The dark highway of Cavite was thick with a tension so heavy it felt as if the night itself had decreed the outbreak of war. Amidst the chaos, Romeo and Martin crossed paths once more, ending the months of the Katipunan leader's successful evasion of the General.
Their last encounter had been in Manila, where Martin suffered a crushing defeat while attempting to infiltrate a hotel—a failure brought about by an unexpected turn of events. That loss, delivered by a female sugo of diwata, remained a scar on his pride that he could never forget. He had sworn to himself that history would not repeat itself; now, his eyes burned with a mixture of raw fury and cold resolve.
As Martin stood his ground, his body was eclipsed by a shroud of black energy that swirled around him like a thundercloud. Hovering ominously above him was the Ursarion, his terrifying biological weapon designed to crush the Spanish forces. The monster's skin was a gruesome sight, embedded with the heads of young Spanish soldiers who were still screaming in agony—a spectacle that made Romeo's blood boil with indignation.
Scanning the perimeter, Martin noticed something: the woman who had caused his previous downfall was nowhere to be seen.
"I don't see the female sugo of diwata who ruined my plans. Is she not with you today, General?" Martin asked, his voice dripping with mockery laced with genuine curiosity. "I actually wanted to thank her. Because of her, I immediately saw the weaknesses that could have cost me the war against Spain. I wish to reward her—by liberating her from her life as a lapdog of Spain through death!" Martin's smile was nothing short of diabolical.
Romeo's eyes narrowed into sharp slits, his gaze lethal. "You don't need to know where she is," he replied, his voice low and firm. "I am more than enough to defeat you, Martin."
Martin's laughter echoed through the void of the night. "I admire your courage, little General," he sneered. "But let me be clear—I have no intention of losing. Until I have established a new Philippines, this rebellion will never cease!"
Unfazed, Romeo kept his focus locked on his adversary. "What you're doing is senseless, Martin," he countered calmly. "You will not succeed against the Spanish government. Moreover, you have no idea how to run a country. Even if your madness succeeds, the Philippines will only sink deeper into poverty after the war. Spanish support will vanish—do you have any idea what will happen to the people then?"
Martin dismissed the warning with a confident smirk. "I don't believe the Katipunan's efforts will be in vain. Once the country is liberated, Filipinos will have the chance to discover new things and develop our own land. Freedom is the only path to true progress!"
Romeo shook his head in disbelief. "You're truly dismissing the possibility of national collapse? People will starve, and crime will overrun every street. Yes, the Spaniards are greedy, but they are capable. They know how to run a nation. When they are gone, how will you fill the vacuum? Are you prepared to find five thousand professionals to lead every town when most Filipinos have only been taught to labor in factories?"
Martin closed his eyes for a moment, a flicker of hesitation crossing his face before he snapped back. "I don't need to worry about that now. Filipinos became ignorant because they were robbed of their right to education. Once we are free, they will study. In five years, we will have the professionals needed to lead!"
"Nonsense!" Romeo shouted, his anger finally boiling over. "In those five years, you will let the country rot! People will die of hunger! Not everyone can survive the 'New Philippines' you're imagining. When Spanish businesses leave, the provinces will lose their livelihoods..
People will swarm Manila, causing overpopulation and total anarchy. With your current plan, Martin, you are the one leading the Philippines to its ultimate downfall!"
Martin cut him off, his eyes blazing. "Five years of hardship is not too great a sacrifice! The Philippines currently belongs to Spain. I must tear this nation down before I can rebuild it. And the process of rebuilding requires starting from nothing!" He insisted that everyone must sacrifice their role; he knew many would die, but he viewed it as the only way to secure the future for the next generation of the Filipino race.
Romeo sighed, his face etched with disappointment. "Your words prove you have no concrete plan for governance, Martin. You've only proven that I must stop you at all costs. I expect nothing good from a terrorist."
With a sudden burst of power, Romeo released a massive aura that weighed down the surroundings. His balisong knives began to orbit him like a whirlwind of steel, ready to strike at a moment's notice.
Suddenly, Peter leaped to Romeo's side. "General, Abby is in position," he reported. "Our men have successfully blocked the highway to ensure no civilians get caught in the crossfire."
General Apyong glanced at Romeo with confidence. "If we double-team Martin, this will end quickly."
But Romeo shook his head. "Your powers aren't as effective against aggressive fighters like him. I'll handle Martin. You deal with his cohorts."
Apyong looked toward Jana, the sugo of diwata from Tanauan, and a memory surfaced. "Romeo, that girl... she's a known vigilante in Cavite. She never joined the rebels before; it's strange to see her with the Katipunan. It's a tragedy—she isn't a bad person."
"Is that so? Then handle her," Romeo replied. "Try to capture her so we can pull her away from the rebels."
Romeo then turned to Peter. "Can you take the man in the hat? Based on his appearance, he looks like the famous vigilante 'Red Smoke' from Manila."
Peter nodded bravely. "No problem, General." He walked toward the man in the hat, pointing a finger. "You! Why don't we take this somewhere else? It's better if we fight away from here so we don't interfere with the General and your leader."
Martin looked at his companion, the sugo of diwata of Manila known as Red Smoke. "The General's men aren't that strong," Martin mocked. "Handle him."
Red Smoke grinned and followed Peter. "Fine by me. I'll take care of this one."
Martin then looked at Apyong, a hint of unease in his voice. "The other General is a problem. He's strong, just like Romeo."
But Jana stepped forward. "I'll handle General Apyong. we've crossed paths many times; I know how to fight him."
Martin agreed, and Jana dashed away to confront Apyong. Seeing her move, Apyong looked at Romeo one last time. "Be careful, Romeo," he said, before his wheelchair levitated to give chase.
Left alone with his rival, Martin unleashed a black aura so heavy it felt like a physical weight on everyone nearby. He laughed, asking, "Are you ready, little General?"
Romeo didn't waste breath on words. In an instant, he unleashed a flurry of balisongs, a rain of blades surging toward Martin. Martin dodged with effortless grace. "I've improved greatly since we last fought, General! I am much stronger now!"
Martin's form began to warp—his skin turned black like tempered iron, and his body swelled into a monstrous giant. Despite the horrific transformation, Romeo remained unshaken. He walked forward slowly, a single balisong gripped firmly in his hand.
The concrete road shattered under Martin's feet as he lunged, his fist glowing with dark energy. "Taste this!"
Romeo knew he couldn't match Martin in a raw test of strength, especially since Martin's body seemed indestructible and capable of rapid regeneration. His strategy was simple: stay alive and drain Martin's energy. The giant peacock construct above Romeo moved; its wings, composed of thousands of blades, formed a shield to meet the attack.
CRACK!
When Martin's fist slammed into the shield, a shockwave rippled through the air, forcing everyone back. Romeo noticed his balisongs were actually crumbling under the sheer force of Martin's punches.
"Dammit, he's too strong."
Martin didn't relent, raining blows upon the peacock's wings with demonic determination. With one final, devastating strike, Martin shattered the blade-shield completely.
Romeo was stunned; the power exceeded his expectations. "How?!" he gasped, but there was no time to think. Martin was already upon him.
"I have you now, General!" Martin screamed with a devilish grin.
Unable to reform a shield in time, Romeo met the attack head-on. He summoned a new set of balisongs that fused into a massive spear, thrusting it directly against Martin's fist. The collision shook the earth. As the energies repelled each other, the blades began to spin like a localized tornado, attempting to shred Martin's flesh. However, every cut healed instantly.
"You can't take me down with that!" Martin roared, shaping his black energy into a massive broadsword and swinging at Romeo. Romeo dodged, but the impact leveled nearby trees and power poles.
Refusing to back down, Romeo summoned his blades to form an even larger peacock, this time glowing with a brilliant blue energy. Hundreds of blades surged toward the Ursarion. Romeo knew the beast was too large to miss, but he hesitated as he saw the faces of the children embedded in its skin. Despite the risk, he precisely guided his blades to strike the areas free of the "human shields," hoping to destroy the monster's core and free the souls within.
Martin screamed in pain as if he were physically linked to the Ursarion. "You're clever, General, but this won't be enough!" He hurled a massive sphere of dark energy. Romeo formed a shield, but the resulting explosion took out soldiers and rebels alike in the vicinity.
Romeo's eyes blazed. He needed to end this, but the number of "heads" appearing on the Ursarion's skin was increasing, making it harder to strike without killing innocents. Gritting his teeth, he sent all his blades into the sky, forming a massive, glowing cross that illuminated the night.
"Let's end this, Martin!"
On the other side of the battlefield, Peter faced Red Smoke Von. A thick cloud of crimson smoke enveloped Peter, designed to induce vertigo in normal men. Peter quickly commanded his sand to swirl around him, creating a barrier.
"That won't work on me!" Peter yelled, forming a sand wall. However, the smoke shifted, condensing into a ten-foot-tall, muscular golem.
"You're the famous Red Smoke, aren't you? I've heard of your work in Manila," Peter said, launching sand spears. "You hunt criminals and protect the poor. If that's true, why join these terrorists?"
Von's hat tilted as he smirked sadly. "I didn't want to join madmen driven by revenge like Martin. But I had no choice. I don't have the power to end the suffering in Manila alone; this was the fastest way to save my people."
Peter shook his head. "You don't have to commit crimes to save people! I was a rebel once, too. I regretted it when I saw the atrocities—rebels killing innocents who had nothing to do with the conflict!" Peter shared how he had been a criminal until General Romeo entered his life. "He was just a kid, but he gave hope to sugo of diwata like me. He led us away from the path of executioners."
Peter extended a hand. "I understand how you feel, Von. It's not too late. Come with us. General Romeo will help you."
"ENOUGH!" Von screamed. "So many Filipinos are begging for help! If your precious General is so helpful, why are so many still dying? Why are women still being abused? Should I trust the lapdogs of Spain? The system is rotten. I need Martin to tear it down. I don't care if he uses me—it's the only way to freedom!"
Von lunged with terrifying speed. Peter's sand armor barely deflected a blade thrown by Von. Taking advantage of the opening, Von kicked Peter in the head, sending him reeling. Peter stabilized himself and summoned a giant sand scorpion, its stinger clashing with the smoke golem in a series of violent explosions.
Meanwhile, Jana and General Apyong were locked in a stalemate. Jana's tentacles lashed out like razor-sharp snakes, while Apyong's four giant energy hands met them strike for strike.
"I didn't expect to see you here, Jana," Apyong said with regret. "You promised you'd never join the rebels."
"You have no say in what I do!" Jana screamed. "I tried not to kill innocents, but I won't stand by while the Spaniards abuse us! You said you'd help Cavite, but nothing changes!" She accused him of failing his promises.
Apyong looked down, acknowledging his imperfections as a leader. "I know Martin's way is wrong, but if rebellion is the only way to peace, I'm ready to die for it," Jana declared.
"This rebellion will only bring certain death and chaos!" Apyong countered.
Jana held her head in desperation. "If I do nothing, nothing changes. Tomorrow, the abuse in Tanauan continues. I can't save my family alone."
"It's not too late!" Apyong shouted. "I need your help to make Tanauan better. Help me, and I promise we will make peace possible."
"LIAR!" Jana shrieked, her energy exploding. Her tentacles grew in power, ensnaring Apyong's energy hands and crushing them into nothing. "I will never join you! The wounds the Spaniards left are too deep. They took my friends, my father, my brother! Being an 'honorary Spaniard' is a disgrace. I curse traitors like you!"
Apyong levitated his wheelchair to dodge her relentless strikes, summoning even larger hands to restrain her.
Away from the front lines, Abby and the soldiers worked feverishly to clear the highway of civilians. The traffic jam made the evacuation slow, and her heart ached for Romeo. "Please succeed, General," she whispered.
Back at the center of the storm, Romeo's soldiers were weakening, but his resolve remained ironclad. He knew the cost of failure. As his glowing cross descended from the sky, Martin stood his ground, his eyes burning with a dark fire. The Ursarion began to shift again, growing even more gargantuan and grotesque.
Romeo clenched his fists. His strategy of attrition was failing; the Ursarion seemed to be drawing more strength the longer the battle lasted. The night was far from over, and the danger was only beginning to peak.
End of Chapter.