Chapter 40: The War of the Sugos
The night in Plaridel was a grim battlefield, where cries of rage, pain, and desperation echoed through the air. City hall, once a beacon of authority, had become a blood-soaked arena of fire and destruction, where three sugos—Ifugao, Hustisya, and the Spanish General Salazar—converged, each carrying a purpose that would determine Plaridel's fate.
In the heart of the blazing conflict, Ifugao stood between Hustisya and Salazar, his red sword aglow with blue energy, like a living flame pulsing with resolve. He knew the situation was spiraling into chaos, and every move from the two sugos before him could unleash greater tragedy. His eyes burned with determination, yet a flicker of worry lingered as he surveyed the chaos around him—rebels, police, and innocent bystanders caught in the crossfire.
He faced General Salazar, his voice bold yet laced with a plea. "General Salazar, I beg you, stop tormenting the Filipinos!" he shouted, his words cutting through the din of battle. "End the arrests and killings of the innocent! This isn't how to govern Plaridel!"
But Salazar's response was a cold, mocking laugh. "What do you expect me to do, Indio?" he sneered, his voice dripping with arrogance. "Let the rebels escape and sleep tonight as if nothing happened? This night won't end until I've eradicated every Indio in Plaridel!" His voice thundered with menace, and behind him, his five crystal monsters stood ready, their eyes glowing with red electricity, poised to obey his every command.
Hustisya's rage ignited like a wildfire at his words. Her eyes blazed with red fire, and her colossal skeleton, wreathed in the same crimson flames, reared to strike Salazar. "You demon!" she roared, her scythe-tipped spear glowing as she charged. But before she could reach him, Ifugao stepped in, raising his sword to block her path. "Calm down, Hustisya!" he pleaded, his voice urgent. "Violence isn't the answer!"
Hustisya's fury turned on Ifugao, her eyes blazing with incredulous anger. "Calm down?!" she screamed, her voice cracking with rage. "How can I calm down when this demonic general plans to massacre the Filipinos in my town?! Are you telling me to make peace with the Spaniards while they slaughter our people?!" Her hands trembled, and the red flames of her skeleton flared brighter, mirroring the inferno of her emotions.
Ifugao fell silent, his heart torn between concern and duty. He knew Hustisya's words held truth, but he also knew that if her battle with Salazar continued, it would not only claim Spanish lives but also drag countless innocent Filipinos into the fray. He turned to Salazar again, his voice steady yet pleading. "General Salazar, look at Plaridel!" he said, gesturing to the shattered buildings, scattered debris, and bodies of the fallen, both Spanish and Filipino. "The rebels' attack has already killed many Spaniards. Yes, Filipinos did this, but shouldn't you ask why? They don't seek fame or wealth—they only want a decent life and equal treatment!"
Ifugao's eyes shone with hope as he pleaded, "For the sake of the innocent who will suffer, stop this, General!"
But before he could finish, a sharp crystal spike struck him, piercing upward and lifting him into the air. Pain surged through his body like lightning, but his protective aura shielded him from harm. In his shock, Salazar's voice rang out, thick with contempt. "I don't care for the words of an Indio like you!" he bellowed. "As long as Spain rules the Philippines, we alone decide what happens in this land! Filthy Indios have no right to dictate our actions!"
Hustisya's rage erupted, her eyes blazing as she shouted, "It's pointless to reason with a demon!" Her voice thundered with fury and resolve. "There's only one way to stop the bloodshed—to kill the root of this evil!" In an instant, she charged at Salazar, her scythe-tipped spear ablaze with red fire.
Salazar's grin widened, brimming with mockery. "Do your worst, Hustisya!" he taunted, his crystal monsters poised behind him. "I'll show you how weak you are against me!" The battle exploded between them, Hustisya's spear flashing as it struck Salazar's crystal spikes. Each clash unleashed a deafening explosion, shaking the ground and sending debris flying.
As the fight raged, Ifugao slowly descended from the crystal spike, his body unscathed thanks to his resilient protection. But his mind was in turmoil, unsure of what to do. He knew words alone could no longer halt this battle—both Salazar and Hustisya were determined to fight to the death. "What should I do?" he whispered, his eyes filled with doubt.
At that moment, a sharp strike hit his head, accompanied by Hiyas's voice. "This isn't the time to lose heart, Ifugao!" He turned to see her, her icy gaze radiating intensity. "Why do you always appear out of nowhere?!" Ifugao exclaimed, his voice tinged with frustration.
Hiyas ignored his question, speaking calmly but firmly. "If Salazar unleashes his crystal monsters to slaughter the Filipinos, saving Plaridel will become even harder," she said. "You must act now, Ifugao."
Ifugao knew she spoke the truth, but doubt gnawed at him. "I can't fight the general," he said, his voice heavy with hesitation. "And if I kill him, I'll be seen as a criminal in everyone's eyes!"
Hiyas reminded him of a greater danger. "If Hustisya kills Salazar, an even bigger problem will arise," she warned. "If she absorbs the energy of a fallen sugo, her power will double. In her current state of mind, there's no guarantee she can be stopped from killing every Spaniard."
Her words struck Ifugao like a bolt of lightning. He knew he had to stop Hustisya, but how? "Salazar is stronger than me in battle, and Hustisya is brimming with energy," he said, his voice laced with frustration. "What can I do to stop them?"
Hiyas sighed, her tone calm but resolute. "You underestimate yourself, Ifugao," she said. "You're capable of far more, and you'll succeed if you act." She reminded him he wasn't alone. "Don't forget, you're not the only one fighting for Plaridel."
Ifugao frowned, confused. "What do you mean?" he asked. "Is someone else helping us?" But instead of answering, Hiyas struck his head with her stick again, spurring him into action. "Move!" she shouted, continuing to hit him until he leaped away.
Though bewildered, Ifugao had no choice but to plunge into the fray. "That diwata is such a sadist," he muttered, but his heart surged with resolve. As he watched the fiery clash between Salazar and Hustisya, memories of the Urdaneta tragedy flooded his mind. "I won't let that happen again," he whispered, his eyes blazing with newfound determination.
In the midst of the battle, as Salazar and Hustisya traded blows with their weapons, Ifugao darted between them, his twin arnis glowing with blue energy. Both froze, stunned by his intervention. Hustisya shouted in fury, "Why are you interfering again, Ifugao?!" Her voice was thick with frustration. "If you won't help the Filipinos in Plaridel, just leave!"
"I'm here to save the Filipinos, just like you, Hustisya!" Ifugao replied, his voice unwavering. "But if you plan to harm innocent Spaniards, I'm ready to stop you!"
Hustisya's disbelief turned to rage. "Stop this madness, Ifugao!" she screamed. "How can you push for peace in the middle of a war? People have died and lost loved ones because of the Spaniards! Can you face the bereaved and tell them to befriend these demonic Spaniards as if nothing happened?!"
She reminded him of the Filipinos' pain. "No one wanted death or loss! I don't want anyone to die either, but how can we stop this tragedy if the Spaniards who oppress us remain?!" Her voice was heavy with bitterness. "You'll never understand what we're fighting for, Ifugao! I don't care about your heroic ideals—I swear to deliver the justice our victims deserve, even if you try to stop me!"
Hustisya lunged at Ifugao, her scythe-tipped spear blazing with red fire. He swiftly parried with his arnis, but the intensity of her energy made each strike feel like a hammer, nearly sinking his feet into the ground. Undeterred, Ifugao matched her every move. Her giant skeleton attacked, its massive fist crashing down, but Ifugao dodged with agility.
"You're wrong if you think I don't understand your fight, Hustisya!" he shouted, evading another strike. "I'm Filipino too, and I grieve for our people! But killing blindly isn't right! If you seek revenge on Spaniards, even innocent civilians, you're no different from the terrorists or the Spaniards you hate!"
Hustisya rejected his words, her anger surging. A massive shadow spread beneath her, and from it, a giant skeletal arm erupted, striking at Ifugao. He blocked it with his arnis, but the force sent him crashing through a building's wall. The impact unleashed a deafening explosion, scattering debris.
Hustisya unleashed a powerful aura, her eyes blazing. "You have no right to stop me, Ifugao!" she roared. "Leave now, or I'll kill you!"
Salazar's laughter cut through, brimming with glee. "I love watching these rats tear each other apart!" he said, then added, "But I'd rather be the one to kill you both!"
Hustisya's rage flared. "You'll die first, Salazar!" she screamed, charging again, her spear ablaze. Salazar countered with crystal spikes, meeting her attack. Their battle raged on, each strike of her spear met by his crystals, causing explosions that rocked the surroundings. Her giant skeleton smashed at the crystal monsters, but they swiftly reassembled when shattered.
From the rubble, Ifugao emerged, his twin arnis glowing with blue energy. He blocked Hustisya's spear and Salazar's crystal spike, causing a massive explosion between them. "Why are you interfering again, Ifugao?!" Hustisya shouted in fury.
But Ifugao pressed on. As Salazar seized a chance to strike Hustisya, Ifugao blocked it, protecting her. Salazar laughed mockingly. "Are you serious, Indio? You're protecting Hustisya, but she wants you dead!"
"I'm here to save Hustisya and stop her from doing evil!" Ifugao replied, his voice resolute.
"Madness!" Hustisya screamed. "I don't need saving—I need justice!" She kicked Ifugao, sending him sprawling. She lunged at Salazar again, her spear burning brighter.
Ifugao didn't hesitate. He sprang up and rejoined the fray, blocking a crystal spike meant for Hustisya while dodging her spear aimed at him. His arnis glowed, showcasing his speed and skill. "Hustisya, stop this!" he shouted, but her rage blinded her.
Moments later, her giant skeleton swung at Ifugao, but he leaped, dodging the fist and parrying a crystal spike from Salazar. The impact caused a massive explosion, shaking the ground. "I won't let you continue!" Ifugao shouted, blocking attacks from both sides. His body was weary, but his resolve held firm.
Hustisya, frustrated by Ifugao's interference, unleashed a powerful aura, her skeleton spewing red flames that scorched the surroundings. "Stop this nonsense, Ifugao!" she roared.
A massive skeletal fist struck Ifugao, but he blocked it with his arnis, evading Salazar's crystal spikes. "Hustisya, if you want me to stop, you stop attacking first!" he pleaded.
But Hustisya's fury was unyielding, and she pressed her assault, while Salazar laughed, reveling in the chaos. "You impress me, boy, but how long can you keep this up?" he taunted.
On the rooftop of city hall, Apyong, Hiyas, and Jana watched, their eyes fixed on the battle below, as if awaiting a pivotal moment. Jana turned to Apyong, her voice laced with worry.
"General, is it right for us to stand by? Ifugao's too young to bear this burden!"
Apyong smiled calmly. "We don't need to act, Jana," he said. "We shouldn't even be here. I only came to see what Ifugao would do in this moment."
Jana sighed, but her eyes widened at Ifugao's overflowing energy. "I can't believe this boy's strength," she said.
"His energy… it's extraordinary for a young sugo like him!"
Hiyas spoke, her voice calm yet confident. "Ifugao possesses far more than that," she said. "What we're seeing isn't just an ordinary sugo. His power comes from the people of Plaridel who believe he can save them from this chaos. What we're witnessing is a true hero of the Philippines." As she spoke, she gazed at the radiant blue energy emanating from Ifugao, nearly surpassing the power of Salazar and Hustisya combined.
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