Chapter Text
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The enemy has snuck up on them. They were sitting ducks in this valley. Well-armed. But there was no way they were all leaving here unscathed. His men. His men were going to die.
José yanked off his leather gloves, and hurriedly stroked the pebbles in the dirt with his glowing palms. He rose. And with him, a hail of of rocks, glowing with purple light. And with them, he rained terror on their enemies. Each hard piece of earth exploding as they made contact with the enemy soldiers' bodies. Good as bullets. Just as deadly.
“He…Heneral.” Soriano was awestruck. There was destruction all around them.
But the Heneral did not respond to him. He was still in his strong stance. His scleras were black. His irises, now a deep purple. And his gaze cold.
“SOLDIERS. FALL BACK.” He ordered them. “NOW.”
And as soon as the last soldier was just a few meters away, he made sure that the enemies were still scrambling in confusion from the attack that even he was surprised. He always knew the day would come. That he can’t keep up the ruse anymore. But it was time.
He willed the bullets on his person. And directed them towards the enemy’s machine guns. Flashes of purple light became the herald, before the noise of explosion and the violent scattering of dust and smoke in the air. The gunpowder amplified the explosions his kinetic energy ability imbued the bullets. The small metal ammo, became as destructive as bombs.
The soldiers whispered amongst themselves, as they saw the enemy scamper and retreat. Voices in tones of panic, and relief.
“The Heneral always had a plan to help us win, after all.”
“But doesn’t this mean he lied to us?!”
“If he was this powerful, then why hadn’t he fought like this sooner?!”
“Yeah. Then maybe less of us would have died in the past battles…”
“No…” A Tinyente Koronel, the one who kept quiet this whole time, spoke up. “He’s been using his abilities all along. That purple light. I’ve seen it many times before.”
“Y-…You’re right. I thought it was the gods blessing us whenever I see purple light in the battlefield.”
“The purple light… It was Heneral Alejandrino all along!!!”
“Oh gods…”
The babbling panic and arguments, slowly turned into celebration. Ramon looked over at the Heneral and the grim expression on his face.
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“Heneral. Have you always been—“
“Mapalad. Yes…”
“But why did you hide it? If you didn’t, you would never have been in danger from the President.”
“It was enough that my brother and his bestfriend are. And that from their wrath, he’d lose an entire squadron of Mapalad if he touched me.”
“Does…?”
“Yes. Ortiz knows.”
“And he agreed with your scheme to keep hiding your abilities?”
“No. At first, he reacted just as you did. But he knew I was not gonna budge.”
“You rarely defy his requests.”
“Which is why he knew the solidity of my resolve.”
“So why did you choose to reveal it now?”
“I’ve never completely hidden it. I’ve been using it in ways people won’t notice, Ramon. It helped that my powers have similar effect to guns and explosives. Only betrayed by the glow. But now, there was no time for advanced tactics in order to hide my ability. I cannot let my men die. Not if I can help it.”
He ordered the Koronel to check on the Medicos. To make sure the injured were tended to. And that if needed, those who knew first-aid, should exercise it. And asked for some time alone.
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He slumped over his desk. He didn’t know how to look his men in the eyes after this. But he would have to address them soon. He had to see if they were alright. He had to do his rounds. To check the artilleries. His duties.
He flinched as he heard soft knocks on the door.
“It’s me.”
“…Come in.”
He heard Ortiz gently open and close the door.
“Do you want me to…?”
“Yes. Lock it, please.”
And lock it, the Major did.
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