The Unknown Mercenary Episode 3

Chapter 3: The Tiyanak’s Lair

The shrill beep of Daniel’s alarm sliced through the early morning hush. He blinked awake, the faint blue light of dawn creeping through the bamboo slats of his window. With practiced ease, he swung his legs over the edge of his woven mat, feeling the coolness of the wooden floor beneath his feet.

5:30 AM. The world outside was still and heavy, the silence broken only by the distant crow of a rooster and the soft hum of the Sarangani breeze. Daniel moved through his morning ritual: he brewed a strong cup of barako coffee, letting the earthy aroma fill the small space. He sipped slowly, savoring the warmth, then set the mug aside and began his exercises—push-ups, squats, a series of stretches that loosened his muscles and sharpened his senses.

He lived in Maitum, a quiet municipality whose name, he mused, came from the word for black stone—a fitting place for a man whose days were shadowed by secrets.

Today felt like any other, until the knock came. Three firm raps on his door, then silence. He approached, heart steady, and opened it to find no one—only a black box resting on the step. The faintest wisp of smoke curled from its edges, vanishing in the morning air.

Daniel knelt, picking up the box. It was cold, heavier than it looked, and pulsed faintly in his palm. He opened it. Inside, a normal token gleamed—a simple bronze disk etched with ancient runes. The moment he touched it, a whisper slid into his mind: “Quest accepted.” The box dissolved into nothing.

He pocketed the token. This was his life now—a mercenary, bound to fight the monsters that had awakened during the pandemic. The world above knew nothing of the war raging beneath their feet. Deaths were explained away as accidents, but Daniel and those like him knew better. Monsters walked among them, hiding in plain sight.

He glanced at the slip of paper beneath the token: “Car accident, Barangay Kiambing. Investigate.”

Daniel slipped on his boots and jacket, tucking a blessed dagger into his belt. He moved with purpose, his steps silent as he left his home and mounted his battered motorcycle.

The engine sputtered to life, and he sped off down the winding provincial road, the morning mist curling around him.

The Scene of the Incident

The crash site was already cordoned off with yellow tape, but Daniel parked a short distance away, blending into the small crowd of curious onlookers. A crumpled sedan rested against a coconut tree, windshield shattered, blood smeared across the dashboard. Police milled about, taking notes, but Daniel’s eyes saw more.

He slipped past the tape, flashing his token at an officer who nodded, eyes glazed—the mark’s subtle magic at work. Daniel crouched beside the wreckage, fingertips brushing the ground. The world shimmered, colors deepening, shadows lengthening. He could see the residue of the other world now—the faint, oily trail that monsters left behind.

He followed it, senses sharp. The trail led into the dense undergrowth, away from the road. Daniel moved quietly, every muscle coiled, every breath measured. The jungle closed around him, thick with the scent of damp earth and wild ginger.

Into the Tiyanak’s Lair

He heard it before he saw it—a thin, plaintive wail, like a baby crying in the distance. Daniel’s grip tightened on his dagger. He knew the stories: the tiyanak lured travelers with its cries, then struck when they drew near.

He moved slowly, scanning the shadows. The crying grew louder, more insistent, echoing off the trees. He spotted a small bundle nestled among the roots—a swaddled infant, face turned away.

Daniel crouched, voice low and steady. “I know what you are. Show yourself.”

The bundle twitched. The crying stopped. Slowly, the figure turned, revealing not a baby’s face, but a twisted, leering mask—eyes black as midnight, mouth stretched into a jagged grin.

The tiyanak shrieked, launching itself at Daniel with unnatural speed. He rolled aside, the creature’s claws raking the air where he’d been. Daniel slashed with his dagger, the blade flashing silver in the gloom. The tiyanak hissed, recoiling as the blessed metal burned its flesh.

Daniel pressed the attack, feinting left, then striking right. The tiyanak darted back, circling him, searching for an opening. It lunged again, jaws snapping. Daniel caught it with a kick to the chest, sending it sprawling into the undergrowth.

He advanced, heart pounding, every sense alive. The tiyanak scrambled upright, eyes blazing with fury. It howled, the sound warping the air, and Daniel staggered, head ringing. He forced himself to focus, drawing on the mark’s power. The world slowed, his movements sharpening.

The creature lunged. Daniel sidestepped, driving his dagger into its side. The tiyanak screamed, thrashing wildly. Daniel held firm, twisting the blade. With a final, shuddering cry, the creature dissolved into black smoke, leaving only a scorched patch of earth.

Aftermath

Daniel stood, breathing hard, sweat beading on his brow. He wiped his blade clean and sheathed it, scanning the jungle for any sign of more monsters. Satisfied, he turned back toward the road.

As he emerged from the trees, the world seemed unchanged. The police were still there, the crowd still murmuring. No one would ever know what had truly happened.

Daniel slipped away, the normal token warm in his pocket. Another quest completed, another day survived in a world where monsters wore human faces and only the marked could see the truth.

He mounted his motorcycle, the engine’s roar cutting through the morning quiet as he sped back toward Maitum, ready for whatever darkness the next quest would bring.