"In the silent echoes of a world torn asunder, the whispers of destiny chart a new course—where myths breathe life and reality dances on the edge of the unknown."
Quezon City Testing Chamber, God's Locker, 2003
In a cold, dimly lit chamber, young Gregorio knelt, drenched in sweat, his muscles trembling from relentless training. The seemingly indestructible room bore witness to his trials, its walls echoing with the sounds of combat. Scattered around him lay unconscious men in tactical suits, victims of his formidable skill. Yet, Gregorio was far from finished. With sheer determination, he pushed himself upright, assuming the Kisap Mata stance. Kamay ni Bathala flared brightly, casting an eerie glow throughout the chamber.
Beyond the transparent observation glass, unidentified individuals in corporate suits observed with calculated interest. One of them, with eyes glinting with a mixture of curiosity and ambition, nodded to a subordinate, signaling to proceed with the test.
Four additional soldiers in tactical gear entered, brandishing batons, prepared to push the young warrior to his limits. Gregorio flickered, a blur of motion, delivering a lightning-fast uppercut to the first assailant, then spun gracefully, executing a palm strike that shattered the headgear of another.
However, amidst the chaos, one assailant managed to land a blow to Gregorio's back, sending him to his knees, gasping, blood staining the floor. The remaining soldiers paused, observing from a safe distance, their confidence renewed.
Then, eight more soldiers flooded the room, their presence delivering a message of despair to the young boy. Gregorio's vision began to blur, the edges of his consciousness darkening.
In the suffocating darkness, a voice whispered, resonant and ancient:
"Child, your will is my will, and mine is yours. Fuel yourself with rage, pain, despair, hate, desire, love, faith, hope, or whatever illusions humans cling to for survival. The choice has always been yours."
With renewed resolve, Gregorio rose. His eyes burned with a fierce purple light, and Kamay ni Bathala radiated an aura of impending doom. The soldiers, hidden behind their helmets, felt a chill of terror.
Gregorio chose wrath. His scream, an expression of unfathomable anger, filled the room as he began to levitate. The walls, once thought indestructible, crumpled like paper, and a miasma from the bracers enveloped him, surging with Baybayin glyphs. In that moment, he felt mastery over the art of erasing existence.
He focused on the soldiers, flickering once more with incredible speed. He reappeared behind them, and in an instant, they disintegrated into countless particles, leaving nothing behind.
Turning his gaze to the observation glass, he declared, "You are all next," his voice resonating with an ancient echo.
Behind the glass, one of the men in suits issued a command:
"Juan… Ricardo."
Juan Luciano and Ricardo Magno stepped forward in response:
"Yes, sir." They entered the room, prepared for the challenges that lay ahead.
Later, Gregorio lay on the floor, exhausted. Both Juan and Ricardo were on their knees, bruised and spent.
One of the corporate observers nodded with satisfaction.
"It is a success. Initiate the program. Joaquin... "
From the shadowy corner of the room, a special operations unit of commanding presence revealed himself.
"We're entrusting this boy's training to you, Commander. From a man of your caliber, we expect nothing less than legendary results. Let us now proceed to test the rest," the mysterious corporate observer stated.
Bulakan, The Capital City – Present Day
In the heart of Bulakan, chaos reigned as echoes—spectral remnants of once-living souls twisted by the Spirit Breach—rampaged through the streets. These phantoms, warped by grief and rage, left trails of lifeless victims in their wake, their ethereal forms flickering like shadows in the fading light.
Local law enforcement, ill-equipped and unprepared for supernatural adversaries of this magnitude, found themselves overwhelmed. The precinct chief stood amidst the devastation, powerless as his officers fell one by one to these relentless entities. As the echoes turned their attention toward him, he braced for the inevitable. Just then, an armored personnel carrier (APC) barreled in, crushing the echoes poised to feast on him.
Arrival of MID-Zeta
Amidst the turmoil, a fleet of armored personnel carriers (APCs) thundered into the city, emblazoned with the emblem of the Military Intelligence Division Zeta. Their arrival was marked by precision and authority, the heavy doors of the APCs bursting open to reveal soldiers clad in technologically advanced tactical gear.
These soldiers, trained in arcane warfare, sprang into action with disciplined urgency. Their rifles, engraved with Baybayin runes and loaded with mystic rounds, blazed as they opened fire on the echoes. Shadows burned and dissipated under the relentless assault, the very air crackling with energy as grenades exploded into shards of void steel.
The Demi-Human Echo
Suddenly, their mystical detectors blared with alarm, heralding the arrival of a far more formidable presence. From the breach emerged a demi-human echo—a grotesque figure resembling a monstrous centaur. It was a Tikbalang, a warrior-type humanoid echo, possessing the head of a horse and wielding an axe as long as a ten-wheeler truck, grasped firmly in its immense hands.
With a guttural roar, the beast swung its weapon in a devastating arc, sending debris and parked cars flying toward the soldiers.
Forced to take cover, the MID-Zeta personnel struggled to catch a glimpse of their adversary. The echo hefted an APC with one hand, hurling it at its attackers with terrifying strength.
The Battle Unfolds
In the midst of chaos, the captain of the MID-Zeta unit, a commanding presence even amidst the bedlam, issued a series of hand signals, orchestrating his team's response. With practiced precision, they commenced a coordinated suppression maneuver, pinning the giant echo with concentrated fire.
Another squad flanked the creature, deftly maneuvering through the urban battlefield. As they closed in, they unleashed a torrent of mystic rounds, the air thick with the acrid smell of gunpowder and the hum of arcane energy. The behemoth staggered under the onslaught, its massive form swaying as the elite soldiers encircled it.
Their strategy bore fruit as the echo began to falter, collapsing to the ground under the relentless barrage. Yet, it crawled toward its fallen axe, desperate to reclaim its weapon. The captain reached the colossal entity first, steadying his .44 Magnum, its barrel glistening with arcane runes. Three shots echoed through the air, each serving as a decisive judgment, ultimately bringing the beast to its demise.
A Watchful Eye
From a nearby rooftop, Marian observed the battle unfold, her keen eyes taking in every detail. The presence of MID-Zeta was both a relief and a concern, a reminder of the intricate web of alliances and enmities that defined their world. For now, the echoes had been quelled, but the whispers from beyond the fracture promised that this was merely the beginning of a much larger struggle.
Building Rooftop, Capital City, Bulakan
The air shimmered as Marian emerged from her mist form, her presence barely disturbing the stillness of the night. Nearby, Gregorio materialized from the shadows, his eyes scanning the surroundings with practiced vigilance. A small dimensional rift flickered open, allowing Agosto to step through with fluid grace, while Renato deactivated his mirror camouflage, revealing his steadfast figure.
"We're clear," Marian reported to the group, her voice steady yet tinged with urgency. "The breach was contained swiftly, thanks to MID-Zeta."
Gregorio nodded, visibly relieved as he absorbed the information. "While it is reassuring that the threat has been neutralized, we must remain cautious about revealing our presence, especially given their renewed interest in Kamay ni Bathala. Furthermore, our powers are still on cooldown mode."
With a decisive gesture, Gregorio signaled for the retreat. The team moved with silent precision, returning to their safe haven.
Safehouse Respite
Upon arriving at the safehouse, the atmosphere was charged with subdued anticipation. Gregorio addressed the team, his tone calm yet firm. "Everyone, take the rest you need. We'll be departing for the Island City of Namayan at dawn." The team acknowledged the necessity of rest before their next mission.
"Marian, activate the surveillance glyph," Gregorio instructed, ensuring their safety throughout the night. Marian nodded, weaving the arcane symbols into the air, enveloping the safehouse in a protective veil.
Dreams of the Past
As the team succumbed to slumber, each member spiraled into their own dream state, revisiting fragments of their past.
Gregorio found himself back in the cold confines of God's Locker and the Orphanage, reliving the intense training sessions that had shaped him.
Marian's dreams transported her to her training sessions with Magda, under the watchful guidance of the Goddess Makiling. In these visions, she witnessed Magda's descent into darkness, driven by jealousy and resentment over Marian's selection as the heir to the Sundang. The dream vividly replayed the moment of betrayal when Magda imprisoned the Goddess within a cursed dimension.
Agosto was ensnared in a loop, reliving the harrowing night when his family perished in a forest fire, the flames consuming everything he held dear.
Renato found himself trapped in memories of his stepfather's cruelty, a man who, despite being a policeman, showed no mercy.
Breaking the Bangungot
Marian was the first to recognize that they were ensnared in a "Bangungot"—a perilous nightmare curse. Acting swiftly, she invoked a Revelation Spell, liberating herself from the dream and pinpointing the location of the caster. Prioritizing her team's safety, she attempted to conjure doppelgangers; however, she was still on cooldown mode. Consequently, she hurried to awaken her comrades, reviving them one by one.
Gregorio was the first to awaken. He immediately sprinted to Renato's room, while Marian hurried to Agosto, awakening him with her spell. She noticed a dimensional tear near the corner of Agosto's room but focused on regrouping with the team. In Renato's room, Gregorio placed his hand on his friend, igniting Kamay ni Bathala with power. The nightmare sigils revealed themselves, and with a clenched fist, Gregorio crushed them, erasing their existence.
Marian and Agosto regrouped downstairs, with Gregorio and Renato following swiftly. Marian announced, "The caster is outside."
Confrontation at Dawn
The team stepped outside, their eyes falling upon Maximo, who stood in the mist with Kalawit perched on his shoulder. Silence stretched between them, a heavy tension filled with unspoken words and shared history. Sadness clouded the Sandata unit's faces, but Maximo's resolve remained unshaken.
With a haunting melody, Maximo played his flute and vanished into the mist, leaving the team staring into the swirling fog—a silent testament to the unresolved conflict.
Departure
At dawn, the team completed their preparations with quiet efficiency. They loaded into the van parked in the old shed, Gregorio taking the driver's seat, Marian beside him, and Agosto and Renato in the back.
"Everyone ready?" Gregorio asked, his voice steady.
"We're good, Captain," they replied in unison.
With that confirmation, Gregorio started the engine, the van rumbling to life as they set off for the port town of Atlag, the road ahead steeped in uncertainty yet fueled by their unwavering determination.