PORTALS

Ajax Draven's POV

"The ministry is asking us to guard three points in the city: Achilles Square, Green Ville, and the area surrounding the Complex Center located on the south. We will split into three groups. You decide who will be with you," Deion said before sipping from his cup of tea.

"I'll go with Aidan," Aliyah said nonchalantly, but she earned a mocking look from Aidan.

"Yie, Ali, ikaw ah. Crush mo ako 'no?" Inirapan lang siya ni Aliyah bago pumunta sa kusina.

Napansin kong nakatingin sa direksiyon ko si Dillon. Para bang may gusto siyang sabihin ngunit nanatiling nakatikom ang bibig niya.

"I'll go with—" she opened her mouth but stopped when Deion said, "Ajax would be with me." Kumunot ng noo ko dahil sa sinabi niya. Crush din ba ako nito? "We encountered them before the news spread and he is one of their targets. You go with Eli," he added.

Para bang nagningning naman ang mga mata ni Eliora nang ma-realize niya na si Dillon ang makakasama niya. Lumapit pa ito sa huli na nakatingin sa akin at iniangkla ang braso nito sa kanya. She really is so fond of her Ate D.

Lumingon naman ako kay Deion at nakita ko itong nakatingin kay Dillon. Seryoso man ang ekspresyon niya'y alam kong iba ito sa normal na ekspresyon na laging nakapaskil sa mukha niya. Maya-maya pa'y lumingon ito sa akin at tumango.

Nang makabalik si Aliyah ay nagsalita na muli ang anak ni Zeus. "We will start patrolling in an hour. Report whenever you are in trouble or if you find something. Don't hesitate to kill the monsters and protect mortals as much as possible. We cannot afford to disturb the balance. Prepare yourselves now." Matapos nito ay tumayo na siya at pumanhik sa kwarto niya. Ganoon din ang ginawa ng iba kaya sumunod na rin ako sa kanila.

Umupo muna ako sa harap ng table at tumitig sa bintana. Maaliwalas ang gabi at para bang walang panganib na nagbabadya. Isang malamig na hangin ang humampas sa mukha ko mula sa nakabukas na bintana. Para bang nabato ako sa kinauupuan ko nang mapadpad ang tingin ko sa likod ng isang puno. Hindi ako makagalaw at para bang nakapako ang mga paa ko sa sahig. Isang pares ng kulay asul na mga mata ang nakita ko, na 'di kalaunan ay napalitan ng isang nakakalunod na tinta ng kulay ng mga parang. Hindi ko malaman kung bakit para bang tumigil ang lahat sa paligid ko at kusang bumilis ang tibok ng puso ko. Nagsisimula na ring manuyo ang mga labi at ang lalamunan ko. Hindi ko maialis ang tingin sa mga matang iyon kahit anong pilit ko.

Who is the holder of those eyes? And what does that person want from me?

'Death..' the deep voice echoed inside my head. Blue eyes shone before vanishing like nothing happened. Then, everything went back to normal. I started breathing like I was gasping for air. Isang malakas na tunog ang sumakop sa tahimik na paligid, kasabay ng paglitaw ng isang boses sa isipan ko.

'Death.' Kumabog nang malakas ang dibdib ko. Panganib. Nang tumingin ako sa bintana ay nakita ko ang isang malakas na pwersang papunta sa direksiyon ko. Kusang lumabas sa kamay ko ang espada ko at mabilis itong binalot ng vigor. Ginawa ko itong pananggalang mula sa pwersa na ilang agwat na lamang ang layo mula sa akin. Napangiwi ako nang maramdaman ang pagtama nito sa espada ko.

I gripped my sword with both my hands and stood as firmly as possible to fight it. I can't let this room be destroyed with this, and I cannot let it pass through my sword because I know I would be dead meat if that happens. Why is this small attack this heavy?

"Azrael: death swing." A repelling force came out from the hilt of my sword, taking the attack away from me, outside the window. It hit the tree where the blue-eyed person once hid.

Nakahinga ako nang maluwag at napaupo sa sahig nang makaramdam ng kaginhawahan. Tinamaan na ng lintik!

Aidan Helios' POV

Kasalukuyan kaming naglalakad sa kahabaan ng Green Ville. Totoo ngang nakapaligid sa amin ang panganib. Nadama ko na ito mula pa lamang sa paglabas namin ng base. Ang amoy ng hangin at ang temperatura ng paligid ay sapat na para malaman kong marami ang mga nillang na nakatakas mula sa divider ng surface at ng underworld. Mataas kasi kumpara sa normal na temperatura ng mythological realm ang init ngayon ng paligid. Para bang nakabukas ang underworld. Parang nasa oven lang.

"Do you think Draven is the one who killed Arachne?" tanong ni Aliyah na hindi alam kung saan nanggaling.

"Nararamdaman ko na hindi lamang isang hamak na demigod si Draven at alam kong alam mo rin ang bagay na 'yon, Ali. Kaya malaki ang posibilidad sa sinasabi mong 'yan, lalo na't ang espada ni Draven ang huling dumampi sa balat ng gagamba."

"Kung totoo man 'yon, kailangan nating maghanda dahil malaking gulo ang dala nito. Magiging mainit na naman tayo sa mata ng mga demigod at ng ministry, lalo na ng mga diyos," sabi pa nito habang nakatingin sa malayo. It's true. Because if Draven really killed an immotal creature, there is a huge probability that he can kill more immortal creatures, even the deities. If they could prove it, they might even kill Draven if they wished to, or worse, they could order demigods to kill him in exchange with anything. If that happens, I don't know what will happen to us. We might face them all. The Stellars against all mythological beings.

Lalong tumaas ang temperatura ng paligid. Sa tingin ko ay mayroong daan-daang mga kalaban ang nakapalibot sa amin sa mga sandaling ito. Mas lalong nagpainit ang nag-iisang intensiyon nila, ang gumanti.

Lumabas mula sa kamay ko ang Azarin, kasabay ng paglabas ng Luna sa kamay ng anak ni Artemis. Ilang sandali pa ay bumulusok papunta sa kinaroroonan namin ang hindi mabilang na mga kalaban—mga gagamba, daemon, chimera, at mga ahas. Iisa ang ekspreyon sa mukha ng bawat halimaw na narito...galit. Halata ito sa namumula nilang mga mata at nagngangalit na ngipin. Tumutulo rin mula sa bibig ng nga ito ang nakakadiri nilang laway na isang tingin pa lamang ay alam ko nang masangsang.

Muntik ko nang hampasin ng espada ang malapit na gagamba sa akin ngunit naalala kong hindi nga pala tinatablan ng normal attacks ang mga ito.

I summoned my vigor to the hilts of my sword, and my vigor came out in the form of fire. My sword is now blazing hot, kasing hot ng may-ari. Hay, ang gwapo ko talaga. I slashed my sword in front of me where about 10 spiders were dashing. They ended up on the ground, toasted. Then, I turned to the daemons in front. Their yellowish, almost green, fangs are out. Kadiri naman ang mga hayop na 'to!

'Azarin: Fire top.' The fire from the hilt of my sword left the blade and formed a circle running around like a dancing top. It continues spinning until it reaches the bodies of the monsters. The flame engulfed their bodies that were cut in half faster than the speed of light.

"Moon sword: Exploding mist." A ray of light reflected by Aliyah's attack caught my attention, making me turn my head towards the direction of her enemies. A loud explosion occurred when the attack hit her enemies harshly, followed by the shrieks and the screams of pain of the hideous monsters.

Marami na akong nakaharap na mga halimaw noon, at wala ni isa sa mga halimaw na ito ang kapantay ng mga nakalaban namin noon. Sa madaling sabi, mabilis na lamang para sa amin ni Aliyah ang ubusin ang mga ito.

Lumipas pa ang mga sandali at pabalik-balik lamang ang amoy ng masangsang na dugo at ng nasusunog na laman ng mga kalaban namin sa paligid. Kaunti pa lamang naman ang nababawas sa energy ko, at alam kong ganoon din ang sa kasama ko. Walang nagsasalita sa aming dalawa dahil hindi namin alam kung gaano katagal kami lalaban sa mga halimaw. Malapit na ring sumapit ang gabi at nagbabadya na ang paglubog ng araw.

Makalipas ang ilang sandali, bumababa na ang temperatura ng paligid. Mabuti naman at humuhupa na ang bugso ng mga halimaw sa surface. Kumusta na kaya ang iba—

Natigilan ako nang maramdaman ang isang nakakikilabot na hangin. Inilibot ko ang tingin sa paligid at wala na akong nakitang kahit anong halimaw sa paligid. Humupa na nga ang mainit na temperaturang dulot ng mga halimaw ngunit bakit hindi pa rin ako nakakampante? May panganib pa bang parating?

Nanlaki ang mga mata ko nang mapansin ang mga bilog na unti-unting bumubukas sa lupa. Ano ba namang buhay 'to...

Eliora Kiran's POV

It was already nighttime, and the stinky spiders and daemons were already sent back to where they should be. I just sent them burning and cut their bodies into pieces para hindi na sila makapag-regenerate. The ground is wet from all the attacks Ate D sent and all the blood and hemolymph from the fallen enemies.

I was about to close my eyes for a bit when I felt light vanished on some parts of the ground. This is not good. I felt the cold wind around us. Oh my demigods! What is this feeling?

I stood up and clung onto Ate Dillon's shoulder. "Iiih, Ate D, I'm scared." She looked at me with a small smile on her lips. "Really? It's as if you didn't kill the daemons and the spiders mercilessly a few seconds ago."

"I did all those with my eyes closed!" E sa totoo naman e. I can't stand the face of the spideys kanina. It's frightening kaya. Yuckie!

I only earned a chuckle from her before I felt her tense a bit. I know she felt it as well. "Be alert. Another wave is coming."

I stood straight and summoned my sword when I saw the black holes on the ground getting bigger. Those are portals. I can feel heartbeats coming from inside. There are a lot of them.

An uglier daemon rushed out of one of the portals. The difference from the ones we've fought a while ago are the black and green veins almost popping out of their skin and their eyes almost looking like it was eaten by pure darkness. Yikes! Super scary!

A herd of daemons came out rushing after her. Huh? Sila lang ba? As soon as I asked myself that question, a group of people with gray paint if their skin with blood-red eyes came out of the portal, carrying different equipment with them. They all look hideous, the ones they portray as monsters in books. They are definitely the most panget enemies that I have seen so far.

I was about to hide behind Ate D when I remembered what I dreamed of last night. I need to fight them right here, right now. I need to get stronger for the team.

Nahara appeared right in my hold within a second. The moment it touched my skin, I felt my surging magi from all the sun's rays I gathered this morning. That's why I have a lot of energy for today. I should use only half of my energy for tonight. I have a huge feeling I would need to help the other stellars later.

Ate Dillon positioned beside me, holding Cordelia in her right hand. She played with the blade while looking intently at the enemies in front of us. She is one of the strongest demigods I know, that's why I look up to her. She is also one of the few people who helped me become strong after my mother passed away. Kaya thankful din ako sa kanya eh.

Her magi vigor started surrounding her hands and her spathi when the enemies started running towards our direction. Ginaya ko siya and I let my magi flow. I love the tingling feeling on my palms that is connected to my sword. It makes me feel that my spathi is really connected with my body.

"Cordelia: Sheet wave!" The approaching monsters were washed away by a thin wave of water that is almost invisible to the eyes. Oh my! She is so cool! Their bodies dropped down to the ground, together with their disgusting blood and hemolymph. Super yuckie!

I closed my eyes and started thinking of sword arts I can use. Aha! "Nahara: Invading light slash, quadruple!" Then, I waved my sword in front of me four times in a row, before the magi surrounding it travelled towards our opponents. "Attack with your eyes open!"

"I'm scared!"

I held my blade in front of my eyes and cast, 'Nahara: Reflecting light beam.' As soon as I cast the sword art in my head, I opened my eyes, and it met the brightest star shining above. Let me borrow your light. The light of star struck my sword and it the blades reflected the light towards my enemies. My targets are the gray-skinned uglies. The light passed through them in a blink, and as it meets the chest, the light was again reflected towards the chest of another enemy. With one beam, about twenty monsters died with a hole on their chest. Serves you right! Bleh!

"See? Your attacks are stronger when you can see your enemies," Ate D commented while carrying a huge amount of water with the tip of her sword. She then started running like a snake crawling. "Cordelia: Sea snake."

Just like that, the remaining enemies drowned. I thought finished na kami with all of them. But amidst the dark place, the red tattoos painted on the body of the gray-skinned pangets shone. They all looked up at once, and I gulped when my eyes met theirs. Uh-oh...

SOS!

⚔