CALLIE'S POV

Hala, si Medusa 'tong kaharap namin?! Seryoso?

"Don't ever look into her eyes..." Narinig ko ang paalala sa'min ni Talia. "If we do, we'll probably die, and my beauty would go to waste."

At nakuha niya pa talagang magbiro sa ganitong sitwasyon?! Wow naman.

Nanatiling nakaiwas ang tingin ko kay Medusa nang biglang makita ko ang isang demigod na muntikan nang mapatay ng isang earth golem. Mabuti nalang at nailigtas siya ni Irisha.

Earth golems are creatures made out of stone, resembling giant monsters. They might possess the strength to crush me, but since my hair looks fantastic today, I'll make sure they don't touch a single strand.

"Oh my magic! Irisha, you're bleeding!" Aelia exclaimed. Tumingin ako sa babaeng kausap niya, at ang masasabi ko lang ay para siyang naligo sa mga rainbow.

"Thank you for coming..." hinihingal na sambit ni Irisha. Mukhang pagod na pagod na siya dahil kanina pa silang lumalaban. "I-I tried my best to protect them, but I couldn't do it alone..." Patuloy na humina ang boses niya.

Bigla akong naawa sa kanya. Luminga-linga ako sa paligid at napansin kong marami-rami na rin ang nasugatan kaya inutusan ni Haze si Tazyn na tulungan sila.

How long have they been battling these monsters?

"Callie," tawag ni Raven. "Go with Amari and Talia. Save as many as you can," utos niya.

His body crackled with sparks of lightning as thunder rumbled ominously in the sky. His fury was evident, and in just a few moments, I bet he'll go berserk.

Dahil sa time stop, nakatigil lamang ang lahat ng mga mortal sa gitna ng labanan kaya pati sila ay nadadamay.

Tumango ako bilang tugon sa utos ni Raven. "Be careful." 'Yun nalang ang nasabi ko bago tumakbo paalis.

While running, I felt my power flow through my veins. My eyes glowed bright, even brighter than before.

Dark green.

Bigla akong lumuhod at hinawakan ko ang lupa. Naramdaman ko ang paggalaw nito sa kanan, at nang lumingon ako sa direksyon na 'yun, may isa na namang demigod na nasa panganib.

Napatigil ako nang makita ko kung gaano siya kagaling lumaban. Walang kahirap-hirap na tinalo niya ang golem sa isang galaw ng kanyang espada.

Akala ko pa naman ay nasa panganib siya!

Tinitigan ko siya nang mabuti. Hala, teka lang, ang pogi niya!

Future jowa ko na kaya 'to?

Matangkad siya, may gintong mata, at itim na buhok. Dahil magaling siyang makipaglaban, natural lang na matipuno ang kanyang katawan.

Pero bakit parang hindi ko pa naman siya nakikita sa academy?

Napatigil ako.

Bigla akong naalerto at tumigil muna sa paglalandi nang dumating pa ang ibang earth golem. Grabe, malakas naman ako pero hindi ko kayang talunin ang lahat nang ito!

Sinubukan kong tawagin sina Soleia, pero pati sila ay nahihirapan na rin sa pakikipaglaban. Marami-rami rin kasi ang mga tao sa park kaya lalo kaming nahihirapan.

Mabuti nalang at kahit papaano, napapaligiran kami ng mga puno, dahon, at iba pa. Lalong lumalakas ang kapangyarihan ko.

Nature is my bestfriend, after all.

Huminga ako nang malalim bago ko naramdaman ang pag-ilaw ng aking mga mata. Tinadyakan ko ang lupa kaya't bigla itong yumanig nang malakas at nahulog ang ibang golem.

I clenched both of my fists, and in an instant, the golems were strangled by thorny vines. I tightened my grip even more, squeezing them until some of the golems shattered into fragments.

Bakit hindi pa rin sila nauubos?

Ang dami naman nila! Ano 'to, unlimited?

"Ugh, I seriously don't want to die yet," bulong ko sa sarili. Hindi nakakatulong na may nakapaligid sa'ming mga ahas.

Isa-isa lang naman kasi!

May papalapit na sana sa'king ahas nang may biglang pumana rito. Lumiliwanag 'yung pana, nakakasilaw.

Salamat, Talia!

I glanced at her. She smirked, and I did the same.

"Thanks!" sigaw ko. Bigla siyang humipan ng halik bago bumalik sa pakikipaglaban.

Habang tumatagal ang paglalaban namin, unti-unti na rin akong napagod. Hindi naman kasi ako imortal kung kaya't nauubusan rin ako ng enerhiya.

Pagbubutihan ko na talaga ang pag-eensayo sa sunod na klase namin ni Sir Saint sa P.E!

Five golems appeared, and I could no longer handle it. I suddenly dropped to my knees and watched as they approached me one by one.

Hindi ko matawag ang iba dahil pagod na rin sila...

I swear to the gods, if I die right now, I will haunt them all! Hindi pa nga ako nagkakajowa ay mamamatay na
agad ako!

Nang makita ko ang paparating na kamao ng isa, sinubukan kong umiwas.

A thorny spike shot up from the ground and pierced the golem's fist, causing it to crumble to the ground.

Ang galing ko talaga!

Unfortunately, another fist was aimed at me, and I didn’t see it coming in time.

Pumikit ako...

Goodbye world na ba?

Ngunit nagulat ako nang tanging tunog ng isang espada ang narinig ko.

Bigla akong napamulat at nakita ko ang gwapong lalaki na mabilis na tinalo ang mga kalaban.

He moved like the flash, darting through everything in his path. He cut through the earth golems relentlessly, all without breaking a sweat.

Natalo niya 'yun agad?

Nang matalo niya lahat, sinubukan kong tumayo upang magpasalamat sa kanya. "Thank you..."

Mas matangkad siya sa'kin kaya medyo tumingala ako. Nakita ko ang maliit na ngisi na nakapaskil sa labi niya. "Guess I'm your knight in shining armor now, huh?" sarkastikong tanong niya. "Too bad.  I'm not fit for that role."

Kumunot ang noo ko. Aba! Ang assuming naman ng lalakeng 'to! "I don't need one, mister. Nagkataon lang na napagod ako..." Biglang humina ang boses ko. "Pero salamat talaga."

"What's your name? Are you a student of Elysium Academy?" dugtong ko.

He shook his head before chuckling. "Nah, I'm no one."

"I'm Zae, by the way," dugtong niya.

Bigla siyang lumakad pabalik nang nakaharap pa rin sa'kin. "Nice meeting you, Callie."

Sa isang iglap ay nawala siya.

"Nice meeting you, Callie."

Paano niya ako nakilala?

Zae...

"Callie, we need your help!" I came back to my senses when I heard Mavi's voice through telepathy.

Agad akong kumilos at pumunta sa kinaroroonan nila. Nakapalibot sila kay Medusa at pilit nilang iniiwasan ang mga mata niya.

"You will never catch me, demigods," she declared, her snakes hissing in agreement. "This isn’t the time."

From the earth, thorny vines started to rise. I attempted to strike her, but it was clear that she was expecting my attack.

Just then, Amari swiftly hurled a spear at Medusa, managing to graze her cheek just as it flew by.

Medusa wiped the blood away with her finger and chuckled. "How audacious of you, daughter of Athena."

"Not that I care," Amari retorted sarcastically, causing me to laugh.

Woohoo! Baka anak ni Athena 'yan!

"Let’s see if you still find this funny when we meet again. Consider this a warning... don’t cross me."

Suddenly, a fierce lightning bolt struck, but Medusa dodged it once again.

Ayan! Galit na galit na si Raven!

"May our paths cross once more, Elysians..."

Ay, kabaliktaran ang hiling ko! Sana'y hindi na tayo magkita pa!

She was suddenly surrounded by her earth golems and snakes. Sinusubukan niya bang tumakas?

I and the others approached her, my gaze drawn to the butterflies flying around. I noticed Soleia's serious expression next to me.

Akmang susugod na kami nang pigilan kami ng dalawang nilalang.

"Aelia?" hindi makapaniwalang tanong ni Tazyn. "Kai? Why do you look different?"

I was sure it was Aelia and Kai, but there was something different...

Aelia now sported long red hair, her glowing golden eyes set above wings that stretched from her back, clad in a flowing chiton.

Meanwhile, Kai, appeared slightly older, sporting a beard alongside his own set of wings. He donned a chiton and sandals similar to those of the Olympians, leaning on a staff.

Aba, 'wag nilang sabihin na-

Pinaglalaruan ba nila kami?!

"Sorry, my dearies! We had to! Zeus’ orders!" Aelia suddenly shouted. Siya nga ba talaga si Aelia?

My head was spinning.

"Zeus definitely needs to raise my salary for this. I’m so over running errands for him," Kai remarked.

Medusa’s expression shifted to one of shock. “No... no!”

The winged man smirked. "Long time no see, Medusa," he said slyly. "The last time, I escorted you to the underworld."

"Whoa..." That was all Cole managed to say.

"I knew it." Amari nodded knowingly.

Medusa’s lips trembled in rage, her fists clenched tightly. "Curse you…"

"Hermes and Iris!"