NEPHELE ABERIE'S Point of View
"The more powerful child of Zeus."
His words repeat at the back of my mind. Parang sirang plaka na paulit ulit sa aking isipan. Echo might as well be living inside my head because of the constant back and forth of Juno's voice.
Tinaas niya ang kaniyang kamay. A bolt of blue-tinted lightning shoots down from the skies towards his hand. Nagulat ako nang ituro niya ako at sumunod ang kidlat sa direksyon ng kamay niya.
Hindi ako nakailag. I try to move away from my frozen state but it's too late when I realize that the lightning has struck me. Malakas akong napasigaw nang tumama ang likod ng katawan ko sa isang pader.
Tumayo na ako bago pa man niya masundan ang pag-atake niya. My knees wobble as I hold onto the wall for support. Hinihingal akong napatingin sakaniya. Turns out he hasn't remove his eyes on me either.
I wipe the dirt off my shoulder. I hold out my hand and the skies start to rumble. Flashes of thunder flicker like eerie lights before a rod of lightning strikes my hands.
Namuo ang isang mahabang bagay sa aking kamay hanggang sa mawala na ang ilaw. A golden staff with an eagle sitting majestically on top of it appears in my hands. The two red gemstones for eyes glimmer under the moonlight.
Bumalik ang tingin ko kay Juno habang pinapaikot ang aking staff. Hinampas ko ang dulo nito sa sahig kaya lumabas ang ilang electric currents mula rito.
This eagle staff was a gift from my— no, our father. Zeus gave this to me and I will use it to bring my half brother down.
Kumaripas ako ng takbo papunta sakaniya. I doubt he can see me move, I'm as fast as a thunder clap. Nang makarating ako sa harapan niya ay tinaas ko ang staff ko. I was about to hit him when I my eyes travel to his arms.
Dumaloy ang kuryente sa kamay niya, naghihintay na kumawala. He smirks at me coldly before stopping my staff mid-air.
He grabs the golden staff with his palm and grips it tightly, sending the lightning brewing in his veins to flow towards my staff and then my body, electrocuting me.
Napasigaw ako ng malakas. Sparks of lightning surround my body, dancing and flickering while I shake in pain. The feeling isn't foreign, but it's so extreme it's almost lethal.
I walk backwards before falling on my knees. Bumagsak ang katawan ko sa lapag. I may be a daughter of Zeus, but that doesn't mean lightning cannot affect me.
Only the lightning I can summon are the ones I can touch and command, but not others. Depende nalang kung mas malakas ako kaysa sa kalaban, I can overpower their abilities...
Sinubukan kong tumayo pero napasigaw lang ako muli nang dumaan ang isang asul na boltahe sa katawan ko. My skin almost sizzle, smoke coming out from my body. Napakahapdi ng kidlat niya na halos hindi ako makatayo.
I glare at him. How strong is this guy?
Unang kita ko palang sakaniya ay alam ko nang sobrang lakas niya. He carries a different aura than the other demigods he's with, not to mention that they treated him with respect as if he is their leader.
Nung una ay hindi ko pa kayang tantyahin ang kapangyarihan niya, but I'm already given an overview of what he can do and I can confidently conclude that he is not like the other children of Zeus in the Acropolis. He's much more powerful than them.
And maybe, even more powerful than me.
Sinubukan kong bilisan ang pagtayo ko para mabigla ang aking katawan. I stamd up swiftly and face him again with a more determined look, pero biglang lumambot ang mga binti ko. I stumble while keeping my posture. Hindi ako makatayo ng maayos.
I struggle to keep myself together and prevent from falling on the floor again. Nakikita ko rin ang ilang sparks na dumadaloy sa katawan ko. Peste. Hindi pa rin natatanggal ang epekto ng ginawa niya sa akin kanina. This guy's ability is nothing to laugh about.
Pinanood niya lang ako habang nakapamulsa sa pantalon niya. I'm getting annoyed by his emotionless stares that feel like they're electrocuting me themselves. His mere presence will send shivers down your spine.
Mahigpit ko muling hinawakan ang staff ko, pero natigilan ako nang wala akong maramdaman sa kamay ko.
I looked at my hand and realize I'm holding onto my staff anymore. Napatingin ako sa sahig pero hindi ko ito makita, hanggang sa tumigil ang tingin ko sa tapat ng mga paa ni Juno.
He notices what I'm looking at something, so he follows my gaze. Humakbang siya papalapit habang nakayuko sa gintong staff ko na nasa harapan niya. Mahina akong napamura sa isipan ko.
What am I gonna do now?
Lalapit na sana ako papunta sa aking staff nang mapansin ni Juno ang binabalak ko. He only snaps his fingers once and I feel another painful bolt of lightning surging through my body. Bumagsak muli ako sa lupa na hinihingal na sa sakit at pagod.
No one has ever pushed me this far in a battle. I'm considered as Zeus' most powerful descendant. My half siblings couldn't even land a scratch on me and this guy, he can just lift a finger and I'll be weakened.
My siblings can't even surpass my strength, kaya naninibago ako. Bakit ang bilis kong matumba dahil sa mga atake niya? His lightning strikes and control over it... it's nothing like I've seen before, and it's too much for me to handle.
Marahas niyang kinuha mula sa lapag ang staff na nabitawan ko. I can only watch in agony as he examines the golden eagle staff in his hand that belongs to me.
I try to crawl and stand up, refusing to succumb to his power. Mas lalo kong napapatunayan na wala akong palag sa isang demigod na ganito kalakas, but I will not submit and admit defeat. I can't lose to him, I can't let anyone else deal with him.
Because if I give up, anong mukha ang ihaharap ko kay Captain? Sa mga Hellenes?
Nagpatuloy lang siya sa pagsuri sa staff ko habang tumatayo ako. I manage to kneel on the ground so I can support my body further when another lightning comes down from the skies and strikes me.
Malakas akong napasigaw, it nothing like his other attacks too. Tumagal ng sampong segundo ang pangunguryente niya sa katawan ko bago ako pakawalan.
He's not even focusing on me and yet...
Gods! Nanginginig na ang katawan ko at parang malapit na akong bumigay.
I helplessly look up to his figure. Humigpit ang hawak niya sa staff ko habang nakatingin sa katawan ng agilang nasa ituktok nito. The golden staff's body is shiny enough that you can see your reflection, and he's looking at his in anger.
Suddenly, he lets out a bitter laugh before glancing at me. A shiver runs down my spine when his blue eyes turn to me. Nakakakilabot ang mga titig niya.
We have the same eyes, but why are his more assertive and controlling than mine?
"No wonder you fight for the gods. You receive blessings, all sorts of presents and rewards from them when you do something they like, don't you?" Hinarap niya ako bago bahagyang itaas ang isang kamay para mas lalo kong makita ang staff ko. "They can control you that's why they want you to stay blind."
"What are you talking about?" I hiss at him.
Binalik niya ang kaniyang tingin sa hawak na staff. "You know, Zeus never gave me anything like this. He doesn't appreciate his other son unlike you who follows his wishes."
