GUN'S POV:
ISANG MALAMIG na ihip ng hangin ang siyang sumalubong sa amin nang makalabas kami mula kay Light nang lumapag ito sa rooftop ng mall ni Dezrail.
"It's now or never. We need to get Saviel out of their hands. You also need to get home alive if you don't want me to replace you all as Elite members of the Bloodfist mafia." Aqueros abruptly remarked, peering down at the abandoned structure that housed Neoearth.
Masyadong tahimik ang buong paligid at parang binibigyan kami ng pagkakataon na gawin ang dapat naming gawin.
"Wow ha, nanakot ka pa?" ismid na sagot ni Thunder.
"Lakas ng loob mong manakot, minamaliit mo na ba kami?" sabat naman ni Calvin.
Napapailing na lang ako dahil parang normal na lang sa amin ang ganitong eksena.
Sa totoo lang, malaki ang respeto namin kay Aqueros at kahit sinasagot-sagot namin siya ng pabalagbag, wala lang 'yon sa kanya dahil siya naman ang dahilan kung bakit narito kaming lahat.
Ngunit kahit kailan ay hindi ako nagsisi na napabilang ako sa mundong ginawa niya para sa amin at alam kong ganun din ang nararamdaman ng iba pa.
Mahal namin si Aqueros at kahit hindi namin sabihin sa kanya ng harapan, pinaparamdam namin 'yon sa kanya. Siya na ang bahalang mag-interpret non tutal pare-pareho naman kaming hindi expressive ng feelings sa isa't-isa.
"Bossing, alam naming mahal mo si Sav pero huwag mo naman kaming ipagpalit. Baka umiyak ako bigla." Nagmamakaawang sabat naman ni Trevon.
"Tss, tigilan niyo nga si Aqueros sa kadramahan niyo," singhal ko sa kanila. "Mahal ko pa ang buhay ko at kailangan ko pang bumalik para sa asawa't mga anak ko."
"Duh, hindi ka nag-iisa. Lahat tayo may sarili nang pamilya pwera na lang sa Kuya ko na masyadong pakipot." Maarteng sabi naman ni Sinji kaya napatingin kaming lahat kay Aqueros.
His bloody red eyes gleamed in the moonlight as he looked down where we stood.
"I know that's why I am giving you an option. Either you'll continue this mission with me or go home with your husband and wives."
"Nandito na tayo, Boss. Ayaw naming mamiss ang isang importanteng bagay sa buhay mo, kaya tara na!"
Naunang tumalon si Thunder pababa ng gusali kung saan kami naroon nang hindi alintana ang taas niyon.
Sumunod na rin ang iba pa at ang tanging naiwan na lamang ay ako, si Aqueros, Senri, Reiden at Sinji.
"Bro, habambuhay akong magiging tapat sa'yo hindi bilang tauhan mo kundi isang kaibigan at pamilya kaya kung ano man ang magiging resulta ng laban na 'to, ano nang balak mo sa oras na mabawi natin si Sav?" tanong ko sa kanya at marahang tinapik ang kanyang balikat.
"I.... don't know. I can't decide since I don't know what will happen after this. Maybe one of us will lose our lives or maybe both of us. You know how much I suffered at the hands of Neoearth when I was young, that's why I want to find a solution for my eyes and blood so that my life can be normal."
"We've been through a lot, are you going to give up now?" ani ni Reiden Grei.
"I am not giving up but I am not sure what will happen. I'm scared too since Hyuga is not part of our world, but she keeps insisting and fitting herself to be with us."
"Kuya, hindi mo kasalanan kung makulit at pasaway si Sav. Aminin mo, mula nang dumating siya nagkaroon ng kulay ang buhay mo hindi ba? Hindi mo rin aaminin na natatakot ka sa pwedeng mangyari kung hindi siya importante sa'yo."
"Sinji is right, Aqueros. We wanted nothing more than for you to be happy and have your own family like us and we want Sav for you."
"Let's see where the story of that crazy woman and I will end up."
Lahat kami ay napangiti sa kanyang sinabi bago siya tumalon pababa ng building kaya sumunod na rin kami.
Tama si Senri. Wala na kaming ibang hinangad kundi ang magkaroon ng sariling pamilya si Aqueros.
Kahit na alam naming hindi normal ang buhay na mayroon siya, handa kaming samahan siya sa hirap at ginhawa dahil hindi naman kami magiging ganito kabuting tao kung hindi dahil sa kaniya.
We all took our places in every corner of the abandoned building. Aqueros was with Senri and Reiden. Dezrail, Cassius, and Sinji were Team 2, Calvin, Trevon, and Rent were Team 3, and Thud and Alanis were Team 4 while Kastiel was alone.
Ayaw sana ni Reiden dahil kaming tatlo talaga ni Thud at Kastiel ang magkakasama ngunit ayaw ko namang mahiwalay sa akin ang asawa ko at ayos lang naman kay Kastiel 'yon kaya wala nang nagawa si Reiden kundi ang pumayag.
"In position." Sambit ni Alanis sa earpiece na suot namin.
"Same here." Tamad na sagot ni Senri.
"In position too." Sagot naman ni Calvin.
Nasa North side sina Aqueros. East side kami, West side naman ang grupo ni Calvin at South side ang grupo nina Cassius.
"In position too. I am already inside the vicinity." Anunsyo naman ni Kastiel na siyang ikinalaki ng mga mata namin.
"Hoy, babae! Bakit ang bilis mong pumasok sa loob?" singhal ni Sinji.
"What? I will be the bait for this battle. Don't worry about me."
"Hindi kami nag-aalala sa'yo pero sa asawa mo, oo. Paano kung bigla na lang mag wala 'yan at nabulilyaso ang plano natin?"
"Calm down, Dirkshied. I am not what you think it is. I trust my wife so let her be. Aqueros and I already talked about it and I agree."
"Bakit hindi namin alam na may ibang plano pala kayo?"
"Oo nga. Ang unfair niyo ah."
"Tss, standby at your position. Once Devoncourt infiltrates inside the facility, we will move immediately."
"Okay, sabi mo eh."
I was surprised when the contact lens I was wearing suddenly took on a different scenario and it seemed like we were connected to Kastiel's contact lens.
She was already inside the building, and we could clearly see the chunks of cement, old iron, and garbage scattered inside. Until Kastiel stumbled into a hallway. There was a staircase down there, and it seemed like every member of Neoarth was passing through there.
"Sobrang tahimik ng pasilyo na 'to. Tutuloy na ba ako?" tanong ni Kastiel habang dahan-dahan siyang naglalakad sa madilim na pasilyo.
"Yes. Continue where you are, Devoncourt and move around your vision so that we can see what's around you," utos ni Aqueros na siyang ginawa naman ni Kastiel hanggang sa marating niya ang isang bakal na pintuan.
"Nakakarinig ako ng komusyon sa loob. Mukhang nagkakagulo sila."
"Find out what happened inside."
Kastiel's gaze wandered around and stopped at an air vent with a broken cover, so without hesitation, she entered it and looked for the way into the hideout.
"Shit!"
"Oh my god!"
"Damn it!"
Sunud-sunod na mura ang nabitawan namin at umalis kami nina Thud at Alanis sa pinagtataguan namin at pumasok na sa loob ng gusali.
Nakita namin ang nagkalat na bangkay sa loob ng kwartong 'yon dahil sa contact lenses ni Kastiel habang nakasilip siya sa vent na kaniyang kinaroroonan.
Mga doktor na wala nang buhay at ang ilan sa kanila ay nanginginig na sa takot habang nakatingin sa isang babae na may kulay pilak na buhok.
"Si Saviel. Mukhang hindi na siya nakakakilala. Ang mga mata niya ay kulay lila at ang buhok niya ay kulay pilak katulad ng pagkaka-describe niya sa sarili niya sa librong sinulat niya," ani ni Kastiel.
"Stay where you are, Devoncourt. Don't do anything reckless if you want to have a long life. This is what I am scared of. They already achieved the medicine they created, and they already implanted it to her."
"What should we do now?"
"Wait for us, Devoncourt. All of you, prepare for battle."
Kumilos na kami at rinig ko ang bawat yabag ng kanilang mga paa at kanilang paghinga sa pagmamadali para mapuntahan si Kastiel.
Nagtagpo kaming lahat sa bakal na pintuan at bago ko pa man mahawakan ang pinto, biglang bumukas 'yon at nagulat kaming lahat nang tumilapon si Kastiel palabas.
"Kastiel!"
GUMAPANG ANG kilabot sa buong katawan ko nang lumabas si Saviel mula sa loob ng laboratoryo na kinaroroonan niya at kitang-kita ng mga mata namin ang naglalakihang kapsula katulad ng pinagawa ni Aqueros sa akin para gawing pansamantalang bahay ni L'usine.
Hawak-hawak ni Saviel ang isang lalaking doktor na wala nang buhay at basta na lamang itong binitawan.
"S-Sav... mars, ako 'to si Sinj,"
"Don't come near her, Sinji. She's not the Hyuga you knew!"
Ngunit bago pa man makaatras si Sinji, mabilis itong nalapitan ni Saviel at isang suntok ang binitawan nito sa mukha ni Sinji ngunit agad itong nasangga ni Cassius gamit ang kamay niya.
"Get away from her, Sinji!"
"M-Mars..."
"Kumilos ka na!"
I was stunned from where I was standing, but I immediately took action and took the sedative in my pocket that I had made for Aqueros, and without hesitation, I thrust it into Saviel's neck and emptied the liquid it contained.
Before I could even pull out the syringe I was holding, Saviel kicked me in the side and I was thrown against the wall, causing me to vomit blood.
"Gun!"
"Fvck! We can't handle her like this if we can't fight back."
"Huwag! Huwag niyong sasaktan si Sav, parang awa niyo na!" Umiiyak na sigaw ni Sinji.
Alanis came closer to me, so I held my side and felt like a bone in my rib cage had broken.
Hayup, ang lakas ni Sav.
Sav's free hand swung again, and she gave Cassius a strong punch, but Cassius' reflexes were fast, so he dodged it and let go of Sav, and then he walked away with Sinji.
Until we heard a cough and Alanis and I turned to the male doctor who was leaning against the door while his side was covered in his own blood gushing out.
"I wouldn't be surprised if you found this place right away. This is the creation we want you to see, Bloodfist. Now taste the power of Neoearth!"
"Damn you! Why did you do this! Tell me who's behind that damn group of yours!" sigaw ni Aqueros na naging dahilan para magningas sa galit ang kulay dugo niyang mga mata.
"You can't find our hideout, Bloodfist. We are scattered around the world and even if you erase us, we will surely arise from the grave you dig--- huk!"
Suddenly, Saviel approached the male doctor and simply choked him like he was plastic, causing the doctor's body to rise into the air.
The speed with which she acted was like she wasn't a normal person. Just like Aqueros when he was in battle and on the verge of death.
Ito na ba ang tinatawag nilang Elixir of life?
"Don't do this to me, Queen. Your father did everything to reach this peak as we finished what we desired. Now that our search has been a fruitful success, you can't kill me."
Saviel tilted her head. "Kill."
Before we could stop Sav, she clenched her hand and almost snapped the doctor's neck and his head completely separated, causing blood to splash onto Sav's face from the doctor she was holding and she simply threw it to the floor and looked at all of us.
Nakakatakot.
Her purple eyes sparkled in the light coming from inside the laboratory where he came from.
Ano bang ginawa nila kay Sav para maging ganito siya? Katulad din ba kay Aqueros? Ikinulong siya sa isang malaking kapsula na may lamang asul na likido?
"Hyuga, please wake up."
Nahabag ako bigla sa tono ng boses ni Aqueros at nagsimula na siyang ihakbang ang kanyang mga paa palapit kay Saviel.
Ngayon ko lang siya narinig na magmakaawa na hindi naman niya ginagawa dati.
"K-Kuya!"
"Aqueros, that's too dangerous. Don't come closer, or you'll end up dying!" sigaw ni Cassius.
Ngunit hindi nakinig si Aqueros.
Tinignan ko ang mga kaibigan ko at lahat sila ay walang magawa kundi ang tignan na lang si Aqueros kung ano ang gagawin niya.
Wala nang malay si Kastiel at yakap-yakap na siya ni Reiden habang si Sinji naman ay pinipigilan ni Senri na makalapit kay Aqueros at Saviel.
Sinji is crying hard as if this will be the end for us.
We are all helpless because we can't hurt Saviel as we did to other enemies we have encountered over the past years.
We are all merciless.
But she's our family.
Hanggang sa huminto ang mga paa ni Aqueros sa harapan ni Saviel at inabot niya ang kamay nito at walang pagdadalawang-isip na inilapat 'yon sa kanyang mukha.
"Hyuga, it's me. You don't recognize me? I am your Barney. Your baklang dinosaur. Please, come back to me. I need you right now. Don't cover your hands with those dirty blood and don't hurt your friends. Ako na lang. Kahit ako na lang, tatanggapin ko lahat."
It hurts to see him like this.
My chest tightened as I looked at them. It feels like my heart will rip apart into pieces.
"Kill... Bloodfist..."
I swallowed hard as Saviel said, so I tried to stand up, but I couldn't because my body cried from the pain I received from her. "A-Aqueros, get away from her!"
"Aqueros!"
"Kuya, please, save her!"
"Aqueros!"
Saviel's hand slipped from Aqueros' grip, and she gave Aqueros a strong punch to the face, but he didn't flinch at all and just turned his face to the other side.
"Hurt me. If you want to kill me then do it. We were both inside the darkness that damn group made for us. But hear my voice, I will find you where you are--"
Aqueros lunged toward Alanis and me when Saviel kicked him in the side. He vomited blood and tried to stand up, but his body gave in on its own.
"A-Aqueros--" bago ko pa siya mapigilan, nakalapit na si Saviel sa amin at hinaklit niya sa kwelyo si Aqueros at sinakal ito katulad ng ginawa niya sa doktor kanina.
Makikita sa mga mata ni Aqueros ang lungkot at sakit na minsan ko nang nakita noong mga panahong hinahanap namin si Sinji.
Ngunit mas nangingibabaw ang sakit sa kulay dugong mga mata ni Aqueros.
"I know you suffered too much, and I am too late. That's why you acted like this. Hyuga, I want you back."
"Kill... Bloodfist."
"Please, come back to me... I love you..."
Saviel's grip on Aqueros' neck tightened, alarming us all, and what surprised me even more was Cassius's actions.
He kicked the back of Saviel's knee, causing her to fall to her knees and let go of Aqueros. That's why I tried to stand up and help stop Sav, but before I could get close, Cassius lunged at me, causing us both to fall to the ground.
We both groaned in pain but I thank Cassius for what he did. Alam naming magagalit si Aqueros sa ginawa ni Cass but we need to do it for his own safety.
Aqueros can't be dead from Saviel's hands.
"Tangna! Kumilos na kayong lahat!" sigaw ko.
"W-We can't hurt her, Gun," may pag-aalangang sagot ni Calvin sa akin.
"J-Just pinned her or s-something she can't reach Aqueros! Use your brain! Hindi tayo naging Bloodfist para maging estatwa sa harapan ng Boss natin!"
"Fvck! Pag ako naparusahan dahil dyan sa utos mo, isasama kita!" singhal ni Thud sa akin ngunit kumilos naman ito para pigilan si Sav.
"Think those punishments later. Gun is right. We need to prioritize Aqueros' safety because that's what we promise as part of the Bloodfist. I know Sav will understand us if we do this."
"Thank you, Rent."
All of us use our force to pin down Saviel, but she's too strong to handle. Rent is not trained for combat but he did everything to stop Saviel.
But all of us ended up on our deathbed as we all covered in blood and struggled in pain with Saviel's punches and kicks.
'Isa ito sa mga laban na nahihirapan kaming lahat dahil si Saviel Hyuga 'yan. Ang babaeng mahal ng Boss namin. Kahit mabalian kaming lahat ng buto o mamatay kaming lahat, gagawin namin ang makakaya namin para mailigtas si Sav at maibalik siya sa amin.'