No one could forget the gruesome event that took place 25 years ago. Mortals and gods alike still remember how a single family was brutally wiped out in a single night, as though Jack the Ripper had returned to wreak havoc in the peaceful municipality of Sto. Tomas in Davao Region.
When investigators arrived at the scene, they were met with horror--- the mutilated bodies of David Axel and his wife, Gretel Mae Guttierez. Blood smeared the walls, pooling in grotesque patterns across the floor. Their organs were missing, leaving behind only empty shells of flesh and bone. Their only son, James Gutierrez, went missing for three days before being found again in the woodlands fifty meters away from his home, traumatized and scared.
The brutality suggested a personal grudge against the family, but no evidence pointed to a culprit. Despite their efforts, the police found no leads and quietly closed the case. Whispers of a "wannabe Jack the Ripper" lingered, but the killer vanished into the shadows.
The police tried to ask James, the sole witness of the incident to testify and identify who the culprit was, but they failed to make him speak nor come out of the hospital room.
Si-Dapa closed his eyes, the memory of that blood-soaked night pressing against his thoughts. Even now, 25 years later, it lingered like a ghost refusing to fade. His gaze shifted to the spirit of a woman who had once suffered under James Gutierrez—the lone survivor of that night. Now, she laughed with her son, their joy a quiet defiance of the horrors they had once endured.
Who would have thought that this same woman would risk her life to become a reaper, even daring to accept Kanlaon's challenge to turn back time?
Si-Dapa's lips curled into a smug smile. 'Two birds with one stone,' he thought.
He could ensure the tragedy never happened by sending her 25 years into the past. As his reaper, she would closely watch the boy and his family, stopping the horrors before they began.
'Si-Dapa, you're a genius!' he praised himself silently, satisfaction swelling within him.
Though excitement stirred beneath his stoic facade, he showed no outward sign, keeping his composure as sharp as ever.
Then he stood up and walked towards them, "Let's go. We'll strike at midnight, so prepare yourself. It looks like it will be a long night for both of you."
"Whoah! So this is Mount Kanlaon."
Elise stared up at the towering volcano, its peak lost in the mist. The dark forest stretched around it, its trees standing like silent sentinels. A chill ran down her spine, but she couldn't tear her eyes away from the imposing sight.
She can feel the ominous aura inside the forest. As if someone is waiting for them.
"This is as far as I go. The rest is up to you," Si-Dapa said, halting as vines began to twist across the path, blocking his way. It was a sign that he couldn't interfere in the test.
"Oh my! A visitor," a woman's voice, sweet yet chilling, echoed through the trees.
"Laon," Si-Dapa muttered, his tone tense. "She's here. Brace yourselves!"
At his warning, figures began to emerge from the shadows of the forest. Aswangs—twisted and grotesque—strode toward Elise with an unsettling grace, their distorted forms sending a shiver down her spine.
'Are you sure you know how to wield a sword, Mom?'
"What are you talking about Jasper?" Elise scoffed and she started to do some arm warm-ups. "Even though I always get beaten up by your Dad, I am an Arnis Regional Champion in my prime you know?"
"Now watch me as I beat these things up!"
Si-Dapa scoffed and crossed his arms sarcastically. Her confidence is admirable. Her odds of survival? Less so. He thought.
With the twin blades gripped firmly, Elise's body tensed, ready. The first Aswang charged, but she sidestepped, using the Aswang's momentum against it. With a swift "estocada" thrust, her blade pierced its side before she spun around, drawing her second blade to slice through its exposed throat.
Another one lunged at her, claws outstretched. Elise blocked its strike with a swift "sangga" of her blades, then followed up with a "cutting" motion, slashing across its midsection. The creature let out a guttural scream and staggered back.
Elise didn't wait. She dropped low, executing a "double batoon" maneuver—both blades working in perfect unison—to deflect another Aswang's attack before she pressed forward with rapid strikes. One blade sliced through the Aswang's leg, and the other slashed its face, leaving it howling in pain.
The last Aswang attempted a desperate leap. Elise pivoted, flowing into a "sinawali" pattern—crossing her blades in quick succession, blocking its claws before she spun and delivered a finishing blow, her blades working in tandem to cleave through its neck.
The forest fell silent. The aswangs, sensing the bloodlust radiating from Elise's blades, hesitated. Elise stood still, her breathing steady, her focus razor-sharp.
"See that, Jasper?" She wiped the sweat from her forehead, a smirk tugging at her lips. "I knew I still had it in me! Though instead of fighting armored men, my enemies are monsters."
But then—the sword… something was wrong.
The dark aura around her thickened, pulsing, as the sword's color shifted. Elise's eyes widened, the sensation creeping into her veins.
'Must… kill.'
Her hand tightened on the hilt, but the words echoed louder in her mind. Kill… Kill… Kill.
Elise's heart pounded as she stumbled back, feeling the fury swell inside her. "Jasper?" She gasped, her voice trembling. "What's happening?"
The sword seemed to hum with energy, the aura now swirling around her, suffocating her. She struggled to keep control, but the rage was overwhelming.
"Ack! J-Jasper, stop it!" Elise's voice cracked as the energy surged through her, forcing her to her knees. The power clawed at her, her blood burning with every pulse.
Si-Dapa, who was watching them from afar, sensed the impending danger between Elise and her familiar.
"Oh no!" Si-Dapa screamed.
When he's about to enter the barrier, the sturdy vines immediately grab Si-Dapa's arms and legs--- pinning him to the ground.
"Stop right there, Si-Dapa."
A woman stepped forward, her mint green dress flowing like a breeze around her as she crouched gracefully. Her emerald eyes met his, shining with a sharp, almost playful glint. Long chestnut brown hair cascaded down her back, adorned with an array of vibrant flowers, each adding a touch of wild beauty to her elegant appearance. Her features were striking—delicate yet captivating, like a doll brought to life.
"Do not interfere." She warned and her doll-like eyes squinted into a glare. "Do not make me repeat myself."
"Do you even care if she succeeds? Or is this just another of Kanlaon's games to you?" Si-Dapa spat at her words.
'This wasn't part of the plan, but let's see how Elise handles it.'