Excelium [Editing]

Kabanata 63

Pastrana Village...

"L-lumayo ka!" sigaw ng isang ginoo habang siya'y nakaupo sa lupa at pilit na lumalayo sa nilalang na nasa kaniyang harapan. The man standing in front of him is wearing a very stoic expression. Not even bothered by the flames surrounding them.

The unknown man raised his sword. Hiniwa nito ang dibdib ng ginoo at tuluyan ng bumagsak ang bangkay nito sa duguang lupa.

Ang buong bayan ay nasusunog. Nagkalat ang katawan ng mga tao, at nangangamoy ang dugo.

"Hay, hay. This is too easy." lumapit ang isang babae sa kaniya habang mahina nitong ipinapalo ang dalang malaking espada sa sariling balikat.

"Ha ha ha! All they did was crawl like a pest!" a very tall man with a huge body said while a big axe is on his shoulder.

"What can you expect? Humans are weak. Give them fear and they'll tremble. That's boring isn't it?" a 12 year old boy said while sitting on a branch of a nearby tree. The big man looked around to search for someone.

"Where's Garo?" he asked.

"Ah, him? He said he'll take a walk for a bit." the woman said with a bored tone.

"A walk huh..." the huge man said with a smirk on his lips.

--

"Alright, training's over. Cool down." once they heard Zai's announcement, they fell on the floor with exhaustion. All of them are breathing hard and sweating.

"I'm going out for a bit." Zai said and picked up a sheathed sword on the floor.

"Eh?! Why Captain?! You told us you'll cook dinner tonight!" Ace said while he's still lying on his chest.

"I will. I'll just get the ingredients." they sighed and just let her be.

Lumabas si Zai ng training room at naglakad patungo sa labasan ng paaralan. Tumingin-tingin siya sa paligid at kaniyang napansin ang katahimikan ng lugar. Tumingin siya ng diretso sa pasilyong kaniyang dinaraanan at napansin niya ang isang estudyante na tumatakbo. Nilagpasan siya nito at nahalata niya ang takot na bumabalot sa lalaki.

Lalo siyang nagtaka noong parami ng parami ang tumatakbo at nilalagpasan siya. All of them are screaming and frightened. Hinawakan niya ang isang braso ng babae. Nagpumiglas ito ngunit noong tumingin sa kanya ay natigilan ito.

"C-captain Zai..."

"What is happening?" Zai asked with a straight face. Muling rumehistro ang takot sa mukha ng babae.

"A-a d-demon..." Zai was surprised by the girl's words. She turned to the direction where they are coming from but the girl stopped her by grabbing her arm.

"Don't! He's not normal! The three captains are already there and no one knows if they can still hold him off."

"That's the more reason to go." Zai immediately run. While she's on her way, she can't help but to wonder how the enemy got in the barrier without her sensing anything. Her feet brought her to the field and she can see the three fighting a man. He's wearing a black fitted long sleeve and on his lower part, he's wearing a white loose pajama-like pants. It's the kind of pants that Japanese wore a long time ago. (Something like what Inuyasha is wearing). The guy has muscles that is very obvious while he's wearing a fitted cloth.

The man is fighting them simultaneously and he's not losing. May maliit na ngiti pa sa labi nito habang pinaglalaruan ang tatlo. Zai can say that the man's speed is not normal. But she knows that he's still not showing his full ability yet. Sa isang iglap ay biglang tumalsik ang tatlo. Nicolov hit his back on one of the academy's classrooms. Serene hit the flag pole of the school while Caliver landed hard on the stage's stairs.

"Is that it? You can at least make things entertaining~" the man complained. Zai is far away from the man's place but she can sense that the man radiates combat skills just by standing there. This man... is dangerous!

She walked closer, when the man noticed her presence he looked at her and there's a smirk on his lips.

"Your name?" Zai asked and stopped with a few meters gap between them. She's still far from the man but it is enough to hear him.

"It's Garo. I just came here for fun but it seems I can't find it here." Zai glanced at the three who are currently unconscious. She looked around the whole area. How come the teachers are not here?

"Ah, you looking for the oldies? They're busy." Garo smirked. "Those three are skilled but their skills are much lower than mine. Oh right. I've heard that there are four of them here. Do you know where's the other one?"

Zai put her hand on the hilt of her sword, "Yeah, I wonder where that guy go."

Garo smirked and motioned his hand like he's getting his claws ready. "Well, I'll just find him later. Keep me entertained, will you?"

For a split second, the man vanished from where he is standing. Mabilis na gumilid si Zai at tila bumagal ang oras na nakita niya ang lalaki sa kaniyang harapan na mukhang hindi ito nagtagumpay na saksakin siya gamit lamang ang kamay. The man has a surprised expression on his face. Muling nawala ang lalaki at lumitaw sa medyo malayo sa kanya.

"Heh~ so you can keep up?" the man is wearing a very excited expression while looking at her. But his eyes widen when he did not see the girl where she was just standing. He immediately bend his back and in a slow motion, he saw a sword almost touching his face. He stood properly and searched for Zai. When he saw her running, he immediately followed and landed a punch but he ended up punching the wall and it caused a cracked.

What? I was running after her afterimage?

He looked behind him and saw a blade about to hit his face but he jumped and landed on the top of the flag pole. He stood there while looking down at Zai who is holding her sword on her right hand and looking at him. He smirked and squat.

"You must be the fourth. Not bad."

"You're not either."

"Hey, did you know? Avis, your God, is already sleeping her ass off for eternity." Garo said while his cheek is resting on his right hand. Zai closed her eyes and sheathed her sword.

"I'm aware."

"Oh, really? Only a few knows the secret of Gods. Didn't thought that you're one of them."

"So are you."

--

"What are they talking about?" tanong ni Zera habang sila'y nakasilip mula sa gilid kung saan malayo sila sa kinaroroonan ng dalawa. Narinig nila ang kaguluhan ng mga estudyante at mabilis silang nagtungo rito noong marinig na narito lahat ng kapitan.

"What are we doing?! We should help her!" muling pagrereklamo ni Jebal. Tumango naman sina Axen at Ace bilang pagsang-ayon.

"No. No one will move. There's no guarantee that you can survive when you enter in their battlefield." utos ni Wein sa kanila. Kanina pa nagpupumilit ang mga ito na tulungan ang kanilan kapitan ngunit hindi sila pinahihintulutan ni Wein na bise kapitan ng kanilang dormitoryo.

"But what if---!"

"Can you keep up with that guy's speed? Can you even see him? It's already amazing that Zai is keeping up. If we step in, we might be a nuisance for her." Vyann said and they're all quiet because of his words.

"But it's still strange. Not a single teacher is in sight." Layn said and they all wondered because of the mystery.

"They might be locked up somewhere or they're fighting others like him." Kleiv interfered.

"Okay. Our priority for now is to find the teachers' whereabouts and sure that they are safe. For sure that that guy created a barrier of his own so none of us have a place to escape. Escaping and asking for help outside is not an option for us. Now go. Let's find the teachers for help." they all nodded and went on their own way, following Wein's order.