LUNA: The Rebellion

55: At Sunrise

My instincts told me we wouldn't be able to leave this palace any time soon.

I was right.

Pagbukas namin sa mga pintuan, ang pagmumukha kaagad ng Emperor ang bumungad saamin. Suot suot ang mga kulay ng kanyang kaharian ay patay ang kanyang mga matang nakatingin sa direksyon namin. Hindi siya nag-iisa. Sakanyang likuran ay kanyang mga mandirigma na handa ng makipagsabakan sa oras na bigyan sila ng signal ng kanilang Emperor.

The doors behind us closed shut and Diablo's hissing was the first thing I heard as the demon snake crawled around Midnight's feet, as though to protect him.

Sandaling bumaba ang tingin ng Emperor kay Diablo bago ito bumalik kay Midnight.

"You do not need to seal the doors to my war room, King Zagreus. You still have other comrades inside. It will be unwise of you to leave them there" Here I thought we have angered the Emperor to the point I'd expect to hear nothing but his rage. It seemed like we have angered him to the point where he had turned terrifyingly calm. He was only standing in front of us, but there was no opening. There was none. "King Cayden and Queen Zarax might hate you for leaving them behind"

"You do not understand. I am doing them a favor" Midnight answered with the same level of cold calmness.

"Hindi sila makakatakas dito kung iyon ang iniisip mo"

"Maybe not. Maybe they will. I gave them choices, Your Imperial Majesty, as I will to you"

A second of silence. My hand ever so slowly and warily made its way to one of my dress' secret pockets. Hindi ko tinanggal ang tingin ko sa harapan habang gumagalaw ng dahan dahan ang aking kamay.

"You should not take me for a fool. Alam kong nakapalibot na ang iyong mga mandirigma sa palasyo na ito. Alam kong alam mong binalot ko na sa kapangyarihan ko ang buong palasyo. You cannot get out of here unless I say so but I am not going to underestimate you, King Zagreus. No, I will not do the same mistake again. The moment I try to predict you, it will be my loss"

Just when my hand found its way to the hilt of my dagger, I halted when I heard the Emperor's words.

The army behind the Emperor did not move an inch. The Emperor though, his blue eyes were supposed to be a bright color yet it dimmed before us. "Behind the mountains is a land vast enough to be our battlefield. My army has already taken camp in the site and all you need to do is to move forward with your own army until you see ours. There we will commence the final stage of our battle. You and everyone you deem a comrade will leave this place unscathed to prepare for sunrise"

Coldness enveloped the pit of my stomach at the declaration.

"How true are your words, His Imperial Majesty?"

"My warriors will not harm you when you leave this place, as do I. I am growing impatient with the games you play, King Zagreus. Sunrise tomorrow, you and I will finish what we both started"

There was a blow of the wind from our left and every scent of these rotten emotions from the enemies brushed the tip of my nose.

"Cease your barrier. You made it to nullify magic. Cease it"

"I cannot do that. Maglakad kayo palabas"

"You only activated your barrier right after I killed most of your people inside the war room. There is no reason for me to trust a person like you"

"The only reason why I cannot cease my barrier is because of your own magic, King Zagreus. Masyado kang delikado. I have already re-written my barrier para makalabas kayo. That should be enough"