Part 13


The inhabitants of this young city call them Shadows—creatures of the night that lurk in the darkness, shrouded in obscurity. They carry out clandestine tasks, leaving no trace behind, erasing their existence like phantoms without essence. To this day, whether they are friend or foe remains a mystery.


For some, they are nothing more than a menace, leaving destruction in their wake. For others, they are unsung heroes, emerging from the shadows to protect the city from unseen threats. But for skeptics like I once was, they were simply fabrications—a product of someone's overactive imagination, not to be taken seriously. I wish I could go back to that state of disbelief, to my indifference. Because right now, my overwhelmed mind struggled to comprehend the chaos unraveling before me.


Ahead of me, Rajah stood with his back turned, facing my brother at a distance. He tossed a handful of chips into the air, and they hung there momentarily, suspended as if frozen in time. Then, in an instant, the chips began spinning rapidly, growing larger until they transformed into sharp, metallic razors—the same ones that had saved my life earlier. Although I saw no visible strings or mechanisms, Rajah controlled their movements with uncanny precision, as though they were extensions of his body. With each subtle motion of his hands, the spinning blades struck my brother from multiple angles, eliciting cries of pain with every strike.


Meanwhile, Hiraya and Mayari were engaging my brother in direct combat. Hiraya wielded her bastons with expert precision, while Mayari slashed at him with her iron claws. Their mastery of their respective weapons, combined with their swift, synchronized movements, inflicted considerable damage.


Yet, despite their relentless assault, my brother seemed to endure it all. He not only withstood their attacks but also managed to strike back intermittently. I knew it wasn't entirely right to feel a sense of relief in supporting a monster, but I couldn't help but feel reassured seeing him hold his ground. After all, I still didn't fully trust the intentions of these three strangers. In my confused state, I could only hope for the best outcome for both my brother and myself.


Suddenly, a blinding glow engulfed my brother. The Shadows froze in their tracks, their attention fixed on the scene before them. The light wrapped around him like a cocoon, and then his body began to change. He grew larger, his broadening shoulders tearing apart what remained of his tattered shirt. His skin transformed, becoming tough and scaly, giving him an almost impenetrable appearance. His claws and fangs elongated, sharper and more menacing, while his glowing feral eyes radiated an intense, predatory energy.


When the light faded, he stood before us—a far more formidable adversary than before. Yet, amidst the horror of his transformation, I could still sense something familiar. Something human. His beastly eyes seemed to plead with me, silently calling out for help, as though the part of him that was still my brother was struggling to reach me.


Before I could act, Rajah turned to the others and said, "It's time for the reserved option."


"Do you really think it's necessary?" Hiraya asked, her voice tinged with worry. "You know how dangerous this could be for him, don't you?"


"I agree with Rajah," Mayari interjected. "It's the only choice we have."


"He's grown too powerful," Rajah explained. "The longer we delay, the more likely it is that the Bakunawa will fully consume him. We have no other options."


Hiraya hesitated but eventually nodded. She glanced at me, noticing the concern etched on my face. She offered a reassuring nod, silently conveying that everything would be alright. There wasn't much I could do but trust that they had my brother's best interests at heart.


"It's time," Rajah said with finality. "Let's do this!"


At his signal, Hiraya and Mayari retrieved syringes from hidden compartments in their clothing, each filled with a viscous, glowing blue liquid. Rajah planted his feet firmly on the ground and extended his arms toward my brother, palms outstretched as if pushing against an invisible barrier. My brother froze mid-motion, his body straining as guttural sounds escaped his throat, struggling against an unseen force.


"Now!" Rajah barked.


The other two sprang forward, swiftly injecting the syringes' contents into my brother's body. His roar of pain echoed through the air as he collapsed to his knees, head bowed, both arms braced against the ground.


Rajah dropped to one knee, gasping for breath like he'd just finished a grueling marathon. Hiraya and Mayari moved closer, their eyes fixed on my brother's motionless form. After a moment, Hiraya turned and walked toward me.


"What's happening?" I asked, panic creeping into my voice. "Will my brother be alright?"


"Don't worry," Hiraya assured me. "We just administered a potent sedative. It'll calm him down and eventually put him to sleep. He'll be fine."


"But I heard your hesitation earlier," I pressed.


She sighed deeply before admitting, "The truth is, it's a substance typically used to subdue wild beasts. It's risky to use on humans, but in his current state, your brother could handle it. From the looks of it, he's unharmed."


The thought of them injecting my brother with medication meant for animals made me uneasy, but something in Hiraya's tone reassured me.


From a distance, I caught Mayari watching me. When our eyes met, she shrugged indifferently before looking away.


"Don't mind her," Hiraya said with a small smile. "That's just her way of showing she's glad you're safe."


I managed a faint smile in response.


Just as I began to feel a glimmer of relief, a thunderous roar shattered the stillness. My brother rose to his feet, slamming his fists into the ground with such force that the earth trembled. His feral gaze locked onto us, filled with unrelenting fury. The predator in him had awakened, ready to strike.


"Well, it seems it's still too early to celebrate," Mayari said dryly. "We're not out of the woods yet."


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