I clenched my fists, and slammed the whip on the red carpet. "I guess the book could wait."
Kadaski's POV
Muli kong pinagliyab ang aking mga kamay bilang paghahanda. Sigurado akong marami ang susubok na pumigil sa amin. Nakita na nila kanina kung gaano ako kagaling umilag at tumambling or so I thought. Isa-isang nagsitayuan ang mga Hazbins na halatang hindi natutuwa sa ginagawa namin.
"Ohhh, is it starting? My lovely guests, before this brawl begins I'll add a little spice to motivate your greed~. Spare me a glance and look at our second auction!" announced Intruder. He snapped his finger and his assistant pushed the Berserker child behind the curtains, afterwards pulling a meter-tall box covered with yellow cloth to the middle of the stage.
"Hurry up, Jester!" sigaw ng isang lalake na naka-upo sa kanang bahagi ng dome.
"Nah ah, why don't you spare us a glance?" stated Drago before quickly wrapping the Fire whip around Intruder.
The length of the whip can extend as long as 10 meters, so it was easy for Drago to throw it like that, but he was not able to constrict him for too long since his assistant came to release him from the weapon by firing a light beam towards Drago.
My best friend had no choice but to dodge.
"We'll get him next time." I stated.
"Feisty." laughed the Jester of Retromalus as he dusts his waist as if dirt touched his clothes. Drago's fire whip left burnt marks on Intruder's outfits, but the man simply ripped that area away turning his clothing into a crop top. "That's more like it. Ah, where was I? Righttt, this box. I promise that it is a sweet treat. You can trust me with that, but in return I want those young men knocked out! Do not fear, I easily subdued their leader years ago, what more of her subordinates."
The Hazbins began crowding towards us, but the first person to make a move was the aviary mask-wearing individual. He launched himself upwards before delivering an axe kick from above us, but fortunately I was able to roll away while Drago leaped backwards. His attack left a medium-sized crater on the tiled floor of the dome.
Holy crap, how strong was that attack?! That would definitely crush our skulls if we failed to move from that spot.
"Sir Jester, I hope you don't mind me being greedy. I'll incapacitate them for you." smiled Aviary, I'll just call this guy Aviary.
"The greedier, the better!" shouted Intruder.
"We'll see about that." remarked a cloaked woman behind me.
The moment Intruder snapped her finger were the moment these Hazbins started rushing to our direction. I closed my eyes as I started scribbling a symbol on the dusty tiles using the tip of my shoe. "Inadustus. Fire Creation: Gargantua Fuego!" I enchanted, however in the middle of my summoning I felt pain in my right shoulder, so the spell was interrupted.
"Aski? Kaya mo pa bang lumaban?" nag-aalalang tanong ni Drago.
"Remain alert, young men! Feather Sword!" Aviary enchanted, as he plucks a feather from his mask that enlarged and turned into a fine blade. He took a fencing stance and thrusted towards me.
"Not on my watch." glared Drago as he uses his whip to stop the sword inches before it reach my chest. Then he spun the whip around his head, immediately disarming Aviary of his Feather Sword.
"Aski, jump now! Cool move incoming." shouted Drago.
"What? Ah- got it!" I hopped and Drago crouched downwards to use his elemental weapon to trip the nearing Hazbins, while some fell flat on the floor, others dodged in time and started firing their magic at us.
The colors of the attacks were weak, so I can tell that they were all low-tier spells. If I cast my Jail Blazer right now I can block all of it in time, but we have already seen that there are also physically strong individuals in this event. It would be hard to maintain my defense with them in mind.
Summoning my creations also takes more than a minute, so that would not be an option. "Let's just wipe out the weaker ones first." I told Drago.
"Naisip ko na rin iyan. Hindi naman natin kailangang patumbahin ang lahat ng mga ito." nakangiting pahayag ng aking kaibigan.
Pinaglaho na ni Drago ang kaniyang Fire Whip kaya nagkaroon ng mga nalilitong ekspresyon ang ilan sa mga Hazbin.
"Let's head straight to Intruder-"
"Let's surrender-"
Pagkalipas ng ilang segundo ay kami nang dalawa ang naglalaban sa gitna ng maka-ilang Hazbin na um-attend sa Great Cauldron.
"Anong sinabi mo ha?!" galit kong tanong kay Drago habang sinusubukang sipain ang mukha nito. Hindi ko magamit ang braso ko dahil ramdam ko pa rin ang kirot mula rito.
"Kagaya nang inaasahan puro lang karahasan ang nasa utak mo." kunot-noo naman niyang pahayag habang tumatalon paatras at umiilag sa mga pag-atake ko.
"Anong nangyayari Sir Intruder?" narinig kong tanong ng isang guest sa host ng okasyon, ngunit hindi ito umimik.
"Mukhang tama ka nga Jester. Hindi dapat seryosohin ang mga batang ito. HA, HA, HA!" bulalas ng isang mataba at lasing na naka-unipormeng lalake.
"Pinapagod lamang nila ang kanilang mga sarili." pagtawa naman ng isang binibini na natatakpan ang kalahati ng mukha ng pamaypay.
Halos maikot na namin ang dome, at wala ni-isang Hazbin ang sumubok na pumigil sa bangayang nangyayari sa pagitan namin. Muli akong sumipa pagkatapos kong dumadausdos ng isang beses papalapit kay Drago, samantalang tumambling naman ito paatras dahilan para mag-iwan ito ng mga gasgas sa tiles ng venue.
Drago and I exchanged meaningful glances, ten more steps and we would be able to complete the large enchantment circle in preparation for a high-tier pair magic - one that only we can perform as the Twin Flames of Madoka.
"You do know that there's a fifty-fifty chance that this won't work." Drago whispered to me, as he pretends to dodge a fire-powered kick by bowing.
"We'll never know if we don't try it out." I said while gritting my teeth to dodge a hand chop directed to my injured shoulder, but Drago still grazed it.
"Urgh." I groaned, glaring at him seriously. "That was low." I complained.
"I have no idea what you're talking about." smiled Drago before proceeding to move backwards again.
Virdjana's POV
"I can protect myself. Remember that all three of you had to work together in order to defeat me." daldal ni Ryoline.
Her statement was not a lie, so I did not even waste my breathe on her.
I need to be ready, I have to make Aura Sensos an active skill, but I don't think I can handle invisibility and that spell together.
Alam kong hindi na kakayanin ng katawan ko ang dalawang magkasabay na spell, at hanggang sa maaari ay mabuting umiwas kami sa anumang laban. Wala ako sa kondisyon na makipag-one-on-one sa kung sino man dahil halos na-drain na ako ng inutusan ko si Reggie na tuntunin ang Chronicle Book mula sa Cleopardia papuntang Retromalus.
"Huh, you seem to be freezing? It's not even winter yet." said Ryoline while wearing covering her lips to cover her grin. Obviously she failed because I saw that.
I glared at her, causing the girl to quickly zip her mouth. Where did she even get the idea that I was feeling cold? It took me a few seconds to realize why.
'My hands are shaking? However mildly, it seems that my body is reacting because of something.'
Liningon ko si Ryoline nang may seryosong expression sa aking mukha.
"I'm a Beast Tamer, not an Ice Enchant. I swear!" said Ryoline fearfully.
I continued giving the younger girl a studying look, and stopped after seeing the reflection of fear in her eyes. She is telling the truth, and I could tell because in my previous line of work, most people speak truthfully in order to keep their heads.
The backstage was dark with a similar smell to a warm asphalt on a hot day. However, I would prefer dealing with this gloomy location than staying in that gallant auction.
"Ryoline Nanami, the only way to remain alive is if you stay with me. Enemies are everywhere here at Retromalus." I told the girl who was busy pouting in a corner.
I took note of the direction of the dome window we entered, it was above the drops of melted lock that Drago destroyed with his blue flames earlier. If things go bad, I'd leave this place through that.
"Senior Arcedes and Senior Nueva, they've both saw it with their own eyes. A replica of the Chronicle Book under your bed. You are planning to steal it too, aren't you? I just beat you to the race." Ryoline said in a matter-of-fact.
I removed my mask, and slips it into the inner pocket of my cloak. "You're a good thief. I'd give you that. I'm surprised they'd let someone like you in the academy."
Ryoline seemed to dislike my statement as she quickly balled her hands into a fist, "What? Then we're on the same boat. The moment I realized that you are as shady as I thought you to be, I kept on wondering how were you able to become an Enchanted Elite," she chuckled, "admit it. You have people pulling strings for you."
Why is she trying to start this conversation with me? I'm sure she only needs to escape from me or kill me in order to be free.
"What's with the interrogation Junior Nanami? Are you expecting a back story from me?" I continued following the coordinates Reggie gave me while making sure that Ryoline cannot escape my sight.
"I get it now. Those two boyfriend of yours must have done the pulling. You are using them to maintain your Enchanted Elite status. You're not only a murderer, but also a gold-digging bi-OW!"
A large golden axe began flying towards us, so I kicked Ryoline away before I ducked to avoid the weapon. She landed on a pile of crates, causing some jewels to scatter on the floorboards.
"Hindi nga nagsinungaling si Intruder, matatagpuan kita sa backstage Albus Feles. I was unsure if the information is true, but here you are. Hindi pa rin nagbabago ang kulay ng iyong pagkatao." bungad sa akin ng isang matipunong babae na may hawak-hawak na gintong palakol.
Kinailangan pa ng mata kong mag-adjust sa kadiliman upang makita ko kung sino ang mukha ng dumating na kalaban. Inaasahan ko ng may makakalaban kami rito, kaya mabuti na lang at hindi ko ibinaba ang guard ko.
"Senior Assassin, I swear you will pay for kicking me." Ryoline spoke shakily, as she tries to stand up properly, "Naga! I summon yo-ugh !"
Sinubukan ni Ryoline na humingi ng tulong sa kaniyang Mythical Beast ngunit mukhang nahinto ito dala ng mga natamong niyang injury.
"Nix Q'mei. Pleasure to meet the both of you." said the enemy as she grabs the axe that penetrated the floorboards effortlessly.
What did she say was her name was? Suddenly, there was a ringing on both of my ears, and I found myself kneeling on the floor. What? What is going on with me? I... I can't breathe.
I watched as Naga fights with the enemy, while Ryoline was leaning on a post giving her snake commands.
"Interesting. Your pet is an unordinary animal." says Nix, opening her right hand in order to pull her weapon back to her possession. "It means that I could test how legendary this weapon truly is!"
"Stop getting in my way! I will be the one to end Senior Assassin's life!" Ryoline angrily remarks, "Naga! Toxin Spray!"
"Senior who now? Albus Feles is MY prey!" shouted the axe-wielder back.
"Wow. Both of you... are fucking noisy."
I watched as Nix' heavy footsteps leave dents on the floorboards of the backstage, clearly heading to Ryoline, but it seems like this junior will choose to attack me rather than protect herself.
"Air Barriers!" I enchanted.
The air around us quickly twirled before turning into spheres of wind that acted as a shield for Ryoline and myself, easily thwarting the toxin spray and preventing the Nix Q'mei from hurting Junior Nanami.
"Back off Nix!"
Why does this her name leaves a bitter taste in my tongue? Damn this headaches. I really wanna pass out now.
Drago's POV
We were almost finish completing the large fire pillar spell we are preparing when a man blocks our way. He wears a scowl on his face that added to the intimidating air around him.
"Mister Bullshark, sir. You don't have to fight them yourself." said his subordinate.
"I know that, but I've been patient enough. No more clownery in this important event." said Bullshark, puffing a huff from his cigarette.
"What are gonna do? Flex your muscles?" Kadaski asked in a taunting manner.
"Aski, not now." I glared.
"Exactly boys." grinned Bullshark.
"How wonderful! Who would take home the prized object underneath this cloth? Is it Mister Aviary or Sir Bullshark?! Exciting! Ah, let's not also forget that there are many known individuals in this place!" Intruder happily announces.
"Drago, I'll buy you time. Go finish the magic circle." Kadaski whispered as he lit his palms ablaze.
"T-teka! Huwag kang magpapadalos-dalos!" pero huli na ang paalala ko sa impulsive kong kaibigan, dahil nagsimula na nitong paulanan ng mga atake ang lalakeng nag-ngangalang Bullshark.
I had no choice, but to finish the magic circle. I ran around Bullshark while using my whip to attack and defend from the other Hazbins when out of nowhere, rays of light began firing down from mid-air.
"Anong-?!" agad akong napatalon paatras, saka nagtago sa likod ng isang mesa.
Ilang mga Hazbins rin ang gumaya sa ginawa ko sapagkat hindi naka-fix ang target ng atake. Saan kaya iyon nanggaling?
"Light Parade!" Bullshark enchanted while laughing.
"Yo-"
"Ahh! Aski? Walanghiya ka huwag mo akong gulatin." pagrereklamo ko.
"Change of plans pare, malakas pala siya." sabi nito habang nagkakamot ng batok.
"What happened with your 'I'll buy you time' plan?" I asked frowning.
"Paano ba natin siya mapapatumba? Mukhang walang blindspot ang atake niyang iyan. Isa pa, mukhang ang rami niyang stamina." Kadaski remarked with a sigh.
"The thing is, you just don't." whispered a voice from behind us.
When we turned around, I just froze on the spot as a feather blade were now pointed on our necks.
"Looks like I've won that price." smiled Aviary.