It had been twenty-two years since the red portal first appeared in Manila. Life in the Philippines had irrevocably changed, and people were forced to adapt to a new reality.
Captain Dela Cruz had become a seasoned and respected Head Captain of the Philippine Defense Force (PDF). With the help of Nuwa, he had formed a special unit of Shamans known as Stealth, which operated under the PDF's command.
Meanwhile, in a small boarding house in Tondo, Irosin sat on an old sofa, enjoying the quiet afternoon as he sipped a warm cup of coffee, despite the midday heat. His eyes were fixed on an old television showing his favorite FPJ movie. He sighed contentedly until the screen abruptly shifted to a news broadcast, the anchor's urgent tone breaking the tranquility.
"Breaking News! The Philippine Defense Force is officially recruiting Shamans to combat the entities now known as The Devourers."
As the report continued, the screen filled with footage of chaos erupting across different regions of the Philippines. In the corner of the screen, a text appeared, stating the offered salary: 500,000 pesos per month.
Irosin's jaw dropped, nearly spilling his coffee. "Five hundred thousand?!" he exclaimed, unable to believe his eyes.
An incredible opportunity seemed to have presented itself. His mind raced as he considered the possibilities. This could be it---a chance to live a life of purpose, with the added promise of substantial pay. Smiling, he quickly began getting dressed, undeterred by his lack of knowledge about shamanism or the dangers involved. All he could think of was money and recognition.
Standing in front of an old mirror, he imagined himself as one of the heroes in his favorite movies---powerful warriors, protectors of the weak against monsters. After packing a few things, he checked his motorcycle, ensuring it was fueled up. With a bright pink helmet on his head, he revved the engine and sped off toward the Philippine Defense Force Headquarters, his heart filled with excitement for the new life awaiting him.
As he rode toward the headquarters, the eerie silence weighed heavily on him. The aftermath of Devourer attacks was evident along the streets---scattered debris, buildings that looked as if they'd been ravaged by an unknown force, and a chill in the air that hinted at lingering threats. Each street he passed reminded him this was no movie set but a sobering reality.
"If they can do it in the movies, I can do it too!" he whispered to himself, trying to bolster his courage.
Upon arriving at the headquarters, he was greeted by a large crowd of applicants. Some looked like they were experienced in spiritual matters, others appeared to be ordinary people, and some wore broad smiles, filled with hopes similar to his own. The place was charged with a peculiar aura---a blend of excitement and anxiety.
A tall woman with an air of authority approached the group and began the orientation. "I am Nuwa, a Rank 1 Shaman... Each of you here will undergo rigorous training and assessment. Only those who demonstrate knowledge or potential in shamanism and spiritual combat will be accepted."
At the mention of "spiritual combat," images of magic circles, glowing swords, and colorful auras flashed through Irosin's mind---scenes straight out of a film.
Each applicant was given a bracelet with a red stone at its center. Nuwa explained that this would be their link to the spiritual world.
"The stone in the bracelet is sensitive to spiritual energy. When a Devourer is near, it will glow red."
But before the training could commence, a loud alarm suddenly blared throughout the camp.
"Attention! We have reports of Devourers sighted near the area. All trainees and personnel, proceed to defensive positions!"
Unprepared for this, Irosin stood with the other applicants. "Wait, I'm not ready! Aren't we supposed to train first?" he asked Nuwa, but she was already issuing commands to her team, treating the situation like a full-scale battle.
From a distance, he saw three Devourers approaching. They looked like smoky beings with fiery eyes and mouths glowing a pale white.
Irosin felt as if he were facing a real-life horror, yet a sense of awe stirred within him. "I'm here. There's no turning back."
He tried to tap into his imagination, hoping he'd manifest powers like those in the movies. But despite his attempts, nothing happened. "What is this? There should be flames or a sword appearing," he muttered to himself.
Eventually, he followed the other applicants to take cover behind a wall. From his position, he watched the soldiers fire bullets at the Devourers---but the rounds seemed to have no effect. The creatures crept closer, drawing energy from their surroundings with each step.
Suddenly, a young Shaman charged forward, his hand glowing with a red energy as he struck one of the Devourers, causing it to dissipate into the air. Irosin was left in awe. "So, this is what a true Shaman looks like..."
Before he could marvel any further, a soldier approached him. "Hey, kid! If you're just here to watch, get out of here." Nearby, other applicants were scrambling to flee, terrified.
For the first time, he felt the true weight of the situation. What he thought would be a simple training exercise had turned into a real battle, fraught with danger and death. Yet, amidst the chaos, he clung to his dream of success and the promise of a large salary.
In an instant, a Sword-Type Devourer lunged at him unexpectedly. Before he could react, he felt a sharp pain as it pierced his abdomen. He fell to the ground, the agony making it hard to breathe, as his dreams and fantasies faded in the face of raw danger.
As his vision started to blur, he noticed a light appearing before him. In the middle of that light, a pentagon-shaped barrier formed, like a magical shield against the monster.
He turned and saw a striking woman with golden hair and fair skin. She wore sleek black gear, almost robotic, and her eyes glowed with confidence, a slight smirk on her lips.
"Pathetic," she said.
Like lightning, Irosin shot up from the ground, momentarily forgetting the pain in his abdomen. "What did you say?" he asked, clenching his fist tightly.
He was furious. Despite the lingering pain, he refused to let that insult slide. Glaring at her, he noticed the nametag on her chest: Applicant 3, Mayari Dela Cruz. He rolled his eyes, realizing she wasn't even an official Shaman, just another applicant like him.
"How do you expect to become a Shaman when you don't even have any strength?" She raised an eyebrow, clearly unimpressed. "That was just one Devourer, and you're already struggling."
The Devourers suddenly vanished, and everything returned to normal. A loudspeaker announced, "Attention all applicants! The Preliminary Situational Test has officially ended."
Irosin froze, as did the other applicants around him. He felt like the sky was falling as he processed what had just happened. "Situational test?" His cheeks flushed with embarrassment as he recalled how he failed to handle an illusionary Devourer.
The applicants began whispering to each other, many of them looking stunned. "It was all fake?!" a man exclaimed, more shocked than relieved. "Wow! I really thought it was real!"
"I thought that was the end for us! I felt like we were fighting the final boss!" another applicant said, voice still shaking.
Irosin could barely move as he examined himself. Was there really no wound in his stomach? He leaned against a wall, feeling a whirlwind of emotions inside him. "All that fear, anger, and anxiety… it was just a fake battle?"
But before he could fully rest, he noticed Mayari watching him, a mocking grin on her face. "Pathetic," she repeated before walking away.