-chapter ninety-nine-
____________________

SOLACE

"If you work hard, then you can reach the top."

WHY AM I always in this situation?

"Ah."

"Ah-!"

Nagtama ang mga mata namin ni Reina. Biglang namula ang mukha niya't umiwas siya ng tingin. Tiningnan ko ag direksiyon na pinanggalingan niya. The Cathedral? So she just got resurrected.

Hindi tumagal ang pag-iwas niya ng tingin dahil bigla itong sumama at ngumuso siya. "It's all your fault!"

Bakit ako na naman ang may kasalanan?

Tinuro ko ang sarili. "Ako?"

Tumango siya. "Oo! If not for you, I wouldn't lose a level!"

Oh, right. The new Death & Resurrection rule says that a player loses a level if they die. Kaya binibigyan na ngayon ng importansiya ang lives. Raising a level especially at the 50s is freaking hard.

"Well, if you won, you wouldn't lose a level too." tugon ng panibagong dating.

Napatingin ako sa lalaking pumwesto sa tabi ni Reina. I frowned. He looks very familiar but I can't pinpoint where I saw him. Crimson red eyes and black unkempt hair. Blanko ang tingin na iginawad niya sa'min, ngunit mas tumagal ang pagtitig niya sa likuran ko.

Umirap si Reina. "Shut up, Jack. Hindi ko hinihingi ang opinyon mo."

"Eh? Queen and Jack?" lumingon ako nang marinig ang boses ni Feyre. Sure enough, our rogue is standing behind me, a smirk in her face and a sharp edge to her stare as she holds her dagger close to her lips. "I'd bet Hex's fortune that-"

Naputol ang sasabihin niya dahil sa isang lalaking tumatakbo papunta sa'min. He's waving his staff in the air and yelling, "Queen! Ace went and pissed someone off again!"

Ace...?

"Anong may naka-away naman siya?" Reina frowns. "Hindi ba't sabi ko bantayan mo siya ng mabuti, King?"

Nagulat ako nang biglang tumawa ng napakalakas si Feyre. "King?! Hahahaha! Oh my gosh, I called it! Queen, Jack, King, and Ace! Ang corny!"

Namula muli ang mukha ni Reina. King tilts his head, confused, habang pasimple lang na inikot ni Jack ang mata. Feyre laughed like a hyena in the back all the while.

"You're laughing now, Feyre, but the four of them are an unbeatable team." 

Muli akong napabaling sa bagong dating. I sighed upon seeing Warbeasts guild leader, Mendeleev, crossing his arms and smiling at us. Sa likod niya ay si Maria na masama ang tingin sa'kin at ngumunguso.

Ngumiti ako. "Hi, Mari-"

Maria swings her head to the side, ignoring me. 

Napapatingin na sa gawi namin ang ibang players. This is an uncanny group, after all. Ang mga magkaka-away sa Blood Brawls ay nagchi-chikahan lamang sa labas ng arena. I only wanted some air before I go on the last match, but I had to run into them.

"Anong ginagawa ng bubwit dito?" 

Eskandaloso kaming napatingin kay Feyre na hindi lang sinabi 'yon, pero talagang yumuko pa para maka-eye level si Leev. Silence befall the whole place. Kahit ang napapadaang players ay tumigil para makita kung may dugo bang dadanak. Walang may gumalaw sa'min na nasa malapit. Mahirap na at baka kami pa ang mapagpalabasan ng galit.

However, imagine our surprise when Leev only looked at Feyre with amusement and chuckled. Talagang nalaglag ang panga ko sa nangyari at parang nakakita ng patay si Maria. The swan of the beasts froze in her spot! 

Mendeleev turns to me. "I came here to tell you that Leon and Astro are currently fighting. Whoever wins, you'll face them in the finals."

Pagkatapos niyang sabihin iyon ay bigla na lang siyang umalis, Maria tailing after him before giving me a blank look and cocky smirk. Hindi ko talaga alam kung ano nasa utak ng dancer na 'yon.

I blinked. Huh? Bakit nga pala niya sinabi sa'kin 'yon?

Feyre straightens up. "Tara na, 'Sol."

Kumunot ang noo ko. "Huh? Bakit?"

Reina sighs and hits my arm. "Tch. This is why I hate you so much."

Ano na naman ba ang ginawa ko?

"He went here to tell you that a match is happening indoors. The winner of that match is your enemy next." Reina glares at me. "Siyempre, you have to watch that match to prepare! Para alam mo ang atake at weakness nila!" parang sinisigawan niya na ako. "Nakakainis ka talaga."

Pagkatapos niya akong singhalan ay may galit siyang naglakad palayo. Sumunod sa kaniya si King at Jack, but not before the latter smirks and winks at Feyre who gags. Tinaasan ko siya ng kilay.

"Ano 'yon?"

"Aba malay ko. Tara na nga!"

Feyre drags me inside the arena. The crowd that formed outside the ring is massive. Ilang beses pa kaming nasiko at natapakan bago nakarating sa tabi ng mga guild members namin. I had to drag Feyre this time dahil malapit na niyang patayin ang player na aksidenteng nasiko ang mukha niya. Itinapon ko siya kay Hex at agad na nagbangayan ang dalawa.

Napatingin ako sa battle na nangyayari, and instantly I can feel cold shiver running down my spine. Parang napaso ako sa kinatatayuan habang tinitingnan ang pag-exchange ng mga blades nila. Sweat forms in my palms and brows. Red and silver meets in the middle, creating a gust of wind that travels around the arena. Para silang mga halimaw na nagpapalitan ng atake. At napakatagal pa bago lumabas ang nanalo.

"SOLACE." SANDALI kong sinulyapan si Cord na nakatayo sa labas ng ring. "This is the last match. If the conclusion of this match is in your favor, we have more chance of taking the key. I can't ask much from you, but..."

Please win. That's what Cord wants to say but opted, because he doesn't want to burden me.

Naglakad ako palapit sa gitna ng ring, holding my sword close with a tight grip. My opponent for this round climbs the ring, hand resting on the waist holster that holds his sword. Tumayo siya ng tuwid at tumingin sa'kin. Ang abot-balikat na puting buhok niya ay nakatali. His left ash-colored eye is uncovered. Suot-suot niya pa rin ang magkahalong puti at itim na armor robe.

He looks just the same as when he ran up to attack me in the Game of Governors. Fiery determination in his eyes and a stance that holds honor. A dark expression in his face.

"Finally, slayer. We meet inside a ring where we can fully unleash our strengths."

Nagulat ako ng isang ngiti ang lumitaw sa labi ni Astro. He seems satisfied. Parang nakapanalo ng lotto at galak na galak na ngayon.

But, then, I suppose it's expected. He's always been inviting me to fights.

And he fought so hard in the last match, raising his sword even amidst his heavy injuries. The last thing I can do is give him a good fight.

Itinaas niya ang samurai sword. "Let's fight, slayer."

"Of course."

The timer moves, starting the match.

In an instant, nasa harapan ko na si Astro and giving me a horizontal slash. My breath hitched, but I ducked in time to avoid his blade. I swipe my right feet towards his and punches the hilt of my sword to his stomach. Napaatras siya dahil do'n. Ngunit kaagad niya ring nabawi ang balanse at pinaulanan ako ng atake.

His movements are fast! Napakagaan lang ng sword na hawak hawak niya at parang dahon lang ang winawasiwas niya. Patuloy kong dinedepensahan ang sarili, giving back all the strength I can muster in return. Ngunit bigla na lamang siyang umikot at ni-swing ang samurai kaya muli akong napayuko. He must have predicted it because he immediately went for a kick that sent me flying to the other side of the ring.

Napadaing ako nang tumama ang likuran sa ropes. Astro suddenly appears in front of me, ready to bring his sword down. My blade meet his in the middle. Kinagat ko ang labi dahil sa kakaibang puwersa na nagmumula sa pagpapalakasan namin ng hawak. I dug my boots on the ground as I slowly tried to stand up. I gritted my teeth as flames of pale gold decided to surround my sword. 

Naihampas ko palayo ang sword ni Astro. 

When he went for a punch, I duck down and kneed his stomach. Pinagpatuloy ko ang pagsipa sa kaniya, kaya rather than running for his sword, he's occupied with defending my kicks and punches with bare hands. 

Muling tumaas ang kanang paa ko para sipain ang ulo niya, ngunit, agad niyang nahawakan ang ankle ko. Astro raises his head, eyes sparkling in excitement and a soft smile in his lips. 

"A one-on-one fight with you, my slayer, is truly a dream." aniya at walang pasabi akong inikot at inihampas sa sahig.

Nanlaki ang mata ko at napadaing ako ng malakas. Blood comes out my mouth as I coughed. Ngunit, walang patigil si Astro. He instantly strikes me with his fist, which I manage to dodge, his punch landing on the ground with a heavy thud. 

I rolled to my side and stands up, ngunit nagulat nang biglang mawalan ng lakas ang kaliwang bente ko. Tiningnan ko ito. Blood drips from my knees and it already has a pale violet color. I heave a deep breath and glances at Astro.

"Masakit." simpleng sabi ko na naintindihan niya.

He glances down at my bloody knees. "Oh, I'm sorry. I must have crushed it."

Wow. Bakit ba ang weirdo nila?

"But you can still fight with that, right, slayer?"

Astro scoops up his fallen samurai sword and swishes it down. His smile becomes crueler and more appeasing. Grabe, ngayon ko lang 'tong nakitang ngumiti ng ganito katagal. It's even a shock that this man knows how to smile.

Bago pa ako makasagot ay inatake niya na ko. His samurai blades now glows silver, and his ash eyes glows in silver too. Itinaas ko ang sariling espada para depensahan siya at doon ko lang rin na realize that my sword is not glowing in it's pale gold anymore, but has a brighter golden flame. 

A dance between silver and gold happens. Two metallic colors swaying in the air. Their owners exchanging blades heatedly. Lightning crackling softly. A dance for victory and honor. A dance for what both our hearts wishes. 

I step forward and impales my sword on Astro's shoulders. Ngumiti din ako. "In exchange for what you did to my knees."

Astro grins wickedly, pushing my blade off his wounded shoulder. Muli siyang umatake and after his fifth strike, he jumps in the air before slashing his sword in my face. Nanlaki ang mata ko nang dumaan ang napakatalim niyang espada sa mismong harap ng mukha ko. Napaatras ako at muntik nang mahulog dahil hindi ako kaya ng kaliwang tuhod. 

Astro spins mid-air and slashes me once again. Gritting my teeth, I kept my left feet transfixed to the ground, kahit sobrang sakit na ng tuhod ko. Nagtagpo ang espada namin, silver and gold once again clashing. He pushes against me and I dug my right feet on the ground before gold flames burned even more and I could feel strength crashing into my body like a flood. Gold overpowers silver and I manage to get him off me. I stepped sideways, losing my sense of balance for a bit, and catching my breath. Napakasakit at wala nang lakas ang kaliwang tuhod ko.

Napatingin ako sa floating timer na nasa taas lamang ng ring. Nanlaki ang mata ko nang makita ang oras doon. Thirty minutes?! We've been here for that long already?

Before I could fully comprehend how much time was lost, nasa harap ko na si Astro at isinipa niya na muli ako palayo. His feet connects with my stomach and my back hits the ring ropes once again. Wind and lightning appears and the rocks fly from the ground I travelled on. Astro's slash from before is still fresh in my back kaya mas dumagdag lamang ito sa sakit. My loud cry was accompanied by another series of coughs filled with blood. Umupo ako at hinabol ang hininga. 

Pinilit kong tumayo, only to clutch the ropes because my left knee has no strength left.

From the smoke of dust, I can see Astro slowly walking his way forward. Nasa kaliwang kamay niya na ang espada dahil wasak na wasak na ang kanang braso at kamay niya. He's also staggering in his walk, wounds covering his body and armor torn from our previous battles. But he still wields his samurai cleanly as he hovers above me.

"A slayer can only do much, huh?" aniya. 

I chuckled. "Those slays were just pure luck."

Ngumiti muli Astro, not like his wicked or amused smiles, but similar to his genuinely soft ones. "I doubt it. No one can scratch me like this."

The back of his armor robe falls, and he cries out in pain as the result of my previous slash to his back now appears. At that very moment, all my other induced wounds started to burst out. His body froze as cuts tear through his body and armor, blood gushing out and he staggers forward, strength weakening. A skill he never knew I casted on him since the beginning. To delay my wounds until the moment I draw my blade and allow it. 

Sa ikalimang pagkakataon ay pinunasan niya ang dugo mula sa labi. "You truly are a monster, slayer. But we must put an end to this wonderful battle."

Mahina akong tumango.

"And as the only fighter left standing, let me do the honors."

Astro raises his sword and, without hesitation, brings it down to cut my neck. 

Blood trickles down my skin as the blade digs deep in my flesh. 

Astro coughs up blood and his eyes dilate.

Astro has my golden-flamed sword pierced in his chest. 

____________________

-chapter end-

Next chapter is the conclusion of the Blood Brawls arc and the start of the Final Arc. Let's take a trip down memory lane. Hehehe. 

Thank you so much to you guys who stayed with me and supported me in this story. Natatawa at nasisiyahan talaga ako sa comments and messages niyo. Thank you for the votes and the words of encouragement! For giving my story a chance and enjoying the ride! 

I had this in my brain drafts for too long but had no inspiration to write them down until I've read Ate Alesana's 'They Came From The Sky'. Although, hindi ko ine-expect magiging ganito siya kahaba, hahahaha! 

Fun Fact: Astro and Ceres were supposed to be the gay couple, not River and Irusu. You can see the hints I've given in [Welcome, Player: Chapter Ten] where Astro glared at Filter for asking Ceres kung nakakain na ito. But River and Irusu are also an adorable couple so I have no regrets, nyahahaha. Kaya hindi niya tinitingnan si Acrasia kasi si Irusu lang ang nais. 

See you next update~