KASARINLAN : saga of pinoy superheroes

Chapter 33: The Heart of Battle in the Darkness of the Soul

Georgia's POV

The afternoon in Plaridel was hot and dusty, but at my grandfather's small peanut stall, the air felt as if it were freezing against my skin. I sat on an old bamboo chair, my eyes fixed on a simple bracelet Erik had given me. It was a modest necklace made of wooden beads, yet to me, it was more than a keepsake—it was like a chain pulling my heart back to him.

With every twist of the beads between my fingers, questions surged back: Will Erik return? Is he angry with me? Did he leave because I upset him? My thoughts were a storm in my mind, restless and unrelenting. I feared he might come back, but with that woman—the one I saw him with in the squatter area. What would I do if that were true? Would I be angry? Would I cry? Or would I simply accept that I'm not the one he wants? These questions stabbed at my chest like daggers, and I didn't know how to make them stop.

"Lola, why do I even need to think like this?" I whispered to myself, my hands tightening around the bracelet. I wasn't like this before. My life used to be simple—selling flowers, helping my family, not worrying about a man. But now, every day felt like a battle against my own emotions. Why did I have to care so much about someone like Erik?

In the midst of my brooding, I overheard the voices of the vendors on the nearby sidewalk. Their conversation was loud, charged with emotion, and heavy with concern about what happened in the squatter area yesterday.

"Did you hear? The Spanish police struck again last night," said a woman in a faded duster. "They arrested everyone they suspected of being Hustisya's accomplice. They didn't spare anyone—children, elders, women, men!"

"I'm scared," replied another vendor, her voice trembling with fear. "We're Filipinos, after all. What if we get caught up in this? Is Plaridel even safe anymore?"

Another woman, carrying a basket of vegetables, shook her head. "Why do we have to suffer because of Hustisya's actions? If it weren't for her, our town wouldn't be in chaos!" Her tone was laced with anger, and her words whipped across my heart like a lash.

But one among them disagreed. "Don't say that," said a woman with a gentle face. "Hustisya is the only one capable of helping us against the Spanish abuses. Do you know how many Filipinos she's saved from those cruel Spaniards? She's the one giving hope to people like us!"

"Hope?" the other retorted, her voice dripping with scorn. "What kind of hope is she giving? Everyone she helped has been arrested! They're in jail now! What about them? What about their families?" Her words were heavy with pain, and I felt the weight of her words crush me.

As Hustisya, those words pierced my heart like a spear. I was overwhelmed with sadness, and for the first time, I felt anger—not just toward the Spanish, but toward myself. I knew I could do nothing right now. My powers as a sugo were limited, and the energy I had left wasn't enough to fight multiple enemies. When I use my powers, my body's energy depletes rapidly within just fifteen minutes, and I knew that wasn't enough time to save so many people.

I feared I might have reached my limit, that I might fail in my mission. What would happen if the Spanish caught me? The energy I had left was reserved for the critical battles I anticipated in the coming days. As much as I wanted to help the Filipinos in the city, I was powerless for now. Transforming into Hustisya required immense energy, and if I used it prematurely, I might have nothing left to face the general who also wielded great power.

As the vendors' conversation continued, I heard one of them express gratitude. "Thank goodness Ifugao showed up last night," she said, her voice filled with hope. "If it weren't for him, even more people would've been arrested."

I froze. Ifugao? The name struck my mind like lightning. I knew Ifugao was still in Plaridel, but I hadn't expected him to fight the Spanish to protect the people here. I also heard the vendors praising him. "Wait, isn't Ifugao the one in the online news? The one who fought terrorists in Pangasinan! Even though he's from far away, he's done more to help us than Hustisya, who seems to have abandoned us!"

"Don't say that," another vendor countered, her voice firm with conviction. "We owe Hustisya so much. I don't believe she's abandoned us. Maybe she's preparing a plan to save those who were arrested!"

But another shook her head. "I don't expect Hustisya to show up anymore. The whole of Plaridel is looking for her. The police said they won't release the arrested Filipinos until Hustisya is caught. So, if any of you know anything, turn her in to the Spanish and end this!"

One vendor was furious. "How can you even think of betraying Hustisya? Have you no gratitude? No matter what happens, we should support our fellow Filipinos!"

"Support?" the other snapped, her voice thick with resentment. "If Hustisya cared about us, she'd surrender! The people in jail are suffering! So many children and women have been arrested, and we know the police might rape those women. Their situation is pitiful!"

Those words set my heart ablaze. I stood up, my hands trembling with rage. I knew I couldn't hide forever. Even if my energy was lacking, I had to act. I had to save the Filipinos arrested because of me, especially the women. In my heart, I swore: I won't abandon you. I will free the captives.

End of Georgia's POV

Erik's POV

Inside the old warehouse, five hours after my talk with Apyong, my battle with Jana raged on. Every second felt like my life was on the line, and every movement was a test of my resolve. Jana's writhing tentacles, like living shadows of an octopus, struck at me swiftly, and no matter how fast I dodged, I couldn't fully evade them.

I moved quickly, weaving through broken crates and rusted machinery, but Jana's tentacles seemed to have a life of their own. One lashed toward me, and with a swift leap, I avoided it. But before I could steady myself, another tentacle seized my leg, and in an instant, I was hurled toward a pile of crates. The impact drove into my back like a nail, and pain radiated through my entire body.

I stood up quickly, though my knees trembled. As I rose, three tentacles met me, each faster than the last. Using my sword, forged from my sugo powers, I sliced through two of them. But the third swiftly grabbed my arm, and once again, I was thrown—this time against the warehouse's hard concrete wall. The sound of my body hitting the cement echoed, and the pain exploded in my chest.

I was exhausted. My breaths were heavy, and my hands shook. I knew deep down I couldn't defeat Jana—not like this. She didn't move from her spot, and every tentacle I cut reformed quickly, as if my attacks had no effect.

"Erik, get up!" Jana shouted, her voice brimming with challenge. "If this were a real fight, I'd have killed you already! Don't boast about being a hero if all you can do is dodge!"

Gasping for air, I forced myself to stand. I knew there was no other way out of this warehouse but to fight her. My body was enveloped in blue energy, and in a flash, my form changed—my hair grew more vibrant, and my eyes blazed with determination. I charged forward, ready to face Jana, even though I knew the fight was daunting.

In my first assault, I prepared a powerful strike. My sword glowed with blue energy, and with a swift motion, I slashed an incoming tentacle. It fell apart effortlessly, vanishing in an instant. But before I could celebrate, two more tentacles emerged from behind Jana, and one struck my chest, knocking me to the ground.

The pain burned through my body like fire. I forced myself to stand, but my legs felt like stone. "You still haven't learned, Ifugao," Jana said, her voice laced with mockery. "If that's all you've got, you'll never leave this place."

I charged again, this time using my speed to evade the tentacles. With a quick spin, I dodged three attacking tentacles, waiting for an opening to strike Jana herself. But before I could get close, a tentacle wrapped around my waist, and with a powerful swing, I was thrown toward an old machine. The metal slammed into my back, and the pain nearly deafened me.

I didn't know how to counter her tentacles—three of Jana's five tentacles protected her while the other two attacked. Every strike I made failed, while Jana's attacks grew stronger. But despite the pain, I knew I had to keep going. For Hustisya, for the people of Plaridel, and for myself.

Seeing my exhaustion, Jana offered me a half-hour break. It was a short time, but I was grateful and collapsed onto the ground, panting. I had to make the most of this respite to recover.

As I rested, I noticed Apyong still watching from above. I didn't know his plan, but I couldn't dwell on it now.

After a few minutes of rest, I prepared for another fight. My body was weary, but my heart still burned with determination. "I won't give up, Jana," I said, though my voice was weak.

Jana smiled, her confidence unshaken. "Your courage is admirable, Ifugao, but courage alone won't win," she said, as her tentacles glowed with energy again.

This time, I decided to change my strategy. Instead of just dodging, I tried using the warehouse's environment. I leaped toward a pile of crates, using them as a shield against Jana's tentacles. I sliced one, and with a swift move, I jumped to a high platform, hoping to get closer to Jana.

But before I could reach her, a tentacle grabbed my leg, and with a forceful pull, I was thrown toward the warehouse roof. The impact felt like an explosion in my body, and I crashed to the ground, my breath nearly gone. The wooden crates around me splintered, and dust filled the air.

"Is that all you've got, Ifugao?" Jana said, her voice a warning. "You'll never defeat a sugo like me with such feeble efforts."

Gasping, I forced myself to stand. My body felt pierced by a thousand needles, but my mind remained clear. I knew I had to keep going, even if the fight seemed impossible.

For the third time, I prepared to fight. My energy was nearly depleted, but my determination was stronger than ever. "I can still fight, Jana," I said, my voice resolute. "No matter how many times you knock me down, I'll rise."

Jana grinned, her eyes gleaming with confidence. "Then prove it," she said, as her tentacles struck again.

This time, I pushed my powers to their limit. Blue energy enveloped my sword, its blade glowing with a fierce aura. With a swift motion, I slashed three incoming tentacles, shattering them. But I didn't expect another tentacle to swiftly seize my neck, and with a powerful swing, I was hurled toward a steel post. The sound of my body hitting the metal echoed, and pain exploded in my head.

I collapsed to the ground, my vision darkening. I knew I was close to running out of strength, but my heart refused to surrender. Despite the pain, despite the failure, I knew I had to keep going. For the people of Plaridel, for Hustisya, and for my own purpose as a sugo.

"What now, Ifugao? Want to keep going?" Jana asked.

"I can still fight. Let's continue," I said boldly.

The battle raged on, each moment a test of my courage and resolve. Despite the setbacks, I knew I had to persevere. The warehouse was like a prison, and I had to escape at all costs to prove I had what it takes to be a hero.

End.