Ever since Hanan walked passed the gate, she immediately learned Camper's position. His smell. His life force. His reeking greed for victory. She could sense it, even when he had tried to conceal his presence. But Hanan knew she would ultimately find herself at a disadvantage, given there wasn't much space inside, and Camper was already in his wolf form. Thus, she lured him out.
She tested his speed and agility by letting him attack. She allowed herself to be cornered, thinking he had the upperhand because of their difference in size. She assessed him. Initially, Hanan wanted to go on defense for ten more minutes, but seeing how he got up easily after a direct hit made Hanan forfeit the idea. Sooner or later, if she kept on defending, Camper would see the faint traces of her movement. And if he really was Bathala's strongest wolf, he might figure out a way to counter her speed.
But there was one more thing she wanted to check.
After the kick, Hanan prepared to attack. No trick. No decoy, nor a flashy movement. Hanan faced Camper head on, without any weapons she could use to keep up with Camper's size and strength. She knew Camper would be attentive this time, after she managed to defend herself acrobatically. Hanan predicted Camper would be careful. Hence, she used Camper's vigilance to her advantage. By running upfront, Hanan closed the gap, and went for his head. It was only a matter of which was faster and shrewder. Hanan jumped a meter away from Camper's body. It was a minute before she landed that Camper realized the boldness of her attack. But before Camper could even get her fangs sank into Hanan's frail arms, his head was vigorously assaulted by Hanan's left fist.
Hanan beat her to it. When Camper's head slammed into the sturdy cement, Hanan used her arms to strangle his neck. But Camper was quick to react. He resisted. By using brute force, he rocked his head to release himself from Hanan's grip.
Growling, Camper even used one of his legs to push Hanan. He moved even more forcefully. He was even planning on ramming himself into the wall. But as if on instinct, Hanan moved away, smiling.
"I guess I'm really needed in this team."
Forthrightly provoked by Hanan's bold attack, Camper leaned down to jump. Fueled by his innate behavior pattern after being disgraced, his eyes mirrored anger as he pointed his body's direction to Hanan. He pressed his paws to the ground, exerting force to lift himself and leap, but strangely enough, after he released control, his body slumped down.
Demented, Camper snarled. But even when he tried to get up, or even budge an inch, Camper's ability dwindled.
Amon, after witnessing Camper's fall, took a few steps forward. Astounded, he scrutinized Camper, who was immobolized on the ground. He cannot believe it. Though he clearly said the fight would not end until either of them surrendered, Camper looked so done for. Immobolized, he could only follow his opponent with his unbelieving eyes.
Camper was defeated. Amon's lips parted, before he shifted his eyes towards the young governor general who was now in front of the gate. He was in utter shock. Hanan did not even do much. At most, their skin only interacted thrice, so how was Camper defeated?
Camper had been a part of Bathala's team for thirty years now. Not once had he seen Camper fall on his knees. He was strong. His reflexes were pretty sharp. His agility was no joke either. Amon could testify Camper was one hell of a strong wolf. So, how did it happen that he was defeated after two attacks?
Or did Hanan pull an attack that was naked to the eye?
"He didn't surrender." Bathala's voice resonated inside, when he finally spoke. "I believe I made it clear that—"
"I surrender."
Bathala and Amon's gaze went over to Camper, who willingly accepted defeat. He closed his eyes, before his skin beamed, a sign that he was transforming back to his human form. He didn't emit the same angry tone as he did when he growled, thirsty for a comeback.
"What did you do?" Amon cannot help himself but ask. "A kick from the stomach, and a pressure from the neck…." His lips pursed, as he inwardly realized what had just happened before his eyes.
Hanan went for internal damage to immobolize his movements. By using enough force to knock his nerves, and a strangle on his neck to create pressure, Hanan had successfully sealed his strength. It was unheard of, but possible.
But in order to do that, you had to hit a certain area. Otherwise, it would not work. How was Hanan able to tell where to hit, in that short amount of time? Amon's brows furrowed in bewilderment.
"He was careless, Mr. Amon." Hanan's cerulean eyes glinted with suppressed melediction. "He probably underestimated me because I'm a woman."
"Very well." Bathala lifted the keys using his right hand. "Though I was expecting to see the best that you can do, a deal is a deal."
"The best that I can do..." A smile was carved on Hanan's lips, as she trailed off. She held the metal bars, with her expression back to normal. "You thought I'd go berserk, didn't you?"
"If you knew, why did you hold back?"
"Because I knew you lied."
Bathala stopped on his track, when he was only half a meter away from Hanan. "You noticed."
"I did. He's not your strongest wolf. Otherwise, he would've known what I was aiming for."
"Why didn't you say anything?"
"Because it's fun."
Amon continued to look at Hanan, who looked cheerful. It was the same expression she had when they met earlier. A facade. Amon kept quiet as he processed what had happened inside his head. Though Bathala was able to get over it, as if it was exactly what he had expected for Hanan, Amon could not feel the same.
For years, he had only ever felt intimidated by Bathala, who was far more intelligent and strong than anybody else. He was different. His methods. His craftiness. His abilities. Bathala was top-notch. He was unreadable. Mysterious. A fearful leader.
But now, looking at Hanan's smile after she calculated how to defeat Camper made him feel nostalgic. It took him back, on the day he met Bathala.
He was the same. Except Hanan's smiles were cunning. Her remarks. Her cheerful expression. For a moment, it made Amon believe she was just a little girl. Or perhaps he committed the same mistake Camper did.
Bathala freed Hanan from inside the dungeon. Afterwards, he asked some of his men to assist Camper, before he invited Hanan to a meal. Amon has remained silent since then. He observed Hanan. The way she talked, moved, and drew a smile. Amon started to doubt Hanan's character. He felt intimidated.
Striken by the fact that Hanan's wits and strength were more than just the rumors, Amon waited until Hanan left the base, before he talked to Bathala to lay out his opinion about his new recruit.
"Now, I see why the Councils wanted her close." Amon started with a low, doubtful tone. "The rumors about Hanan are all true."
Indeed. Bathala's sunken eyes remained darted on the realism artwork in front of him. It was attached to the wall inside his room. A painting that his father had given him when he was a kid. This had always been his favorite among his collection. It was an artwork based on the mythical story of a tribrid who was executed two thousand years ago.
Mayari Siagu.
"Which is why I want to have my hands on her, Amon." Bathala slightly turned towards Amon, who was standing at his side. "She's an asset I shall obtain."
- - - - - - -
A malodorous smell that could kill even exotic animals reeked inside the shabby hut. It matched the usual messy table, dirty materials, disorganized glass bottles, old books with tattered pages, and the pigsty floor. The place was nowhere neat. But for the woman who had been using the place for her arbitrary reasons, it was perfect. Perhaps, because it represented her.
Clad in a black cloak, the woman mixed the bubbling green liquid in the pot with her wooden ladle. Villainy smiling as she created her next potion, the woman could not help but think about how things had been going for her.
At long last, she had started to move. After waking up from her deep slumber, she remained silent for a year. The woman had believed she no longer wanted to do her part. So, she prepared her leverage. But after seeing what she recently did through her crystal ball, she was pleased.
"What a clever girl…" The woman said, barely a whisper, before her smile grew wider. "Very well, Hanan."