Curse Of The Aswangs (The Vasquez Brothers #1)[COMPLETED]

30: ZADE

"You're one to talk! You're literally wearing a polka-dotted bowtie from 1993!" Yeah, I was arguing with a literal dummy as a warm up to the upcoming fight ahead.

"Polka dots are timeless, Zade. Much like myself." Goyo winked dramatically at me, or as dramatically as a wooden dummy can.

The structure loomed in front of them—weathered wood, cracked windows, and an eerie stillness that seemed to resonate with the history of generations. "Look, kids, this is not a walk in the park, that witch of yours is a menace."

"I brought snacks!" I fished a bag of chips from his pocket. "How about you little one, would like to eat?"

"I'm made of wood. I don't need to eat, but I could hide them. Really well. Better than you hid that chips, trust me." Goyo said.

"Snacks? Right now?" Ash asked incredulously. "What do you think this is, a picnic?"

"Why not? You never know when you'll need a good snack to fuel a fight!" I replied cheerfully.

"Seriously, Kid!" Goyo exclaimed. "Get rid of the chips and grab something useful!"

"Okay, okay! But first...Let me show you my secret technique: the 'Snack Attack!'"

I stopped when I heard a low growl, warning the intruders to stay back.

I felt the ground beneath him tremble. A deep, rumbling sound echoed across the battlefield, sending a shiver down his spine. He spun around, tightening his grip on his sword, eyes scanning the fog-choked field. The alamánhig, corpses raised by some twisted magic, moved with unsettling speed. Their skin, pale as death, clung tightly to their bones, and their lifeless eyes glowed a faint green.

"Alamanhig zombies." said Trevor, aiming the crossbow at them. "This should be fun."

Ash's hand glimmered faintly with fire magic. He closed his eyes for a moment, feeling the ancient energy of the ancestral house feeding into him, bolstering his power. "They're connected to something deeper here—something we can destroy," he murmured.

The first alamánhig lunged, teeth bared and fingers clawing at Ash. With a swift motion, Ash sliced through its torso, but the zombie barely stumbled before lunging again, unfazed by the wound.

"Head! Go for the head!" Trevor shouted, dodging another creature and delivering a devastating blow to its skull with his feet. The alamánhig crumpled into the dirt. He whirled around and knocked an arrow to the other alamanhig.

Ash grimaced, sidestepping another attack. "They're stronger than I thought!"

"Snack attack!" I swung the chips wildly at the nearest alamanhig, the soft edge bouncing harmlessly off its head. "See? Unbeatable strategy!"

I couldn't help but laugh, the tension easing momentarily.
"That's not how it works!" Ash said.

"Well, how about this then?" I said. "I'll just distract them while you take them out! Look at me, I'm a mandirigma!"

Ash grinned despite himself. "A mandirigma with snacks? That's a new one."

Just then, one of the alamanhig reached for me. I brandished the chip bag like a shield. "Stay back, undead creature! These are nacho-flavored!"

To my shock, the alamanhig halted for a moment, as if pondering this bizarre snack defense. It seemed that perhaps the smell of nacho cheese was enough to baffle even a creature of the undead.

"Zade! It's working!" Ash laughed, flinging a handful of chips at the creature, who seemed genuinely confused, sniffing at the air.

"Okay, now we really need to get serious," I said, shaking my head. "But I admit, this is the weirdest battle tactic I've ever done."