The people of Mactan Island were panicking, but they had nowhere left to go. Some went to knock on the gates of Ferdinand's compound, only to be denied entry on his orders. Despite the constant urging of his men, he still refused them.
"Sir, with all due respect, these are human beings. Our people!" a higher-ranking soldier protested.
"Do you see any rats, soldier? Rat tide, my ass! If those people are spies, will you take responsibility? Even if they aren't, so what? Let those goons, Cilapu and Carlos, hold it back. That way, they'll be easy pickings for us. Do not question my decision ever again!"
Miguel sat to one side, contemplating the situation. "It is a bit suspicious, but a rat tide? Could someone actually make that up? Even if it is a lie, the people at our walls can't possibly be actors. Their pleas seemed genuine."
"Not as genuine as the knife they'll be stabbing into your back!" Ferdinand was absolutely against letting the people of Mactan Island through. Anytime someone tried to bring up the possibility, even Miguel, he only grew more furious.
Suddenly, a scantily clad woman entered with a report from one of their sentries. The soldier Ferdinand had been speaking to left the room immediately.
This woman was Ferdinand's personal assistant, and everyone knew what they did behind closed doors. There were even rumors that he had intentionally gotten his wife killed by zombies to maintain his image as a loyal husband. This had worked for him in the short run, as seeing him "rise to lead the people after a great loss" made for a good slogan.
"Sir, we've received reports of a dragon flying over our base. We're not sure why, but mutant beasts have appeared and are now attacking our eastern walls."
Unfortunately for them, the lingering aura from the Agimat was enough to give the mutant beasts a direction, leading them straight toward their base.
Mactan Island
"Cilapu, we can hold for about another thirty minutes or so. If Lord Luna doesn't arrive—"
Just as they began to worry, a dragon's roar echoed from above. Even the rat tide was stunned for a moment, causing the creatures to stumble over each other and slow down.
As Angry Bakunawa landed, the people were terrified, especially when the dragon opened its mouth. It was only when Luna stepped out with Sura and explained they had a choice to join him that their fear subsided.
Cilapu and Carlos arrived soon after, having burned everything in their path. They hoped the fire and the remaining walls would be enough to hold the rats a little longer.
"Lord Luna, I formally dissolve our Lapu Nation and hereby merge it with the Sovereign Nation. I submit fully. Even if I must die, please save my people!" Cilapu was not ignorant. If he were to be taken in, he would do so on these terms.
"He dissolved it immediately. What a decisive man. I think we will get along quite nicely," Luna thought to himself before speaking aloud. "Everyone, welcome to the Sovereign Nation! You will all be briefed on what is expected of you, but for now, enter the spatial gate!" Pointing toward Angry Bakunawa, he urged everyone to make haste.
Everyone was scared at first, but when Cilapu ran toward the gate shouting, "You either get in, or you get nibbled on by rats and die a slow, painful death!" they began to move as if given a signal.
Even if this creature ate them, it was more honorable to be eaten by a dragon than munched on by rats. To their relief, the inside was like another world, as if it were its own island.
They hesitated again when they saw the tarsiers in one corner. Cilapu looked at everyone and said, "How many times a day are you going to get scared? Pick a place and sit down! Anywhere except Lady Maxene's area." He pointed to Maxene's small setup, indicating it was off-limits.
As soon as the rat tide overcame the final wall, they surged forward. Luna made sure the people saw it all by switching to a 360-degree view of their surroundings. It was a psychological move. You could save people, but most would eventually forget. That was human nature. But when they saw the stunning visual of the rat tide from above and their homes burning to the ground, it was burned into their memories.
Cilapu walked up to Luna. "Lord Luna, are we heading back to the Sovereign Nation?"
"No. We are about to watch a good show, one you will probably enjoy. Angry Bakunawa, head east, back to that base we saw earlier."
As they flew, bird-type mutant beasts close to or lower than Angry Bakunawa in level steered clear of him.
On the way, Luna asked Cilapu about Ferdinand.
"He came from ill-gotten wealth. His parents were career politicians. He was always recognized by the people because he was constantly present during his campaigns. He also had a stint as an actor, thanks to his wealth, which added to his fame. But he has always been vain, something his fans passionately defended, saying he deserved it because it was his money. If only they knew." Cilapu laughed weakly. "Maybe they did. People can be as blind as they want when they are obsessed with someone."
"I see. If he were a good man, I would have considered leaving him alone. But this makes it much easier," Luna said with a smile.
Angry Bakunawa stopped suddenly. "It seems we are here," Luna announced.
Everyone looked down. It was unclear at first, as the structures below looked small from so high up. Luna made sure they were semi-hidden in the clouds, visible enough to see out but obscured enough that those below could not spot them.
"What are you planning to do, Lord Luna?" Cilapu asked.
"Show the people that Ferdinand is not fit to lead," Luna replied. He then walked to the front and opened the spatial gate, exposing the Agimat to the outside world. This action riled up the mutant beasts in Bohol, and even the rats that had begun to calm down and lick their wounds moved forward again.
"Lord Luna, what if innocent people die!" Cilapu cried out.
Luna looked back at Cilapu and grinned. "O ye of little faith."
Right after he brought the Agimat back inside, he commanded Angry Bakunawa to descend.
"Land on the south wall. Prepare to evacuate the people." The dragon nodded and obeyed.
When they landed, the guards on the south wall were too scared to move. They were already afraid of the incoming mutant beasts, and this dragon was something they could not fend off with their current numbers, or perhaps even with more.
Luna stepped out and looked at one guard dressed more formally than the rest. "Are you the commanding officer?"
"Y-yes, sir."
"Good. Your base is about to be overwhelmed. Where is your leader?"
"I am trying to contact him right now, sir, but he is not responding to any messages."
"Give the order for everyone to evacuate to this area. I will take them to safety."
Meanwhile, outside Ferdinand's room, soldiers were banging on the door to no avail. Besides the room from earlier, he had made a hole in the room next door, which he had covered up. It was a bootleg version of a secret room. If anyone was in the regular room, they would hear the loud moans from this one. This was obviously where he and the woman from before would meet. It allowed a quick transition from room to room. Currently, he and Miguel were taking turns with the woman. There were no doors except for the hole they had made, which had been sealed beforehand and surrounded with modified metal walls.
She was originally one of the previous pageant winners from Bohol, someone Ferdinand and Miguel had harbored a crush on for years. She had rejected them every time, not only because she was not interested, but because it would ruin her image to be caught with married men. Unfortunately for her, these men had grown only more despotic as the new world unfolded.
"Damn it. Where are they? We are under siege! They are not accepting any messages either!" The soldiers were panicking.
"Just break down the door!" another urged.
"Why don't you try breaking down this metal door? I would like to see you break your foot trying, only to get beheaded by Mr. Ferdinand! Idiot!" They were truly panicking. They had no protocol for an invasion of this scale.