EVERNA Ring of Fire

TUBAR'E Part 4

Back in the headquarters of the Dabongsang Gang...

After convincingly "removing" Jawara Empat, Gega, now Dhaka can calmly herd his "captive", Sthira in a dungeon environment without the slightest disturbance.

Or rather, basically the criminals do not want to interfere in the arena of contention between champions. It is far more profitable for them to side with the victor than to graze the magic swordsman who is as powerful as ten adult men, like Dhaka for example.

Everything, life, position, authority is maintained only by relying on strength alone. Such was the cycle that occurred in the environment of the law of the jungle like in this Dabongsang Gang.

So, even though it seems resigned to be led to prison, not a second Sthira relaxes his vigilance. His eyes, ears, entire body and consciousness continued to be centered on Dhaka and the surrounding environment.

Power struggles are common in this gang. It is possible that Dhaka considers this an opportunity to "dive while drinking water". In order to strengthen his position, as he told Gega earlier, Dhaka could have dismantled their plan on the pretense of conspiring with Sthira, and scooped up all services for thwarting the efforts to release Wiranata.

There is one more thing that disturbs the prejudices of Sthira on Dhaka. The bracelets attached to both of his wrists should be magic-charged bracelets. The person who was shackled with this bracelet must be limp, unable to exert energy to fight, let alone gather inner strength and mana to cast magic. Sthira's shackles were clearly ordinary bracelets, so Sthira had only feigned limp since entering this base.

However, anything that strengthens and weakens Sthira's trust in her new ally will be ensured after her body is pushed violently into the cell wall of the dungeon.

"Heh, you think it's a way to gain the sympathy of your Highness Dabongsang after you make that troublemaker" mocked Dhaka in front of the rest of the gang. "Just try to be friends with the only prisoner in this prison, good luck, hahaha!"

Dhaka and all the villains went from the most smelly, damp and slovenly part of this Dabongsang Headquarters. When they were all unseen again, Sthira could breathe a sigh of relief.

Well, that relief was just a snap. That was because the next moment, Sthira saw a very shabby-looking man curled up in the corner of the cell. The man hid his face between his knees. But Sthira could feel an unusual aura emanating from the man's existence.

Sthira gasped and walked up to the mysterious man. He said, "A-do you... Your Majesty King Wiranata?"

The man did not react immediately. Slowly, he raised his head and first observed the person who had invited him to speak. The man's face should be able to cool the heart of anyone who sees it. But the beautiful face of the young man was now covered in bushy mustaches, plus long hair disheveled. Now the appearance of the man invites more pity than liking.

After a moment of silence, the man spoke in a swinging tone, “Wiranata yes... I haven't heard the name mentioned for a long time, especially with the addition of ‘Paduka’, ‘Raja’ or something like that.  I'm Jah. Nothing else, just Jah.”

"But the aura of the king that surrounds you cannot lie" Sthira debated. "Whatever you try to cover it up, you are the true King Rainusa."

"There's no Wiranta! My name is Jah! Jah! Remember that!" hardik the man with rough.

Sthira. He did not understand what Wiranata meant by using the name "Jah. Has the king been so depressed that he has lost his sanity and common sense? Or was Wiranata suspicious of Sthira, the swordsman not the Rainusa who was deliberately placed here by Dhaka?

Or, is Dhaka really not a Wiranata confidant?

However, rather than complicate things, Sthira was forced to participate in this "shade. "B-well, Jah. Yes, indeed Jah is much easier to remember than Wi...!"

"Eit, eit, eit...!" Wiranata aka Jah interrupts. Whether he realized it or not, the grand aura the king possessed again suppressed Sthira.

"Good, Jah. Now you better get ready, we're out of here..."

"Wait, man. It's the only place I can meditate in peace. For what reason did I leave this place? Especially with a foreign Kalingga whose name I don't know?"

Sthira jerks. "Ah, forgive my insolence. My name is Sthira Tarunaga. I'm from Kalingga, but I'm a traveling warrior who doesn't serve King Kalingga or anyone."

"So, at whose direction or request are you going to set me free? Dhaka, loyal office in Rainusa, or... The Mahesa herself?"

Hearing that, Wiranata was fixated for a moment. A moment later, he laughed out loud. "Haha! Funny too, the Mahesa sent his blind man, Barong to send another man to free this Jah. It's worth it he didn't intervene!"

Actually Barong had a strong reason not to personally come to Dabongsang. Sthira knew very well the reason that was very much related to him and the "Ring of Fire. But he chose not to reveal it to Wiranata to avoid misunderstanding.

So Sthira replied, "Yes, the Mahesa is indeed very magical and unexpected. Well, since I'm already here, it's a sign that the Mahesa wants you to come out of 'peace' and return to Danurah, fix all Rainusa that has been 'randomized' by Bakangga."

Seeing that the look on Wiranata's sour face might not change, Sthira quickly added, "Please come back, for the sake of Rainusa's people."

Wiranata frowned for a moment, then finally said, "Well, I'll come with you. On condition that, until we get out of Dabongsang City, you should still call me Jah and pretend not to know my true identity."

"All right." For Sthira, the business of calling names is easy, although not trivial. The trouble is pretending not to know Jah is a king.

"Then we just wait until Dhaka is ready and pick us up here."

While saying so, Wiranata just nodded quickly and came back curled up in the corner. Occasionally he scratches his armpits and holes**** under his shabby pants and moans comfortably.

Although his face was facing the wall, Sthira was sure that Wiranata was smiling peacefully and contemplating. Because of this "sudden invitation" Wiranata had to re-remember his identity, "changing" from Jah back to being king in exile.

After all, the time available for the process of "change" was very short.

Not even an hour before Sthira again "tasting" the dungeon, Dhaka again appeared in the quietest part of Dabongsang Headquarters.

This time, Dhaka did not bother to talk to the guards anymore. With a very quick and sudden movement, his spear hit the bodies of the two men without mercy, ending their lives.

The screams of the guards might make more people storm this place. Not wanting to waste a second, Dhaka darted and broke through the iron door of the already very fragile and rusty cell with his terrible strength.

"Come with Dhaka! We get out of here, Sthira and Yang.. uh, Jah!" shakah Exclamation.

As it was ready, Wiranata rushed behind Sthira and Dhaka. The look on her face was now more tense than when Sthira first saw her. Is this because Jah has completely returned to being Wiranata? I don't know, the important thing is they have to get out of this base safely. As much as possible do not let them be blocked by criminals, let alone the Dabongsang Brothers.

Without his machete, Sthira was forced to pick up an ordinary machete from the body of one of the guards. He chose to follow Dhaka's movements in front of him, not in a hurry, not too slow and his steps barely made a sound.

Even when climbing the creaking wooden stairs every step on foot, Sthira tried hard so as not to cause noise by stepping slowly.

Precisely when Sthira set foot on the ground floor, a group of criminals have formed a posse surrounded himself, Dhaka and Wiranata.

What was surprising was that the leader of the party, a tall-large man whom Sthira had never seen before treading forward from the posse, his footsteps heavy as if to cause an earthquake. What was most surprising to Sthira was that the man clasped tightly onto a large unsheathed machete, which he easily recognized as the Thunder Mandau, Gharma. Shouldn't the Dharma be in Arumi's hands? How could the machete change hands?

Before Sthira could think any further, the big man rebuked loudly, "Eit, eit! Don't expect you, the rats can get out of here with the most valuable hostages in Dabongsang!"

Dhaka instead rebuked, "Jawara Satu and Vice Chairman of Dabongsang Gang, Dabongsang Hurek! Dhaka did not expect, even though Jawara Dua was not at the headquarters, even Hurek who appeared here!"

"Huh, you underestimated me, Dhaka Komodorai! I'm not only the strongest, but I also have a long sense! I've 'sniffed' your plan when you set foot on the base, smuggling prisoners in fake shackles! Especially after you killed Gega, my main supporter and ally! So whatever your plan, the result will still be the same, your fate and that spy will end here, right now!"

Image Source: Lake 3 Colors Mount Kelimutu for reference crater lake 3 colors Mount Tubar'e. Source: Metroterkini.com