Chapter 39: The Heart of the Battle
The night in Plaridel was like an unending dark dream, filled with cries of rage, pain, and fading hope. City hall had become a battlefield, strewn with the wreckage of shattered buildings, charred vehicles, and the bodies of rebels and police. Smoke choked the air, and the stench of blood was suffocating, as if heralding an even greater tragedy.
Amid the chaos, Ifugao raced across Plaridel, his feet barely touching the ground as he leaped from rooftops to poles. His heart pounded, gripped by fear that he might be too late to the battle at city hall. "I can't… I can't be late!" he whispered, his eyes brimming with worry. He knew the captives in the plaza awaited salvation, and every second was precious.
As he neared city hall, a deafening roar echoed, and from a distance, he saw a terrifying sight—a colossal dragon of white fire soaring through the sky. Its wings beat powerfully, sending gusts of wind that scattered dust and debris. Each burst of its flame brought chaos—Spanish police struck by it slowly turned to stone, their bodies collapsing as lifeless statues.
"Impossible!" Ifugao whispered, his eyes wide with shock. He couldn't believe what he saw. The dragon was no illusion—it was a formidable entity bringing death to all touched by its fire. "Who's responsible for this?" he asked himself, his mind reeling. He knew the rebels were there to save the Filipinos in the plaza, so why was the sugo of Malolos slaughtering Spaniards without mercy?
In the midst of his shock, a sharp strike hit his head, accompanied by a cold voice: "Don't just stand there, Ifugao! Do something to stop this!" He turned and saw Hiyas, calm but with an icy gaze fixed on him. Her eyes were like frost, radiating intensity and determination.
"Hiyas?!" Ifugao exclaimed, startled by her sudden appearance. "Have you been here this whole time?" he asked, his voice tinged with confusion. But before he could ask again, Hiyas struck his head with her stick once more, quickening his heartbeat.
"You don't have time for nonsense, Ifugao!" she snapped, her voice sharp and commanding. "That white dragon you see is Gilo, the sugo of Malolos and leader of the rebels attacking Plaridel. He plans to turn every Spaniard in town to stone, and you must stop him!"
Ifugao's eyes widened in shock. "Turn the Spaniards to stone? But why? I thought the rebels were here to save the Filipinos in the plaza!" he asked, his voice heavy with doubt.
Hiyas's expression grew grave. "Gilo is using the full power of his white fire to permanently petrify the Spaniards. If you don't stop him, the lives of his victims will be lost forever! I know the rebels aim to save the captives, but Gilo's rage is clouding his judgment. As the sugo of Ifugao, it's your duty to end this."
Hiyas's words hit Ifugao like a blow to the chest. He couldn't fathom how things had escalated to such cruelty. He knew Gilo's actions were wrong, and as a hero, he couldn't let them continue. "This is wrong… this isn't the way," he murmured, his fists clenching. In an instant, a surge of blue energy erupted from his body, like a living flame enveloping him. His eyes glowed with determination, and he prepared to charge.
Meanwhile, Gilo, in the form of a white dragon, continued to wreak havoc through Plaridel's streets. As he soared, he hunted for Spanish police, his eyes blazing with hatred. "You won't escape!" he roared, his voice like thunder. Suddenly, a powerful kick struck him, sending him crashing into a car. The impact rang out, and the vehicle crumpled beneath his weight.
Furious, Gilo's white flames flared brighter as he searched for his attacker. "Who dares toy with me?!" he bellowed. Moments later, Ifugao landed before him, his red sword glowing with blue energy. "Stop, Gilo!" Ifugao shouted, his voice firm yet urgent. "End this slaughter of the Spaniards!"
Gilo was stunned, especially upon realizing his opponent wasn't a Spaniard. "Who are you?!" he demanded, his eyes narrowing with suspicion. "Why are you interfering in my fight?!"
"I am Ifugao, the sugo of Ifugao and a hero!" Ifugao replied, his voice brimming with conviction. "I understand you're fighting Spain's government, but that doesn't mean you should harm civilians! Most of them are innocent!"
Gilo's white flames flared hotter as he shouted in rage. "Innocent?! There's no innocent Spaniard in the Philippines!" he roared, his voice thick with venom. "Every Spaniard here is guilty of our people's suffering! They're all part of the system destroying us!"
Ifugao's expression hardened. "Just because we're angry at the government doesn't mean we should be cruel to everyone!" he countered. "Many Spaniards care for Filipinos, have been kind to our people. Some of those you've killed might have been among them!"
Gilo rejected the notion. "And what if most of those I killed were cruel to Filipinos?!" he shouted. "If they must die for justice, I don't care!"
"Stop, Gilo!" Ifugao yelled, his voice a mix of anger and sorrow. "What about the innocent caught in the crossfire? The good Spaniards you know nothing about? You're no longer thinking rationally!" He bowed his head, his eyes filled with regret. "This country is drowning in suffering and vengeance. Killing won't solve our people's pain!"
Gilo's voice dripped with bitterness as he replied, "I know it won't solve everything, but it will bring justice for the crimes of the Spaniards when many of them die!" he shouted. "If we don't do this, who will deliver justice for us?!"
Before Gilo could continue, Ifugao unleashed a surge of blue energy, his head still bowed. His hair danced in the wind, and his red sword materialized in his hand, glowing with intense energy. He had hoped for a peaceful resolution, but Gilo's rage had clouded his reason. The only way to stop him was to defeat him in battle.
"I have no choice but to stop you, Gilo," Ifugao said, his voice resolute. "Whatever it takes, I'll do it."
Gilo's flames roared brighter, his anger surging. "Fighting Filipinos is betraying your own kind!" he shouted. "What did the Spaniards offer you to protect them and turn your back on your people?!"
"I took nothing from the Spaniards!" Ifugao retorted, his voice unwavering. "I'm doing this because I'm this nation's hero! I believe we don't need to kill or drive out the Spaniards to be free. The Spaniards here have been part of the Philippines for centuries—born here, like us. What we need is to accept each other as equals, as part of this nation!"
Gilo's eyes blazed with fury. "That's the problem!" he roared. "The Spaniards don't see us as equals! They treat us like slaves! I don't want violence, Ifugao, but I can't stay silent!" He soared into the air, his wings beating. "If we must kill Spaniards to live, I'll do it! No one else will help us but ourselves!"
In an instant, Gilo formed a massive ball of white fire in his hand. "If I'm wrong, I'll accept heaven's punishment!" he shouted. "And if so, we'll meet in the Spaniards' hell!" He hurled the fireball at Ifugao, who swiftly sliced it in half with his red sword. But before he could move, Gilo charged, his fist striking Ifugao and sending him reeling.
Ifugao refused to fall, balancing himself mid-air. He swung his sword at Gilo, but Gilo dodged, soaring higher, using his aerial advantage to stay out of reach. From above, he unleashed volleys of white fireballs, striking the ground around Ifugao and causing explosions that shook the earth.
"Surrender, Ifugao!" Gilo shouted, firing relentlessly. Each attack was swift and powerful, and Ifugao struggled to evade. A fireball grazed his shoulder, sending a jolt of pain through his body. "You'll never defeat me!" Gilo taunted, his voice brimming with confidence.
But Ifugao didn't yield. He knew he couldn't hit Gilo while he was airborne. Moments later, he closed his eyes, focusing to anticipate Gilo's next move. As Gilo dove again, Ifugao swung his sword, but Gilo anticipated it, halting his attack to avoid the blade's tip. Yet he froze when he saw Ifugao smiling before him.
The tip of Ifugao's sword glowed with blue energy, and Gilo realized it concealed a gun. "Impossible!" Gilo shouted, but before he could react, the gun fired a blinding beam of energy. The beam struck Gilo, hurling him into a building. The impact caused a massive explosion, scattering debris.
Ifugao was stunned by the power of his attack. "My power has grown so much…" he whispered, awestruck by the teachings of Apyong and Jana. But before he could reflect further, the ground quaked. In the distance, he saw a colossal skeleton, five hundred meters away, ablaze with red fire. His heart raced, knowing it stemmed from Hustisya's power.
"Hustisya…" he murmured, his eyes filled with worry. He knew he had to stop her to save her from ruin. He raced toward city hall, his mind swirling with doubts. "How can I fight her? Georgia and Hustisya are one… I can't hurt her," he whispered, his heart torn between duty and care for his friend.
He stopped abruptly as a massive explosion erupted from the skeleton's head. "What's happening now?!" he asked, his voice laced with fear. He feared Hustisya faced a formidable foe, and his concern for her safety grew. "I can't let Georgia get hurt!" he shouted to himself, resuming his run, determined to help his friend.
Minutes later, he landed in the heart of the battle at city hall. The scene was horrifying—hundreds of crystal monsters roamed, their eyes glowing with red electricity. In the center, he saw Hustisya, her red cloak billowing as she fought the monsters. Her giant skeleton attacked, but the creatures were swift and unyielding.
On the other side, General Salazar laughed, as if reveling in the chaos. "Hustisya, you can't afford to tire!" he mocked, his voice dripping with scorn. "The fun is just beginning!" He taunted the struggling girl as she battled the relentless monsters.
Suddenly, a powerful slash cleaved through the crystal monsters, shattering them. Hustisya and Salazar were stunned as Ifugao landed before them, his red sword glowing with blue energy. He unleashed a massive aura, shaking the surroundings. "Stop this fighting!" he shouted, his voice commanding. "Don't drag innocent people into this!"
Hustisya was shocked by Ifugao's arrival. "Stay out of this, Ifugao!" she yelled, her eyes blazing with anger. "This is my fight!"
Salazar laughed, his laughter cold and mocking. "Another Indio!" he sneered. "You're like rats showing up one by one!" He paused, recognizing Ifugao's aura. "You… you're the Indio who fought terrorists in Urdaneta, aren't you?" he asked, his eyes gleaming with curiosity.
Ifugao didn't understand Salazar's words, but his mission was clear. "I'm here to stop the bloodshed," he said firmly. "I'll do everything to end this fighting, no matter who I face!"
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