EVERNA Ring of Fire

IDHARMA Part 4

Assuming that Nirya then turned around, looking for clues. Surprisingly, as far as the eye could see, only one relief wall appeared. Odder still, there is no clear clue to the relief, which is not connected to the stories of Barong in other reliefs.

So, instead of complaining, Nirya chose to observe the relief more closely. Sculpted there is the image of a group of people kneeling, worshiping towards Barong who actually pointed towards the sky. Perhaps it means that Barong is indeed noble-hearted, asking his devotees to worship the Mahesha only, not himself.

Surprisingly, the direction Barong pointed to, the lion-human figure was tilted to the right-top, not straight up. What the hell does this mean?

Nirya's eyes were wide. He then returned to his colleagues while exclaiming, “Take the right lane, friends!”

“Lho, how do you know that?” ask Arumi.

“From the relief pictures on the wall, of course! There's a lead there!”

“Then we break into the right branch line!” sthira said as he began to move in the direction he was referring to.

Suddenly, three figures flashed past Sthira.

One of them turned out to be Widuri, who exclaimed, “Follow me to the left lane!”

Widuri scratched his arm repeatedly. Vaguely Nirya saw a form of black light flashed, its shape was like a whip. Instantly, the line of ketchup he was hit by fell apart. Nirya flinched, it turned out that Widuri was indeed very powerful, and all this time he pretended to be an ordinary priest whose magic was only limited to the lightening of the body. He was obviously storing energy, but for what?

Nirya did not have time to think about it more than once, because she was helping her comrades break through to the right lane.

Suddenly Nirya shouted, “Friends, sorry I was wrong! We take the left lane only!”

“Whata?” Sthira flinched, so that the machete of one kecak grazed his back.

“So Barong's image turned his back on his followers, and he pointed with his right hand to the top-right. Whereas when we look at Barong from the face, he is actually pointing towards the left-top!”

Arumi commented, “Wah, so Widuri's way of thinking is great! Come!”

So, before it was too late and trapped by whatever was waiting at the end of the road, Nirya, Sthira and Arumi turned around. Again an army of kecak stormed, as if to force the three turned to the wrong path. Despite fatigue, the ferocity of the attacks of the young warriors did not subside in the slightest.

Eventually the kecaks were pushed back, and the intruders instantly switched to the right track. In fact, whether right or wrong, the remaining kecak still stormed.

Feeling responsible for her own mistakes, Nirya put herself at the very back and tried to ward off, resist and even counter-attack the enemy. Wearing, the kecak also moved from the front, as if pinning and squeezing the energy of the intruders until drained.

Now Nirya felt her breath hunting. His sweat poured out, and his movements weakened. The kecak that “killed” here even rose faster than his peers at the beginning of the labyrinth and was clearly tireless. Losing stamina, Nirya, Sthira and Arumi become moons of enemies, blood spurting from their new wounds.

When Nirya's life was like an egg at the tip of a horn, suddenly a whip of black light flashed. The besiegers in front of Nirya collided for a moment, their bodies being slashed horribly. The whip turned out to be very sharp as well, the affected humans were almost certainly torn or slashed very badly.

When the blistering subsided, then Nirya saw the helper, Widuri who approached him casually, accompanied by his two students.

“Well, this is the result if you do not want to follow the instructions,” said Widuri. “Luckily I am still kind enough to give you one more hint, otherwise.”.

Because the siege has loosened, Nirya can freely quip back, “This time I was wrong, but at least the number of errors my instructions are much less than you, bu guide.”

Sthira quickly mediates, “It proves we are still human, ‘kan? Let's just keep moving forward! Look, those kecak-kecak have started to rise again!”

Nirya and Widuri while exchanging sharp gazes, a sign of mutual dislike and mutual suspicion. But they assented Sthira's opinion by continuing to advance, joining the other colleagues in front there.

Until the arrival of Nirya now in a roomy space, limited only with stone walls until almost circular. There was a large stone gate in the distance, a sign that was the exit of this labyrinth.

The stone gate was carved with the image of Barong's face which is known in every carving, sculpture, painting and various other works of art. Barong's eyeballs appear perfectly round, as if always swerved with the lens exactly in the middle of the two. Rows of fangs sticking out of its snout, the longest is the four largest fangs on the furthest side, two sticking up, two down.

Around Barong's face was another line carving, as if it were a sign of the sun. And indeed Barong was the ambassador of the Mahesa, the ruler of light and the sun. The stone door was leafless. Moreover, the strength of Sthira, Nirya, Arumi, Widuri and the two disciples at once will not be able to lift it open.

Reviewing this wall, Sthira asked only one simple question, “How can we get out of this door?”

All listeners flinched. “Lho, how do you know?” ask Arumi.

“Fragrance.” This time Widuri seemed to avoid having to give a detailed explanation.

“Lantas from where? Is there another door?” ask Nirya.

“Take care of me,” said Widuri. The woman then walked to one side of the wall which was all full of relief. Apparently Widuri is new and already understands the meaning of relief, so she now looks full of confidence.

Widuri studied the reliefs one by one, until finally he stood in front of one of them, with the image of Barong in his human form, a very handsome and handsome man with a very muscular body, hairy mane-style lion that looks like a burning fire. The Barong held a bundle of rice in one hand and a piece of cotton plant in the other, and he stood at the threshold of a gate or door.

Arumi who is quite eloquent Barong legend said, “This is the promise and work of the Barong in peacetime. He guided the people, not only the people of the Mahesh, to the welfare of life, to the adequacy of clothing and food, and the gate as home.”

Nirya said, “But, what is the relationship between this image with the other images, and this image was chosen as the actual entrance?”

Widuri was silent for a while, then explained, “Try to see those other pictures. There was a barong who became a mighty king, the ruler of not only Rainusa, but all of Antapada. There is Barong who has infinite wealth, there is Barong as a wise ruler who deserves to rule forever, there is even a Barong who is glorified as a god, higher than the Lord of the Sun.”

Arumi interjected, “But in fact, Barong dismissed all of that and chose to be the protector and guide of the weak people on the path to true prosperity. True, that's what Rangda hated who actually wanted to become the absolute ruler of the Land of Rainusa, even though she had become a queen in an ancient kingdom that had collapsed on the eastern peninsula of Jayandra Island.”

At this point, Widuri's forehead looked wrinkled, her eyes turning giddy. But Widuri quickly covered it up by saying, “Eh, that's why Rangda wants to take over the Barong's position and become the Queen of Fair, the true ruler of Antapada in prophecy since the early days. But his efforts were always run aground, and Rangda had to fall and wake up continuously in order to defeat Barong one day.”

Although his face showed serious interest, Sthira said, “Alright, now we have rested for a while and get enlightenment from Ni Luh Widuri. Thank you for guiding us, now let's face Sang Barong together.”

Widuri. “Good, let's go in.” He then touched the wall berelief doorway while saying a long and unfamiliar spell.

Slowly, the image of Barong on the verge of “door” was lifted by itself in a magical way, leaving a dark gap large enough for even giants to enter.

Seeing that, without realizing it Nirya suddenly goosebumps. His premonition said, there was a big surprise waiting for them all inside.

\==oOo==

Contrary to the labyrinth of tiled earth and rough stone walls, the hallway Nirya saw today was quite magnificent. The floor is lined with neat and orderly stone tiles. The left-right side of the hall is supported by rows of wooden pillars, all carved and painted with detailed, beautiful and colorful pictures.

All the walls here are decorated with reliefs, again depicting the life history of the Barong, his appointment and the granting of mandates to him by the Mahesa himself symbolized by the symbol of the sun, and his struggle against those who threaten peace and life, including his arch-nemesis, Rangda the Queen of Leak.

However, what was most noticeable was a majestic, bright aura that filled all of these halls, as if greeting them all with loving caresses.

As a soft-hearted girl, Nirya felt her steps getting heavier. As if, a form of middle strength encouraged him to just turn around and get out of this Saka Cahya Hall, even from Mount Idharma. However, all the words of Sthira and Mpu Galahasin about the mission they are undergoing, and the terrible consequences if they fail to return ring in his mind. It is this mandate that becomes a power that exceeds even the charism of the Holy Barong. Therefore, Nirya's steps that had receded earlier now swung back steadily.

In the absence of the guide, Ni Luh Widuri and her two student girls walked together, either in front, middle or behind the group Nirya. At a glance, Nirya recalled her conversation with Widuri at the entrance of the hall earlier.

“Lho, elders are not coming with us?” said Nirya who saw Widuri was silent.

Widuri. “You go in first. Let me try to recover my strength first and keep those cockroaches here. After your business with Barong is done, it's my turn.”

“But..!” Nirya almost let go of the talk, saying when their business was done, Widuri's turn would never be. Fortunately, he stopped talking at the right time. Otherwise, the mission must be leaked and they will have to clash with the religious leader who will definitely defend the Ambassador Mahesa. Even Sthira and Arumipun agreed with it from the beginning. Avoid unnecessary clashes and focus on Barong alone.

Unknowingly Nirya had arrived at the end of the hallway. His gaze was immediately centered on a man who was standing straight. Behind the man was a giant white crystal pole soaring that it almost touched the ceiling of Balairung Saka Cahya.

Inevitably, Nirya was flabbergasted and fascinated. Because, the man in the middle of the hall was very sturdy and sturdy. He was bare-chested, and a black tattoo that was a magical script was perfectly tattooed on the midpoint of his chest. His hair was white and fluffy like a lion's mane, and his two eyes were as if they were fiery red.

The man wore a beautifully colorful batik glove with a dominant red color, clashing with white trousers and gold bracelets on his hands and arms, and a kind of gold necklace that adorns his upper chest. His face looked smiling friendly.

“Welcome to Balairung Saka Cahya. My name is Barong, Ambassador Sang Mahesa. Is there a problem until you get in here? Donate a lot of kecak abdiku anyway?” Barong's eyes turned as sharp as the eyes of a hawk aiming for its prey.

The sudden change in pressure from Barong made the faces of Nirya, Sthira and Arumi pale instantly. It felt like they had committed a serious offense, and now they were facing a judge in court.

Rangda image from Megami Tensei's version.