Chapter 64: The War Within Cavite's Heart
The night in General Trias, Cavite, was no ordinary night. The town's tranquility shattered under the cacophony of shouts, explosions, and the acrid scent of burning buildings. The Katipunan rebels, marked by red bandanas tied around their arms, moved like shadows in the dark—swift, relentless, and merciless.
Every structure they passed fell victim to their fury. Doors and windows were smashed, and flames devoured properties. Residents were forcibly dragged from their homes, their faces etched with fear and confusion as the rebels meticulously separated Filipinos from the Spaniards they took hostage. The rebels used these captives as human shields, a ruthless tactic that paralyzed the police, who hesitated to engage for fear of harming innocents.
The Katipunan's grip on the town was absolute, their presence a suffocating cloud of dread that enveloped General Trias. On the main roads leading into the town, they set vehicles ablaze, creating barricades that blocked reinforcements from neighboring areas. Flames spread along the highways, thick smoke billowed into the sky, and the roar of explosions echoed across the province. Behind this chaos stood the envoys—chosen ones with powers far beyond those of ordinary men, lending an otherworldly weight to the conflict.
Moments later, the night's silence was pierced again by the arrival of black vehicles carrying battle-ready soldiers. Amid the turmoil, Romeo, the general renowned for his courage and dedication, observed the chaos from his vehicle. His eyes burned with determination, but beneath them lay a deep unease.
"They're bold to strike the heart of Cavite," Romeo muttered, his voice heavy as he surveyed the blazing surroundings.
His team sprang into action with disciplined precision, their training and coordination giving them an edge over the rebels. With swift, calculated moves, Romeo's soldiers apprehended those who attempted to flee, their actions sharp and unyielding. Despite the rebels' aggression, they faltered against Romeo's organized force, each attack countered with the precision of a well-choreographed battle.
But in the midst of their success, an eerie presence emerged. A thick red smoke spread from a darkened corner of the town, carrying an unsettling metallic scent mixed with raw energy. Romeo's instincts flared—he recognized the work of an envoy, a sign of extraordinary power.
"Stay alert!" he shouted, his voice commanding as his eyes locked onto the smoke. His soldiers froze, weapons raised but tinged with hesitation.
From the haze, three figures emerged. Von, his expression resolute, red bandana on his arm, stepped forward alongside Hulyo, the envoy of Pasig, and a woman with gleaming red hair who sent a chill through Romeo. Their auras pulsed like waves of dangerous energy, confirming they too were envoys, equal to him in power.
"What's your plan this time?" Romeo demanded, his voice thick with anger and frustration. "Will you never stop disrupting this nation?"
Von's smile was laced with determination and bitterness. "We're not causing chaos, General," he replied, his tone calm but firm. "We're reclaiming the nation that's rightfully ours."
In an instant, thousands of balisong knives materialized around Romeo, swirling like a living storm of metal. They surged toward the trio, but before they could strike, a portal opened in front of Von. The knives vanished into it, swallowed by a black void. Hulyo's power allowed him to create portals to a vast dimension, a tool the Katipunan used to escape or relocate swiftly.
"Your portal-making ability is remarkable," Romeo said, his voice tinged with reluctant admiration. "If only you used it for good, you could help so many."
Hulyo smirked, his expression mocking. "For good? Sorry, General, but we have different definitions of that word."
Romeo closed his eyes, forcing himself to stay calm. His chest tightened with the weight of his responsibilities as a general. "I don't want to fight my fellow Filipinos," he said sincerely. "But I can't let your crimes destroy the nation's peace."
He challenged the trio, asking if they truly believed the Katipunan's actions would benefit all. His question cut through the silence like a blade, unanswered by Von, who knew the excesses of his group. Instead, Von turned the question back, his eyes blazing with defiance.
"Tell me, General," he said, his voice hard. "What's your plan for the Filipinos suffering under Spanish oppression? If you truly care for this nation, why aren't you helping the poor?"
Von's words struck deep. Romeo knew the truth behind them—the cries of the oppressed, families without homes, children starving in the streets. "I hear you," he replied, his voice heavy with emotion. "Like you, I care for our people. But that doesn't mean I have to kill or destroy property."
Von's anger erupted like a volcano. "Caring isn't enough without action!" he roared, his eyes blazing. "We've tried staying silent, enduring for the sake of your so-called peace. But how long must we suffer? Tell me, General—do we just turn a blind eye? Is silence the answer to living in peace?"
His words hammered at Romeo's heart, conjuring images of crying children, grieving mothers, and helpless fathers. The pain in his chest fueled doubts about the peace he fought for under Spanish rule.
"I don't know…" Romeo whispered, his voice nearly lost in the air, heavy with self-doubt.
"You don't know?" Von snapped, furious. "Nonsense! You know things aren't right, but you blind yourself because of the money you get as a Spanish lapdog!"
Von's words lashed like a whip, pushing Abby past her limit. "That's not true!" she shouted, her voice burning with anger as she defended her general. "You know nothing of Romeo's sacrifices for Filipinos! He works every day to save our people, even when it's not easy!"
"If that's true, why do Filipinos keep suffering?" Von challenged, his tone bitter. "Why don't you hear their cries?"
Abby responded with fervor. "It's not that simple, Von! No one denies the suffering across the nation, but it's not easily solved. We don't have enough power to fix it under Spanish rule."
She explained that Romeo did everything to uphold the law and protect Filipinos, but he couldn't stop every Spaniard's wrongs. "We must accept that Spain controls the Philippines," she said heavily. "If we wage war, they could slaughter all Filipinos in an instant."
Von rejected her reasoning as cowardice. "If you accept Filipinos as Spanish slaves, I won't!" he roared, his voice echoing. "Martin's right—this nation needs freedom for true peace!"
Romeo's anger exploded. "Fools!" he thundered, his voice shaking the surroundings. "You don't know what you're chasing! Do you want blood to flood this nation? If you follow Martin, a butcher who uses people for his own ends, you're agreeing to let our people die in a war they didn't choose!"
Von didn't hesitate. "Even if Martin's a butcher, he's our only hope!" he shouted, his eyes desperate yet resolute. "Tell me, General, if we trust you, can you end this nation's suffering?"
Romeo fell silent, the weight of his own inadequacy crushing him. He bowed his head, his eyes burning with anger and self-disappointment. Von's words pierced his principles, and the pain of having no sufficient answer was almost unbearable.
"You're powerless, General," Von said, his voice cold but truthful. "Your intentions are good, and I try to understand you. I want a peaceful nation too, but if we don't act, who will help our people?"
Red smoke thickened around them as Von's aura flared like wildfire. He paused, sighed, and spoke again. "Do your duty, General. But if you want to stop our revolution, you'll have to fight us—to the death."
From the smoke, Von's comrades emerged, shrouded in red mist that formed muscular golems. These towering creatures, with arms of hardened smoke, glowed with red eyes, instilling fear even in Romeo's seasoned soldiers.
Romeo was startled but quickly rallied his men. "Prepare yourselves!" he commanded. But before they could act, they fell through portals that opened beneath them, created by Hulyo. Abby and Peter were among them, and though Romeo reached for Abby, the portal closed before he could grab her.
"No! My team!" Romeo shouted, his voice thick with worry and rage. As he turned, a massive golem fist struck, sending him crashing to the ground. The impact echoed as he hit the earth, pain searing through him, yet he rose swiftly.
He regained his balance, but three red golems charged, attacking relentlessly. His balisong knives formed a protective barrier, deflecting their blows. "What did you do to my team?" he demanded, his eyes blazing.
Von smiled, though exhaustion marked his face. "Don't worry," he said confidently. "We may be rebels, but we choose our kills. If your men behave in Hulyo's dimension, they won't die."
The golems attacked again, each punch capable of shattering stone. Their speed was impressive, but to Romeo, their moves were reckless. "They're desperate to hit me," he muttered, his eyes tracking their movements. "This fight is nothing to me."
He dispatched the golems one by one with his balisong knives, each strike precise. Despite their size, the golems fell, reverting to unconscious rebels as the smoke dissipated.
"I trained and studied combat in Spain for over a year," Romeo said confidently. "They'd die if you sent them against me."
He raised his hand, challenging Von. "I have no personal grudge against you, Von," he said. "But I'll let you try fighting the Spaniards. Viceroy Magellan, one of Spain's swords sent to the Philippines, is three times stronger than me. Prove to me now that you can defeat Spain."
A blue aura enveloped Romeo, and he lunged at Von. Unfazed, Von met him head-on. Their fists collided, unleashing a force that shook the ground like an explosion. Romeo's knives attacked, but Von countered with a massive golem arm formed from red smoke.
Von created more golems, but Romeo remained unfazed, summoning a giant peacock made of thousands of balisong knives. The peacock rained sharp blades on Von, who, unable to withstand them, dissolved into the red smoke, becoming part of the thick cloud.
Though Von was invisible, Romeo sensed his presence. He admired Von's ability to turn the area—nearly a hundred meters—into his territory with the red smoke. He knew that if this continued, no vehicles or soldiers could provide aid.
Noticing the rebels vanishing, likely transported by Von's smoke, Romeo was caught off guard as a massive hand formed from the smoke grabbed him, pulling him from his peacock. Unable to break free, he was slammed into a building, the impact echoing as he crashed through a wall, pain coursing through him.
"He has the advantage here," Romeo whispered, his voice laced with concern but resolute.
Rising, he faced Von's fist, which struck his face. Romeo staggered but retaliated with a kick. Von blocked, pulling him toward the wall, but Romeo's knives formed a shield just in time.
Von released him and vanished into the smoke. The red mist enveloped the room, a threatening cloud. Moments later, Von appeared above, aiming a kick, but Romeo blocked with his arm.
Von flickered in and out, attacking from all angles, but Romeo parried each strike. Von grew anxious, realizing his energy was draining fast. "This is the first time my technique has been useless," he muttered, breathing heavily. "If this continues, I'll run out of energy."
He lunged at Romeo, aiming for his throat, but Romeo grabbed his arm. "He blocked me that easily?" Von whispered, shocked.
Von leaped back, but Romeo blocked his escape with a wall of knives. Von, limited by needing thick smoke to vanish, generated more from his body. Before he could act, Romeo seized his throat and slammed him against the knife wall. "Did you think fighting me would be easy?" Romeo said, his voice brimming with confidence and anger.
A powerful aura erupted from Romeo, intimidating Von. His eyes blazed, and thousands of knives swirled like a destructive storm, shredding the building's interior. The sound was an orchestra of destruction, each movement charged with power.
A massive explosion followed, and a plume of red smoke burst from the building. "Damn it!" Von muttered, frustrated. "I didn't expect his knives to wound me."
His energy protected him from bullets, but Romeo's knives were extraordinary. Standing in the street, Von examined his bloodied, slashed body. Though his energy stemmed the bleeding, he feared depleting it before defeating Romeo.
He sensed Romeo's intense aura from the building, and the general emerged, cloaked in blue energy. "What's wrong?" Romeo taunted. "You weren't ready for that attack. No—you don't know how to counter it because you lack proper knowledge of your powers."
Thousands of knives formed a towering knight wielding a seven-meter sword, poised to strike Von. "You rely on your abilities but can't control the chakra in your body," Romeo said. "How will you defeat the Spaniards with such limited combat knowledge?"
The knight's sword crashed down, unleashing an explosion that shook the surroundings. Smoke and dust spread, the blast reverberating through General Trias.
---
Meanwhile, in Hulyo's dimension, Abby and Peter were stunned. The dimension was an endless void, illuminated only by glowing crystals like stars. Before them stood a colossal monster—the Ursarion, radiating overwhelming energy. Standing eighteen meters tall and ten meters wide, its serpentine tendrils writhed, seizing unconscious Spaniards and devouring them like toys. Each movement instilled dread, the captives' screams echoing in the dark.
These Spaniards were recent Katipunan captives from Cavite. Emil and Hulyo stood before Abby and Peter, explaining the scene. "See the weapon that will free the Philippines?" Hulyo said, his voice confident yet bitter. "This is our last hope against the Spaniards."
Peter's aura flared with rage. "What madness is this?" he shouted, his eyes blazing. His trembling hands were ready to strike, but caution held him back.
Hulyo urged him to stay calm, his voice authoritative yet composed. "No need for violence," he said. "You're in my dimension. Ten thousand sleeping people are here, and it'd be bad if they died because of our fight."
He warned that killing him would unleash the Ursarion on Cavite, causing greater chaos. "If you kill me, this monster will wreak havoc outside," Hulyo said, his eyes full of warning.
Abby demanded to know the Katipunan's true plan. "I don't understand why you involve innocents," she said, her voice filled with concern and confusion. Her eyes fixed on the Ursarion, its movements chilling her heart.
Emil responded with eerie calm. "If you promise no violence, I'll explain," he said. He described the Katipunan as an alliance formed to aid towns. "We still believe we're not enemies of envoys like you," he said sincerely.
"Follow the law and live peacefully?" Emil said, his tone bitter. "We'd agree to that. It's nice to think we could return to normal lives. But as long as the Spaniards are here, that's an illusion. You can't convince us to stay blind to their cruelty."
Stepping forward, Emil gazed at the Ursarion. "We don't want to sacrifice lives," he said heavily. "But we have no choice but to follow Martin. We know you want a free Philippines too, but you fear failure and the annihilation of our people."
He admitted they understood that fear. "We're not reckless out of anger," he said. "Martin has proven he can succeed where we can't."
Pointing to the Ursarion, his eyes held strange determination. "Martin's power created this monster. It consumes beings as its power source. Right now, it holds fifty thousand people, growing hourly."
He revealed Martin's plan to feed the Ursarion a hundred thousand Spaniards before unleashing it. Abby and Peter were horrified. "A hundred thousand?" Peter shouted, enraged. "You're insane! You'd sacrifice that many lives for your plan?"
Emil's smile was bitter. "It's madness and inhumane," he said. "But in five hundred years of Spanish rule, over five million Filipinos have died from their abuse. What's a hundred thousand Spaniards compared to the millions they've killed and will kill?"
Abby watched the Ursarion, its tendrils laden with captive body parts. They knew it was wrong, but they were powerless, watching as the monster fed. Each movement fueled their fear and frustration at their own helplessness.
---
Outside, Romeo noticed Von no longer used his red smoke to escape. Exhausted, Von was conserving energy. "Your smoke weapon takes a lot of energy, doesn't it?" Romeo said confidently. "You're left with only physical strength."
He unleashed a powerful aura, snapping his fingers. "You rely too much on your power, Von," he said. "You can only last ten minutes in a fight, unlike Spanish generals trained to battle for nearly an hour."
He challenged Von to fight hand-to-hand to prove his skill. Enraged by the insult, Von charged, unleashing a burst of energy and punching with full force. Romeo met each blow, their fight a dance of combat.
Though Von landed hits, Romeo barely felt them, his opponent's attacks weakening. Von's movements slowed, unable to block Romeo's strikes. Exhausted, his body could barely move.
Romeo sighed. "I don't want to kill someone weaker than me," he said, his voice tinged with pity. "Surrender, Von. Work with me, and live in peace."
"Surrender?" Von retorted, spitting blood. "I won't give up. I have dreams to achieve."
"Dreams? You can still achieve them. It's not too late. Leave the rebels, and I'll help—"
Von cut him off with a shout. "Shut up! Are you trying to bribe me to become an honorary Spaniard? I won't be a Spanish dog like you!" he roared. "I want to give my beloved a good life, to be with her every day until we're old, in a nation free from danger. That'll only happen when the Spaniards are gone. You won't understand, but I'll do anything for that!"
He unleashed a red aura, attempting another attack. But a portal opened beside them, and Hulyo emerged with Abby and Peter. "Sorry to interrupt, but we're out of time," Hulyo said calmly but firmly.
Hulyo re-entered the portal, appearing behind Von and pulling him in. "I'll release some of your men later, General," he said. "So please let us leave."
He pushed Von into the portal and bid Romeo a courteous farewell. "This isn't our last meeting, brave General. The great battle is coming, and I expect you'll do what's right for the nation."
Romeo could only watch the portal close. His primary concern was his team's safety, so instead of pursuing, he rushed to help Abby and Peter. They apologized, their faces heavy with disappointment and failure. Once again, the Katipunan had escaped and taken captives.
The night wore on, but the weight of the battle and the questions in Romeo's heart lingered. His duty as a general, his love for the nation, and his principles clashed within him, a war with no clear victor.
End of Chapter