The Lost Prodigy

56. Betrayal

“The second prophecy must’ve been forgotten for a reason. I was sure that the late king and queen were ashamed of their offspring’s ability that’s why they left her roaming the woods with another bastard. And I understand them now. What’s good with having the ability to connect with ghosts if you couldn’t even talk to the spirits of your dead parents? The Channel’s abilities are even better than yours. You’re nothing but an orphan, Ophelia.”

The lady’s words were below the belt. Mukhang ginagamitan niya ng kanyang abilidad si Ophelia ngayon kaya nagawa niyang malaman ang ganoong klaseng mga bagay. Nakaramdam ako ng sakit sa aking dibdib kahit hindi naman ako ang pinagsasabihan non. Parang sasabog na sa galit si Raiden at susugurin na sana niya si Lady Mirage nang pigilan siya ni Ophelia.

“I hope you know what you are doing.”

Chills crept into my spine when I heard her speak. Ophelia was unusually calm when she mouthed those words. At mukhang hindi lang iyon para sa babaeng kaharap niya. It was also intended to Chief Zero.

“Of course, dear. Thank you for reminding me anyway. Now, why don’t you surrender your group to us? The empress will be pleased to see you in a good shape. We only need three of you by the way. But maybe I can turn the other two into stygians for them to be more useful. But I can’t assure you that. I might kill them for pleasure. So what do you say?”

Humakbang naman palapit si Ophelia kay Lady Mirage. The latter was smiling from ear to ear. Patuloy na dumidilim ang paligid kahit hapon pa lang ngayon.

“Sorry not sorry. A queen doesn’t take orders from a lady.”

Biglang nagkagulo ang buong paligid nang magsilabasan mula sa ilalim ng lupa ang napakaraming kalansay. But they weren’t merely skeletons because their skulls were covered in a ghostly green fire. Halos nasa dalawang tao ang tangkad ng mga ito at may mga bitbit pa silang mga luma at kinalawang na armas. They attacked and rushed towards our enemies afterwards, making some run due to terror.

Kinilabutan naman ako dahil parang nakita ko na ang ganoong klase ng kapangyarihan noon. Napatingin naman ako kay Ophelia na nakakibit-balikat na pinagmamasdan ang kanyang mga alagad.

She wasn’t just a mere necromancer. She also has the power of Calev, the god of darkness.

Nabalik naman ako sa huwisyo nang hilahin ako ni Orion. “We need to go now.”

Tumakbo na rin kaming lima paalis. Hindi pa kami nakakalayo nang harangin kami ni Lady Mirage. I saw her flying sword glinting in the dark. She looked furious. Nagulat ako nang lumiwanag ang kanyang espada at dumami hanggang naging anim na ito. Lumutang ang mga sandata niya sa kanyang likuran na parang sumasayaw sa ere. Nababalutan din ang mga ito ng kahel na enerhiya.

“For a long time, I’ve been struggling to name my weapon. But an idea came to my mind now. Queenslayer. I call my enchanted sword as Queenslayer. For the reason that I’ll be using it to kill you,” wika naman ni Lady Mirage bago niya sinugod si Ophelia. Nabawasan naman ang aking pangamba dahil nandoon si Raiden para tulungan ang huli na makipaglaban.

Orion pushed Ella and me aside when several energy bolts went flying to our direction. It was Chief Zero’s doing. May mga magic circle na nakapalibot sa kanya at mukhang doon nagmula ang mga bola ng dilaw na enerhiya.

“I’ll distract him. You must go the foot of that hill with Ella. Susunod kami,” utos sa akin ni Orion na sinagot ko ng tango habang nakatingin sa burol na dapat naming puntahan.

Hila-hila ko ngayon si Ella habang tumatakbo papunta sa aming destinasyon. The skeletons that Ophelia summoned were good enough to divert the attention of the Crimson Knights from us. Nahihirapan ang mga kabalyero na kalabanin ang mga kalansay dahil kapag humihiwalay ang mga buto nila sa katawan ay kusang bumabalik ang mga ito sa dati.

Napahinto naman ako nang biglang may lumitaw na magic circle sa aking harapan at iniluwa non si Chief Zero. I was confused because I saw Orion still fighting him far behind us. Did he create a duplicate of himself?

Mahigpit lang na nakakapit sa akin si Ella. She was still in shock and she doesn’t have to see the ones who might have caused her trauma. Kailangan ko na siyang maialis dito sa madaling panahon.

May mga pumulupot sa aking kadena pero ginawa ko lang iyong yelo bago ko tuluyang sinira. I couldn’t move my feet when Chief Zero turned the ground where we were standing on into a quicksand. Papalubog na kami ni Ella nang may maisip akong gawin.

I molded the quicksand and transformed it into an earth golem. Doble ang laki at lapad nito sa mga kalansay na tinawag ni Ophelia. May mga tumutubong halaman din sa katawan nito.

Sandaling yumuko ang nilalang sa aking harapan. Inutusan ko naman itong kalabanin si Chief Zero para mabigyan kami ng oras na makatakas ng kaibigan ko.

Pero nanghina ako nang makita kong nawala si Ella sa aking tabi. I was about to look for her but a hard blow to my head stopped me in my tracks. Umikot ang aking paningin bago ako bumagsak sa lupa.

Pero bago ako tuluyang mawalan ng malay ay nakita kong hahampasin ako ng bato ng taong hindi ko akalaing gagawa sa akin non.