Chapter 42: The Last Hope
In the midst of the raging chaos in Plaridel, the battle was reaching its climax. General Salazar, his eyes full of rage and desperation, was ready to do anything to defeat Ifugao, the young sugo who had become an obstacle to his power. The surroundings were ablaze and the buildings nearly destroyed; the air was thick with smoke and dust.
Despite everything, Ifugao remained standing in the center of the fight, his blue energy still overflowing, like a deity confronting war.
In the ongoing battle, Salazar created a massive fortress of red crystal rooted in the ground, its sharp spikes like spears ready to pierce anyone who approached. His laugh echoed, full of pride and malice.
"You won't defeat me, Indio!" he screamed, as the crystals began to release giant monsters, each one larger and fiercer than the last.
The monsters immediately attacked Ifugao, their claws and teeth also made of crystal. But Ifugao showed no fear or hesitation as he bravely ran forward. His arnis glowed with blue energy, and with a swift movement, he spun in the air to attack, like a dancer in the middle of a war.
Every strike of his arnis caused a powerful, shattering explosion, allowing him to slice the crystal monsters into small pieces that scattered on the ground.
His speed was like the wind, untouched by Salazar's attacks. One of the monsters tried to attack him from behind, but in an instant, Ifugao blocked it, struck it down, and then shattered its head with a powerful stomp of his foot.
"Impossible!" shouted Salazar, his eyes filled with shock and fury. "My crystals cannot be broken even by the toughest swords!"
His teeth gnashed in anger as he watched Ifugao continue to advance while defeating his servants, his movements filled with confidence and determination. Every strike of his arnis was like lightning, crushing parts of the crystal fortress and bringing down its towers like sandcastles.
"This fight won't end like this!" he screamed. Salazar released a large ball of red energy from his hands, which struck the ground near Ifugao. The explosion created a huge crater, sending pieces of dirt and rock flying everywhere.
But Ifugao quickly leaped away from the blast. He saw Salazar gathering red energy again for another attack, so he immediately ran forward to stop him.
"Vanish, Indio!" Salazar yelled, launching his attack again.
Ifugao bravely met it, striking the blazing crystal ball released by Salazar without hesitation. His arnis unleashed blue energy like a wave, shattering the ball. The blue energy released by Ifugao went straight toward Salazar, hitting his crystal walls.
"I'm not finished yet, Indio!" Despite his frustration at failing to harm Ifugao, Salazar still didn't give up.
Breathing heavily and weakened by his injuries and exhaustion, he released another army of crystal monsters, each one faster and sharper than the last. "You won't defeat me so easily, Indio!" he screamed, his voice broken with anger and despair.
The monsters formed a circle around Ifugao, their sharp spikes pointed at him, ready to strike from all directions. But Ifugao remained calm, standing before them. His eyes were full of determination, and his blue energy glowed even brighter, continuing to blaze like fire around his body.
With a powerful shout, he spun and swung his weapons through the air. His arnis were like clubs releasing a blue force that cut through the air. Every monster that charged was split in half, pulverized, and crashed to the ground like shattered glass.
Salazar's eyes widened in shock, and he realized that no matter how many servants he created, they couldn't defeat his opponent. He understood that the monsters he prided himself on as weapons were no match for Ifugao's speed and strength.
He could only watch what was happening, as they were destroyed one by one by the strikes. In a desperate attempt, Salazar released a colossal crystal spear, which he threw with all his might at Ifugao like a giant arrow. The spear whizzed through the air, creating a loud noise as it approached.
"Die, Indio!"
Ifugao immediately noticed it but showed no fear. He raised his arnis, fusing his energy into them, and with one powerful strike, he managed to cleave the spear in two, shattering it like glass. The explosion from the impact created a powerful wind, swirling his white hair around his face.
Salazar stumbled backward in shock. "How can you ignore even my strongest attack?!" Salazar screamed, his voice full of unbelievable fury. "My crystals are weapons of war, an arm to murder trash like you!"
Ifugao immediately looked at him and began to walk forward, his eyes fixed on the general, full of unwavering determination.
Driven by disappointment, the general completely succumbed to his rage, acting like a madman because of his hatred for his enemy. "I cannot accept this! Not someone like you defeating me!"
Salazar released an immense burst of energy, and at the same time, his body was covered in thick crystal, changing his form into one of the monsters.
"I will destroy you, Indio! I will crush you until nothing remains of your body!!"
His body swelled, becoming a colossal monster made of red crystal, with sharp spikes on every part. His eyes blazed with red fire.
"If I can't defeat you as a man, I will defeat you as a monster!" he shouted and bravely charged toward Ifugao, his claws and spikes ready to crush the young sugo.
But amidst the threat, Ifugao remained calm, merely walking closer to Salazar. His white hair danced in the wind, as if only waiting for an opportunity. His blue energy overflowed, enveloping his body like a blazing aura.
He raised his sword, its blade illuminated by a blue light, while threads of blue electricity crawled across his body, like veins of lightning. His eyes were full of determination, and with a powerful shout, he slammed his sword down with all his might:
"Faith Slash!"
With a swift swing of his sword, he released an immensely powerful force of blue energy, like a wave of light that cut through the air. The energy surged past the surrounding crystals until it struck Salazar's gigantic crystal body, crushing it.
The attack was so strong that it caused an explosion and a massive force like a bomb. Objects were sent flying, the ground shook as if in an apocalypse, and thick smoke enveloped the entire area, darkening the view.
Moments later, the smoke from the explosion gradually disappeared, and in the silence, a huge crater appeared in the city hall parking lot, nearly twenty feet deep, caused by Ifugao's mighty attack. On the edge of the pit, pieces of red crystal were scattered, like broken glass.
In the midst of the crystal spikes, Salazar stood, bloody, missing his left arm, and his clothes torn, panting heavily and trembling with rage. "You animal, Indio!" he screamed, his voice full of curses and malice. "I won't be defeated by trash like you!"
While the general was furious, Ifugao calmly walked toward him, still holding his sword, its blade still glowing with blue energy. There was no trace of fear in his eyes; instead, they were filled with serious determination.
He stood before Salazar, his face calm but firm. "This fight is over, General," he said, his voice full of confidence yet laced with pleading. "I can still unleash another attack like the one I just did. If you make a wrong move again, I will be forced to end your life."
"Are you threatening me?"
Salazar was enraged by what he heard from Ifugao, his eyes blazing with hatred. "A general of Spain will never fear a trash Indio!" he shouted, his voice full of arrogance. "If you can, go ahead! Kill me now!" He challenged Ifugao, his laugh full of contempt.
Despite the challenge, Ifugao remained silent, his face showing hesitation. His eyes were full of anxiety—he knew that every step he took would change Plaridel's fate. He also knew he couldn't kill the general because he was a government official, and anyone who fought them was punished. He worried that if he made the wrong move, the Spaniards' anger towards people like him would worsen, damaging his fight for the unity of the two races.
"What's the matter, Indio? Hahhaa."
Because of his silence, Salazar laughed again, his laughter full of mockery. "Are you afraid? Indio! You're afraid of becoming a criminal in the Philippines!" he shouted. "The moment you kill me, the Spaniards won't rest! The government will hunt you as a criminal, and when the Spanish government learns of my death, they will send one of the Swords of Spain. When that happens, they will wipe out the terrorists—and the Filipinos who support the rebels, including the people of Plaridel!"
But Ifugao merely sighed in response to the general's words, his eyes full of sorrow. "You don't understand your situation, General," he said, his voice calm but heavy. "As a hero, I am ready to do everything to protect the citizens of this country—be they Filipino or Spanish."
He announced that he was ready to be branded a criminal by Spain if he had to kill the general. "My next attack will ensure your death," he said, his voice firm. "If you don't agree to our settlement, I will ensure you won't see another sunrise."
Salazar was puzzled by Ifugao's statement, his eyes full of doubt. "What settlement are you referring to?" he asked, a hint of alarm in his voice.
Ifugao calmly explained to him, "I am willing to spare your life, General, if you promise to free all Filipinos from Spanish cruelty and allow my countrymen in Plaridel to live in peace."
"What? Free the Filipinos?"
Salazar suddenly burst out laughing, his laughter full of mockery. "Are you serious, Indio?" he screamed. "You're crazy if you think peace can still happen after tonight! Indios are mere trash—good for nothing but serving the Spaniards. Accept the truth, Spain will never accept slaves like you as our equals!"
Ifugao was insulted by what he heard and suddenly released a powerful aura of blue energy, his eyes blazing with determination as his fists clenched in anger.
"What you're saying isn't helping, General," he said, his voice full of warning. "Your only remaining path to survival is to surrender and agree to our settlement," Ifugao said seriously.
"Don't make me laugh, I will never negotiate with trash like you, Indio!" Salazar merely laughed at his words, his laughter full of arrogance. "Use your sword and kill me!" he challenged. "Because I'd rather die than surrender to an Indio!"
Ifugao gripped his sword tightly, but his face was filled with hesitation. Even with victory within reach, he still wanted the fight to end peacefully, benefiting the Filipinos. He knew he needed to prioritize the safety of the Filipinos over the desire for revenge for the general's insults.
"You really are crazy, General," he muttered as he raised his sword.
But as he was contemplating, he didn't expect his power to reach its limit. He suddenly felt an intense pain in his chest, as if his body were being torn apart. "Ahhh! What is happening to my body?"
The overflowing energy that enveloped him gradually vanished, like a candle flame losing its light. He fell to his knees, spitting blood, his eyes filled with shock and confusion. He felt his body weakening, his limbs trembling from extreme fatigue.
"This is bad, my legs are already shaking from weakness," he whispered in his mind.
He realized his body had reached its breaking point. Fear began to grip his heart because he knew he could no longer continue the fight in this state.
Seeing Ifugao's weakness, which brought him to his knees, Salazar suddenly laughed, his laughter full of mockery. "Looks like your body has reached its limit, Indio!" he shouted. "Every sugo has limits. Your body can't handle such excessive use of energy!"
Ifugao forced himself to stand, even though his knees were shaking. He gripped his sword tightly and plunged it into the ground to use as a cane.
"I still have enough strength to fight," he told Salazar, his voice full of determination even though he was nearly powerless. "In your state, General, I still have the advantage if we continue the fight." Salazar laughed, his laughter full of contempt.
"Even without my arms, I can still fight!" he screamed. "I am a General of Spain, trained for wars! Are you forgetting that my true ability is to manipulate crystals and turn them into my weapon?"
He announced that he could still summon crystal monsters as his army. As proof, he released energy, and crystal monsters began to emerge, surrounding the area once more, more numerous and fiercer than before.
Ifugao was shocked and couldn't believe it, his eyes filled with fear, but he forced himself to release his own energy to stand straight and raise his sword.
"I won't just lose!" he shouted, his voice full of courage even though his body was nearly giving up.
Salazar laughed, mocking him as he said, "Are you still ready to fight even when you can barely stand? You're crazy, Indio!"
But the weakening Ifugao still responded bravely, "I will do everything to save lives. That is my mission as a hero."
Salazar laughed again, his laughter full of scorn. "Your heroism is pointless!" he shouted. "You're just wasting your life on worthless principles!"
He explained that as a sugo, Ifugao should be superior, obeyed, and respected, yet here he was, risking his life for people who didn't care about him. "The world is full of selfish people. If you don't use others, they will use you. If you had only been smart and sided with Spain, you wouldn't be suffering this hardship—this miserable death!"
He asked Ifugao, "Do you really think you can be a hero to everyone? Spaniards and Filipinos will never be equals. Even if you say you are a hero, the truth is, you are just their tool—a person who will die to save them from danger!"
Ifugao stood tall, his eyes bravely fixed on Salazar. "I don't care what others say, especially a greedy person like you," he said, his voice full of determination. "I am a hero because I want to be—to serve as a guardian, a weapon capable of protecting people who don't have the strength to fight for themselves."
Salazar saw the courage in Ifugao's eyes, and he knew the young sugo's conviction was strong. He felt intense anger toward the young sugo because he couldn't see the regret or desperation on his face that the general wanted to see, even in the face of hopelessness.
In the silence, as Ifugao stood with his hair dancing due to the strong wind, Salazar suddenly smiled, as if plotting something malicious.
"I can't seem to break your spirit as a hero," he said, his voice full of mockery. "I admire your determination, but the world has never been fair. Whether you win or lose, nothing will change. Spain's reign over the Philippines will continue, and in the end, you will die for nothing." He laughed, like a demon. "Don't worry, I'll let you die as the hero you wish to be."
He announced that he would dedicate his last energy to the crystal monsters before him, and he would command them to kill everyone in Plaridel.
Ifugao was shocked by what he heard and called him crazy. "As a government official, your duty is to protect the people!" he shouted.
Salazar laughed and admitted that Ifugao was right, but to him, even if the Spaniards in Plaridel died, many could replace them. "And besides, I can just blame the rebel Indios for their deaths," he added.
"You are a demon! I can't believe I'm hearing this from a general of this country."
"Hahaha, for your information, I fight for power, to prove my status, not for people I don't know or share blood with!" he said. "The Spaniards living in Plaridel are only important because they pay taxes that enrich me, but I won't risk my life for them!"
Ifugao furiously gripped his sword and shouted Salazar's name. "Salazar!!"
But Salazar just kept laughing, like a demon, challenging Ifugao to try to be a hero and save everyone. His eyes glowed as he commanded the monsters to slaughter everyone in Plaridel—child, old, woman, or man, leave no one alive.
Ifugao tried to move, but the pain in his body stopped him from taking a step. He knew he couldn't stop the monsters. He was losing hope and didn't know what to do. "It feels like a hundred needles are piercing my body; I can't fight in this condition."
"Hahahahha, go on, my servants, use the people's blood to water the soil of Plaridel. Hahahaha!"
But as he laughed loudly, and before the monsters could move, Salazar was suddenly shocked as a streak of red fire passed across his neck. In just a few seconds, his vision gradually darkened.
"Huh?"
Ifugao was stunned as Salazar's head dropped and rolled onto the ground. At the same time his weapon's blade fell, Hustisya kicked the general's body, sending him completely onto the ground.
Hustisya stood, her gaze cold as she held her weapon, its blade blazing with red fire. "Death is the punishment for a demon like you," she said, her voice full of hatred.
The surrounding crystals gradually crumbled, turning to dust like sand, coinciding with Salazar's death.
Ifugao was speechless and shocked by Hustisya's assassination of the general, and his world seemed to crumble because his friend had committed a crime.
"Why did you kill him?!" he asked, his voice full of shock and dismay.
"That is punishment for his sins," Hustisya replied, her voice cold and showing no trace of regret. "That is the only way for us to achieve Hustisya (justice) and righteousness."
Ifugao couldn't help but get angry at what Hustisya was saying. "Because of what you did, the government will now consider you a criminal too!" he shouted.
Hustisya grinned, forcing a laugh in response. "Tsk, I don't care anymore. I was a criminal in the eyes of the Spaniards from the start, and..." she said. But before she could finish speaking, Ifugao suddenly yelled at her.
"You didn't have to do that! You only made your situation worse! You won't be able to live peacefully in Plaridel anymore!"
Hustisya answered, looking down. "Don't worry about that. You should thank me—if I hadn't acted, that devil might have killed you."
She explained that she saw Ifugao hesitating to finish Salazar even though he had the ability to, because he was afraid of becoming an enemy of the Spaniards. "I am different from you, Ifugao. I am fully prepared for what will happen to me."
Ifugao suddenly felt a chill, clutching his own arm because of the terrifying presence enveloping Hustisya. He remembered this feeling—when he spoke to Alfredo in the Urdaneta forest. His eyes widened when he saw the black aura emanating from Hustisya's body as she bowed her head before him.
He couldn't believe it, wondering why he was seeing it again. Hiyas' words flashed through his mind—the black energy was the result of anger, hatred, and malicious intent.
Energy gradually rose from Salazar's dead body, entering Hustisya's body. Her energy caused a strong wind, as if demonstrating her power.
"Don't do that, Hustisya."
Ifugao knew Hustisya was absorbing the energy of Salazar's soul—a violation of her pact with her deity.
"I beg you, Hustisya, stop that!" Ifugao shouted, his voice full of concern. "If you continue that, you will violate your pact with your deity!"
Hustisya looked at him, her eyes full of determination. "I can't stop what I'm doing now," she said. "The moment the Spaniards find out what I did, Plaridel will be in danger. So, I will strike first."
A huge shadow appeared on the ground, and from it, a skeleton emerged, nearly twenty meters tall, overflowing with dark energy.
Hustisya held her weapon, which was blazing with energy, her voice full of hatred. "Hustisya (Justice) for the Filipinos can only be achieved when all Spaniards die!"
But Ifugao suddenly shouted to stop her. "Why must you do this, Hustisya?!" he asked, his voice trembling with anger and sorrow.
Hustisya asked him, "Even now, are you still forcing your beliefs on me? We have different goals and convictions. Our experiences are different, and what needs to be done..."
But before she could finish, Ifugao interrupted her, his eyes full of tears.
"You can't say those things. I know you're not a demon who can kill people like the general!"
Hustisya was surprised by Ifugao's crying and grew angry at him. She brandished her weapon against Ifugao. "You have no right to lecture me!" she shouted. "You know nothing about what I've been through! I grew up an orphan because my father was imprisoned for a crime he didn't commit. My mother was raped and killed in our own home. We suffered, we endured, and no one helped us. Isn't that enough for me to ask for Hustisya (justice)? We need change, and I know this is my duty as the sugo of Plaridel!"
Ifugao bowed his head, sadness evident as he tried to make her understand that a bad deed would never lead to anything good, only disaster. "It's wrong to kill people, and a bad deed will only bear bad results."
"Hustisya, Spain has many powerful generals," Ifugao said, his voice full of worry. "No matter how strong the energy you absorbed is, you will fail, and in the end, you will die for nothing."
While Ifugao was speaking, Hustisya suddenly shouted to stop him, "I don't care if I die doing this!"
But Ifugao immediately interjected, "I do care if you get hurt because you matter to me!" he declared bravely.
Hustisya was shocked, wondering about the young sugo's words. "What nonsense are you talking about?" she asked.
Ifugao walked forward, and when he reached Hustisya, he dropped his sword and rubbed his eyes to wipe away the flowing tears.
"Wait, are you crying?" Hustisya asked, shocked.
He was crying like a child. "You matter to me, Hustisya. I'm afraid you'll be harmed because of what you did to the general, and hunted by the Spaniards," he said, his voice full of pain. "I am willing to accept the punishment as a criminal just to protect you. Why did you have to be the one to do this?" Hustisya couldn't understand Ifugao's actions.
"Hey, what are you talking about? Why are you crying?" she asked, confused by the young sugo's tears. "Stop crying like that! You have no responsibility for me!" Hustisya shouted. "You don't need to worry about what happens to me!"
But Ifugao immediately interrupted, "I do have responsibility for you!" He continued to cry, causing Hustisya to anxiously try to soothe him.
"Are you going crazy? Stop crying like a baby! You were so brave against the general just now, and now you're acting like a spoiled child!"
"I'm crying because of you!" Ifugao answered, his voice full of remorse.
Since she couldn't understand it, she asked him the reason for his tears. "What? Me? Why would I be the reason you're crying?."
"Everything I've been through hasn't been easy," Ifugao said. "I'm afraid of becoming a criminal hunted by the government for life, but I'm ready to accept that just for you."
Hustisya was shocked, full of wonder. "Why would you do that for me? Don't lie to me..." she asked.
Ifugao immediately cut Hustisya off. "Because I promised your grandfather I would look after you, Georgia," he said, his voice full of emotion.
Ifugao's form gradually changed. The overflowing energy in his body disappeared, and he returned to the form of a young boy—Erik.
"Impossible, Erik?"
He wiped his tears with his arm and looked at Hustisya, who was now staring blankly, nearly dropping her weapon in utter shock.
"Let's end this fight, Georgia," he said, his voice full of pleading. "Let's go home together."
Hustisya was speechless upon realizing that Ifugao, the one who constantly stopped her, and the young boy she lived with in the same house, were one and the same. Her eyes were filled with shock and disbelief at the secret she had discovered.
Silence enveloped them both, as if waiting for each other's next words, while the battle in Plaridel ended with an unexpected revelation.
End of chapter.