DEMIGODS: Roar of the Thunder

Chapter 1: To the Realm of the Mortals

"Sue, ang laki mong harang d'yan. H'wag kang tanga," puna sa akin ni Celine saka mabilis na pumasok sa loob.

Nakabusangot akong sumunod sa kanila ni Serena't nakita namin si Tita Alexis sa tabi ng isang portal na sa tingin ko'y imbensyon ni Master Garet. Inabutan niya kami isa-isa ng mga backpack saka nilagay ro'n ni Aizelle ang box na hawak niya, ilang beses pa akong kumurap dahil basta lamang niya talaga nilagay ro'n ang box na para bang hindi iyon triple ang laki sa hawak niyang bag.

"Same features lang ito sa cubes," sambit ni Tita Alexis. "Since susunod kayo kayna Ice, hindi niyo puwedeng dahil ang mga cubes. And don't be surprise kung pinayagan kayo ni Garet dahil matagal na niyang binabalak na pasunurin kayo sa grupo nina Light."

Tumabi ako kay Aizelle saka bumulong sa kanya, "Anong mayroon sa box?"

"Pinabibigay ni Tita Savannah sa anak niya," ngiwit na sagot niya. "Ginawa pa akong delivery man."

Hindi ko alam kung matatawa ako dahil sa inis niyang mukha o ano. Nang lumitaw sa harap ang Intelectix ni Tita Alexis, bumungad sa amin ang pangalan ni Light, at ang huling beses kung kailan sila nakapagusap.

"That's the issue," Tita Alexis said, pertaining to Light and her last interaction. "We couldn't contact the first group. We don't have any idea what happened to them."

"So, basically..." Sky mumbled. "Taga hanap kami ng mga nawawalang tanga?"

Malakas na tumawa si Riley saka fist bump pa sila. Naks, sana all mag-bestfriend na. "Plural kasi magkakasama sina Phoenix." Sinilip pa ako ng dalawang gago't ngumisi. Ano 'to hinihintay niyong ipagtanggol ko 'yong isa?

Tita Alexis suddenly cleared her throat, and leered at Sky and Riley. Mga mayayabang kasi. "Pack your things, and be back before dawn. We shouldn't waste time, especially since the Primordial Gods are fighting over the kingdoms."

"Ma..." Sky mumbled. "Are you going to leave?"

"Yes."

"How about Bleu, then?"

"He's with Alyssa," Tita Alexis said calmly. "I'll be aiding the Alchemy Kingdom since Garet is busy protecting the academy."

"Please, be safe."

"I will, My Dear Skyler."

•❅──────✧❅✦❅✧──────❅•

"Ready?" Tita Alexis asked. We exchanged glances at each other and slowly nodded. "Be sure to find them. Careful, everyone."

With Sky leading our group, we immediately departed and entered the portal. We arrived at a dusty basement as if the house had been left abandoned by its owner. I looked around and saw Serena's twitching eyes, and she was slowly analyzing the place as if she was feeling nostalgic. I unconsciously coughed. Everything was covered with molds and dirt, and even cobwebs.

"Let's go," Sky said.

Tahimik namin siyang sinundan, samantalang si Serena ay sumabay naman sa kanya't mahina silang nag-usap. Our priority is to locate the others. Wala kaming ideya kung anong nangyari sa kanila, hindi rin namin alam kung may Primordial Gods bang nandito na kinalaban nila o ano.

"Serena knows this place well," bulong ni Celine sa gilid ko, tinapunan ko lamang siya ng tingin at hindi ako nagsalita.

"Pangit mong kausap." Hindi ko naman siya kinakausap, ah?!

Nang makalabas kami sa abandonadong bahay, ang nakangiwing mukha ni Serena ang agad kong napansin.

"Ah... tangina naman..." We all looked at Serena with our eyes widened. Oh, she's serious right now?! Is a blue moon rising tonight?! "This place is a hassle. Bakit dito pa nakatira si Sapphire?!"

"What's with this place for you to finally talk like that?" Aizelle asked.

"Living hell."

"Really?"

"Yes. Mamatay man si Light."

Tumingin lamang si Aizelle kay Serena para bang wala siyang narinig, at naunang naglakad palayo sa bahay. Pinitik ni Sky ang tainga ni Serena't sinamaan 'to ng tingin. "Foul 'yon," sermon niya pa.

At dahil sa biglaang katahimikan, naging mabilis ang paglalakad namin. Bumungad sa amin ang isang maingay, at mausok na siyudad. Maraming matataas na building na halos mahawakan na ang langit, nakakabingi rin ang walang sawang busina ng mga sasakyan, at siksikan na kumpulan ng mga tao.

"Oh... shit..." We all looked at Serena. The looked on her face can never be explained by mere words, especially that... She couldn't describe how she was feeling. "I..."

She slowly turned her head in our direction; still her eyes were twitching with the feeling of confusion and embarrassment written all over her face. "Just fucking look above..."

Our eyes dwindled, and so is our minds. What the fuck am I seeing?

"Feeling ko tulog pa ako. Saktan niyo nga ako," sambit ni Aizelle, pilit hinihigit ang kamay ni Celine na para bang willing na willing siyang magpasapak.

Riley awkwardly laughed and looked to Sky, "Try again next time ka raw."

"Can I punch in the face, Riley? Isa lang," bulong ni Sky habang matalas ang tingin na pinupukol sa billboard na tinitingnan namin.

I awkwardly smiled, and let my eyes feast to the familiar faces flaunting their charismatic and seductive faces while advertising a certain brand of rum on the gigantic billboard. It was odd, unsightly, and feels so unrealistic. Since... it was them.

Since it was Aizen and Ice...

And they fucking looked like a hot-ass couple.

#