Witnessing my brother morph into an even horrific monster numbed my senses, leaving me paralyzed as I stared at his destructive form with fear and terror. I was too stunned to move or act. Then, Hiraya shook my shoulders, calling my name, snapping me back to the present.

"You need to get away from here," she said, locking eyes with me. "It's not safe for you to stay."

I stared at her, dumbfounded, unable to form words amidst the shock and fear that gripped me.

"Hiraya, let's move!" Rajah interjected sharply. "We need to end this."

She nodded at him, then turned to me. "This isn't the time to stand still. That creature is no longer your brother. He's a mindless monster who won't hesitate to end your life if given the chance. You need to leave. I promise, I'll do everything I can to take care of your brother."

I nodded blankly, trying to regain my composure, to calm the storm of panic raging inside me.

She gave me a gentle nudge, offering comfort before returning to her position beside Rajah. With practiced ease, she gripped her bastons at their center, stacking them together until they appeared as a single, long staff. The bastons began to glow brightly, their light reminiscent of my brother's sundangs earlier. In an instant, the glow intensified, and the bastons merged, transforming into a long, sturdy rod with blades at both ends—a double-edged spear. She twirled it gracefully before aiming it at my brother.

Rajah raised his razors once more, throwing them into the air. They grew larger, spinning faster, their deadly intent undeniable.

On his other side stood Mayari, her entire body suddenly engulfed in flames. But these weren't ordinary red flames—they were vivid white, writhing around her like serpents poised to strike. The glow they cast illuminated the space like a silver moon piercing through a dark night. The fire eventually concentrated on her hands, encircling her metal claws with a blazing inferno.

With calculated precision, the three attacked my brother. Rajah controlled his spinning razors, weaving them through the air with fatal accuracy. Meanwhile, Hiraya and Mayari launched direct assaults, their weapons enhanced by the energy surrounding them.

Yet, even with their renewed determination, my brother endured their onslaught. In a burst of fury, he struck Hiraya with a single punch that sent her crashing to the ground. Mayari rushed to retaliate, but his speed proved superior as he struck her first with a powerful kick that sent her flying through the air.

Now, with the two women out of his immediate reach, my brother locked eyes with Rajah, who stood firm before him. Without hesitation, my brother charged, his fist raised with deadly intent. Just before impact, Rajah leapt gracefully into the air, flipping over and landing behind me. The ground where he had been standing shattered beneath the force of my brother's blow.

Without Rajah between us, my brother—his features almost unrecognizable—turned his attention to me. Hunched before me, he loomed like a nightmare come to life. Fear rooted me in place, rendering me unable to scream or flee. I braced myself, expecting the end.

But then, something shifted. The fury in his monstrous face softened, his beastly eyes momentarily replaced by a familiar gaze. For a fleeting moment, I saw my brother again.

"Ma... ki," he groaned, his voice strained and filled with pain.

In that instant, I could have sworn he was fighting against the Bakunawa, the force that sought to consume him. Hope surged within me, and I took a tentative step forward, determined to reach him. But before I could move closer, a beam of light struck him, sending him crashing to the ground.

I turned to see Rajah, arms outstretched, his expression a mix of shock and determination.

"Run!" he shouted, his voice echoing with urgency.

"Stop it!" I screamed back, defiant. "It's okay now! I saw him—my brother is still there! I can save him!"

Rajah opened his mouth to respond but froze, his gaze shifting to the creature rising once again. My brother—or what was left of him—stood on his feet, a guttural growl rumbling from his chest. His predatory eyes locked onto me, filled with wrath.

As he stepped toward me, his movements suddenly halted. Rajah's power restricted him once again, his face twisted with strain.

"Stop being reckless! He's dangerous!" Rajah yelled, his voice laced with exertion. "I can't hold him much longer. Run!"

It would have been logical to obey, to flee from the monstrous being before me. But a voice inside whispered that this might be my only chance to save my brother. I couldn't abandon him—not now.

I could run, saving myself and living with the regret that would surely haunt me forever. Or I could risk everything to save him. Without hesitation, I followed my instincts, rushing forward and throwing my arms around him in the tightest embrace I could muster.

"Kuya, please," I whispered, burying my head in his chest. "Stop this. You don't have to fight anymore. I'm here. Come back to me."

The growls faded, replaced by an oppressive silence that stretched on, heavy and endless. Despite the danger, hope surged through me. My heart clung to the belief that somewhere beneath this monstrous exterior, my brother was still fighting to return.

"Makisig!" Hiraya's voice cut through the stillness.

I glanced to where it came from and saw her, horror written across her face. She stood beside Rajah, who knelt on the ground, gasping for breath. The heavy breathing of the beast before me made my stomach churn as I suddenly became acutely aware of my vulnerable position.

Lifting my head, I found myself face-to-face with a ferocious creature, its mouth wide open, revealing razor-sharp fangs. He grabbed me by the waist, lifting me effortlessly until we were at eye level.

Panic overtook me. I squirmed in his grasp, pounding futilely at his hands in an attempt to escape. His claws tightened around me, piercing my abdomen. Pain shot through my body as I searched his face for any trace of my brother, but there was only savagery.

Then, with predatory swiftness, he lunged forward, sinking his fangs into the flesh atop my right shoulder. I screamed in agony as searing pain radiated through me, a pain unlike anything I had ever known.

Instinctively, my eyes lifted toward the sky, locking onto the glowing silver moon. Its serene radiance seemed to mock me, a silent witness to the choices that had brought me to this moment of agony.