Heshiena's Point of View

The vicinity went silent as I was staring at the woman who was now smiling like we were close friends.

"Lady Heshiena . . ." ang pagtawag sa akin ni Elly.

I glance at her for a couple of seconds. At ibinalik ang atensyon sa babaeng nakatayo pa rin. Panandalian kong iniwas ang tingin ko sa kaniya. I put a smile on my lips to the people who pay their respect to me.

I gestured my hand, telling them that they can now stand up from kneeling.

Tumingin ulit ako sa babae.

At hanggang ngayon nakangiti pa rin siya. Habang hindi binibitawan ang tingin sa akin. I've got a feeling she's dangerous. From the moment she spoke, and the aura she's giving is indisputably menacing.

"Who are you?" Patay malisya kong tanong kahit na sa kaloob-looban ko kilala ko siya.

I heard her chuckle in my mind. It was then followed by hissing as if like a serpent.

"Heshiena, the goddess who is rumored to be more powerful than the king of the gods." She called me by my name. For the first time in my existence, I kind of despise someone calling my name so casually.

I sarcastically chuckle. She never answered my question. Marahil ay alam na niya na nakilala ko siya. With the divinity running through my veins, I immediately distinguish someone either a mortal, demigod, or a deity with a single stare.

"Zeus might strike you with his perilous lightning for insulting his honor." I warned her.

Dahil sa sinabi ko, lumakas ang tawa niya sa isipan ko. Tila ba'y nakapagbitaw ako ng salitang nakakatawa. Which in fact, wala naman.

"Insulting the king of the gods?" Nagpipigil sa tawa niyang saad. "Oh, he's not here to do that, love," she added.

Tumalim ang tingin ko sa kaniya, diretso sa mata. When she realized what she was blurting out, a louder chuckle dominated my mind. Habang ako naman ay nakakunot ang noo sa pagtataka. Sinundan nito ang pagtagis ng aking bagang.

Is there something that I didn't know?

A bulb above my head suddenly exploded. And Nkri's voice is the only one I can hear.

Dumaan sa alaala ko ang sinabi niya.

Ito na ba ang dahilan kung bakit sarado ngayon ang Olympus?

"I shouldn't have blurted that out." Tumatawa pa rin niyang wika. She then exhaled as if surrendering to keeping that one out. "Whatever. Everyone will know about it eventually."

"What are you trying to imply?"

She scoffed in disbelief and disappointment. Causing me to roll my eyes.

"Aren't you curious why everything's in chaos?" She suddenly asked me a question. Instead of responding, I remained silent, implying that I am only waiting for an answer. "Imagine a world where every aspect of human life disappears."

My ears twitched.

Imagining a world where every aspect of human life disappears. A world without weather, lightning, and justice. A world without the calmness of the waters. A world without the moon. A world without wisdom.

A world without music. A world without fire. A world without travelers and fertility. A world without agriculture. A world without the aspects of warfare. A world without pleasure and festivity.

Most especially, a world without love.

Nagtagis ang aking bagang sa nalaman.

"Let's say, the Olympians disappeared into thin air. And why though?"

She laughed. It was then followed by pointing her index finger at me. She smiled so widely, revealing her sharp teeth.

"It's because of you."

Napalunok ako ng laway. Biglang bumalik ang bigat sa aking mga balikat. My hands turned to fist and bit my lower lip without worrying if I wounded it or not.

Nang dahil na naman sa akin!

Out of the corner of my eyes, I saw Echidna pouted as if sympathizing what I am feeling right now.

"Don't be too harsh to yourself, goddess." Sumilay ang matamis niyang ngiti sa labi. "If you think you shouldn't have been born, but believe me I am thankful that you exist."

I was caught off guard.

Sinundan ulit ito ng pagkunot na naman ng aking noo.

"What do you mean?"

Curiosity gets the best of me. Mabilis kong iniling ang aking ulo. Losing myself to what is most crucial matter in this moment. Echidna's intention of appearing before me is still vague.

When I finally found an opening to transport both of us far away from Poseidon's temple, I never hesitated to snap my fingers twice.

And just like that, nandito kami pareho sa labas ng siyudad.

"Oh?" I heard Echidna spoke in admiration. "Letting your friends handle my beloved Chimera, Orthrus, and my grandchildren I see," ang pahabol niyang wika. She then clicked her tongue. Sinabayan niya pa ito ng pag-iling-iling ng kaniyang ulo. "How long will that trust might last?"

Nagtagis na naman ang aking bagang sa sinabi niya.

Hindi ko fully naiintindihan ang mga pinagsasabi niya. Pero sigurado akong lahat ng pinagsasabi niya ay may kaakibat na dahilan.

"What do you want, Echidna?"

She then acted like she was frightened.

"It is true indeed, what a frightening divine you are!"

My eyes glowed in anger. The power in my veins were getting wild as if dictating me to punish the monster before me. As if I had enough of her playful demeanor.

Sunod kong naramdaman ay ang paglutang ng aking katawan.

"Enough with your moronic opinions, Mother of All Monsters!" I bellowed with a distorted voice. "State your business or I will crush you into pieces!"

Out of the corner of my eyes, Echidna smiled.

It was then followed by revealing her form.

The upper part was human, and the lower part was the body of a serpent.

The beauty that she possessed is indisputable with fair skin and straight long hair. From the normal eye of a mortal, it changed to green with vertical slit pupils.

"You are our hope, Heshiena." Ang kaniyang wika na mas lalong nagpakunot ng aking noo. I don't quite understand what she's talking about. "But let's see how strong you are."

My eyes grew wider in surprise when she showers me with a sharp green liquid that is coming from her mouth. Lumukso kaagad ako sa konklusyon nang makitang unti-unting natutunaw ang mga bagay na sa baba.

"Poison," I mumbled.

I alerted myself when she showers me again with the same attack. Hindi ako maghihintay dito sa kinaroroonan ko kung kailan siya matatapos. I have to end this to avoid further damages. She's unexpected and dangerous. I don't know what she's thinking.

Therefore, much better kung tatapusin ko ang gusto niyang gawin.

Ikinuyom ko ang aking mga kamao. Nagtagis ang aking mga bagang. Habang hindi pinuputol ang aking tingin sa kalaban.

The thunder echoed across the sky. And the lightning sparkles and dances in rhythm. When I finally gathered enough strength, I drag the lightning straight to where she was standing. Her eyes grew wider but still managed to dodge my attack.

Sinundan niya naman ito ng isang malademonyong ngiti.

I clicked my tongue.

And never waited for her second attack, instead I snap my fingers. In an instant, nasa likuran na niya ako. Panandalian siyang nagulat nang bigla-bigla akong nawala. I summoned the imitation of my father's trident, but I am sure this works almost the same as his. When she felt my presence behind her, she tried to look but stopped her midway when I trust the weapon I was holding into her body.

"Fuck!" she bellowed in excruciating pain.

"You wished for this, mother of all monsters," I whispered into her ears and brutally twisted the trident, causing her voice to echo across the city.

Pero ang kaninang sigaw niya napalitan ng sunod-sunod na tawa.

Kasing bilis pa sa kidlat kong binitawan ang trident na nakabaon sa katawan ni Echidna nang dahan-dahang lumalaki ang katawan niya.

Mabilis kong nakuha ang ibig sabihin nito. So, she was going to reveal her true gigantic form before me. I snorted. If she's here just to challenge me, ibibigay ko sa kaniya!

"What are you gonna do now, patron of demigods?!"

I looked at her in bored. Mukhang nakuha ko ang inis niya nang magtagis ang kaniyang bagang. I yawned and purposely looking at my nails as if implying I was so bored fighting with her. But the next thing that happened is what left me speechless.

"You're funny, Heshiena." She laughed. "No wonder why the old ones are so invested with you." She even quoted the word "old ones" with her fingers. "Curious of what are the outcomes of everything you fight for."

I scoffed in disbelief.

"They're fucking sick then." Hindi ko mapigilang magmura sa sinabi niya. She was taken aback from what I said. Tila ba'y nagulat siya sa pamamaraan ng pananalita ko sa mga nilalang na tinutukoy niya. "To those who find my life fun like some kind of entertainment, better be ready what kind of storm I bring!"

Mukhang hindi na niya nagustuhan ang sinabi ko nang sumugod siya sa akin nang hindi nag-iisip. Hindi ko ibinaling sa kaniya ang buo kong atensyon at nagmanipula ng upuang gawa sa yelo. Echidna stopped from attacking me when two giant wolves with opposite colors appeared before her.

Panandalian akong nagulat sa nangyari.

Kumunot ang aking noo sa pagtataka.

I was only thinking of random things. Of how I wanted to defeat the Mother of all Monsters. At ang dalawang higanteng lobo ay isa sa dumaan sa isipan ko. And how did I make them real?

"Your familiars." I heard what Echidna said.

"They're not."

This time, her forehead furrowed in confusion. She squinted her eyes as if reading me. Her mouth fell as if she realized something. As if she already got the answer she need.

"You are only the daughter of Poseidon and Artemis yet you possess such primal power!"

Mas lalo akong naguluhan sa sinabi niya. Nang wala siyang nakuhang sagot sa akin, dumadagundong ang tawa niya. Tila ba'y nahanap na niya ang bagay na matagal na niyang hinahanap.

Along with her annoying laugh, she vanishes.