Weapons

Summoning my weapon huh? Hindi ko alam kung makakaya ko gawin 'to. It had been very long since I felt the sensation of being able to summon a weapon. Simula nung araw na hindi ko na masummon ang medieval sword ko, I gave up on the thought. Well, I've always been good at giving up, lalo na kung wala din naman akong maaapektohan kung gagawin ko yun.

"Your weapon huh? Meron ka ngaba?" He asked mocking me.

Tama nga naman siya. May weapon ba talaga ako? Dahil simula nung lumisan ako mula sa isla, hindi ko na magawang mapalabas ang weapon ko, at yung pakiramdam kung saan dumadaloy sa buong katawan mo ang enerhiya, at yung pakiramdam na parang parte ng buhay mo ang weapon na pinapalabas mo. I miss that feeling.

Summoning a weapon is probably the hardest thing I'd do more than getting used to ny ability. Pero mag-isip ka Keila. How can you defeat that guy without a weapon? And your ability won't do much this time.

"Oh? Akala ko ba magpapalabas ka ng—"

"Shut the hell up." I need to think.

The person I'm facing right now is on whole another league sa mga nakalaban ko noon. This is not a game kung saan kung ayaw ko na ay pwede nalang akong mag-surrender, and this is a mission. A mission where I can benefit something.

There's one way though. Paraan upang makita ko si Hoy without the need of fighting. If I could just surrender myself to them easily, may posibilidad na makikita ko din siya. Pero kung gagawin ko yun, that would mean abandoning the students who trusted me with this plan kahit ayaw man nila.

When did I care about all of those anyway? Ever since I got on this island, I decided to do anything for that person, even if I end up using someone. Mali, yun nga ang napagdesisyuann ko...but I'm not that brave enough to do something like that.

Kaya kailangan kong e-summon ang weapon ko ngayon. There's also that possibility that he's just tricking me, but it's far more worth the shot.

Summon...I need to summon my weapon... hindi ito gumagana. I can't feel my weapon at all! I never heard of an ability-user who suddenly lost their weapons. May nangyayari bang ganoon?

If I don't have a weapon to use....I could just make one.

"Listen Ke'ala. You just need to picture out your own weapon in your mind, tapos ay ipakalat mo ang enerhiya mo sa buo mong katawan, make sure it is balanced and stable." Naalala kong wika ni kuya noong sa isla pa ako.

Picture out....weapon...scatter my energy....make it stable and balanced...

"If you can't picture out a weapon, isipin mo kung ano ba talaga ang kailangan mo and concentrate! It's the most important thing for beginners."

A smile slowly formed my lips.

Geez. I'm thinking all of these, bumabalik ba ako sa pagiging beginner?

"Kuya! Hindi ko talaga magawa eh!" Reklamo ko. Kumuha nalang siya ng stick at mabilis itong pinatama sa akin. Dahil nga ay mas nauna nila akong naturuan ng combat ay nagawa kong ilagan ito.

"Magaling ka sa pag-ilag. Dahil siguro yan sa ability mo. Pero, iiwas ka nalang ba palagi? Will you back down at the face of adversity? When will you grow up? When will you feel the need of pushing yourself pass your limits?" Hindi ko maintindihan ang ibig sabihin ng mga salitang yun noon, pero ngayon parang nagagawa ko na. Pushing myself pass my limitd huh?

"K-Ke'ala! Umiwas ka!" Bigla akong naptingin sa itaas at nakita ang isang malaking kahoy, it would surely crush me dead kung sakaling nahulugan nga ako.

Then I rememberer my brother's words. Push my self pass my limits. Hindi ko alam kung anong ginawa ko, pero dahil siguro palaging may kahoy na espada si kuya ay isang sword din ang napalabas ko, cutting the huge log in half.

"K-Ke'ala...okay ka lang?" Mabilis na tumakbo sa akin si ate at si kuya, making sure I wasn't hurt one bit.

Thinking back, they really cared for me so much. That time, I felt really grateful I had my older brother and sister, they were my only family. Pero alam ko ding hinulog talaga ni ate ang kahoy na yun para masummon ko ang weapon ko, at the face of adversity, I managed to do it. She believed I could do it, and she didn't doubt it one bit.

"Naiinip na ako dito sa kakahintay. Just let me finish you off para tumahimik ka na at madala na kita sa base." Biglang sulpot ng Philip na'to sa mga iniisip ko.

Ah great, I was in a middle of a beautiful memory though. Pero mabuti narin ang ginawa niya, I don't want to remember such a happy scene in a middle of this ugly battle.

"Tapusin na natin 'to!" He exclaimed, jumping from the ground and turning his self on the air.

Binaba niya ang weapon niya facing me, and it was pretty obvious that he was planning on actually stabbing me with it. Kung inaakala niya ay iilag ako, nagkakamali siya.

I need something that could counter and repel my enemy's attacks. I need something that will reach the enemy and could defend myself. Kailangan ko ang ganoon klaseng weapon!

And before I knew it, his weapon was already thrown away habang siya naman ay natilapon sa malayo. He made a backflip at lumubog ang mga paa niya sa lupa para lamang mapigilan ang sarili niyang tumawa sa kung ano. He gritted his teeth in anger and annoyance, tapos ay tumayo siya ng maayos while wiping a small dripping blood from his lips.

Napatingin ako sa kamay ko. My eyes widened the moment I laid my eyes on it. A...scissor?

No, certainly it isn't.

Hinati ko ang dalawang blades and it changed its color, naging kukay pula ito at umiba ang anyo. Then a sound of chains attracted my attention, lumabas ito mula sa dulo ng handle, connecting it to the other one.

Are these....my weapon? Something that counter and repel enemy's attacks. Something I can use to reach enemies and defend myself. Hindi ko inaasahan na magagawa kong makasummon ng weapon. Before, it's hardly even possible. Magaan sila sa kamay ko, at pakiramdam ko ay kaya kong magawaang lahat gamit ang mga weapons na ito.

I feel it. That energy. I can feel a strong scent of energy radiating from my body dahil sa paglabas konng weapon nato. Parang parte ng buhay ko ang bagong sandatang ito dahil ginagamit nila ang karamihan sa enerhiya ko, no, they're sucking my energy.

Malakas ang mga armas na ito kaya kailangan nila ng maraming enerhiya and I should constantly share my energy off with them, lalo na kanina nang binago ko ang anyo nito. I finally had a weapon...but if this was the condition of having one, it looks like I can only use it for a couple of minutes. Otherwise it would constantly drain my energy.

I smiled. Matagal-tagal na simula nang makaramdam ako ng ganito, how I miss having my own. I swung my swords around at humahaba lang ng humahaba ang chains na nakakonekta sa dalawa, like they can expand however I like.

"That energy....halos wala akong maramdamang enerhiya mula sayo kanina pero lumabas lang ang weapons mo....heh. Mukhang seseryosohin mo narin 'to sa wakas. Enough warming up, totohanan na 'to."

Tumakbo siya papunta sa akin kaya ganoon din ang ginawa ko. Unlike earlier, I can match his speed now. Or nag ho-hold back parin ba siya? And is he seriously going up against me na walang wea—sa likod!

Huli na nang malaman ko ang paparating na weapon niya mula sa likuran, he's slowing down para sa kaniya lang ang atensyon ko, making me unable to sense the weapon behind me. Pero bago pa man ito tumama sa mukha ko, nagulat nalang ako na bigla nalang gumalaw ang kanan kong kamay and blocked the attack with my sword.

Inilagan ko ang paprating na sipa at tumalon pataas, as my hands just moved on their own, hindi ang mga weapons ko ang gumagalaw! Nasa itaas ako ng lalaki and it felt like everything was going through slow motion habang tinitignan ko kung paano palibutan ng mga chains mula sa nga espada ko ang buong katawan niya while still managing to block the upcoming attack from his weapon.

I landed on the ground and held my sword tightly as the chains around his body continued to wrap tighter. Hindi siya makakagalaw ngayon, and he can't do anything about it. Sinusubukan niya ring makalabas dito by breaking the chains off pero hindi niya magawa.

"Such energy...you have a high-level weapon there." He was still gritting his teeth while saying those lines. Kailan pa ba niya ititiil ang pagiging matapang niya? I know that sort of thing hurts, I experienced it firsthand before, or few hours ago.

"Sabihin mo na ngayon kung ano ang mga nalalaman mo." I said pointing my blades at him. Pero tumawa lamang siya.

"Wala ka din namang magagawa kapag malaman mo."

"That's for me to decide." He stopped for a while a let out another smirk.

"Huwag kang maging kampante. Hindi ako ganoon kadaling matalo."

Umatras ako nang bigla ko nalang naramdaman ang pagtaas ng enerhiya niya. It's almost greater than mine. May mas tataas pa ba sa enerhiya niya? Gusto ko nang matapos ito.

He started loosing up my chains as I felt my own energy gradually decreasing. Darn it. Nauubos na ang enerhiya na kinakain ng weapons ko, and if I continue using them, baka pati ang life force ko ay kakainin din nila.

"Theone, Ziandra! Nasaan kayo?" Tsk. Umaalis nalang kasi sila sa tabi ko.

"Um Keila, I think you should get here soon." She sounded like she's in a pinch. Sunod ay may narinig nalang akong malakas na tunog, then a huge scream. What the hell? I'm connected to their minds, kaya alam ko ang mga naririnig nila, as well as their thoughts. But currently, her thoughts are in astray.

"Saan ka sa tingin mo tumitingin?!" Napatingin ako sa harapan ko and was caught off guard by his attack kaya nasuntok ako sa mukha. Ako ay napaatras at tinignan siya ng masama. Not that he can see it.

"Damn that hurt." That was worse than a slap.

"Seryosohin mo kasi ako. Yan tuloy, nasaktan kita. But I don't mind doing it again." He didn't hold back at all with that punch. Feel ko tuloy parang naapektohan ang ngipin ko sa suntok na yun.

Sumugod na naman siya sa akin gamit ang weapon niya head on, and unlike the last time, I easily defended myself with my dual swords at dahil dalawa ang weapon ko, I used the other one to slash him. He accelerated his movements at lumiko sa kanan kaya ang braso niya nalang ang natamaan ko. Tsaka naman siya napaatras.

"Diyan pa ba kayong dalawa?" Tanong ko sa mga spirits ko. Naghintay ako ng ilang segundo pero walang sumagot.

"Theone is hurt! We need you here or everyone will die!" Sigaw niya at may narinig na naman akong malakas na sigaw, more like a roar or something. Anong ibig niyang sabihin?

I can't think of something else dahil kanina pa umaatake ang Philip na 'to and it's annoying! All I ever do is defend and defend at kung may opening ay umaatake din ako, but we end up in a draw. He's not even in full power. Sinusubukan niyang masugatan ako at maramdaman ng weapon niya ang sarili kong dugo so that he could easily control my heart and brain, nah I think he can also control muscles. Pero magagawa niya pang ito isang beses, and now he's trying to get mu blood again.

If that's the case...

"What's the matter? Hindi ka manlang makatama sa akin." Sabi ko sa kaniya. He stopped and was breathing heavily. Napapagod narin siya.

"Oh shut up. I will get you."

Tumakbo na naman siya papunta sa akin, pero mas bumibilis na naman siya, it's as if binubuhos niya na ang lahat niyang natitirang bilis sa atakeng ito. Heh. He's probably thinking wala na akong enerhiyang natitira.

Tinusok niya ang weapon niya sa tiyan, pero mabuti nalang at mabiksi akong gumalaw at ang gilid ko lang ito umabot. I gritted my teeth in pain, nakatusok kasi ang matulis na blade sa gilid ng tiyan ko, but at the same time, I stabbed his stomach at tumalsik ang dugo niya sa sarili niyang weapon, mixing it with mine habang ang isa kong sword ay nakatuon sa leeg niya. We were unable to move. At kahit gamitin niya man ang ability niya, dahil sa nagsama ang dugo namin, his own body will be affected too.

"D-don't tell me...you deliberately.." he started coughing. The stab isn't that deep and he probably won't die, but it is painful.

"Right. Nasa plano ko 'to..." I continued.

"But..you can't stop me from using my ability."

Nagulat ako na bumalik na naman yung pakiramdam na parang iniipit ang puso ko. Blood was dripping from my mouth. Did my plan fail? No, he's bleeding too. I was right. Naaapektohan din siya ng ability niya. So kung sino nalang ang unang...matutumba.

I slowly made a cut on his neck, and it started bleeding. He felt more pain. Just give up darn it! Nakakinis. Bakit ba ayaw niyang magpatalo? Is taking me with him that important for them?
I can just kill him right now dahil ako ang may advantage dito because of my other sword.

"Keila!" Naalala ko ang sitwasyon nina Ziandra at Theone.

"Nasaan kayo? Anong nangyayari diyan? And how are you hurt when you're supposed to be wandering spirits?"

"Mamaya ko na ipapaliwanag. Area D...hanapin mo kami sa area D."

"Ziandra! Ano ba ang nangyayari? Our connections are gradually fading!"

"Nawalan na ng malay si Theone, at...maya-maya mawawalan narin ako ng malay." Then I heard screams, cries...ano ba talaga ang nangyayari?!

"K-Keila....you need...to get here soon....mamamatay ang...." she's barely even conscious! "Mamamatay ang mga tao..." May narinig sunod akong malakas na tunog na parang nahuhulog na malalaking bato. Then, I couldn't feel her anymore.

Mamamatay ang mga tao? Ano ba talaga ang nangyayari dun? Judging by the noise and my sprits' states, mukhang may malalang nangyayari dun. At ngayon balik ako dito sa sitwasyon ko.

He started pulling out his weapon at ganoon din ang ginagawa ko. And damn it hurts! Yung parang hinahati ang balat mo na gising ka. I could only grit my teeth and clench my fists para hindi ako sumigaw sa sakit. And this guy....this guy is persistent.

"Saan...saaan niyo tinago ang nga tao?" He seemed surprised about that sudden question.

"Why...do you—even care—"

"Sagutin mo nalang!" Nagagalit na ako sa kaniya. Hanggang kailan pa ba namin papasukuin ang isa't isa?

"Hinding...hindi mo malalaman kung h-hindi mo ako matatalo." I sighed and bit my lower lip, thinking.

"So that's how this is going to be huh?" Bulong ko pero narinig niya. Hindi niya din naman nakuha kung ano ang ibig kong sabihin.

Tinaas ko ang paa ko at mabilis ko siyang sinipa sa tiyan para mahugot ang espada ko at ganoon din ang sa kaniya. Napahiga siya sa lupa na dumudugo ang parte kung saan ko siya sinaksak habang napahawak ako sa gilid ko, hardly stopping the blood. Lumakad ako papunta sa kaniya.

He was trying so hard to even just sit up pero hindi niya nagawa dahil wala na siyang enerhiyang natitira. He needed to rest for a bit and regain some of it bago siya makatayo ulit. Pero hindi ko siya bibigyan ng ganoong chansa.

Nang makalapit na ako sa kaniya, sinipa ko palayo ang weapon niya at dahil sa hindi niya na kayang magpalabas ng weapon niya ay bigla itong nawala. My dual swords glowed in bright red, at ramdam ko ang pagdaloy ng enerhiya ko papunta sa kanila.

Tinapon ko ang isa pataas, the chains expanding at nang nahulog ito ay bumaon ito sa lupa, sa gilid ng katawan niya. The chains moved surrounding his arm, and it goes tighter as seconds pass.

"Where...where do you even get...such huge energy? I didn't...sense a thing...from the beginning."

"I'm using my life force." Life force is what generates spiritual energy, and life force is lile a huge ball of massive energy reserves use to generate spiritual energy. Kumg maubos ito...mamatay ang isang tao. And I'm taking such risk, it's so unlike me.

"Sabihin mo na ang mga nalalaman mo." I ordered him.

"S-sino ka ba sa tingin mo—" hindi niya na natuloy ang sinabi niya when electric volts engulfed his left arm, na mula sa chains. The chains were doing exactly what I wanted them to do.

"Saan niyo tinago ang mga tao?"

"Heh. Akala ko ba...nandito ka para malaman... ang pangalan niya?" I frowned. "We've been...planning this since months ago...all for the sake of getting the relic..." he clenched his right fist. "Under this town...there's that relic Sigillum— which lets out a massive energy...pero matagal ng active ang relic....ang mga nakakulong sa relic...nagsilabasan sila...that's why we took over the town...but you just have to attack and endanger the people...they're all hiding there..." pinipilit niya nalang ang sarili niyang gumising.

Kinuha ko na ang chains at pinawala ang mga weapons ko. I felt relief down my spine, a comfortable sensation na parang wala ng humihigop sa enerhiya ko. I turned around, my other hand still holding my deep wound sa gilid ng tiyan ko.

"His name is...Demsel—Demsel Erevera." I heard him sigh. "To defeat me like this...I was caught off guard ha..." he started chuckling to himself. Nababaliw na ba siya? "Say hi to Thane for me." Tumalikod ako bigla sa sinabi niya, but then he already let out a small ball at pinindot ito, then he gradually disappeared.

Thane? Kilala niya si Thane? Are they related? Pero hindi ito ang problema ko ngayon. I need to hurry up and meet my spirits...area D.

Nagsimula na akong lumakad ako palayo sa area na'to. Tumatago lang ako para hindi ako makita ng kalaban, and currently they are fughting elsewhere kaya halos walang blacks dito. Even if I found one, wala na akong lakas na natitira sa pakikipaglaban. I don't have time to rest. That relic...something bad is happening at mukhang may posibilidad nga na mamatay ang mga tao.

What? What am I thinking? Didn't I say it's completely normal for people to die? Because when someone dies, that means they're just incompetent enough to live. Pero ano 'tong iniisip ko? Save them? Make sure none of them are hurt? I thought it completely wouldn't bother me if people die dahil nandito ako para makita si Hoy at malaman ang katotohanan. But I'm doing differently than planned. Demsel...his name is Demsel Erevera.

Gusto ko siyang makita, ngayon din. Gusto ko siyang hanapin, at ayaw kong magsayang ng oras. Pero hindi ko kayang pabayaan ang misyon. I just can't let people die. Why? Do I care about people that much? Or was it all because of the Headmistress' orders?

Napahawak ako sa pader while walking through the dark alleyway. I need to find them. Pero nauubusan na talaga ko ng enerhiya, I feel like I might pass out any moment from now—

My head started feeling dizzy at na out-of-balance ako. But before I fell, I felt something hard and comfortable at the same time. That scent...that warmth...there's no way na hindi ko alam ang taong 'to.

Then before I close my eyes, I felt his arms surround me.

"Thane..."

"Tsk..stupid." His voice echoed through.... before I lost consciousness...

AN: Somehow, I accidentally clicked the 'publish' button....😑 but all is well 😊!!