Chapter 78

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ni Cherubibi

ni Cherubibi

Volt's View

"F-Fuck... Xerene, go back to your fucking senses! Xerene!" I'm struggling really hard on restraining her. She's no joke.

"Argh!" Napa-atras ako sa sobrang lakas niya. She turned around and face me before giving me a hard blow in my fucking handsome face. Napasalampak ako sa sahig habang naka-hawak sa panga kong namamanhid. Fuck.

"C'mon, Xirquit. Don't hold back. If you want to free her from that collar, kill her. And revive her. If you can."

"Shut up, Dearil!" I'll turn the tables later kapag nandito na ang kahinaan mo. Tsk.

Hinila ni Xerene ang paa ko at nagpaikot-ikot, "Woah, woah, woah!" Tinakpan ko ang ulo ko at malakas na dumaing nang tumama ang likod ko sa mga armored knights na naka-display dito. One heavy metal fell on me. I bit my lower lip and looked at Xerene.

"Go back to your s-senses, Xerene. O-Or I will...hurt you." I balled my fist and pushed myself to get up. Nanlaki ang mga mata ko nang may tumagos na malamig at matigas na bagay sa tiyan ko.

Bumaba ang tingin ko doon. Bago kay Xerene na may hawak na espada. Bumuga ako ng dugo. Lalo na nang hugutin niya 'yon. Sumalampak ako sa sahig.

"Are you going to die?" Nang-aasar ba talaga siya!?

"Xe...rene..." Why?

"Kapag naging masaya na talaga sina DEATH at Vava sa isa't isa, aasa ako na kukuhanin mo ako kay Liore, ha? Kahit anong mangyari, ikaw na ang bahala sa akin."

Y-Yeah, right. I remembered. I still need to...get her. I promised her that. After this war...she will be mine. I'll make her leave everything behind without taking any responsibility nor regret. I promised to take her away in this hell. I promised Xerene. That's why...

Unti-unti akong tumayo at inabot ang isa pang espada na nasa sahig at nag-angat ng tingin sa kaniya. She raised the sword while looking at me with lifeless eyes. I closed my eyes and did it.

I stabbed her.

Gervanni Lucrese/LIFE III's View

*heavy breathing and panting*

Hinawakan ko ang tagiliran kong nagdurugo. Hindi ko alam kung ilang minuto na ang nakalipas simula nang mag-umpisa kami pero heto ako, hingal na hingal na. I've been attacking him endlessly but it doesn't look like he gets tired. Yes, may mga sugat din siyang natatamo galing sa akin yet he remained standing and strong. Ilang pader na din ang nasira namin. At alam kong anytime ay magko-collapse na ang palapag na kinalalagyan namin ngayon.

He threw a hard block on me at tumama 'yon sa tagiliran ko. Hindi na rin ako makagalaw ng maayos sa sobrang pagod at dami ng dugong nailabas ko. Hindi siya napapagod! He's insanely strong!

"UGH!" Muli akong tumalsik sa lakas ng sipa niya sa akin. Tumama ang likod ko sa pader na agad namang gumuho.

"FUCK!" M-My legs---!

"V-Van!" Agad akong tumingin kay Dad na nasa kabilang dulo at hinihingal.

"Don't go near here, Dad! The floor's collapsing!" Fuck! What the heck is he doing here!? Kaya ayaw ko siyang nandidito, eh! He'll hold me back!

"LIOREI! ENOUGH! STOP HURTING YOUR BROTHER! LISTEN TO ME!" What the hell!? Gusto na ba niyang mamatay!?

Liore stopped from walkong towards me at tumingin sa kaniya. Patuloy ang pagbagsak ng maliliit na mga bato mula sa kisame. Tanda na bibigay na ang kinalalagyan namin.

Liore then started walking towards him nang biglang yumanig. Lahat kami ay nagsitingin sa itaas. The ceiling...is falling.

"LIORE!!!!" Dad screamed. Everything went in slow motion. I was staring at him with mouth agape. I felt my hands moving. Binuhat ko ang tipak ng bato na nakuha ko sa tabi ko at ibinato sa kaniya. Kasabay ng pagbagsak niya ay ang pag-collapse ng hallway.

"VAN!!! LIORE!!!" D-Dad...

Hindi ko na alam ang sumunod pang nangyari dahil unti-unting nandilim ang paningin ko. The last thing I saw was Liore. Lying on the ground with the ceiling on his body.

Thanks god, he'll die now.

LIFE II's View

"M-Max! Max! Help! V-Van! Si Van!" Humahangos kong tawag sa kanila habang hindi mapakali at natataranta. Nilapitan ako ni Devon na naguguluhan.

"G-GUYS! A chamber in the west wing collapsed! Si Van---!" Ani ng isang assassin kaya wala na kaming inaksayang oras at pinuntahan sila.

At ang unang bumungad sa amin ay si Liore. The thing around his neck unlocked. And he seems back to his senses now.

He looked at me. My tears starts welling in my eyes.

"My son..." lumapit ako sa kaniya at lumuhod sa tabi niya. Hinawakan ko ang batong naka-dagan sa kaniya.

"Help! Everyone! Help me---" natigilan ako nang hawakan niya ang kamay ko gamit ang nanlalamig niyang kamay.

"Dad..." My heart melted.

"Liore..." kinuha ko ang kamay niya at inilagay sa pisngi ko, "Son, hold on. We'll save you. Please, hang on. Live for me, son. Aayusin natin 'to. Aayusin natin 'to, Liorei." He smiled at me faintly and shooked his head slowly. The assassins removed the rocks na nakatabon kay Van ata agad siyang sinugod sa infirmary. And the rest were watching us.

"I'm happy...to be your son...that you're became my father..."

"Shhh, don't speak. We'll fix this, hmm? You'll live." Naka-ngiting sabi ko at hinaplos ang ulo niya. He smiled even wider.

"I am...truly blessed to have you...and Tita Sera... You t-treat me good...and welcomed me... I am truly grateful...being with you. I-I regret nothing...b-being with you. I was b-blinded. Blinded by power... I bring burdens to you. After all the things you've done f-for me... I gave you m-misfortunes in return. T-They showed me fake...care and love. They---" He coughed blood.

"L-Liore... Please, don't speak. G-Guys, please, help me. Remove this rock! My son is dying! Paris! Max! Please! Yohanne! Your cousin... Yohanne!" I begged at pilit na inaalis ang tipak ng bato sa kaniya. But they just remained standing there. Walang balak na tulungan siya.

I asked them with tears flowing in my cheeks, "Why?"

"I-It's okay, Dad. I...want to die too already..."

"NO! NO, LIOREI! YOU WILL LIVE! YOU WILL!"

"Baby Flyme is really stubborn...until now." He chuckled. I smiled and nodded.

"I hope...he remembered the old me... I hope he will remember...how happy I was...to have a brother..."

"Liore..."

He closed his eyes, "Dad, I love you. You're the best Dad ever. I still have many things to say but...I don't have enough time. I am truly evil. And I know, after all the things I did, my death is not enough to atone all of my sins. Xerene... Lorreign... They are the most wonderful gift I ever had. My daughter... Xirquit... Take care of her. I love her...more than anything in this world. More than the moneys and properties I plundered. My life...is beautiful right from the start and until this day. Tell her...that Daddy loves her so much. And sorry if...I won't fulfill my duty as her father anymore. Thank you for everything, Dad. Thank you for accepting this demon. Daddy," he gripped my hand tight,

"...I love you." And with a smile, he blew his last breath.

Mahigpit kong niyakap ang katawan niya.

"LIOREI!!!" N-No... Don't leave me. Don't leave me, Liore. I-I love you too, son! Please, don't do this. Liore!

He died with a smile. He died peacefully and with happiness. He died with relief. My son...is dead.

"Rest in not-so-peaceful place, Gerson Liorei." Mahinang sabi nila. I sobbed. I lost a son. I didn't made it on time. I failed on...changing him. I failed on...loving him more.

"We will...take good care of Lorreign, Liore. I promise. You won't be forgotten. I will...introduce her to you so that you will not be forgotten." Naka-ngiting sabi ko habang humahagulgol. Devon tapped my back. Binitawan ko na siya.

"Rest in peace, Liore. I love you. Always." I kisses his forehead one more time.

I never hated you, son. And I will never hate you. Even though you fell in the darkness, I know there's still kindness in your heart. I know that you're still the old Liore I raised so well. It's not you who should I be loathing but your mother.

I will kill her.

Alessandra's View

"Kris, Arone and Liorei's down, My Lord. Are we going to send Gerevich out?" Report ko sa kaniya habang nakaluhod sa harapan niya.

"No. Not yet. Send Lancelot. Make him bring the most dangerous gun we have. Make them perish."

"Yes, My Lord." Naka-ngising sabi ko bago tumayo at sumenyas sa kanila.

"Send Lancelot out with it! RIGHT.NOW!" Agad silang kumilos at inilabas si Lancelot sa capsule. Nangingisi akong bumalik sa aking Panginoon at umupo sa kaniyang tabi. Pinapanood ang mga kaganapan sa labas.

"Liore is utterly useless. Hindi na dapat natin siya hinayaang mabuhay." Malamig na sabi niya na tinanguhan ko naman.

"But he became a big help too. Tama nga lang sa kaniya ang mamatay." I can't believe I had a son like him. He's such a failure! Wala siyang naitulong sa aming maganda at malaki! Tsk. Walang kwenta.

Good thing he's dead now. Pabigat lang siya.

"Alessandra,"

"Yes, My Lord?"

"Go." Nabigla ako sa sinabi niya. Ibinaba niya ang wine glass na hawak niya at ngumiti, "Show them what you can do, Alessandra. I want you to kill.them.all." Nabigla ako sa sinabi niya ngunit hindi kalauna'y ngumiti at tumango.

"My pleasure, My Lord." Wika ko at kinuha ang aking latigo. Kanina pa din naman ako nangangating pumatay.

You send me out right on time, My Lord.

Volt's View

"Xerene..."

Unti-unti niyang binuksan ang mga mata niya. Matamlay siyang ngumiti habang nanghihina, "Pika-Pika..."

"I'm here. I'll fulfill my promise to you now. Sorry for stabbing you. But I need to." Mahinang sabi ko at hinaplos ang pisngi niya. She smiled faintly.

"It's okay... I'm okay..."

"Do you want to sleep now?" She nodded without no hesitations.

"Yes, please." I nodded. Binuhat ko siys at iniwan si Dearil sa kwartong 'yon. Tumingin ako sa paligid bago nagmamadaling pumunta sa likod nitong palasyo kung saan naroroon ang paglalagyan ko sa kaniya. Inilabas ko ang silicone replica ng katawan niya bago siya hinubaran. Isinuot ko ang damit niya sa silicone replica bago siya ipinasok sa loob.

Cold sleep.

I will freeze her until this war ends. And after that, I will keep my promise to her. We'll start a new. Just the both of us. Together.

"Good night, Xerene. Have a good, cold sleep, my love." At isinarado ko na ang pinto. Dinala ko ang silicone replica niya at binuhusan ng dugo bago itinapon sa kung saan.

Time to face my traitor brother, I guess.

Yohanne Minuet's View

"Fuck! What the hell's happening!?" Tanong ko sa kanila na natataranta na rin.

I was in the infirmary, binabantayan sina Van nang makarinig kami ng sunud-sunod na namang mga pagsabog na nagpapayanig sa buong lugar. Inilipat namin ang kwarto ng infirmary matapos mag-collapse ang kalahati halos ng West Wing dahil sa sagupaan ng magkapatid. Minerva's in critical condition. Her spine was severely injured. She's resting for now. We're waiting for the helicopter to come para maipadala siya sa ospital. Ganun rin si Van na kalalabas lang ng kwarto.

Wait, what?

Nanlalaki ang mga mata akong tumingin kay Van, "VAN! WHAT THE FUCK!? GO BACK HERE, YOU FAGGOT! HINDI KA PA MAGALING!" Singhal ko sa kaniya bago siya hinabol ngunit tinakbuhan niya ako habang nakasaklay. What the hell!?

"VAN---" Shit! Another explosions!

Sumilip ako sa bintana.

Nanlaki ang mga mata ko nang makita si Lancelot na tinututukan ang pwesto ko ng isang...

"RPG! EVERYONE! DAPA!" Sigaw ko habang tumatakbo pabalik sa infirmary. Yet, hindi ko pa man nabubuksan ang pinto, sumabog na ang kalahati ng West Wing na nakatayo pa. And this was it. This part.

"DENISE!"

Luther's View

"GUYS! LANCELOT IS ATTACKING US! HE'S DESTROYING THE PALACE! MAX! PARIS! VOLT! GUYS! EVACUATE! EVACUATE!" Halos maputol ang litid ko sa sobrang lakas ng pagsigaw ko. Buhat-buhat ko ngayon si Ate. At hindi kami okay!

"Crap! I'll handle that bullshit! MAX! PARIS! The helicopter's behind! Paalisin niyo na sina Dad at Daddy ni Van! BILIS!" Utos ni Volt na tumatakbo papunta sa kinaroroonan ni Lancelot. Is he sure he's okay!?

Tsk. Bahala na!

Katulad ng sinabi niya, dinala na namin siya sa isa sa mga helicopter dito. Panay ang mga pagsabog. Palitan ang dalawang kampo. Hindi ko alam kung gaano pa karami ang mga Phantoms pero gumagawa na ng paraan ang mga sundalo maging ang mga Tyros na ngayon ay mga Elites na ang ranggo.

"Sigurado ba kayong hindi kayo sasama?" Paninigurado ni Yohanne na sunog ang kalahating katawan dahil sa pagsabog kanina.

"K-Kaya pa namin. Tutulungan namin sina Max. Sige na. Mag-iingat na lang kayo." Sabi namin ni Locke at isinarado ang pinto. Lumayo na kami at pinanood silang makaalis kasama ang Triplets. Now, it's just me, Locke, Volt, Max, Paris, Dearil and Van who's left behind with the soldiers and assassins.

We tapped each others back and smiled, "Let's go."

~

"STAND ASIDE! Don't go near here---Shit!"

"MAX!" Napa-singhap kami nang masaksak siya ni Lancelot gamit ang isang... What an odd-looking spear!

Wait.

Bigla na lang bumagsak si Max. His veins...were coming out. What is h-happening to him?

"EXPLOSION!" Wika ng isang pamilyar na boses ng babae at kasabay 'non ay...ang pagsabog ng katawan ni Max.

Natulala kaming lahat at hindi makapaniwala sa nakita. Nangatal ang bibig ko at nanlambot ang mga tuhod sa nasaksihan. In just a second, Max was...dead...

"The same thing happened to France and Sharina. Explosion of innards! Hahahahaha!" Lumabas sa kadiliman si Alessandra dala ang isang latigong nagliliwanag. It looks like something was inside there. But Max...he is dead. Lancelot killed him. Maxism...is dead.

"B-Bro...?" Wala sa sariling sabi ni Paris at nabitawan ang hawak niyang mga espada. Nakatulala lang siya sa kinalalagyan ni Max. Na ngayon ay nagkalat ang pira-piraso ng kaniyang katawan matapos iyong sumabog. At ang tanging natira lamang ay ang mga sapatos niyang nagkulay pula dahil sa mga dugo.

"What...Lancelot... WHAT HAVE YOU DONE TO MAX!"

"PARIS, NO!" Pigil sa kaniya ni Volt bago siya hinila at tinapon sa amin. Sakto namang umatake si Lancelot na iniwasan agad ni Volt. Dinampot niya ang mga espadang binitawan ni Paris at hinarap siya.

"Get out of here! You dimwit! You can't die here! Think about your wife and daughter!" Y-Yes! Tama siya! Paano na lang sina Baby Kaitlin at Maxine kapag napagaya siya kay Max? P-Paano na lang?

"Oh? Maxine? She's dead." Ani Alessandra na naka-cross arms habang pinapanood na maglaban ang dalawang magkapatid. Nanlaki ang mga mata namin sa kaniya.

"You still didn't know? We attacked Bellevue Palace too. Everyone in there, is dead." Napa-singhap kaming lahat dahil sa sinabi niya.

Dead?

Everyone?

Even the kids?

How did that happen? That's...impossible.

Nagsitulo na lang bigla ang mga luha ko dahil sa bigat ng dibdib ko. She's lying, right? She's just provoking us. They're s-safe. They are safe. Hindi sila p-pwedeng m-mamatay.

"My son..." lumuluha, tumingin kami kay Dearil na nababalutan na ngayon ng kuryente habang naka-yuko. Napa-atras kami.

"Run." Sabi niya at tumingin sa amin. Her eyes...

"We had a deal. No playing dirty. Yet..." mabilis kaming tumayo ni L nang mas tumindi ang paglalabas niya ng mga kuryente. Nagngangalit ito at para bang isang tama lang sayo ay mapapatay ka kaagad. Kailangan na naming umalis dito bago pa kami madamay!

"Paris! Halika na! Paris!" Pilit namin siyang hinihila ngunit ayaw niyang magpatinag. He's breathing heavily. Ramdam ko ang panginginig ng mga kamay niya. At sa isang iglap, nawala siya sa paningin namin. Napakabilis ng pangyayari.

"Oh? What was that---" nalaglag ang panga naming lahat nang unti-unting mag-slide pababa ang kalahating ulo ni Alessandra. Everything happened so fast that I didn't even saw him move. It was as if Paris became one with the dark.

Amazing...

"They are...not yet...dead." malamig niyang sabi habang hawak ang ulo ni Lancelot.

Nanlalaki ang mga mata kaming tumingin sa katawan ni Lancelot na tumba na. Natakpan ko ang bibig ko sa sobrang pangingilabot. Oh my...god... HOW DID HE DO THAT!? HOW!? WHEN DID IT HAPPEN!?

Even Volt was dumbfounded. Ganun rin si Dearil na nanlalaki ng sobra ang mga mata sa sobrang pagkamangha. Kanina lang, they were struggling habang pinagtutulungan nilang tatlo si Lancelot. Ngayon naman, nagawa niyang pugutin ang mga ulo nila ng ganun kabilis? Kahit ako ay hindi ko magagawa 'yon.

So this is what he can do. This is what PARIS KEAN SIMONS can do when outraged.

"Maxism..." parang zombie siyang lumapit sa kinatatayuan ni Max kanina.

"Pare... Walang biruan... H-Hindi ka pwedeng m-mawala. H-Hoy, gago. Balik. Bumalik ka. Max..." napa-yuko ako.

Nandito kami. Nagpa-iwan kami dahil gusto naming tumulong. Pero wala pa rin kaming nagawa. H-Hinayaan... Hinayaan naming mawala si Max. Hinayaan naming...masaksak siya ni Lancelot. M-Max...

Lumapit sa kaniya si Volt at tinapik siya sa likod, "Volt... S-Si Max... Si Maxism, Volt. W-Wala na. W-Wala na...si gago. V-Volt, w-wala na si Max! Patay na si Max, Volt! Si Max!" Mariin akong napapikit. This is all our fault. My fault. Kung hindi lang sana kami pahuli-huli, edi sana... Edi sana buhay pa si Max. B-Buhay pa sana siya.

"MAAAAAXXX!!!!" Paris cried at mahigoit na nayakap si Volt. Mariin kong naikuyom ang mga kamao ko at hinayaang magsitulo ang mga luha ko. Sumabay ang mga pagsabog sa lakas ng iyak ni Paris. Maxism's death made him vulnerable. Maxism's death made him forgot that we're at war.

Maxism's death made him forget what Alessandra said. That everyone at Bellevue Palace is dead.

I'm begging you, Jesus! Please! Sana ay hindi totoo 'yon! Sana nagsisinungaling lang siya! K-Kapag nangyari 'yon, wala nang matitira pa kay Paris! Kaya please! Please, God

KEEP THEM SAFE!

To keep him sane too.

DEATH's View

"Amazing..." I said under my breath after I witness such beautiful event. Paris Kean Simons... How beautiful that was! It's so amazing! BREATH TAKING!

"Eherm. I will try to call Mother to---" I gasped when an arrow passed by. S-So close! It was close that I'm so lucky I managed to parried it!

Sinundan ko ng tingin ang pinaggalingan 'non. Ngunit bumulaga sa akin ang isa pang paparating na arrow. Mabilis ko iyong hinati sa gitna at umatras. Who was that!?

"BEHIND YOU!"

Agad akong umiwas bago tumingin sa likod ko. I cutted the arrow in half. It's half daybreak already kaya lumiliwanag na ang lugar. Sinundan ko mg tingin ang misteryosong mamamana na 'yon. But the bitch's shadow'a lurking around so fast. Aiming all the arrows on me. That's not just a normal arrow. Something's on it. Poison? I don't know. Perhaps the same thing that's on the spear that killed Maxism.

"Who are you!? Get out, coward! Face me fair and square!" Bulyaw ko sa kaniya habang paikot-ikot ang tingin. Sinusundan ang anino niyang mabilis na gumagalaw sa kadiliman. Tsk.

I tried striking the bitch but the person was so fast. Ilang puno na rin ang naputol ko. That's I swayed my hand, cutting down the trees. The mysterious person jumped high to parry that attack of mine. He landed right in front of me.

My heart skipped a beat.

My eyes slowly went wide upon seeing who's the mysterious archer.

Breathless, I called his name.

"Gerevich..."