-chapter forty-six-
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NAPADAING AKO nang tumama ang likod ko sa pader. My body arched from the impact and I fell down. Quickly grasping my sword, I rolled to the side just enough to avoid the demon's large curving sword.
Biglang lumitaw si Irusu sa likod niya, he made a perfect spin and his blade moved to slash the demon's neck. Napaatras ito at malakas na sumigaw. The demon turned to Irusu, now targeting him. Ngunit ang sumalubong sa atake niya ay si Filter gamit ang espada nitong kasing-laki ng sa demon. Sparks created when the two blades collided with each other.
Mabilis akong tumakbo papunta sa likod ng halimaw. I ran up towards the wall and used it to jump high. Nang naging mas mataas na ako demon ay agad kong binaba ang espada, activating the sword's special skill [Light's Judgment]. The grounds cracked and the demon staggered and was left frozen in his spot. The stun lasts for only five seconds kaya pinaulanan namin siya ng atake.
But five seconds went in just a blink, nagulat ako nang humarap siya sa'kin and he blew his breath. I raised my sword to shield myself but the force was too strong. The attack threw me towards a wall, creating a crack upon the impact.
My feet touched the ground and I started to ran towards the demon. Inilipat ko ang espada sa kaliwang kamay at inactivate ang [Circle Slash]. Sa gano'ng panahon din pinaulanan ni Filter at Irusu ng atake ang demon - Irusu using a skill that stuns the enemy continuously for seven seconds. Kaya naman napapa-atras ang kalaban namin.
I jumped back when his hands started to thrash around and he made a loud demonic roar. Napahawak kaming tatlo sa mga tainga. The very sound pierced through our ears, and if you hear it you'll be inflicted with bleed that goes for three minutes.
It's after-effect made us unmoving for a few seconds kaya ginamit iyon ng halimaw para atakehin kami. In a few seconds, he was in front of me and his large hand flew, making me fly away again. Gritting my teeth, I stabbed my sword into the ground to control my fall. I coughed the metallic feeling in my mouth and glared when the demon breathed out again.
"I fucking hate that," nakangiwing komento ni Irusu. "Smells terrible."
"Seriously..." sang-ayon ni Filter na nasa harap ang shield.
We're all wounded and in tatters. Hindi ko mabilang kung ilang minuto na naming kinakalaban ang halimaw na ito. Was it an hour? We've already done different strategies and tried different plans. Pero nasa harap pa rin namin ito ngayon. Our health was already going half and our stock of potions are all used up!
When he stopped and was about to attack us again, we started to run towards him. He went for a punch na agad nasalag ni Filter. His other hand went to take Filter away pero naunahan siya ni Irusu. He jumped high and made a spin before slashing his face. Ako naman ay pinuntahan ang kamay na pinipigilan ni Filter.
Golden flames sorrounded my blade and boosted my strength. Kaagad akong tumalon pataas at hiniwa ang palad niya. The demon cried from the excruciating pain of his hand being cut off and the light magic that touched his demon skin.
Dahil sa pagdaing niya mula sa nawalang kamay ay hindi niya napansin si Irusu na bumaba sa may dibdib niya. His blade carved deep into demon's chest and he was trying to get it's heart out. The demon cried and thrashed around because of the pain. Ang kamay niya ay tuluyan nang nahulog papunta sa'min ni Filter. Filter, sensing the attack, pushed me aside and held his shield up for defense. Pero sa lakas ng puwersa ng demonyo ay natapon siya palayo.
Irusu successfully got the demon's heart. Nahulog ito papunta sa'kin kaya agad ko itong sinaksak. The demon stilled and frozed up.
"That's the fourth heart, right?" hinihingal na tanong ko. I went to Filter and helped him stand up.
Tumango si Irusu. "Three more to go."
Dahan-dahang tumayo ang halimaw. He was now angry, terribly angry. He freezes up for a few seconds every time we kill a heart. And everytime it happens, nadadagdagan ang kagustuhan nitong mapatay kami. In short, he becomes dangerously strong every heart-kill.
He cried loud and bought his sword down to us. Nasalag ito ni Filter pero kita sa mukha niya ang hirap. Napapa-atras siya dahil sa puwersa nito.
"Fuck. This guy is getting stronger and stronger." aniya.
Irusu tsked. "Anong gagawin natin kapag biglang magmass murder 'yan kung isang puso na lang ang matira?"
"Humiling na sana mabuhay pa rin tayo," sagot ko.
Sabay kaming tumakbo ni Irusu papunta sa halimaw. He went towards the back and I attacked in front. I jumped high to target the demon's remaining arm that holds the sword. But he was quick to redirect his sword and slash it at me, making my back hit the wall again.
So not only did he get his strong, his reflexes as well?
I pushed myself off the wall and started running aggressively towards the demon. Even by just using one hand, he managed to attack Filter and me. Nagpapalitan kaming dalawa. He would use his shield to defend and I would use my sword to reflect the enemy's attack. Not that he managed to attack us. In fact, we were even at the defensive!
He was really fast to even defend himself from Irusu who keeps on attacking him from the back.
Ilang minuto na ang nakalipas at hindi pa rin namin napapatumba ang halimaw. Hell, we didn't even get another of his hearts! And Filter's shield was already cut in half, Irusu down and is out of energy, and I'm barely keeping my feet from standing up.
That's how strong of a monster he is. A true demon, really.
Lumapit ang halimaw kay Irusu na nasa lupa at sugatan. His life was already at critical level and his MP drained. He can't use any skills to get up and run away.
"Damn it," mahinang tugon niya. "I don't even have any energy to move..."
Pinilit kong humakbang ngunit biglang nawalan ng lakas ang paa ko. I fell on my left knee. Ngunit ginamit ko pa rin ang lakas para tumayo. A panel started popping in front of me - warning me of my energy massively draining and health dropping to 38%.
When the demon raised his sword to slash at Irusu, I made a decision. One I never thought of back then. The flames in my sword started burning even brightly, making the demon freeze in his position. Naramdaman ko ang lakas na biglang pumasok sa katawan ko. Like the sword in my hand, it was burning and blazing. An uncontrollable flame.
"Warrior of light," the demon hissed. "You have really tainted our lands! You dare bring the sword of the land into our territory! I will not let you disrespect the home of our king- ah!"
While he was busy talking, I forced myself up and went to him. My sword pierce through his thick demon skin and towards his heart. Naestatwa siya nang mangyari iyon. Binawi ko ang espada mula sa katawan niya at tuluyang pinatay ang puso na nadala ng espada.
With only two hearts left, nag-iba na ang awra nito. Red smokey flames started to emit from his body. His eyes bloodied and filled with fury. He towered over me, his demonic power almost going full.
"You, puny human, dare challenge me? I will not let you go without your death!" sigaw nito.
The demon ran towards me, going for an attack. Mabilis ko itong nasalag. I pushed it back towards the demon. Nagkalayo ulit kami bago tumakbo upang magsalubong. Our blades created a powerful wind upon colliding, nasisira nito ang sahig na tinatapakan namin dahil sa pwersa na ginamit.
It continued for a few minutes until the demon stopped and made a loud cry. Ang pulang pumapalibot dito ay lalong lumalaki at lumalakas na ang halimaw. His fangs lengthened and sharpened. His horns started to form like that of a capricorn.
Tumakbo ako sa kaniya para umatake. The ground shake and the small pieces of rocks flew up from our blades meeting. And he seemed even more stronger! Dahil nalipad ako ng lakas niya palayo.
My body arched when it hit the hard ground. I quickly regained myself and jumped up, instantly running towards the large monster in the center. He parried my every attacks with his sword, a combination of red and golden hue forming in the air. At sa bawat pag-atake ko sa kaniya ay ako ang natatapon palayo. His defense increased!
[Warning! You're being attacked by a Demon General! 31% HP Remaining! 35% MP Remaining! Energy down to 19%!]
Patuloy ako sa pag-atake. Naghahanap ng butas sa perpektong depensa niya. I ran towards him. His blade shot down to me and I raised my sword above my head to defend his attack. Mabilis akong umikot at umakyat sa napakalaki niyang espada. I ran on it and towards his arm, ignoring the burns from his flames. Naramdaman ko ang paggalaw ng kamay niya sa likod ko, kaya naman tumalon ako pataas at inikot ang espada papunta sa kaniya. Then I fell down into the ground and started running.
His blade landed beside me. I jumped over it to encircle him pero nahagilap ako nang atake niya. Napadaing ako nang malakas ng tumama ang gilid ng tiyan ko sa isang matulis na batong nanggaling sa nacrack na wall. The flames started to pale down.
[Warning! You're being attacked by a Demon General! 22% HP Remaining! 28% MP Remaining! Energy down to 9%!]
"Fuck..."
Moving is such a pain now. Pinilit kong tumayo ngunit hindi kaya ng paa ko. Amidst the smoke of our battle, I noticed the demon's figure. He brought his sword down to me, making me escape only by a hair dahil hindi ako maayos na nakagulong palayo.
"I don't know why you had the king's sword, human, but you are not him. You are too weak to hold a sword that mighty," he growled. "But you fought well. Against me who is one of the Demon King's top generals. It's a pity but your time is up now."
I know I can't avoid any of his attacks now. With my health draining and energy at it's lowest level, I couldn't do anything. But I need to. I need to try and fight.
"Time," I scoffed. "Lost all my time because of this stupid dungeon."
Nakita ko ang espada niyang dahan-dahang bumababa. It's blade were so sharp and bloody. But, unlucky him, my energy's not yet zero.
Hinigpitan ko ang kapit sa espadang hawak at dinepensa. He was taken aback by the force I used and I used it to push him back. However, I only found myself being put up from the ground. His large hands choking my neck and my sword plunged deep into his chest, piercing through the heart.
"You damn human..." he weakly said. "Even at your last breath, you won't stop."
[Critical Warning! You're being attacked by a Demon General! 6% HP Remaining! 2% MP Remaining! Energy down to 0%!]
[Health Warning! 5% HP Remaining!]
Napadaing ako nang mas humigpit ang pagkahawak niya sa leeg ko.
[Health Warning! 3% HP Remaining!]
I felt all the power inside me vanish. And the darkness slowly coming and meeting me.
[Health Warning! 1% HP Remaining!]
So this is death... huh?
Nothing new, really. Just all black but what's this thing that I'm feeling? Why do I feel power surging into me? Why do I feel like I'm being saved from drowning?
[Health Regenerating! 9%... 25%... 56%... 83%... 93%... Health Fully Restored!]
I took a sharp intake of breath. Parang nalunod ako at nasagip! I coughed up and my eyes widened when I saw my HP Points at it's maximum level! Anong nangyari?!
I quickly raised my hands to push the demon away from me. My sword blazed in it's strongest flame possible. Napakalakas at napakalaki ng sinag nito. At naramdaman ko din ang kakaibang lakas na pumasok sa katawan ko. I feel all too-powerful all of a sudden.
Tumakbo ako papunta sa halimaw at sunod-sunod itong inatake. Now I'm on the offensive.
"What is this? You feel so strong, all of a sudden." hindi makapaniwalang-sambit niya.
I smiled. "Oh this is my full strength."
I spinned and slashed my blade against his skin. Blood gushed out from his leg after I cut it off. He cried in pain and fell down. This huge monster can't manage to walk now that he's amputated.
Kaya hindi na ako nagdalawang-isip pa. I pierce my blade towards his left chest, where his last heart lies. Nanlaki ang mata niya at naestatwa siya bago tuluyang mawala.
The golden flames also disappeared. At hinihingal na ako mula sa ginawang laban. Napatingin ako sa likod at agad na napangiti. So they came. These guys...
"Buhay pa pala kayo," biro ko at lumapit sa kanila.
"Buhay ka pa pala dahil sa'min," nakangising sagot ni Hex habang ni-he-heal si Filter.
Tumawa ako at maluwag na nakahinga. Why is meeting these guys feels like I just arrived home.
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-chapter end-
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[UPDATE!]:
1. Make a legacy with the Oddcredibles.
2. Save Hiraeth? By killing the king? Because I wield the sword? That can kill him? What?
3. Complete the Quest for the Shrine Maiden.
4. F̶i̶n̶d̶ ̶m̶y̶ ̶w̶a̶y̶ ̶b̶a̶c̶k̶ ̶t̶o̶ ̶m̶y̶ ̶t̶e̶a̶m̶m̶a̶t̶e̶s̶!̶
5. K̶i̶l̶l̶ ̶t̶h̶e̶ ̶d̶e̶m̶o̶n̶ ̶g̶e̶n̶e̶r̶a̶l̶.̶
4. Help Aegeru find his Dad.
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