Chapter 59: the wild daisy, Indang.
The darkened highway of Cavite was cloaked in thick smoke and dust as the clash between Romeo and Martin reached its zenith. Each collision of their fists and kicks unleashed explosive shockwaves, like lightning splitting the concrete road. The ground trembled with every blow, and the air was heavy with tension so palpable it could choke the onlookers witnessing the battle.
Romeo, though adept at matching Martin's assaults, knew deep down that brute strength and hand-to-hand combat wouldn't secure his victory. Martin's artificial body, fueled by the sinister energy of Ursarion, was nearly impervious to Romeo's attacks. Each slash of his balisongs healed almost instantly, as if Martin's form was crafted from something immortal. Yet, Romeo's resolve burned unyieldingly in his eyes, his heart set on stopping Martin before it was too late.
Leaping back, Romeo's body shimmered with radiant energy. "Fourth Blade of Peace: Akatsuki!" he roared, as thousands of balisongs swirled around him, coalescing into four massive shuriken, each spanning five meters. The shuriken spun with ferocious speed, like steel tornadoes, glowing with the dazzling brilliance of Romeo's energy.
Gripping one shuriken tightly, Romeo let out a powerful cry and hurled it at Martin. The weapon sliced through the air, a harbinger of death, striking Martin's body with pinpoint precision.
Martin showed no fear as the attack hurtled toward him, raising his arms to block the shuriken. To his shock, the blade carved through his arm, leaving a deep wound that bled dark energy. "What is this?" he muttered, his eyes wide with disbelief. He realized the shuriken was infused with potent energy, granting it unnatural sharpness and strength. "He's using his energy to make his weapons more lethal," Martin thought, his confident smirk fading.
But the moment didn't last. Dark energy enveloped Martin's arms, and the severed limb regenerated swiftly, as if nothing had happened. He laughed, his voice brimming with arrogance. "Have you forgotten, Romeo? As long as Ursarion's energy flows, my body is immortal!" he declared, his form shifting into something larger and more menacing. Above him, Ursarion roared, the terrified screams of the children embedded in its flesh intensifying the grim atmosphere.
Romeo remained steadfast, though his heart ached with every cry from the innocent children. "True," he replied, his voice calm but resolute. "But I also know each regeneration drains your energy. I don't care if I have to cut you three or ten times over—I'll keep going!"
The shuriken returned to Romeo's hand, as if the balisongs possessed a life of their own. He seized the remaining three shuriken and launched them in rapid succession. They spun like falling stars, poised to obliterate everything in their path.
Martin didn't flinch. Instead, he charged at Romeo, moving with shadowy agility to dodge the shuriken. In a flash, he closed the distance, his fist raised for a devastating blow. But before it could land, a colossal balisong—six meters long—struck Martin from behind, pinning him to the ground. "You think this can stop me?" Martin bellowed, his voice thick with rage.
In an instant, hundreds of balisongs surrounded Martin, raining down like a storm of blades, slicing every part of his body. Dark energy poured from his wounds, but he stood firm. Black lightning crackled around him, amplifying his strength. "I told you, these attacks mean nothing!" he roared, his body absorbing the balisongs like a black hole.
"Surprised?" Martin taunted, his grin dripping with pride. "One of my comrade, a sugo of diwata can consume anything—people included—once it touches their body. It's not very effective in battle due to its limitations, but I've found other uses for it."
Romeo's eyes narrowed, his face heavy with disappointment. "You're truly skilled at using people, Martin," he said, his voice grave. "You've blinded them with promises of freedom, but you know your rebellion will bring no peace. Ask yourself—does your conscience still feel the weight of the people you exploit?"
Martin laughed off Romeo's words, his tone mocking. "True, I use other sugo for my plans, but I never deceive them. I'm serious about fulfilling their dreams," he retorted. "Some lack the courage to fight, so I let them use me to achieve their goal—freeing this nation from the Spaniards!"
The balisongs regrouped beside Romeo, ready to form another shuriken. But Martin didn't wait. "Enough games, General!" he shouted, unleashing a surge of dark energy. From his aura, a massive spear materialized, which he hurled at Romeo with full force.
The balisongs clustered to shield Romeo, but to his shock, the spear shattered his defense, piercing through the blades. It hurtled toward him, and he tried to block it with his hands. The sheer force nearly knocked him back, but he deflected it upward. Unbeknownst to him, Martin seized the moment, summoning a portal behind Romeo. A hand emerged, seizing Romeo's throat in a tight grip.
"Hahaha, it's over, General!" Martin crowed, his voice triumphant. Romeo's balisongs stabbed into Martin's body, but pain was irrelevant to him—his attacks had no effect. "Damn, this can't be," Romeo thought, desperation creeping in. He stabbed at Martin's head, but even those blows failed to bring him down, Martin's mocking grin unwavering.
Romeo knew his situation was dire. The chokehold sapped his strength, his breath fading. "What will you do now, General? Can you still stop me?" Martin taunted, his eyes blazing with malice.
But before Romeo's strength gave out, a car hurtled through the air, crashing into Martin and sending both men sprawling. The impact forced Martin to release his grip, and Romeo collapsed, gasping for air while clutching his throat. "Tch, that was close," he muttered, his voice tinged with alarm. "I got too careless."
As Martin rose, furious, he bellowed, "Who did this?!" His eyes demanded an answer, his dark energy flaring.
Moments later, a powerful presence swept over the battlefield, like a heavy force pulling everyone downward. Soldiers and rebels froze, their bodies nearly immobilized by the weight of the energy. "Such an overwhelming presence," Romeo whispered, his eyes wide with wonder. "Who could this be?"
Silence blanketed the area as all awaited what would come next. From the sky, a figure crashed to the ground, sending tremors through the earth. As it stood, everyone saw a woman with short white hair, clad in a cyberpunk jacket and pants, with half-meter-long chains dangling from her arms. Her presence was staggering, like a goddess descended from the heavens.
"You've got some nerve causing trouble in my territory," she declared, her voice brimming with authority and anger. Her glowing eyes and the sheer intensity of her energy were almost terrifying.
Her arrival stunned everyone, including Romeo, who had no idea who she was. He only knew she was an envoy, her presence and power unlike anything ordinary. But Martin, grinning, seemed to have anticipated this moment. "At last, we meet," he said, his voice gleeful. "The sugo of Kawit, the so-called Wild Daisy—Indang."
Before Martin could continue, Indang appeared before him in a blur, her fist slamming into his stomach. The force sent him tumbling across the road like a ragdoll. Everyone gasped at her speed and strength, even Von, Manila's envoy, who whispered, "She's so fast—I couldn't even follow her movements, like lightning."
Watching her, Romeo recalled Laguna's words about Indang, hailed as her strongest student. "So, this is Indang," he thought, observing the woman.
Cracking her knuckles, Indang surveyed the scene, her face etched with impatience. "Do you know how inconvenient this is?" she asked, her voice dripping with sarcasm. "I just want to go home, but this mess has caused a massive traffic jam!"
Martin staggered to his feet, laughing despite his wounds. "The rumors were true—you're incredibly strong," he said, his eyes gleaming with admiration. "I don't want to ruin your day, and like you, I hate wasting time. So why not join me for a talk?"
"A talk?" Indang scoffed, her tone mocking. "Why would I go with you? I told you, I'm not interested in talking to anyone! Stop causing trouble and get out of my territory!"
Martin grinned, amused by her boldness. "You're awfully arrogant to speak to me like that," he said. "But I'll overlook your rudeness. I'm here to invite you to join the Katipunan. I know you're powerful, and we need you in this fight!"
Romeo interrupted, his voice urgent. "Wait! You can't agree to join them, Indang!" he shouted, trying to stop Martin from swaying her. "Don't let his ideas poison your mind!"
But before Romeo could finish, Indang charged, kicking him in the side. The force sent him rolling across the road. Everyone was stunned by her speed, and Peter rushed to aid his general. "General Romeo, are you alright?" he asked, helping him up.
"I'm fine," Romeo gasped. "She just caught me off guard."
Indang, her right leg still raised, glared at Romeo, her eyes blazing. "I told you, I'm not interested in talking to anyone—especially a filthy Spanish soldier!" she snapped.
Romeo recalled Laguna's warning about Indang's hatred for soldiers, knowing she wouldn't listen. Still, he couldn't let the rebels sway her. "I'm sorry, Indang, but I have to remind you that joining the rebels will make you an enemy of the government," he said sincerely.
"Tch, what do I care about the government?" Indang retorted, her tone dripping with disdain. "When have I ever been their ally? I don't care if the whole country turns against me! If I had my way, I'd destroy the Spanish government in the Philippines myself!"
Martin laughed, delighted by her words. "I knew we shared the same goal!" he said, stepping closer. "Join me, become part of the Katipunan, and together we'll drive the foreigners from our land!"
Indang sighed, touching her chin as if pondering. "Free the country? Not a bad idea," she said, her voice tinged with interest. "I've long wanted to smash the Viceroy's face."
Sensing danger, Romeo unleashed his energy and charged at Martin, his giant balisongs spinning toward him. Martin deflected them, though five blades pierced his body, spilling dark energy from his wounds.
"Damn you!" Martin roared, furious. "Stay out of our conversation!"
"Stop it!" Romeo shouted, his eyes burning. "I won't let you corrupt her mind like you've done to others!"
Romeo lunged at Martin, balisong in hand, but Indang intercepted him. In a swift move, she countered and kicked, which Romeo blocked. Everyone was shocked by her actions. "What are you doing?" Romeo asked, his voice filled with confusion.
"You know, it's rude to attack while two people are talking," Indang said, her tone mocking. "Didn't your parents teach you manners?"
Romeo was startled as Indang's eyes glowed with a flower-shaped mark. In an instant, he felt his body freeze, unable to move. Before he could react, Indang snatched his balisong and punched him in the stomach. With ease, she lifted and slammed him to the ground.
Everyone was stunned by her strength, even Romeo. "What happened?" he whispered. "I know I could've dodged and fought back, but why couldn't I?"
As he lay there, Indang approached, her eyes brimming with confidence. "Your energy's running low, General," she said. "You're no match for me, so stay down unless you want me to kill you."
Peter, enraged, charged at Indang to save his general, his body encased in sand armor. He swung a punch, but Indang showed no concern. Raising her hand, she shouted, "Silence!"
Before Peter could reach her, his sand armor collapsed, as if he'd lost control. "What's happening? My sand?" he muttered, his eyes wide with confusion.
Indang dashed forward. Peter blocked her punch, but when he tried to command his sand again, it wouldn't respond. "Why can't I control my power?" he thought, panic rising.
Before he could process it, Indang kneed him in the stomach, bringing him to his knees. As he struggled to rise, she gripped his shoulder. "Paralyze," she said.
Peter's body stiffened, completely immobile. Indang stood before him, her eyes confident. "You're far below my level," she said. "You can't even protect yourself from magic spells. Pathetic."
She raised her foot, poised to crush Peter's head. Though he wanted to dodge, his body wouldn't move. "Goodbye!" Indang declared.
But before her foot could land, Romeo tackled her, pushing her back. "Stop this!" he shouted, panting but resolute.
Indang, surprised he'd broken her spell, raised an eyebrow. "Well, I didn't expect you to resist my paralyze spell," she said, impressed. "I shouldn't underestimate a general like you."
Romeo forced his body to move, realizing a magical force had restrained him—likely one of Indang's abilities. "Paralyze? Is that her power?" he thought.
Indang smirked, her body still radiating immense energy. "I don't intend to fight you," Romeo said sincerely. "I just want to warn you not to let the rebels poison your mind."
Indang sighed, her face impatient. "I don't care if you're here to fight me or not," she replied. "But since you ignored my warning to stay down, I've decided to kill you." She raised her hand, ready to strike.
Romeo's balisongs gathered above, forming a colossal turkey. But before it could fully manifest, Indang shouted, "Silence!" Her eyes glowed with the flower mark, and the turkey's light vanished, its hundreds of balisongs crashing to the ground like dead birds.
Romeo was stunned. "What kind of power is this?" he thought, his heart pounding. Indang wasted no time, charging with fists and kicks. Despite his exhaustion, Romeo dodged her attacks. "I'm moving better now," he thought, countering her moves.
"Could her paralyzing ability have a time limit?" he wondered.
As they fought, Romeo realized Indang's power could temporarily paralyze opponents. He admired her skill—her movements were those of a seasoned warrior, effortlessly dodging his strikes as if it were a game.
"You're skilled, General, but your fighting style is outdated," she taunted. Her attacks began landing, and Romeo struggled to keep up. A powerful kick sent him staggering back.
Indang raised her hand again. "Slow!" she commanded.
Romeo felt his body slow, as if dragged by an unseen force. His arms and legs moved sluggishly, and he saw her fist approaching. Unable to block, the punch struck his face, knocking him to the ground.
Lying there, Romeo couldn't believe it. His body normalized, but fear lingered. "She can slow her opponent's movements too," he whispered. As he tried to rise, Indang raised her hand again, and a powerful force hit him. "Gravity. Fear. Weak," she intoned.
A crushing weight pulled Romeo downward, and as he met Indang's gaze, an overwhelming fear gripped him, raising the hairs on his neck. "What's happening?" His mind raced, hearing only his pounding heartbeat. His knees trembled, his arms weakened, as if his strength had vanished. "I've never felt fear like this," he muttered, shocked. "I can't fight someone like her."
Indang approached, holding the balisong she'd taken from him. "How would it feel to die by your own weapon?" she asked, pressing the blade to his throat. Despite the danger, Romeo's body remained frozen by fear and magic.
"Wondering why you can't move, General?" Indang asked, grabbing his hair. "My ability grants buffs and debuffs to people for ten seconds to a minute, depending on my will. Since my energy surpasses yours, you're powerless against me. I'm a trained warrior, honed through brutal methods—people like you are nothing to me."
Romeo knew he was helpless, his energy depleted from fighting Martin. But before Indang could strike, Apyong's voice rang out. "Indang, you can't kill him!" he shouted, authoritative. "If you want to live peacefully in Cavite, you can't oppose the government!"
Indang sighed, lowering the balisong. She looked at Apyong, her eyes showing respect but tinged with impatience. "I respect my elders, old man Apyong," she said. "But if you interfere, I'll have to deal with you too."
"You promised not to cause trouble—stop this," Apyong urged.
"Me, causing trouble? You're the ones disrupting this town, so why is it my fault?" Indang shot back.
Apyong, floating in his glowing wheelchair, stood firm. "We're not your enemies, Indang," he said. "We're here to stop the rebels planning to wreak havoc in Kawit."
Indang scanned the surroundings and released Romeo. Turning to Martin, her eyes held doubt. "Wait, is it true you're planning to disrupt this town?" she asked, her voice skeptical.
Martin responded confidently. "We have no ill intentions toward Kawit's Filipinos," he said. "We only aim to destroy the city hall—the nest of corruption and sinful Spaniards. We hear the cries of your people, and we want to save them."
But before he could finish, a balisong struck his forehead, thrown by Indang. Though harmless to his artificial body, Martin was unamused. "Don't you understand?" he roared. "We're here to help free Kawit!"
Indang unleashed a terrifying aura, instilling fear in everyone present. Her eyes glowed as she raised her hand. "Weak. Paralyze. Sleep," she commanded.
One by one, rebels and soldiers collapsed, including Von and Jana, who struggled to stay upright. "What's happening? Why am I so sleepy?" Jana muttered, her tendrils weakening.
But Martin was unaffected by Indang's magic. "You've got some nerve invading my territory," Indang said, her eyes blazing. She strode toward him, her presence overwhelming, declaring her power to all. "I don't care about your justifications. Stay out of Kawit!"
For the first time, Martin felt fear, his throat dry. Indang seemed like a monster, and he wasn't sure he could defeat her. "Fine, then," he said, his voice trembling slightly. "We'll abandon the attack if that's what you want. But what matters now is your answer—will you join the Katipunan to free this nation?"
Romeo interjected desperately. "You can't join him, Indang! Laguna wouldn't want you siding with rebels!"
Indang paused, staring at Romeo. "Wait, you know Master?" she asked, surprised.
"Yes, Laguna's my friend," Romeo replied. "She's worried about you and what you might do. She doesn't want you with the rebels."
Indang shook her head, her face bitter. "She kicked me out, and now you say she's worried about me?" she said. "I don't care what she says, especially since she never came for me. She doesn't care about me!"
Indang explained that since leaving Laguna, she'd lived independently, free to make her own choices. "If I join the rebels, Master Laguna can't do anything about it," she said, her voice laced with resentment.
Martin, thrilled, stepped closer. "Excellent!" he said. "You've made the right choice. We'll show the Spaniards what Filipinos can do!"
Martin tried to touch Indang's shoulder, but she slapped his hand away. "Don't touch me!" she snapped, her eyes fierce. She clarified she wasn't against freeing the Philippines and had long desired it. "I trained for that purpose, but I was disappointed when Master changed her mind and warned me against opposing the government. It infuriates me to think my efforts were wasted!"
Martin, confident, replied, "Don't worry, Indang. Your dream of freedom will come true with the Katipunan!"
Indang pondered, touching her chin. "Joining the Katipunan isn't a bad idea," she said. "I could use it to achieve my goals. But I have one condition."
"Condition?" Martin asked, curious. "What do you want?"
"I want to lead the Katipunan," Indang declared confidently.
Martin froze, silence enveloping the area. "Lead the Katipunan?" he asked, incredulous. "You mean as one of our officers?"
"No, not just an officer," Indang corrected. "I want to be the Supremo. Make me the leader, and I'll join."
Martin fell silent, then burst into laughter. "Hahaha, you think fast!" he said. "I'm impressed by your boldness, but it's unreasonable to just become the leader. You know what I mean."
Indang sighed. "If you won't give me the Supremo position, we have nothing to discuss," she said. "I don't follow leaders, especially those weaker than me."
Martin's face darkened, displeased. "Even if you're powerful, Indang, I'm stronger and deserve to lead," he said, his voice angry.
Indang laughed, further enraging Martin. "Sorry for laughing," she said, her tone mocking. "But in all sugo in the Philippines, only three people could defeat me: my Master, the King of Mindanao, and the mad witch of Capiz."
She walked away, explaining she'd studied combat techniques from various countries. "Fighting brutes like you is nothing to me," she said. "If I wanted, I could defeat the entire Katipunan in half an hour. The idea of serving those weaker than me is laughable."
"You're too arrogant!" Martin roared, furious.
Indang had an idea. "Wait, how about this," she said, her eyes gleaming with excitement. "Let's fight to prove who's stronger. If you beat me, I'll follow your every order. But if I win, you never show your face in Kawit again, and you leave me alone!"
Smirking, Indang cracked her knuckles. "Fair deal, right?"
Martin unleashed a powerful aura, his eyes blazing. "I won't refuse your challenge!" he shouted. "You'll regret underestimating me, Indang!"
The road cracked with each of Martin's steps as he charged, his fist raised. Instead of dodging, Indang met his punch, her fist glowing with energy. The collision unleashed a deafening explosion, scattering debris.
"Yahh!" Indang shouted, matching Martin blow for blow. Despite his towering nine-foot frame, she fought fearlessly, her movements swift and precise, like a seasoned warrior.
Martin knew Indang was using energy to enhance her attacks, hoping she'd tire. But as the fight dragged on, her energy seemed inexhaustible—she fought calmly, almost playfully, enjoying the battle. "She's infuriating, but there's no doubt she's incredibly strong," Martin thought.
Indang leapt at Martin, and seeing her airborne, he seized the chance. He summoned a massive spear of dark energy, aiming to hurl it at her. "This is your end, Indang!" he roared.
But Indang raised her hand. "Silence!" she commanded.
To Martin's shock, his spear dissolved. Stunned, he couldn't block Indang's kick, which struck his head, nearly shattering it. He staggered back as she seized the moment, kicking his chest and knocking him to the ground.
Indang stepped back, dusting off her clothes. "You don't have to hold back," she taunted. "If this is all you've got, let's end this now."
Martin rose, his body healing rapidly. Instead of fear, Indang was amused. "Impressive, you heal so fast," she said, marveling. "That must take a lot of energy."
Martin laughed, boasting again. "My body is an immortal weapon," he said. "No matter what you do, you can't kill me!"
Indang grinned, intrigued. "Oh, immortal? How interesting," she said. Martin's dark aura flared, crackling with black lightning. "My body is the perfect blend of strength and speed—a true warrior!" he declared, warning Indang not to be arrogant, claiming even Laguna couldn't match him.
Indang yawned, unfazed. "Stop dragging this out," she said. "I need to sleep early."
Insulted, Martin roared, "What did you say?"
Raising her hand, Indang revealed her power. "The ability granted by Kawit's diwata lets me apply buffs and debuffs to those around me," she said. "It's effective in battle, but I can only use it three times per person, with a three-minute cooldown before reapplying to the same target. Despite its limits, you can't defeat me. I'm only using ten percent of my energy, and if you don't mind, I'd like to show you half my strength."
Martin laughed, dismissing her. "Show me what you've got—it's nothing compared to my power!" he shouted, confident in his immortal body.
Indang smiled, unleashing a blinding aura. Her eyes glowed, her body wreathed in fiery energy. "In Western envoy states, power has three stages," she said. "I'll show you my favorite training stage."
Her body glowed, and luminous flower tattoos appeared on her skin, pulsing with life. Everyone was stunned, and Romeo felt a familiar energy. "Yes, I've felt this before," he whispered. "In my dream with my diwata."
Martin, awestruck, knew this was no ordinary power. More determined to recruit Indang, he met her gaze as she smiled. "I'm curious if you're truly immortal," she said, preparing to strike.
"Speed up," Indang whispered.
In a blink, she was before Martin, her fist raised. "No, she's too fast!" he thought.
"Power up," she whispered again.
Indang unleashed a punch that sent a shockwave through the air, nearly obliterating Martin's body. The explosion scattered debris, and everyone gasped at the attack's power. "Impossible, she split Martin's body so easily?" they thought.
As the smoke cleared, Martin's halved body began reforming, like clay being molded. "You can regenerate," Indang said, amused.
"Damn you!" Martin roared, but before he could finish, Indang struck again, shattering his body a second time. Five more times she obliterated him, each punch like a bomb, until Martin's body lay broken, unable to heal, sprawled on the ground.
"I was just starting to have fun!" Indang teased. "Hurry up and heal already."
Romeo couldn't believe his eyes. He recalled Laguna's prophecy that Indang would become one of the Philippines' strongest envoys. "She's truly formidable," he whispered, eyeing her tattoos.
Suddenly, Romeo sensed Martin's presence from atop Ursarion. A new body formed from the monster. "How'd you get there?" Indang asked, intrigued.
"Damn you!" Martin screamed, furious. "You'll pay for this!"
Romeo revealed Ursarion's secret. "What you're fighting is just one of his weapons," he said. "Martin's real body is inside that monster, the source of his energy controlling this fake form."
"Oh, that explains his vast energy," Indang said, amused. "If I destroy that disgusting creature, he'll lose his power source?"
Romeo stopped her. "You can't destroy Ursarion!" he shouted. "It holds thousands of people—destroying it will kill them!"
Martin laughed, triumphant. "Three thousand people inside Ursarion fuel my energy!" he boasted. "To defeat me, you must destroy it—and everyone inside!"
Romeo punched the ground in rage. "You're truly vile, Martin!" he shouted, his eyes blazing.
Indang sighed. "I see no issue destroying Ursarion," she said emotionlessly. "It's not my fault if those inside die. They're Martin's victims, not my concern."
Romeo, desperate, shouted to stop her. "I can't let innocent people die!"
"Quiet! If I don't kill him, he'll kill me," Indang snapped.
The ground beneath her glowed, forming a flower mark. Raising her hands, her eyes shone. "Stone curse," she intoned.
Ursarion's eyes began turning to stone, the curse spreading across its body. Martin was incredulous. "Impossible! Her curse affects my Ursarion!" he cried.
He saw Indang's glowing eyes, realizing they were the source of the curse. As long as she could see Ursarion, the curse would spread. Knowing his real body inside couldn't turn to stone, Martin summoned portals to evacuate his rebels. But many still slept on the road, beyond his ability to save. "Damn you, Indang!" he roared. "I won't forget this!"
A massive portal appeared, and Ursarion slipped inside to escape. Martin's humiliation deepened as Indang waved mockingly. "Goodbye!" she called. "Our deal is clear—stay out of Kawit! If you break it, I'll ensure your death!"
Furious, Martin cursed her as he fled through the portal, shamed by his defeat at the hands of the sugo of Kawit—the Wild Daisy, Indang.
End of Chapter.