The Steal Game

Chapter Seventeen: Green-Eyed Soldier

-chapter seventeen-

"Let me show you how the master of thieves work."

MULA NANG masama ako sa kulto ni Tanda, I learned how to fight. I became an expert on every fighting technique. Ito rin ang tumulong sa'kin sa bawat heist. You can't become one of the talented thieves if you don't know how to fight.

Kaya naman I felt deeply offended sa cheat nitong sundalo. Tingnan mo nga naman at ang swerte ng lalaking 'to. Sigurado akong lalampa-lampa din siya gaya no'ng mga knights na kilala ko, but because of the witch's power, he's very strong now.

The people controlled by the witch has glowing green eyes, like the emerald stone on the Necklace of Twain. Their main purpose is to protect the witch, and when they move to new cities, it's under her orders. Kaya niya rin makita kung anong nakikita ng mga controlled soldiers.

Ah, dapat pala sinabihan ko silang huwag magpakita sa mga sundalo. Baka may mga magreport dito sa witch at makitang nandito ang prinsipe.

I glanced at the side, where they were previously standing. Wala na sila. I shrugged. Oh well, kung makita e'di makikita. Tinatamad na kong habulin sila.

The soldier in front of me moved. Kaagad rin akong naalerto. Maldita kong itinaas ang kilay sa mga mabibilis niyang atake. Nako, nako, kung hindi ka lang under control, mas clumsy ka pa siguro kay Pheme.

I dodged all of his incoming strikes. Hindi mahirap 'yon dahil isa akong magaling na thief. My career requires fast reflexes. Grabbing his right arm, I twisted it and turned him around. Itinutok ko ang kutsilyo sa leeg niya't bahagya iyong hiniwa.

Mabilis na hinablot ng sundalo ang kamay ko. His armored elbow hit my stomach making me stagger back. Gago, cheater talaga ang walang'yang 'to! Pasalamat may power-up!

Ha! Pero wala pa rin siyang laban sa skills ko. A borrowed power like him wouldn't match with my own, godly-given talents-

Tumugil ang sunod-sunod na atake ko nang madapa. The soldier stepped back, startled when my face kissed the ground.

"Kasalanan mo 'to, Murphy." I mumbled against the cement.

Isang mahinang halakhak ang narinig ko sa likod kaya agad akong tumayo at bumaling doon.

I heard some sort of movement. Siguro umalis na ang mokong sa takot na mabisto. I glared at that direction, wiping the dirt off my face. Ang mamalas talaga ng mga unggoy na 'yon. Lagi akong nakikipaghalikan sa lupa kapag nandiyan sila.

I froze when I felt something coming my way. Kaagad akong yumuko, just in time to avoid a sharp slash. I spinned around, kicking him by the neck and simultaneously grabbing two of my knives to stab in his thighs. I met his glowing green eyes with my crimson ones as I deepened the wound.

When he fell on his knees, the loud sound of steel hitting the pavement echoed along the walls.

Umikot ako't itinapon ang kutsilyo sa isang alleyway. It hit something and I moved. In a blink, I was in front of another green-eyed soldier. Bahagya kong itinaas ang head armor niya para itusok ang poisoned needle sa leeg.

Bago pa siya matumba sa sahig ay muli akong lumipat ng aatakehing sundalo. I appear and vanish between alleys in a flash. Mahigit benteng sundalo na ang napatumba ko nang magpakita si Augustus sa aking harapan. I wanted to feel smug because of his amazed expression, but for some reason, I felt uncomfortable.

"Tinitingin mo?" angas ko sa kaniya.

"That's incredible, Vash. You defeated half of their number in just five minutes!" punong-puno ng pagkahanga ang boses ni Lucius na nagpasimangot naman sa isa.