XIX. Game is on, Bakunawa.
᯾✵𖣘⍟۞✫᯽᯾
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"Anyways, get ready. Magbihis ka na, Rebel. I need to see if you get stronger."
"Yari," Sabi na lang ni Kuya Ravio and I gave him a glare. Itinaas ko din yung middle finger ko at nginisian lang ako nung gago.
I raised my eyebrows at him saka ako dumiretso sa kwarto. Tinignan ko ang mukha ko sa harap ng salamin and my blonde hair starts glowing. Una ko yung napansin when I was 5 years old.
I think I started to see and communicate with Gods and Goddesses when I was young.
I first communicated with Hanan. She's the Goddess of Morning and Day. And she is Bathala's daughter. Her origins, attributes, and significance are deeply ingrained in the cultural fabric of the Philippines. She represents the eternal cycle of light and darkness, offering hope, warmth, and prosperity to those who embrace her radiant presence.
Her skin exudes a warm, golden glow, mirroring the brilliance of the morning sun, a symbol of the light and hope she bestows upon the world.
Complementing her luminous skin, her hair is as dark as the night, creating a striking contrast that adds to her overall allure.
Adorned with opulent golden jewelry, including necklaces, bracelets, and anklets, Hanan embodies the warmth and brilliance of the morning sun.
She used to visit me...a lot.
Ang akala ko noon gusto lang niyang makipaglaro sa'kin, but turns out she was sent off to protect me.
At malaki ang naging hinala ko when I started to see other creatures. Those creatures haunted me. It started with Aswang, then next sumunod ang Wakwak. And then yung next, the monster who's after my blood. Yung Mandurugo.
It didn't stop from there. Corrupted souls started targeting me. It didn't stop from there. Corrupted souls started targeting me. And I started to sense souls, sa tuwing liliwanag ang buhok ko, it's a sign that I could sense the revenge of a White Lady or a Black Lady.
Marami talagang misteryo na nangyayari dito sa lugar na ito. And it started because I was later revealed as Apolaki's son. I'm the threat that will destroy the world of the Gods and Goddesses.
That's why they're after me.
Pagbaba ko, agad ako nagulat when Mom charged over me and she kicked me. The fuck!? She didn't even warn me. Buti na lang naiharang ko agad yung gloves ko and I quickly dodged her powerful kicks.
"Warn me if we're going to train! Ni hindi man lang kita nakita!"Sigaw ko sa kanya
What a woman. I didn't know that she's this strong. Agad ako napahawak sa tiyan ko and I coughed. She got closer to me at agad ako umiwas nung aatake siya ng sipa and then I lift my arms at pumorma ako ng suntok saka ako umatake sa kanya. I could even match her.
Suntok, Sipa, Balibag, Hagis, Headbutts, Hard Kicks and Punches, all those kinds of moves. Dahil ang sabi ni Mama sa'kin noon, kailangan ko maghanda. I need to get ready because I'm the target.
Tinatanong ko siya kung bakit ako pinupuntirya yet she won't say anything. Even Hanan won't say it. Ano ba kasing meron? What's in my blood?
Halos dumapo sa damit ko yung putik at agad kong inalis iyon.
"Yung totoo, are you a Yakuza or a Gangster in your younger days?"
"In fact, I am. You wouldn't have any idea how many fights I have. Focus on training." Itinapat niya ang braso niya sa mukha niya and she stared at me seriously. Para bang tinitignan niya at kinakabisado niya bawat galaw ko.
I need to get serious. Ipinikit ko ang mata ko and I formed my fighting stance. Naramdaman ko ang buong liwanag sa buong katawan ko. I could hear my mom's breathing at ang paggalaw niya. Noong umatake siya ulit, agad ko binuksan ang mata ko and I quickly grabbed her arm at saka ko siya pinatumba.
There's a lot of fighting styles that she taught me. Judo, Kenjutsu, Jujutsu, Taijutsu pero ang pinakagusto ko sa lahat ay yung Kickboxing. Kaya wala ni sino man ang nakakapalag sa'kin. Damn, those bullies know where they should belong. Alam nilang papalagan ko silang lahat.
Nagliliwanag ang buong katawan ko. I feel like it was a sun's energy that's been releasing in my body. Kulay into ginto ito. Napatitig ako kay Mama and I asked her, "Mom. My body is shining. I'm going to ask you one more time. Yung totoo, Ma. Alam kong nakita niyo pareho ng teacher ko right? How different I am."
"You're not a human, Rebel. You possess strong powers because of his influence. Your father."Mom told me and she got closer to me and she ruffled my hair.
"What?"I asked.
When she first told me, I couldn't believe it.
"You're Apolaki's Descendant. You're a Half God. Isang Demigod. Kaya ka palaging nagliliwanag. You're the son of Apolaki, the God of Sun and War."Mom kneeled in front of me and she cupped my face.
"What are you saying to me now, ma? Don't tell me—"
"Kung ano mang ka-weirduhan yan nak wag mo na ituloy. I'm telling you right now, you're Apolaki's son. You need to believe me." Mom said
This is crazy.
Ano namang ibig niya sabihin don? I'm the son of Sun God and War? But those are just myths, there's no way that would ever happen. Litong-lito lang talaga ako sa mga sinasabi sa'kin ni Mama.
And why does she have to say it? If Apolaki's real, dapat siya ang pumunta rito at magpaliwanag ng lahat, di'ba?
"Mom, I want to experience what a kid should be. Hindi yung kung ano-ano ang nakikita ko. People won't even believe me. You saw how my teachers reacted. Gusto ko maintindihan kung ano ba talaga ako, mom. What's even more crazy here is that how my hair glows, now you're telling me that my dad is a Sun God and War? How can I believe those?"
"Because you are. I am telling you right now because your powers are starting to activate, Rebel. Apolaki locked your powers pero tadhana ang naglalapit sa inyong mag-ama. Because this is your fate. Fate chooses you, son."Sabi ni Mom sa'kin.
You can say that I'm confused. I am! Litong-lito na ako. Ni hindi ko alam kung paano ako mag-rereact. I thought that I was just different because I have blonde hair, pero sa mga sinasabi ni Mom ngayon everything makes sense because I always glow.
It was like I was part of the Sun. Na liwanag ang nagdadala sa'kin kung saan ako dapat naroroon. Hinawakan ni Mom ang mukha ko and she smiled.
"Kaya sa oras na iyon, kailangan mo maging handa. Now, show me Rebel. Let me see your blood. Show me."
"I can't!"Tanggi ko
"Rebel Danilo Apoian, show me. If I'm an Evil Diety, are you just going to stand there? Paano kung ako ang papatay sa'yo? Are you going to let them win and take over the whole world? This world needs a hero, at ikaw lang ang magliligtas sa mundong to. Show your blood." Mom ordered me.
I never knew what Mom wanted me to do. Ang alam ko lang, kinailangan niyang ituro sa'kin ang lahat-lahat. Na wag magpa-api. That I should fight back. To fight whatever is right. She wanted me to be strong. The world is dangerous, we don't know what's the danger that lurks around this world.
That's why ever since I was born, alam kong nasa piligro ako pati na rin ang mga taong nasa paligid ko. And mom knew that so she taught me everything that she knew about using my blood.
And probably she knew that she's going to die kaya naman kailangan niya ituro sa'kin ang lahat at kung paano ko gagamitin ang kapangyarihan ko.
There's another way to use my blood.
Without relying on your emotions, you can use the blood powers more effectively. Mom taught me to perfect my illusion power so I can make a trick when using my Blood Powers. This power is hard to tame pero sa mga tinuro ni Mama sa'kin naging effective yon lahat without getting rampage even my hair was red.
Kaya naman Ipinikit ko ang mata ko at mas lalong lumiwanag ang buong katawan ko. It's not dark, but an orange aura that was shining. Sobrang liwanag ng buong katawan ko at unti-unti nagbago ang kulay ng buhok ko. It became red. And my eyes turned into a pair of light red and dark red.
Itinaas ko yung kamay ko at itinapat ko sa dibdib ko and using illusion to tame my emotions. Then I bit my finger and then tumulo yung dugo. Once the blood drops, I created a ton of weapons using my blood. I can create or wield weapons with power over blood, which grants the user a wide variety of blood-based abilities. This ability is not only specific to mystic weapons, but also technologically advanced weapons.
The power of the weapons depends on what they were created for or what level of blood-based ability I possess.
"This is it. This is your true form using that blood."
That was all that I could remember. Now, everything's making sense after my mother's death.
END OF FLASHBACK
I know that this was supposed to be a sea pero bakit ang liwanag dito!? I tried getting closer at napataas na lang ang kilay ko when I saw Apolaki.
"Why are you even here, damned dad!?"Sigaw ko
"Yang tono mo. Wala ka man lang pasasalamat? Nagkita na kayo di'ba?"
Tch.
Until now, he is still an asshole.
Wala naman ako balak alamin kung bakit siya nandito. Isa pa, nandito ako para talunin yang Bakunawa. My intentions are clear from the very start. I'm here to tame that dragon. I need him to find out what's the mystery behind our city. Nagtago ako ng matagal ng taon and I made sure my identity will be hidden.
But someone betrayed me. Hindi ko alam kung sino. May nakakaalam kung sino ako at sinabi niya ang katotohanan sa mga Diyos at Diyosa. And whoever spit it out, wag ko lang malaman kung sino siya because I'm going to get angry...for sure.
"Hindi niyo na naman ako pinapansin—"
I smirked at him at lumapit ako sa kanya. After I talked to my mom, naalala ko ang lahat-lahat ng itinuro niya sa'kin. Maybe I was still running away from who I was. And I still don't know how to use my blood powers. Pero sa pagkakataong ito hindi na ako matatakot.
When fear consumes you, it takes away the most beautiful things in your life. That fear creates that you should just be afraid at di mo napapansin kung ano ang nagiging epekto nito sa pagkatao mo.
How devastated you are emotionally and mentally. Sure, there are times that you're scared. But use it as an opportunity and show that you can overcome your fears.
I'm not afraid of you anymore, Bakunawa. I feel much stronger with my power right now.
Kaya naman lumapit ako don sa Bakunawa at hinila ko yung buntot nito. My hair started to change into red at nginisian ko na lang siya and I gave him an ominous look, "Bibigyan kita ng pagkakataon. Forget this battle and work with me o uubusin ko yang dugo mo. You don't know how dangerous my blood is, serpent dragon. Make your choice. Now."
"Huli kong naramdaman na ganito ako katakot....ay kay Bathala. Sandali lang, mapaguusapan naman natin to Bata! Wag mo ako patayin!"
"I won't. Kaya binibigyan kita ng choices. Help me to solve the mystery between the Gods and Goddess. Malaki ang hinala ko na isa sila sa nagpapakalat kung bakit maraming masasamang elemento, mga Aswang at Mandurugo sa lugar ko. If you're going to help me with your own powers, mapaguusapan natin ito."Sabi ko doon sa Bakunawa at ngumisi ako
"Sige pumapayag ako sa gusto mo. Susunod ako sa'yo. At hahayaan kong gamitin mo ang kapangyarihan ko."
Nagkaroon ng malakas na alon at lumipad yung Bakunawa sa harapan ko at naging isang sandata ito. Isang Kampilan.