Amir's POV:
I walked through the path that I and Li strolled earlier. Following the footprints, holding the teacup, carefully. As soon as I almost reach the plateau, I keep my phase a little faster than earlier so that I can give it to Mill as soon as possible and drink this.
"Cleb!" I shouted as I saw him at the end of the path, waiting.
He saw me. Then hurriedly ran towards me.
"Amir!" He gazed slowly arch by.
"'Si Li? Nasaan?"
"Still there, extracting the Arnica Montana," I said passing the teacup to Cleb.
"Careful. Give that to Mill and tell him to drink." I added.
He grabbed the teacup carefully and nodded carefully. Then I turned around to go back.
"Babalik ka 'dun?" Cleb uttered.
I nodded. We both go our separate ways, I turn back to go back at Li, and he takes beetroot juice to Mill. I was walking briskly coming back to the stream when I saw him standing in the middle of the path weirded out and switching gazes around. I called him and he turned around at me, startled.
"You're done?" I said as I reached him.
He arched his lip and nodded.
"Are you okay?" I asked sincerely.
He seems terrified. Sweating.
"I'm okay, b-but... may narinig akong boses ng bata na tinatawag pangalan ko." He said. I was confused, I looked around and there was no one there, and it's impossible to have a kid meddling around in this mountain.
"You sure?"
"Yes, but never mind. I have the Arnica Montana extract now. Makakatulong 'to kay Mill." He said, then, we walk away and back to them.
...
"Mill, inumin mo naman ito. This is the Arnica Montana. Also, may nagawa din akong ointment na gawa sa Arnica Montana — "
"Ipapahid lang to sa sugat mo at kaagad itong gagaling," Li uttered. Showing the ointment and the tea extract that he made from Arnica Montana to Mill.
Mill thanked him for the medicine that he made.
"Thank you, Li. I'm grateful for you all. For being a companion on this quest. I'll be dead by now, if... Mill uttered in gratefulness.
"Anong if? Tama na, Mill! Buhay ka! Pinakaba mo lang kami!" Niala emitted annoyingly.
"Well, you should be thankful 'coz I saved you from that bear. Ikaw dapat sa kalalagyan ko dito, huy!" Mill rebutt. Then laugh after.
"E'di, sorry naman!" Niala responded.
The fun continues, exchanging fun insults between Mill and Niala. Laughs were heard around.
"Now what?" Cleb emitted.
We both turned our gaze at him, whose in the lotus position.
"Your mission! Since Li and Lusaka already got the Arnica Montana. Para makababa na tayo sa bundok na ito, you need to wait for him to finish your mission." Niala spoke.
"Hanggang kailan tayo maghihintay? sabik na sabik na makipaglaban ang palakol ko!" he said while scraping his axes to each other.
"Maghintay ka! 'Yon naman misyon mo eh, hintayin na maibigay sayo ni Li ang gamot na ginawa niya, at saka umakyat dito at maghintay ulit na dumating 'yong magiging makakalaban mo!" Niala spoke.
"Opo, babae! Pero kapag hindi siya dumating bago mag dapit-hapon, bababa na tayo — and that ends the quest!" Cleb responded, then, he stood and brandished his axes to the air. I can hear the whooshing sound of his axe.
I guess this is it. If the mission is over; successful or not, then, I have to back to the palace and become a prince again — treated like a prince. These people around here, are all unique, strong, and passionate about the things they do. They treated me as an equal to them, even if they called me by my name or by my royal rank, they treated me the same as them with respect. I may not know them very well, but I know to myself that they are good people. As I go back to the Palace, I have to make things right; the King and Queen seem to ignore their obligation to protect the realm. The cold war between the two main villages; Osanyin and Lelantos, the Palace's relationship with Lelantos, and I guess there's more to unfold on this corruption and ignorance.
"Uhm, guys! I'm going to sleep. Just wake me up if the missions are done." Mill said. As he tried to lie down and take some rest. Lusaka guided and supported his head and back so that he could sleep well.
I glanced at Niala and Li who leaned their back on a tree and took a nap. While Cleb was busy practising in case the guy in the red sword will come.
...
"Uhm, Guys?! What's that?"
I turned around at Mill, lying down, awake and his pointing at something above the sky.
I and Cleb look up above. It's a thing. It's not flying and it looks like it's in constant motion. Like it's standing up above. A black entity.
"Ano 'yan? Agila? Paniki?" Niala uttered curiously.
Unaware that they woke up from a nap.
"Hindi naman, eh. Parang nakatungtong lang siya sa ere?!" Li responded.
"Ano 'yan? Don't get me wrong ha! Parang tao? Tinitignan tayo? or ako lang?" Niala uttered stating unsure.
Niala's right, It looks like a human up above the sky, floating.
"Yeah, you're right! It looks like it's a human." I agreed with Niala.
Then the thing slowly descended. Coming right on us.
"Cleb, maybe that's your opponent? Niala uttered looking at Cleb who was staring at the thing.
"Malay ko! Tignan natin." Cleb said.
Then Cleb sways and tosses his axe attempting to hit that thing descending. He tossed in the throwing axe once again, and then a whooshing sound was heard. All force throw it above to hit it. The axe ascends, spiraling with that speed. But then, the thing started thrusting at an immense speed challenging the axe that Cleb threw at it. Then, it forcefully dropped to the ground. Shaking, and ground breaks after that impact, creating a mini dust storm. I protect my eyes from dust. Then, abruptly, heard a devilish squeaking laugh. It was terrifying.
Shortly, the dust slowly disappeared. As soon as it vanished. We saw the things descended from above; a tall, skinny, shirtless bald man with tattoos all over his body, laughing and squeaking, holding Cleb's axe. We were aghast at what we saw.
We walked backward. Away from it. He noticed it.
"Oh? tsk! tsk! tsk! ba't kayo umaatras? hindi pa nga tayo nagsisimula, eh! he he he! he uttered arrogantly. He then laughs; squeaky, terrifying, and evil.
"Your axe?" he said while tossing it, then switched to the other side.
This one is not a mere pure-blood human like us. He's different. He's not human. He's intimidating. I gulped and sweated.
He stopped tossing the axe and stared at Cleb, devilishly smiling. Showing his sharp teeth.
"That's quite a force! Malakas!"
"Oh, bakit? Kaya mo 'yon?" Cleb uttered boastfully.
He was stunned by it. Then started licking his lip with its tongue.
"Hmmm! Matapang!"
"Iyan ang gusto ko sa mga tao. Matapang. Nakakabusog."
Then changes his gaze to where the others are standing from. They all look frightened. Uttered.
"Ayaw ko sa mga mahihina at matatakutin."
Licking his lip, craving for flesh.
Then turned back his gaze at Cleb.
"Ikaw? Halika ka dito! Kunin mo ang palakol. Bilis!" He said commanding Cleb to get the axe.
Cleb arches an eyebrow at him. Smirked.
"Hoy! Payat! Huwag mo kong manduhan!"
"Hmmm. Ganun?"
The bald man suddenly turned to be a serious one compared to earlier who looked playful.
Then, an immense thrust speed that the skinny bald man shows off, attacking with his axe. But, speaking of thrust speed. Cleb was able to counter it and leveled the skinny man. Exchanging of clashing and smashing of the axe. The clanking sounds collide with each other, hearing all over the place.
While they are battling around. I turned at the back.
"Hide. I'll gonna help Cleb! Take Mill with you!" I uttered with full command.
They nodded. Then, suddenly we heard a loud collision. We glanced at it and were shocked, as we saw Cleb smashed on the large rock; leaning and weakened. Blood peeking at his nose and mouth. The skinny man was strong enough for Cleb, by seeing it, felt like he smacked or thrown him off the rock. The impact tells that it's strong as the rock was cracked. I glanced at the skinny bald man and saw him holding both axes, tossing them happily. I don't know what to do. I was stoned. I can't move.
"Hmmm, malakas ka nga! Pero hindi kasinglakas ko! Inaamin ko, medyo nahirapan akong kalabanin ka. Mayroon kang bilis at lakas..."
Then he laughs, devilishly. While tossing Cleb's axes.
He halted his toss. Stop laughing. Wind whistling, blowing off dust.
" — Na hindi kayang pantayan ang kapangyarihan mayroon ako. He he he! Ha ha ha!"
Then, he laughs loudly.
The fact that Cleb was battling this guy fearlessly. Even though, this guy was too much for him. But here we are, just watching him fight and doing nothing. I don't know what to do.
"Ulol!"
Cleb cursed him.
"Pwe! Hoy, Payat! Huwag mo kong sagarin at baka hindi kita matantsa!"
His utterance, spitting his blood unto his mouth. He glared at the man. Stood up and wiped the blood on his nose.
"Tsk! Tsk! tsk! Subukan mo!"
They glared at each other, and then, they sprinted forwards toward each other, furiously. Cleb clenched his fist marking to punch the skinny man, while the other was grabbing both axes. Midway forward each other, Cleb attempts to thrust at but the skinny man notices it and does it more quickly than Cleb. I was stunned by the speed, terrified that he could hit Cleb with his axe, but, this big guy got something up his sleeves. He halted midway through his sprint and was able to dodge by his reflexes the hit and give the skinny man a strong blow. An uppercut punch from the enemy's stomach. The enemy was stunned and spat out some blood. He somehow flew above because of his skinny type. That was powerful! Cleb closed his eyes — this was familiar; he had done this before. The enemy was closely descending and then moment by, he did another uppercut this time right at the head. In that impact, blood splattered. The head became unrecognized; jaw tear, broken nose, and skull peeked with blood dripping. The enemy has been defeated. No movement. The fact that he did that with his eyes closed. He then takes his axes and spits some blood right at the death.
"Cleb!" Niala utterly yelled running forward to Cleb.
Everyone was running forward. Except for Mill, I slung him and supported him to walk forward Cleb.
"That was strong! Grabe ka!" Niala uttered in amazement.
"Ano! Bilib ka?" Cleb uttered boastfully, while arms on his waist.
"Now, ano gagawin natin sa kanya?" Lusaka uttered pointing at the dead.
"Come on, let's go! leave him there!" I said.
"Paano 'yong misyon ni Cleb?" Li asked.
"Tara na, hayaan na natin ang misyon...at tsaka —
"Misyon na rin 'to!" Cleb said and kicked the dead.
He chuckled.
"What?" I uttered curiously and terrified.
We were horrified. The dead just chuckled the moment Cleb kicked him. We stay out of it. He was severely hit earlier and lifeless, but then now he was able to heal himself. Walked backwards.
Then, suddenly, he floated. Devilishly chuckling.
"Hmm! Ibang klase ka! Biruin mo 'yon? Napaidlip mo ako?!" He said.
This is beyond terrifying! I am shaking!
"Buhay ka pa pala? Siyam ba buhay mo?" Cleb emitted.
"Anong siyam? Habang buhay ako magiging buhay! Tanga!" The skinny man replied.
He descended to the ground. Walk forwards us, grinning devilishly. We step backwards but Cleb halts and walks forward facing the enemy.
"Hoy, Kawayan! Round three! " Cleb challenged the skinny man to another duel.
"Anong kawayan? May pangalan ako! Omu Magre; the Tattoo Curse Devil, the Seventh Devil Child of Lord Valixiur!" Omu Magre uttered with conviction.
A Demon. Seventh Child. Lord Valixiur. Tattoo Demon Curse. He manages to enter the realm. It shivers me. This one was up to something in this realm.
"Ang daldal mo!" Cleb utterly shouted furiously.
Sprint towards the Omu Magre, the enemy was just standing and glaring at him with a grinning smile. His eyes were raven, long sharp nails, and a horn from his shoulder emerged.
"Tattoo Demon Curse: Tattoo Slash." Omu Magre uttered those words.
Then suddenly black sharp slashes started coming out of his tattoo. The slash's motion was directed to Cleb. Yet, he was able to dodge it perfectly, but some were not, the reason he has some minor cuts on his cheeks and shoulder. The slashes from his tattoo are dangerous; they cut down trees and rocks, and those slashes are the ones that Cleb can dodge. He, hurled his axe directed at Omu Magre. Then thrust itself fast. Omu Magre rapidly dodges the throwing axe by just tilting its head sideways, yet, unable to avoid Cleb's blow of his double-blade axe. He hit it right on the neck — but it's not deep. It only scratches it...
"Ops! Didn't hit the target!" Omu Magre uttered giggling.
Cleb turned at him and tried another blow.
"Ulitin natin!" Cleb uttered, smirking. He didn't give up that easily.
He tried again with the same style he had earlier. This time he missed both.
"Mapapagod ka lang," Omu Magre emitted.
"Sino nagsabi, ha!" Cleb replied.
"Ako. Hoy, Demonyo ang kalaban mo at ikaw —"
He stared at Cleb with his raven eyes. Devilishly smiled.
"Ay 'di hamak na tao lang, walang kapangyarihan, —"
"mahina at ang silbi niyo lang sa mundo ng Alvenrass ay ang masarap niyong dugo. Rare and Expensive! Pagkain!" he uttered, belittling Cleb for his abilities.
I clenched my fist upon hearing those words. It annoys me, his voice annoys me, I can't do anything but stand here watching Cleb fighting that demon.
"Ganun? Ngayon makikita mo!" Cleb uttered. He stood firm, resting down his arms and holding his axes. Then, I took a deep breath and relaxed.
He closed his eyes. He's doing it again — one deep breath and exhaled. Then the whooshing sound was heard as forcefully threw the axe. Then did the thrust speed this time much earlier than before...
"Tattoo Demon Curse: Tattoo Reverse Control."
"I did touch your axes, earlier. At dahil diyan, 'pag ginamit ko ang sumpa na ito ay makokontrol ko siya!"
He was able to manipulate the throwing axe that Cleb hurled at him. Axe reverse comes forwards him but Cleb still maintains his speed thrust without opening his eyes. Amazed by it, he was able to dodge it but somehow his speed rate changed; and lowered. Still, sprinting with eyes closed...
"Tattoo Demon Curse: Tattoo Slash"
Multiple slashes coming from his direction. This time, he managed to dodge it all. Mesmerizing move. He can feel the movement of attacks even though his eyes are closed. Omu Magre was stunned. He was about to utter his curse but it was too late for Omu, Cleb able to hit him right in his lower abdomen. Drops of blood splattered around.
Omu was shocked. It hit him.
But then, he started to giggle. We were confused. He was able to giggle while being hit. Then, he giggled and turned to laughing. A squeaking loud laugh.
"Ano? Buhay ka pa ba?... " Omu uttered and turned around at Cleb, kneeling at one knee and eyes wide open. Holding his nape. He spat some blood. We were shocked and terrified reason to run toward him.
"Cleb!!!" Niala yelled.
We looked at Cleb's nape and saw a scar; ugly, bleeding, and had an unpleasant smell. We covered our noses because of the smell. It smells like a rotten corpse.
"Tattoo Demon Curse: Rotten Tattoo Infestation," he uttered with conviction then laughed.
"Li, Lusaka!" I uttered glancing at them. They nodded.
"Hindi ito basta-bastang inpeksyon lang, kagagawan to ng sumpa niya!" Li emitted and glared at Omu.
"Huwag kayong mag-alala, gagawin namin ang makakaya namin!" Lusaka emitted.
Li and Lusaka pulled Cleb away from the scene as he became unconscious. While, I, Mill, and Niala stood up to protect them even though we were no match for him.
"I put a curse on him sa gitna ng dwelo namin kanina, hindi niya 'yon namalayan dahil sugod ng sugod ang gago."
"Oh? At mukhang lalaban kayo? Tsk! Tsk! Tsk! Hindi magandang biro 'yan!"
"Hoy, Demonyo! Umalis kana, ngayon din!" Niala
said.
"She's right! Go back to your home!" Mill added.
He just laughed at us.
"Ako? Umalis? Hindi. Amin ang kahariang ito. Kaya kayo ang umalis! — o gusto niyong ulamin namin kayo? Ha ha ha!"
"Go to hell! Devil!" I uttered angrily, glaring at him.
"Ang tatapang! mga hampaslupa!"
Omu Magre yelled and pointed at us, he was about to utter some curses. We don't know what to do at this moment. We don't have powers like him and no one gonna save us here."
"Tattoo Demon Curse:..."
Whatever it takes.
"... Tattoo Sla---"
Slash!
We were stunned by what we saw. His right arm was decapitated. His reaction was appalled. Speechless. Couldn't be moved. His right was on the ground, blood spread on it, blood splattered on his decapitated arm. There's a flame on the blood as we've seen in the ground.
"Fire Magic: Invisible Flaming Blade. "
A deep, steady, and manly voice uttered.
We looked through it and saw him floating above.
It's him. It's the guy in the red sword. Cleb's supposed to be the mission. Is he also a demon like Omu Magre? or just another entity that uses magic?
Omu Magre looked up, with a vicious smile.
"Oh!"
Then the guy in the red sword descended rapidly, moving directly to Omu Magre. The enemy pulled back with thrust speed to avoid the swordsman's sharp blade.
"Oh! Ho ho ho!"
"Leave." He said after he descended and dominantly pointed his sword to Omu Magre.
The arm that was cut earlier started to regenerate.
The Demon just laughs.
"Or Death."
The swordsman uttered with calmness in his tone.
- END.