UNKNOWN

Kitchie, known in the shadows as Mayari, from the mythical Filipino goddess of war, is a warrior of unparalleled skill-a master of blade and shadows, trained to move like the wind and strike like the storm. But for all her strength, she carries something no weapon can sever: love. Love for her dearest friend Karla. Love for Karla's husband, Marco. Love that binds her to humanity, to the very essence of what makes her fight.

But now, a darkness lurks-a predator she once trained, honed, and shaped into a force of destruction. "The Shadow." A being so close she could reach out and touch it, yet impossibly beyond her grasp. This enemy is unlike any other, untethered by the weight of emotion, unburdened by conscience. Cold. Precise. Unstoppable.

Kitchie has faced countless foes, yet this one is different. Because this time, she cannot kill her enemy.

With Karla and Marco's lives hanging in the balance, Kitchie must find another way. A way to outthink, outmaneuver, and outlast an adversary she once molded with her own hands.

But how do you defeat something that has no weakness?

The answer may lie in the very thing The Shadow refuses to embrace-humanity.

And in the end, love may be Kitchie's deadliest weapon of all.

Maynard Andan dedicated over two decades of his life to serving the Philippine government as a police commissioned officer, retiring after 22 years of honorable service. A devoted father of three, he is deeply connected to his roots as a Filipino Martial Arts practitioner, valuing tradition, discipline and personal growth. Beyond his career and martial arts, Maynard channels his creativity into music and writing novels. His stories reflects his admiration for women, portraying them as resilient, independent and deeply loving, while having endearing flaws. Through his writing, he strives to inspire and celebrate the strength of the human spirit.