EVERNA Ring of Fire

DABONGSANG Part 5

Dabongsang exclaimed, “Because I am happy to be accompanied by training by a beautiful girl, if you manage to survive my three moves, Senopati Arumi, you say win.”

“I won't disappoint sir.” Arumi prepared a pair of her steam treads.

“Good! Welcome my attack!” Dabongsang charged forward. Once close enough, he slammed his fist that was like a sledgehammer towards the opponent.

With a thin smile, Arumi certainly relied on his agility and speed which was actually balanced with his own inner power. The girl's body twitched to the side like a snake, and her fire fingers were ready to sting the nape of Dabongsang like a pair of venomous snake fangs.

Unexpectedly, the tall-large man moved quite agilely. His body rotated in place with his fists moving diagonally. His fist hit Arumi twice. As a result, the smaller and sleeker Arumi from her opponent bounced to hit the weapon rack in the corner of the room.

Seeing Arumi lying in pain, Nirya shouted hysterically, “Arumi...! I mean, Senopati Arumi!”

“Rise, senopati! That was just one move!” hardik Dabongsang while relaxing, moving the muscles of his chest and arms. “It's impossible that Jayandra sent a weak woman to this hermit's den, isn't it? Unless you're a fake messenger!”

Nirya gasp. Jeez, so this “train-tanding” is usually all to test the validity of a messenger? In the place of the law of the jungle, only those who are hard, tough and strong deserve to survive, he thought.

“If with a third of my energy just now you can't get up again, the choice for a fake messenger like you is only one.. die!”.

Dabongsang then hit the second style. His full-strength fist rippled, splitting the air towards Arumi's forehead.

However, the girl's eyes that were originally sprawled were even flaming. He got up and twitched so that the opponent just punched in the air. Not stopping there, Arumi stung his fire finger on the bone of Dabongsang's foot, making the large body stumble and fall like a new tree cut down.

This time, it was Dabongsang's turn to hold his leg while grimacing in pain. However, what was most painful to him was that his second stance was broken, even he was toppled by a girl.

In order to re-establish his duty, Dabongsang quickly stood up straight and put on a ferocious expression. “How I underestimated you too much, Senopati Arumi. But it's okay, I'll give up one of my mainstays as the last move. Actually, it's a pity that I have to be too cruel to a girl as beautiful as you. How about you just stay here and be my mistress, hm?”

“Sorry, with all due respect, I would rather die than betray Jayandra for sheer wealth and luxury,” Arumi said as she mounted the horses, ready to survive the third straight of Dabongsang. Without his long keris, it was difficult to keep up with an opponent who excelled in terms of this physical strength. If he loses, even if he does not die, he and Nirya must face the most barbaric deeds of the Dabongsang Gang that are unimaginable by anyone.

Everyone present shone a glance at Arumi, either thinking the girl was selfless or stupid. Any girl in general will not refuse that tempting offer.

Dabongsang's eyes bulged. “How dare you reject my offer! You don't know yourself! Consider this third step the death penalty for you!”

The big man lunged forward, then jumped up high. As his body plunged into the force of gravity, he harnessed that power and channeled it through a barrage of fists and kicks, hitting Arumi like a Rain of Cliffs.

Knowing himself as if confined and difficult to avoid, Arumi instead welcomed the attack by jumping straight towards the opponent. All hope of victory rested upon all the firepower concentrated on one finger. Only when the distance of the attack was close enough, Arumi revealed a prana-laden finger equivalent to his mainstay, the Hell's Core Magma Sheet.

One finger of fire then broke the energy of the stone ruins, until finally it stung the temple of the big man's head. Dabongsang bounced back, but his fists had hit Arumi's body. As a result, the two fighters slumped on the floor. One second, two seconds... There was no movement from the two of them.

“Arumi Synopathy!” Nirya cried out hysterically, about to drop the weapons she carried to heal the wounds of her comrades in arms with deep energy.

But Mora, who was standing next to Nirya from the beginning, immediately put on a torso, blocking the movement of the Swarnara girl. A meaningful plot and Mora's head bobble were enough warnings, preventing Nirya from acting rashly. Plus Mora pointed to the middle of the training field, hinting Nirya to pay close attention to the changes that are now happening.

Apparently, while holding onto his dizzy forehead unusually, Dabongsang slowly rose up. “Mehaling!” Blindly, he immediately attacked with a full-strength fist, about to finish off Arumi.

However, the sound of applause accompanied by the heavy voice of a man was clearly heard. “Quite, Dabongsang Hurek, you've shown enough that you're my mighty sister, matchless!”

The burly man who apparently named behind Hurek protested, “But brother, the opponent is already dying after getting hit by my third style!”

“Look carefully, Hurek. Your opponent can still rise.” The man who turned out to be a big-crested lambun was pointing towards the floor.

“Arumi wins,” firmly the fattened full of authority.

Nirya gaped, lest the pond was...

Mora whispered to Nirya, “That's our lord, Dabongsang Zakuay. Who faced Arumi earlier was the First Champion and Vice Chairman, Dabongsang Hurek.”

Although his appearance impressed he prefers to eat than practicing martial arts, Zakuay is “otak”, while Hurek is “ot” Gang Dabongsang.

Poking out the flesh leftovers tucked away in her rare teeth, Dabongsang Zakuay said, “Beautiful fight, Senopati Arumi. I was very entertained to see it, your movements are really as beautiful as a dance.”

Still staggered to restore her balance, Arumi bowed in reverence. “Thank you, Your Majesty Dabongsang.” Adhering to Jayandra's diplomatic procedures, as a guest he deliberately did not talk further, waiting for the host to ask the purpose of his arrival first.

Arumi's polite attitude makes Dabongsang smile wider behind his disheveled mustaches. “Well, what do you mean by your arrival, Jayandra's messengers to my small and simple city?”

Since Arumi was too weak to speak, it was Niryah's turn to speak. “Daulat, Sire. Senopati Arumi and I, Nirya, his deputy are on a secret royal mission. It just so happened that we were staying in this city, so we hope His Majesty will help our mission by providing the supplies we need. Jayandra's country will definitely appreciate His Majesty's help to the highest extent.”

“That's it?” Dabongsang.

“Yes, no more and no less.”

Dabongsang Zakuay sat down and leaned back in the most comfortable chair in the room. He stroked his black beard as if he was thinking hard.

Finally Dabongsang replied, “Alright, I will provide you with the supplies you need. As payment, I only ask for two terms.”

Arumi curious. “What are they, Your Majesty Dabongsang?”

“First, I will write a secret letter to Prabu Narendra, your lord in Jayandra. Deliver the letter to him, and remember, the only one who has the right to unseal him is Narendra.”

“Not a problem,” replied Arumi. Actually he was well aware, whatever was written in the letter must contain instructions about “the most valuable hostage” Dabongsang, namely King Rainusa who was eliminated, Wiranata. The temptation to open the letter was great, and Arumi needed to weigh up the consequences of being branded a traitor to the state and sentenced to death in Jayandra before doing so.

Dabongsang. “Good, you wouldn't mind me wanting that big machete as my second condition, would you?” He pointed towards Nirya.

“But this cleaver belongs to..!” Before Nirya was released, Mora shut the girl's mouth.

“Take your tongue!” murmured Mora with a loud rebuke. “Whatever Dabongsang Zakuay wants, refusing to give it means humiliation for him. Don't light the fire. He can be much more terrible, more powerful than Hurek whose offer Arumi rejected earlier!”

While listening to Mora's words, Nirya heard Arumi again reply, “Please. This talisman was named Gharma and contained the power of lightning. I'm sure my master will definitely like.”

“Ohoho, instead I want to gift it to Hurek, to comfort him after his heart you hurt earlier.” Zakuay swearing naughty. “Come, hand the machete over to him right now.”

With teeth grinding, face unwilling and afraid half dead silent Sthira, Nirya handed the machete that belonged to Sthira timidly. Hurek violently snatched the machete, then plucked the blade from its sheath. He then swung the machete, silently admiring its perfect weight and balance, fitting for him.

While Nirya and Arumi were standing on the spot, the faces of the two girls were very gloomy. Imagine, losing a powerful weapon for the sake of supplies, would Sthira also do the same if her cleaver was requested by the supreme ruler in Dabongsang? For now, they cannot break the arbitrary rule of the ruler of this city. Not yet, not yet the time to act.

Of course Nirya hopes, hopefully, Sthira is infiltrating the headquarters of this criminal, so that Sthira can immediately take back his mansion.

Sthira, where are you now?

Illustration: Mora Gorge, one of the champions of Dabongsang by Andry Chang