Capítulo 4: The Captain's Arrogance
The Kastila ship loomed large as Lapu-Lapu's balangay approached. Its smooth, polished hull gleamed under the afternoon sun, a stark contrast to the ornately carved wood of his own vessel. A nervous energy crackled among his men. The Kastila weapons they had glimpsed from afar—long, black tubes that spat fire and thunder—filled them with a mixture of awe and dread.
Zula, Humabon's advisor, steered Lapu-Lapu towards a narrow gangplank that had been lowered from the Kastila ship. As Lapu-Lapu ascended, the metallic clang of his footsteps echoed loudly against the unfamiliar deck. A group of Kastila warriors, clad in gleaming steel armor, stood guard, their expressions stoic and their faces pale under their metal helmets.
Lapu-Lapu, his hand resting on the hilt of his kris, scanned the deck. His eyes fell upon a tall, heavily armored man with a thick beard and a confident demeanor. This, he presumed, was the leader.
"You must be Lapu-Lapu," the man boomed in a language Lapu-Lapu didn't understand. A young Kastila man, adorned in finer clothes, stepped forward and spoke rapidly to the leader. He then turned to Lapu-Lapu.
"Greetings," he said, his voice tinged with an accent but still understandable. "I am Enrique, translator for Captain Magellan."
Lapu-Lapu inclined his head respectfully. "Lapu-Lapu, Rajah of Mactan."
"Captain Magellan," Enrique continued, gesturing towards the leader, "wishes to know the purpose of your visit."
Lapu-Lapu straightened his back, meeting Captain Magellan's gaze head-on. "We have heard of your arrival, Captain. We are curious about your intentions, your reasons for coming to our land."
Magellan scoffed, a harsh sound that grated on Lapu-Lapu's nerves. "Intentions? We bring civilization and enlightenment to these barbaric shores. We offer the blessings of the true faith and the protection of a mighty empire."
Lapu-Lapu bristled at the captain's arrogance. "Enlightenment? Faith? We have our own gods, our own traditions. We do not need your 'protection'." He noticed a flicker of something in Magellan's eyes—was it anger, or perhaps a flicker of fear disguised by bluster?
"Then consider it a warning," Magellan continued, his voice laced with a dangerous undercurrent. "Those who resist the will of the Spanish crown face consequences."
Lapu-Lapu's hand tightened around his kris hilt. The air crackled with tension. He had seen enough. These Kastila were not traders; they were conquerors. Their weapons may be powerful, but their arrogance was a weakness. He would not bend his knee to them.
"We, the people of the Visayas, are not afraid of threats," Lapu-Lapu declared, his voice ringing with defiance. "We will not be your subjects. We will defend our land and our freedom, if need be."
Magellan threw his head back and laughed—a harsh, humorless sound. "Defend your land? With what? These wooden boats and primitive weapons?" He gestured dismissively towards Lapu-Lapu's men.
Lapu-Lapu's gaze swept over the Kastila warriors, their gleaming armor and imposing stature. Doubt gnawed at him for a moment. But then he looked at his own men, their faces etched with determination, their hands gripping their weapons. They were outnumbered and outgunned, but their spirit remained unbroken.
"We may not have your fancy armor," Lapu-Lapu countered, his voice firm, "but we fight for our homes, our families. And that, Captain, is a weapon far more powerful than any you possess."
Magellan's laughter died down, replaced by a steely glint in his eyes. "We shall see, Lapu-Lapu. We shall see." He turned to Enrique, his voice low. "Escort them back to their boat. And prepare the men. We may need to demonstrate the true meaning of 'consequences'."
Lapu-Lapu descended the gangplank, his mind racing. The meeting had confirmed his worst fears: the Kastila were a threat to their way of life. He had a feeling this was just the beginning—the first skirmish in a storm that was about to engulf the Visayas. As his balangay pulled away from the Kastila ship, Lapu-Lapu knew he had to act quickly. He had to warn the other Visayan chieftains and unite them against this new, formidable enemy
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