The Spirit Martial

Spirit 45

We all jumped towards Aaron’s team. We landed perfectly on the ground synchronously and believe me or not, the ground cracked all the way to the monster’s direction. Ah, I think my guts are gonna go all way out because of my excitement. Siguro, kung hindi ako naka-experience ng pag close ng Pandora’s Box, I might react like Aaron and his team but I’m different now. I’ve witnessed awesome fight, fought with countless lower rank demons and two boss demons. Sino ba naman ang hindi masasanay sa ganito?

“Nieve!” Kali called out as he bended his knees to prepare for his attack. I glanced at Nieve and his nails grew longer but is made with ice. “We’ll handle the sides!” Kali added and the next think I knew, wala na siya sa tabi ko.

The ground that he was standing earlier has more cracks than it had- he was already at the monster’s left side. Hindi ko alam kung paano pero si Nieve naman at nandoon narin sa kabilang side. Biglang may lumitaw na malalaking arrows sa likoran ni Nieve- halos sampong arrows ata iyon and it was larger than the monster’s spikes in its tail. I know what happening is fast pero paranag nag slow-mo talaga lahat sa paningin ko kasi hangang-hanga ako. Nieve extended his arms and he clenched his fist. The arrows started flying away papunta sa shell ng halimaw. I took a quick glance to Kali and he suddenly twisted his body upwards and he landed a kick on its shell- a perfect timing kasi naglanding rin ang arrows ni Nieve.

“Kailangan pa ba tayo dito?” sabi ko habang tumatawa at napatingin kay Kailani na may apoy na sa paa. Tumingin siya sa akin at tumawa rin.

“Of course, we’ll kill that thing. We have to find it’s weakness habang kinakalaban nila anf halima na yan,” sagot naman niya at tumango ako.

I glanced behind me and Aaron’s team were stunned to see how Kali and Nieve handled the monster. Kung nakita lang sana nila kung gaano sila kagaling noong sa mission namin? I bet the word surprise is not enough.

A huge explosion was seen in front of us at ang lakas ng pressure. Some of the trees even broke pero buti na lang walang nasira na malapit sa amin. The explosion made a huge mess to the point na ang kapal ng usok and we cannot see or hear mula sa loob nito. I wonder if everything is fine there.

“T-T-The shell,” biglang sabi ni Aaron. “It’s hard! Hindi iyon basta-basta masisira. Kailangan nila ng tulong!” he panicked at ngumiti ako. I glanced back at the monster’s direction where Kali and Nieve are also at.

“T-T-Tatawag ako ng tulong!!” Jill shouted at akmang tatayo sana kaso hindi niya kaya dahil sa panginginig ng paa niya. “Kailangan natin ng tulong kung hindi mamamatay tayo!” he panicked and his tears started to form.

“Ayaw ko pang mamatay!!” Edwardo shouted at napatakip asa dalawa niyang tenga habang nakayuko. He looked scared- no, I think his expression shouldn’t be described as scared, it’s more like he’s in fear. The fear of dying hits different. I’ve been there myself and I was lucky enough I have my partner. Too bad students here doesn’t have one.

“T-T-Takas. Tumakas tayo habang makapal pa ang usok! Tumatakas tayo Cygnus!!!” Aaron shouted at hinila niya ang collar ko. “Huwag kang magtapang-tapangan! Tumakas tayo!!” he said and he held my collar tighter. I tilted my head and held his hand.

“I think you forgot that you’re not watching normal students here,” sagot ko and held his hand tighter than he was holding me. He screamed in pain at bumitaw siya kaya bumitaw na rin ako. A strong wind suddenly waved at nawala ang makapal na usok. Umayos ako ng tayo at tumalikod para tingnan sina Nieve at Kali na nakapatong sa shell ng halimaw na sumisigaw siguro dahil sa sakit. He still underestimating me. I better show him what I’ve got. I trained for this. I almost died just to be where I am right now at sasabihan niya lang ako na tumakas at hindi magtapang-tapangan? Is he dumb?! I mean, hindi ko na dapat itanong iyon kasi halata naman.

“I’m stopping myself from killing him, Cynus,” biglang sabi ni Kailani na nakatitig kay Aaron na ngayon ay sobrang takot na dahil sa tingin ni Kailani.

“Calm down, Kailani.” sabi ko at umiwas na siya ng tingin kay Aaron at humarap sa halimaw. “We still have this monster in front of us,” I added.

Now that we’re wathching what’s in front, ngayon lang namin nakita ng tuloyan kung ano na ba talaga ang nangyari. The monster was screaming in pain but not entirely defeated. The shell that they were standing on was cracked at the middle which made me smirk.I thought it’s hard? Or maybe they’re jsut strong enough to c***k somehing like that. Kitang-kita na dito kung gaano kakapal ang shell ng halimaw pero nagawa pa rin nilang basagin. If I were to estimate, the thickness was around six inches. A thickness which is half of a ruler huh? I wonder if I can c***k that shell also.

“Y-Y-You’re kidding me,” utal-utal na sagot ni Aaron. Surprise, asshole.

“Too bad I’m not, Aaron,” sabi ko at napatingin ako kay Kailani na nakatingin sa ibaba ng halimaw. What is he watching? The turtle’s feet?

“We’re aiming below that monster,” he said at napakunot ako sa noo ko.

“Below?” I asked and he glanced at me with a confident smile.

“Do you know why turtles have shells?” he asked and my eyes widened. This guys is a genius! Hindi ko naisip yon ah.

“Turtles have shells because it is a really good way to protect their insides.  In short, to protect what’s below them,” I replied with a smile at humarap na siya sa halimaw.

“Exactly,” he replied.

The turtle started moving at umalis kaagad sina Kali sa itaas nito. The landed behind us and Nieve made some weapons made of us at binigyan kaming tatlo. Surpsrisingly, the weapon is not cold despite of being made by ice.

“Below,” Kailani said at tumango kaming tatlo.

“Go!” Kali shouted.

They all bended and the next thing I knew nandoon na sila sa harap ng halimaw habang ako ay nandito pa rin but it’s part of the strategy. I unleashed six vines on my back at may isang galing sa kamay ko dumikit sa hawak kong sword na bigay ni Nieve. I glanced at Aaron and he was really surprised.

“Stay back,” I ordered kasi baka sisingit na lang sila bigla.

I bended my knees and let my vines moved. The monster’s tail was fast, huge and sharp and they are holding on. I have to help them. Tatlo sa mga vines ko humawak sa bewang nila para supportahan sila sa pag iwas. I gathered enough strength already and it was the best feeling.

I jumped towards the monster and I heard the ground exploded and cracked. In just a split second, nakarating na ako malapit nina Kali and my vision turned purple. The tail also was about to hit us but Kalani moved forward and kicked it. I knew he was strong lalo na ang mga kicks niya pero ganito? Napakalaking tail at naputol niya habang umaapoy ang katawa niya tapos nakangiti pa? He always gives me goosebumps!

“Now!!” Kailani shouted.

Binitawan ko silang tatlo at lumayo sila. My vines held on the monster’s feet. I used its feet as a base and I slid myslef below him. The moment I was below, tanaw ko kaagad ang kumikinang niyang tiyan. Weakness. Napangiti ako and I adjust the sword I was holding. When I felt I was close enough, I pierced my sword and the monster roared. Mas nilaliman ko ang pagtusok haang ako ay palabas na mula sa ilalim nit. My sword sliced off around 3 meters of his soft insides and finally, nakalabas na ako. Bumitaw ako sa mga paanito at inilipat ang vines sa mga kahoy. I twisted my body para makaharap sa halimaw.

I’m floating in the air while my vines were holding the tree trunks at kitang-ktia ko dito ang pagkatumba ng halimaw. I sensed a strong magic from above and there I saw Kali, holding the long sword that Nieve gave. The ice did not melt but the sword was coated with some red substance- it’s like blood but I know it wasn’t- he solidified his magic molecules, that’s so awesome!

Binitawan niya ang hawak niyang sword at tumusok ito sa space kung saan may c***k kanina dahil sa attake nila. Alam kong simpleng hulog lang iyon pero bakit ganon? Why did the monster exploded along with the ground? The next thing I knew, the blood form the monster hit our faces and the ground had huge crater already habang nakahiga doon ang patay na halimaw. Ah, this is insane.

I adjusted my vines papunta nina Aaron and I landed in front of them. Hindi ko alam kung anong mukha mayroon ako ngayon dahil ang dami ng bakas na dugo sa katawan ko. I even feel seomthing in my face, mayroon doonsa uniform pero hindi naman ganon karami. I called back my vines as I looked upward kasi ramdam ko si Kailani sa itaas. He landed beside me at agad naman sumunod ina Nieve at Kali. I looked in front and Aaron and his team went pale.

This the new me, Aaron. You better treat me better because I became better. You’re now out of my league.

“Nice,” Kali said and our weapons turned into water. He gasped for air at huminga ng malalim.

“That was hell of a monster,” Nieve said at ngumiti. Minsan talaga wala sa timing ang ngiti ni Nieve eh kaya nakakatakot minsan. Yung tipong ang bait niya tapos ang lakas niya pala. He looked weak but after knowing him? Wala na. Mapapanganga ka na lang.

“It was,” sabi ni Kailani and he smirked as he stared at Aaron’s team. “I wonder if our apprentices are ready to handle more to that,” he added at napalunok sina Aaron.

“W-W-We will try our best,” Jill said with a shaky voice.

“Pasensya na po,” Edwardo said with a low voice at yumuko na lang.

Aaron on the other hand was frozen while staring at us. Hindi ba niya alam kung anong sasabihin niya? Lakas niyang mambully eh matatakotin naman pala.

“Stand up, we still have a long way to go,” utos ko at tumayo naman kaagad sila pero hila-hila nila si Aaron na hanggang ngayon hindi pa rin nagsalita. “Kaya pa?” I asked him and this time he was startled at napalunok siya.

“Y-Yes,” he replied at tumango ako.

“Good,” sabi ko at nauna akong tumalon sa itaas ng puno. I looked down and gave them a confident smile. “Let’s go then,” I added. “You better not fall back again because maybe the next time you will,” I added again at tumawa ako ng konti. “I’m afraid you might die,” I added more and my vision turned purple. Aaron’s fear expression was beautiful.

“Stop scaring them, Cygnus!” reklamo ni Kailani at tumalon sa itaas ng puno na katabi ko. “Baka magkatotoo,” he added with a smirk at mas natakot sila. Tumawa ako at napatingin ako kay Kali at Nieve. Kali was frowning while Nieve was also laughing.

“Immature,” reklamo naman ni Kali at tumalon siya sa puno na nasa harapan ko. “But yeah, it’s always better to be careful. You might really lose your lives,” he added.

“Just chill everyone,” sabi naman ni Nieve.

“H-H-Hindi po mauuli iyon!” Jill shouted with a bow at tumingin kay Nieve. “Salamat po sa kabutihan niyo. Ikaw po ang rason kung bakit kami napili at ngayon pinagtanggol niyo po kami mula sa pananakot nila, salamat po!!” Jill said and Nieve’s expression suddenly changed.

“Pananakot? I’m afraid they’re spitting facts here,” he said coldly and they were all stunned at this point. “Me? Kind?” Nieve asked at tumalon siya sa puno na nasa tabi ni Kailani. “People tend to tell me that I’m kind enough and that’s my weakness,” he added. It has a point. He’s really too kind but …

“I just want to tell you that do not even consider my acts as kindness and do not even consider my kindness as weakness. I have a beast inside me and it’s sleeping,” Nieve said coldly, cold enough to give me goosebumps. “not dead,” he added again.