Camp Hayahay has never been attacked by monsters… until one god turns his back against his friends…

It all started one fine morning in Quezon City, Philippines. The air has never been this fresh. Until a dark cloud envelopes the city, followed by devastating rain, then it makes a typhoon. Who's causing all this? The gods, of course!

But there's a boy who will change that. A boy named Makki, son of Amanikable, the ill-tempered god of the sea, storms and rain.

Makki's house was affected by the typhoon. It smacks houses like the god's pounding them. Then the waves form hands to pick up cars and throwing them like a boy looking for his missing toy in his toy chest furiously. Another big ball of water hits a house like a bowling ball hitting the bowling pins.

Makki braced himself in his house, which is starting to be flooded. Then he heard a horse's gallop. Then a loud neigh!

Then Makki saw a hoof reaching out to him. Makki looked up and saw a man with a horse's head and hooves. A tikbalang, he thought. Then he felt a chill down his spine. Tikbalangs are one of the most feared Filipino monsters, but this one seemed innocent.

So Makki took his hand – er, hoof – and the tikbalang held up two small pearls and stepped on them, smashing them into pieces. Then they were transported to a bordered plain. It's not the ordinary plain you see in the country, but it's a plain with houses, statues, big wooden training grounds and armed children. Makki touched his wet blue shirt and found out that it's mysteriously dry. Makki sat down on a soft cushion of grass.

"Wh-where am I?" he asked, looking petrified.

"You are in Camp Hayahay, Makarya Salise," a man said behind him, which gave Makki a shock.

Makki turned to see a six-foot-tall man in armor, holding a bronze sword, also sitting down. "H-how'd you know my name?"

"It's been quite a long time since a son of Amanikable arrived here in one piece." He replied.

"Amanikable.. You mean the god of the sea?" Makki said, unsure of his words.

"Yes, he's always angry. And they say his children often get angry, too."

"B-but how do you know my dad's a god?"

"You have demigod smell. And I smell the ocean in you."

"You mean I stink?"

"Not necessarily like that."

Then, a horn blew like an elephant. The sound was so loud that everyone heard it. Everyone stopped what they were doing and they went to a big white house in the middle.

"What's that?" asked Makki.

"It's the head centaur; he's calling everyone for a meeting." The man stood up. "C'mon, I'm going with you."

Makki stood up. "I forgot to ask your name."

"I forgot to introduce myself. I'm Bangun, god of time."

The two of them ran towards the house. The house was filled with demigods. A muscular man was calling out names. ".. And I need one demigod from the Amanikable cabin."

Then, nobody raised a hand. There were no demigods in the Amanikable cabin. Until Bangun called out, "Macanduc, we have a new recruit! He's a son of Amanikable!"

Everyone gasped. "Very well, then. Bring him here!" said Macanduc.

Then Bangun brought Makki to the stage. Macanduc smelled him and raised Makki's arm. "Behold, son of Amanikable!" then there were demigods clapping. "He will be one of the fourteen demigods in the arena." Macanduc turned to the demigods behind him, then to Makki. "See you all two days later."

Then the house was empty. Everyone went back to what they were doing. Then Bangun was cursing. Makki followed him to the Amanikable cabin, which looked like a mini Manila Ocean park. "That Macanduc," Bangun said in clenched teeth. "He's always challenging newcomers." Then he turned to Makki. "I'm sorry, but you're going to join the Cabin war two days later. But don't worry; I'm sure you have some fighting instincts. If not, then I'll ask the tikbalng that brought you here – Karne, that's his name – to train you. Gods can't train the demigods, only the cabinmates. But since you don't have any cabinmates, then Karne will train you."

"Okay," Makki stiffened. Then he went inside his cabin.

"Oh, and I hope you enjoy your cabin." Then Bangun heard an announcement.

"Bangun, Bathala is looking for you. Please come here ASAP."

"Whoops, gotta go. Sorry Makki." Then the god sped off.

Makki entered his cabin. It looked dusty on the inside. It had a bed out of seashells, a lamp, a cabinet and a bathroom. He found a set of clothes in the cabinet and took a warm bath. Then he cleaned his cabin and went out.

Then he was called by a boy with a yellow shirt. Makki went to him.

"Hello, Makki." The boy said. "Welcome to Camp Hayahay. My name is Enzo, son of Bathala." He held out his hand.

Makki took it and shook his hand. "Hey."

Enzo smiled. "I have no cabinmates, too. Hey, let's be allies in the arena! It'll be fun!"

Makki smiled. 'Sure!"

-And that's the first mistake of Makki-

Until next chapter…

-Oto- Filipinos rock!