Morning light crept into the motel room through the half-broken window.
Sean sat on the edge of the creaky bed, staring at his hands.
His palms were rougher than before. His fingers felt stronger. He flexed them slowly.
"Lahi na man ni akong lawas..."
("My body feels different...")
He wasn't imagining it.
Last night's encounter, how easily he twisted that thug's wrist, how natural his movement felt it kept playing in his head.
And he remembered exactly where he saw that move.
A self-defense video on Utube.
"Impossible."
He thought he had just watched to pass time and distract himself from hunger.
But now…
His body remembered.
---
Later that day, Sean roamed the streets again, more cautious but steady.
His eyes scanned every corner naturally, as if he had lived in this city for years.
Passing through a crowded sidewalk, his phone buzzed again.
Pretty.
"Wa lagi ka nagtoktik ron? Wala ko kita nimo sakung live"
("Why aren't you on Toktik today? I dont see you in my Livestream today")
Sean smirked and answered calmly.
"Busy ko'g pangita'g kwarta. Kailangan ko kwarta para ma date na tika."
("I'm busy looking for money. I need money so that I can ask for a date.")
Pretty replied fast.
"Kurimaw ka. Buang man ka oi."
("You're unbelievable. You're crazy!")
Followed by a laughing emoji again.
Sean chuckled softly while walking, shaking his head.
But as he tucked his phone away, something caught his eye.
Another group of street thugs stood at a nearby corner, harassing random passersby for cash.
Sean's gaze sharpened not out of fear, but instinct.
He slipped through the crowd, eyes tracking every movement, memorizing faces, voices, mannerisms.
"You're just the same as the last ones."
---
He didn't act yet.
Not now.
He knew his time would come.
---
Meanwhile, far beyond the streets, another quiet alert rang through hidden systems.
A voice, calm but heavy, spoke behind a dark screen.
"Trace detected again. The artifact's adaptation rate is accelerating."
Another voice answered.
"The creator will not wait much longer. Prepare to move."
---
Back in the city, Sean walked away from the noise, his steps calm.
His body felt lighter. His senses sharper.
And deep in his chest, for the first time, a dangerous thought quietly crept in.
"Maybe this city isn't so scary after all."