Cursed Blood

"Hmm let's stop this game now." He said sighing. "Light creation magic: Light Sphere."

A huge ball of light started forming above Silverrium. Mas lumalaki at lumalaki ang bolang liwanag na ito habang lumilipas ang bawat segundo. Huge energy was being stored inside that thing. That huge blast of attack will wipe everything in this place.

"Don't worry. Your love ones will meet you up soon, dahil mamatay din lahat ng tao." Huli niyang brfore he let that sphere of light loose.

Napapikit na lamang ako ng aking mga mata. Wala akong magawa kundi tumayo lang dito habang tintignan ang iba makipaglaban. Akala ko ba lumakas na ako? No, I'm just being logical. Mamatay lang ako kung susugod ako ng derecho sa kalaban, because they're all stupid people na gagawin ang lahat para sa misyon na ito.

Pero bakit ko ba sinasabihan ang sarili ko nito? It's as if I'm seeking refugee from the fact that I was useless. They must loath me now dahil hinayaan ko lang silang mapahamak ng ganoon. Wala akong maisip na tamang plano. Pero hindi ko din naman sila mga kaibigan, talagang magkasama lang kami sa misyon na ito. What's the purpose of all of these? To get the relic? To protect the people? When did I start caring ahout those stuffs?

Looking back at the island, I've always been avoiding people. Because I hated my ability that led me to hate people who's capable of feeling emotions. I feel safe and protected kumg nasa bahay lamang ako, kung nandun si ate at si kuya. Higit sa lahat, akala ko talaga mananatilimg ganoon ang lahat.

Pero hindi ganoon ang nangyari. Umalis ako sa isla, met new people which changed my life. I'm not being sentimental or emotional here, iniisip ko lang talaga kung nagbago na ba talaga ako. Kung mas naging mahina ba ako o mas lumakas? Kung kaya ko pa bang magpatuloy sa ganitong klaseng buhay o hindi?

I was here originally for Hoy, but that was deemed useless dahil wala naman siya dito. Then I was tasked to get the relic, pero hindi ko talaga alam kung bakit ko kailangan gawin yun. Because of that damn relic mg spirits are currenly missing! Marami ang nangyari sa araw na ito and I don't know what to do with my life anymore after this.

"Kailan ka mananatiling nakapikit?" Bumukas ang mata ko at nakita siya na nasa unahan ko. Kasama niya ang ibang nawawala kanina. It surprised me, but at the same time it relieved me.

"Iyana..." I was grateful she's here, that they're here. Umaasa na naman ako sa kanila, pero dahil yun sa wala akong kayang gawin kung ako lang mag-isa. But Iyana is indeed amazing. She managed to warp the space para doon mapunta ang malaking atake then immediately closing it.

"Silverrium was it? Heh it seems a thousand of your monsters aren't enough to kill us off." Wika ni Iyana kay Silverrium na ilang metro lamang sa unahan namin. The others are still out of comission.

"Tsk. Sabi ko na ngaba, magiging sagabal ang spatial ability user na kagaya mo." He replied with annoyance. "Hindi na ako nagulat na buhay ka pa, I'm more surprised your companions are still alive. Oh you even brought back my prisoners."

Napatingin ako aa likod ko at nakita ang apat na mga hindi ko kilalang studyante na nakahiga sa lupa, mga wala silang malay. Ah sila siguro ang mga team members ni Iyana.

"Pero nasaan ba kayo nanggaling?" Tanong ko.

"Dinala kami ni Silverrium sa isang madilim na lugar, puno ito ng kakahuyan, even full of strong monsters lurking around every damn corners of the forest." Naiinis na wika ni Hana. "Pero nakatakas kami salamat sa ability ni Iyana." So nalaman na nila ang totoong ability ni Iyana.

"Pero halos maliit nalang ang natitirang enerhiya sa amin, considering that we fought our way out against those monsters." Sahara said. Tama nga siya, maliit nalang ang nararamdaman kong enerhiya mula sa kanila.

"Nakakatakot kaya! May isang malaking halimaw dun na biglang tumalon nalang palabas ng tubig, hinahabol kami. Tapos marami pang mga higante na may dalamg malalaking axe! Gods! Hinding-hindi na ako sasama sa mga ganitong klaseng misyon sa susunod!" Paranoid na salita ni Jia.

"The goblins are starting to move." Biglaang sabi ni Vlein sa tabi ko. Right, she can see anything from all directions, kahit malayo man ito. Tapos ay napatingin siya sa lupa, eyeing it intensely.

"Vlein what is it?" Tanong ni Iyana.

"Hindi ko alam. Pero malaki ito at mahaba, slowly crawling its way up the ground."

May sinabi na naman na kung anong spell si Silverrium. It's that piercing sunlights! Tinira niya na naman ang nga sunlights niya papunta sa direksyon namin but Sahara quickly built up a wall made of her special sands from her big gourd from her back. Even how many times the sunlights pierce through her sands, her sands are still continously forming up into a wall that his attacks are almost useless.

"Tignan nalang natin kung makakalampas sa mga buhangin ko ang liwanag mo." Wika ni Sahara.

"Who knew you have such an interesting ability."

Hordes of goblins ran to our direction. I immediately changed my weapons' form into a scissor at ginaw itong boomerang habang tinapon ko ito sa direksyon ng isang grupo ng goblins. Ginamit naman ni Jia ang earth ability niya to create giant golems to crush the goblins down. Vlein summoned her katana to unleash multiple slashes throigh the air, with its impact drfeating the enemies.Habang sina Hana at Sahara ay sumugod sa kalaban.

"Hindi na kailangang dumating ng reinforcements, tatapusin ka namin dito!" Sigaw ni Hana, I can feel her own energy cancelling Silverrium's magic.

Sahara lifted her sands then clenched her fists at same time locking down Silverrium. Napapalibutan siya ng buhangin at sa bawat segundo ay mas humihigpit ito. Hindi niya magamit ang mahika niya dahil sa ability ni Hana na ikansela ang enerhiya ng iba.

"It seems you really like playing games. Pero tama na ito, I had enough of your childish tricks!" The sands broke away nang makawala si Silverrium, tsaka na naman siya lumipad sa ere.

"You can only cancel someone else' energy kung mas mataas ang sarili mong enerhiya. You picked the wrong enemy to use your ability." Wika ni Silverrium, his voice echoing through the air. "Light creation magic: Zap." Hindi ko alam kung anong magagawa ng spell niya pero biglang natahimik ang lahat, anticipating what happens next.

Then Hana suddenly just fell on the ground letting out a scream, pati narin si Sahara. I felt a disturbance in the way their energy flows. They are feeling pain...a pain only visible on the inside.

"I consider it as one of my powerful spells. A short release of light which causes great pain and discomfort. The light was too tiny that none saw it, and they fell before they're even aware they've been hit." The light was the cause of their energies' disturbances!

"Aaaaaaahhhhhh!!" A scream.

Bigla nalang rin natumba si Jia at si Vlein, all feeling the same hurtful sensation. Pain...pain is the greatest emotion one could feel, at habang nakatingin lang ako sa kanila, I can't help but feel another batch of energy surging inside me. I'm feeling powered because they're hurt, because they are suffering that I'm feeling stronger. Pero hindi ako nito naaapektohan, is it because of this energy flowing continuously inside me that it's almost blocking the light?

A figure suddenly moved very fast to Silverrium's position. Sa sobrang bilis ng galaw na ito ay hindi ko makita kung sino, until Silverrium actually blocked his attack while still flying unto the air. As the figure landed on the ground, nakikita na namin kung sino ito. It was George! I almost didn't notice him again!

Bones were surrounding his body, as another long bones started growing from each of his palms. Another energy was spreading through the air. That same kind of energy na nararamdaman ko kay Freya kanina lamang. His eyes are glowing yellow, as if he was a totally different person.

May mga lumabas na maliit na mga buto sa mga daliri ni niya, pointing all of them to Silverrium. Para itong mga bala na walang katapusang tinitira ang target niya. Not to mention it's all his fingers' bones!

Right. Bone manipulation ang ability niya. Which means he can manipulate every bones in his body, either cut them off or grow them. But doesn't that hurt?

"Light creation magic: Light Shield."

Just as the name suggests, may lumabas na malaking shield na gawa sa liwanag sa harapan niya, reflecting all George's bones back to his direction. Simple lang niya lanat ito iniwasan at tumalon na naman sa kalaban. He slashed his bones na tumubo lang kanina mula sa mga kamay niya sa may light shield.

Nagulat ako nang bumiyak sa gitna ang light shield then immediately disappeared. Base sa ekspresyon sa mukha ni Silverrium ay hindi niya rin ito inaasahan. Mabilis niyang tinaas ang espada niya para isangga ang atake ni George, pero may tumubo na namang isang buto palabas sa braso niya. Dahil sa hindi ito inaasahan at sa bilis ng mga galaw ni George ay nagawa niyang matamaan sa pisngi si Silverrium.

The enemy jumped back and landed on the ground medyo malayo kay George. I can see how he wipe the blood off his right cheek, at hindi ko alam kung bakit but he's rather amused by what happened. A smirk formed his lips as George landed in front of us.

"A mere magic like that won't be enough to block my bones, bastard." Wika ni George. He has stopped stuttering once again! Mukhang tumitigil lang siya kung nagpapalabas siya ng ability niya.

"Ikaw siguro ang ikatatlong tao na nagawang saktan ako. The second one was that girl from earlier." Si Freya! Ibig sabihin ay natamaan niya si Silverrium kanina. It must had happened the time when we were all curled up inside my chains.

"Hindi lang hanggang diyan ang magagawa ko." Matapang na sagot ni George. His energy is on par with Freya's!

"I feel another special lad. There's no mistaking it. You, along with that girl," sabi niya sabay turo sa nakahigang katawan ni Freya sa lupa. "Are Cursed Bloods." My eyes widened.

Cursed bloods?

"People with huge energy capacity, proven to be stronger than normal humans. Cursed blood people special, as because their bloods are embeded with special energy which allows them to generate more spiritual energy and because of this, most of them have unlimited ability development." Wika ni Silverrium. "They can get stronger and stronger without any limit. And because of this fact, they are nearly invincible in every battles. Back at the ancient times, Cursed Bloods are worshipped, feared, and because of this they are being hunted, murdered, killed." Mahabang litanya niya.

"Hmm let's see...a normal Cursed Blood could probably be as strong as me or even stronger. But you're still children after all, I can tell you're not trained well."

Alam ko na ang lahat ng ito, kaya hindi na ako nagulat kumg bakit nakatago talaga ang isla ng Arizole sa buong mundo. It was because we are being targetted due to our imense power. Pero Cursed Blood ba ngaba ako? Pero bakit ang hina ko kumpara sa kanila? Am I going to die once people know that I am one?

"Kaya nakakagulat na may natitira pang Cursed Blood sa panahong ito." He started chuckling to himself. "Too bad for you, even though you tried so hard to survive, you're still going to get killed! Like the name, Cursed Blood, those who possess this blood are cursed with a twisted fate! You must be regretting to be born with such a blood. For most people your powers might be a blessing, but that's not the case, isn't it?"

"Tumahimik ka!" Galit na sigaw ni George at mabilis na tumakbo sa kalaban.

He slashed his bones again to his direction pero patuloy lang sa pag-ilag si Silverrium. Pero hindi parin tumitigil si George, he just kept on attacking at mas lalo siyang bumibilis. Hanggang sa ginamit ng kalaban ang handle ng espada niya para tamaan si George sa tiyan, causing him to slide backwards.

"Simula sa araw na pinanganak kayo, nakatadhana na kayong mabuhay sa paghihirap. You are destined to have a fate so twisted that I heard most of your ancient ancestors even ended the lives of children the moment they first used their abilities. Nangyayari parin kaya yan sa panahong ito?"

"Argh! Tumahimik ka!!" Hinawakan ni George ang lupa, a few seconds later, ramdam ko nalang ang walang tigil na pagyanig ng lupa.

Tulad ng inaasahan ko ay isa-isang lumabas ang mga buto sa lupa, each growing into a huge spike and thorns na kahit lumipad man sa ere si Silverrium ay patuloy parin siyang hinahabol ng mga buto ni George. He can manipulate these bones endlessly until he'll run out of energy. Pero dahil sa galit niya ay sinasayang niya lang ang enerhiya niya. Because even though he's aware he cannot defeat Silverrium like this, hindi parin siya tumitigil.

"George kumalma ka nga!" Sigaw ni Iyana sa kaniya pero parang hindi ito narinig ng isa.

Until Silverrium actually got hit on his legs sa isang lumalaking buto, it stabbed right through his leg. Nang bumalik ang tingin ko may George, he was already panting hard from all those manipulating. As he slowly sat on the ground, his bones as well slowly went back to his body. Hanggang sa bumalik na nga ang lahat ay natumba siya sa lupa dahil sa matonding pagod.

Silverrium's leg was hurt and was bleeding when he landed on the ground. Kung magpaptuloy ito, it might just lead to our advantage. With his bleeding leg, mas magiging mahina ang mga galaw niya.

Or so I thought.

"Light manipulation magic: Healing Light of the Guardian." Pagkasabi niya nun ay biglang lumiwanag ang buong katawan niya. Blood came back to his leg, hanggang sa nawala ang sugat niya, not just on his legs, but all over his body! That would make him totally invincible!

"N-no way.." I heard George muttered as he was slowly loosing his consciousness. Tulad ng iba, ay nawalan din siya agad ng malay.

"Cursed Bloods have been the only people who managed to hurt me like this." He said quite amazed. "If you've trained your abilities more since they are unlimited, you could have had witnessed a different ending. Pero katapusan niyo na ito. Oooh may dalawa pang natira. Oh well my goblins can just—" hindi niya na natapos ang sinabi niya nang mapansin na wala ng ni isang goblin ang makikita sa paligid.

My scissor weapon came back to my hand at tsska ko sila ginawang double swords. Blood was flowing through my blades, the red linings almost glowing. I may can't defeat that guy head-on but that doesn't mean I can't take care of his monsters. Sa tingin niya ba talaga nagmamasid lang ako sa labanan na walang ginagawa?

"Keila, hindi ko alam na may ganoon ka kalakas na weapons." Salita ni Iyana sa tabi ko, but her gaze was still locked to the enemy.

Simply just changing their forms require a number of energy, at mas lalong kinakailangan pa nito ng malaking bilang ng enerhiya kung papaliparin ko lang sila sa ere as they one by one behead those pesky goblins. It should take a huge amount of energy kahit palabsin ko lang sila pero, kahit isang pagbawas ng enerhiya ko ay hindi ko maramdaman. Dahil siguro ito sa kanina pa ako nakakaramdam ng mga emosyon nila that I was unconsciously wasn't feeling my own energy get drained dahil sa bawat segundo kanina ay dumadagdag ito.

"A weapon that can change forms huh? Hindi pa ako nakakita ng ganoong klaseng mga armas sa ilang daang taon ko sa mundong ito." He let out another annoying smirk. "But I must apologize that I won't be able to entertain you. Maraming oras na ang nasayang ko sa munting laro na ito. I need to finish you all off now and head on with my misison to kill the humans."

As he lifted his hand, may biglang tumalon na kung anong halimaw mula sa lupa. Malaki ito na paramg ahas except that its mouth was a large hole at tumalon na naman ito sa lupa papunta sa amin para lamunin kami.

Buong akala ko ay mamatay na talaga kami pero nagulat nalang ako na naging abo ang halimaw na ito sa uanahan namin. Then as she landed on the ground in front of us, hindi ko alam kung bakit pa ako nagulat. Her black cloak along with her hair was swaying. Her cloak and boots are filled with blood. Puno din siya ng mag sugat at pasa, but despite that, I can still feel a tremendous energy from her. Kahit na ramdam ko na ang pagod niya.

"Andrea." Sabay naming sabi ni Iyana. Then she looked at the both of us. A smile formed her lips.

"I...I was worried." She said, barely even saying it.

Yun lang ang sinabi niya pero alam kung mas grabe pa sa mga salita niya ang pag-aalala niya sa amin. Just as how we were worried about her. Hindi ko alam kung kailan ito nag-umpisa pero, before we even knew it, we have already started caring about each other so much that we get worried when we're all seperated.

"Saan ka ba pumunta?! At bakit puno ka ng mga sugat?" Tanong ni Iyana.

"I should be the one asking you that. Anong nangyari sayo that it seems that you're more tired than usual? And you're both so beaten up na hindi ko alam kung bakit buhay pa kayo." She replied.

"Look who's talking. Sino ba sa ating tatlo ang parang nakipaglaban sa ilang libong kaaway na mag-isa?" She let out a bitter smile as her gaze landed on my weapons.

It made her frown, and I was feeling a small trace of emotion from her. Hindi ko lang alam kung ano ito dahil sa liit. It's almost as if it's building up, like something small and dark from inside her is growing into something big. She shook her head and stared at me. Imahinasyon ko lang ba yung naramdaman ko ngayon lang? A sensation like someone is having an unknown intent against me.

"I see you got new toys. I can't wait to see what their genius holder can do." I only rolled my eyes in annoyance. She turned herself around to face Silverrium na ngayon ay mas parang natuwa. "So this guy is the mastermind."

"He's Silverrium. He plans to kill all of humanity. Siya din ang may pakana kung bakit walang malay ang mga kasamahan natin ngayon. Habang nag evacuate ang ibang studyante. Let's just say they ran away." Iyana explained.

"Honestly hindi na ako nagulat. Mukhang tayong tatlo na naman ang natira. Seriously, I always get stuck with the two of you."

"Oh shut up Andrea. Ikaw ang dahilan kung bakit tayo palaging nasasangkot sa gulo simula noon palang." Natawa lang si Andrea sa simabi ni Iyana then she just yawned. "Haaays...bilisan na nga natin to. Gravity's trying to pull me down for a good sleep."

"You forgot we're up against someone who just wiped the group leaders and the rest of the ranked students. Don't underestimate him. Remember that we need to buy more time for the reinforcements to come."

"Naniniwala ka ba talagang dadating ang sinasabi mong reinforcements na yan? The rest of them might believe it but we both know you're doubting that fact." Sabi ni Iyana which was the utter truth.

"Tss at kung dadating nga talaga ang mga reinforcements na ito, nasaan na sila? They'll arrive the time we're all dead? What a joke. I'll just use this oppurtunity to show that damn Council kung sino ang binabangga nila." Andrea said clenching her fists.

Right, I almost forgot the fact that she still has that Cursed Mark, a seal which allows her to be stronger than usual. At ginagamit lang siya ng Council given the fact that those powerful Exodus people tried to claim her.

"Pero kailangan nating mag-isip ng paraan—" before I could even say what I want to say next, ay mabilis nang tumakbo papunta kay Silverrium si Andrea. Her daggers floating up the air, following her. Mas bumilis ang mga galaw niya.

"Paraan? Kung meron man ay kanina niyo pa sana natalo ang kalaban na ito!" Sigaw ni Andrea pabalik. Iyana just sighed.

"Now that we're finally reunited. Gawin nalang natin ang kadalasan nating ginagawa." She said and smirked. "Which is to defeat the enemy with our own ways." Iyana then snapped her fingers and suddenly, hundreds of bullets floated through the air.

I sighed then a smile formed my lips. Kung kanina lang ay sigurado akong hindi namin matatalo si Silverrium, ngayong kasama ko na silang dalawa, and with the way they usually are, hindi ko alam kung bakit. But I suddenly have this urge to fight the enemy myself and actually confident we can defeat this guy. Sigurado akong ganoon din ang nararamdaman nilang dalawa.

It's like seeing them gives me the courage to face the danger ahead, dahil ayaw kong mahuli sa kanila. They are my rivals after all, pero hindi ko din alam kung kailan namin sineryoso ang bagay na yan. Before we are even aware of it, we just don't want to loose against each other so badly.

"Another pest joined the game. But it's useless—" napatigil si Silverrium sa sinabi niya nang matamaan siya ni Andrea sa balikat ng hawak niyang dagger.

Nagulat din ako sa nangyari. Hindi ko inaasahan na magiging ganito kabilis ang mga galaw ni Andrea. Just as I thought, even if she doesn't activate her Cursed Mark, she'll continue to improve her strength and power. Silverrium let his guard down dahil akala niya magiging simpleng kalaban lang si Andrea. But he's wrong, because Andrea always refuses to give up.

"Useless? Nagsisimula palang ako." In one snapped, Andrea let her daggers loose kasama nadin sa mga bullets ni Iyana.

Using his sword, he blocked most attacks coming his way nang tumigil na ang atake ay sumugod ako sa kaniya. My feet just dragged me off from where I stood and before I knew it, my swords were already being blocked by his. Tinulak ko siya and let out a roundhouse kick. He turned to the right kaya madali niya itong naiwasan pero nandun si Andrea para masuntok siya sa tiyan.

Napaatras siya dahil sa lakas ng suntok at hindi niya inaasahan ang mga bala ni Iyana sa likuran niya. Bullets which were faster than normal ones, pierced through his body. Kahit nasangga niya man ang iba ay may mga bala paring nakapasok sa katawan niya. I used the chance to slash my dual swords at the same time to his left, habang si Andrea naman ay inatake siya ng mga daggers niya sa kabilang parte. Behind him was Iyana's bullets ready to hit him again. He's locked exactly in the middle!

Mabilis ang mga galaw namin kaya tamang-tama ang mga atake namin sa kalaban. We use each other's attacks to our advantage and I can say that our teamwork has indeed improve kumpara sa unang beses na nag team up kami. Back at that time ay natamaan lang namin ang isa't isa saying that our teamwork is the worst. I slightly smiled because of the sudden memory.

We've come a long way to be defeated now.

Sigurado akong natamaan namin siya ng mga atake namin, but before our attacks could cut through deep his skin, pinigilan niya si Andrea gamit ang isa niyang kamay and left his sword to block the bullets behind him. That would mean ang mga espada ko lang ang nakatama sa katawan niya. Blood dripped from his arm at mabilis siyang tumalon malayo sa amin.

"Light creation magic: Healing Light of the Guardian." I saw his eyes widening but his lips then formed a smirk. Again. "These wounds aren't easy to heal. They're embeded with strange energy that healing takes more time than usual. It looks like I came across another three special children of this age."

"Feeling like surrendering now?" Andrea asked.

"Never crossed my mind. Oh well, hahayaan ko nalang ang mga halimaw kong—"

"You mean all those monsters rampaging all over the town? Don't worry, I already took care of all of them." Sabi ni Andrea. Kaya pala puno ng dugo ang cloak niya at may mga sugat at pasa siyang natamo sa katawan niya. Just how many did she kill exactly?

"Ha you amaze me. Let's see how long you all will be able to keep this up. Light creation magic: Light Ball Projection!"

Kung kaninang spell niya ay isang malaking ligh sphere, ang light ball projection niya naman ay parehas lang sa pangalan nito. Kumapara kanina ay mas maliliit ang mga light balls na ito at marami sila kaya madali silang iwasan. Pero grabe ang enerhiyang nakabalot sa mga bolang liwanag na yan that would probabaly serve as bombs kung matatamaan kami nito.

He urged his light balls to move forward, at kahit maiwasan man namin ito ay delikado ito para sa iba na walang malay ngayon sa lupa. They are all scattered around kaya mahirap silang protektahan. If those balls actually hit the ground, they might really die!

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