EVERNA Ring of Fire

WATAS Part 7

"Shut up! How dare you ask back, add another question! You irreverent child! It's better for Vrithra to eat you, so I don't have to be driven out of the Boga Force Forest and sentenced to be a gatekeeper like this!"

Gawat, lest Banoamak harbored a grudge against Dapu Dapu. Should the Watas residents of this one be faced with violence?

"After all, what do you mean you brought four foreigners into this country? Anyone is prohibited from entering the Land of Watas, except with the permission of Rai Taksaka and Rai Savitri!"

"Rai Savitri?" ask Dapu Dapu. "Dapu Dapu only knew there was a second ruler..."

"Rai Savitri is Rai Taksaka's wife, and is Empress Watas!" Banoamak growled impatiently, then alerted his squad. "Here you go, let me destroy you all here and present Dapu Dapu to Vrithra, who knows I will be returned to my home, the Forest of Boga Force!"

"Eit, wait for you, sir!" Dapu Dapu raised both of his palms. "Dapu Dapu dared to return to Watas because Sang Srisari sent Dapu Dapu to guide these mandraguna magic warriors. They're the ones who will help Rai Taksaka take down Vrithra and free Watas."

Banoamak's forehead is wrinkled. "Huh? I didn't hear wrong, did I? Many magical demons in Watas, what made the Srisari choose these four humans?"

"The reason is simple. The demons only attach importance to the safety of themselves and their respective people. The powerful men at Watas could not unite and cooperate. As a result, many demons like Dapu Dapu were forced to run away. More victims of Vrithra's cruelty."

"Lantas, what about them?" Banoamak pointed towards the humans.

"Their devotion may not necessarily be able to match Vrithra. However, they have traveled around Antapada and conquered beings with godlike powers."

"How can you?"

"The key is cooperation" continued Sthira. "We help each other, complement each other like hands and feet. It was the cooperation that made the four of us arrive at this place safely. Although we made many mistakes and failed many times, with a united heart, one goal is that we finally move forward."

Arumi added, "So Banoamak, will you cooperate with us?"

Hearing all that, Banoamak was silent for a moment. Then his laughter exploded, his belly so distended that it swayed.

"What do you mean by that?" Nirya clasped her chain kerambit tightly.

The demon anoa-babirusa slammed his rock as if stuck straight on the ground. He raised both hands and said, "So by uniting and cooperating, any enemy can be conquered, huh? What if this partnership fails?"

Sthira replied firmly, "Then Watas will be our grave."

The mood was silent for a moment. Then the silence was broken by the heavy yet somewhat gentle sound of Banoamak. "Alright, I'll help you by giving you a hint. Today, the Forest of Heaven is managed by Rai Savitri, a devoid human woman forced to work by Vrithra. He is under the influence of mind-controlling food, so that he becomes a slave without his own will. Heal the queen, eat she will help you too."

"You sure brought food for this trip, didn't you?" Banoamak. "Give Savitri that meal, then the magic that binds him will be destroyed."

Dhaka, who was in charge of carrying the most goods, said, "Oh, it's a shame that all the supplies sank when Dhaka fell into the lake earlier."

"Dearly enough. You must take down the queen."

"Wait!" exclaim the driver. "Dapu Dapu still has the fruits that Dapu Dapu picked in the Lasuardi forest for additional supplies! Dapu Dapu was hanging on Dhaka's body, so it did not fall. Here goes!"

Dapu Dapu grabbed the bag that was always stuck on his back while checking the contents. It turned out that the fruits were still intact and fresh, so everyone in the place heaved a sigh of relief.

"It's good, Dapu Dapu!" Dhaka patted gently on the boy's shoulder.

Nirya then spoke to the guard, "Thank you, Banoamak. We'd better leave now..."

"Eit, wait a minute!" banoamak suddenly. "Who said I'd let you guys through? I'm willing to cooperate with you, but you'll have to pass my barrier before you enter!"

Without further warning, the demon anoa-babirusa moved forward while twirling its body continuously. His forces also circled around, like a whirlwind that continued to hit in this not-so-extensive battlefield.

"But sir...!" Dapu Dapu wants to protest. But because one swing of the mace was pointing right at him, he was forced to curl up, sneaking around like a porpoise. Banoamak's simple attacks were easily avoided, and Dapu Dapu continued to enter the mouth of the cave. "Through here!"

It was also easy for Nirya and Arumi to sneak up and catch up with the guide, picking up Sthira who was still recovering completely from her exhaustion.

On the other hand, Dhaka who was least agile among the four people in the group while standing with two legs was hit hard in the stomach. Almost losing his balance, he exclaimed to his opponent, "Banoamak, just go to sleep first!"

Forcing himself to move quickly between aches, Dhaka concentrated his inner energy at the base of the blunt spear. Then he struck the base of the spear right between the head and shoulders of Banoamak, where the nape of his neck should be.

Banoamak as if pecking in place. Then he said softly, "Good, so I can make excuses." He then collapsed kissing the ground, not moving anymore.

Dapu Dapu who had been waiting for the group at the mouth of the cave approached Dhaka, his forehead wrinkled. Dhaka is ready to respond to the boy. "Don't worry, your master just fainted. Dhaka won't kill Watas's people, let alone the one who gave me the lead..."

"Oh, Dapu Dapu is not too dizzy whether Banoamak lives or dies. For sure don't let him hurt your sweet brother, that's all." Hearing Dapu Dapu's innocent comments, Nirya and Dhaka just shook their heads. In fact, with a cheerful tone back the dreadlocks talk while walking quickly. "Come, let's walk. Next stop, Forests of Celaksa Boga."

Suddenly, Dhaka felt his own stomach rumble. Even the great, strong and mighty Komodorai at certain times can be hungry like living things in general.

Reference image for anoa-****deer, Banoamak stealth from the Indonesian Wikipedia.