Book cover made by JinnaJeanna! Thank you so much, bb <3 Huhu, super ganda aahh.

-chapter thirty-five-

THIRD PERSON

When Finn takes a step, the lion as well.

Their eyes are trained on each other. Finn doesn't want to miss an attack and the lion cannot take its eyes away or Finn will disappear. Pinapanood sila ng tatlo mula sa labas. Until now they can't believe that Finn has no presence.

The lion pounced, running towards the female rogue. Finn sidestepped, smoothly dodging the attack before turning around and throwing a kunai at the lion's leg. Bago pa ito tumama ay nasalo na ito ng leon. Kagat-kagat ito ng leon bago tinapon sa gilid.

The animal then bit into Finn's leg. It was too quick that the rogue didn't have enough time to dodge. Sharp fangs dug into her skin, ripping holes on her clothes. Napakagat si Finn sa ibabang labi. The pain was excruciating, lalo na't pinili nito ang paang may sugat.

Finn's still exhausted from fighting the assassin earlier. Although she tried replenishing, the potion she had has little effect.

"Finn!"

Tatakbo sana si Eura papasok nang pigilan siya ni Kairo. He shook his head, mouthing a 'Don't'. Finn hasn't signalled them to enter yet, and they can't jeopardize their plan this early.

Kairo has confidence in Finn's abilities. A bite in the leg will slow her down, but will never make her fall.

Naniniwala din si Oliver sa kakayahan ng babae. After all, he saw her fight closely and even helped her at times. Hindi niya pa rin mawala ang pagaalala sa kalagayan ni Finn. Oliver's not sure if Finn has recovered from the earlier fight.

The lion was about to slam Finn to the ground, when the rogue got hold of its head, summoning two kunais in each of her hand and piercing it on the lion's neck. There was a loud, pained snarl which caused the animal to leave her leg alone, stepping back and shoving the daggers away. Umatras din si Finn, putting more weight on her uninjured left leg.

A low growl left the lion and its claws dug on the earth before jumping towards Finn, mouth open to rip a throat. Finn slid down, ignoring the stinging pain in her leg, and rolled away from the lion. Dahil sa sugat na binigay nito ay mas lalong naging agresibo ang leon, attacking Finn without rest as the female rogue dodged and defended herself.

"Ano ba ang plano niya?" medyo nagpapanic na tanong ni Eura. "I get that we're making a cage but how do we even get close to that animal? Baka wala na tayong paa niyan."

Hindi din alam ni Kairo at Oliver ang pinaplano ni Finn. She just told them what attack to use and the goal, then went inside. Is she going to fight the lion all by herself? Gano'n ba 'yon?

Mataas na tumalon si Finn at pinakawalan ang isang kunai. Tumama ito sa paa ng tumatakbong leon. The lion growled, at the pain and rage, before diving to bite Finn's lower leg. Mabilis niyang ginalaw ang paa at sinipa ang leon palayo, the animal falling to the ground.

Finn took two exploding kunais, specially made by Depore, and threw them at the charging lion. Napahinto ito nang may malakas na sumabog sa harap niya. Finn flipped back two times, creating a safe distance between them, before turning at the opened wall and gesturing for Kairo to enter.

The three blinked, surprised at the sudden attention.

"Kairo, pumasok ka na daw." Oliver numbly announced.

"Anong gagawin mo sa loob, Kai? Papakamatay?"

Kairo shot Eura a glare. "Hindi ko alam. I don't think Finn would tell me too, so we just have to... follow how she fights."

Finn's an unexpected hurricane. Hindi nila kayang mabasa ito hangga't hindi nila ito sasabayan sa sariling sayaw.

The lion snapped to Kairo when he entered their battleground. He can feel two predators in the air, two animals fighting for the king, and now another threat has entered.

Not a prey or a predator. But a scavenger.

The lion bolted towards him, fangs bloodied and sharp. Napangisi si Kairo. He always love intense fights and scary opponents. It makes the thrill worth it, lalo na kapag hindi maganda ang mga gamit niyang weapons. The uncertainty of life and death increases his adrenaline and pumps his senses up.

Kairo summoned his weapon out, a double-bladed dagger with triangular spike-like blades. Hinayaan ito ni Kairo na humaba ng ilang metro. It didn't stretch to its full length, which would already resemble a lance. Kasinghaba lang nito ngayon ang ordinaryong sword.

Kairo twirled it in his fingers, a cocky smirk on his lips. And when the lion pounced with a snarl, he used the dagger to press in between the lion's mouth, keeping it open. Binigyan niya ito ng isang malakas na pagsipa, causing the lion to fly off him. The animal stumbled, dropping on the ground.

Then smoke appeared in the lion's body. Ilang sandali lang ay muli na itong tumayo na parang walang nangyari. Its bleeding wounds were already gone.

Iisa lang ang naisip nina Kairo, Eura, at Oliver doon. 'Fucking immortal bastard.'

"Kairo."

Natigil ang pagmumura ng lalaki sa leon nang marinig ang boses ni Finn. He jumped when a hand landed on his shoulder. Kairo turned around, finding the female rogue blinking at him innocently. Finn quietly tilted her head to the side, eyes gleaming questioningly.

Finn's lack of presence and face would really be Kairo's cause of death in the future.

"Bakit, kitten?" he forced a cheery tone.

Finn only nodded at the lion who were watching them predatorily. "Underworld." simpleng sagot nito.

That's when Kairo realized whay Finn was planning.

Hindi na niya hinintay na magsalita ulit si Finn. Kairo enveloped the whole ground in darkness, the realm of his Underworld. The abyss is visible to the people outside but they won't be able to see what's happening inside. Kairo glanced at Eura and Oliver who stayed there standing, even though confused.

"Total darkness." Finn ordered again.

Kairo did as he's told, managing the power he's letting out and making the Underworld fall into total darkness. Hindi niya alam kung gaano katagal ang laban na 'to kaya kailangan niyang i-preserve ang energy.

Aside from watching his magic, Kairo has to keep up his senses incase the lion attacks him. His hand clutched his dagger tightly, eyes closed but ears open.

Naririnig niya ang pagtakbo ng leon at ang pagdaing nito kapag nakakatamo ng atake. A certain whine and sounds of rolling in the ground made Kairo open his eyes again. Wala pa rin siyang makita, at hindi niya alam kung ang hazy, dark greyish na gumagalaw ay imahinasyon niya lang o mga shadow ni Finn.

A loud snarl ripped through the lion's throat and Kairo heard it charging towards him. The moving shadows are back and chasing something, probably the lion. Itinaas ni Kairo ang sariling weapon, ready to defend, when an array of bullets appeared and a pained howl was heard.

Kumunot ang noo ni Kairo. Oliver? He's the only one out of the three of them who has guns.

The lion started attacking from all sides, but it couldn't get near without suffering multiple shots on its body. Eura watched it all happen from the side, where Finn told her to stand. Hindi niya alam kung anong sunod na gagawin ngunit hindi siya makapaniwala sa nakikita.

The scene in front of Eura was amazing. The lion will roar and bullets will start flying. Dancing shadows circled them, waiting and waiting.

"Eura."

Napatalon si Eura nang marinig ang boses ni Finn sa likod. Umikot siya't pinagala ang kamay ngunit wala na ang tao do'n. Did Finn only say her name and nothing else?

"What the..." Eura frowned. "Finn, what am I supposed to do?"

Maybe Eura's voice was too loud or the Underworld made even whispers audible, but Kairo immediately heard her and answered.

"Eura, you've watched Sparrow's videos, right?"

Eura scoffed. "Tinatanong pa ba-"

"Her tutorial on the Willow Cave on that Jungle Blade game. Sabi ni Sparrow ay waste of time lang ang paglaban sa five-headed snake, dahil nilagay lang ang monster para ubusin ang time ng player sa cave. So she decided to cage the monster and left it behind." Kairo explained which made both Oliver and Eura surprised. "That caging technique she used is this. A special move for monsters who're hard to kill and unnecessary or immortal."

Naalala ni Eura at Oliver 'yon. That cave was one of the hardest locations in game. Hindi madaling matapos dahil nauubos na ang time pagdating sa final boss. It was Sparrow who studied the cave and taught everyone what to do.

Doon nila nalaman ang mali. The snake that guarded the second boss entrance was unnecessary because it wasn't even listed in the official monster list. Nandoon lang ito para kunin ang atensiyon nila s dapat. Still, it could hurt them so Sparrow offered the perfect solution.

One they called a Sparrow cage.

Mahirap patayin ang snake na 'yon dahil mabilis nitong mabasa ang atake ng mga players. So Sparrow made that floor pitch-black - na marami ang nagreklamo kasi nakakakita pa rin sa dilim ang ahas. That wasn't her plan though. It was just part of it.

Now Eura and Oliver know just what to do.

Eura took out her flamethrower with a grin. She lighted it up, the large yellow flame being the only color in the pitch darkness. The lion growled, enticed by the light and started running there. Ngunit bigla itong huminto ng makita ang apoy.

Then the flame was gone.

Then it reappeared on the other side.

Before the lion could take it out again, the flame was gone.

Then it lighted up on the opposite side.

Pilit itong hinahabol ng leon, sa pag-aakalang ito ang dapat atakehin o ang daan palabas. It was also because it's the only thing the lion can see, although it was practically blinding to the eye. An explosion of light at short successions in a pitch black surrounding wasn't very healthy to the eye.

Another reason why the lion can't help but follow the source of light was because of the shadows. It tugs him closer to the flame beforw it disappears.

Naulit ito ng ilang beses. The flames that explodes, the bullets that rain whenever the lion gets too close, and the shadows that dances in an unknown tune.

Naulit ito nang naulit. Hanggang sa tuluyan nang hindi makagalaw ang leon.

The lion let out a low growl, feeling trapped under dark vine-like things. It was about to break free when fire crawled up the trapping shadows, enabling the lion to move in fear of getting burnt. Then an air cage appeared around the animal, wind breathing towards the fire to get closer to the fur and burn it. The fur catches flame burning the lion but it will later vanish because of the animal's immortality.

It was a never-ending torture.

This isn't the normal Sparrow cage. This one's more specialized and painful.

Kairo shut off his Underworld, feeling drained after that spent energy. Dumako ang tingin niya sa leon na nasa gitna at napapalibutan ng umaapoy na shadow. Nakapaloob ito sa isang parang bola na puno ng ere. It keeps whining in pain.

"Shit." Kairo blurted out.

Tumango si Oliver sa tabi niya. "Yeah, shit."

Napatingin silang dalawa kay Finn na nakatayo sa harap ng leon. Shadows trailed from the cage towards Finn's hands. Umikot-ikot ito sa kamay niya na parang nagmistulang tattoo. Her bun is already a mess, strands falling on her face. Sweat glistened in her neck and head. Her eyes are hazy in exhaustion.

"Finn? Are you alright?" kaagad na tanong ni Eura pagkatapos pumwesto sa tabi ni Finn.

The female rogue only offered a short nod.

Eura still can't believe it. Oo, nagamit nila ang technique na 'yon pagkatapos ituro ni Finn pero iba pa rin talaga ang makita ito sa personal. To surprise the opponent in an uncomfortable space, disrupting its sense of sight, all while creating a web around it. Para sa sobra nitong paggalaw ay maca-catch ang web at mata-trap ito sa loob.

Iyon ang nangyari kanina. Eura was the distraction, while Finn in her shadows, created the web out of the lion's jumping. Ang akala ng leon na nagg-guide sa kaniya papunta sa apoy ay siya palang lubid na gagapos sa huli.

Kairo couldn't stop the amazed scoff in his mouth. So this is the Sparrow in action, huh? Naging madali lang 'to ngayon dahil apat sila, pero noong ginagawa nila ito sa mismong game, napakahirap. Napractice talaga ang pagka-quick hands nila para lang magawa ang cage ni Sparrow.

Biglang umilaw ng asul sa lupang tinatapakan nila. A 'Congratulations! You have successfully shown your bravery!' appeared before one of the maze's walls crumbled and a pathway stretched before them.

"Another challenge to face?" nakangiwing tanong ni Oliver.

Wala na kasi siyang ibang masabi. Natularan siyang maingay minsan pero natahimik siya sa nangyari kanina.

"I don't think so." Kairo observed. "That's not another maze. That's already the end."

Nanlaki ang mata ni Eura doon at naningkit ang mata niya sa pinakadulo ng pathway. And Kairo was right.

At the end of the path, a glowing portal was present. On top of it, a red crystal glowed.

-chapter end-

no lions were harmed in making this chapter. #preservethewild #hindipareadymakulong