Anito Anarchy (The Chaos of the Spirits)

Chapter 26: An Ominous Prophecy

"If you look back at the board, you'll see the bottom-most bubble, just a little below the Soulmancer and the Phantom. That is where a Netherbeast or an Olimau falls under," Mayari said. "When a Phantom grows stronger, and the Anito within it gains more control of its body, it evolves into a new being that closely resembles the Anito's actual appearance. It is considered as their final form. The Amalanhigs that you fought that night were a good example of this. It's either that those humans have been possessed for quite some time already, or they have developed a higher compatibility level with those evil Anitos, making it easier for the Amalanhigs to consume their full consciousness as a Netherbeast. Once a Phantom turns into a Netherbeast, it will be harder for the Black Anito to get severed from the host body. But even though it will be tough, a Netherbeast can still be freed from the control of the Anito inside it, unlike a Soulmancer. That is why it's important to vanquish a Phantom as soon as possible before it becomes an even bigger threat."

"It's the same thing with Soulmancers," Mayari continued. "They can also evolve into a Netherbeast. When that happens, that only means that the Anito has also completely taken over the Soulmancer's body, becoming a new entity similar to its true form. More likely than not, especially for Black Anitos, a Netherbeast displays a monstrous look that is just so menacing and intimidating."

"Now, if you look back at the fourth bubble, for the Whispered, you will notice an arrow below it, pointing directly to the last bubble, the Netherbeast. That is because once an Anito possesses a Whispered, depending on the level of compatibility of both entities, there are times that a Whispered can immediately turn into a Netherbeast even without transforming first to either a Phantom or a Soulmancer. With the level of power surging inside you, and without the proper abilities as a Whispered, you can turn directly to a Netherbeast if you can't learn to control your diwa."

"Then what do you suggest I should do?" I curiously asked, feeling terrified of the possibility of turning into a mindless monster.

"I supposed The Anarchy could help you," Mayari replied. "But I am not certain about it yet. As I told you, you are a strange variable in everything that is happening right now. You are a disparity on all of this, and that is why I am not certain where they stand about you. They might need more time to understand you before making a decision."

"You'd been talking a lot about The Anarchy, but I am not sure I understand it clearly," I cautiously said. "I know you and my brother are part of it, but what is it really?"

"Anito National Agency for Research and Security. A.N.A.R.S. also called The ANARchy," Mayari replied. "We are a top-secret government agency responsible for anything related to the Anitos. Our entire operation is highly classified and covert in nature, which is why only select members of this country's governmental body know about our existence. We are mainly responsible for conducting research and studies about Anitos, exploring ways to help humanity understand their existence, and developing technologies and advancements through their boundless powers. We are also responsible for maintaining the security and order of this country against threats coming from the Anitos. The Anarchy agents, also called Shadows, as you already know, were trained to fight against risks brought upon by the Anitos. Most of the Shadows are powerful Whispered and even Soulmancers, with special abilities they utilize in their interactions with the Anitos."