Chapter 1: Covid and Chimera Rising
The year is 2020.
Against the famous golden hour of Manila Bay sunset, Jonas, a freshman in college, witnesses yet another passenger aircraft fly above - a Chinese aircraft judging by the airline logo on its tail. He then remembered the news he read last night about an outbreak of unknown disease in China.
He quickly forgets about it as his attention was drawn to a small celebration of Chinese New Year taking place. He then realized he’s afternoon walk brought him to Chinatown. He’s uninterested, as he is not Chinese and not from around here either. He grew up in Cebu, having moved here only around a year ago after he lost both of his parents from a freak encounter involving local terrorists.
- Meanwhile in Lunacia, another golden hour scene is taking place. Axies fall in line. Among them is 98280 (a.k.a Atlas) whose big body stands out from the line. The line does not seem to end...and does not seem to start either. Word is, all adult Axies are being called to fight a war against an enemy they don’t know yet.
It’s already dark when Jonas arrives home. Or at least, the closest thing to home for almost a year already with his 4 cousins. Juvyl - the eldest at 21. Around the same age as Jonas, just a few months younger. Also in senior high. Atan - younger at 18. He’s currently a junior high student. Fond of his girlfriend, Ela and her 2 cats. And the twins, Jas and Jan - more like exact opposites - Jas being introverted and a bit of a mama’s boy and Jan the extroverted who never runs out of things to say. But both like mobile games a lot and are close to their siblings, even Jonas. They’re all under the care of
The twins started their summer vacation early this year so they are already home when Jonas arrives. Jonas finds them in the middle of a mobile game in the living room.
“Daddy!”, shouted Jan as he excitedly hugged Jonas when he arrived.
Jonas took the father image in this household being the oldest male. Jonas hands Jan a pack of local sweets he bought from the convenience store.
“Share that with Jas. Where’s mommy?”, referring to his Aunt Jessa.
“Kakaalis lang. Nag-iwan siya hapunan natin. Let’s wait for ate Juvyl. Sigurado date na naman yun si kuya e. (She just left. She prepared our dinner. Let's jsut wait for Juvyl. For sure Atan is on a date tonight.)”, Jas calmly replied.
“Sige. Sabihan niyo ako if andyan na siya. Kwarto lang ako kung may kailangan kayo. (Ok, let me know when she's arrived. I'll just be in my room if you need anything.)”
The twins' quickly focused back on their mobile games. Jonas then closes the room in which he spends most of the time if not in school. He technically shares the room with Atan but he’s not around most of the time. Jonas changes his clothes, then opens his laptop to work on his sidelines online making thesis for graduate school students for a fee. That’s how he contributes to the expenses in the household on top of Aunt Jessa’s salary as contact center agent.
- Meanwhile, on the outskirts of Lunacia, Atlas moves along the unending line he is in. Slow but steady. Up ahead he can see some sort of light getting bigger. Some sort of streetlight he has never seen before in Lunacia. Is it a checkpoint? Is there an information desk there? Is it moving closer to us or are we moving towards it? While he’s trying to figure that out in his head, he notices the single file he was in suddenly converted into 3. He’s on the rightmost. He’s on the same row with 2 seemingly average-size Axies. 391436 (Belleric) and 393182 (Barat). They don’t seem to know each other either. Atlas tried to strike a conversation.
- “Hi. I’m Atlas. Any idea where we are headed? Lunacia seems so far away from here.”
- Belleric gave him a sideglance while Barat gave him a smile that makes his eyes disappear. Atlas then noticed that the 3 of them have the same eye features - chubby. Were they grouped according to that feature, Atlas wondered to himself?
- “I’m Barat.” Just smiling even after he introduced himself.
- “You’re guess is as good as ours.”, quipped Bellerick monotonously.
- It looks like Belleric is a serious Axie, while Barat is an upbeat one with very few words. Atlas can’t do anything but just stare at the looming streetlight ahead. Which is starting to look like emanating from a hovering vehicle in the dark. He continues to wonder to himself what the hell is happening to Lunacia.
Jonas was in the middle of typing words to an essay he’s never going to be credited to when he received a call from one of his closest friends in Cebu. Jonas’ face lights up and answers the call from his laptop.
“Maayong gabie dihang dapita. (Good evening over there!)” Jonas greets his caller in their local dialect.
“Chooooy. Kamustamos Manila boy? Wa jud kai paramdam ai. (Hey Choy! How are you Manila boy? You don't talk to us anymore.)” Lester’s face pops up on his bright monitor against his dark room.
In Jonas’ mind, he has never entertained the idea of going back to Cebu for obvious reasons. He’s afraid he won't be able to handle the sudden rush of trauma he might get once he visits familiar places. But his face says otherwise. He just gives Lester an apologetic smile Jonas uses to get out of awkward situations.
“Busy na man gud ka sa imong business. Maikog ta nimo. (It's because you are busy making money.”, Jonas quickly quipped so as to change the topic. “Nitawag ka Les. Expand na ka to Manila? Pang-share sa imong milyones diha Choy. (What made you call. Are you expanding to Manila? Ready to share your millions to me, Choy?)”
Lester came from a wealthy family. He never really needed to study or find a stable job to pay the bills. Unlike Jonas, he’s been provided by his family’s wealth. But unlike a good number of Cebu’s rich kids, Lester seemed to be passionate about investing and entrepreneurship. Thus, spent most of his time looking for the next big thing. But what Jonas hears next is something he does not expect to come from Lester.
“Expand gud. Wa na ko nagbusiness oi. Ako na gi-undang, change career na ko. Busy ka Choy? Naa ta ko business opportunity for you. (What expansion? I don't do business anymore. I changed career. I actually have a business opportunity for you.)”
Quitting the business does seem extreme for Lester. But Jonas knows Lester more than any other friend. And he knows this is worth his time. They went to the same grade school. They are seated next to each other every year because of their names. And were inseparable ever since. Lester does not really fancy doing the homeworks, and so Jonas does this for him in exchange for added lunch money.
“Ako na lang ara sa Manila Choy. Next week. Murag wa jud kai planong balikan mi diri ba. Hahaha. Storya ta ig-abot nako diha. Don’t worry, malingaw ka ani. (I'll be in Manila next week since you don't seem to have any plans coming back here. Let's talk when I get there. Don't worry, you'll love this!)”, Lester added.
“Haha.. Kanus-a gud ko ni-balibad nimo. Basta dili illegal Choy. Timing kai wa na sad klase. (When did I ever refuse you? It's great timing since classes are over!)”
Just when a knock came on the door. “Daddy, dito na si Ate Juvyl. Kain na tayo. (Daddy, Ate Juvyl just came home.)”, shouted Jan from behind the door.
“Coming!”, Jonas shouted back.
“Sige Choy, chat lang details sa imo itinerary next week. Mangaon sa mi. (Alright Choy. Let me know your itinerary for next week. I have to go, they're calling me for dinner.)”, while Jonas already started standing up.
“G! I miss you Choy! See you next week!”, Lester then dropped the call.
- A loud sound can be heard from behind the line where Atlas is situated. Axies behind them start to break their lines as the ground starts to crack. Another loud explosion, and the whole ground opened to reveal a creature the size of 2 Axies with big fangs that can seem to rip apart an Axie with one bite. With a faint color of dirt, and a single horn on its back, something tells Atlas and the other Axies that this does not seem to belong to Lunacia.
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...should i continue writing for chapter 2?