Pumasok na kami sa loob ng dungeon matapos bumukas ang gintong gate nito. I could smell death in the air. The room was elegant and was covered with rose gold antiques and brilliant sculptures. May kadiliman pero nagliwanag sa ginto ang buong paligid.
Nagulat na lang kami sa isang malakas na puwersang biglang nagpatalsik sa 'ming lahat matapos sumara ang gintong gate. In one swift move of the dungeon boss's scythe, it already caused us damage. Tumama ang likod ko sa pader. Some of us hit the ground.
Mabilis ang mga galaw ng boss. The demon had four horns with a big, muscular body. And its red-eyed face was scary. Isang matibay na armor ang bumalot sa buong katawan at ulo ng malaking dungeon boss. Its gold scythe was too big for all of us to dodge.
Agad akong tumayo. Nanghihina pa ako. Hindi pa ako nakapag-replenish ng HP kaya sinimulan ko na itong ibalik hanggang sa mapuno. Pinag-aralan kong mabuti ang dungeon boss. It was like it was glowing with power. I checked its HP. Mataas ito. Alam ko nang hindi sapat ang dalawang parties upang talunin ito.
Nagsalita si Sky nang malakas. "Everyone, listen. Avoid too much damage. Follow my orders and don't be stubborn."
Kumunot ang noo ko. "How about my orders?" tanong ko.
"Of course, your orders, too. Just don't be reckless. Pag-aralan mo ang bawat galaw ng demon. That way, we can formulate a good plan." His gaze shifted to the dungeon boss. "He's ready to attack now. Dodge his attacks. Huwag tayong mag-aksaya ng mga replenisher kahit ito na ang last dungeon. Hindi pa natin alam kung ano ang naghihintay sa 'tin sa Lost City. Use your strength wisely. Don't rush." I could feel Sky's power and authority.
Tumango ang mga kasama namin at nagsimulang gumalaw pero hinawakan niya ang balikat ko. Tinaasan ko siya ng kilay.
"You trust me, right?" he asked and grinned.
I blushed. "Yes," mahinang sagot ko. "I trust you but... don't think that I like you," I said, but didn't mean it. Inirapan ko siya at mabilis na tumakbo. I needed to focus my attention on the dungeon boss.
Malayo ako sa dungeon boss. Pero tama lang ang distansya upang pakawalan ko ang mga palaso ko. Malaki ito kaya mababa ang posibilidad na makaiwas ito sa bawat atake namin. Pero madali naman nitong nasasalag ang mga iyon.
Pinalibutan namin ang boss. He was swaying his scythe in the air, hitting some of our members. Matatalim na hangin na tila boomerang ang lumabas sa patalim ng armas nito.
Nasa gilid ng dungeon boss si Phoenix at patuloy siyang umatake. Sumabog sa katawan ng dungeon boss ang mga apoy na pinakawalan niya. Heather and Scythe were starting to switch positions. Umatake sila sa malapitan gamit ang malalaking espada at palakol nila. The two assassins, Draco and Ice, were hitting the boss, too.
Malakas na tumama ang scythe ng dungeon boss kay Phoenix. Nasalag naman nito ang dual flying blades ni Ice na pinabalik lang kay Ice. To my relief, Heather switched positions with her and deflected the blades with his axe. Halos lahat ng mga atake namin ay nasasalag ng boss. Pinag-aralan ko ang bawat kilos nito.
Scythe switched positions with Sky. Sky gave the South Gatekeeper a lethal blow on the shoulder. Halos mapaurong kaming lahat sa malakas na puwersang bumalot sa lance ni Sky. Agad na lumayo si Sky sa dungeon boss. Malakas na umungol ito.
Napangiwi ako. The South Gatekeeper started slamming the scythe at us while we were distracted with that annoying sound. Malakas na tumama sa bawat isa sa 'min ang mga tira nito. Lumipad ang katawan ko at tumama sa pader. I fell on the floor, but I managed to stand up.
Nagtamo kami ng mga sugat sa kani-kaniyang katawan.
"Have you gathered enough information?" tanong sa 'kin ni Sky nang tumayo siya.
"Not yet. I can't find any weakness in him. His armor and reflexes are too good," saad ko. "His power is too much for two parties," dagdag ko pa.
Sky nodded as if he already knew that. "Light and Zeal, start to attack from the keeper's side. Ice, attack from behind with the aid of Scythe. And Draco will attack in front with Heather. This is not a strategy for a kil,l but it will help us discover more about the South Gatekeeper," saad ni Sky. Tumango ako.
"The healers Cember, Fire, and Angel, step back. Heal the wounded. Phoenix, don't stay in just one place while attacking. Move and dodge. And I will switch places with any of you," dagdag pa niya.
Tumango ang mga kasama ko. Everyone moved swiftly. I just studied the gatekeeper's every move. Kapag may nakikita akong pagkakataon, I would shoot at it.
May mga atakeng nakalalagpas sa depensa nito pero mas madalas ay nasasalag nito. Tumakbo si Phoenix habang umaatake at iniikutan ang dungeon boss kaya nakaligtas siya sa mga atake nito. Those who were attacking the dungeon boss head on were injured.
Halos lahat ng mga umatake sa boss ay hindi na nakaligtas sa mga atake nito, maging sina Sky at Phoenix. Pati sina Fire, Cember, at Angel ay hindi na rin nakaligtas. Nanghihina na ang mga ito. Samantalang ako, nagmamasid lang sa mga nangyayari. It was my responsibility. The four horns of the South Gatekeeper were all glowing with energy. Kaunti lang din ang nabawas sa HP nito.
Nakatutok na sa 'kin ang atensyon ng dungeon boss. Ako na lang ang nag-iisang nakatayo. The dungeon boss swung its scythe. Napasinghap ako nang makita ang sunud-sunod na matatalim na hangin o liwanag na pinakawalan nito. Sky dragged me and we ran.
"That's enough! Retreat!" sigaw ni Sky sa 'ming lahat. His arms were bleeding badly, but he ignored it. He still held his lance with might. He deflected the sharp crescent wind from the gatekeeper's scythe using his lance when it attacked us again. Nanlaki ang mga mata ko sa narinig mula sa kanya. Masasayang lang ang mga nasimulan namin kung uurong kami.
"Why?" tanong ko. Hindi rin alam ng ilang kasama ko kung susundin nila si Sky.
"Because this time, it's the right thing to do. We have to make a better plan to take the South Gatekeeper down. Now, just follow me," sagot niya.
Sumunod sa kanya ang lahat. He's still holding my wrist. We're just glad that the gate opened up for us, but the dungeon master was still attacking us. Mabilis na sumunod sa 'min si Silver. The gate closed after us.
"Sana sinabi mo agad na may balak pala tayong tumakas," naiinis na sabi ko sa kanya.
He chuckled, and I noticed that his arm was still dripping with blood. I pitied him. I almost forgot that my abdomen was bleeding, too. Napangiwi ako. Nakaupo na sa lupa ang iba naming kasama. They were bleeding, too.
"We had to. When I first saw the South Gatekeeper, gusto ko na agad lumabas. We can't defeat it with our level. At kapag namatay tayo, masasayang lang ang lahat ng mga pinaghirapan natin," sagot niya. He was looking at the cut on my abdomen. "Ayos ka lang ba?" he asked.
Umiling ako. Naglakad ako patungo sa isang puno at sumandal doon. Sumunod siya sa 'kin.
"I'm fine. Kung alam mong hindi naman pala tayo mananalo, bakit pa tayo nagtagal sa loob?" Ngumisi lang siya sa 'kin.
"Might as well go back to the town now," sabi ko sabay irap sa kanya. "And why don't you heal yourself?"
"I already told you. We need a better plan. But are you concerned about me?" he asked with amusement.
"I'm not. Your blood just makes me sick," I lied.
He chuckled. Alam niyang nagsisinungaling ako.
"Ano nang gagawin natin ngayon?" tanong ko.
"We can't defeat the monster with just two parties," saad niya. He was still staring at my face. I felt a bit uncomfortable.
"Let's just go home if that's the case. We need more allies," I said.
He laughed. "We don't need to go home. We will wait here," nakangising saad niya.
Tinaasan ko siya ng kilay. "Wait? Baka mabulok na tayo rito pero wala naman palang darating," pagtataray ko.
"They'll come. Halos kasabay kong pumunta rito ang party ni Queen. I'm not sure if Zero will come, but I invited him. If they're lucky, tiyak na nagkita na silang dalawa," he grinned.
Queen? Hay! Kumunot ang noo ko. "Why do I have this feeling that you're manipulating the whole situation? Parang handang-handa ka sa mga mangyayari. Pati ang pagkikita natin sa isang dungeon?"
He chuckled. Tumabi siya sa 'kin at sumandal din sa puno. "Not really. I didn't plan this. I'm just pushing my luck. Nang marinig kong may apat na dungeons dito at maraming rare items na makukuha sa Lost City, alam kong hindi magiging madali ang lahat. Imposibleng makaya ng isang party lang ang mga dungeons," he answered.
"So, the plan now is to wait for them?" tanong ko na lang.
He nodded.
"And if this doesn't work? What's your next plan?"
"Do you want me to enumerate them all? I have many plans and you will just get bored when you hear them," he grinned. "Just rest while we're waiting," he added. Umupo siya sa lupa at isinandal ang ulo sa puno. He held my hand and gently pulled me down. Naupo na rin ako. Marahang isinandal ni Sky ang ulo ko sa balikat niya at hindi na ako nagreklamo pa. I was too tired and sleepy.
After several minutes, I heard shouts. Lihim akong ngumiti. Dumating na sila at tama si Sky. I hated it when he was always right. Pakiramdam ko, gusto ko siyang talunin at lagpasan.
I heard splashes of water. Mahinang tumawa si Sky. Well, maybe it was really a good sight to laugh at, but I was busy savoring the feeling of my head on his shoulder. Narinig ko na ang paglapit ni Queen sa 'min. I pretended to be asleep.
***