8.3 CATTY CATERWAUL

  An ear-shattering roar reverberated inside Mount Loan, making the forest trees tremble and sway. It was succeeded by a dreadful silence and a pregnant pause where nothing stirred or moved. For a few seconds, things seemed as though it had subsided, buried deep in the cold quiet. But it was just the calm before the storm as the ground soon split apart and the volcanic mouth of the Exalted One's arcane domain unleashed a shower of molten rocks. Then, fire and ash rained around its caldera– their hungry tongues of flames devouring grass, shrub, and great trees alike without discrimination.

  The destruction did not stop there as it spewed out streams of liquid fire on its green slope, slowly carpeting the diverse flora with lava. Another tremor came, this time stronger than the first, coming straight from the core of the volcano. The sky was already blackened and soot had started to fall back to the ground when a ground-shattering eruption followed, revealing an immense silhouette of a behemoth curtained by volcanic plumes and fumes from the heart of Mount Laon.

  It blasted up, piercing the thick black smoke. As it escaped its stone cage, the behemoth swung its titanic clawed limbs, clearing the thick column of sulfuric fog that had formed after the first blast. Then, it coiled its gargantuan spiked-tail around the crest of the mountain and spread its scaled wings– stretching it after eons of disuse. Finally, seven great reptilian heads opened their maws to display rows upon rows of long sharp teeth, rattling like a thousand black swords. They punctuated their newly-found freedom with a painfully loud shriek aimed at the heavens. The deafening roar crumbled men to their knees in fear, driving all manner of creatures into a panic frenzy. The echoes itself carried leagues upon leagues, parting the clouds around Mount Laon and scaring away the remaining birds who strayed near its burning peak.

  Tihol whistled, covering her ears with both hands. "What the hell is that?"

  "Ah... shit more surprises," Si-an Usong said, shaking her head. "Well, that looks and sounds like a fucking problem."

  "What in abomination's crack is that?" Tihol raised a hand to shade her eyes from the glare of the blazing forest as the seven-headed behemoth slithered down, leaving a blanket of fire in its wake.

  "If that's not a dragon, I don't know what is," Si-an Usong answered.

  The bagani swallowed the clump on her throat. "Whatever it is, it just made me shit myself." She paused, shaking her head. "I really can't believe what I'm seeing. Is that real or did I just had too much arak again?"

  Si-an Usong smiled. "Oh, it's fucking real all right. Fucking hungry by the looks of it too."

  "I believe Lady Usong is right," Karas answered. "It's a damn fuckin' dragon, sister. And a damn fuckin' problem for us all if we don't do anything."

  Tihol eyed her. "What do we do, sis?"

  "Fighting or running... doesn't make any difference anymore, sister. Not with that..."

  "Yes... yes... but before you decide, can you just admire it first," Si-an Usong said. " I mean look at it, you can't deny that it's a thing of beauty too," Si-an Usong added, wrapping her arms around the sisters of Raguet, drawing them nearer to her. "I got a suggestion... Let's get closer and kill it after we're done with Tikum's mess. Maybe, make matching robes and bags from its hide... later." She turned to the Bone Gates. "But first things first..."

  One sister smiled and the other scowled. While Jurah exhaled deeply as she followed the three women, making their way through countless gadlumanons. This was not exactly how she'd imagine helping out Tikum Kadlum.

  A score of timawas were fighting against some shadow-fiend near the Bone Gates led by the manghihiwit, Amburukay. She had shape-shifted into a bird-like creature with black plumage, but somehow still retaining her prominent features. She was darting in and out in the air, using her vast wings to maneuver her lean shape, while targeting gadlumnons with hexes that looked like black lightning. But the more she fried and singed the fiendish creatures, the more aggressive they came back. One gadlumnon even used a timawa as a jump off point to reach Amburukay, grabbing at her wings. With the sudden impact, the beast and witch spiraled down at the midst of the battlefield, raising a cloud of dust after their hard landing.

  Jurah with the help of the others, continued to carve their way through their foes. The babaylan's arcane prowess from the devatas and Si-an Usong's unconditional use of magic worked effectively well together as they sent the shadow-fiends back to the hole where they came from. As the monsters struggled to return back to the Living realm, the group went straight to the manghihiwit. She was fighting off against one of the larger gadlumanons, flinging a hex at it and pushing it back to the Bone Gates. She dropped down but the manghihiwit struggled to land, folding the wings on her back awkwardly. Fatigue was clear on her avian features as she took a knee to catch her breath.

  Jurah went to Amburukay's side to help her. "Are you okay?"

  "Bit dizzy... and I look like the ugliest bird in the whole island, but I can manage." Amburukay exhaled sharply. Her face had completely changed but her voice still had its imperious tone.

  The manghihiwit stood still, watching the Ulayans fight off the remaining witch-dogs as best they can, but before she could aide them a familiar face in the chaos appeared. Karas walked straight to the witch and smiled but it was devoid of warmth. She then punched Amburukay so hard that the fierce buruhisan fell back to the ground flat.

  The babaylan spat a curse, thinking she had broken her own fist. "Don't die yet," Karas said to the reeling Amburukay as the babaylan rubbed her own swelling hand. "Im not finish with you yet."

  The manghihiwit rubbed her chin. "You get a pass for now, babaylan." She hissed. "I may have deserved more than that. But do not think I would just lay still and let you be without any comeuppance the next time around."

  "I expect nothin' less," Karas said. "And we will find out soon enough. For now, we fight together." She turned to Jurah as the manghihiwit struggled to stand back. "Where is the thief, ati?"

  Before Jurah could answer, Karas' sister barged in between them. "What does he look like again... this Tikum you spoke of, Mistress Jurah? He stole something from us but I seem to have forgotten his face," Tihol said, eyeing her knowingly.

  "Enough jokin' around, Tihol."

  "Yeah... yeah..."

  With her arcane gift, Karas called forth the god of rainbows, Varangao. And with the devata's power, she opened her mouth, releasing a stream of light with different colors. It focused into a solid stream of light and pierced the nearest shadow-fiends. The beam cut them down instantly like a kampilan blade. The fiend's flesh-less forms disintegrated and collapsed soon after. But her success was not shared all through out the battlefield. The others were struggling against the gadlumanons. The timawas around them bravely survived the claws and fangs of their fiendish foes, but their diminishing numbers were not helping their cause. Tihol with her own longbow ready, let loose a few arrows at the gadlumanons who strayed near the warriors. Only the toughest of them would live.

  "You'll never miss him," Si-an Usong answered, crouching with Silver Fin raised up high.

  "Who?"

  "Tikum."

  "For the devatas' sake. Point me on the exact direction and I'll never miss."

  "He looks like a mangy dog, unclean and twice feral. And I think he bravely entered the lair of the shadow-king." Si-an Usong pointed at the yawning blackness of the Bone Gates before dispatching three fiendish creature that hounded at her.

  Karas shook her head as her eyes glowed sunset orange. "He went inside the Bone Gates? Stupid. Very stupid."

  "I never said he was smart," Si-an Usong replied. "But let's not keep him waiting. See that–" She pointed her blade at the columns of the portal as lightning webs crawled from its pristine edge and to the churned ground, searing it black as soot. "It's tearing this realm apart bit by bit. We have to close it, now."

  ***

  A silence louder than any scream he had ever heard welcomed the Black Dog. And as he passed the threshold, he felt a most strange sensation. It was like being suspended between a vast chasm, isolated and vulnerable. He felt very small. The moment he took another step on the other side of the Bone Gates he shivered, teeth chattering by the empty coldness of Gadlum. He felt nauseous too, cold sweat covering his body. But his goal was in sight.

  Weaving his arcane tricks, Sri Kihod gestured his hands above his head, forming symbols only known to adept sorcerers. Runic patterns appeared on the black sandy ground of the realm of shadows, merging into one vast circle of light half a league across. A sanctuary spell that fed on his life energy. The linked-pattern began to spin and the gadlumanons caught within it froze on their tracks and shattered into a thousand pieces. While those outside the circle burned on contact with the barrier.

  A multitude of dark things hesitated, screeching against the cruel light, retreating back to the broken monuments and rugged ruins just in front of the portal gate. But their twinkling yellow eyes stayed and stared, waiting in the deep shadows.

  Sri Kihod knew the necessity of maintaining such a defense against the denizens of the dark. It was one of the reason why he altered the sanctuary spell and made it more resilient against gadlumanons. He knew that chaos ruled their hearts. There was no doubt that given an opportunity, they would have his head in a second. No true loyalty, only the vicious need to commit brutal violence on any leaving thing. The creatures here were not like the weaker witch-dogs. Throwing a bone won't distract their primal core. Nor were they like Makabagting. He could not reason with these creatures. He could not trick them. Not on their own realm, where they were more powerful and in control of their form.

  As the circle of light pulsed underfoot, Tikum only felt the buzzing sensation of being close to magic. And as he neared Sri Kihod, it grew stronger. He whispered a venom-laden curse as he paused his approach, seeing red lightning arched from his former master's fingers, reaching the pillars of the Bone Gates. The spell took a piece off the alabaster support, sending debris down below.

  "Ah, I expected Ambu to cross the threshold." Sri Kihod smiled at him. "I knew my distraction outside would split your unexpected pairing apart. But you... All alone? This is a surprise. You are more of a man than I thought. Or perhaps a more foolish man."

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  Sri Kihod smiled again, this time with all his fangs. He was torn between achieving his life's goal and punishing those who betrayed him. But Tikum's recent action was definitely a welcomed one. Sri Kihod would have his vengeance and finish the last ritual to call the leviathan outside and destroy the portal gates permanently. He sneered. "I always thought you had an issue when it came to bravery, Black Dog."

  "Came here to undo everything– stop whatever you're doing. Still couldn't care less about what you think of me."

  "You think you could win?" The sorcerer-king looked down on him. "Are you that stupid? Or has that head of yours been bouncing on the ground for far too often since your betrayal?"

  "Yes, on all account my master."

  Sri Kihod laughed. "Ah, how long have I been in that prison? Too long perhaps? But talking to you again has been so refreshing, Tikum–"

  "Yeah, is that the whole reason why your doing this, because no one's talking to you anymore?"

  Sri Kihod's good humor disappeared as he halted his ritual. He cracked his fingers and wrists. "You know better than to interrupt me, Black Dog. You've seen what I do to those who ruin any form of civility before. All disrespect must be punished. Have I not taught you that? It is the worst discourtesy."

  Tikum walked closer. "I'm all that and probably more." He gestured to himself. "Discourtesy made material." He readied his dagger, gripping at it as tight as he could with one hand. While the other took something out from the back of his lubid belt. It was a pouch smaller than his fist, in fact it was one of two, all its contents held in place by thin twines joined together by a quick-release knot.

  Sri Kihod laughed again, loosening his shoulders. "When I look at you... I always see a puzzle. Ambu must have seen you in that light too. There's this spark of creativity in your eyes. Or perhaps a mischievous twinkle. Couple that with a touch of spontaneity in your swagger and, you may deny it, but there is also a pinch of crazy in between those two as well. Such a riddle, you are."

  Tikum smiled. "Oh, you expecting a compliment right back?"

  "No. All I am saying is... I will somewhat regret what I am about to do to you. You have always presented a unique situation. A unique problem with a not-so-unique solution."

  "Sure," Tikum said, waiting for his time to strike. "But all I see is a desperate old fool. A man whose trying to chase his old glory days."

  "Perhaps..." the sorcerer-king growled.

  When Sri Kihod slung a spell in the form of a obsidian spear coursing with chaos energy, the Black Dog already saw it coming. He new there was no other opportunity than what he had now. So, he ducked to the side, loosening his grip on the blade and taking his stance. He then threw the blade with all his strength. But Sri Kihod was already leaping towards him when the dagger left his hand. And the sorcerer-king was poised to strike another hex on the poor mortal before him. With his talons, he aimed directly at Tikum and unleashed a surge of energy. The sorcerer-king's hand flashed before the beam of black energy spiraled down on his foe. And all the Black Dog could do was smile as he tore the knot of the pouch full of grounded tapol na tawas. The powder scattered into a purple cloud all over him. Just fine enough to stick on his sweat-covered skin.

  It was Amburukay's idea to use the tapol, knowing all too well what its properties might do to a witch or a sorcerer. All Tikum did was apply his twist on it. A slight innovation on the idea. With the powder's protective properties against hexes still potent, the spear of energy rebounded from Tikum and back to Sri Kihod. The sorcerer with all his agility, could not escape it as it struck him, sending his bulk bouncing on the ground and on to the black spires that littered all over them.

  Tikum quickly stood up, snatching his dagger as he went in for Sri Kihod. He had to keep him busy. He had to make the fight all about him. It was that or Ukok would be doomed.

  "You're faster than me," Tikum said, hiding on one of the broken monoliths scattered around them. He needed to put a gap between them. "I'd wager that you're closer to a demi-god right about now in strength alone. And that's too strong. Good on you, Sri Kihod but I figured something out..."

  "Really, Tikum?" Sri Kihod's voice echoed.

  Tikum spoke and let his voice's echo misdirect his opponent. "You're just like Ambu... I know you've just gained those powers and you're struggling. All that arcane strength. All that potential. All yours. But there's some getting used to it. And I know what you need."

  "Oh, and that is?" Sri Kihod stood shaken but uninjured. "Please indulge yourself."

  "Time, Sri Kihod." He rolled out from his cover, presenting an open target for his foe. "Time's what you don't have."

  "So, sure about it–"

  Sri Kihod surprised him by closing the distance in a blink of an eye, but Tikum had the other more concentrated pouch ready. As the sorcerer-king clawed at him, he dodged awkwardly, flinging the powdered tapol. It traveled from his hand and straight on Sri Kihod's demoniac visage. But Tikum misjudged his aim, only hitting his target on the shoulder. Sri Kihod swiped at the cloud, dispelling most of it away from him.

  "Oh, but I can manage!"

  The sorcerer-king smiled just as black tendrils came out from his hand, streaking towards Tikum. But the Black Dog's protective shield deflected it. The tendrils stiffened as soon as it made contact, crumbling to black dust all over Tikum. The Black Dog sneered at the confused look on Sri Kihod's face.

  "Ambu told me about the inherent weakness of your arcane tricks, your so-called chaos magic." He circled him, knowing all too well that his former master would take a new tact. Sri Kihod would find a new way.

  Tikum paused. But he knew how to deal with his former master. The sorcerer was not unlike the macupo the Black Dog encountered before. And just like the ruined temple of the God-spirits of the ati people, there were plenty of cover around him. He could make use of the broken blocks and the twisted spires to whittle the sorcerer's power and nullify his advantages.

  "And you know too well that I'm no slouch when it comes to finding stuff in a pinch," Tikum said. "But damn, I wouldn't have the slightest idea where to start with it. Actually took a long while to find the ingredients, but it pays well to have friends. You get things faster for free. And now, the gap is a little bit shorter."

  "So, no more magic for me? Is that your plan?" Sri Kihod smiled as he cut Tikum's path, intercepting him. "Amburukay must have gone mad with all the chaos stain coursing through her to spill this secret to you. Perhaps, desperation finally overwhelmed her to trust you that much. So, what now?"

  Before he finished the last word, he made his move. Like a bull run amok, the sorcerer-king rushed at Tikum disregarding the ruins in front of him by simply crashing through them with brute force. "Do we finally get to know who's the better man?" he said a few feet from Tikum.

  "I never even wondered." Tikum answered before he jumped high to avoid Sri Kihod's grasp. With his own momentum, he sprung back, attacking with a kick on the head as soon as he was beyond Sri Kihod's reach. The Black Dog then rolled away from the sorcerer's bulk, making sure to put some distance between them again. He smiled. Rinse and repeat this until Ambu arrived. Simple enough.

  "And do I need to get you a mirror?" He said, hiding behind a block of stone. "You're not even a man anymore, Sri Kihod. You already sold all that away for something less... a long time ago."

  Sri Kihod halted, staring coldly at Tikum's direction.

  The former timawa peered and smiled. If it wasn't evident earlier, now it was clear as daylight even here at Gadlum. He was getting through the sorcerer-king's skin, no matter how thick he thought it was. Sri Kihod still had pride and that, Tikum thought, was always a weakness in any kind of fight. So, the Black Dog circled his foe again but this time his path became wider and wider, drawing away Sri Kihod from his daughter.

  "I know you're still a coward, Tikum." Sri Kihod smashed a spire that hindered his way as he stalked Tikum. "You're still that boy. That mangy thief who ran away from Ananipay. Do not forget that what good you have... I gave to you. You are what you are because I made it so."

  "You're calling me a coward again even if I have the advantage, now?" The Black Dog nodded, running from Sri Kihod and using the available cover to slow him down. "Yeah, maybe you're right. Before I feared you. Maybe I still do. Honestly, I followed you around for so long all those years because you've always done great things. Whether it be... by your magic. Or your wisdom. You showed me things no one ever dreamed of." He went around a towering spire and saw that it was fit to fall. "I looked up to you. I even envied you in a way. But you're just an awful power-hungry man. I did like how you indulged me. And I owe you a lot for Amburukay because she gave me Ukok. But you hurt my daughter. And there's no way back after that!"

  He went in between the spire and the nearest boulder, making the latter a pushing off point. He strained to off-set the base of the looming spire, making it groan as it crumbled and fell towards Sri Kihod's approaching bulk. But he was not done yet, using a fallen block that leaned on a crumbling monolith as a platform, Tikum speed through it– aiming for Sri Kihod. He leaped to close-in the distance with his blade on hand. While the sorcerer-king staggered to the side to avoid the spire's crashing weight.

  Tikum knew that if he timed it right, he would hit his target. He hoped to at least blind his master. Or irritate him enough to make him abandon his goal. But the sorcerer-king was no fool. Even without the use of magic he was more than capable and he wasn't exactly the type to just hammer his way through without purpose. Along the way, he slip his hand on the debris that fell in his wake and took a fist-size rock. And as Tikum approached, leaping high to flank him, Sri Kihod threw it with blinding force, clipping his enemy on the shoulder and catching him by the neck.

  Sri Kihod smiled as he dangled him on one hand. Tikum kicked and struggled. He shouted and hissed, but no amount of brute-force, will-power or determination could free him this time. Sri Kihod sneered at how helpless the proud Tikum Kadlum looked. But it was that short breath, that minute pause that gave the former timawa an opportunity to swing his dagger and strike at Sri Kihod's unprotected face. The blade was a blur of gray steel but Tikum Kadlum was not afforded the satisfaction of disfiguring his former master's already twisted visage. Instead of plunging his dagger on the manghihiwit, his whole arm went straight through the open mouth of the sorcerer-king. And with gleaming rows of sharp teeth, Sri Kihod snapped his maw closed. An audible crunch followed by a strangled cry echoed on the cavern-like realm of Gadlum.

  Tikum had felt pain but not this kind. He almost fainted and only his sheer stubborn will kept his eyes wide open. He was sure when he said he was ready to sacrifice his life for his only child. And all through out their journey, he had experienced so much discomfort and torment, but this kind of pain far exceeded his threshold. His teeth clenched before he howled in agony again, hearing the rending of flesh.

  Sri Kihod spat his mangled arm, leaving most of his forearm still intact. "Is it still worth it?" he said, as dark ichor dripped from his lips.

  The Black Dog struggled as blood sprayed from the wound and Tikum could only watch in agony as Sri Kihod stepped on the mutilated remains of his limb. He howled and howled again until his throat grew hoarse. Until his voice cracked. Until he could only whisper.

  "That was not nice," he whispered, eyes barely open. He paused, grimacing. "You know... We could've talk this out." His face was already a pale mess. "We..." He threw a punch at Sri Kihod's face with his free hand, but it bounced off, sending lancing pain all over his body. His wound throbbed like hell.

  "Stop, Tikum," Sri Kihod said. But the Black Dog would not halt, swinging at his master's face and expecting it to break. "Stop dammit!"

  "No." He growled at him but there was no strength in his voice. "Never."

  "What are you gonna do now, Tikum Kadlum?"

  "The plan never changed. I... will defeat you... I will humiliate you again. I will save Ukok."

  "Defeat me, with what?" He dropped Tikum like a sack, shaking his head as he loomed over him. "By bleeding on me? Give up, boy. It will be for the best."

  "No," Tikum said weakly.

  "I could use someone like you." He drew from the ambient aura of Gadlum and weaved it over Tikum's fresh wound. The wisp-like darkness snaked around the flesh, sipping and worming deep in the tissue to heal it. "All can be mended. I have the power my child. You know what magic I can wield. Just give up–"

  "Not a fucking chance." Tikum barked a laughter as he drew his arm away. "You know... my... my father said... those exact words to me once. Give up. l"

  The sorcerer-king shook his head.

  "You know what I told him?" Tikum continued, "I told him... men... real men would never tell anyone to give up. Those who do... those who do... it. Well, their like–" He whispered the last word to Sri Kihod, making the sorcerer-king's lower lip twitch.

  "Is there hidden wisdom in all this talk, Tikum?" he said as he brought down his foot on Tikum's severed hand. The Black Dog could only scream before Sri Kihod lifted his clawed feet from him.

  "Have you had enough already? I thought you were still wasting time. Is that what you were doing? Leading my away from my goal?"

  "Nah." Tikum took a deep breath, staunching his wound, but the blood flowed freely. Soon enough, he knew he would be done for. He'd seen his fair share of cuts and bruises and losing too much blood like this always ended the same. He took another deep breath. His whole body felt like it weighed like a block of lead, but he knew he had to fight on. He grimaced before he spoke. "I was just having a nice and pleasant conversation with a dead man."

  "Dead man?"

  Tikum's head shot up. "Very dead man!" he said, but he wasn't looking at Sri Kihod's fiendish face, rather Tikum was now smiling at what was happening behind his former master.

  Sri Kihod slowly shook his head. "I've known you for so long and still you surprise me. When did you become a glutton for punishment, boy?"

  He grabbed him by the neck and snapped his jagged teeth mere inches from his face. But Tikum only smiled even wider. For unbeknownst to the sorcerer-king, high above them, a rift in space opened up and something winged dived down in a black feathery blur straight towards his direction.