In the midst of Nilad's bustling morning, the market cries, the clatter of wheels, the rumble of a city waking. Sunlight began to creep over the rooftops. One slender beam slipped through the window of the Capitol infirmary, slowly stretching across the room until it fell upon Nemo's bare torso. The light traced every curve of his muscles; each line carved like a sculpture made by a master artisan. It almost made the bandages wrapped around him look decorative rather than necessary.
The door swung open. Hard.
"What the hell, Kuya! Are you trying to reopen your wounds!?" Nieves barked, slamming the door behind her and dropping a paper bag of fresh bread onto the nearest chair.
Nemo paused mid–sit-up and glanced over his shoulder. "Oh, you're back… is that pandesal?"
He wiped the sweat from his chest, careful around the bandages, before grabbing one. He bit into it and nodded with a satisfied hum.
"Man… Tundun really knows how to make good pandesal."
He sat on the edge of the bed while Nieves moved behind him, deft fingers gathering and tying his long red hair with the practiced ease of someone who had been fixing her brother's messes her whole life.
"By the way," Nieves began, securing the braid with a tight pull, "Elder Aslon sent a letter."
Nemo raised an eyebrow. "And?"
"He says Princess Mayari is dead."
Nemo's eyes narrowed. "Dead?"
"Yeah. One of the bounty-hunters from the Laksamana claimed he killed her," Nieves explained, tightening the braid once more.
"And Aslon just… believed that?"
"For now, he's ordered us to stay here in the Capitol."
Nemo clicked his tongue. "Meaning he doesn't."
"Looks like it," Nieves said, stepping back to inspect her work.
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The sun was already climbing high when I finally woke. My back hurt from the wooden bed I'd slept on—God, I miss my bed. I stretched, groaned, then turned to the right. The noble princess was still fast asleep. Can't blame her; it looked like she and Wan had traveled forever yesterday. By the time I knocked out, they still weren't back.
I turned my gaze forward, and nearly swallowed my soul. Hiraya was standing right in front of me like some creepy forest goddess who materialized out of pure spite. Damn. The way her waist curved should honestly be illegal. And the way she was looking at me? Damn, it makes me question my own sexuality.
"You want to come with us?" she asked, a cigarette hanging from her lips.
"Huh? W–where?"
"Hiking. Wan and I are heading out." She pointed to Wan, who was strapping his arnis onto his back like he was gearing up for a photoshoot.
"W–wait, what about Mayari?"
"We'll leave a letter," Hiraya replied instantly. "And we won't be gone long. We'll be back in maybe seven hours."
I sat up fully and rubbed the sleep from my eyes. "Okay, okay… it's kinda boring in here anyway." Then a thought hit me. "Hold up—there aren't gonna be soldiers chasing us again, right?"
"None," Hiraya assured me while adjusting the strap on her red tank top.
And seriously, how does she shave her armpits out here? They're so smooth and pale I felt personally attacked. I suddenly became hyper-aware of the baby jungle growing in mine. Who cares tho? It's 2024.
She lent me some clothes: a white long-sleeve shirt, black shorts, and sandals made from wood and straw. After that, we stepped outside. Before we left, she muttered the same chant she used when we first entered the hidden tent. Then she pulled out a map she'd been obsessively studying yesterday and traced a route across it.
We followed that path for about an hour until the forest around us… shifted. The ground ahead looked like old pavement, cracked, mossy, reclaimed by time. And right before us stood a crumbling stone ruin swallowed almost entirely by the roots of a massive tree. Strange little creatures crawled around it, like kittens but with six legs. I tried to pet one. It sprinted away as it owed me money.
Hiraya walked to the remaining wall and ran her fingers across it. Up close, the surface looked like marble, but melted in certain spots. Melted marble. Apparently, that's possible here; I don't know about back in our world.
Hiraya extended her arms and began to chant:
"Dalikamata, light of secrets and truth,
Strip the veil of deception from my eyes,
Uncover what has been hidden beneath time."
At once, the air shimmered green, so did the tattoos on her collarbone. A doorway flickered into existence on the ruined wall. Hiraya smirked, and gestured for us to enter, and before I could even prepare myself, Wan scooped me up and jumped down through it.
HOLY SHIT.
It was the equivalent of leaping off the second floor of our school building. I clung to Wan like a tarsier having a panic attack, while he was grinning like this was all a fun game. I wasn't even sure what was worse—being yeeted into a drop without consent, or the stench that punched me in the face afterward.
"Uugghhh… what is that? Bat shit?" Wan asked.
"Yes," Hiraya said flatly.
It was dark inside, the floor damp, and the bat-poop smell was… a spiritual experience. A bad one.
A moment later, blue fire blossomed in Hiraya's palm. For a second, I forgot my fear. Girl just summoned Avatar-level flames without breaking a sweat. The light filled the space. Bats clustered on the ceiling, stalactites dripping like frozen water.
"Wan, guide Given," Hiraya instructed. "Let's move."
The deeper we went, the more bats there were. Then— A sound. Strange and echoing.
"Teach, you hear that?" Wan whispered.
"Yes."
We followed it. Bit by bit, the water level rose until it soaked my borrowed slippers. And then—I understood. It wasn't random dripping.
It was a river running through the cave. Holy crap. I've never been to Palawan, but I'm pretty sure this is what those underground rivers look like. The cavern walls glistened with moisture, the sound of rushing water echoing like distant thunder.
We followed the river until we reached what looked like a dead end. No path, no opening, just rock. We searched for a way forward. And then I saw it.
"There." I said, pointing at a narrow crack in the wall. It was small, but the three of us could fit if we squeezed. Hiraya went first, her hand still burning gently with blue fire. Wan and I followed, sliding through the stone until we emerged on the other side where laughter echoed.
Wan immediately yanked me down into a crouch.
Ahead, the space grew brighter. There were trees… and a lake. I squinted then the hair at the back of my neck shot straight up. And no, not the sexy Ne-Yo, "I'm so sick of love songs" kind. The traumatic kind.
Wan noticed the shift in my expression.
"Oi, you, okay?" he whispered.
"Th-those two…"
"Ahhh, the berberoka?" he asked casually—CASUALLY—like they weren't towering ten feet tall, built like moss-covered refrigerators, and dripping with swamp horror energy. They looked exactly like the first monster I ever saw when I first arrived in this world, green, massive, with bark-like mossy skin.
"So, teach," Wan whispered, smiling, "how should we kill them?"
"Kill them? Are you stupid?" Hiraya hissed. "Would YOU be happy if you were sitting quietly, then suddenly got murdered?"
"Oh… ahahaha. Just kidding." She rolled her eyes, told us to follow her, and specifically ordered Wan not to do anything.
We barely took a few steps before the two giants finally noticed us. My knees turned into jelly. I swallowed hard and ducked behind Wan, clutching his arm like a terrified toddler. The two creatures smiled as they approached—then one spoke.
"Good morrow, ye wayfaring souls." His voice rumbled like thunder, echoing through the trees. Even Wan looked startled. And the way it speaks, who the hell taught it? Shakespeare?
"Oi, maestra..." he whispered to Hiraya, "Aliya makasabi ing Berberoka, 'di ba?"
"Wa," Hiraya muttered. The monsters heard them murmuring.
"Hmmm… so you can speak the old tongue of Teya?" said the other giant, head tilted with curiosity.
Old tongue? Kapampangan? Wait. Wait. WHAT is happening right now?
"You… you can speak kapampangan?" I blurted out internally, my soul ready to tap out.
Hiraya stepped forward quickly. "Good morning, friends," she said, eyes steady. "I am Hiraya. This is Given. And this is Wan." The two giants smiled and bowed.
Bow. The two moss titans bowed to us.
"A fair morn to thee as well, young mistress," said the second one. His voice was slightly higher than the first. "I am called Verde, and this noble Luntian is my friend. Might we entreat thee to speak thy purpose in treading upon our dwelling?"
At this point, I was questioning every life decision I'd ever made. If monsters could be this polite, why can't I? Verde noticed me and Wan staring like stunned idiots. He leaned down until our faces were level. "Hath astonishment taken thee both, ye little ones?"
Wan gave a small laugh. "Hahaha, yeah… this is the first time I've seen berberoka who can speak."
"HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!" The cave practically shook as the two burst into laughter.
"We lay no fault upon thee," Luntian said kindly. "For 'tis uncommon that creatures of our sort should utter speech. Yet, even as men, as kalanget, and all others besides, so may we also learn."
"Though we learn slower," Verde added cheerfully.
"Well then…" Hiraya cut in, "we came to ask for your help."
Luntian blinked. "Help, young lady?"
"Yes. We came for a map." The two exchanged a glance—one they clearly didn't want us to catch. "I want the map to Tungkung Langit."
Their eyes widened—just a fraction—but I caught it.
"I see," Verde said. "If such be the case, then come after us, good friends." We walked toward the lake. And there I saw them.
Mermaids. Like, actual mermaids. About twenty of them, tails shimmering with brilliant colors, faces so flawless they looked sculpted. Their skin glowed a warm brown, their long hair drifting like silk. One swam toward us, and I noticed three slits on each of her sides—gills?
"Good morning…" she said to Wan, her voice smooth.
Her gaze locked onto Wan. And girl was Wan in a trance? Honestly, same. If I dipped even one toe into that water, maybe all my emotional baggage would evaporate.
Slowly, both Wan and I found ourselves stepping closer to the lake—
SMACK.
Hiraya whacked us both on the head. "Easy there, dimwits," she whispered. "They may look your age, but Magindaras live long lives. Judging from her looks, she's probably over one hundred years old." Then she added, "They also eat humans."
The mermaid stared at Hiraya—froze—then actually backed away. She swam toward the others and whispered frantically. All their gazes turned toward us…
No. Toward Hiraya. Their mouths dropped open, and then they all dove underwater at once.
"Oi, oi, what just happened?" Wan whispered.
"I'm not doing anything," Hiraya said, voice casual.
We continued following Verde and Luntian until they stopped before a massive tree. Luntian peeled off a strip of bark and handed it to Hiraya.
"Tis is the map," he said.
"This?" Wan asked, inspecting the piece of bark while Hiraya held it. "Dude, this just looks like tree skin."
"That's right, child," Verde replied. "That is the map the lady seeks."
"Tsss… seriously?" Wan muttered, his disappointment practically vibrating in the air. "You're just handing it over? No resistance? No dramatic battle cry? Nothing? Aren't you at least gonna put up a fight?"
The two giants laughed again... A thunderous, cave-rattling, earthquake-level roar that made dust fall from the ceiling.
""E'en in our ignorance," Verde said with a rumbling grin, "we are not so lost as to forget this truth: should we raise arms against thee, naught but death would be our portion. Why then should we hasten toward so foolish and foredoomed a fate?"
Wan clicked his tongue, irritated, running a hand over the back of his neck. "Boring…" he muttered, sounding genuinely offended. Like he'd walked into a restaurant and found out they didn't serve violence today.
Meanwhile, Hiraya smiled and gave the two titans a polite bow. "Thank you, both of you."
"Thou art right welcome, lady," Verde replied. "yet prithee, tell us—what cause hath moved thee to seek the staff of the first King of Ma-i?"
"SE-CRET," Hiraya answered with a mischievous wink. "Alright, let's go."
She turned on her heel, already walking away as if she hadn't just dropped a lore bomb and walked off like a sassy deity. Wan followed with a shrug, and I trailed after them, still processing the fact that giant swamp monsters were smarter, politer, and more emotionally stable than most humans I know.
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The three of them stepped out of the cave, only to be blasted instantly by the harsh noon sun. Given squinted so hard she thought her eyeballs might melt, but she didn't care. She exhaled deep and let fresh air hit her lungs, and she felt alive again.
They barely made it a few steps before a voice froze Hiraya in place.
"Yo… long time no see."
They all looked up. Perched on a massive tree branch… was a woman.
A heartbeat later she leapt— A clean, effortless drop from the towering tree, landing right in front of them with superhero landing. Hiraya immediately stepped back. Wan noticed his teacher's action.
The woman walked toward them, her hips swaying like rolling waves. Her skin was a sun-warmed bronze, her lashes long, her eyes a deep chocolate brown. Her thin lips curved into a smile.
Her gold-lined crop top framed a carved midriff. Tribal patterns glimmered along the fabric. The wind lifted her waist-length hair like black silk. Tattoos wrapped her arms like ancient sigils. And her face—sharp, deadly, ethereal—made the magindara in the cave look like cheap dolls.
"The fuck are you doing here, Yna?" Hiraya asked.
Given instinctively hid behind her, gripping her arm. "Is she… like us?" she whispered.
Hiraya gave the smallest shake of her head. No.
"Oh, you know exactly why I'm here," Yna replied, as she stepped closer. "I'm sorry… but I can't let you reach Tungkung Langit."
"Wan," Hiraya whispered, "weren't you disappointed earlier?"
"Hah? Oh—yeah. Why?" Wan asked.
Hiraya pulled Given with her toward a shaded area, smirking. "I'll let you fight her," she told Wan. "Just be careful…"
Wan blinked. "Be careful? Wait—she's actually that strong?"
He didn't get an answer. Yna was already in front of him.
"Yes," she said— and her fist smashed into Wan's cheek before he could blink. Wan flew into a tree. Bark exploded around him.
"If I were you," Yna said as he slid down the trunk, "I wouldn't take my eyes off me." Then she looked at Hiraya.
"Well then…"
A dagger materialized in her hand, no chant, no flare, unlike the babaylans Wan has faced days ago. She walked toward Hiraya, her voice a low hum.
"How long has it been since we last fought, Hiraya? One, two, maybe three ce—" Her words cut off. Wan's fist slammed into her cheek.
"Don't look away from me either," he shot back, knuckles cracking against her face. Yna barely felt it, but the momentum spun her— and something old rippled inside her.
Something buried, ancient...
Wan didn't give her time to breathe. A barrage of blows rained down, sharp, explosive, relentless. Yna took them all, standing like a statue carved from storms. Her eyes glazed, drifting, as if pulled toward a memory she didn't want.
Wan's punch found her stomach. Yna shot upward, spinning, and a memory cracked open inside her.
Eyes. Demonic eyes staring her down. And with it she felt something. Something she hadn't felt for a very long time. Fear. Ancient, primal fear she'd locked away for centuries. Fear of death. Fear of that being that no blade could scar, no storm could touch. Fear she believed she had outgrown. But now, the cold, thorned grip of that fear dragged her back to the moment she realized: Even with her siblings, they could never defeat him. Even together, they were nothing before him. The cold, thorned grip of that memory dragged her under.
Wan uppercut her again mid-air, launching her higher. She crashed back to the groound with a thunderous crack. Yna rose slowly, smirking now, something unhinged flickering in her eyes.
"That beast was killed by Grandpa eons ago," she whispered.
Then she lunged.
Her dagger slashed toward Wan's throat. He dodged, but she followed up instantly. Steel flashed, and blood marked Wan's chest. Her uppercut hit next, brutally clean, launching him skyward. Before he could even fall, she grabbed his ankle and slammed him into the ground.
Wan bounced. Yna kicked him upward again, spinning gracefully, and hammered her heel down onto his skull. Wan cratered into the dirt. Bleeding, panting, shaking, he wiped his mouth and drew his arnis sticks.
"Ooooh, still want to play?" Yna teased, delighted.
"I'll admit, you've got skill, boy…" she murmured as she seized one arnis with her left hand. Her grip was iron. "But you see…"
She lifted him effortlessly by the weapon.
"Even the most skilled ant will never defeat a boot." Wan tried to pull back, but her strength dwarfed his. Her fist blurred and crashed into his jaw. Wan's world spun white.
Yna stepped on Wan's chest and sneered, "Hey, is that it? This is fucking disappointing, kid." Then her gaze caught the bakal na pira wrapped around Wan's forearms. "Oooh… I didn't notice these earlier. So, you're a baylan."
She crouched beside Wan, curiosity sharpening her eyes. Hiraya, however, froze, her expression tightening with a dark realization. She understood exactly what Yna intended to do. Her eyes widened. Without hesitation, she unsheathed her twin edged sword, igniting it with roaring blue flame, and charged straight at Yna.
Hiraya's blazing sword clashed with Yna's dagger. A blinding surge of Nu burst from the point of impact, crackling like lightning, tearing open the forest. The air itself screamed as shockwaves erupted outward, splintering the ground and sending deep fractures racing across the earth.
The force tore through the entire forest, trees uprooted, boulders hurled into the air, leaves and dust spiraling into a violent storm.
Given stayed safe only because of the Nu barrier Hiraya had placed around her before striking. Birds fled the forest in panicked flocks. Burrowing creatures dug desperately into the soil to escape the overwhelming pressure.
Kilometers away, Mayari jolted awake. She felt the surge as though invisible hands were choking her lungs. Her breath grew heavy, strained, desperate.
The shockwave reached the Capitol— thirty kilometers away. Masala and Sula froze mid-laughter while playing chess, their skin crawling, sweat dripping as the Nu eruption washed through the city. In one of the government offices, Epi collapsed to his knees, clutching a pouch of pieces of eight as the wave slammed into him.
Inside Nemo's room, he flung the window open as the overwhelming tide of Nu blanketed all of Nilad and the nearby provinces. Despite gasping for air, a wild grin crawled across his face. Moments later— his laughter flooded the entire room.
Across the Capitol, many Tunduvans and Iberians fainted where they stood. Governor-General Yizmael rose from his chair, bewildered, trying to comprehend the powere he's feeling
The explosion of power surged across two hundred kilometers. And somewhere far from the Capitol, an old man in an Iberian uniform stood rigid, a single tear falling—not from fear, but from longing. He knew that Nu. He recognized one of the signatures deep in the blast.
Back in the forest, the air crackled with leftover energy, alive, electric, shimmering in the aftermath of godlike force.
Hiraya and Yna stood in the eye of the storm, debris swirling around them, embers drifting like fireflies. Their eyes locked, bodies taut, coiled with danger.
Yna chuckled. "Hahaha… and here I thought you'd stay out of it," she taunted, gaze sharp as a predator's, goading Hiraya to unleash more.
"I know you. I know what you're planning," Hiraya snapped. "Removing his bakal na pira might unleash something even we wouldn't be able to contain."
Yna's curiosity flickered, but beneath Hiraya's voice was something she couldn't hide:
Fear.
Their weapons remained locked, so close they could feel each other's breath, the air between them hot with tension.
"Tell me, child… who is he really?" Yna demanded.
"I don't know either."
"What do you—"
A thunderous blow struck her in the temple. Wan's fist. The hit hurled Yna across the clearing, a thin line of blood trailing from her brow.
"Stay out of my fight, teach," Wan said, stepping forward, stance firm despite the bruises and blood dripping down his chest. But before the battle could resume— A violent wind tore through the clearing. Behind Yna, the air split open, as if reality itself had been ripped apart.
"What the fuck!?" Yna shrieked as a powerful force pulled her backward. Her body trembled under the pressure. "No! Not yet! I was just starting to enjoy myself, GRANDPA!!!"
She dug her heels into the soil, nails clawing trenches into the ground, desperately resisting the pull. Her eyes snapped toward Hiraya, burning with fury.
"We'll meet again, Hiraya! And you too, kid… soon, this world wi—"
Her words were cut short as the portal consumed her completely. Silence crashed down. Wan staggered. "W-what just happened?!"
"You okay?" Hiraya asked as she turned toward him.
"I'm fine," Wan said, wiping the blood from his lip.
Hiraya dispelled the barrier around Given. Given collapsed instantly, hitting the ground. Eyes wide, stunned, overwhelmed by the lingering Nu in the air.
"Is she okay?" Wan asked, voice tight with concern.
"She should be," Hiraya replied, "but the Nu residue is too dense. It's overwhelming her senses."
Hiraya looked at Wan, her expression shifting. "There's something I need to tell you," she said quietly, "and something you need to do. I'll explain back at the tent."
Wan lifted Given into his arms and began carrying her. The forest behind them still hummed with the echo of power.