“OPERBA!!!”

Stepping out of the Portal, the team was immediately welcomed by an uncanny aura. They arrived at the bay of the mysterious island.

Unlike that of Matukad Island, this bay was mostly composed of ragged stones and clay deposits. The seawater was also murky, infested with clusters of algae and bundles of seagrass. The water was unusually stale, and only small ripples visited the slippery bay.

The island was eerily dark and silent, illuminated only by occasional flashes of lightning piercing through the cloudy sky. The air was thick with a pungent mix of biological and chemical odors, only softened by a hint of lushness when a breeze blew.

Every time the lightning gave off its light, glimpses of greenery appeared in the distance. Teeming with coconut and palm trees, the scene suggested a dense forest beyond.

Curious, Triggs questioned, “Where exactly are we, Lae?”

“I don’t know either,” Lae replied. “Ate Kloe just gave me the coordinates for this place.”

“Uuuuhhh… This place is so scary…” Calla uttered while shivering exaggeratedly. “Look! Even the trees look so sad!” She said as she pointed her finger at the forest.

Trying to save himself from the stench, Monty pinched his nose. “This place is hideous!” he blabbered.

“Are you sure this is the right place?” Otto asked, strolling a few steps forward to observe the place.

Reaching inside her bag, Lae brought out a specific item: the very same artifact they used to locate the Santos Household. “Yes. This is the right place,” Lae affirmed after seeing the wild pulsations of the device.

She then started giving instructions to the team. “Like we always do, we’ll continue moving discreetly. We don’t know what enemies might be ahead, so it’s best to avoid unnecessary battles and save our energy for capturing the… um…” She paused briefly to find the right word. “...capturing the boss.”

Everyone agreed.

“Okay, everyone, gather around so Zaine can cast his Words,” Lae announced. “I’ll also use a Word that will enhance your eyesight—this place is far too dark.”

Hearing Lae’s command, everyone assembled one by one near Zaine.

Lae called out, “Kuya Otto!” to get the attention of the beefy man, who had wandered off, farthest from the formation, seemingly engrossed in his own 'investigation' of the place.

“Coming! Sorry!” Otto replied.

As the man walked back to formation, Triggs slipped in a curious inquiry. “Just a quick question... Why do we only turn invisible after we come out of a Portal? Wouldn't it be more convenient to become invisible before departing, so we could arrive at our destination already hidden?”

Hearing Triggs’ question, Lae, and Zaine exchanged glances to one another.

After clearing her throat, Lae explained, “Let’s just say that Kuya Vishtar and Ate Maia are not on good terms…”

“Yes. Because of that, Kuya Vishtar won’t allow us to pass a Portal while under the effect of Ate Maia’s magic,” Calla added.

“I see… I didn’t know that,” Triggs replied. “What might be the reason?”

“We also don’t know the cause, but it must be something serious for Them to act that way,” Lae said.

“Pretty childish if you ask me,” Monty commented mockingly.

Insulted, Zaine threw a spiteful leer at Monty.

Stolen from its rightful place, this narrative is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

“What now? You’re offended on behalf of your Giya? Come on….” Monty scoffed.

“Tch!”

GRAUGAHH!!!! KRAAAAA!!!!!!!!!

“GAAAAAHHH!!!”

“What the fuck was that!?”

“KUYA OTTOOOO!!!!” Calla screamed as she saw the beefy man suddenly drop to the ground, assaulted by unknown creatures.

Due to the darkness of the night, the team couldn’t see anything but just shadowy silhouettes of the creatures. Even the lightning flashes couldn’t help them. However, the growls and howls from the creatures were recognizable.

“GAAAAHH!!! What are these things!?” Otto groaned, struggling to break free from whatever was gripping his feet as he was being dragged toward the forest.

“Fucking hell…” Monty murmured as he looked for his sling inside his bag. “Just stay put!” he shouted at Otto. After grabbing his sling, he then desperately tried to find a perfect stone for ammo.

“KYAAAAAHHH!!!”

Call shrieked as she was pinned down to the floor. “HEEEEEELP!!” she screamed as she was being pulled away from the formation.

Quickly, Triggs rushed to help her friend.

Meanwhile, “Stay put, Zaine. I’ll put my Words on you,” Lae said as she placed her hands at Zaine’s temples. “OCULORUM ACUTI!” she chanted.

Immediately, Zaine felt his eyesight improving, even adapting to the darkness of the island.

“It only lasts for 5 minutes,” Lae informed. “Just come back to me once the effect wears off.”

After an agreeing nod to Lae, Zaine set off to slay the visible creatures in his vicinity. Mercilessly killing them one by one like a murderer on a spree.

“OCULORUM ACUTI!” Lae chanted the Words to herself. Without wasting time, she ran to apply the Words to her comrades.

“Graaa!!!” Otto’s continuous grunting, punching the creatures’ heads, hoping it would be enough to make them release him. But after a few powerful attempts, the monsters were still not letting him free. “Damn it!” he growled. “OPULENTOS GLADEVIS!”

Slowly, crystals formed on Otto’s right palm, and after a few moments, it took the shape of a one-handed sword. “TAKE THIS!!!” Perilously, he grabbed the weapon tightly and forcefully shoved it into one of the creature’s heads.

The sword's blade sank deep into the creature's skull. The monster didn't even have time to cry out in pain; it simply collapsed to the ground like a lifeless vegetable as Otto yanked the weapon free.

Upon witnessing its companion's brutal demise, the other creature dragging Otto abruptly released him and fled in terror.

Otto quickly crawled over to examine the monster he had defeated. Grabbing the corpse he tried to identify what it was. As a flash of lightning briefly illuminated the corpse, recognition dawned on him.

“Wait, it’s just a……”

SWOOOM-BRACKASH!!!!!!!

A powerful impact exploded beside Otto, almost blowing up his limb; it was a rock thrown from Monty’s sling.

“Monty!? Could you please be more careful!? You almost blew my hand off!!!” Otto shouted.

“At least learn to say ‘thank you’, you ape!” Monty shouted.

“Huh!? You didn’t even hit a thing!!!”

“Well, it’s too fucking dark in here!!!”

“Here, Monty…” Lae uttered as she arrived at Monty’s location. Hurriedly, she used her Words to her ally, “OCULORUM ACUTI!”

As his eyes adjusted to the darkness, Monty finally took in the full scope of the situation. "What the fucking fuck?!" he exclaimed, realizing the true nature of the creatures they were up against and the gravity of their predicament.

After Monty, Lae went to help Otto. She then applied the same Words, “OCULORUM ACUTI!” After that, she proceeded to heal Otto’s wounds with, “ACCELERATIO VITAE!”

Having to see the surroundings in full view, the beefy man was also perplexed. “Shet!” was the only word that could come out of Otto’s mouth.

"Triggs! Help meee!!!" Calla screamed, her voice desperate as the creatures kept dragging her away.

Gritting his teeth and wearing an irritated expression, Triggs drew his sword from his back and sprinted toward the helpless woman, determined to save her. “I’m coming, Calla!”

As he approached, he blindly swung his sword.

SLAAAAASH!!!!

KREEEEEE!!!!

One of the creatures ailed in pain, finally letting go of Calla.

Triggs heard scampering footsteps, signifying that the monsters already fled.

“Thankies!” Calla expressed as she sprung to her feet.

“What the heck was that!?” Triggs muttered, squinting his eyes as he tried to make out the shape of the fleeing creature in the darkness.

“The monsters looked familiar!” Calla said.

“Heads up, guys!” Lae called out as she reached Triggs and Calla's location.

Lae first administered the eyesight-improving Words to Calla,

“OCULORUM ACUTI!”

After having her eyesight modified, Calla’s eyes widened in shock, covering her mouth as she gasped.

Lae turned to Triggs and gave him the same Words,

“OCULORUM ACUTI!”

Triggs stumbled a few steps, and forcefully squinched his eyes a few times, as the sudden change in eyesight overwhelmed him. As his eyes finally adapted, he looked around to see what really was happening.

“What theee…” Triggs awed. “Sigbins!?” he uttered, after recognizing the creatures.

Indeed, the monsters they were facing were none other than Sigbins. However, unlike those they encountered at Mt. Iriga, the Sigbins on the island appeared mutated, boasting specialized body features: their skins were darker, allowing them to blend perfectly into the night, and their eyes were noticeably larger, well-adapted to the darkness.

Looking around, Triggs realized they were completely surrounded; the situation reflected the scene in the lake in Iriga. However, this time the number of creatures was significantly larger: hundreds of packs of Sigbins clustered together, occupying the entire bay area.

The team was caught off guard, they hadn't anticipated that they would be compromised from the moment they set foot on the island. Blinded by overconfidence and desperation, they found themselves in a situation beyond their foresight. They were like wasps who were trying to invade an ant nest.

“This… This is definitely not good…” Triggs’ reaction to their dire situation.