KNIGHTS OF MANAH VALLEY

The Big Match (1)

Until the long-awaited time of the young warriors of the entire Yava Country began, The Great Match. Unlike the Government Competition, the Great Competition was more crowded and attended by spectators from the three kingdoms. With the shortlisted warrior, surely the Big Match will be more entertaining.

Right next to the right of the royal palace, the battle arena was ready. With a capacity of more than a thousand spectators, plus a hundred benches for the royal officials, and of course benches for participants. The arena is round, with the spectator bench getting higher to the back.

The participants enter the match area and sit on a bench that has been prepared. Patih Ragas and Wanapati sit behind the Valley of Manah and Wulan. Along with the companions of other participants.

Ki Pethuk Cemeng was seen together with Ki Sabdo Bujono, sitting next to Patih Ragas and Wanapati. The two leaders of the college elders acted as Giandra's companion from the Wulung Bamboo and Barani Perguruan Putih.

Unbeknownst to the kingdom, Ki Pethuk Cemeng brought three of his students to infiltrate the audience—one of which is Gantala, is in the eastern block. While Ki Sabdo Bujono brought five of his students to blend in with the audience, one of them was Rahmawati was in the southern block.

While Ki Lugut Salari sat some distance away from the group of Patih Ragas, bringing five of his students—one of whom was Pranayuda, was in the western block. While Ki Jaladara also brought five of his students, including the Three Flower Brothers, in the north block.

Elders Anggada sat at the corner, unexpectedly Ni Luh also came and sat beside Elders Anggada. While Jayadipa and Nata blend together with the audience— is in the upper back corner. All college students from the Sokapura region split in several directions.

From the Indra Pura Kingdom, Ki Rangga Sabekti also sits behind the Sakethip and Sambara Lintang. They brought their five new students scattered into one with the audience. While Ki Purbowono was sitting behind Lingga, they brought five disciples plus Galih and Galuh who became one with the audience.

From Tanjung Pura Kingdom, Ki Rogojambang sits behind Bergas Lukito. They took five college students who were scattered outside the arena and disguised themselves as merchants.

Ki Bayu Maruto sits behind Puspo Baskoro and Ranti Lemini. They brought five of his students who blended into one with the audience.

It seemed that they wanted to suppress Ki Badra's movements with close supervision.

The soldiers stood guard inside and outside the match area, not to forget the medical section was also preparing on the edge of the arena.

Seemed King of Grand Officers sitting on the throne front, followed by his two sons Tirta Banyu—ayah from Tatar Pakujiwo. And his second son—Kusumawijaya.

“Guests!” A large man about in his forties calmed the entire arena. It was Patih Sobo Lepen. “SOon we start the Big Match!”

“Participants are expected to pick up a lottery number!” patih Sobo Lepen said pointing to a box containing lottery numbers in front of the judges. “And please sit on the bench corresponding to your drawing number!”

All participants sat on a bench that had been listed in sequence numbers from one to sixteen.

From number one, there is Princess Nastiti, grandson of the King of Great Officers and daughter of Kusumawijaya.

Bench number two is Sangga Buana, son of Patih Sobo Lepen.

In third place, Roko Wulung—grandson of Patih Ragani, another coach from Indra Pura.

Next there is Giandra, then Wulan, Lintang, Ranti and some participants until Manah Valley gets the last number.

“Rules easy!” patih Sobo Lepen. “Use all your abilities. Getting out of the arena is considered a loss. If either of you cannot continue the fight, I have the right to stop the fight, cannot kill each other!”

“I'll call your number!” continued Patih Sobo Lepen while raising both hands to the right and to the left as high as his chest. Then came a translucent shield at the edge of the arena, in anticipation of an attack that led to the audience.

“Starting from number sixteen, against number nine!” shouts Patih Sobo Lepen.

Realizing that he was number sixteen, the Valley of Manah moved from his seat. With a slow step the young man noticed the fanfare of the entire arena.

From another angle, a twenty-year-old youth with the number nine, entered the arena by lightening his body. The young man was carrying a sword that was tucked into his waist, wearing all-white clothes with the elephant's head on his back.

“I Narendra from Elephant Grass College!” said the young man.

The Valley of Manah also introduces itself and mentions the origin of its college. Narendra has a late-stage Inggil-level canuragan, if absorbing the Precious Natural Stone of course the young man entered the Bantolo level.

“Start!” shouts Patih Sobo Lepen.

Without installing the horses, the Manah Valley shot up by maximizing the natural energy on both soles of his feet towards Narendra who was still standing upright.

With one palm strike open, the Valley of Manah landed on Narendra's left shoulder without using any inner energy. Narendra was thrown far back out of the arena.

“The Winner of Manah Valley from Sacred Soul College!” shouts Patih Sobo Lepen.

“What!” one of the spectators widened his eyes. “Ago fast that young man!”

“How is it possible!” tell another audience.

“Good Valley! First appearance directly succeeded!” Wanapati.

The Manah Valley returned to its seat with a smile towards the audience. While Narendra received treatment from medics who had been on standby at the edge of the arena.

“Who is this boy!” exclaimed one of the leaders of the college who had never heard the name of Manah Valley.

Usually the Sacred Soul College never sends its students in the Great Match because it always loses in the young swordsman's match in the kingdom. But this time, the Manah Valley disconnected that assumption and made the audience surprised by his performance.

In his previous fight, the Manah Valley had absorbed natural energy several times, but the young man could only still absorb wind energy. In fact, the Pancawarna Stone is able to produce four other energies, namely fire, water, earth, and lightning.

Those five natural energies would likely still be able to vary, just staying in the Manah Valley would absorb what energy around it.

The next fight was not so tense, the number fifteen player against number ten who turned out to be Prince Tatar Pakujiwo, but lost decisively. The prince could too.

“Number one, against number five!” patih Sobo Lepen.

“Your turn, princess!” lirih Patih Ragas behind Wulan.

Nastiti number one, the girl climbed into the arena by lightening her body, in another corner of Wulan that number five seemed to be just walking into the fighting arena.

It seems like this fight brought together two descendants of the king. Nastiti, the daughter of Kusumawijaya who is the second son of King and Wulan who is the daughter of King Brahma.

“Start!” shouts Patih Sobo Lepen.

The two of them only looked at each other from a distance of ten steps. Intentions want to feel the strength of the opponent, but both are glued to each other and have not made one move.