(Warning: Mature Content)

WEB H.Q.
11:06 P.M.

"Human civilizations improves through generations. Developing itself towards its road to self destruction. Don't you agree?"

He sipped his expensive wine. His calmed demeanour gives off an errie feeling. Despite hearing louds of outcries outside or even the hundreds sounds of bullets flying everywhere. Xorak doesn't mind anything at all.

"They are coming this way. To get you." Spider reminded Xorak of their impending situation against their enemy. "Aren't you afraid?"

"Afraid?" Direkta siyang tumitig sa mga mata nito. "I don't feel afraid, Spider. I already abandoned my emotions eversince my wife passed away. Hindi pa dito natatapos ang lahat."

"I know. Its just that, I didn't imagine they fought back." His gaze shifted to the monitor. "They got us. I don't know how but we fell into their traps."

Xorak glance followed Spider's. Wala silang ligtas, kamatayan lamang doon. Wala silang ligtas kahit saan. This is the destiny they've chosen.

"Sabihin mo sa akin, Spider. Takot ka bang mamatay?" pagdakay tanong niya. Nanunukat ang kaniyang mga mata.

Ngumisi si Spider. "Hindi ako takot mamatay," satinig niya. "Natatakot akong dito na matatapos ang lahat ng ating pinaghirapan. Sumunod ako sa 'yo dahil nais kong masaksihan ang kaguluhan sa mundong ito."

Ngumisi si Xorak. "Malaki ang pagkamuhi mo sa buong sangkatauhan."

"Oo, sobra-sobra." Sandali siyang huminto bago nagpatuloy. "We don't have free will. Since we were born, we are shape to become good. . . only good. If you do bad things the world condemned you. We force ourself to push down the evilness that existed inside our conciousness. Making us incomplete. We are like puppets—who only learned to obey the norm of the society."

"That's too deep." Inikot ni Xorak ang hawak na goblet. "We are presdistined being. Of course, we need to blend to the society. To met their demind of us."

"But what I've said was the truth! I am evil inside out. I don't belong there. Here . . . this is the right place where I should be. I don't regret anything."

"You are pure evil," saad ni Xorak. "Don't worry. They can't stop us. Nahanap man nila tayo subalit mabibigo silang tapusin ang lahat sa araw na ito. Let's go. It's time to escape."

"Are we going to leave everything behind?"

"Yes. There's no point in bringing anything with us."

He stood up. He glance at the monitor for the last time. Their enemy attacked them, they won't stop until they get him.

"They think by eliminating us will resolve all the madness in this world. They are wrong, if they really want peace, at least they should understand that destroying humanity is the perfect answer. We are the embodiment of madness itself." Inalis niya ang tingin at inilipat patungo sa bookshelves kung saan naroon matatagpuan ang isang lihim na lagusan.

Spider stood on his ground. "How about the others?"

"Leave them be. They are useless to me now."

"You will discard them?"

"You are asking the obvious." Namutawi ang masamang ngisi sa labi ni Xorak. "Have you seen fireworks of blood before?"

"I don't."

"Then you haven't live." Inihagis niya ang isang remote kay Spider. "Push that button after we step inside the escape tunnel."

"This is?" Matapos titigan ang remote ay binalingan niya si Xorak.

"The tool to eradicate the evidences that may or may not lead to us."

Spider is not stupid. There is a hidden atomic bomb at the center of the underground facility. It was the last resort. It was also linked to all the WEB's microchip bombs planted inside their brain. One push. Everything will be blown to oblivion. Nothing will be left behind. How evil . . . but he love it.

They entered the safety tunnel made from titanium. One door was closed but they will open another one. Hindi pa dito magwawakas ang lahat. With just one push, Spider witnessed everything scattered and vanish as if their headquarters did not exist from the beginning.

"This end is just the beginning."

...

Large explosion got everyone's attentions. The ground rumbled beneath their feet. Scorching fire rose to the sky. Huge rocks falling down burying everthing in its perimeter from the cliff sparing no one.

"Holy shit!" Nangilabot si Phyton matapos masaksihan ang sabay-sabay na pagsabog ng mga ulo ng kaniyang mga kasamahan kasabay sa pagsabog ng kanilang headquarters. Parang naging fireworks ang pagbulwakan ng mga laman at dugo.

"Gross!" Pinunasan ni Shellon ang sariwang laman at dugo sa kaniyang mukha. "What the hell just happened?"

Tumalon pababa mula sa mataas na parte ng lupa si Dice. "Last resort. Kailangan na nating umalis. Inform the other elite warriors. We are retreating."

He sheated his sword and looked back to their headquarter. Xorak escaped but without sparing anyone alive but them. If it weren't for Antares sacrificing his life exchange of their safety from the microchip implant. If not, probably they will also end up like the other useless piece of his game . . . headless piece of meat.

"Move now!" sigaw ni Dice matapos makita ang maraming agents na patungo sa kanilang direksyon.

Tumakbo sila paalis sa kagubatan. Sinigurado nilang maiiligaw nila ang mga humahabol sa kanila bago burahin ang kanilang sariling bakas. Nagtungo sila sa riverside ng gubat. Kanilang hinintay ang iba pa nilang kasamahan para tumakas sakay ng isang banka.

"Anong kasunod nating gagawin, master?" usisa ni Phyton. "Are we free from now own?"

Free? They are far from their own freedom. An invisible chain wrapped around their throat waiting for its owner to strangle them to death.

"We are discarded pieces, Phyton. We are not yet free." Nagsindi ng sigarilyo si Dice habang nakamasid sa malawak na ilog. "More people will chase us after this. So, we need to move forward. We still have a plan to fulfill."

"Those people, big boss is one them, am I right master? Hindi niya tayo basta basta bubuhayin. Kung hindi lamang dahil kay Antares baka patay na tayong lahat." Umupo sa malaking tipak ng bato si Shellon. "We are going to die anyway. So what the difference?"

"No!" Phyton interjected. "We will find the cure. Mabubuhay pa tayo nang mas matagal lalo na't wala na tayo sa organisasyon."

Umiling si Shellon. "Hindi mo ba naiintindihan, kuya. Sa tingin mo bakit pumayag si Xorak na buhayin tayo. Dahil alam niya na hindi tayo magtatagal nang wala ang tulong ng WEB. He knows our plan. He is waiting for us to make our first move. He is manipulative and deceiver."

Natigilan si Phyton sa sinabi ng kaniyang kapatid. "Pero kahit na! Hahanap tayo ng paraan. Tandaan mo. Elite warrior tayo. Kaya natin ang kahit na ano. Mahahanap natin ang lunas sa ginawa ni Centipede sa mga katawan natin! Mabubuhay tayo."

Binuga ni Dice ang usok ng sigarilyo sa hangin. "Pansamantala muna tayong magpapakalayo. I hid couple of cases of X-syrup. That will last us at least a year. After that we can still loot some until we found the cure. I'll help you out."

Dumating ang yate na kanina pa nila hinihintay sakay ang iba pang myembro ng elites warrior. Sumakay na sila sa sasakyang pandagat. Binaybay nila ang mahabang ilog patungo sa labas ng capital. Kailangan nilang magtago.

"WEB members all died," sabi ni Camelio. "No one survive aside from us."

"Terrific, the WEB discarded us like garbage." Lucky glance outside. "We are temporary free from their clutch but for how long? The organization have wide net of connection. They can easily search for us."

"Don't worry. They would be busy to mind us," saad ni Dice. "We will come back and get our revenge. Hindi pa dito natatapos ang lahat. Nagsisimula pa lamang ang lahat."

...

NORTHEAST BORDER
7:26 A.M.

A week after the LIA'S rescue and capture operation.

Dead bodies scattered the sorrounding woods. Lots of them. Agents, web, animals and trees. It was a horrible sight to behold. War, always brought disaster and more casualties. What was good about it anyway? Its an act of power. Warfare can't be avoided. And now, they will face the concequences. Handling the aftermath of the war made them busy to the bone.

"Damn, they planted atomic bomb inside their headquarters? Crazy monster. Mabuti na lamang nasagip natin ang lahat ng mga bihag bago pa nangyari ang pagsabog." Inilibot ni Andrei ang tingin sa napinasalang kagubatan. "What is the status, Troy?"

Steel and concrete and that stinging smoke that seemed to cover the world like a shroud. Those raging fire and shaking ground will never be forgotten.

"Two hundred and still counting. We are digging dead bodies after another for almost a week now. No one's alive though." He sighed. "What a terrible outcome. Homer will be blame for all of these. I feel sorry for him."

"This wasn't his fault. I hope Xorak is buried beneath those rubble. He is better gone."

Umiling si Troy. "Masamang damo ang taong iyon. He want us to believe he died in here but the truth was he's wandering somewhere . . . planning for another destruction. He won't stop." Tiningnan niya ang kaniyang relo. "Its late. Where is Ivan?"

"He is with Hannah. They are on the tent treating some of our agents who are still injured. Say . . ." Lumamlam ang mga mata ni Andrei. "Is she . . . ?" He can't say it.

Dumilim ang mga mata ni Troy. "Don't speak about this. We still doesn't have proof. We need Morgan's findings. And I hope . . . he will bring us at least good news."

"I hope so because I don't know what to do if that child—" Tinikom ni Andrei ang kaniyang bibig. "Maiwan na muna kita. Tutulong ako sa paghuhukay. I can't stand here all day long." Umalis na siya para gawin ang nais.

Nagpamulsa si Troy. "Helios, did you find anything?" He sent out Helios for reckon.

Nakakatiyak siyang nakatakas si Xorak. He won't died easily. Kailangan niyang malaman kung saan direksyon ito nagtungo at kung paano ito nakatakas.

"Master, I found out a large underground tunnel. It was connected from the headquarters towards the main road about 20 meters wide and 150 meters long."

"Anything else?"

"There are evidences of two male footprints. I already captured it to my memory."

"Good work. Keep searching."

"Yes, master." The connection was turned off.

Troy was enrage. "Son of the gun!" Sinuntok ni Troy ang katawan ng puno. "He is alive. That bastard is still alive!"

After everything he had done. He still keep escaping from their grasp.

Xorak! There will be no next time!

...

H.I.S H.Q
5:49 P.M.

"Tell me where is she?" tanong ni Morgan sa nilalang na nasa kaniyang harapan.

Nasa loob ito ng isang white sealed room. Nakakadena ang katawan nito gamit ang tintanium chain. Naglagay rin sila ng laser sa paligid para masigurong maghahati sa maliliit na piraso ang katawan nito kung sakali mang balakin nitong tumakas.

Ngumisi ang nilalang. "Wala na siya! Ilang beses mo ba akong tatanungin tungkol sa kaniya! Bakit 'di mo na lamang ako patayin? Nang sa gano'n wala ka nang problemahin pa."

Pagak siyang natawa bago pinindot ang isang buton sa kaniyang harapan kasabay noon ang impit na sigaw ng manticore dahil sa mataas na bultahe ng kuryente ang dumaloy sa buo niyang katawan. Nanginig ang katawan nito. Umuusok, nasusunog.

"Magmamatigas ka pa rin ba?" Umupo sa shivel chair si Morgan. Pinagmasdan ang lapnos na balat ng nilalang ngunit dahan-dahan na naghilom. Paulit-ulit niyang pinindot ang buton. Walang mababakas na awa sa kaniyang mga mata.

It's been a week. During that time, they tortured him thousands of times over and over again. They sliced his flesh, burned him, drowned him, all of it. He deserve every bit of pain. For all those millions of innocent lives he wasted for his experiment. Hindi nila siya papatayin bagkus ay papahirapan nila siya habang buhay bilang kabayaran sa kasalanang kaniyang ginawa.

"Stop! Stop! I'll talk!" pagmamakaawa nito.

Itinigil ni Morgan ang pagpapahirap kay Centipede. "Then talk."

"She's inside my laboratory! I told you thousands times that she's dead—"

Nakuryente muli ang buong katawan nito. Napuno ng usok ang chamber sealed room. Umalingasaw ang sunog na laman.

"Stop lying to me!" Morgan shouted aloud.

"I am telling you the truth! Ako ang huli niyang nakasama! She did not escape! She was too weak to even move! She probably died chained on that metal table! She might be ashes right now."

"Damn you!" Matagal na pinahirapan ni Morgan si Centipede hanggang sa lumitaw ang buto at sariwang laman nito.

He stopped. "Where are the other WEB headquarters?" He changed his questions.

Malalaman din niya kung nagsasabi ng totoo si Centipede o hindi. The forensic team are already doing their best to identify every death bodies they found. Lahat ng mga ito ay hindi makilanlan dahil nasunog ang kanilang katawan dahil sa nangyaring pagsabog. Kung ano ang sanhi niyo ay iniimbestigahan pa nila. But their priority right now is to identify each and every corpses as soon as possible. If she was really in that building when the explosion occured which he hope was not. Morgan sighed in his heart.

"I don't know," nanghihinang pahayag ni Centipede. "Please, just kill me already!"

Naningkit ang mga mata ni Morgan. "Wala ka talagang alam?"

"Wala akong alam maliban sa main headquarters. Hindi ko alam ang kinaroroonan ng iba pa!"

He knows he is telling the truth. "About the rulers. Do you think they are still alive?"

"I . . . I don't know."

Akmang pipindutin ni Morgan ang buton nang magsalita muli si Centipede. Nadala na ito sa sobrang sakit na makuryente.

"The microchip bomb exploded that night. If I wasn't turn into a manticore probably I would ended up like the others. If you told me that no one was left alive in the main headquarters that only means Xorak doesn't need us anymore. He can dispose us anytime he wants that also include all his chess pieces. Us—rulers. They probably one of the corpses."

"Are you telling me that all the rulers has built in microchip bomb planted inside their brain."

"Yes! Every WEB members has it. It was something that was madr for us. In order to not compromise our operations to anyone but believe me. Aside from experimenting, I don't know anything else! Scorpion was the one handling outside operation. He has deeper knowledge about the WEB."

Morgan looked at the folder on his table. The list of the first batch identified corpses. "Unfurtunately, he already died in the explosion. We don't have reliable information now. Isn't that right, doctor?"

Mabagal ang paghilom ng mga sugat ni Centipede. He took the dark syrum. He will never die. Unless he would be shot using the NZB gun.

"Everyone turned up dead. Lahat ng myembro ng WEB dito sa buong capital. Kasama na ang ibang rulers. Mukhang kailangan ulit naming magsimula sa paghahanap sa kanila. We will start from scratch." Kinuha ni Morgan ang kaniyang gamit. "Pagbabayarin namin kayo sa lahat ng kasamaang ginawa ninyo. Mark my word." Lumabas na si Morgan mula sa sealed room.

"No!" Nagpumilit na kumawa si kadena si Centipede. "Kill me! Don't leave me here! I'm begging you! Kill me! Kill me already!"

Kahit sa labas ay rinig ang pagsigaw nito. Morgan ignored his plea. Centipede doesn't deserve to die without experiencing tremendous torture. That will just end his suffering. He wasn't even human anymore. He is a monster in flesh.

Paglabas sa sector 7 ni Morgan ay nagtungo siya sa kaniyang opisina. Ngunit hindi niya inaasahan makita ang team Xtherion na naghihintay sa kaniyang pagdating.

"Anong ginagawa n'yo dito?" Sinarado ni Morgan ang pinto bago nagtungo sa kaniyang upuan.

"Gusto lang po naming malaman kung may result na po, sir X," tanong ni Deux.

"I'm still waiting for the reports. Lahat ng employees ay abala. Even all the agencies around the world are busy cleaning all the traces left behind by the WEB. We must secure people's mental health after the battle. They can't discover about what had occured. That was a silent war between us against the WEB."

Devine took a deep sighed. "In a war there are winner and loser . . . but why does we felt like we lost?"

"I feel the same way. They are powerful. Kaya nilang wasakin ang lahat para lamang wala tayong nakuhang impormasyon. Sir, can we really defeat the WEB?" pahayag ni Uno.

Napabuntong hininga si Morgan. Hinilot ang kaniyang sentido. He can see hopelessness in their eyes. Ano nga bang kasunod nito? Malapit na nga ba sila sa WEB? Matapos ng mga nangyari magsisimula sila sa tuldok. Nakatakas silang muli. Naghahanda sa kasunod nilang gagawin.

"We will. That's why we are here for. Don't lose hope. We will get them next time," pinal na pahayag ni Morgan.

Marahas na bumukas ang pinto ng opisina ni Morgan. Isang humahangos na empleyado ang pumasok bitbit ang isang white envelop.

"Sorry for interrupting, Sir but this is important." Inilapag niya ang hawak sa ibabaw ng mesa. "The forensic already submitted the next batch of DNA result. This one is special case."

Binuksan iyon ni Morgan at bumungad sa kaniya ang resultang tiyak na babago sa kanilang buhay. Mariin niya itong binasa. Pulit-ulit na kulang na lang mapunit ang papel dahil sa talas ng kaniyang mga mata.

The corpse DNA matches with ninety nine percent. It's positive. The dead body's identity—

Nanginginig ang kaniyang mga kamay. "This can't be."

Mabilis siyang tumayo para puntahan ang forensic station. Hindi siya maniniwala sa resulta hangga't 'di niya nakikita ang mismong katawan. Nagmadali siyang umalis habang nakasunod sa kaniya ang lalaking nagdala ng report

Samantalang, naiwan ang grupo ng Xtherion sa loob ng opisina walang alam sa kung ano ang rason kung bakit mabilis na umalis si Morgan.

"Why did Sir X suddenly leave?" takang tanong ni Light. "Tungkol saan kaya ang report?

Tumayo si Altear sa lamesa ni Morgan walang pakundangan na kinuha niya ang papel para basahin.

"Hey!" suway ni Friore. "What are you doing? Put that down!"

Nagtungo rin si Samara sa pwesto ni Altear at nakibasa.

"Pabasa rin!" dagdag pa ni Dark.

Napatampal ng noo si Friore. "Seryoso? That's a restricted information—"

Malakas na napasinghap si Samara na nakaagaw sa kanilang pansin. Nanigas naman sina Altear at Dark habang bakas ang gulat sa mukha ng mga ito.

Samara snatched the paper and read it all over again. "No way! Is this legit!"

"Bakit? Anong problema?" kuryus na tanong ni Uno.

"Read it for yourself." Binigay ng dalaga ang hawak kay Uno.

Binasa nila ang nakasulat at maging sila ay nagulat din sa laman nito.

"I can't believe this," samo ni Deux. "I mean is . . . this can't be true right?"

Napuno ng katahimikan ang buong opisina. Hindi nila alam ang dapat sabihin matapos nang kanilang nabasa.

"Baka naman namali lang sila, 'di ba? Imposibleng—" Napatikom ng bibig si Dark.

"But we can't ignore the fact that this were the findings of the forensic team," saad ni Devine. "Matagal nilang pinag-aralan ang bawat katawang nahukay mula sa laboratoryo. At sumailalim sa matinding pag-aanalisa. They are also highly skilled workers and they used excellent tools."

"Devine, are you just gonna believe this?" agarang tanong ni Altear. "Remember that person is not ordinary."

She frowned. "Katulad mo rin ako, Al. Hindi ako makapaniwala pero nasa harapan nating lahat ang ebidensya. Maniwala man tayo o hindi her DNA matched with the dead corpse. Tell me, am I saying incoherenct things here?"

"Alright, that's enough. Kung anuman ang nabasa natin. Walang makakaalam. Keep your mouth shut. Hayaan natin si Sir X ang umasikaso sa bagay na ito. Wala tayong karapatan na mangialam lalo na't labas tayo sa usaping ito." Pagtatapos ni Deux.

Nanatili mang tahimik ang iba alam nilang may punto ang sinabi nito. The war took a big toll on everyone. They took everything . . . even her.

...

"Where is the body?" agarang tanong ni Morgan pagkarating sa forensic stations.

"Follow me."

Nagtungo sila sa isang silid kung saan may metal bed. May puting telang nakatakip sa ibabaw ng isang bangkay.

"We did the DNA test several times and the exact same result appeared. We are positive. This body is her."

Lumapit si Morgan sa metal bed. Nanginginig ang mga kamay na inalis niya ang puting tela. He can't identify the body. Sunog na sunog ang katawan nito. Mabilis na ibinalik niya ang pagkakataklob ng tela sa mukha ng bangkay.

"Anything else that will prove that this person is her?"

Nagtungo ang lalaki sa katawan. Inalis ang tela at marahan na inangat ang bandang balikat nito.

"We found her code."

"What!" Tiningnan ni Morgan ang tinutukoy nito. Hindi kaagad makikita subalit nang kapain niya ang balikat. Kaniyang nasalat ang marka. It was indeed her unique serial number.

Mabilis nabitawan niya ang malamig na katawan na parang napaso siya. Kinuyom niya ang kaniyang kamao. Hindi niya alam ang dapat gawin. He can't accept this. No. He won't. Never again.

...

MONDRAGON MANSION
7:09 P.M.

"Yes, I will take full responsibility. I know, Mr. President. I am aware. Don't worry I won't run away from this." Nagpakawala nang marahas na hangin palabas sa kaniyang bibig si Homer bago naupo sa kaniyang swivel chair.

Isang linggo na ang nakakalipas simula nang kanilang sugurin ang kuta ng WEB. Nagtagumpay man silang sagipim ang mga bihag. Marami pa ring casualties ang naging resulta ng operasyon.

Nasila sila sa sapot ng organisasyon. Hindi niya inaasahan na magagawa ni Xorak na isakripisyo ang lahat ng chess pieces basta maisalba lamang ang kaniyang sarili. He is really live up to his identity as the most wanted criminal in the world. Now, they will start in square one.

Mayamaya tumunog ang kaniyang phone. Morgan is calling him. Sinagot niya ang tawag.

"This must be good, Morgan," bungad niya sa kaibigan habang patuloy niyang hinihilot ang kaniyang kanang sentido.

"I already receive the DNA report and checked the body myself," seryoso ang tining nito na mas lalong nagpadagdag sa kaniyang kaba.

"Tell me . . . they didin't match right?"

Sandaling minutong katahimikan ang namayani sa opisina ni Homer hanggang sa nagsalitang muli si Morgan.

"It's a match."

Natigalgal sa kinauupuan si Homer. Parang tumigil ang kaniyang mundo sa ibinalita nito.

"Nagbibiro ka lang 'di ba?"

"I hope I was but I'm not. Gaya mo 'di rin ako naniwala nung una pero I've seen the corpse myself. The body has the same code. I'm afraid, it was her."

Marahas na napatayo si Homer. "No! That's imposible! My daughter is alive, Morgan! Zoien can't die. She's not dead—"

Crash! He was taken aback when he saw Courtney's in front of him. She's staring at him. Mirroring his own frightened face.

"What did you just said . . ." She paused for a while. She didn't expect to heard everything. Balak lamang niyang dalhan ng kape ang kaniyang ama nang 'di sinasadyang marinig ang tungkol kay Zoien na matagal na niyang 'di nakikita.

"I call you back, Morgan." He hung up the call and faced his daughter. "Courtney."

"You told me last time that Zoien gone back to Italy. You told me everytime I ask about her. You said, she's doing just fine. Are you lying to me that time, Dad?" May kasamang hinanakit ang mga salitang pinukol niya sa kaniyang ama.

"No, sweet heart, I'm not—"

"Then explain to me about what you have said a while ago about Zoien."

Homer went stiff.

"Tell me and don't lie. I need to know the truth, Dad."

His gaze dropped. He already resigned to the possibility. Even if he can't accept it. He sighed hard in his heart. He clenched his fist—composing himself before he let the phrases that he will regretted the most.

"I'm sorry, Courtney. Zoien . . . she's not coming home anymore."

That statement ruined everything. From the beginning to the end, they didn't expect this would happen. Zoien . . . is dead.