"THE BANWAANON AND THE BAL-BAL"
Previously...
Kaito's predatory hunt for a "good fairy" was thwarted by Alexis's quick thinking and time-warping magic. Meanwhile, in the province, Jin Ae's team began digging into the suspicious death of Aling Marites. Catherine's sharp instincts revealed a gruesome truth: the body in the funeral parlor was a mere illusion—a decoy left by a Bal-bal to hide its scavenging.
The shadows in the town are deep, as Officer Kian and the Mayor plot to eliminate the "Bellator" threat before their lucrative secret is exposed.
The Witch's Sanctuary
Inside the cramped, herb-scented hut, Nana Esther moved with a grace that defied her age. She threw a handful of dried salt and crushed ginger across the threshold, sealing the room from prying spiritual eyes.
"So, the Nogitsune has grown bold enough to hunt in the open," Esther muttered, her voice like grinding stones. She turned to Aidan, her eyes scanning his aura. "A Banwaanon is a rare prize, child. Your blood carries the essence of the ancient forests. If Kaito consumes it, he won't just have nine tails—he'll have the power to command the very land we stand on."
"He already has three tails, Nana," Alexis said, his hands still trembling from the mall encounter. "And he's getting faster. The time spell barely held him."
"Then we must move," Esther said, reaching for a staff carved from heartwood. "The girls—Jin Ae and her team—they are in the northern town hunting a Sigbin. They have no idea they are walking into a nest of Aswangs protected by the law itself."
A Night for a Feast
Back at the Mayor's estate, the "illusion" of the funeral was in full swing. The townspeople wept over a banana trunk disguised as a woman, while in the cellar beneath the Mayor's office, the real monster stirred.
The Sigbin—a creature of shadow with backward-pointing feet and long, leathery ears—hissed in its cage. It was hungry.
"Patience," the Mayor whispered, sliding a bowl of fresh, dark organs through the bars. "The Bellators are coming to us. Once they are dealt with, you'll have a feast that will keep us wealthy for another decade."
Outside the cellar, Officer Kian—the Bal-bal—stood guard. His human skin felt tight, itchy with the urge to shed. He could smell the girls from miles away. They smelled like steel, holy water, and stubbornness.
"Let them come," Kian rasped, his eyes flashing a sickly yellow. "I've always wondered what a Bellator's heart tastes like."
The Investigation Deepens
Under the cover of darkness, Jin Ae, Jasmine, and Catherine crept toward the back entrance of the Mayor's mansion.
"If Catherine is right about the Bal-bal," Jin Ae whispered, checking the magazine of her pistol, "then the real body is somewhere on this property. And where there's a Bal-bal, there's usually a bigger predator they are serving."
"My weather pipe is acting up," Jasmine whispered, holding up the small device. "It's not predicting rain. It's predicting... blood."
"The black aura is strongest near the cellar," Catherine noted, her fingers tracing a protective rune in the air. "Be ready. We aren't just fighting a corrupt cop anymore."
THE CONTINUATION:
The Hunt for the Nine Tails
Kaito paced his study, the air crackling with his restless power. "I need that fairy," he barked at Maverick and Zac. "Bring him to me."
"My Lord," Calista interrupted, her brow furrowed as she pored over a heavy tome. "The good fairy is being protected by black fairies. This will not be an easy task. Let me search my book for a counter-spell before you send them out." She hurried out of the room, leaving Maverick and Zac to exchange a wary glance. They knew that when Kaito wanted something, he wouldn't wait for a book to tell him how to get it.
The Foothills of Mount Cristobal
Meanwhile, Baekhyun, Akihiko, and Ethan arrived at the base camp where Jin Ae had last been seen. Baekhyun immediately sought out Lennard, the local guide.
"These are my companions, Ethan and Aki," Baekhyun said, his voice tense. "We're looking for my sister. Is she still here?"
Lennard shook his head grimly. "I haven't seen her or her friends since they started the climb. It's been a week, Baekhyun. They should have been back by now."
"A week?" Ethan whispered, looking up at the mist-covered peaks. "That means they're still up there. Or something stopped them."
"I can help you look," Lennard offered, reaching for his gear.
"No," Baekhyun refused firmly. "Stay here, Lennard. If they come back while we're on the trail, hold them. Don't let them leave until you contact us."
With the plan set, the three of them turned toward the dark silhouette of Mount Cristobal, prepared to face whatever spirits haunted the mountain.
The Confrontation at the Station
In the northern town, Catherine decided on a direct approach. She walked into the police station, ignoring the curious stares of the officers.
"Kian, someone's here to see you," a colleague shouted. "One of your girlfriends, I think."
Kian looked up, his eyes narrowing as Catherine stepped into his office. "Miss Catherine from the PIB? What brings you back here?"
Catherine didn't sit. She leaned over his desk, her gaze piercing. "Let's talk about Aling Marites. What's your real connection to her body?"
Kian's brow furrowed, his jaw tightening. "I don't know what you're talking about. I'm the lead investigator, nothing more."
"Don't lie to me, Officer," Catherine replied, a cold smile playing on her lips. "I've been a cat once—literally. I know an illusion when I smell one. I know that corpse in the parlor isn't real."
"Get out," Kian snarled, standing up so abruptly his chair hit the wall. "I don't know what kind of games you're playing, but get out of my office before I have you detained."
Catherine stood her ground for a second longer. "We both know we aren't exactly human, Officer. I can smell your nature, just as you can smell ours. We aren't your enemy... unless you make us one."
She turned and walked out. As she passed his desk, Kian's colleague, Santiago, teased him. "Trouble in paradise, Kian? Did she finally realize those other girls you date always seem to... vanish?"
"Shut up, Santiago," Kian snapped, slamming his office door.
The Invisibility Spell
Outside, Catherine rejoined Jin Ae and Jasmine. "He's anxious," Catherine reported. "The moment I mentioned the illusion, he folded."
"What's 'anxious'?" Jasmine asked blankly.
"Jasmine!" Jin Ae and Catherine shouted in unison.
"I'm joking! I'm joking!" Jasmine laughed, but she quickly went quiet as they saw Kian rush out of the station and jump into his car.
"He's on the move," Jin Ae said. "Follow him."
They trailed Kian's car to the outskirts of town, where he pulled up in front of a rusted, sprawling warehouse.
"Why is it always a warehouse?" Jasmine complained. "Can't the goons do their dirty work in a mall for once? At least there's air conditioning."
"Would you like them to commit crimes in public, Jasmine? Really?" Catherine sighed. She pulled out her pocketbook and began to chant in a low, rhythmic Visayan:
"Gahum sa hangin, Gahum sa hangin, himua kamig kausa ka nimo!"
A sudden, cool breeze swirled around them, pulling the light away from their bodies.
"Are we invisible?" Jasmine whispered, looking down at her hands, which were now shimmering like a heat haze.
"To their eyes, yes," Catherine said. "Stay quiet and stay close."
Shadows among shadows, the three Bellators followed the policeman into the darkness of the warehouse.
The Gay Bar: Heaven Entertainment
Maverick and Zac stood outside a neon-lit establishment, the bass of the music thumping through the walls. Zac held a small, iridescent shell compass in his palm, its needle spinning toward the entrance.
"The compass says the fairy is in here," Zac muttered.
Maverick looked up at the flashing sign. "Heaven Entertainment? You're telling me a good fairy is hiding out in a gay bar?"
"It's a clever place to hide," Zac replied. "The energy here is high, loud, and full of different spirits. It masks his scent."
Inside, the club was a swirl of strobe lights and glitter. It didn't take long to spot their target. On the center stage, a dancer moved with a grace that was almost supernatural—a rhythmic, ethereal flow that captivated everyone in the room.
"There he is," Zac said, pointing. "Aidan."
"Interesting choice of cover," Maverick noted.
Before they could move closer, a flamboyant man in a sequined vest approached them with a wide, knowing smile. "I'm Mama Ynez," he said, his voice warm and honeyed. "Are you boys looking for a little fun tonight?"
Zac didn't miss a beat, gesturing toward the stage. "I was captivated by his charm. What did you say his name was?"
"Oh, that's Aidan, our star. Don't worry, you'll get your chance to meet him. But first, let's get you boys a proper seat." Mama Ynez led them to a VIP booth near the stage. "Now, what can I get for you?"
"Two buckets of beer and some chips," Maverick ordered, his eyes never leaving the stage.
"Coming right up, darlings," Mama Ynez chirped before vanishing into the crowd.
The Cave of the Amomongo
High on the misty slopes of Mount Cristobal, Baekhyun, Aki, and Ethan stood before a massive, hairy figure with long, sharp claws. The Amomongo, the sanctuary's guardian, watched them with ancient eyes.
"The Kitsune, the Gumiho, and the Sigbinan," the creature rumbled. "It is a rare day to see your kinds traveling together. Why have you come to my mountain?"
"Don't you recognize me?" Baekhyun asked, stepping forward.
"I do. You are the brother of the Bellator," the Amomongo replied. "If you seek her, she is no longer on these slopes. She is in the town below, where a black Sigbin is being milked for human greed."
"Where exactly?" Ethan asked urgently.
"Follow the threads of their souls," the Amomongo said. With a wave of its massive hand, three shimmering strings of light—one crimson, one gold, and one violet—appeared in the air, stretching toward the horizon.
"I can use these to find them," Aki said, the strings vibrating with the faint voices of the girls.
"They're in trouble," Baekhyun growled. "We need to go." He and Aki both turned to Ethan, offering their hands simultaneously.
"Hold my hand, Ethan," Aki said. "I can navigate the spirit paths."
"No, hold mine," Baekhyun countered. "A Gumiho is much faster than a Kitsune."
Ethan looked at the two rival foxes and rolled his eyes. "You're both foxes—one's just from Korea and the other's from Japan. You both have tails, you both have fur. Stop bickering! Let's race!"
With a sudden burst of speed, Ethan's eyes glowed, and he vanished into the trees. "Don't underestimate the power of a Sigbin!" he shouted back.
"Ethan!" Aki and Baekhyun yelled in unison, racing after him.
The Warehouse: Fog and Lightning
Inside the warehouse, the "invisibility" had been shattered. Jin Ae lay unconscious on the cold concrete after a glancing blow from Kian's weapon. Catherine and Jasmine stood over her, facing Kian and his scavenging pack.
"I told you, Jasmine," Catherine hissed, her hands glowing with defensive magic. "He's a hottie, but he's a killer."
"Okay, you were right! But is Jin Ae okay?" Jasmine asked, her voice trembling.
"She's out cold, but she'll heal. Right now, we have to deal with these monsters."
"How dare you call us monsters, witch!" Kian snarled. He lunged, his fingers elongating into the jagged claws of a Bal-bal.
Jasmine didn't hesitate. She swung her weather pipe like a staff, and with every strike, a crackle of lightning erupted. "Try to hurt us, and I'll turn you into charcoal!" She spun the pipe, releasing a blast of wind that sent several Aswangs flying into the crates.
"You're destroying the Treaty of Peace!" Catherine shouted.
"The treaty died when the humans murdered my family!" Kian roared. "The Mayor of this town, Montes... he invaded our lands. To save my kind from extinction, we had to give him our Sigbin. Its magic makes him rich, and in exchange, he feeds us the corpses of the people he wants gone. Mayor Montes isn't even human—he's a Dalaketnon!"
Before Catherine could respond, a sudden bolt of black lightning struck Kian, searing his flesh. He collapsed, screaming.
"Jasmine! What did you do?" Catherine cried out.
"I didn't do that!" Jasmine replied, wide-eyed.
From the shadows of the warehouse, a figure in a dark, flowing robe emerged. The air grew freezing.
"Jasmine, defensive stance!" Catherine screamed. Jasmine rotated her pipe frantically, creating a thick, blinding fog that filled the warehouse. "Hide in the mist! Now!"
In the chaos, a familiar voice groaned from the floor. "Ugh... what is going on? Why are you guys shouting?"
Jin Ae was finally awake.
TO BE CONTINUED...