The Night Queen

Chapter 18

c h a p t e r       e ig h t e e n

RAIN'S POV

2019, November
B.A. 6, 9:15 p.m.

I just got here. The B.A.6. Everywhere's crowded and a lot of noise coming back from the inside only meant that the battle will be an exciting one since a lot of people were here, mostly gangsters.

I slipped easily inside without anyone noticing. I wasn't wearing the usual attire when I'm going to a battle arena specially because B.A.6 is not one of my B.As. I looked like a normal person. Bumungad sa akin ang malawak na stage.

At the center, there's two people knocking each other out, and you know for sure that they're in a battle. In a few seconds, the other guy finally finished the battle by smacking the other guy's neck with a big blow. The other guy was unconscious.

"WELCOME TO THE B.A.N.G!!!!!" sigaw ng announcer. Although, Autumn's not a thing in the Philippines, it's the term for all BAs no matter the location. It's the end of October and Autumn's end is on November but they have decuded to kick it off now because of the most awaited event. You'll figure that out soon.

Unti unti akong naglakad papunta sa room na kami lang ang pwedeng pumasok. I have learned the map of this place at home before I get here. Wala namang pinagkaiba sa ibang BAs. Iyon nga lang, mas malawak ang mga iyon at mas madisenyo.

I managed to slip in the forbidden door. The room was dark but when I took a first step, it literally lights up. The whole room is lit. I saw four cloaks hanging at one corner and I went to take one, put it on, and went near the window where I can see everything. The windows were tinted and the blinds were down so they wouldn't be able to see me.

First of all, you must be wondering what B.A.N.G. means. It is an acronymn for Battle Arena: Next Generation. BA means Battle Arena. There were 8 BAs around the globe. BA6 was located here in the Philippines.

For a year, we're holding two end seasons at different BAs. It was the summer and the winter end seasons. B.A.N.G. would have fights back to back depending on the challengers' agreement. An example of this was today's event.

And ofcourse, there's the B.A.N.G. Annual Tyranny. It's like the overall end season battle. This is where all of those who rank from the first season to the last, will have a battle. Ofcourse, cash prize is given in addition with rank increase. And even if they have ranks if they can't afford the payment, they won't be able to register and fight.

Ranks that can proceed to fights depends on the level. Level 3 includes those of ranks 50 to 25. They are called Jedi. Level 2 are those of ranks 24 to 11. They are called the Reel. And the most wanted rank in B.A.N.G are the ranks 10 to 1. Half of them were girls and half were boys. The girls are called Iris and the boys as Ares.

Ang mga tawag na iyan ay basehan ng kanilang rank. They have their names or even their code names. Most people here don't hide their true identity. Hindi naman pinipilit ang mga taong ito para ipakita kung sino sila. They are bound with the rules but can decide at things like that.

Lastly, B.A.N.G. legendaries are the ultimate. There are 8 BAs, right? Each BA can have a legendary. They are called Supreme. However it is possible that one can rule all BAs and be called Merlin.

Currently, there isn't a Merlin. Hindi pa kasi ginaganap ang B.A.N.G. Merlin. The biggest event of all. Iyong tinutukoy ko kanina na pinaghahandaan ng lahat. It happens every after 5 years.

I can see the crowd's furious and excited reactions. Naupo ako sa pwesto ng swivel chair ko. Nasa Cloud 9 ako. It was the room for the Supremes. Para siyang VVIP area tuwing may mga sports matches.

Ang maglalaban ngayon ay ang mga Iris at Ares. I grinned with that thought. Ngayon ko palang makikitang lumaban ang rank 1 ng BA 6.

THIRD PERSON'S POV

Ingay ang bumungad sa tainga ni Alex nang makarating siya sa bahay ni Xan. Nadatnan niya ang apat na naglalaro ng VR games at napansing wala pa si Lance at Ace.

Alam nila na kaya nahuli si Ace sa pagdating ay dahil sa binigay na parusa. Natatawa na lamang siya sa isipang ngayon niya lang nakita si Ace na nagkakaganito. Hindi niya mapagtanto kung tama ba ang pagbabagong nakikita niya o hindi. Pero sa pansamantala, hahayaan muna nila ito sapagkat ito'y kasiyahan lamang.

Saktong pumasok rin si Lance nang biglang tumunog ang kaniyang phone. Tumaas ang kilay niya. Nasa kaniya ang tingin ng lima at mukhang alam na nila kung sino ito. Natatawang napapailing nalang talaga ang lima sa nakikita.

Sinagit ito ni Lance at agad inilayo ang telepono sa kaniyang tainga. "YOU MORON!" sigaw ng babae sa kabilang linya. Iisa lang ang taong kayang gawin iyon kay Lance at iyon ay walang iba kundi ang kaniyang ate, si Ki. Panganay na kapatid ni Lance si Kianna a.k.a. Ki Riverdale. Siya lang naman ang nakakapag-inis kay Lance.

"Don't you ever dare to go," may pagbabanta sa boses ng dalaga. Hindi umimik ang anim. Hindi man nakalagay sa loudspeaker ang telepono, narinig pa rin nila ang sinabi ng babae.

"You wish. We have a challenger," bigkas ni Lance nang walang pakundangan. Hindi alam nang lima kung matatawa ba sila o makakabahan dahil sa pagsumbat ni Lance. Hindi na kasi ito bago sa kanila ngunit sa mga oras na ito, may kung anong kakaiba sa tono ng boses ni Ki.

"I swear I'm going to kill you," sambit ng dalaga. Tila walang pakialam si Lance sa kung ano mang dahilan ng ate niya para pigilan siyang magpunta sa B.A.N.G.

Biglang tumahimik sa kabilang linya. Nanlaki ang mata ni Lance sa narinig. Pinindot niya ang loudspeaker para marinig rin ng mga kasama niya at maging sila ay hindi nakahanda sa narinig.

"A candidate for Merlin is here," balita ni Ki. Hindi makapaniwala ang anim sa narinig. Huling nakita nila ang mga kandidato ng pagiging Merlin noong nakaraang limang taon. Hindi kapanipaniwala na biglang lumabas ang isang Supreme sa hindi naman kalakihang pagtitipon.

Bagamat binalaan sila ng dalaga, iisa lang ang nasa isip ng anim. Iyon ay ang nais nilang makita ito nang mismong mga mata nila.

***
The Night Queen
by jrhabellie