3 Chapter 3
"Alam mo, bata. Noong ako'y nabubuhay kaming mga mandirigma ay mula noong pagkabata ay tinuturuan na kaming mabuhay mag-isa at makipaglaban upang protektahan ang aming mga sarili." (You know, kid. When I was alive, we soldiers where since childhood are taught live by ourselves and to fight to protect ourselves.)
"Noon ang bansa natin ay di ganito kapayapa tulad ngayon. Noong sinauna kailangan pa naming maghanap ng kakainin namin minsan kami'y nangangaso kahit alam namin na may tsansang kami'y mamatay dahil dito." (Back in the days where our country wasn't this peaceful like today. In our Age, in order to eat we needed to find food for ourselves sometimes we hunt even if we know that there might be a chance for us to die because of it.)
"Pero ginagawa pa rin namin dahil gusto naming mabuhay, kami'y di takot mamatay kung kaya ang pagsubok na aking ibibigay sa iyo ay patunayan mo ang kagustuhan mo na mabuhay habang lumalaban sa amin." (But we still do it because we wanted to live and we not afraid to die. And for that test I give to you is a fight with one of us and show us your will to live.) the guard captain said facing Potenciano with a smile.
As. Potenciano was about to say something, the guard captain interrupted him
"Syempre, di patas iyon kung kaya ang kalaban mo ay magiging kalebel mo, isabihin magiging mortal din ang siyang kakaharapin mo (Of course, it would be unfair so that's why all of your opponent will be the same level like you, it means all you opponents will be mortal as well.)
"Ano sa akala mo, kami ang kakalabanin mo. Kung sa tingin mo kaya mo manalo, wag ka nang mag-isip na manalo baka makaligtas ng buhay ay wala ka ng tsansa." (What did you think that we will be your opponent. If you thought you would win against us, don't even think of ever winning or even saving your life you wouldn't stand a chance.)
"Kung kaya, ang mga magiging kalaban mo ay ang mga dating mandirigma ng bansa. Etong pagsubok ay magiging tatlong laban, ang laban ay tatagal ng isang oras at kung sino ang unang sumuko ay talo, ang bawat panig ay bibigyan ng sampung minutos na paghahanda at ang humahamon ay makakapagpahinga ng tatlong minuto pagkatapos ng laban. Kaya handa ka na ba bata?" (Therefore, your opponent will be the old fighters of the country. In this test, you will be fighting three times, every battle will last for one hour, both sides have a 10 minutes to prepare for their battle and the challenger will have a 3 minutes rest after the battle. So are you ready, kid?) said the guard captain
"May itatanong po ako. Sa armas na aming gagamitin, pwede po ba ako pumili ng kung ano gagamitin?" (I have a question. For our weapon to be used, am I allowed to pick which weapon to choose?) asked Potenciano
"Hindi, ang hinahamon ang siyang pipili na kung anong armas ang gagamitin niyo." (No, the challenged one has the right to choose which weapon to be used.)
"Wag kang mag-alala, ang armas na iyong gagamitin ay bibigyan ka ng simpleng impormasyon kung paano ito ginagamit." (Don't you worry, all the weapons that you will use will be given simple information on how it is use.) When Potenciano heard what the guard captain said he panicked for he has no knowledge on weapons due to him living in a peaceful world but when the latter sentence was added he gotten relief but of course panic again for the battle would be in the advantage of the opponent.
"May isa pa po ako na tanong, sa lugar mababago rin po ba ito o may pipili din po?" (I have another question, is the playing field be change or chosen by someone?)
"Ang pagpili ng lugar ay nasa humahamon." (The choice of field would be to the challenger.) answered the guard captain
"May iba ka pa bang katanungan ukol sa pagsubok?" (Do you have any question pertaining the test?) asked by the guard captain
"Wala. Simulan niyo po, Guard captain" (Nothing. We can start, Guard Captain) answered Potenciano
"May pangalan ako, bata. Ako'y si Agustin de Legazpi ng Tondo." (I have a name, kid. I am Agustin de Legazpi of Tondo) said Agustin
"Opo, Sir Agustin!" (Yes, Sir Agustin)
After he answered, he was then transported into a huge arena void of anything and as he lay on the ground he tried to stand up but changed his mind due to the on going dizziness after being transported.
As the dizziness started to clear off, he hears a distant footsteps heading straight to him and as he stands up. He finally saw his first opponent.
The man came standing before as he sizes him from top to bottom as Potenciano does as well. The man before has a body frame of a man in their 30's with scars covering their upper body. The face was those of a an average person with their hair tied at the end.
And as Potenciano's opponent stands right across him, a voice rang in the arena.
"Magandang araw po sa inyong lahat, ako po ay si Rico Panierro, ang anunsyador po ninyo sa araw na ito. Ipinapahiwatig ko ang nagaganap ngayong araw na ito, ang laban na ito ay magiging isang one on one na labanan sa pagitan ng humahamon na si Potenciano Mactanggol,19 na taong gulang studyante, mula sa Mandaluyong. Nandidito siya sa isang hangarin niya at iyon ay matupad ang kahilingan niya at di siya papapigil kahit kay nino para makamit lamang ito" (Good day to everyone, my name is Rico Panierro, I will be your announcer for today. This fight will be a one on one battle between the challenger Potenciano Mactanggol, a 19 year old student, coming from Mandaluyong. He has come here with one sole purpose and that is to grant his wish and will stop at nothing to get what he wants) With the introduction, a spotlight shone upon Potenciano when his name was announced as the Rico continued on with his speech.
"At ang nasa kabilang panig, siya ay nagmula sa tribo ni Datu Pagbuaya, ang mandirigma na walang takot na humarap sa mga mananakop at pumatay ng higit sa trenta tao bago siya namatay sa tama ng bala sa buong katawan. Pinakikilala ko sa inyo, ang mandirigma ng Bohol at kanang kamay ni Datu Pagbuaya, siya ay si Atubang!!" (And on the other side, he came from the tribe of Datu Pagbuaya, a fearless warrior who confronted the conquerors and killed a count of over 30 men before succumbing to bullet shots all over his body. I introduce to you all, the warrior of Bohol and the right hand of Datu Pagbuaya, His name is Atubang!!) hyped by Rico as the last word was said as a spotlight begun to shine upon the figure of Atubang as he reel his head back and shouts his war cry.
"Ohrryaaah...!!!"
As the war cry came to an end Atubang begun to stare once more at Potenciano as he move back and begun speaking some unknown language to the announcer.
"#&@π=¢¶¥%#&@#&√``¢¥!!!"
"Yes, he is..." answered Rico
"#$####@%!¢€¢£$@?!?"
"Uhmmm... because he is being tested if he is worthy enough that's why they called for you to be the first warrior in order to awaken his potential" Rico calmly said
When Potenciano heard the answer of the announcer just then, he got curious and decidedly asked.
"Ano po ang sinabi niya?" (What did he say?)
"Oh, well he asked if this pipsqueak is his opponent and I said 'Yes, he is' and then he got angry and said 'is this little milk sucker is my opponent are the gods right in there mind?!?' and finally I answered it" said Rico as he translated the conversation with Atubang
"Ano sinabi mo!!" (What did you say!!) angrily shouted by a pissed Potenciano
"@##%#%&@#%"
"He said 'Little milk sucker" translated by Rico
"Oh ganoon ah!!!" (Oh its like ah!!!) Potenciano said as he follows it up with a middle finger to Atubang.
"%#&&@@$, &@%@%%@$&@##!!"
"He said 'Oh little punk, you think you can handle me huh!!'" as again Rico started translating
"###%@%#@%@$$@%&##%#%%#$&"
"He said 'Oy, let's start this battle so I can teach this little punk how to have respect to someone'. Ok, sir Atubang you may choose which weapon both sides will choose."
"$&#%@%###@%@"
"Okay, sir. The weapons of choice will be sword and shields. For the playing field, Sir Potenciano, please choose" said Rico
As Rico asked, Potenciano was looking at the wide variety of maps listed in his mind as he started to think of plans to fight against Atubang.
"Hmmm.... ang dami ng mapa na aking pagpipilian. Ano sa mga mapang ito ang pwede ako makalamang sa kanya." (Hmmm.... there's so many maps to choose from. Which of these map should I choose to gain an advantage against him.) thought Potenciano as he switch map to map.
"Sa lahat ng mapa dito, ang nakikitaan ko lang ng tsansa na mapanalo ko ay ang lugar na ito." (In all of the maps here, the one with a chance for me to win is this place.) As he thought, he picked a map that has low gravity with a rocky terrain which could surprise a native man like Atubang to certain extent.
"Pinipili ko ang mapa na ito." (I choose this map)
"Ok, the playing field will be on face of Pluto's surface." announced by Rico
"There will be a 10 minute preparation before the battle begin as the timer ends, both sides will be transported to the field."
"@%&###@#@#%###$%@%&##%"
"Sir Atubang said 'You are going down kid, I will make you suffer before ending you'." translated by Rico as he left.
"Sisiguraduhin ko na sa ating dalawa ikaw ang siya matatalo at hindi ako"
(I will make sure between the two of us only you will lose and not me) swear Potenciano as he begun choosing which sword he will use in battle.
As he swipe the screen in his mind as he passes by all the sword from history through modern day as he saw claymores, double-edge swords, katanas, blades, and even great swords.
As he passes through all the swords only the jian and the katana where a feasible weapon if you're going against someone who will be slowed by the low gravity of the place.
"Hey, may tanong ako!" (Hey, I have a question!) asked Potenciano to the announcer
"What is it?"
"Pinapayagan ba na ang magdalawa espada imbes na isa lang?" (Is it allowed to use dual sword instead of one?)
"It is allowed if you want to disregard the shield but mostly I would rather you use a shield for your opponent is a bonafide warrior." advised Rico
"Salamat sa impormasyon" (Thanks for the information)
"Ngayon handa na ko sa laban namin" (Now I'm ready for our fight.) whispered Potenciano as he waits for the timer to end as he and his opponent gets transported to the battle field.
