The Harvest [Unedited]

XXXVII

Acheron's POV

Something changed.

"May problema ba? Kailangan mo bang umihi?" Hindi ko siya pinansin at pinakiramdaman ang paligid.

The scent of burning ashes and death in the mortal realm heightened, and that marks our final battle. The gates of the underworld had been unleashed, yet Phlegethon's presence is nowhere to be felt.

This is not what we planned! Our attack shouls be tomorrow!

Tumingin ako kay Alpheus at mukhang alam niya na ang ibig kong sabihin. Tumango siya sa akin, tanda na kailangan ko nang umalis at harapin ang mga kalaban.

"Cammie," tawag ko sa kaniya. "Kailangan ko siguro talagang pumunta ng kubeta," sambit ko at mabilis pa sa alas kwatrong naglakad palayo. Nang siguradong wala nang makakakita sa akin ay agad kong pinalitan ang aking anyo at tumambad sa akin ang delubyo.

The air has darkened, and the sky started turning into a dark shade of red. Embers and ashes were also floating everywhere. It looks like the apocalypse finally begun.

Inilabas ko ang aking sandata at mabilis na nilipad ang laot ng Labugao, slashing every dark fury I see along my way. There, I saw my comrades facing the water, waiting for the underworld monsters to show up.

"You're late."
"Nasaan si Alpheus?"

Hindi ko pinansin si Lethe at Styx. "Where's Plegethon?" tanong ko kay Eridanos na napahigpit ang hawak sa kaniyang sariling espada.

"We can't feel his presence. It's as if he just disappeared into thin air. Maybe he died? He can't also be in the underworld because he'll have to face Hades himself."

I'm not sure if that's a good thing or bad, but one thing's certain. Hindi aatras si Phlegethon sa laban. 

"Did Alpheus really betray us?" I stiffened at Cocytus' question. Napalunok ako bago sumagot

"He did not. But there's a bad news..." hinarap ko silang lahat at nanatili lang silang tahimik. "He'll not join the fight."

"Ano?!"
"What?!"

"You heard me. He'll not fight with us. That's... that's what he bargained when... he saved me and Cammie." Halatang nagulat silang lahat sa sinabi ko. "I--"

Bago ko pa man ako matapos ay yumanig ang buong lupa. Agad kaming lumutang sa ere upang hindi malamon ng buhangin at napaharap sa palubog na araw nang maradaman ang presensya ng isang halimaw mula sa impyerno.

Oh, boy.

The Kraken screeched while flailing its long sucking tentacles as it emerged from the deep waters below. Tumaas ang alon sa dagat kaya kahit hindi ito nakikita ng mga mortal ay maging sila ay nag panic.

Humans can never see what's really happening, unless they're granted the gift of sight or what they usually call third eye. But the tremors of the ground and the large waves are enough warning signs that they need to go somewhere safe.

"Acheron! Ano na? Freeze the goddamn water!" galit na sambit ni Styx habang pinuputol ang mga mahahabang galamay ng halimaw gamit ang kaniyang nagbabagang sibat.

"Are you out of your mind?! That would literally change the topography and climate of the world! Hindi natin pwedeng pakialaman ang disenyo ng mundo dahil baka tayo pa mismo ang papatay sa sangkatauhan!"

"Leave it to me," prisinta ni Cocytus at nagdasal. Maya-maya pa ay nasundan na naman ang yanig ng lupa at isa-isang tumaas ang lupa sa dagat na siyang gumapos sa Kraken.

Tinulungan ko si Styx, Eridanos, at Lethe na puksain ang higanteng lamang-tubig samantalang nanatili sa pagdarasal si Cocytus. I raised my hands then created a large sharp glacier out of thin air, piercing the monster using it.