Against the God: End of the Gifteds (HIATUS)

68

[Lor]

This fucking Barabbas...

With my light body,  I'm moving with the air. Moving stealthily, taking enemies that are off guard. 

Barabbas wanted to fight me, he said. But at this moment, he's doing nothing, not moving an inch to attack me, but just watching his minions fight me for him.

Napaismid ako. Pero hindi ko na dapat 'yon ikabigla. After all, I'm dealing with criminals, I can't expect a fair fight.

I'm good at hiding my presence, just by being calm and maintaining my heartbeat on a certain time and level. And by staying in that composure, I can use my gift without losing much strength.

Hindi maririnig ang mga yapak ko sa kabila ng namumuong mga putek at tubig sa lupa, kahit ang pag-atake ko ay hindi mapapansin.

My eyes got locked to man with his neon green eyes, looking at his surroundings, trying to find me. With a calm sigh, I move closer to him. Without a hint of my presence, I appeared at his back.

Napansin niya na lang ako nang umikot na ang ulo niya sa pagbali ko ng leeg niya. Before he collapse, I disappeared in sight.

That's the fourth one.

My other clones are facing others too, making them busy and lose their focus on me. I just need to-

Kahit sa pokus ko sa harapan ko, hindi ko napansin ang biglaang pagsulpot ng bala sa hamog, dahilan kung bakit nagsiusugan ito at luminaw ang harapan ko. It felt like time slowed down as my eyes focused on the bullet slowly, yet fast approaching me.

Kusang umusog ang mukha ko, pero nadaplisan ang pisngi ko.

Shit.

Agad akong lumipat ng ibang direksyon, para mawala sa pwesto kung saan nila 'ko nakita.

I should've been more careful. My gift is perfect for the weather and at this time, but there are dozens of gifteds here too. And there are great chances that their gifts are stronger in this situation, far more than mine.

Pinunasan ko ang dugong tumulo sa pisngi ko. I should be careful.

My clones are invincible. They can't get hurt, they're the exact mirror of me when I used my gift. . . but it's a different case when me, the main body, gets hurt.

My clones will get weaken too.

"SO?! WHERE ARE YOU, SUCCESSOR?" I can hear Barabbas' voice, together with the rain. "Nasaan na ang yabang mo? Ang mga salitang nilabas mo kanina?" pang-aasar niya.

Tumalim ang tingin ko. Alam kong nasa gitna siya ngayon ng ibang gifteds, kaya hindi ko siya basta-basta malalapitan.

"Is this all you got?!" he scoffed. "What a downgrade. Ito na ang papalit sa magician?"

I heaved a sigh. I need to calm down. . . I need to stay calm. I can't let him get into my head. His voice is starting to fade, as if my ears are automatically blocking it.

I comb my hair using my fingers before removing my foggy and wet glasses. Sinabit ko 'to sa polo ko.

I know. . . I know that I'll die here.

I should at least take someone who has the same worth as me.

My light body became lighter, almost as if I'm becoming a soul too as I can already see through my hands. With my eyes in front, attention on my body, calming my nerves, I moved passed through the fog with dozens of gifted.

"Wala! Wala na! Sobra na ang binaba niyo!-"

Kagaya ng inaasahan ko, nasa gitna nga siya, napalilibutan ng mga kasamahan niya. Natigilan si Barabbas nang maaninagan akong tumatagos sa mga kasama niya.

Nagtama ang mga tingin namin, parehong alam ang gusto at pakay ng isa't isa. He was surprised of course, but I was more surprised when his expression got wiped out with a smirk.

I was aiming for his neck, but his words made my heartbeat lost its momentum for just a millisecond. 

"I told you. . . you're an assassin. We're completely ready for an assassination."

My eyes widened, before feeling a warm at first, that turned into a burning sensation at the right part of my body. Nakaramdam ako ng pagbali ng buto sa ribs ko, sa balikat, at braso sa malakas na impact ng pagtama sa akin ng kung ano.

Coming from my right side was a bolder, twice as big as me, hitting me that thrown me across the field. Napasuka ako ng dugo, naramdaman ko ang pagbalik ng iilang clone sa akin. 

I completely lost my calmness with my heartbeat beating fast and me breathing heavily.

Fuck.

I tried moving but my body failed me, my whole body is breaking. Sobrang sakit ang nararamdaman ko, hindi ako makagalaw man lang.

I need to move fast, or they'll get me. They're already on their way.

I clicked my tongue.

Really, this is why I hate this. I really hate my job.

I'm not that strong, I'm not capable. I shouldn't be the one here Tumatama ang ulan sa mukha ko na hindi ko man lang mapunasan. Nanlalabo ang paningin ko.

Kung siya siguro ang nasa posisyon ko ngayon. . . kayang-kaya niya 'tong lusutan, kayang-kaya niya 'tong tapusin.

It should've been you here. It should've been you from the start.

Hindi ko alam kung dahil nasa sitwasyon ako na 'to kaya ko siya naalala, kaya siguro may sumasabay sa pagpatak ng ulan mula sa mga mata ko.

Why did you have to die, Xai-

I was taken aback when I heard splashes getting closer, a sign that someone is coming at my direction. They're freaking fast, coming from the opposite direction where I was thrown. Naging alerto ako habang namimilog ang mga mata. Bumilis ang pagtibok ng puso ko na bihira ko lang maramdaman kahit sa mga delikadong sitwasyon.

This fucking body of mine, move!

I should at least-

Nahinto ako nang di ko na maramdaman ang pagtama ng ulan sa mukha ko nang may tumapat sa akin. Nagtama ang mga mata namin, tuluyan akong nawalan ng lakas.

Parang kusang bumigay ang katawan ko at hindi ko na 'to pinilit pang igalaw.

"It's a good thing we came early, huh?" A familiar voice said, but it's more mature from what I can remember.

I tried to smile as I fake a chuckle.

"You call this early? You're pretty late," ani ko. I you weren't here just a few more seconds, I'll be a goner.

"But yeah, compared to the others, you're quite early." 

Nagawa ko siyang maaninagan mabuti, ang lalaking nangunguna. A gifted that will be one of the top in the next generation, the next guild master in line.

"It's nice seeing you again, Crowns."

CHAPTER 68
Almost a goner