Ero's Point of View

I was busy sweeping the inn's front when people started to stand by the side of the road. Tumigil ako sa pagwawalis at tiningnan ang dahilan. Dumaraan ang mga guwardiya na nagmula sa palasyo. Lahat ay umiiwas ng tingin at nagtatakip ng mga bibig noong makita ang lalaking dala-dala ng mga ito.

It was none other than Fedrino Vesiliente who is laying on a stretcher and being escorted by the medical team. His left arm is gone and so as his right leg. Dumudugo pa rin ang mga sugat nito at may ilan rin siyang mga kalmot sa katawan. Kasunod nito ay ang mga tauhan niyang nakaposas.

Everyone in this city knows how illegal Fedrino's businesses are. No one just dared to say a word. Even though it's a private property, the king must've found ways to arrest him now.

Lahat ay muling napatingin kay Fedrino noong ito'y nagsalita, "Damn that woman..! I'm gonna kill her when I see her again! I'll bring her to hell!"

I sighed and went inside the inn, along with the broom. I put it on the side and approached the inn owner. The small chubby old woman showed a kind smile, "Mag-iingat ka sa paglalakbay mo. Siguraduhin mong dadalhan mo ako ng pasalubong pagbalik mo."

Ngumiti naman ako rito, "'Wag kang mag-alala Nang, magiging maayos lang ako."

Pagkatapos kong magpaalam ay nag-impake na ako ng mga kailangan. While putting all I need in a bag, I happened to glance at the small picture frame beside my bed. I smiled and picked it up, staring at my wife's and daughter's smiling faces. "Don't worry. I'll make sure that she'll pay for what she has done to the both of you." I put it inside my bag and closed it.

After changing clothes, I put the drawstring bag full of necessities on my shoulder and went out. I bid goodbye to all the staffs and went out of the inn. Hindi ko alam kung makakabalik pa ako but I'm really thankful that they took me in and gave me a job. I quitted being a doctor a long time ago.

I walked through the forest and listened to the sound of the wind, leaves, humming birds and cicadas as I walk on the grassy road. Medyo mataas na ang mga damo at halatang walang masyadong dumadaan. Tumigil ako noong makita ang isang pamilyar na bahay sa harapan ko. I smiled as I remember my daughter's laugh while she's playing with her mother.

I opened the door, it creaked but it opened quite smoothly. Pumasok ako at ang tanging naririnig lamang sa loob ng pasilidad ay ang bawat yapak ko. May mga damong tumutubo sa gilid, making its way through the wooden planks. Maalikabok na rin ang bahay at may mga daga at gagamba na rin akong nakikita. That's expected, since they died, I never came back here again.

I walked out of the broken backdoor and saw two gravestones three meters away. Medyo mataas na rin ang mga damo na tumutubo sa paligid nito at may mga dahon ring nalaglag dito. I smiled as I remove the leaves from them.

"It's been 2 years since I last came to see you, that was the day you both died. Sorry if it took me a long time." I said, calmer as I can. But as I stare at their graves, the memories just won't stop resurfacing.

Two years ago, my life has finally settled on a normal cycle. I don't want to ask for anything more. I have my wife and my 5-year old daughter. I'm contented.

But before I could have that life, I was lost and it's like I was always accompanied by bad luck. I wasn't from this world and that made me struggle when I wandered here. I was born in Tokyo, Japan. I'm just one of those random faces among the masses. I don't have that much interesting achievements except for learning the sword arts of my country.

Then that day happened. I accidentally went through a door and it brought me here. It was foreign and I have to do something in order to live. I couldn't go back and I don't even know how. Habang lumilipas ang mga araw ay nasasanay na rin ako. Natuto akong makisalamuha at nagkaroon rin ako ng interes sa mga bagay na mayroon sila sa mundong 'to. I don't have any extraordinary abilities like them but I managed to live with my skills. Nag-aral rin ako ng medisina at naging isang doktor. After being a doctor, I met my wife and my life began to have stability. I married her and we had a daughter.

My life is already fine. I thought to myself as I head home from work. But I became anxious when I saw the door of our house open and there were no lights inside. Mabilis akong tumakbo papasok at hinanap sila sa bawat silid habang sinisigaw ang pangalan nila. I cursed under my breath and grabbed my katana before heading out of the broken backdoor.

As I run, I could still remember the rumors that are circulating in the city. Some children are missing and they say that demons are the ones behind it. Noong una kong malaman ang tungkol sa mga demons ay hindi ako makapaniwala because in my world, there is no such thing. But I only believed in it when I encountered one. It was two meters tall, it has long limbs and it has no eyes yet their senses are very sharp. They're like wild beasts who has no presence of mind. They'll just kill what's in front of them.

I saw a tall fence and that must be the land that Fedrino owns. No one is allowed in his land but who damn cares if my family is in danger? I jumped on the fence then to the tree that I just passed by then jumped over the fence. I landed safely on the other side and I continue to run.

Tumigil lamang ako noong may makitang isang pasilidad sa di-kalayuan. I gritted my teeth when I saw that they're bringing in children inside. There are two meters demon around and the ones in human forms are the one forcing the children in. When all humans went inside, mabilis akong kumilos at sa isang iglap ay tumumba na ang mga nakapalibot na demons sa lugar na ito. Mabilis akong pumasok at siniguradong walang makakapansin.

I roamed around, finding my wife and daughter. I was about to turn in a corner but I stopped when I heard voices. "Miss Mallows, some government officials have found leads on the whereabouts of our headquarter."

I peeked and saw a man and a woman talking. The woman is wearing a lab coat that's too big for her, a colorful t-shirt underneath, pants that is reaching her knees and she's also wearing big round glasses. Magulo rin ang maikli nitong buhok. Hindi rin ito matangkad, kung titingnan ay mukha itong babae na nasa edad na 15. But I know that she's older than that.

"Hmm, is that so? Then it can't be helped. We'll move to Centrio." maliit ang boses nito at walang bahid ng pagkaseryoso.

"What are we going to do about the test subjects?"

"Burn them. Along with this facility. Let the failures go and let them rampage for a while. That'll buy us some time. Lady Shaera would be mad if you leave any traces." tumango naman ang kausap nitong lalaki at umalis na. The woman named Mallows also disappeared after a portal appeared behind her.

Nanlaki ang mga mata ko noong makarinig ng pagsabog. Narinig ko ang sigawan ng ilang mga bata at mabilis akong nagtungo kung saan nanggaling iyon. Habang patungo roon ay may nakasalubong akong isang tao na may suot na hospital gown. My eyes widen with her appearance. Her body has scales and her eyes are like a lizard's. May buntot rin ito at mahahabang kuko. Test subjects? That woman was finding ways on how to redesign a human's genes! So this is a failed experiment?

Mabilis itong umatake sa akin na tila ba nawala na ang kakayahang mag-isip. Based on her appearance, I could tell that there is no cure for it. I closed my eyes and swung my sword at her. Her body fell on the ground. I pursed my lips. "I'm sorry." I said and continued to run.

Pumasok ako sa silid kung saan nanggagaling ang mga sigawan. My eyes widen when I saw two familiar figures but their appearances were different. It was the worst decision making I have gone through.

I killed them that day. Yes, I saved the other children's lives but I just lost my reason to live. I tried calming them both down, thinking that they could recognize me and there's a part of them that still remains humane. But they continued attacking me, baring their claws and fangs at me. Inflicting wounds and damages, some children were even hurt. The facility will explode again in any minute and if it does, it'll only kill us along with the innocent children. I killed them with my own hands and no one would understand how it feels. I wanted to kill myself a thousand times but I thought that if I would die, I'll make sure I'll drag that person along with me. That's my purpose right now.

I smiled at the gravestones, "Sorry. Just wait a little more, after all these, I'll be by your side. When that happens, let me hold your hand again, my little pumpkin."

Hinukay ko ang parte ng lupa na nasa pagitan ng dalawang libingan. It felt nostalgic when I saw my sword in its sheath. I grabbed it and stood up. I smiled one last time, "Your father will let the bad guys pay for what they've done to you and your mother. I promise you that."

I turned my back and walked away. This is my purpose.

Third Person's Point of View

Wein stood up when the door of their office opened. He heard that the captains just arrived but they were immediately summoned by Shaera to report. He also heard that they failed on their mission. That's why the students are on edge today.

Pumasok ang tatlong kapitan and Wein instantly noticed their injuries. They have wounds all over their bodies and he could guess that there are some broken bones as well. He's pretty sure that Shaera is the one who inflicted those injuries.

"How did the mission go?"

Serene shook her head, "She got away."

"Then what is going to happen--"

"Don't worry. Shaera won't harm the students. Instead, she gave us these injuries. It will take months before it all heals. Especially these broken bones." Nicolov said and groaned as he put his hand on his side.

Caliver went straight to his desk. He glanced at the demons in human forms standing guard in their office. They can't tell Wein what just happened with them around.

He stared at the papers on his desk. What Zai said was true. Shaera didn't kill anyone. The goddess was angry but she didn't vent on any lives. Instead, she almost killed them but she also made sure that they're still breathing and they can still move. This is better than losing lives.

Caliver squinted his eyes. Just by standing in front of the goddess almost weakened their knees. They were so intimidated by her presence. Her voice was cold and powerful. Just by looking at her, you can feel the tremendous power that she possesses. Yet Zai can confidently act as if she's not bothered by it.

How will she defeat a god?