The Devil's Bride

BLOOD 16: Arm Of God II

SMASH.

BIG BLOW.

CRASHING.

COLLISION of every corner of the place.

Craters were everywhere.

Thick smokes. Both were having a superb power and non-stop battling against each other. As if their body doesn't feel any feebleness and lose of energy. They were fighting so reckless and in high-speed like the only thing you could visually see was a sharp two lines of light in golden and red hues; moving fast and hovering in the air.

Two demons facing each other and only one goal they were after: to kill.

The medieval warrior laughed and still using Vlad's memories and his father's voice to pull him to fight more. "That's it! Show me more about your curse. Show me the power I've created in you, son! The power of Arm of God!"

Imbis na sumagot si Vlad ay kumuha lang ito ng isang malakas na pwersa sa kanang paa niya at sinipa ang kalaban na nakapagpatalbog dito sa malayo saka niya sinabayan ng isang malaking apoy na bola na napapalibutan ng kuryente.

Sumabog ang bahaging tinapunan ni Vlad kasama ang kalaban ngunit nakatayo pa rin ito matapos matamo ang gano'ng kalakas na kapangyarihan. Some parts of his armors were a bit tattered already and still he could position well, hold his large blade sword and even laughed to his amusement. "That's it! The Arm of God! The weapon I perfectly---"

Hindi na siya pinatapos ni Vlad nang sugurin muli siya nito sa kinatatayuan. Vlad throw him in the air and get an extreme force from his right fist to punch the opponent.

The rival was able to block the attack by his sword but he was obviously in a real hard to prevent it. Then, Vlad gave him another round of fire blast using his left hand on his face which made him to blown down.

One more contempting and crazy laugh came from the medieval warrior while helping himself to stood up right after several times of beaten-up. He thrust his sword on the floor to get on his balance.

"Die...Die...Die!..." The only word that Vlad knew while gazing at the opponent. Halos masiraan siya nang bait sa itsura niya at hayok na hayok ito sa pakikipaglaban. Hindi din siya mapakali sa paglilipad-lipad niya na tila anong oras man ay susugurin muli niya ang kalaban. He was ridiculously outrageous.

"The power...no...you were just using only half of it. You're still weak as expected. You will not be in good use if you're still like your mother! And maybe I could show this to you." The medieval warrior was evolving to something's different from his previous look.

Nabawasan ang suot nitong armor at nagsisiputukan ito sa paglaki ng mga muscle niya sa braso at ibang bahagi ng katawan. Pati ang pag-iiba ng kulay nito ay naganap din. He turned into a dark blue tailed monster that could sense the monstrous inside of him.

"Now, you'll learn your lesson for being a weak child!" He growled loudly and Vlad's attention was captured where it motivates him again to attack the opponent with excitement.

Both of them violently struck each other in a speed of light and no one wanted to back off not until one of them was already dead. Makailang beses din nagbigay ng atake ang kalaban gamit ang mga mata niyang naglalabas ng laser beam.

He combined it with an attack of using his sword and Vlad was able to dodge it. He never stop swaying it and use his all mighty power to Vlad until he captured the young man. He was finally stab Vlad.

Napangisi pa siya sa pag-aakalang siya ang mananalo. Napatingin din si Vlad sa pag-kakasaksak sa kanya ngunit ngumiti lang din ito ng napakalapad. Hinawakan ni Vlad ang bahagi ng espada at mas ibinaon pa niya ito sa kanyang tiyan na ikinagulat naman ng kalaban hanggang magkalapit na ang mukha nila.

"Die!" Isang salitang iniwan ni Vlad bago niya pasabugan ng isang malaking bolang apoy na may kuryente ang mukha ng kalaban.

The opponent once again thrown afar distance bearing a great injury to his body. On the other hand, Vlad remained on his levitation with his black wings and the blade that was thrust on his body started to melt. His wound was also healing but not that completely and it doesn't even affect him.

Nevertheless, the impulse which was rumbling inside of Vlad's body was pushing him again. Kaya naman hindi niya ito mapigilan at sumugod muli sa kalaban. He delivered a hundred fire balls in all the same time and made a close to close combat.

Halos hindi na 'yon masabayan ng kalaban dahil katulad ng ilaw ang bilis ni Vlad. And at the end, the opponent dropped to his limit but Vlad wasn't finished yet.

"Glycon, the two-headed dragon of death and destruction release and attend to me. SERVIRE DOMINUM TUUM ET AADUMCAM ADVERSARII MORTEM!" Vlad raised his horrific and huge left hand and lights were coming through his bulging veins until it reached his half face which was also covered with veins.

He shouted as his power was containing him till two-headed black dragon formed in solid fume and came out from his arms. Its wings were blazing in blue fire and its serpent eyes were furiously malevolent as it was roaring in thunderous which some parts of the floor break into pieces.

"Glycon! Bring me his death!" Vlad commanded his dragon effortless. Sumigaw muna ang dragon bago lumipad sa malayo para mag-bwelo sa gagawing atake. Samantalang nanatili lang ang kalaban at tila hinihintay na lang nito ang kanyang kamatayan.

The two-headed dragon swiftly hit the opponent's body cutting its limbs and burned to end. The rival's other parts of body remained burning after it was swallowed by the dragon. The fire it contains was as hot as hell that even the deepest flesh and cells of the opponent were being roasted.

Nakapagtawa pa ang kalaban habang nasusunog na ang katawan niya. Nilapitan siya ni Vlad na nababaliw sa tuwa at nakakahindik na mga mata. The next he did was, hitting the opponent's head by his foot.

He was smacking it to death quite a lot like he was having fun of it. Hindi siya tumigil hanggang masira ang suot nitong armor sa ulo at madurog ito.

He even gave another shots of fire balls to its head until it became ash. He set next its body and carved it by his left hand like it was a fruit. Blood spilled to his face and body.

"Die...Die..." aliw na aliw ito sa ginagawa kahit puno na ng dugo ang kanyang mukha at tila hindi man lang kumukurap ang mga mata. Later, Vlad started licking his hands which was filled with blood. Napapatirik ang mata niya sa tuwing dinidilaan niya ito.

And suddenly his head started to pound and it was reverberating. It was mixed with absolute throbbing pain which made him screamed and hold his head like crazy. His eyes continued to widen. He stood up and moving in all direction feeling in chaos. His dragon was also getting wild and destroying everything it sees.

"Are you sure with this? This child is weak he might not..."

"And that's why I wanted to do this. He's a curse after all."

"Papa?"

"SSHH. Father is doing the best for his son."

"AAHHH!" Vlad shouted again to his lung after remembering those few old memories he had until a man on a beige cloak with a bow and arrow appeared not too far from him. Vlad has able to tilt his head up and still on his trouble and driven to kill.

He saw the cloak man and thought to attack him but before he could do that the mysterious man already throw hundreds of talisman papers to him. It surrounded him and with just a whispering spell, all the talisman papers had illuminated and wrapped Vlad like a mummy.

Nagpupumiglas naman si Vlad at pilit na gumagamit ng kapangyarihan niya ngunit wala din itong nagawa dahil naguguluhan ang kanyang isip maging katawan.

"APPOLLINIS ARCUS COMMODA MIHI SENECTUS PERIRE PRO CUJUSVIS DAEMONEM SOMNO TRISTITIA. " The beige cloak man chanted a spell while putting his golden bow in position and get his arrow.

Itinutok niya ito kay Vlad at pinakawalan ang pana. Mabilis itong nag-byahe papunta sa direksyon ni Vlad hanggang lumabas ang isang magic symbol at isang nakakabulag na ilaw ang bumalot sa buong paligid.

And Vlad was shot down, it ceased him like he was just given a sleeping injection. Nanghina ang katawan niya at pabagsak na din ang talukap niya. He saw the beige cloak man walk near at him and just giving a deapan look and beside him was another man. A black man on a white priest-like clothes and sunglasses.

NAGISING SI VLAD sa isang ingay na medyo may kalayuan. Napapakunot noo siya habang pinipilit ibangon ang sarili galing sa pagkakahiga sa isang long white couch. He felt heavy, discomfort and unpleasant physical sensation which he started to complain. Buong katawan niya ay masakit at nahihilo din siya.

"Tch. How did I get this muscle pain? Tinalo ko pa yata ang matanda nito ah," pikit mata niyang sabi. He opened his eyes again and that was the only thing he realized that he was in unfamiliar place.

He begin to check the area. It was a bit dark and was lighted only by a not-so-big luxurios looking bar which had a neon blue light in all corners. Napataas ang kilay niya. "So, papano ako napunta sa bar na 'to--Oh no."

Nagpailing-iling siya ng ulo nang maalala niya si Aulus. "Please don't tell me this is not that old ager's room." Matagal na din kasi siyang hindi nakakabisita sa Avalon kaya hindi na din niya kabisado ang sariling kwarto nito.

Kahit na masakit ang katawan, pinilit niyang tumayo. He heard again that sound which made him irritated and so he walk to follow that annoying sound.

Disco balls,

Stage lights,

Two big speakers,

And a circular mini stage on the middle. On that spot, a black man in a white studded, patterned of red, gold and blue gems or more like an Elvis Aloha Eagle jumpsuit costume was standing right there. He had an Elvis Presley grease pompadour hairstyle, a white grill-like sunglasses and he was holding an Elvis microphone with stand.

"Seriously? This old ager? All was Elvis? Pft," Vlad covered his mouth, stopping himself to laugh.

"Truth is like the sun. You can shut it out for a time, but it ain't goin' away." The aspiring Elvis started his mini-concert with a quote and in an Elvis-like voice. Then, he strum his guitar. Vlad made a straight-face as he heard the saying. Napaisip din kasi siya sa sinabi ng lalaki.

You look like an angel

Walk like an angel

Talk like an angel

But I got wise

You're the devil in disguise

Oh yes you are

The devil in disguise

The Elvis man started to sing and was swaying his hips to the music and under the disco ball. Napahilamos naman si Vlad sa mukha niya. Ano ba kasi ang ginagawa ng lalaking ito? Para tuloy siya ang nahihiya kahit wala namang ibang nanunuod.

Mayamaya pa napahawak na si Vlad sa tainga niya nang kantahin nito sa chorus nang Jailhouse Rock.

"...Let's rock, everybody, let's rock. Everybody in the whole cell block was dancin' to the Jailhouse Rock."

At dahil hindi na kinaya ni Vlad ang boses ng lalaki agad niyang pinuntahan ang plug at tinanggal ang wire na nakakonekta sa speaker.

"Let's rock---" The Elvis man stopped and was too late to realized that the wire cord had already been unplug. Natigilan siya sa parteng nakaliyad at nakanganga siya habang hawak ang microphone stand.

"What the hell man!" reklamo niya nang makabalik siya sa postura.

"Papano naging Jailhouse rock ang chorus ng Devil in disguise? And will you just---you know stop?! Garalgal ang boses mo tanda!"

"Deym! Gising ka na palang hinayupak ka! And if it wasn't to my voice you wouldn't be waking up now."

"Kaya nga eh. Nagising ako sa walang kwentang pagkakanta mo. Akala ko uwak 'yong kumakanta. Kahit kanta sinko yata hindi uubra sa 'yo! Pwe!"

"f**k up man! Ang hirap mo gisingin. And so, I thought to sing Elvis songs. It was actually a mashup. Haven't you know that? And please I'm into much James Franco. Alam ko kung sino ang ka-level ko," kampante niyang sabi habang papalapit kay Vlad.

"Talaga? Hindi si Bill Cobbs?" Vlad mocked. The Elvis man gave him an expressionless look, he raised his eyebrows and immediately yield a punch through Vlad's stomach.

Napaubo si Vlad sa biglaang pagsuntok sa kanya at hawak-hawak ang tiyan. "Y-You shitty old ager--Ugh..."

"Well, mahina pa rin pala ang katawan mo but don't worry I sealed it back again," mahinahong sabi ng Elvis man at nilampasan lang niya si Vlad at tumungo sa bar counter. Naupo siya doon at kumuha ng bote ng whisky at baso.

"A-Anong ibig mo sabihin? Tch," nagtatakang tanong ni Vlad nang makalapit din sa lalaki. Binigyan siya nito ng isang klaseng blend ng alak at napataas siya ng kilay.

"It's called Kiss above the Clouds from Jonnie Walker's Black label." Pagkabigay niya ng inumin ay sumimsim din siya ng alak niya. "You lose in the game. And I almost sued by other counselors."

"I don't remember what happened about your stupid game and what the hell was that for?"

"You lose control again. Oh, buti na lang at nakapalusot pa talaga ako. 'Tangina Vladivostok, you almost destroy half of the palace. Ah, I guess...it was a fail plan."

Nanlaki ang mata ni Vlad at nanatiling nakatutok lang sa lalaki. "Yes. You were able to show that Arm of God again. I tested you if you could control that thing and how will my sealing mark could go in you. Ah, man I'm so beat up re-sealing again your mark and I had to make changes on the meetings schedule. Damn it man! Damn it!"

"Pe-pero sabi mo hindi ko na magagamit 'yon then how?..."

"Mali ang naging calculations ko sa 'yo, Vladivostok. It really sucks man! You think I'm still suitable as one of the heaven counselors? 'Cause man! My sealing marks could do expiration too. You could even break that in no time. Tumatanda na ba talaga ako? Damn it aging thingy!"

"You look old but you know you don't aged and die like humans. But I won't get mad since you really are crazy old ager."

"You should be careful Vladivostok. Careful not to lose your control---"

"And not to use it again. I know," seryusong saad ni Vlad at uminom ito ng alak.

"Anyways..." Inalis ni Elvis man ang kanyang grill-like sunglasses at makikitang merong pahabang peklat ang kanang mata niya. He also take off the Elvis hairstyle wig and his comrows hair shown. It was his real hair that braided into series of french-braide-like lock that cling to the head and travel the neck.

"The meeting will be covered about the prisoned wanted phantoms."

"What about them?"

"Some of them are missing."

"What?! Papano?"

"Lets talk about it during the meeting. Mamayang hapon. And oh, I forgot to intoduce you to the man who's been here earlier than you."

Lumingon naman si Vlad sa direksyong tinitignan ni Elvis man. He snapped his fingers and in a second, the room was already filled with turn on lights. And in a corner, a man on a beige cape and a thick scarf that was almost covered his nose and mouth, was pinning his back against the wall while crossing his arms to his chest.

"Scarf boy!" The Elvis man shouted in amusement.

Vlad remained silent. He and the scarf boy had locked up to an eye to eye contact.