Screams of devastation bypassed my ears as the drought began to embark in the Divine Continent. The water started to gather around Poseidon, encircling and shielding us from the sight of the other gods above. As Poseidon rises, a throne of water appears above while the trees, mulch, and even the sacred walls begin to lose their lives, making them into a speckle of dull sand.

His cerulean eyes no longer reflect the sea he reigns. Instead, all you can see as you look at him are his hatred and bitterness.

“Demigods shall never defy the gods; you, mere pawns, can never choose the paths you wanted to.” He slowly lifted his trident with the mass of water flowed in the horizon, acting like they were in the bed of the sea, and slowly it began to darken, just like his soul. “Useless puppets…”

“Garet—”

“Dark, Savannah, tulungan niyo ang mga tao sa Belster.” Pare-parehas napunta ang atensyon naming lahat kay Alexis na kahit sa gitna ng pagkabigla at kaba ay nagagawang mag-isip ng plano. “Jackson, puntahan mo si Panther at tulungan niyo ang mga nasa Cerxes.”

Nakatingin lamang kami sa kanya niya ngunit ang sandamakmak na impormasyon ay mabilis na rumerehistro sa aming mga utak. Ang buong plano niya upang protektahan ang lugar at maging ang mga possibilidad na atakeng gagawin ni Poseidon. At ang bawat imahe ng mga dapat naming gawin, maging ang success rate ng mga ito ay nakatala ro’n.

“Artemis, Emerald… build the strongest shield you could do to protect the whole city. Freya, Glifford help the demigods in the Achaea to evacuate towards the Belster.” Muli ang mga impormasyon sa utak naming ay dumagsa kasabay ang paglitaw sa aming harapan ng iba’t-ibang mga loading screen.

Nang tumango sa kanya ang aming mga kasama at dali-daling umalis ay malalim siyang huminga’t tinapunan ako ng tingin, saglit siyang sumulyap kay Poseidon saka muling pinako sa akin ang mga mata n’ya.

“At tayong dalawa… haharapin natin ang rumaragasang alon.”

Under the shade of a dark presence, a genuine smile slowly curved into my lips as I pulled my sword and looked at the woman in front. It may sound cliché, but having this gorgeous woman with me, gives me strength—a strength that a fool like Poseidon could never drain.

“I see… you love her again,” Poseidon said.

I slowly unsheathed my sword and peered a look at him. His eyes scream amusement as he looks at me, making me stole a glance at Alexis and once again smiled, “Who said I stop?”

Ang saglit na pagkinang ng mga mata ni Alexis ay nagmistulang isang hudyat sa paghaharap namin ni Poseidon. Nilangoy ni Poseidon ang himpapawid upang ilapag ang kanyang atake, nang magtama ang aming mga espada ang mga tubig sa itaas maging ang kalangitan ay nahati.

At sa pagtagal, ang aking mga kamay ay dahan-dahan na sumusuko sa bigat ng puwersang kanyang pinakakawalan. Nang mapansin iyon ni Poseidon ay saglit siyang natawa’t ngumisi sa akin.

“Kung sana’y sa Artemis ang inyong hinarap sa akin ay may pag-asa pa kayong pantayan ako, ngunit isang pipityuging king vessel lamang ang sumasalo sa kakarampot na lakas ko.”

“Sino bang may sabi sa’yong seryoso na ang kaharap mo?”

“Inutil.”

The black, cryptic water above started to gather around me, making my attention be drawn out to the wicked god in front. And with an effortless push, I was suddenly soaring the air with heavy pressure. Yet, with just a blink, it grew calmer as the speckle of gold began showered beneath the dim water.

I am not alone.

“Do you think you’ll be able to defeat him without my guide, Garet?” A cold, harsh voice rang inside my head. With Pyre’s impatient remark, blue flames slowly coated my sword, emitting a brilliance that could easily outshine the dimmest sea.

I glanced towards my side, it was not my first her seeing in a seraphim form, but still, it amazes me— how gorgeous she can be with any form she wields.

“I will no longer outshine you. I’ll be your support,” Alexis mumbled.

Mahigpit kong hinawakan ang aking espada kasabay nito ang unti-unting pagbalot sa aking katawan ng gintong liwanag, na nagmimistulang isang proteksyon mula sa magiging atake ni Poseidon.

Binalot ko ng asul na apoy ang aking paanan at mabilis kong sinugod si Poseidon. Ngumisi siya sa akin at sa isang iglap ang kanyang trident ay naging espada, isang malakas na puwersa ang muling nagtunggali nang magtama ang mga sandata namin.

Hindi lamang ang katubigan sa aming ibabaw o ang langit ang nahati, dahil maging ang tuyot na kalupaan ay dahan-dahan nang sumusuko.

“Ramdam na ramdam ko talaga ang galit mo sa ‘kin.” At sa pagkumpas ko sa aking espada, agad niya iyong nabasa dahilan upang ako ang magtamo ng sugat sa aking tagiliran.

He scoffed. “I want to kill you— it was you who started this treachery, so I must put you to your end—”

“Uwuuu—”

“Garet, what the hell are you doing?!” Alexis screamed.

Poseidon grimaced and looked at me with disgust. Ginawa ko lang naman ‘yong sinasabi sa akin ni Alyssa, na galing kay Sylvia dahil siya ang nagsisilbing taga paghatid ng balita namin sa kanya. Nakakabawas daw ng galit ‘yong salitang ‘yon.

Kaso mas lalo yatang nagalit. O baka kulang pa?

“Subukan mong sabihin ulit ang salitang ‘yon… ako ang papatay sa’yo.” Wala sa sarili akong napangiwi nang maramdaman ko ang pagkainis sa mga salita ni Alexis. Okay, bawal daw. Si Boss Madam ang masusunod.

Poseidon thrust his sword with might, making me back off. As my balance suddenly went off, the black water floating above began to coat Poseidon along with the darkest presence I could feel— it was far more fearsome than Satan’s.

His hallow, godly façade slowly faded into a dark, horrendous appearance. His dazzling cerulean scales he possessed rob the hues of the dimmest water, fins, and gills sprouted from his body as his mesmerizing cerulean eyes turned into a sunken pit, resembling a trench that can drown you whole in just a blink.

“I am Poseidon, God of the Sea!” He roared. The mass of water, which was left above, rapidly rises, tainting the feathery clouds like a poisonous oak. “I am one of the big three! I already overthrew my father; how could a bunch of rule-breakers defeat me?!”

Wala sa sarili akong napangisi habang tinitingala siya. Hindi ko maitatanggi na masyado siyang malakas para sa ‘kin… para sa akin noon. Ngunit hindi ako nag aksaya ng mahabang panahon upang matakot lamang sa isang d’yos na katulad niya.

“Matatakot sana ako sa’yo kaso…” Mayabang kong sambit. “Kaso pinabagsak na rin namin ang d’yos na tinalo niyo…”

Saglit niya akong pinaulanan ng matatalim na tingin, at ang sandaling iyon ay ginamit ko upang maghanda at tapatan ang kayabangan niya. Hindi lang siya ang p’wedeng bida rito ‘no.

“Freya…” I mumbled.

I straightly looked at Poseidon as the specks of golden dust slowly began to dance around me, along with the abrupt appearance of an enchanting fairy. The darkness enveloping the vicinity was overpowered by the meticulous shine of her golden wings, that with every flap was a rain of golden dust.

“I’m here, my king.” I heard Freya said. Nilingon ko si Alexis kasabay nito ang pagtaas ko sa aking espada, saglit siyang napalunok habang pinapanood kami ni Freya habang ang sandamakmak na holographic screen ay nasa harapan n’ya.

Nang binalik ko ang paningin ko kay Poseidon ay seryoso ko siyang tiningnan, “Hindi lang ako miyembro ng rule-breakers, Poseidon…”

“Garet,” bulong ni Freya. “Is it time to get serious?”

I smiled as Freya softly touched my back. An enormous magic circle suddenly imprinted beneath our feet, tarnishing the charcoal ground with the warmest hues of the flames. I closed my eyes and silently felt the merging between my servitour and me.

Sharp ears and golden wings leisurely sprouted in my body. With Freya inside of me, the power within us was beginning to become one—it was overflowing that in every vein I have, the magical powers it circulates are multiplying into a destructive and dangerous amount, like an explosive one.

Dahan-dahan kong binuksan ang aking mga mata at kitang-kita ko ang galit at inis sa mga mat ani Poseidon, ngunit hindi sapat ang palabos kong ito upang hindi niya ako maliitin.

Dahil tama siya, isa siyang d’yos at hindi ko siya kayang patayin.

Ngunit ang walang hanggang buhay niya ang bagay na wawakas sa kanya. Unti-unti kong tinaas ang aking espada’t mayabang iyong tinutok sa kanya dahilan upang lalong mandilim ang kanyang paningin sa akin.

“I am Garet Christopher Lockser, the King Vessel of Alchemy Kingdom—a mere demigod who’s bound to vanquish your impurity, God of the Sea!”

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