LUNA: The Rebellion

57: Underground Torment

The sun finally arisen. Mahigpit ang kapit ko sa tali ni Black Jack habang pinapakinggan ko ang ihip ng hangin. Sakay sa sarili niyang kabayo ay maawtoridad at matipuno ang boses ni Tartarus na nagsalita sa mga mandirigma. Agaw pansin ang hawak hawak niyang trumpeta na gawa sa isang malaking buto. As the General of the Demon King's foot army, we all heard him loud and clear as he bellowed encouraging words to the warriors. They all responded with the same unyielding energy. The battle cry had been shouted in repeat. Shields and weapons were used to create a more intimidating sound.

Midnight and Tartarus's eyes landed on each other. Unspoken words were conveyed between the two. The latter brought the mouth of the trumpet into his mouth and blew out a signal only our military could understand. But it seemed like it was a signal for the enemies too as the General beside the Emperor swayed his hand in front and the army behind him was let loose. The ear-shattering roars of the enemies went through my pounding chest. All it took was for Tartarus to finish and I— and the rest of the army pushed forward and burst into a dash to greet the enemies with our weapons and magic. The demons and the kais screeched menacingly I thought I felt my ears bleed but the blood in my veins flowed throughout my body like a wild river. My eyes gleamed in bloodlust and I started smelling the temptation of war in the air. 

There was a tug between me and Midnight, like a careful caress from him as we both dispersed into the battle. A gentle reminder that he would be there when I needed him. I reveled in the feeling before I plunged deep into the sea of enemies and collided my dagger with someone's sword.

The enemy flew from his horse from our collision. Before another one of the riders could land an attack on me, I commanded Black Jack to disappear, bent down to avoid the blade from beheading me, and proceeded to stab the dagger into his brain the exact moment I saw the opening.  At that mere instant, I was surrounded by attacks from every direction. I had no time to relax.

Gore splattered over my face and body within seconds. Two were already within my personal space, muscle memory reacted and I used one of their shoulders to be able to carry my body over the enemy's head. Another dagger slipped right into my palm and didn't hesitate to stick it into the enemy's neck. I twisted my body even before the enemy collapsed and went for another kill.

There were a lot of terrifying and oddly satisfying screams around me. My heart was raging. My mind was nothing but pure ferocity. My body was scorching, craving, and shaking at the same time. I felt everyone's magic and wrath. I heard Tartarus's explosions. Felt Radu's ice. Sensed Kaimana's waters. Arius's battle cry shook the entire battlefield and I felt something was coming.

My body was too familiar with this cold, cold sensation. My head snapped in the direction where it came from and all of me stilled when blood in the shape of huge thorns emerged from the field and pierced right into hundreds of enemies in a single second. I watched as the guy in front of me get thrown off into the sky by it.

I found myself grinning.

The range of Midnight's blood magic was astounding. To be able to cover the entire battlefield with it, I have never seen him do something like this.

Saglit lamang ang mayroon ako para bigyan pansin ang ginawa ni Midnight bago uli ako bumalik sa pakikipag sabak sa mga kalaban. I have carefully thought of when to use my magic and dragon power in this battle but I felt the childish feeling of being jealous of my comrades who were now openly using their magic in the field. I didn't want to use my light as much as possible until it was truly needed but I was full of energy I couldn't let this exhilarating feeling slip out of my finger without doing so much. So I started materializing light into sharp blades and simultaneously released them straight into the enemies.

"Incoming!"

Agaran ang pagtingala ko sa langit ng marinig ko ang malakas na sigaw ng isang demonyo.