SIX.

FACING TARTARUS' MONSTERS (PART TWO)

☽︎ᴥ︎︎︎☾︎

NANAKO'S EYES APPEARED TO BE extremely shocked. She pressed her hands together and closed her eyes, feeling her ears become hotter and more stiff than usual. She's afraid by the possibility of being consumed by someone and ending up in the abyss. She wasn't sure what was going on anymore.

She was stiff. Nothing could be done for her. Then, what will she say to Saku? Not that she just let someone go missing after getting into a fight with Minami. It's not even a human being. She was taken, and she had no idea who it was!

More importantly, she should know where to find Minami. The only person she knows who can find her. It's Saku. So she decided to run up to her room and shut the door. She bit her lip and glanced down.

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"It's my fault. I need to find her," Nanako whispered, gripping her chest and feeling bad over her fight with Minami.

Nanako didn't have much time to dress up, so she grabbed her high-end blouse. It was a dark green Y2K Lantern Sleeve Cross Shirt with a casual solid V-neck. Then she wore black khaki slacks and sandals with silver glitter straps.

And, as usual, her blonde bun hair with pink highlights shines out brightly. Agad siyang sumakay sa tricycle at pinuntahan ang pamilya ni Rino. Apparently, they're his foster parents.

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Nag-dorbell naman si Nanako at nagkakatok, "Saku! Lumabas ka d'yan! May importante akong sasabihin! Hoy! Brad! 'Di kita lilibre sige ka! Hahaha!"Sigaw naman ni Nanako

Someone glanced into the windows, and it was a guy with black hair who smiled at her. Inayos pa niya ang mga libro niya, tsaka siya lumabas.

Footsteps arrive out of nowhere, and a tall man with his typical flashy smile suddenly stands in front of her at agad-agad naman niyang binuksan ang gate at napataas na lang ang kilay ni Nanako and Rino was smiling at her sarcastically.

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"Sabi ko umuwi ka na e," Rino grinned at her. "Baka nakakalimutan mong sinungaban mo'ko."

"Ang kapal talaga ng mukha mo kahit kailan, Rino Ethan! Pwe! Yuck! Kadiri! Manalamin ka muna, pre. Hindi tayo talo. 'Di ako pumapatol sa mas maingay pa sa bunganga ko!" Halos masuka-suka si Nanako at talagang pinakita pa niya ang pandidiri niya.

"Diring-diri ka, ha!? 'Yong mukhang 'to ay future boyfriend ni Yoshino! Mas gwapo naman yata ako d'yan sa lalaking ililibre mo! Pwe!" Sigaw ni Rino pabalik sa kanya.

Napahawak na lang si Rino sa salamin niya, "Teka, bakit ka ba andito? At nagpaganda pa? Wala si Aki rito at 'di ka na babalikan no'n! Hahaha!" sabay tawang-tawa niyang sinabi.

"Tangina mo, Rino!" Sigaw ni Nanako

Nanako frowned at him and arched her eyebrows as she looked about the mansion. She couldn't help but be amazed by how big this place was.

It was an English Country Mansion. They're typically found in the countryside on large plots of land. They typically have many indoor and outdoor amenities, rooms, and intricate floor plans.

Usually, the style of these estates is that of symmetry, with wide arches and many windows on all levels. They are constructed from quality materials like stone and brick. Many mansions today are still built in this style.

۩ᨖ۩ᨖ۩

Rino crossed his arms and sighed, "Yung totoo, ano nga?" 

"Minami was kidnapped."

Halos manlaki na lang ang mata ni Rino sa kanyang nalaman. Rino looked extremely worried. Nanako simply lifted her brows at him. Why did everyone seem so worried about her? This has raised her confusion.

"You're claiming that the savior of the Teras and Demigods is missing? Fuck! Why are you telling me this right now!?"Rino puts his hands on his hair at tsaka niya ginulo 'to.

Rino cleared his throat. "I guess we need to find her. 'Di siya pwedeng mawala nang basta-basta."

"It won't be necessary."

Saku crossed his arms and closed his left eye, and his crimson hair moved in response to the strong wind outside, his red aura shone throughout his body, and he walked in with complete authority.

"If Tartarus continues to play pranks like this, I suppose I'll have to tame him as well. Just as I did with my damned father." He chuckled at them and immediately set down his black bag.

"How are we—"

Basta-basta na lang siyang may hinugot na mga singsing, at pitong piraso ang mga 'yon. May dinukot siyang singsing at may kulay-itim na aura na lumabas ro'n.

۩ᨖ۩ᨖ۩

Nanako's eyes filled with shock because she had never seen anything like this before. She knew he was a dangerous character of some sort, but she never imagined she'd see things like this. Is she not seeing things? Suddenly, mist has filled around mansion and slowly flowers started to get withered.

"Sloth, find her." Sa sandaling mag-utos si Saku, isang kakaibang pinto ang lumitaw sa harap nina Nanako at Rino, at ito'y puno ng mga kakaibang dead plants, and the door was encircled by dark magic.

A man suddenly appeared. A man with long black hair wore an opening slit around mid-chest, which was closed with two or three buttons at the neck.

Shirts were geometric jigsaw puzzles, a complicated design of rectangles cut without curved seams and designed to make the most of every length of fabric. The sleeves were luxuriously full, at least 20 inches wide, and pleated into dropping shoulders and wristcuffs.

۩ᨖ۩ᨖ۩

Sloth tightened his horse haddle and pushed up his glasses, his red eyes flashing as he stared at everyone, "Who dares to disturb my beauty sleep?"

Umiwas naman ng tingin si Rino at napangiwi, "Show off!"

"Seloso ka na namang hayop ka!" Saku fired back at his brother. "Ngumangawa pa rin ang isa d'yan dahil sa 'di siya sinipot ni Yoshino sa hallway!"

"Hahaha!" Tawang-tawang naman si Nanako sa pambabara ni Saku sa kanyang kapatid, habang ngumuso na lamang si Rino sa kanila.

☫✠_____♆_____✡♆

RINO FOCUSED HIS ATTENTION ON his brother. Normally, he would give him some advise so that his brother would not get himself into more trouble than he already was, but now is not the day for that. Knowing that the savior has already been kidnapped and this is the least of his worries right now. 

Well, if he ever gets into trouble, he would want to scold him within an hour! But for now, the most important thing to do is save Minami at any costs. His fate is also in her hands, thus he must defeat Tartarus at all costs.

"Seryoso kasi pre! We can't let your father, Hades, take her first. Who knows! He might have her head soon! Alam mo namang delikado 'to para kay Minami, 'di 'ba? Dahil nakasalalay ang lahat sa kanya because of our Fates, and you know that the best." Paliwanag naman ni Rino

"That's why I'm heading there. You should also stay here because if the scientists find us all, mas lalo lamang 'to magiging delikado. You too," Sagot ni Saku at dinuro ang noo ni Nanako.

She might not know it since her powers are currently locked but she's a Teras. He could tell that because of her smell. Saku didn't have much time to change his clothes, so he simply put on his black hood and grabbed his scythe when he sensed an odd barrier. Wala na rin siyang panahon para maghintay pa.

۩ᨖ۩ᨖ۩

To pass through Chaos' realm, it indicates how empty the hole was. As soon as he gets sucked in, he immediately releases his black chains and orders Sloth to search the area.

The forest was encircled by thick and distorted vines, dead trees, and the air had a strange aspect that made the entire area dangerous. You won't be surprised to see monsters. There are floating gigantic and sparkling eyes, and you can't get away from them since they know every move you make.

These eyes are claimed to be the fragments of lost souls; they're considered the guardians of the forest known as "The Inferno Isles," and they follow travelers. Their stares can be frightening at times. As if they are judging your intentions. And getting out of here will not be easy.

And over those eyes, the talking moon casts a sparkling silver glow; it has the most beautiful voice you've ever seen, but don't be deceived; it can be scary, just like those floating eyes.

The moon's vocal melody can be relaxing, but it also has an odd tone that can make travelers faint. It's up to you whether or not to believe it, as it may be both a guide and a trickster.

Saku went on carefully to the door where Sloth led him and twisted the lock, delivering him to the abyss. Lalong sumama ang kanyang paningin nang mapagtantong nasa isang madilim na lugar si Minami.

۩ᨖ۩ᨖ۩

"And the military just showed up," a voice said from somewhere. Saku clicks his tongue at alam niyang kanino ang boses na 'yon.

"Saku? You're here?"Tanong ni Minami sa kanya, at nagulat na lang siya nang makita 'to.

"What have you done to her!?"He asked.

Minami gulped; she knew the look he was making. He furrowed his forehead, tightening his jaw, and clenched his fist.

He glanced at Tartarus, knowing how much he despised him. He's seen those eyes before. And seeing him like that, he wouldn't be able to stop even if he knew she was in danger.

He's mad.

"Tell her yourself then. Since that girl's obsessed with entering Chaos' realm. And you think I would let you kids go?"

Minami risen up from where she was after receiving such information. She stared genuinely into Saku's eyes and reached for his shoulders, trembling slightly. She took a deep breath, but it didn't seem to help.

"Saku, what does he mean by that? Did you know anything about this?" She asked him.

"Monsters become much more powerful when pulled into this pit. And now that we're here, we can't leave. That's the exchange for traveling from the Inferno Isles," Saku explained to her.

۩ᨖ۩ᨖ۩

A smirk came on her face; despite his warning, she didn't appear to be troubled at all. And she realizes they're in the abyss, correct? She still has a lot of cards with her, and since this is the abyss, maybe they can make an arrangement with Thanatos to free and slow those monsters.

There was no threatening expression on her face. Minami crossed her arms and stared at Saku without trembling. 'What's up with her? Isn't she scared?' These are the thoughts that came across his mind.

"Okay, maybe. Not unless we find Thanatos and make an agreement with him." Minami shifted her hand, tugged on his hand, and blinked with enthusiasm.

"Not a chance!"