2.4 DOG FIGHT OR FLIGHT

  Outside the cavern, the asog let loose a barrage of flaming orbs at the champions of Raguet. Surprisingly, the two were quick to react. Leaving Salak, their hostage behind, they avoided the fiery spells. Then with a second to spare, the sisters retaliated with either magic or steel– closing the gap between their foe. But the shaman was wise to their approach, with his newly-found powers, he conjured a ring of fire– burning the ground around him. The sisters dodged as best they could, running towards the opposite flanks of the shaman. They had faced similar enemies before and they knew that the asog could not defend and attack at the same time.

  Seeing his opportunity, Salak stumbled to his uncle's side. "Uncle, help me!" he said as he tiptoed on the singed ashen ground. He expected an embrace for all his troubles, but instead a slap raked his flabby face raw.

  "You foolish cow. Why can't you just follow my orders?" Asog Kalibutdan said as Salak cowered from his imposing stature.

  "But uncle... I only did what you wanted."

  "Shut up, you idiot! I don't want to hear another lousy excuse from you," Asog Kalibutdan added, venom lacing every word. He snapped his head back to the Raguetanons. They have to be dealt with. And with his newly-acquired powers, surely he can think of way. The asog focused his aura, holding Tihol and Karas at bay by pelting them with more elemental magic.

  "You led them here," he said to Salak. "You led them to me! Are you colluding with Tikum, my nephew?"

  "I'm sorry, uncle..." He yelped as the asog threatened to slap him. "I'll never betray you! Sorry, please!"

  "Oh, you will be so sorry... just you wait!" Asog Kalibutdan summoned a thick fog around them, using the power of the necklace to give them both a much needed cover from Karas' blade and Tihol's arrows. Then, the shaman held Salak by the neck.

  "You're going to pay the price of your stupidity and earn your place."

  As he did so, scarlet ghost-light from the braided necklace began to creep like smoke all over the round-bellied timawa's body, enrobing him and making Salak scream in agony. He asked his uncle to stop but his pleas were met with indifference. The asog was determined to finally overpower his rival, Karas. And no one will stop him. Not even his dull nephew. So, he shook his head for the last time, ignoring his own flesh and blood.

  "Someone has to pay a price, Salak!" he said with cold fury in his voice. "Someone has to. For now, it shall be you."

  Salak immediately dropped down his knees as his whole body violently convulsed, skin expanding like a frog's croaking throat. Things continued to the point that the fool serf's body rivaled the boulder beside the entrance of the cave in bulk. In a horrific manner, human skin turned to black fur and Salak morphed into a giant three headed boar as huge as a nipa hut and with muscles as solid as blocks of granite. But instead of hooves for its forelegs the thing had muscled human-shaped hands with forearms as thick as a narra tree. The thing's wide brawny back also had sharp spines that looked like a forest of bamboo spears.

  "Go, finish them," Asog Kalibutdan urged it. "Destroy them for me. I command you!"

  He then pointed at the champions of Raguet as the fog evaporated around them. He wore a triumphant smile but staggered as the necklace began to suck his life-force to finish transmogrifying his own nephew. Salak or what used to be him bristled at the asog with blue burning eyes before planting its forearms into the ground and rushing towards Tihol and Karas.

  Asog Kalibutdan smiled again, this time in vile satisfaction but it was soon erased by the power of the talisman. For all things magical, had a price too. And the pragmatic asog was about to pay it dearly. A scream of pain from his maw tore through the rampaging noise of his creation a moment later.

  "No, no, no," the asog cried, raising his withered hand that held the talisman. His face full now wearing a veil of anguish and regret. "My hands. It's eating away my hands!" he cried as he stared at the arcane object with bulging eyes. At that exact moment, Tikum came out from Kalibutdan's lair with Ukok, who was now awake on his brawny arms.

  "Gi-atay," the Black Dog said after seeing the new form of Salak. "What in Kaptan's butthole is that!"

  It was not as Tikum planned, but this was definitely a better distraction, he thought. He could work with this chaos.

  The shaman spun towards his direction. "Tikum Kadlum! The amulet's pair! Give the damn thing to me! Hurry! The amulet does not work on its own. It needs its twin!"

  Tikum's brow furrowed. "For a man who can see the future, you're a bit on the blind side of things. And that's not part of the deal we made. Also... it's not my problem," the Black Dog finished, holding his daughter tighter and careening into the darkness, leaving the asog behind.

  Tihol saw the thief who stole her sister's amulet and talisman run pass her, carrying a child on his arms.

  "Hey, you!" she said trying to hinder his way.

  "I wouldn't do that." Tikum said, halting on his tracks. "You've got some huge problem ahead of you."

  "I could say the same thing to you, thief."

  Tikum smiled. Then, he faked a step, eliciting a reaction from the bagani, giving himself a chance to evade her.

  "I'm not really up for joining you against that thing, right now," he shouted as he moved on, leaving the bagani empty-handed.

  Tihol wanted to chase him, but instead froze for the hideous creature that the scheming asog created barred her way. It loomed before her like some gigantic bagat from a very bad dream.

  "Tough luck," she said, holding her sword back and throwing it with all her strength at the horrific fiend. But the freak specimen swatted it away with ease. "Really tough luck." She shook her head, seeing her kampilan landing a few feet away from her. "What in the damned realm of Gadlum is that?" Tihol turned to her sister.

  "Be wary," Karas answered Tihol. "It's not an illusion. It can... and it will kill you if you give it a chance."

  The beast shifted all its head at Karas sensing something about her. Then, it leveled all its eyes on the gray-haired woman, gritting and grinding all its teeth.

  "You want a piece of me?" Karas said as the beast shrieked at her. Anticipating that it would end its posturing with an attack, the babaylan pulled her hand back and threw the talon-like karambit on one of the monster's eye, eliciting an angry reaction from the beast when it landed on its mark.

  "Nice fucking shot!" Tihol said. "But I think I could do better." Not to be out done by her sister Karas, Tihol swiftly nocked an arrow and aimed it at the on-rushing predator. She fired in quick succession but the thing ducked down to avoid the shafts. It was definitely agile for its size.

  "What in the bakunawa's saggy balls..." Tihol said, retreating from a safe distance as the monster wailed a most unnerving cry.

  Salak suddenly halted though. You see, the problem with three heads is that sometimes they don't exactly agreed with each other. The one Karas struck wanted to chase her off. While the other one wanted to crush Tihol. The remaining head had to mediate between the two.

  As they settled their dispute, Tihol warily collected herself. But as she prepared herself, she glued her eyes on the beast. Karas' too watched the fiendish Salak, knowing that it would continue its rampage. Both sisters observed that with its bulk and inhuman speed came some disadvantages too.

  Now, it was particularly having a hard time controlling its own momentum as it decided to chase Karas. Turning too much or stopping too late, it overtook its nimble and much more smaller prey. Paired with the lack of precision, it stumbled clumsily and a few times it crashed on the rocky outcrops around the asog's cavern. And all Karas did was circle it. The slick ground did not help as well as it slid to a halt to steady itself...

  But the sisters knew it would only need one strike to cause enough damage. Undaunted, Tihol shot another set of arrows hitting the beast on the shoulder, making it hesitate and give her and her sister a chance to dodge its attacks. Another volley landed, backing it away farther. But instead of fleeing, Salak began its counter-attack. It started churning the earth on its path with its tusks, sending dirt and jagged rocks towards the bagani's direction from a distance.

  "Little sister, I think we need the help of your friends here," Tihol said, dropping down low to avoid the shower of dirt and stones.

  A few feet away Karas the babaylan nodded. "You better move then," she said as she closed her eyes. She then clasped both hands together, chanting the ancient names of her patron gods, all the while concentrating on one single line of thought, repeating it over and over to send her mind into a trance-like state and achieve a link to his devatas. Finally, Karas spoke in an loud and eerie voice that sent Tihol's goose-flesh standing. "Devata Burigadang Pada Sinaklang Bulawan my divine patron. I beseech you! Smote this beast before me, Oh, Gilded One!" Karas opened her eyes and light began to pour out of it. "I plead for your help, my goddess! Hear me!"

  This story has been stolen from Royal Road. If you read it on Amazon, please report it

  And with that, the soft breeze paused and everything stood motionless and silent. Not even the cockatoo in her nest or the macaque in the tree branches uttered a sound. Tihol knew what was about to happen and so, she braced herself after rolling to avoid Salak's rampage.

  "Take your time little sis," she said as she sent an arrow towards the beast's chest. "Its not as if we're fighting a boulder-sized monster right now!" she added as the unrelenting horror leapfrogged towards her.

  Karas snapped her head at Tihol, iridescent eyes shining like falling stars. "Silence, mortal!" In that exact moment, a giant golden gauntlet fell from the heavens, striking one of the three heads of the boar before it could strike Tihol with its tusk. Then, another gilded fist apparated not far from its flank, striking it so hard on the neck that Tihol thought she heard bones break. The viscious impact was followed by a resounding thunderclap that sent the thing reeling towards the asog's cavernous den.

  "You show off!" Tihol smiled after seeing Salak, the were-beast, go down hard. She turned to the golden gauntlet that fell from the heavens and saw it shatter in to a thousand pieces. "I was going to make that beast pay. But I guess it's not even that tough."

  "Don't speak too soon, mortal," her babaylan sister replied, pointing at the beast that emerged in the midst of the thick dust. "I only hit one of its ugly face," Karas said, this time with her normal voice. She then wiped the cold sweat on her forehead, trying her best to steady her trembling hands.

  Salak, on the other hand, began mowing the rubble that fell around it, clearing a path to free its hulking bulk. Then, it roared in an almost human pitch, making those who heard it pause.

  Tihol made a face. "Hey, look at what you did, little sis! It's not just gonna maul us now! I think its gonna trample us to death this time too."

  As though it comprehended their words the two remaining head of Salak turned to the babaylan, snout fuming in anger. Then, it lunged towards her, sharp tusks descending like silver sabers. But Tihol was already waiting for it. She nocked two arrows on her bow and shot the thing on the neck and the eye, slightly deflecting the monster's short flight. The fiendish form of Salak halted a few feet short from the babaylan, groaning in pain and shaking its heads. All it could do was slaver like a mad dog.

  "I think it's impossible but I made it angrier!" Tihol said, tone almost amused. She unclasped one of her spear. "Do your thing again, little sis. Show this fool who you are."

  Upon hearing it, the monstrous thing growled at the babaylan. Its blue glowing eyes flaring like a smith's kiln. Then, the fiend began clawing and swiping at the ground, raining debris down Tihol's sister. Karas immediately dropped down as a piece of rock struck her temple.

  "Arghhh, blasted thing!" she said, turning away from the beast.

  The magical creature huffed a puff of vapor from its identical maw, both head stalking the babaylan as she scampered away to create distance between them. Salak then let out another high-pitch cry before leaping and driving its tusks hard towards Karas' direction.

  The babaylan barely avoided its attack- grazed only by the beast bulk but the mere force of Salak sent her rolling towards the muck.

  "Hey brute!" Tihol called Salak, as Karas tried to collect herself. "Leave her be! If you want a fight... come here. Fight me!"

  Salak turned his malformed heads at Tihol, giving enough time for the babaylan to regain her composure. When it turned back to Karas, she already had her hands clasped, eyes glowing with the gods' magic. She smiled a most radiant smile. "Devata Ribung Lintik sang Kalangitan, I seek you! Strike this enemy with your levin bolts!" she said as fast as she could to the dark sky, staunching her bleeding temple as she bolted away from the beast.

  The star-studded heavens answered the babaylan's prayer as the sky roared and rumbled, unleashing white-hot lightning spears towards the monster's back, cutting its mad rush towards its mortal prey short. The thing staggered and crashed a few feet away from Karas as another lighting-strike spider-webbed down one of its remaining head to finish it off...

  But Salak, the three-headed boar was not yet ready to surrender as it once again shrieked its human-like challenge to the baylan and her bagani sister.

  "Will you shut it," Karas said as she tried to walk while her hands trembled. "You're not winnin' against any of us. No chance. Not today!"

  Karas took a step and winced. The toll of summoning the gods' power had already weakened her. Her god-link was now finally severed. Strained to her limits and hurt, she could no longer think straight. She paused to speak her defiance against the foul beast one more time, but stumbled and fell on her knees.

  Seeing its opportunity, the monster rushed towards the defenseless babaylan, digging its nails on the solid earth. It only took a glancing nudge from Salak to send Karas flying a few yards. Tihol could only scream as her sister's thin frame landed with a thud on the mound of dried leaves. A resounding laughter came out of the monster's remaining head as it raised its giant clawed forearms to crush the babaylan. But before he could do it, a spear whistled with the wind from Tihol's hands. It spiraled towards the beast, burying itself just between the monster's eyes and extinguishing its life in an instant.

  "I told you you'd fucking pay!" Tihol said to Salak as it slumped down. She gave out a heavy sigh of relief. She wasn't sure her spear would make but luck was still on their side this time. Tihol then quickly turned to her sister and approached her prone body, heart pounding so hard she could barely breathe. "Karas, are you okay!?" She embraced her as tight as she could. "Tell me! Speak, you oaf! Are you okay?"

  ***

  Upon seeing that he was at a disadvantage, Asog Kalibutdan dragged himself up and followed Tikum, knowing a fight against either Tihol or Karas would spell disaster for him, especially now with him injured. He kept on his way and finally saw the Black Dog crossing the hanging bridge that spanned the length of a deep, treacherous chasm.

  "Stop! Please stop!" Asog Kalibutdan called. "I'm begging you. I could still win. I could still be victorious!" Tikum turned towards him as he halted at the other end of the bridge.

  "Yes, Tikum. I can. Just give me the talisman and I will destroy them."

  Tikum shook his head, giving the desperate asog an appraising look. "No, you can't defeat them."

  "Yes, I can!"

  "No," Tikum said, shaking his head, "you can't because they're good folks. Well, I think they are... Or maybe their not. But who fucking cares? You on the other hand... you... I'm quite sure what you are! You're just an envious man, Kalibutdan."

  "I'll give you your heart's desire! Gold and glory... anything... Please!" the asog pleaded, face paint ruined by his own tears.

  "I already have what my heart desires," Tikum said, eyes on his daughter's face. Ukok smiled and gave him a hug.

  "You're going to double cross me right at the time of my need?" Asog Kalibutdan snarled in disbelief as Tikum continued on.

  "Not exactly." The Black Dog paused. "I'm actually double-double crossing you before you double-double-double cross me, fart head."

  "After everything? After I saved your daughter?"

  "Save who again? I think there's a mix up here, because I saved her! And I would've done it if you didn't kept me. If you just told me what to do," Tikum said, unclasping Hutik. "Don't take this personal, my friend. This is all business for me. And this... this is your price." He gave Kalibutdan a grim smile as he raised his axe and dropped it down the taut rope that held the bridge between them together. "It's simply your time to pay for it."

  Asog Kalibutdan took a step but halted as the bridge fell back on his side of the chasm. "Tikum Kadlum! You double-crossing scoundrel!"

  Tikum laughed. "I know." He nodded as he ran towards the dark jungle of Buglas with Ukok safe on his arms.

  One thing you could say about Tikum the Black Dog Kadlum, is that he'll always be a scoundrel. And he'll probably agree with you on it too.

  ***

  The asog was about to shriek another protest but a well-placed kick from Tihol sent him crashing towards the thick pole of the hanging bridge. The hard wood shook as his head made contact. Then, Tihol spat on the dirt as she supported her limping sister on her shoulder.

  "Why did you let that oaf run?" She stomped the asog's wasting hand.

  "Please stop!" the asog said. "The agony! Please!" He cowered away as the Raguetanon bagani relented.

  Tihol turned to Karas. "What do you think sister?"

  "I re-injured my rib and I think my leg's about to swell so bad it'll be needin' a mananambal," Karas said, gritting her teeth at the pain that lanced through her sprained leg. "All because of you! You one-off has-been. All for your petty ambitions. You could've helped other people with your talents instead."

  The old man grumbled something undesirable. So, she spat at the asog kneeling before them. "You're nothing but a waste."

  "Apologies... great Karas," he said. "I have seen the errors of my ways. Please, forgive me. Please!"

  Karas hissed. "Is that all I get? I should hang you upside down for a week after makin' so much mess."

  "Mercy, oh honorable babaylan!" Asog Kalibutdan said, slowly taking a dagger out and hiding it on the folds of his gaudy malong.

  "What do you think, Tihol?" Karas said to her sister.

  Tihol only nodded, looking down at Kalibutdan.

  "Have mercy on an old bone like me!" the shaman pleaded, inching his way towards the two. He was about to bury his blade on Karas when an emerald streak of light struck him down with a force so violent that sisters of Raguet almost jumped back.

  "What the hell?" the old shaman whispered as he turned towards its source a distance away, face full of confusion.

  "Aw," he finished as his wind-weathered feature slowly contorted into a rictus grin. Unfazed by his up-coming meeting with Sidapa the devata of death, Kalibutdan stood up and looked down on the smoking fist-sized whole in his chest.

  "That really fucking hurts," the asog finished as he took a step. But instead, the poor shaman fell flat on the ground dead.

  Tihol and Karas spun around to see where the hex came and saw a silhouette of a black, giant bird settle on the highest branch of an Ipil-ipil tree.

  "Am I just too drunk?" Karas said. "Or are things gettin' weirder here?"

  "Shush," Tihol answered, eyeing the oversized creature atop the slender tree. "Just be on your guard."

  Karas raised a brow at her sister and turned towards her mysterious savior atop the flimsy tree.

  The creature's huge webbed wings flapped one last time, sending a gust of wind towards the champions of Raguet. And then it croaked as it roosted on one of the tree's limb, collapsing and folding its avian appendage within itself like a bat. The sisters blinked in unison as the outline of the peculiar creature blurred into that of a woman with pearl white face, enrobed by a long flowing cloak blacker than the night.

  "I'm looking for someone," the woman said.

  Her dry, frail voice crossed the distance between them in a breath. Tihol quickly took a step to shield Karas against the stranger. The bagani's instincts told her that trouble was afoot. She knew that her sister was too weak to fight and protect herself. It was clear on Kara's face even if she denied it. And honestly, Tihol too was not exactly at her best condition to fight the stranger with the unusual aura.

  "Look somewhere else," Tihol finally said.

  "How welcoming..."

  "We don't want anything to do with your kind, manghihiwit."

  The sorceress sighed before leaping in the air and landing gracefully on the ground.

  "I'm just looking for my daughter." Amburukay shook her head as she approached the two champions of Raguet. "And you really don't have any other choice but to help me."