-chapter six-
FINN
The claws of the Winged Beast dug deep on my shoulder making me cry out in pain. Inilipad ako nito papunta sa itaas, the crimson sky enveloping me. Nanlaki ang mata ko nang makitang may dalawa pang Winged Beast na paparating.
Mula sa baba ay nakita ko ang pagdaan ng chakram ni Sapphire sa tabi. It sliced over the second Winged Beast's body, circled us and sliced the third one. Napatingin ako sa ilalim. Suicide na nga ata kung aatakehin niya ang Winged Beast na dinadala ako. Napakataas na ng kinalalagyan namin ngayon.
Pero hindi ko rin kayang ipakain ang sarili sa Winged Beast. I can't also let this monster bring me higher into the sky.
I saw a dozen of Winged Beasts that flew just below us. Doon ako nakaisip ng plano. But before that, I need to kill or escape from the one that's currently holding me.
I can throw the kunai to him, pero hindi iyon magiging accurate dahil sa restricted ang galaw ng kamay ko. Pwede ring mahina ang pagkakahagis ko kaya parang wala lang ding epekto. I would use my feet if only hindi lang ako nakasapatos ngayon.
I started sway to the front then towards the back. Naantala ang paglipad ng Winged Beast dahil sa ginagawa ko. Hindi ko pinansin ang pagbaon pa ng matatalim niyang kuko at mas binilisan pa ang paggalaw hanggang sa tuluyan ko nang naisipa ang paa sa ulo niya.
See, the Winged Beast had to use its feet para madala ako. They carry the human in their frontal direction, kaya naman madali lang sa'kin ang kumuha ng momentum para maisipa ang paa sa mukha niya.
The monster's grip loosened and so I used that as my time to jump away. Nang nahulog ako ay siya ring paglipad ng Winged Beast papunta sa'kin, slimy fangs glinting. Kinuha ko ang dalawang kunai at inihagis sa ulo niya. Sunod kong inihagis ang ikatatlo sa gitna ng mata niya. The monster froze before vanishing.
Umikot ako paharap sa kahuhulugan. Inayos ko ang katawan nang makitang naghihintay ang isang Winged Beast na mahulog ako sa bibig niya. Mukhang excited pa siya at panay ang paghampas ng pakpak.
I fell hard on his nose making him fall back from the damage. Pagkatapos ay sinipa ko ang ulo niya kaya napaharap ito sa ibang direction. I impaled the two kunai I'm holding into his eyes and the monster shrieked in pain.
Sabay kaming nahulog kaya pati ako medyo napasigaw na rin.
Hala, patay! Ang layo pa ng rooftop na pwede kong lapagan. The height and distance that are currently closing between us, plus the speed of the fall, it's enough to crack my head open upon impact.
Legend na lang ang makakasurvive ng ganitong paghulog.
I closed my eyes, embracing the fall and wishing that some extraordinary strength or agility will posses me to aid my fall. Bakit ba kasi hindi na lang ako naging overpowered character? That would be much helpful during this time. Sigurado akong imbes na ako ang mawawasak sa paghulog, ang building na siyang huhulugan ko ang siyang masisira.
Nagulat ako nang hindi na maramdaman ang paghulog. Dahan-dahan kong iminulat ang mata para makita kung anong nangyari at kinilabutan nang makitang nakasakay ako sa isang Winged Beast!
Hindi ko alam if malas ako o suwerte.
The Winged Beast must have noticed that something's fallen behind him and added to his weight. It started thrashing around kaya wala akong choice kundi mapakapit sa leeg nito. I gritted my teeth when my hand fell on burning skin. Shit!
Dahil sa nasasakal ko na pala ang kawawang Winged Beast, pumailalim ang lipad niya. When the distance between and the rooftop is now survivable, I drew my kunai and pierced it through the monster's burning flesh. Binali ko pagkatapos no'n ang leeg ng halimaw.
When the body vanished, nahulog ako sa rooftop.
"Aray..." mahinang daing ko at napahawak sa likuran na masakit. "Bakit ba kasi dapat upo ang laging hulog natin."
Mabigat akong bumuntong-hininga at napatingin sa paligid. This one's on a totally different side than where I was last. Hindi ganito ang ayos ng building sa kinaroroonan ko noon. I sighed. Kamusta na kaya sina Theo at Sapphire?
Nahagip ng tingin ko ang malapit na pintuan kaya ginamit ko ito. A steeled stairs welcomed me. I kept my footsteps quiet as I wandered down. I was already at the third floor when I heard voices.
"Ito na siguro 'yon, Marcella."
"Oo nga! Look, this a flag. It's colored red and it has skulls. Siyempre 'yan na 'yan."
"Ha? Lahat lang na ng flag na may red skull ay Revolution flag para sa'yo?"
"Do you think they made fake flags to confuse us?"
Napahinto ako sa narinig. Napasimangot ako at napatingin sa pinagmumulan ng boses. Nasa malapit lang silang silid. Nagtago ako sa likod ng pader at sumilip sa loob.
My eyes widened at seeing familiar gamers inside the room. Nandoon si Marcella at may hawak itong sword-like dagger. Kasama niya sina Amnesia, Darkness, Aisaka at iba pang kilala na players. There must be six to seven inside the room. Hindi na ako magtataka kung gagawa sila ng alliance after.
Of course, strong players would team up with stronger ones. They can't afford to lose in a battle of power. Kaya naman ang mga walang-kilala o newbies, kailangan nilang magfend for themselves.
Most especially on pay-to-win games, people with the money and skills rise at the top. While the weaker ones have to leech up to them.
It still applies even in real life. Kaya may mga circle of socialites and higher-status people, kagaya na rin ng may grupo ng mga against dito. Aside from their interests are aligned, they also look for people who will benefit them the most and make a group from there. Hindi man lahat, pero marami.
Nahulog ang mata ko sa isang bagay na nasa gitna ng silid. It was a red and black flag with the symbol of a hooded skull that had crossed knives. Nakatusok ito sa isang bato. Is that... the revolution flag?
Ang alam ko ay may benepisyo itong hatid kaya maganda itong kunin. Although no one knows what kind of benefits it has and to what extent is the benefit. If every city has a revolution flag, then would players stack up their benefits?
Not to mention rise up in the Leaderboards. Isa pa 'yan, tungkol ba sa ano ito? Rankings? For what? Hindi ba't ang importante lang naman ay ang matapos ang laro. There's no need to gain ranks.
"May punto siya, Marcella. This could be a fake one. Pwedeng ginamit nila ito to trap or restrict a player." wika ni Aisaka. "Rather than benefits, this one debuffs."
"Pero sa tingin niyo ba talaga gagawin nila 'yon?" Amnesia raised a brow towards the girl. "That's one fucking hardwork! Ang hirap na ngang mahanap ng Revolution Flag, gagawa pa sila ng bago."
"Does it make sense for the flag to be placed in such an obvious spot? Parang sumisigaw lang ito na kunin mo." komento naman ng isa pa.
In the end, they all looked at Marcella who was staring deeply at the flag.
"Ano sa tingin mo, Marcella? It's your call."
Napaisip ang dalaga. Bahagya akong gumalaw para ayusin ang puwesto pero laking gulat ko nang nahulog ang isang wasak na bato mula sa pader. It fell on the floor with a loud thud and rolled towards the opened door.
Natigilan ang mga players na nasa loob ng room. Their heads snapped on my direction making me hide in the shadow more. They may think of me as a threat that will steal their flag. Hindi ko alam ang takbo ng isip nila pero dahil legal ang pagpatay dito, they might just do it.
Nanlaki ang mata ko nang may nagtakip sa bibig ko. I found myself crashing into someone's body. Naramdaman ko ang paglapit ng kaniyang mukha kaya mas lalong bumilis ang tibok ng puso ko.
"Don't you dare move." he whispered.
Napalunok ako. I could hear his every breath with our close proximity. Parang tinutukan na lang rin ako ng patalim sa leeg dahil sa presensiyang pinapakita niya.
"Is someone there?" narinig kong tanong ng nasa silid.
A pause. Only our quiet breaths surrounded the air.
"Oi." may inis ang boses ni Amnesia. "Sabing may tao ba diyan?"
Hindi pa rin kami sumagot o gumalaw.
"Tch!" narinig ko ang pagbagsak ng paa ni Amnesia sa pader na kinatataguan namin. "Oi, oi. I can perfectly locate kung nasaan kayo. At kung hindi pa kayo lalabas diyan ay talagang papatayin ko kayo."
The hand that covered my mouth eased back. Mas lalong lumapit ang lalaki para magkatabi ang mukha namin. I took a subtle peek and I was surprised to see Eura's friend, ang nagsabing magbasa daw ng terms and conditions, si Kairo.
"Just do as I say."
His eyes moved to meet mine. It was cold and piercing. Nag-aalanganan akong tumango.
Nawala ang kamay niya't hinigit niya ako sa may pintuan. I had to tilt my head to the left, para maiwasan ang double-bladed dagger niyang nakatutok sa leeg ko. The triangular spike-like blades was almost similar to the shape of my kunai.
Napatingin ang mga players sa loob ng silid sa amin. Their eyes first studied the man before it fell on me.
"Aren't you that silver-haired boy who mentioned about the terms and conditions?" tanong ni Marcella.
Please just let me go. Hindi ko naman gustong makuha ang Revolution Flag, nor am I interested in making friends. Why did the Kairo guy had to drag me when we or I could have escaped?
"At 'yan ang babaeng nakasama namin doon sa conference hall, ah!" Amnesia exclaimed, pointing at me. "Sinusundan mo 'ko no?!"
Napaawang ang labi ko sa akusasyon niya. "Bakit kita susundan?"
Kairo scoffed a chuckle. Kahit ang ibang kasama ni Amnesia ay mukhang matatawa.
"Kasi-Kasi galit ka sa'kin!"
Kumunot ang noo ko. "How?"
"Kasi nga 'di ba tinawag kitang bata kaya sinusundan mo ko para patayin mo ko!"
Oh. Was he thinking I would hold a grudge against him? But I'm not the type to hold grudges. Maliban sa time-consuming ito, it can also be very emotionally-draining.
"Don't remember you." I confessed.
Bumunghalit sa tawa si Darkness at napapahampas pa ito sa katabing mahina ring tumatawa. Nalukot ang mukha ni Amnesia sa galit at inis. Padabog siyang pumunta sa likod ng silid.
"Why were you hiding there?" seryosong tanong ni Marcella at bumalik ang tensiyon sa ere.
"I was just passing by and I saw her watching all of you. Mukhang wala rin naman siyang balak at nanonood lang kaya hinayaan ko. Tinulungan ko lang siyang itago ang sarili mula sa inyo." sagot ni Kairo.
That's a lie. I'm pretty sure no one was just passing by because I didn't hear, see nor feel another presence entering the floor or within my distance. Kaya sigurado akong nandoon na si Kairo bago pa ako makarating.
"And why were you watching us?" lumipat sa akin ang tingin ni Marcella. "Do you want to steal the flag?"
Umiling ako.
"So kung kinuha namin, hahayaan mo lang?"
Napatingin ako sa panibagong nagtanong. I recognized him as Dierran, the boy who was at the watchtower. Siguro ang lalaking nasa likod niya na nakahalukipkip at nakahilig sa pader ay si Wes.
Tumango ako.
"Why?" the Wes person asked, raising his eyes to stare at me.
"Don't care."
Tumango-tango ang babaeng lider nila. Muli akong napatingin sa kaniya. She really is radiating authority just by standing there.
"Which means Kairo's the one who wants the flag." tugon ni Marcella at bumuntong-hininga. "I would also bet that he has his friends surrounding the area. Are you really gonna make this into a war?"
"A war for a flag that we're not sure about?" Kairo chuckled. "I'm not stupid, princess."
"Hm. Tama ka. Even Wes is not convinced about the flag and I value his hunches a lot." ani Marcella. "It could be a trap bomb or a restriction. It could be a dummy and the flag is in another place."
They already know that I don't have any interest in the flag so they should just let me go. Why are they still keeping me here-
"And that's why I have a proposition, Marcella. One that can benefit both of us." itinago ni Kairo ang hawak na dagger at hinawakan ang baba ko. "Why don't we give the flag to her para malaman natin kung totoo nga ito o hindi?"
Muling nahulog sa akin ang kanilang mga mata. I eyed the flag that swayed innocently in the center of the room.
Kairo smirked. "Why don't we use her as bait?"
From the corner of my eye, the number of alive beta-testers went down to 187/200.
-chapter end-