EVERNA Ring of Fire

DANURAH Part 2

Sthira shook her head slowly as she nodded, No, I must not think about, feel things other than this mission of mine. But... Aih, the Mahesha, how many times has Nirya tried to nourish my heart, reaffirming my shaky resolve? Though he himself always looks cheerful, innocent and fragile... More fragile yet simpler-minded, more sincere than Arumi.

Sthira's eyes turned towards Arumi. The Jayandra girl said, “Sorry yes, Sthira. I was just trying to remind you of your original purpose. Constantly, seeing the city where I live crumbled, my countrymen who were sprawled due to the disaster we caused, my heart was doubtful. And that attitude of yours also makes me question the seriousness of your heart.”.

“Quite, Arumi.” Sthira held out her palm. “Every time we feel sad, doubtful, even sorry, remember that the current disaster is still far better than the complete destruction that awaits Antapada when we fail or stop. Let's pray for the lost souls here, and we continue our journey to Damarwangi.”.

“Psst... Sthira, Arumi, look at that..!” Nirya whispered suddenly while pointing into the distance.

Not far from where the Sthira group walked, silhouettes of stealth animals appeared in the crowd. From the sounds of chewing, the rumbling of broken bones and the occasional growling sound, it seemed that they were eating something voraciously.

Victims of disaster.

Approached by three living humans, the demons then stop the action of eating, then spin and ready to face. However, “food that is still fresh” is always the main choice.

As the demons approached and became more visible from the smog, Sthira immediately recognized them through the flames perched from their heads to their backs. That's the so-called fox demon...

“Rukhan!”

“Gosh! It is only fitting that they were not in Sriwedari Forest earlier! Turns out they came straight here when the eruption occurred, taking advantage of partying on the misfortune of the inhabitants of Wulantra!” Arumi is not artificial.

“The rukhan have long been eyeing this opportunity,” rutuk Nirya. “That's why they didn't help Ni Lara Sati and Kamaja in the battle on Megaswari Slope earlier.”

“And the softest chance is us! Beware all!” While saying so, Sthira swung her machete, the Gharma that she had been wielding ever since. The Rukhan he was after seemed to have avoided. Even the second rukhan yelled and bit the blade of the Sthira machete.

“Mistaken step you!” With a single jolt, Sthira pumped lightning energy through the blade of Gharma into the demon's body. Lightning strikes as if out of the eyes, ears and muzzle of the rukhan.

No chance to confirm the death of the opponent, Sthira was immediately greeted by two other rukhan, who coiled towards him like a fireball that rotated very fast. They pinch the opponent and give him no chance at all even to kink though. What wits?

Inevitably Sthira used the first sense that came to her mind. He inched to one side, deliberately killing one rukhan like stabbing satay. Then, with the fire energy remaining on the rukhan's back, Sthira struck the sword with the still-smoldering carcass stuck at its tip towards the second rukhan. The carcass of the burning rukhan came off, hitting the rukhan who was coiling up to bounce.

The third Rukhan hit Sthira surgingly, but unfortunately, Sthira was already on high alert. So the rukhan was struck by a fate more terrible than both of his colleagues. He died with his body scattered in all directions, hit by a barrage of lightning-powered sabers Sthira with the style of the Sky-High Thunder Dragon.

Seeing all his “jatah” enemies down, Sthira stopped his action for a moment. But before he could catch his breath and go back to helping his comrades, there appeared to be a figure twice as large, more fiery than any other rukhan in the area facing Sthira. The king of Rukhan growled with fiery red eyes, full of savage like hot magma bubbling.

Being challenged like that, Sthira instead smiled calmly. If the one who confronted it was a group of armed people, Sthira might be troubled to sort out who should or should not be killed. However, to these monsters he had no doubts at all.

Even Sthira attacked first. The great body of the king of the rukhan tends to be fattening, but he is quite deft to run, avoiding some of the sabetage of the Sthira cleaver. Then, he replied with a terrible scratch. The side of Sthira's body near his waist slashed, forced the man to recede backwards while holding his wound.

Gawat, it seems like this time it was Sthira who had missteps.

Getting the opportunity to urge prospective prey, the king rukhan with quick steps and clashing ready to sit and burn Sthira with his fire heads.

For a moment, Sthira looked dead in step.

Sthira did not look back at all.

Aware of their leader falling down, the remaining rukhan run in all directions, until it is lost from the sight of all the humans there.

Soon, Nirya and Arumi rejoin the leader. Sthira so looks more authoritative after toppling the largest and fiercest rukhan in the siege of hot smog earlier. To be sure, the three humans will not be insistent on stopping “party” the rukhan that there is inevitability, driven by their animal instincts and desires. Of course, the Rukhanpun no longer dare to target the three magic warriors.

Enough destruction has been made by Sthira and his friends in Wulantra. In order for this twice weakened state to have a chance to recover and be strong again, there is no other way but to continue on the journey.

\==oOo==

“All, pull screen and lift anchor!” yacht captain Jayandra. “Direct this ship to Danurah, Capital of Rainusa!”

Hearing that command, Sthira was only able to breathe a sigh of relief on the deck of the ship. He looked at Arumi with a smile full of admiration and gratitude.

How not, not long ago Sthira had desperately hid her tense facial expression. The muscles of the nape and arms stiffened when he heard the captain talking, “Ke Danurah? Any direct warrant from Admiral Begarwana or Prabu Narendra?”

Arumi just stared intently at the two eyes of the skipper who seemed to be marsupial. “This is a secret order and mandate from Mahapatih Galahasin.”

“Sorry, but I need proof of letter..”.

“If there is a warrant, this is not a secret mission anymore its name,” Arumi sergeant. “One more addition, from now on you, and the entire crew, troops and ships are fully under my command, Arumi Dyahrani.” He deliberately did not mention about the incident of Mount Ratauka and how lucky they could escape the destruction. Because actually Arumi, Sthira and Niryalah are indebted to the captain and the crew of this ship.

“A-what?!” The captain was surprised not the bitch. “T-but it can't be this way, senopati! There should be a letter of appointment, direct instruction.”.

“Do you need this to be sure?” Arumi raised a kind of plaque and pointed it towards her interlocutor.

Looking at the plaque, the man in his forties turned pale for a moment, then knelt down and worshipped before the senopathy. “M-forgive me servant! Forgive me for a thousand years, I didn't know you were holding Admiral Jayandra's gold plaque! Forgive me, do not punish the dead servant!”

“Once again you question my command, captain, suppose your head has been separated from the raga!” arumi is full of authority. Secretly the girl winked towards Sthira and Nirya, a sign of the plaque she must have gotten by stealing it from its original owner, Begarwana on Mount Megaswari.

Arumi must have intended to use the plaque as a last resort, if you mention the words “secret mission” and “MPu Galahasin” alone is not enough to get the compliance of the captain and all the troops who want him “pinjav” it.

After all, if it was too late to persuade the captain and the smog of the Megaswar eruption reached Damarwangi, the ship might not want to leave at all.

In fact, Arumi's tactics worked, and the ship they were on was now sailing at full speed towards Rainusa.

“Well, this way you'll have to try harder to protect me. I have to stay alive so that our mission can surf this,” Arumi said with a mischievous smile.

Down the south coast of Jayandra Island, Sthira's gaze can not be separated from Arumi. It was like he was approaching the girl, but the senopati woman was too busy watching the captain of the ship. Arumi even tried to get to know and encourage each crew and soldiers who all numbered thirty-seven people.

Understandably, this is a medium-sized warship that was not originally prioritized in the ranks of the Jayandra Fleet. These people do not realize that they are now participating in determining the direction of the pace of history. What would they have reacted if they knew? Will they support the Sthira-Nirya-Arumi mission? Or even be a naysayer and a deterrent?

Source Image Reference City of Danurah: Kingdom of Buleleng, Bali (Google)