The entire floor was covered in a thick white mist, and the secretary let out a scream of agony.
Secretary (Tiktik): "Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!"
Fully transformed, the creature writhed in pain as her skin began to burn from the mist released by the Luzbrasa. A silhouette slowly emerged, walking through the hallway. Elayna, untouched by the explosion, stared at the approaching figure.
Venus: "Luckily, some of my totems were nearby. They reacted to that monster's malicious intent."
Elayna felt a wave of relief the moment the figure came into view—it was one of her comrades, a known Panggulo of the 7th Company, Venus Hiraya.
Venus stand beside Elayna, who remained on her knees, exhausted.
Venus: "If I had been even a second late throwing that bomb, you'd be gone by now."
Elayna: "If that really happened, I'd haunt your dreams and blame you for not saving me."
Elayna grinned, jesting through the pain. While they exchanged words, their eyes remained locked on the Tiktik, still screaming as her skin sizzled and burned.
Secretary (Tiktik): [I need to escape. I must inform them… the Agimatayo is here.]
The secretary ignored the searing pain and turned to flee in the opposite direction. But just as she was about to escape—
THUD!
A foot slammed into her face, sending her stumbling back to her original position.
The one who landed the kick was none other than Andaya.
Andaya: "Looks like even some of the higher-ups are corrupted beings—makes it easier to control the masses."
His glowing crimson eyes then shifted toward Elayna, who was still kneeling and covered in wounds. He approached her from the left side of the downed Tiktik. But instead of showing concern, a grin can be seen across his face as he leaned in slightly.
Andaya: "So... how does it feel to fight something like them?"
Elayna was taken aback by the question—but she answered honestly.
Elayna: "In terms of strength, speed, durability... she wins in all categories. Heck, it took everything I had just to force her to fully transform. Honestly, I was ready to die when my plan didn't work at first."
Andaya grinned at Elayna's words.
Andaya: "Good job figuring that out. You really can't beat them if you try to match them at what they're good at."
The Tiktik, thinking Andaya had dropped his guard, narrowed her eyes.
Secretary (Tiktik): [This is my chance.]
She lunged forward, sinking her teeth into what she thought was Andaya's neck.
Secretary (Tiktik): [Got you.]
In a panic, both Elayna and Venus moved to help—but Andaya calmly raised a hand, palm open, silently telling them to stay back.
While being bitten, Andaya spoke:
Andaya: "Here's another piece of advice. The best way to defeat them is..."
To the Tiktik's shock, she hadn't bitten Andaya at all—but one of the support columns holding up the floor. He was never to her left. From the start, Andaya had positioned himself on her right.
Andaya: "...baiting them into thinking they have a chance."
With one swift motion, Andaya slashed her horizontally—slicing open her entire stomach. The Tiktik's body hit the ground with a heavy thud. Smoke began to rise from the severed flesh as it sizzled and burned.
Andaya: "Don't even try it. Any attempt at regeneration will only make your wounds burn more."
Secretary (Tiktik):"AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!"
Andaya: "And that loud wail of yours? Useless—as long as this mist surrounds us your wail cannot be heard outside. Venus, make her float."
Venus: "Ahh... yes."
Venus was taken aback by what had just happened—by how brutal and cunning Andaya truly was. Still, she began to chant, using some ancient Filipino dialect. Slowly, the remains of the Tiktik began to levitate off the ground.
Andaya stepped closer. with a serious tone.
Andaya: "Now, I have a question—and you're going to answer it properly. What happened to the infant the murdered mother was carrying?"
Both Elayna and Venus froze, eyes wide with shock at the revelation.
Secretary (Tiktik): "FUCK... YOU."
Andaya: "Wrong answer."
Andaya then cut her chest, just enough to expose her heart.
Secretary: "AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!"
Andaya: "When my Pato was still in charge of missions like this, and I was still a taya, he took me along. I was shocked when he told me that stabbing you guys in the heart would kill you."
With an annoyed expression and his crimson eyes glowing, Andaya added:
Andaya: "The only thing that crossed my mind back then was—do you even have a heart?"
Andaya sighed.
Andaya: I guess I've become a hypocrite, because every time I fight you bastards, I feel like I don't have one either."
Fear slowly started to show on the Tiktik's face. Even Venus and Elayna looked serious.
Andaya stared into the Tiktik's eyes, and she finally gave in.
Secretary: "Alright, alright, I'll talk. That infant was one of the subjects for experimentation. She's going to be delivered to one of our main bases."
Andaya: "Where?"
Secretary: "I don't know."
Andaya stared at her with a menacing gaze.
Secretary: "I swear, only the Supremo-class Aswang know about it."
Andaya: "Then what kind of experimentation will they do to that infant?"
Secretary: "I only know that—"
Suddenly, the Tiktik stopped, her body starting to convulse. The three instinctively knew what was about to happen.
Andaya: "Venus!!!"
The Secretary exploded, releasing a powerful blast that blew apart the entire floor. The ground cracked, debris flew everywhere.
Venus managed to cast a quick spell, using the surrounding mist to form a protective shield. But even with the barrier, the explosion was strong enough to throw them all outside. While in midair, Andaya reached out and grabbed the heavily injured Elayna, shielding her with his body as they crashed into a nearby wall.
Venus cast a spell to slow down her momentum mid-air.
While holding Elayna in his arms, Andaya looked down at her.
Andaya: "You, okay?"
Elayna paused for a moment before answering.
Elayna: "...Yeah."
Andaya: "How about you, Venus?"
Venus: "Still alive."
Andaya: "Can you heal Elayna, Venus?"
Venus: "I only know a spell to ease the pain and stop the bleeding. If you want her fully healed, we'll need an Albularyo."
Andaya: "Is that okay for you, Elayna?"
Elayna nodded, looking down as she tried to hide her blushing face.
Venus cast another spell. A soft glow surrounded Elayna, easing her pain and stopping the bleeding.
6:30 PM
After gathering his thoughts, Andaya spoke, clearly annoyed.
Andaya: "Shit... I forgot to ask about their nest."
Elayna: "I might know where it is."
She continued.
Elayna: "While reading through some documents, I found the medical records the secretary was holding earlier. They were mostly focused on St. Igcorron Hospital. There are at least 78 patients—all their names are listed in these papers. What's strange is that one of the documents was marked with red and black had the same list of names in this medical records. And the total cost for those 78 patients It reached eight digits… and it was suddenly paid in full."
Elayna handed over two sheets of paper the medical records of all the patient and a list with marked x sign.
Elayna: "It's more likely they're using this list to decide who gets to live… and who's going to get—."
Andaya: "Eaten."