated Eura but she couldn't say a thing.

The previous relief that the players felt, because they assumed that they'll just rest there and let the other three fight for all their lives, was instantly erased by the presence of a hundred dragons. Napalitan ang ginhawa ng matinding takot na naging galit. Ang galit at takot na ito ay naging daan upang gawin ang isang bagay-

Ang isisi ang pinagdadaanan nila ngayon sa isang tao.

"Buksan niyo ang pinto! Papasukin niyo kami!"

"Marcella! June! Please let us in! May mga dragon dito!"

"Omg, what if pinatay na sila ni Finn? What if this was her plan to get rid of all of us?!"

"Shit, oo nga! Gago ka, Finn!"

"GET US OUT OF HERE, FINN, YOU LOSER!"

"MAMAMATAY TAO KA TALAGA!"

Nagulat si Sapphire nang biglang mawala sa tabi niya si Eura. Even the battling players paused when they saw her confident stride to the gates, stopping when she's a feet away and using her flamethrower without a single warning.

Ang mga nagrarally na players ay napasigaw nang maramdaman ang matinding init. Lalo na nang malapit na masunog ang mga damit at buhok nila. They faced a blank Eura with scowl in their faces.

"Are you nuts?! Why did you flame us?!" matapang na tanong ng isang babae na kasalukuyang inaayos ang buhok.

"Ang iingay niyo kasi." Eura said, crossing her arms. "Ginagawa ng iba ang lahat para labanan ang mga dragon tapos kayo sumisigaw lang diyan. Ano kayo, acapella group na may magical powers? Bellas with a twist? Amputa, mas naririnig ko pa kayo kaysa sa mga paglipad ng dragon eh. Last time I checked, we're inside a game not a biritan contest."

"Hindi mo naiintindihan kasi kakampi ka rin ni Finn! She's just doing this to trap us!"

"Sino naman nagsabi no'n sa'yo? 'Yong fortune teller sa kabilang kanto na siguradong kinuha lang ang pera mo?"

The girl scoffed, looking down at Eura. "Ha! Sigurado akong ginagawa mo 'to kasi kakampi ka ni Finn. You're a murderer like her!"

"Oo nga!" sinuportahan naman siya ng kaibigan. "Siguro ikaw tumulong kay Finn na patayin si Depore 'no? Kanina mo pa siya pinagtatanggol kaya isa ka ding mamamatay ta-"

Nang natigilan ang babae ay kumunot ang noo ni Eura. Tatanungin niya na sana kung nakain na ba nito ang dila nang maramdaman ang kakaibang presensiya sa likod. She didn't have to look back to know that it's Kairo, who's probably sporting a scary face that silenced the girl.

"Bakit, Kairo?" kung may takot ang isa, siguradong wala ang naunang babae. "Totoo naman ang sinabi niya ah. Baka nga si Eura pa ang nagpalabas kay Depore para patayin ni Finn. Wala nga sigurong dragon sa loob-"

It wasn't Kairo's glare that made her stop, nor anyone interfering, but the massive quake that had all of them stumbling. Their gazes snapped towards the arena, where small debris started falling down and the gate trembling at the force. Bumaba ang tingin nila doon nang makitang may lava na unti-unting gumagapang palabas.

Now that they focus on it, mahina nga talagang gumagalaw ang lupa. It vibrates every now and then. It's either there really is a beast inside or the three rogues are fighting too much. Napatunayan ang presensiya ng dragon nang marinig nila ang isang napakalakas na tunog - a thunderous roar that made even the earth grumble.

Kahit ang mga umaatakeng dragon ay napahinto at sumagot sa tunog na iyon.

The lava in the floor and that frightening roar, along with the trembles that quakes the whole arena, hindi nga talaga isang biro ang nilalabanan ng mga taong nasa loob. Like them, they're laying their lives on the line.

But unlike the players outside, their responsibilities weigh heavier. Dahil hindi lang buhay nila ang kasalukuyang nilalabanan, but the hundred of lives outside the arena.

"We should all focus."

Dumako ang tingin nang mga natahimik na manlalaro kay Dierran. He was wielding two daggers in hand, blood running down his cheeks and clothes torn. He was always someone their eyes would just pass by. A friendly player whose smile was too common to notice and a presence too overshadowed by his companions.

Ngunit ngayong nakatuon ang mata nila sa kaniya, they realized why Dierran is actually a leader of one formidable guilds outside. The determination and discipline in his intense eyes was like a command. Or was it just the blood and the three dragons on his feet that made him look scary?

Hindi nila alam ang sagot sa tanong na iyon, pero ang importante ay hindi na sila puro salita lamang. They did not utter a single apology and just started fighting the dragons.

"Mga bruhilda." napabaling si Eura kay Sapphire na nakahalukipkip sa tabi niya. "Kung ano na lang pinagsasabi at isinama ka pa kay Finn."

Eura frowned. Iyan din ang nagpapahesitate sa karamihan sa kanila. Finn's name was already drag in the dirt and other players are afraid they'll be judged the same.

After all, for someone who doesn't know a thing, will you side with the defeating faction than the winning one?

Kahit saan pa 'yan, the influence and power one possess couldn't be easily fought with. Lalo na kung kasama nito ang malaking number of people. Mas lalo na kung survival ang pinag-uusapan kasama nito. It makes them act like sheep, who are ready to follow the top man everywhere just to avoid the wolves.

"Ikaw... Saph? Naniniwala ka ba kay Finn?"

"Anong klaseng tanong 'yan?" mahinang tumawa si Sapphire. "Siyempre, oo! She's my guildmate too, you know. It's just that... we couldn't really say anything kanina dahil sa mga tao. Her criticisms are intense as of now, at kung masama ang pangalan ng alliance, it will be bad."

Eura nodded and left without saying anything. Ang confusion at galit na mayroon siya ngayon ay ni-convert niya sa paglalaban. For some reason, she can feel that there are a number of players who feels agitated.

Her eyes fell to Kairo and Oliver who are unaware that they were fighting side by side. In just a few hours, the friendship between all of them seemed to have dissolved. There's a rift that is silently growing between most of them. Ang dating magagandang ngiti ay napalitan ng mga problemadong mukha at simangot.

For the two people who lost someone important, it was even harder. Not only have they lost someone, but they're also about to lose another.

"Tulong po!"

Kaagad na nakuha ang atensiyon ni Eura nang marinig ang matinis na boses. Nanlaki ang mata niya nang makita ang isang batang nasa lupa, naluluha at isang dangkal na lang ang layo sa dragon.

Mabilis siyang tumakbo doon, opening her flamethrower and dragging the small child behind. The frown in her face depicted the chaos in her mind. She's furiously wondering why a child entered the game as she set her flamethrower down to land a kick on the dragon's side, then finishing it with a lava fist on the dragon's head.

Pagkatapos ay hinarap niya ang bata. "Hoy! Anong ginagawa mo dito? Ang alam ko hindi pa pwede ang bata dito! Hindi kasama si Tanda Deps do'n kasi pandak lang 'yon!"

Because of her aggressive voice, the child cried louder.

"Ba't ka umiiyak?! Omg, dapat talaga nagbantay ako sa pinsan ko noon!" reklamo niya sa sarili bago lumuhod sa harap ng bata. "Punasan mo nga 'yang sipon mo gamit shirt mo. Like mage-end na ang world kung pagagamitin kita nito sa'kin. Hindi tayo magkapamilya para sa gano'n!"

Nagulat siya nang biglang mawala sa harap niya ang bata. Kairo scooped the child in his arms, giving Eura a disappointed gaze.

"Ano na naman kasalanan ko, Kairo?! Wala akong planong magka-anak!" depensa niya kahit hindi nama hinihingi.

"Tinanong ko ba."

"Ano 'yan, Kai? May anak ka na?" Louise asked. "Sino ina?"

Kairo did not answer and Eura grinned, a teasing remark in her mind. "Yiee~ Omg, ito na ba ang product ng sleep na proposal ni Fi-" bigla siyang natigilan.

Right. It wasn't the same as before anymore.

As if to cover the awkward air that surrounded their group, the dozens of dragons flying in the sky simultaneously fell down. They looked around the place, glancing at the dead dragons on the ground.

"Tapos... na?" hindi makapaniwalang wika ng isang manlalaro.

This phenomenon only has one explanation. The dragons will only disappear once the legendary dragon is killed - ang nasa loob ng arena.

Those earth vibrations, the lava that has crawled outside, the numerous cracks in the arena walls, and the frightening roars they heard. Sinasabi bang napatay nga ito ng mga taong nasa loob? Nang hindi inabot ng isang oras?

They already had a hard time fighting the small dragons in the span of thirty minutes. Kahit ang pinakamatulis na blades nila ay parang wala lang sa mga scales na mayroon ang halimaw. Their magic are almost spent from using it without rest. But... the three rogues inside managed such a frightening dragon? Were they that powerful or were they that smart to find an easy way?

Whatever the reason, it was insane.

And it was about to show them.

The gates were slowly opening, creaking eerily.

"What the fuck. Talaga bang natapos na agad nila 'yon?"

"They're all monsters!"

"I saw the dragon flying kanina and it was super huge! Hindi ako makapaniwalang nakaya nila!"

"Grabe. Ano kaya ang nangyari sa loob?!"

Napaatras ang nasa malapit nang tuluyang bumukas ang gate at lumabas ang lava. Although they did not hurt any players and just passed by them, red coals a mixture of cold and warm.

When they saw what lay behind the gate, their jaw dropped.

The dragon was massive, almost taking half of the arena even in it's beheaded state. The head rolled towards the sidegate; wide, golden red eyes staring straight at the players outside. Ngunit ang mas nakakapanindig balahibo ay ang mga manlalarong rason sa pagkamatay ng dragon.

They cheered as June stood up from the dragon's back, hands and feet covered in small chunks of rocks, showing evidence that she singlehandedly held the beast down. Their hearts swooned when Marcella showed up from the dragon's throat, her sword dagger stabbing straight at the heart.

"MARCELLA AND JUNE TRULY DESERVES TO BE CALLED QUEENS!"

Isang sigaw na nagpayanig ng lahat.

"Grabe! Hindi ako makapaniwalang nakaya nilang patayin ang dragon! Na silang dalawa lang!"

"Oo nga. They're so amazing! Ano kayang strategy ang naisip ni Marcella?"

"And June was hella strong to hold the dragon down as Marcella cut the throat! Ang galing nila!"

"Pero... 'diba parang tatlo naman sila?"

"Ano pa ba ang i-iexpect mo kay Sparrow? Look. She's not there, which means she didn't help at all."

"Ay gano'n ba? Ang sama naman ng ugali niya."

"Talaga. Baka nga nagpabigat lang 'yon, hahaha!"

"Ang importante ay hindi talaga nagdi-disappoint sina Marcella! They even made a strategy to quickly defeat the dragon! All for us!"

The gate did not just open to reveal that they could proceed with the second half of the city.

It also told a lie straight to their faces.

Which they decided to ignore.

For the sheeps has already labeled a lone wolf who they will forever avoid, unaware that one of them is a wolf in a sheep's clothing.

-chapter end-