NIGHT BUTTERFLY

Volume 2: Ydeo's Adventure and the Last Order of the Immortal Bishop - CHAPTER 14: NIGHT BUTTERFLY

"Hey! Hey! Bakunawa! Look at this butterfly! Aren't they cute?!" I hear Zairill excitement.

"Yes they are. Where did you saw it?" I asked.

"I saw it on that.” He pointed on one of the flowers.

“Even pretty, you have to release her..." I asked him.

"Of course, I will!" Zairill said with a childish laugh. I like seeing his smile, kids must always smile. It's better than seeing him angry.

It's been a month since I was taken in the plaza, I don’t remember most of it but time fly fast with him just being around. I never have seen a child like Zairill, although he acts way more mature than his age, he is a child. I am curios of what kind of man he will become.

‘I miss you Jayland. I hope you're alright. When will you return?’

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Looks like Bakunawa is gradually smiling, my hard work is paying for! I will make you happy Bakunawa!

"Tell me Zairill, who are those children?" Bakunawa asked.

"Children? Oh! Those kids? They are evil worshippers." I said.

"Evil worshippers?" She asked.

Evil worshipper. Every day, they are able to capture one or two and bring to the plaza. Bakunawa was treated like that too but why did I only act just now?

What am I doing? How did she become an exception?

"They are the followers of the Devil. It is said that they drank the blood of the Devil when anger engulfed their human soul, they turn into monsters.” I continued.

It is been a month since I took Bakunawa with me. I've been nursing her and helping her with her rehabilitation. It will take at least a year until she can walk again.

"That’s impossible. Monsters? Those kids? What are they going to do with them?" She asked in panic.

"It’s not what you think. We will cleanse them! I do not know much about the details but the Holy Shrine is helping them." I explained.

"Then why?" Bakunawa asked in worry.

"What do you mean, Bakunawa?"

"No, it is nothing however what happened to those who got cleansed?" She continued to ask.

"Unfortunately since the foundation of the shrine, none of them were able to endure the cleansing but once I become a Saint, I will make sure they will be!" I reassured.

She doesn’t seem to take it well. "I think I need a rest." She said.

Bakunawa seems troubled, what is she thinking? It’s not surprising considering what happened to her. "Okay then, I'll carry you back to the house."

"Understood."

"By the way, I'll be going to the main shrine; I might not be able to go back for few days. There are some preparations to the upcoming ritual for the ordination." I let her know while we make our way home.

"I see, I'll be okay, don’t worry. Take care of yourself." She said.

"I'll ask again the kids to take care of you."

"Have a nice trip." I can’t see but I know she is smiling.

It feels like I don't want to go, she seems concern. Wait—

Why am I acting like this?

It is as if I'm a husband worrying to his wife. This is not good! I'm a candidate, I have a pledge.

You can do this Zairill!

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In a shrine in the north-northwest island of Mala-Laya.

How dare that defect vessel! I am Reverend Krusha! That little kid does not know how the real world works. He can't even use his Holy Vessel; the Bishop just favored him because of his attribute, aside from that he is nothing! I will make him pay of the humiliation he made me face.

I have to think of a way to destroy him!

"Servants!" I shouted.

"Yes, Reverend?"

"Had you found something with the woman?!"

"We found out something, we followed the woman on the lake, we saw her take a bathed and..." He detailed.

This bastard. Everybody is useless these days!

"I did not ask you to peek on her! I told you to spy on her and watch her!" I berated.

"That's what we did Reverend and we found out something." He calmly continued.

"Really?! Then we can take her, right? Bring her here!" Finally!

"Yes, Sir!" He followed.

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Few days have passed, in the Holy Shrine, Zairill was requested to become an audience to the Bishop.

"Zairill how is your staying here?" The Bishop asked.

"Everything is fine Your Most Excellency!" I answered.

"Everything is fine you say. I want you to help your other brothers in their service." He commanded.

"I will, Your Most Excellency!"

I stayed in the Holy Shrine for more days than expected, there are a lot of things and command to take care of. Now that that I am coming home, it felt very fulfilling that someone will be waiting for you to welcome and commend you hard work.

"Bakunawa, I'm home!" I immediately shouted announcing my arrival.

A newly-wed husband, longing for his wife.

Just kidding, why am I thinking of this and beside I'm still young to get married.

Nothing greets me but an empty room. Air is suffocating for its vacant atmosphere. She’s not here.

"Bakunawa?!" I asked again.

She's not here.

Where is she?

"Bakunawa!" I shouted aggressively.

I don’t see her. I can’t feel her presence anywhere. What announced its presence instead is a letter. In the top of the table besides her bed, it stays.

'Good evening Sir Zairill, if you want to see her alive, come here in the Hanalulu."

Damn. Someone took her!

That damn Priest! Just you wait Krusha!"

You will pay for this!

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Meanwhile in the Great Desert.

"We can go home now!" The followers were rejoicing.

"How many survived the attacked?" Priest Pontiveros asked.

"I think there are only few of us."

"Gather up, and let's go back!" The Priest commanded

From the 100 men, only 24 men will be able to go back. What a dangerous expedition. But after the toil I will be able to go back home, I can see her again.

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In the Island of Hanalulu.

"So you are here!" I heard the voice of an evil spawn.

"I'm not in the mood Krusha, traveling for four days just to see your face."

"Scary and amazing! You only took 4 days?!” He said. “That’s commendable considering this is a week worth of travel. You seem very tired but you're still standing lively! Don't tell me?! Are you in-love with that bitch?”

"You better watch your words. Give her back while I'm still calm." I said.

"How scary, coming from a guy who can't properly even use his Holy Vessel." He taunted.

"I do not need to use my Holy Vessel to beat trash like you!" This damn Priest.

"Scary!"

"I'll give you 10 seconds to give her back to me." I negotiated.

“You seem to lose your respect. I'm still a priest and you are nothing!” He screamed. “However I will be merciful. I'll tell you something! Will you still be able to take her if you learn what she really is?"

"That is, 10 seconds!"

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"Priest Krusha! Look out!" one of the followers warned.

Zairill came rushing and punched Krusha in his face. The impact blasted through the walls.

"I can't believe this! He only used his pure strength to send a Priest Krusha away!"

"Bakunawa?!" Zairill kept on searching for the woman.

"So you can punch?” The bruised priest said right after standing from the impact.

The followers look out were amazed when Priest Krusha walks back as if nothing happened. The Priest continued to walk in steady steps.

"No injuries! He really is a Priest!'

"Bring her out" Krusha asked them.

"Yes, Reverend!" The Followers said.

Bakunawa was hidden under the ground diverged in pools of water. A secret passage!

"Wait?! It is full of water?! Did you drown her, Krusha?!" Zairill could not believe what he sees.

"This woman is cursed!" Krusha announced.

"Cursed?!"

"She has a Curse Blood! You’ve never seen her naked body, have you?

"You peeked on her?!"

"No! That is not it! That is not what important!” The Priest explained.

“You are missing the point here! What important is this woman is an evil worshipper! And you Sir Zairill saved her. You know what it means right?” The Priest continued trying to install fear in the younger boy.

"I'm pissed!"

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I'm glad I brought my Twin Kampilan. "Two Swords Style: Quick Slash!"

Blades came rushing to the Priest. Something impossible to be clearly seen cut though his arm.

"What?! Priest Krusha's left arm was cut?!" The followers were shocked as how Zairill cut Priest Krusha's arm.

"Impressive! However cutting my arm means nothing!"

"Stop it Zairill! I have scales on my body. What he said is true!" Bakunawa shouted, trying to stop Zairill.

"I know!" Zairill will not stop. As he knew all along, but that will not stop him from getting rid of this annoying Priest.

"This is hilarious! So you knew it all a long!" Priest Krusha shouted manically.

"In accordance on the doctrine we should cleanse the evil worshippers." Zairill said.

"Indeed we must! So why are you helping her?" The Priest asked in confusion

"You're right Krusha; we must cleanse the evil worshipper."

Zairill’s sudden agreement baffled Priest Krusha. He is confused of the sudden event. This is not what according to his plan of using that cursed woman as an excuse to get rid of Zairill.

What is going on?

Didn’t he love the woman?!

"Recite the ritual, Reverend Krusha!" Zairill egged on.

"You love this woman right? How can you do this to her? Aren't you being hard on her?" The Priest trying to incite him.

"What are you talking about?” Zairill asked.

"You see…It is not good for both of use in agreement as we want to destroy you! I have my two hundred men with me! We are here to kill you!" Announced his plan.

Zairill is confused, shocked and in enraged what he just heard." Do you know what you're saying? I'm a Saint Candidate!"

"Good thing you are still not! We can just orchestrate that you betrayed the doctrine by attacking us to save this evil worshipper!"

"Seems true!"

"So Sir Zairill, will you just die quietly?" The mad priest smiled asking for approval for the young man’s planned demise.

The 200 men aimed at him, waiting for the Priest signal to fire to finally execute the plan.

"So all of you wished to die after all.” Instead of fear and pleads, what they heard was a low voice with nothing but warning that sends shivers in their skin.

"Come Diana! Oh blessed earth! I command you! Cast your Javelin Throw!" Priest Krusha commanded his Holy Vessel to strike on Zairill. It is also the signal for the 200 men to strike!

They simultaneously attacked him; Priest is readying his speech on how he will deliver Zairill’s betrayal, however what they saw is not a dead man.

A giant human snake appeared out of nowhere. Protecting and enclosing the supposedly dead Zairill.

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"Is that you Bakunawa?!" I am ready to face this imminent death when a snake came and protected me.

"What you see is right. This is me, a Snake Woman. My lower body turns into a tail of a snake yet my upper body is still somehow human.

"You look majestic." Zairill said.

"You're the first one to say that. What will Priest Pontiveros say if he saw me likes this? Will he still like me?

"…I'm sorry, I do not know."

"I'm glad I met you, but you do not have to worry. I can take this guy and I will protect you." She smiled.

"No, don't Bakunawa! I can handle this!"

Bakunawa attacked Priest Krusha and his followers. It is a one sided fight! Bakunawa was so strong and quick like an anaconda! They are scared of her. Regretting in taking of her, I can see it in their faces.

I can only hear the scream and beg of Krusha's Followers.

"What are you doing Sir Zairill! This monster is killing us! Why aren't you helping us!?" Priest Krusha shouted.

"What should I do? I don't know how to cleanse and you are right, I am a defected Holy Vessel User.” I said.

"Help us Sir Zairill!" Those were the last word of Priest Krusha. I pity him. This is why you should not mess with someone else.

"You can now stop Bakunawa!" I stopped her.

All of the followers were dead. The 200 men died in an instant. This is a massacre, so this is a Curse Blood. They really are monsters!

"I killed them all, Are you alri....."

I was rendered quite. I see her falling from her previously strong stance. She is injured.

"What?! Bakunawa?!

He- her head…

"Zairill? Hear me."

"Hear me! I don't have much time!" All colors are rushing out of her body

"Bakunawa? Your face is turning back to human...”

"I am dying after all." With her weaken words she said.

"D-dying?" I stuttered as I continue to hug her.

"Someone is coming, He is strong! He cut my head in an instant! You must run before he came! I am dying anyway! You don't have to worry about me! Leave me! Go away!" Bakunawa is rushing her words.

"B-but?!" I stuttered.

"Zairill, never get angry okay?" She reminded me.

"What are you talking about?"

'I'm glad it is you who is with me on my death."

“How about Priest Pontiveros?"

"I'm scared once he known of this. You said earlier that I look majestic. I'm still beautiful in your eyes even when I turned into a monster. That's why I am glad, it makes me happy."

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Bakunawa slowly closed her eyes and died. Zairill is holding her head while screaming and crying like a child.

"Hey Bakunawa! Don't! Please don't! Wake up! Please wake up!"

Agonizing, Zairill screamed till he loses his voices.

“Bakunawa?! Why?! Why do you have to die?! Why?!”

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The group of soldiers, priests and followers landed in Hanalulu, shocked by the massive massacre that destroyed the entirety of the place.

"Are you alright, Sir Zairill?" A voice asked.

"So it was you Reverend Gan-del." I recognized.

"Yes, Sir Zairill! I came here to help. A letter was sent to me a few days ago saying that an evil worshipper will appear in here.”

That damn Krusha! So he made a backup plan!

"So this Monster is an evil worshipper. Once an Evil Worshipper die in their Full Body Transformation, their body will faded away. How sad, they can never return back to the land." Reverend Gan-del said.

It didn't turn into ash. Bakunawa's body was slowly fading away. As if the sky is taking her body, she won’t be able to go back to the land.

“They can't turn into ashes, we cannot give them a funeral. They just die and vanish." He added.

"We will send you to your house Sir Zairill." He continued hearing to response from me.

"Before that I have to kill you." I decided.

"I beg your pardon?"

"It seems that you brought your followers. 400 of them?! You really are a charismatic person, Priest Gan-del. A man of justice!”

"What are you talking about Sir Zairill?!"

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(Gan-del’s POV)

Zairill screamed and attacked me.

"What's happening to you?!"

'Is Sir Zairill an Evil Worshipper too?!" a follower said.

"That's impossible! He is a Saint Candidate!" I could not believe what I am seeing. "He must be possessed!"

"Look! He is changing into a monster!" Another follower said.

"We must need to stop him! Don't kill the Candidate! Just stop him from moving!" I commanded.

‘How is this possible?’

“Is this a possession or a transformation? Either way this is Dangerous! His dormant power is increasing! I can feel it!” I warned. “Be extra careful”

Another light emerged from him. The grounds tremble and shake after then silence came. The calm wave before a massive storm.

His Sacred Arm is reacting?! Turning in to a partial equip?!

This is bad, if this goes on, with this power, he might be able to release his Holy Vessel! This is going to be dangerous!

"Brothers! This is Dangerous! Change of plan! We must execute Sir Zairill! His existence is a sin! We must kill him before an abomination come to the world!”

"Kill me?" Before we could do anything, Zairill spoke!

This is bad! Why worries is coming true! A deafening scream overpowered, all shackles binding him untangled.

He is releasing his Holy Vessel! What makes him turned into this?!

Cry.

A snake woman.

Dead followers.

Priest Krusha.

"Stop this Sir Zairill! No matter what you happened, that girl is a sinner! She has a curse blood too!"

"So am I" Zairill said.

The wind is getting stronger. “You can be a saint! A hero! Still, you choose to be a monster. I hope you won’t blame me for this. You must perish!”

I commanded, "Mayana of the River! I command you to release your full power! Give me your strength!"

"A full body cast? So you are at that level." Zairill said.

"Stop talking Sir Zairill, just die! Sword of the Mayana River! Slash of the River!” Strong attack must be countered with strong attack!

"Full Body Transformation: Cursed Wing! And Partial Body Equip: Night Fall!"

The shot thundered across the beach, an echo of the waves. The exchange of attacks continued without halt. Pain shot through my head. The blood dripped warmly down my cheek, my left eye wouldn’t focus.

Without a choice, I may need to use that.

“Come forth Amihan! Goddess of the Northeast Wind! Fear me!" Zairill shouted. The mad one casted an unknown.

"What is this scent?!" The followers said.

One by one, the followers were dying.

‘Did they just die from fear?!’

"Don't be scared! Use your full powers! Attack him simultaneously!" I commanded. I must wait for the right moment to shoot him!

"None of your attack is working!" Zairill said.

"Shit! He singlehanded us?!” How can he be this strong! This is insane!

"How silly?! Don't die easily. I need to torture you more!” The mad candidate said.

"I can't breathe?!"

With him using the power of the wind and us fearing him make us breathe too fast. Without air we will die!

This is your technique! Then I just only have to fight back and use my ultimate power!

"Mayana! Release the Flood of the angry River!"

"Ultimate Attack! Combined Attack: Dusk of the Dark Butterfly!"

"This can't be..."

"Die for eternity." These words as of the last I remember.

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After the long battle more guards and followers came into the scene.

“Help us! Here! There's an evil worshipper!" People shouted for help

"Damn it! I can't fight for too long! I have to run for now!"

"What is that?!

"It is beautiful!"

A butterfly under the starry night...

CHAPTER 14 ENDED…