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Chapter 64: Hit

"How is he so powerful, Claret?"

"Atlas is one of the ancient demons, Kezalli. You're already aware of it. He's as powerful as Goddess Eda, the seven high thrones, the goddess from Deseedayah feared him. And Veda . . . she was a child prodigy. Freya and the remaining witches had been the problem of Nemetio Spiran, and only our generations of priestesses of the prophecy started to fight against them, Serena's generation failed to stop them, Zen even covered their bodies with his power when he was still a child to protect them, while Mitchelle had some odd power as well. Until now we're not sure yet if they're trying to form a new group against us, dahil naniniwala na ako na hindi lahat ng masasamang diyosa ay napatay sa Deesedayah nang lusubin iyon. And Nemetio Spiran is so big, there are two other worlds that Atlas wanted to conquer, hindi natin alam kung may nagawa na siyang koneksyon sa Fevia Attero at sa Asta Wellingzon."

Hindi agad ako nakasagot kay Claret dahil tama lahat ang sinabi niya.

"It's like being Dastan mated to Queen Leticia, Queen Leticia as a goddess, but in Atlas and Veda's case, Atlas is an ancient demon— someone maybe as powerful as Goddess Eda, and with a Le'Vamuievos known for her great power . . ."

"But isn't it Rosh and Tobias's power caused Veda's . . ."

Hindi ko magawang ituloy ang sasabihin ko. Dahil alam kong sa sandaling narito sina Tobias at Rosh sa loob ng silid na ito at pinag-uusapan namin ang isa sa rason kung bakit tinahak ng kapatid nila ang landas na taliwas sa kanila, malaki ang posibilidad na sisihin nila ang kanilang sarili.

Huminga nang malalim si Claret. "I managed to fight against Atlas before, Kezalli. That was when Veda was still asleep, I could feel how his focus was divided with Veda's lifeless body being hidden in that castle, but now that they are together, they are each other's strength. They are mates. Alam kong mahihirapan tayong talunin sila."

Mariin akong napatitig sa kanya. Isa lang ang ibig sabihin niyon. We should focus more on their powerful minions, and that would be Freya, Mitchelle and the remaining witches.

"Isa pa, no matter how we tried to target them, even if, we, the goddesses from the prophecy are destined to stop them, we all know that this fight needs more to be between them . . . the Le'Vamuievos. I might have the courage to fight against Atlas again, and I'd take every opportunity to kill him, but as I further discovered the stories between these Le'Vamuievos, how Queen Raeliana as a mother took this decision to hide her daughter's existence, how the past rulers of Parsua Deltora allowed Atlas to take all the blame for Veda, how they didn't foresee this situation from the past, I couldn't find myself to get in the way. Veda is always against her brothers . . . or even Astrid."

Nakagat ko ang pang-ibabang labi ko. Hinawakan ko ang kamay ni Claret.

"So, our role is to weaken them."

Claret nodded. "Yes. We have to weaken them for the biggest war."

***

Bumalik sa alaala ko ang pag-uusap naming iyon ni Claret. Kung hindi man agad magpapakita rito si Atlas at magpapadala lang sila ng mga alagad, gagawin namin ang lahat para iparating sa kanila na kumikilos kami.

The lotus flower above us could be a threat to them.

What if the second woman from the prophecy has the ability not just to summon a lotus flower but also the women connected to it? Atlas might be a wise opponent and with Veda's awakening, I knew that they were aware that nothing was impossible from women from the mirror.

We were blessed and summoned by an ancient goddess as well. At ang malaman nila na maaari kong tawagin ang kalaban nila na dapat nilang paghandaan ay isa nang malaking problema sa kanila.

Hindi na ako nagugulat sa sunod-sunod na pagdating ng iba't ibang klase ng atake sa Deltora na tila ulan.

At first, it was just a surging power, as if a shooting gigantic sphere that everyone should attack at the same time. Hindi ito hinahayaang bumagsak sa lupa at tubig ng Deltora dahil sunod-sunod na umaatake sa himpapawid ang lahat.

Everyone was taking an aerial defense, but it was too exhausting for us because only a few could fly. 

Marah had a Hontza with her lethal touch, when her hands touched the giant surging sphere, there was a sudden explosion. But she had to dodge every unexpected attack in different directions. Since it was exhausting for the giant bird to maintain its agility and pace in every attack, there were times that they were almost hit.

"Marah!" sigaw ni Rosh.

With Rosh's power, with his crawling vines and flowers, he made a flying creature, looking like a Hontza. He was already behind his sister as his whip sliced the attack that almost hit his sister—giving us rains of petals below.

"I said get away from here! It's almost hit you!" mas malakas na sigaw ni Rosh.

"You saved me, didn't you? Thank you very much." Marah ignored him and her Hontza flew away to face another attack.

"Tobias! Tobias! Tell her!"

Pansin ko na napapailing din si Zen sa ibaba habang naririnig ang nagagalit na si Rosh. Hindi lang sila ang may kalaban, habang abala sila protektahan ang kabuuan ng Deltora, nasundan at napalibutan kaming muli ni Zen.

"Tobias! Go tell your sister!" ulit ni Rosh.

It was rare to see him shouting like that. The last time I remembered was when Pryor pushed all his buttons.Mga kapatid rin pala ni Rosh ang higit na magpapagalit sa kanya.

"There's no way a brother will win against a sister," sabi ni Zen na biglang humarang sa akin at inagaw ang kalaban ko.

He used his sword as a shield, kicked it brutally, jumped, and sat on its body and with both of his hands, he savagely pierced it with his sword. He quickly pulled his sword, sending droplets of black liquid into the air. He looked over his shoulder with remains of black liquid on his cheeks, his eyes burning, and his fangs bared.

I knew that he was on my side, and he'd protect me. But what if he was my enemy? Even with a single glance, I'd crumble or even die on the spot.

"You okay?"

I nodded.

Unlike Seth, Blair and Rosh, hindi kami gaano nag-uusap ni Zen. Kung tutuusin ay sa mga itinakdang prinsipe ay nasisiguro ko na hindi ko siya higit na makasusundo. He didn't look like someone who would understand my humor, hindi katulad nina Seth, Blair at Rosh, hindi ko na rin naisip na magkakaroon kami ng pag-uusap. I saw him and how he looked at Claret, his life revolves around her.

But this time, for the first time, I felt like he could see him— maybe not as a woman of a prophecy just like his mate, but as an extension of someone.

Kaya hindi nag-alinlangan si Tobias na iwan ako sa tabi ni Zen.

"Marah, go back."

Napatingala ako nang nagsalita na rin si Tobias, but unlike Rosh, he was calm.

"I will help you! Shut up, Rosh. No!"

"She said no, Rosh," Tobias said casually.

Pryor laughed. "Just don't get killed, sister, alright?"

And then Seth laughed. "You're funny."

Nagpatuloy kami sa pakikipaglaban.

Pryor had to transform into different flying creatures back to his vampire form to create huge damage, while Blair was trying to make endless web-like red string for him to stay afloat in the air, but sometimes Seth helped him, while Tobias and Rosh made gigantic birds from their powers as they made an attack and protection.

Hindi rin naman nagtagal ay humiwalay na rin sa amin si Claret nang magising si Zen. Claret's focus more on protection and healing. With her bluish globe around the Floating City, castle, and the other parts of Deltora, she was also blessing us with bluish dust— a healing dust.

Hindi ko maiwasang pahanga kay Claret. How could she cast more spells like that at the same time? She was protecting and healing at the same time.

"Claret is so great . . ."

"Concentrate, Kezalli."

Agad nakalapit sa tagiliran ko si Zen nang may isa na namang babae ang umatake sa akin.

I nodded.

This time, Zen stood beside me, and we simultaneously attacked the four women in shadows— the green wand and Zen's blue sword danced together, blinking with its clanking every time it hit that sword-shadowed form.

With Zen's last blow, the four women in shadow turned into ice statues. Tumuwid ng pagkakatayo si Zen at pinagmasdan ako. "How do you do that? It's like your wand is a mixture of vines and water. Did Tobias and Rosh put something in that?"

Ngumisi ako at umiling.

"How? Who made that weapon?"

"The pixies helped me! Binunutan nila ng buhok sina Rosh at Tobias."

Zen's eyes widened. "W-what? Is that possible?"

"Nagulat din ako."

"T-that's foul. You shouldn't pluck a royal blood's hair, or else we'll behead you."

I gasped. The ice was starting to shatter. "Will they behead me?" I tightened my grip around my wand.

"You're an exception. You can even make them bald. I can even give you more wands to fill with their hair."

I laughed. Zen grinned. "Now, think of a way to find the creator of these shadows and stop her before everyone gets exhausted. We're all powerful and we can hold their attacks, but not forever, Kezalli."

Nauna nang umatake sa akin si Zen nang may nabubuo na muling mga anino ng babae. He was right about it. Nagagawang protektahan ng lahat ang Deltora ngunit hindi rin magtatagal ay tuluyan na silang mapapagod.

I should find Freya. I am sure that she's already here with all these shadow women that kept on appearing in front of us. Pero alam ko rin na hindi siya lalapit sa akin habang katabi ko si Zen.

She wanted me alone because she knew that she could kill me. Dahil nanatili kami ni Zen sa kulungan, o ng aking entablado, bahagya akong naglakad sa dulo upang makita ang nasa ibaba.

Hindi ko na masyadong makita dahil sa kapangyarihan ni Claret. I knew that the pixies were also responsible for creating the fog around the bluish globe for them not to see the current situation. Hindi na ako magugulat kung magagawa nilang itago ang sitwasyon sa pamamagitan ng pagsisimula ng kasiyahan.

I couldn't help but admire Claret again, with the huge scope of her power that could even deceive a whole kingdom. Ano na lang ang gagawin ko kung wala ang kapangyarihan ni Claret sa sitwasyong ito?

"I can handle them, Kezalli. Concentrate. Locate the bitch." Sabi ni Zen na nakatalikod sa akin.

Walang makalapit sa akin, dahil kung hindi espada niya ang tumatama at ibinabato niya, biglang may matulis na yelo ang biglang magpapakita, agad siyang mamawala para tumalon, at sunod-sunod ang suntok niya.

Another woman tried to get past him, but he quickly jumped from one body to another, Zen savagely pulled the hair of the woman and then beheaded it in front of me. Itinatapon niya, hinihiwa, itinataktak at paulit-ulit niyang ginagawa sa paligid ko. He was like a real monster.

Unlike Tobias and Rosh who were elegant fighters as if they were dancing, and mesmerizing to watch with roses and sprinkles of water like diamonds, Zen was a literal savage. Patay kung patay. Kung dugo lang ang dumadanak sa oras na ito ay nag-uumapaw na sa sahig sa dami ng napapasabog ni Zen.

"Kezalli, I knew how you wanted to kill her, but if you need help, call me. I'll gladly take your place."

I tightened my grip around my wand and nodded at his back. I have to locate her as soon as possible. "Seth!" sigaw ni Zen.

"Alright!"

Zen made a bigger attack, sending the dummies away until they reached Seth's position, but Seth quickly moved, and I realized that he was about to take me.

"I'll take it from here. Let's go, Kezalli! I'll show you around."

"Take care of her!" sigaw ni Tobias.

"Of course!"

Agad hinawakan ni Seth ang wand ko at ganoon din ako. Mabilis akong lumutang sa ere habang nakasabit at mabilis na lumilipad si Seth sa ibabaw ng Deltora.

"You had the connection with her, Kezalli. You will find her!"

"Yes!"

Agad na kaming nakalayo ni Seth ngunit kapwa rin kami natigilan nang higit na dumilim ang kabuuan ng Deltora. Freya might have the control of shadowed women, but these consistent attacks were from Atlas.

And he knew how to provoke us.

As Seth's wings slowed down, all I did was tremble with intense hatred. Hundreds . . .  no thousands of small yet I knew powerful attacks covered the sky, not with the dark spheres, but with the familiar form of a bird that I've seen in my memories.

Tumulo ang luha ko dahil alam kong hindi iyon kakayanin ng mga iniwan namin.

The thousands of birds with familiar forms were no longer white— but black.

And it wasn't Atlas . . .

Because Veda Le'Vamueivos showered us her first attack after her awakening— Kalla's memory in every one of us, in darkest form.

"No . . . Tobias  . . .  bumalik tayo!" bumuhos na ang luha ko.

Hindi lang si Zen kundi ang apat na Le'Vamuievos ang sabay-sabay tinamaan.

Desperadong lumipad pabalik si Seth ngunit hindi na kami aabot at patuloy na silang tatamaan lahat.

For the first time, I saw how Seth lost his composure, and shouted at the top of his lungs as he surged desperately.

"Blair, fucking protect them!"