The aswang didn't hesitate.
It lunged.
Fast.
Too fast.
Amir barely rolled to the side as claws tore through the spot where his head had been.
"Still going?!" he snapped, scrambling back to his feet.
His body screamed in protest.
Every movement hurt.
Every breath burned.
The creature turned—
But not toward him.
Its eyes locked onto the masked figure.
And for the first time—
It hesitated.
"…you've got to be kidding me," Amir muttered.
The figure didn't move.
Didn't rush.
Didn't panic.
They simply stood there.
Balanced.
Waiting.
The wind shifted.
Amir felt it immediately.
Different.
Sharper.
Like the air itself was being cut.
"…what is that…" he whispered.
Behind him, the Anito spoke:
"Control."
The aswang shrieked—
And charged.
The masked fighter moved.
Not fast.
Precise.
One step.
A slight turn—
SHING—
Steel flashed.
The aswang froze mid-lunge.
A thin line appeared across its chest.
Then—
It was thrown back.
Amir's eyes widened.
"…what the—"
The creature slammed into the rocks, screeching in pain.
But it didn't die.
It stood again.
Stronger.
Angrier.
"…okay, that's not normal," Amir said.
"No," the Anito replied.
"It is being sustained."
"…by what?"
Silence.
The aswang lunged again—
This time faster.
The masked fighter stepped forward—
CLANG—
Blade met claw.
The impact echoed across the cliffs.
Amir flinched.
The force alone—
Was far beyond his.
"…that's not even close," he muttered.
"Observe," the Anito said.
"I am observing!"
The fighter shifted—
Twisting their wrist—
Redirecting the strike—
The aswang stumbled.
Exposed.
A second strike—
Clean.
Efficient.
The creature was sent crashing again.
Amir clenched his fist.
"…so that's what control looks like…"
The aswang rose—
But slower now.
Its body twitching.
Unstable.
"…why isn't it dead?" Amir asked.
"It refuses to fall."
"…that's not reassuring."
The wind grew heavier.
Thicker.
The masked fighter stopped moving.
Completely still.
Amir frowned.
"…why'd they stop?"
The Anito's voice lowered.
"Because they feel it too."
A presence.
Not near.
Not far.
Watching.
Controlling.
Amir's stomach dropped.
"…there's something else, isn't there…"
The aswang twitched—
Then suddenly—
Its body jerked upright.
Unnaturally.
Its grin returned.
Wider than before.
"…you… shouldn't… interfere…" it rasped.
Amir froze.
"…it's talking differently…"
"Yes."
The masked fighter finally spoke.
"…you're being controlled."
The aswang tilted its head.
"…and you're… too late…"
It lunged again—
Faster.
More violent.
The fighter met it head-on—
CLANG—
This time—
They were pushed back.
Amir's eyes widened.
"…they're losing ground…?"
"Not losing," the Anito said.
"Testing."
"…testing what?!"
"Limits."
The fighter stepped back—
Resetting stance.
Then—
For the first time—
They glanced toward Amir.
"…you," they said.
Amir blinked.
"…me?"
"Move."
"…what?"
"Or die."
"…okay, yeah, that's fair."
Amir forced his body forward.
Pain flared—
But he moved anyway.
The aswang lunged—
This time—
Toward him.
"…seriously?!" Amir shouted.
"Focus," the Anito said.
"I AM—!"
"Then move properly."
The creature closed in—
Amir stepped—
Too wide—
Claws grazed his side again.
"Gah—!"
He stumbled.
"Too slow," the Anito said.
"Yeah, I noticed!"
"Again."
The aswang turned—
Preparing another strike—
Amir steadied himself.
Breathing heavy.
"…left…" he muttered.
The creature lunged—
He moved—
Better.
Not perfect—
But enough.
His stick struck—
Light flickered.
Weak.
The impact barely slowed it.
"…not enough…" Amir gritted.
The masked fighter moved again—
Intercepting—
Driving the creature back.
Silence followed.
Heavy.
Then—
"…you're late," the masked fighter said.
Amir blinked.
"…you too?"
The fighter turned slightly.
"…they've already started hunting Initiates."
Amir's grip tightened.
"…who has?"
The wind howled.
No answer came.
Only the feeling—
That something out there—
Was listening.