Elites

"Let me deal with that." Wika ni Iyana, stepping forward.

The light from the balls made it seem like it's already morning. Pero bigla nalang silang nawala isa-isa na para bang hindi sila nandiyan. Iyana kept on opening and closing her single hand, at hindi lang yan, she's releasing too great of an energy! The fact that she has been doing this since earlier is bad for her health. I feel her more and more tired.

She slashed her other hand through the air, at hindi ko man kung ano ang nangyari pero nagulat nalang akong nasa likuran na namin sina Thane at iba pang nawalan ng malay. The attacks of the light balls continued, but they didn't even get to hit the ground and the moment they form into light balls they are already disappearing. Hanggan sa tumahimik na naman ang madilim na kalangitan.

"Tsk. Your spatial ability is annoying as ever."

"I know right? Hays...gusto kong matulog." She said yawning. Her muscles are already aching, I can feel her emotions after all.

"With your ability you can easily erase me in this world."

"If I could, I would."

"Hmm I knew it." He snapped his fingers as if he discovered something. "Despite how strong your ability is, it's not nearly enough to awaken your full potential as a spatial ability user. Sayang naman. Kung pinanganak ka lang sigurong Cursed Blood you can have all the energy you want."

"Cursed Blood? Anong pinagsasasabi niya?" Tanong ni Andrea who's clealry confused but amazed at the same time sa pinakitang ability ni Iyana.

Hindi niya alam ang ability ni Iyana, but now that she has witnessed it, she's feeling that same feeling I felt earlier. That small and dark, it's only beginning to grow more. Just what is it exactly?

"It's complicated kaya mamaya ko na ipapaliwanag—hawee...dang I'm really tired." Iyana said letting out another yawn. "Kaya—"

"Kaya tapusin na natin to para makapagpahinga ka na." Sabay naming sabi ni Andrea. We both looked at each other and smiled.

"Mukhang kabisado niyo na ang mga salita ko. Pero kung iisipin natin, doesn't this remind us of our first battle against Professor Will?" True.

"Ah that time where he made us battle against him again and again hanggang sa natamaan talaga natin siyang lahat." Andrea answered. "So what?"

"Remember how we did that attack back then? How we hit the Professor with our full power?" My eyes widened after Iyana stated that. It never even crossed my mind! "Napapansin ko na naaapektohan parin siya sa nangyaring atake mula kanina. We need to attack him by full power before he completely heals himself. And before the sun actually rises." Otherwise he'll be in the advantage huh? As expected of Iyana's observations.

"Ibig mong sabihin gagawin ulit natin yun? Won't that be too much risk?"

"Oh Andrea's talking about risks. Since when did you even care about risks?"

"Shut it Iyana. Nag-iisip din ako no."

"Nagsisimula na naman kayong dalawa." I said sighing. "Notice how he always leaves an opening after he lets out an attack? It means it's taking him all his concentration when he releases a powerful spell which often leaves him off guarded after, that's why we were able to hit him earlier."

"Makes sense." Narinig kong bulong ni Andrea. "Pero kung gagawin natin ang ginawa natin noon, kailangan natin ng isang tao na sasangga sa spell niya." Andrea's actually thinking? That's a surprise.

"Then I'll be that diversion dahil ako ang may pinaka-effective na close-combat weapon dito." Ibig sabihin ako ang sasangga sa spell niya. "Once everything's set, we're blowing him off." They both nodded in agreement.

"Hmm ano kaya ang binubulong-bulongan niyo diyan. A plan? Let me tell you in advance, nothing works against me!"

Tumakabo kaming tatalo ng sabay-sabay papunta sa kalaban. We circled him and surrounded him leaving a gap between us. While running in motions, nagapalabas na naman ang dalawa ng ilang daang weapons nila sa ere as tuloy-tuloy na pinatamaan si Silverrium nito. Dusts were filling up the air then, but the clashing sounds dominated that silent anticipation.

Tumalon ng mataas si Silverrium, muli na namang lumitaw sa hangin. Wala na siyang hawak na espada, only lifting both of his hand each beside him.

"Pests! You're going too far for a mere game." So laro parin ang lahat ng ito para sa kaniya? "Light creation magic: Lightning Spears." The skies once again broke into an open. Lightnings once again spread the skies, forming into huge forms of energy. "You think I'm falling for the same trick twice? Alam kong ikaw ang main vanguard!"

He directed his hands to my direction. And indeed, he fell for the same trick twice. Kanina ay ako ang nakatama ng malalim na sugat sa braso niya, thinking it was Iyana who's directing her bullets behind him. Kaya huli na nang maiwasan niya ang atake ko kanina.

Lightnings taking a form into giant spears started falling to where I stand. Mabilis ito na kahit gamitin ko man ang chains ko ay hindi ako makakaabot, and my swords can't cut through something thag big filled with exploding energy!

"Keila iwasan mo!" Narinig kong sigaw ni Andrea as Iyana tried to activate her ability but she's too busy blocking Silverrium's light balls.

I can't dodge it.

Naramdaman ko nalang ang pagtama sa akin ng mga lightning spears, one by one hitting my body, forming dusts all around me hanggang sa hindi ko na makita kung ano ang nangyayari. I could only close my eyes while letting all those attacks hit me. But something was wrong. I didn't feel the slightest pain of my body being electrified. Instead, I can feel how energy flowed through my whole body. This power is familiar.

"You faced the wrong enemy. Now your life has withered away." His voice echoing through the waves of noises. The other two are actually feeling rather helpless. They are worried, concerned, and anxious. Emotions.

I don't really hate feeling like this.

"Who is exactly?" Tanong ko as I walked out of the blinding dusts.

Electricity was surrounding my body, enveloping my swords as they both glow into bright bluish colour. I feel stronger than I was in that relic, iba ang lakas na ito but familiar at the same time. Sa akin niya naman pinatuon ang light balls niya pero kahit gaano man sila karami at kabilis ay isa-isa ko lang silang hinati sa gitna, making sure they don't hit me.

Hindi ito inaasahan ni Andrea at ni Iyana but they didn't stop on their feets. Iyana used her ability to open spaces surrounding Silverrium, sa mga spaces na ito ay may lumabas na mga bullets which were coming in and out to and from the spaces. While Andrea broke the ground in peices to prevent his movement.

Hinawakan ko ng maigi ang nga weapons ko, using the ground as a momentum, I thrust myself forward to his direction. Mas mabilis na ako, let's say as fast as a lightning. Nang malapit na ako sa katawan niya, pinaibabaw ko ang dalawa kong weapons slashing him through his chest as I flew past by him. Everything happened so slow for me despite my speed.

On the corner of my eyes, I felt his gaze locked on mine as I pass by beside him. Confusion arise on his face, and his expression changed for a brief moment. Then he muttered words I couldn't seem to decipher.

"So you're the one...who stole it." His words ringing through my ears.

I landed on the ground with my feet, barely on my knees dahil sa lakas ng impact. Nangyari ang lahat ng iyon sa loob ng ilang segundo dahil sa bilis.

Mabilis na hinawakan ni Andrea ang katawan ni Silverrium when he's still shocked by what happened. The inside of his body are probabaly in astray now dahil sa destructive ability ni Andrea kaya napaluhod si Silverrium dahil mas hindi niya ito inasahan. Iyana used the opportunity to cut the spaces, severing Silverrium's arms kaya siya natumba. Blood spurt all over his body. The sight of his arms cut half and his body full of wounds, they are unsightly.

While still on my knees, tinaas ko ang dalawa kong kamay, using every last of my strength to generate all the electricity in my energy. Finally feeling the power through my arms, pinakawalan ko ito sa direksyon ng nakahigang katawan ni Silverrium sa lupa. The electricity electrified his whole body, the high voltage even burned his skin.

Matapos ang ilang segundo ay natapos narin sa wakas ang lahat as I fell on my back against the subtle texture of the ground. Pumunta ang dalawa sa kung saan ako, at napaluhod din. Like me, they are both panting, as if out of breath. Halos wala na silang natitirang enerhiya para makipaglaban.

"M-mukhang...tapos..narin ang lahat..." Iyana said between her breathing and fell on the ground, I saw how her visions were narrowing.

I noticed Andrea glanced at me for a while, nagtataka na naman siguro siya kung saan nanggaling ang electricity na iyon. But she only sighed and look away, forgetting her thoughts. Hindi ko din naman alam kung ano ang sasabihin ko kung tatanungin niya. Andrea always asks about these things that makes me seem to change from what I usually do. To keep it short, palagi siyang curious kung biglaan nalang akong lumakas.

"Ngayon ano na ang gagawin natin? Mukhang hindi nga dumating ang reinforcements. The higher-ups are all useless." Galit na wika ni Andrea while looking around. Chaos and destruction all over. "Mabuti nalang at na-evacuate na ang mga tao, otherwise they'd all be dead." She really does care for the people.

"For now let's rest for a while. Halos wala na tayong enerhiya." I replied.

"No, the reinforcements will come." Biglang sabi ni Iyana sa tabi ko, akala ko natutulog na siya.

"Why are you so sure about that?" Tanong ni Andrea, I agreed.

"I trust the Headmistress. She won't leave us here alone." Sagot niya na siyang ikinagulat naman ni Andrea but said nothing.

"She already did, Iyana."

"You view your mother differently from what we all view, Andrea." At iba din ang pananaw ko sa babaeng yun.

For the people, Headmistress is a leader, someone they can trust and depend on. For Andrea, she's her mother who abandoned and refuses to acknowledge her, where she will even sacrifice her own daughter for the sake of her people. For me, Headmistress is just a cunning woman.

She shows no weakness pero para sa akin ang dami niyang kahinaan. Malakas siya, but not in the inside. She's easily broken into pieces when something's happened to her daughter, kahit iba ang pinapakita niya. She's just another woman with many invisible wounds and pain. She's just an overprotective mother, showing that fact in such a roundabout way. And that's what makes her so cunning.

It may be the Council's decision to send Andrea to this battle, pero alam kong si Headmistress ang nag suggest nito sa kanila. What kind of mother would do that huh? To send her own daughter straight into battlefield. Pero kung hindi niya ginawa yun ay pinatay na sana ng Council si Andrea, given she has the Cursed Mark. Because the Exodus is bound to go after her that could endanger the island.

She trusted her daughter will survive everything given the fact that she knows Andrea's personality very well kahit matagal nang nasira ang relasyon nila.

"Ke'ala," she called out again. "Please take care of her." Nagulat ako sa sinabi niya but after a few moments, I nodded.

Naalala ko ang sinabi ni Headmistress noon bago pa man kami sumalang sa misyon na ito. It wasn't an order, it was a plead from a mother who couldn't show her weakness to anyone as to ask to take care of her daughter but an outsider like me who has nothing to do with everything. Pinagkakatiwalaan niya akong siguraduhing buhay si Andrea pero wala naman talaga akong ginawa.

I admit I kept her on that wall in the first place para hindi siya mapasabak sa gulo, pero alam ko din ang personalidad niya. Alam kong hindi niya makakampante sa posisyon na iyon that she went inside the town. In exchange, looking at her body full of wounds and bruises, she got them from fighting numerous numbers of stronger opponents. Pero natalo niya ang lahat ng iyon at pumunta dito.

While Iyana mamaged to get through everything and even used her ability numerous times kahit wala na siyang stamina na natitira. She needed to survive, and to do she needed to push her limits. Others may say she doesn't exert much effort, pero kilala ko na si Iyana sa ilang buwan naming pagsasama. She always tries her best in everything even if she acts opposite.

And just to open up spaces with her bullets at the same time, sigurado akong sumisigaw na ang sistema niya na kailangan niya nang magpahinga or she won't last long. Pero pinagpatuloy niya ang nga atake niya, supporting the both of us dahil kung wala siya dun, tiyak na hindi namin matatalo si Silverrium.

"I'm glad...both of you are alive." My words were true without any malice, they were genuine. Hindi katulad ng usual naming pag-uusap na puno ng asaran, provoking each other.

Iyana opened her eyes hearing such words, at hindi ko man siya nakita, pero alam kong ngumiti siya ng kaonti. Andrea flinched and didn't expect me to say that at all kaya napatingin nalang siya sa ibang direksyon, hiding that forceful gratefulness.

Napaupo ako sa lupa nang maramdaman ko ang biglaang pagyangig ng lupa. Hindi ito gaano kalakas but it's enough to make me dizzy. Pati si Iyana ay napilitan ding umupo. We searched our surroundings at nakitang lumiliwanag ang katawan ni Silverrium. My eyes widened when the energy I felt from him grew stronger.

"Light manipulation magic: Light Protection Robe." Bright lights engulfed his body more as his body ascended, once again floating up.

"N-no way..." hindi makapaniwalang salita ni Iyana. "After we gave him our full powers..." they're already loosing hope, ako din.

We watch as his wounds sealed themselves, ang mga sugat niya at dugo ay nawawala din. It only took a few seconds for him to heal every damages to his body. He even grew back his arms! Ibang-iba ito sa healing spell na ginamit niya kumpara kanina.

Pero wala na kaming natitirang enerhiya para labanan siya, and we could just die here once he releases yet another powerful spell. This is the end, after everything we did...he's just too powerful.

"Magaling. Magaling kayo mga bata. It's just too bad na ako ang nakalaban niyo. Katapusan niyo na." Tinaas niya ang dalawa niyang kamay sa ibabaw, light glowing from his palms. "Light creation magic: Light Wave Projection."

A wave of light blasted everything in sight, only few seconds before it actually hit us. Large explosions were heard na napatakip nalang kami ng mga tenga namin. We don't have anything to block that huge energy waves of light, kanina pa nawala ang mga weapons. And I can't summon them because I don't have enough energy!

Before I could even close my eyes, a shadow figure move in front of the three of us. May hawak na malaking espada ang pigura na ito, because of the bright clear lights, I couldn't see anything. Until the figure slashed his sword against the wave of light, at biglaan nalang nawala ang mga ilaw, returning to the usual dim darkness. The light wave was completely nullified!

Nang makakita na ako ng maayos, napagtanto ko na hindi lalaki ang pigura na ito. She turned around, her long green hair with a little mixture of what seemed to be black, swaying due to the impact.

She looked straight at me, her pure ruby eyes piercing through mine, like she can see through this hair. Her long nose alligned perfectly just above her rosy pink lips. Her face showed no particular expression na para bang wala lang sa kaniya yung sinangga niyang light waves. While she stood in front of where we sat, I can't help but look up to her as her silver armour glisten.

But most of all, I can't believe how she just nullified that attack we worked so hard to defend to! Something's telling me she's no normal person. Halos wala akong maramdamang enerhiya mula sa kaniya, but the way she nullified that attack just now, alam kong malakas siya.

"I didn't expect students to hold the enemy up like this." May isang seryosong boses ang nagsalita sa likuran namin kaya agad kaming napatingin sa likuran.

Lalaki ito, and he's wearing an armour as well. But his was proven to be more complicated with spiky edged on both on his shoulders and other parts.

Mas matibay ang itim na armour niya kung titignan and something on his chest is glowing, at ganoon din sa ibang parte ng armour niya. Napagmataan kong mga lacrimas ito.

"You've worked enough. Leave the rest to us." Sabi ng lalaki, looking straight at Silverrium. Sila na ba ang mga reinforcements?

"Don't be so cold Elric Bane," another voice caused our attention to shift. Pamilyar ang boses na ito. "Salamat naamn at walang masamang nangyari sa inyo sa huli. Pero hayaan niyo na kaming Elites ang tumapos sa kalaban."

Another man with an armour, pero gold ang kulay ng sa kaniya. Behind him was a green cape, clutched to him. Hindi katulad ng iba ay may helmet siya na hindi namin makita ang mukha niya. On his shoulder placed a long sword na hinawakan ng kamay niya, and the designs on his weapon matches his gears.

Teka, Elites? T-they're Elites? I can't believe Elites actually came to our rescue! Unlike the first one, malalakas ang mga enerhiyang nararamdaman ko sa kanila. Their energy is on par with Silverrium himself! Hindi ko inaakala na magpapakita ang mga importanteng tao kaukad nila. I was under the impression na simpleng mga Knights lang ang dadating.

"T-Thomas?" Mahinahon na tanong ni Andrea. My eyes widened in surprise.

"Of course. I knew you'd recognize me right away, Miss Andrea." Warmth spread across Andrea's cheeks as she looked away in embarrassment.

I didn't know Thomas is an Elite! Akala ko Head siya ng mga Knights, but to think he's also one of the Elites...this guy is far more amazing than I thought. Unang beses na nakilala ko nag taong ito ay nung nasa facility pa ako, he easily stopped me then from escaping until Thane actually got me out.

Napatingin din sa amin yung lalaki na tinawag ni Thomas na Elric habang napatayo kami mula sa lupa. I noticed him frown as if realising something, they all did—even that woman. Tapos ay bumalik din ang tingin niya kay Thomas.

"Nasaan na ang iba? Didn't you already notify them of the situation Thomas?"

"Kanina ko pa ginawa, pero wala pa akong natanggap na sagot mula sa kanila. Sigurado akong papunta narin sila."

"I came from the South as fast as I can to get here. Pasenysa naman kung nahuli ako. It took me five minutes unlike usual to travel." May isang babae na naman ang biglang lumitaw sa harapan namin.

Unlike the others, she doesn't wear any armour. Pero kakaiba din ang suot niya. Isa itong leathered jacket sa iababaw at pants with marble-like boots. With designs of faces on her knees and shoulders. Nakasuot siya ng sombrero na may dalawang mahabang feathers sa likuran nito. Her hat looks as that of a magician at may eye design sa tabi ng embroideries nito.

May maskara na natakaip sa mga mata niya pero nakikita parin namin ang mukha niya. Her white, purple hair is tied behind her back as she held a long gun with unique designs. Para itong mahabang shotgun but upgraded into something entirely different. Most parts of her weapon is glowing blue. At her hips there clutch a sword na hinahawakan ng isang kamay niya na may itim na gloves. Just like the rest, energy is bursting out from her.

And she only took five minutes coming here from South?! Ang bilis niya naman kung ganoon. Teleportation? I don't think so though. Ganoon lang ba talaga sila kabilis?

"Five minutes? Have you been slacking off these past few years Terha Yin? Bumaba yata ang bilis mo." May babae nalang na lumitaw sa tabi ng Terha Yin na yun at umakbay sa balikat nito. Pero binaba niya din naman ang kamay niya at napunta sa amin ang mukha niya. Bigla nalang agad siyang sumeryoso.

She has pink eyes, black hair tied into a ponytail, and red linning cloths were wrapped around her both arms, connected to the handle of the sword clutch beside her left hips. Itim ang damit niya, a bit revealing above. Dahil sa fit na damit niya, her nice figure shows too easily.

"So ikaw yung may Cursed Mark." She was pointing a finger on Andrea then dropped it anyway. "Nice to meet you, ako si Dane Wanders. I wish I could have seen you fight myself!" She said cheerfully. Ramdam ko ang inis ni Andrea pero walang sinabi pabalik.

"Petty humans. Improving your numbers won't work." I remembered Silverrium nang nagsalita siya sa ere. His body is still glowing in light. "Light creation magic: Light Barrier of the Guardian." A ball of lighy suddenly surrounded his body, at mas dumagdag lang ang enerhiyang nararamdaman ko sa kaniya. Ngayon, kahit anong atake na ang gagawin mamin ay tiyak na hindi siya matatamaan—

"Ha! Tignan nalang natin kung makakaya mong protektahan ang sarili mo laban sa mahika ko!" A loud voice attracted my attention behind me.

Isa na naman itong Elite na nakasuot ng armour, except that he is actually wearing a hood. His eyes were glowing blue as well as his rigt hand, I felt him generate energy through his hand. Habang ang isa niyang kamay ay may hawak na battle axe with a sharp blade just below its handle.

Pinakawalan niya ang mahika na bumubuo sa kamay niya, papunta sa light barrier ni Silverrium. Lines were form from his magic, and it's only a blue glowing light. Nang dumikit ito sa barrier ng kalaban, the blue lines disappeared. Akala ko useless ang naging atake niya, pero nagkakamali ako. Silverrium's light barrier was cut in half! So easily at that.

"My severing magic can cut through anything!" He proudly shouted.

Nagulat si Silverrium sa nangyari and once again landed on the ground, a bit startled. Nag tinaas niya na ang tingin niya, biglang umiba ang enerhiyang nararamdaman ko sa kaniya. It became more stronger! His eyes are glowing silver, at kung kanina ay lumiliwanag ang katawan niya sa dilaw, ngayon ay kulay silver na. A smirk formed his lips. Nakakatakot siya sa sitwasyong ito, with no one knowing what he'll do next.

"Kakadating mo lang at nagpasikat ka na, Sev Flynn." Sabi ni Terha Yin, and they all seem unamazed. Na para bang normal lang ang lahat ng ito sa kanila.

"Haha!! Matagal-tagal narin simula huli tayong nagkita ah! Was it five years already?"

"And you're still annoying as ever. Pero mukhang hindi na makakarating ang iba tulad ng inaasahan ko." Elric replied.

Then they all started walking towards the enemy, stopping just few meters in front of us. Ngayon lang ako nakakita ng mga Elites, and to witness their battle at that. Anim silang lahat, and now that they're together, their energy is building up and spreading along the air. Sa lakas ng mga enerhiyang bumubuo sa paligid, parang akala mo sasabog na ang buong lugar.

This large concentration of energy is deadly, nakakatakot ito.

"This is our first joint mission after a while. I expect everything to go well." Sabi nung babae na may silver armour, walking just ahead of the rest of them as she swung her sword around.

"Oooh she's still quiet and mysterious as ever." Narinig kong bulong nung lalaking nangangalang Sev Flynn.

"Now, let's end this quickly."