Song of the Winter Solstice (Gauntlet Series 1)

Chapter 35-Hundred Arrows

The Miss, coming into being as Lady Montay, stands there. Intimidating. Powerful. Ferocious. Sa itsura nito'y mukhang hindi na niya kailangan sina Tigrani at Brugour para iligpit kaming lahat.

Though, the two would be a great help to distract or control our crowd. Tigrani with her fatal hair and Brugour's raining rocks can distract us. Totally. It would be very hard for us to win this especially if The Miss is believed to be that powerful.

How can she be so powerful? Is she a gauntlet bearer? Or does she have a more powerful weapon that could end us all? End me?

I hear metals clanging against the wall, sheaths creaking with their blades, cloths waiving and flapping on the floor, trap plants spurting off the ground, and powerful balls blazing around. Camp Meridio is ready.

"No matter what happens, Idrish, we'll stay beside you." I hear Kenru murmurs under his breath. Kalahati na ang nakalabas ng espada nito mula sa kaluban. Naglakad ito palapit sa akin. I smell his sweat and blood. "This can be your last resort," bulong nito sabay ng pagsuksok ng isang patalim sa bakante kong tagiliran. Hindi ako nagpahalata. Hindi ko nilingon ang sandatang iyon. Hinuha ko'y isa iyong dagger.

The Miss cut every sound off as she says, "Even if you survive this arena, Idrish, there will be no safe place for you in Springgan." Sinundan nito ng isang malutong na tawa ang sinabi. "I am here to rip you apart, habang hindi pa tuluyang lumalakas ang masamang kapangyarihan sa katawan mo. Mas maiging mamatay ka na ngayon at mawala na ang mga banta sa bansa ng Springgan."

Sinundan iyon ng isang malakas na ugong mula kay Brugour habang nagsimulang lumutang sa ere ang mga hibla ng buhok ni Tigrani. The entire camp Meridio goes into full silence making us feel that something terrible is about to happen.

Nagsimulang kumabog ang dibdib ko. Mahina sa una hanggang sa palakas ng palakas hanggang sa parang sasabog na ito. That is the only noise I'm hearing right now. Everything is shut mute except for my strumming rib cage.

I start to sweat. Icy drops of water start to crawl from my temple down to my left cheek. My hands begin to tremble. My knees are almost breaking. I feel like all the fiber in my muscles are pulled apart and my body fights to pull them together. The struggle is exhausting.

Pinutol ng nakakapagpabagabag na katahimikang iyon ng isang malakas na sigaw mula kay sir Borracho kasabay ng pagtaas nito sa wine barrel na ngayo'y nababalot na ng isang malakas na enerhiya. "Damn you! This is what I live for!"

Tila isang galit na galit na mandirigma si Borracho. Inihagis nito ang hawak na bariles sa daan patungong Senta lane at sinundan pa ng dalawang bariles na inihagis din sa Shita at Appu lane. Mula sa pinagbagsakan ng mga bariles ay nabuo ang tila mga kumunoy na magsisilbing patibong para sa mga kalabang magtatangkang sumugod sa mismong base.

A circle of mud whirlpool then surrounds the quicksand. For a moment, all eyes gaze at the mud formation. I can sense movements deep down. There could be a deadly monster buried there.

Who knows?

"That's his ultimate. Borracho would not waste a single drop of energy and magic just to win this. Para sa'yo at kay prinsipe Salinas." Dinig kong sambit ni Kenru na alerto pa ring nakamasid sa posibleng pag-atake ng mga kalaban.

Borracho growls like a mighty warrior. He stomps his feet on the ground, and it created a mild earthquake making the quicksand double its size.

Tigrani's hair, afloat and doubles its volume, covers almost the three lanes creating a zero visibility. We see nothing but dark fine spikes of ebony covering our vision to what's upfront. Anything can strike through those hairs and attack us without any notice.