The Thousand Mask Warrior

Peudeung

"Let me and Ireng get on that ship first" Siam said as the rope was thrown on the de Paula. Indeed, since they managed to approach the ship, there was no resistance or any form of suspicious action at all. When Siam and Ireng yelled at the ship to prepare the rope because the sailors were about to climb up, the crew agreed.

"No. You and Ireng live here" said Narendra. Of course, Narendra's speech made both Siam and Ireng surprised. "We want to help, sir. Don't worry, we are able to take care of ourselves as before" replied Siam.

"That's not the case, Siam. You're needed on this ship. We only have a few crew. When what happens up there, only you can afford to have a quick decision. After all, don't get too many people on the deck. Density will make the atmosphere murky," this time the bed that speaks.

"What is going to happen to you so we have to be careful? You're great warriors, aren't you?" Ireng asked Narendra and Katilapan.

"You believe in us, especially Jayaseta don't you? Right, we'll sort this out as soon as possible. You're keeping it down not because we're not sure we're gonna make it through this. Think about when they cunningly did something to Jung Raja Nio, for example. Who can know and know it?" katilapan.

Ireng and Siam looked at each other. The two cannot deny the truth in the words of Narendra and Katilapan. "good. Return immediately. Shout when there is something or anything you want from us. I also will not relax the guard and supervision," said Ireng. Siam also nodded.

***

Narendra and Katilapan had arrived first on the deck of the ship. Datuk Mas Kuning and Jayaseta followed. The mask worn by Jayaseta covered the entire picture of the warrior's deathly pale face as it reached a rope stretching from the yacht to the ship led by de Paula.

***

Jala Jangkung, the Javanese blooded skipper from Semarang with a soft face and sumringah was standing in front of the four warriors on the deck of his ship. "Welcome to this humble servant ship, gentlemen. What is the need so that the gentlemen have to be very troublesome to pursue my ship?" said the captain with a big smile on his face.

Datuk Mas Kuning spoke up first. "Your pleasantries need not be used. You must understand the purpose of our arrival, right?"

Jala Jangkung laughed crisply. "I think only young blood is always bubbling up so forget adab, courtesy and tatakrama, but apparently, sepuh also can," Jala Jangkung told the Datuk.

"This has absolutely nothing to do with grammar. What game are you playing so easily that you use the jungs we're riding on as bait and target other ships' attacks?"

Narendra, Katilapan, and Jayaseta all set their sights on the deck. There were many warriors who had prepared their weapons secretly although they were still clearly visible to their eyes. Even the crew of various ages, from the young and visible one who is old enough to be a crewman, still working despite secretly stealing hear and look.

"Alright, it feels like there's no need to mince words anymore. My time will be at your service. This ship had to go as far away from the center of the battle as possible," the skipper's face changed completely. From soft face to hard and alert.

Jala Jangkung raised one hand. The warriors who stood up instantly took their respective weapons.

Jala Jangkung retreated, turned around, then walked up a ladder and sat on the top floor, on a wooden bench like a king's throne. Beside him, the shooters from Ambonia and Flores prepared their beds as well but did not direct them to Jayaseta's entourage.

Before long, a door beside the far seat of the skipper opened. A Pranggi with pale skin, blue eyes, blonde hair peeked out from inside the Malay-style headband out of the room. His body was wrapped in indigenous clothing, but once you look at the four warriors who just arrived on the deck of this ship understand that the figure is a bule.

"No wonder. The Caucasians are behind them" muttered Datuk Mas Kuning.

***

Babiat Sibolang threw singiris longitude which was treated as a javelin towards the four warriors. The thin and slender wooded singiris longitude was pushed aside easily by Datuk Mas Kuning, thrown into the middle of the sea. Keris the Datuk has escaped his war.

Some Acehnese warriors poured forward. Their right hand has grasped an Arabic-style curved sword known as peudeung. Jayaseta instantly recognized a sword style similar to that of the Middle Eastern-influenced shamsir. This weapon is a pair of stabbing weapons, daggers, Aceh style, namely rencong, in their left hand. These two weapons become a complementary pair, where the peudeung mow down enemies from a distance, while the rencong is ready when the enemy approaches.

Jayaseta shifted her body away from her comrades. Datuk Mas Kuning retreated, while Katilapan and Narendra rolled forward.

The Acehnese warriors, five men, advanced in pursuit of the enemy. Behind them, Toba's fellow Babiat Sibolang men had already raised the singiris longitude parallel to the head, looking for space and a target to release their javelins.

Two of the seven warriors Bugis and Mangkasara pulled out a short sword called alamang or sudang. The rest are confident enough to hold the mangkasara and Bugis keris and badik. The blood had bubbled up making them impatiently advance to the fight.

In the back layer, there were still three cold-faced Nias slaves. Their right hand holds a balato sword or handcuffs with a baluse shield in the other hand. At least one enemy head had to be removed from his body, they thought. Similar to tribal warfare in their place of origin, where tribes attacked each other and beheaded to get slaves.

Maybe they came from a defeated tribe and became slaves, but this time, they did not intend to remain shackled.

***

Of course the question came to mind of the various national warriors on this ship, including Jala Jangkung the skipper and de Paula who stood beside him about a warrior wearing a Mah Meri mask. But, that'll be an explanation later. This fight is too exciting to be bothered with such trivial matters.

***

Jayaseta is agile when two when the peudeung pursues his chest and stomach by crossing. He then patted the fast-moving singiris oblong pecking towards his neck. The spear shaft slid through the skin of his outer arm. Jayaseta turned her arm and caught the back end of the javelin thrown at her.

He immediately blatant singiris to two Acehnese warriors who immediately retreated far away, creating space between himself and the attackers.

***

The bed twisting ginunting slashing and piercing. One Acehnese warrior rolled to the side. In front of him a piercing singiris. The bed of Toba's spear then charged forward. But he again had to retreat because Babiat Sibolang jumped and thrust piso towards his head.

***

Narendra moved back and forth piercing his trident spear. The speed of his puncture style tore the skin of an Acehnese swordsman's arm, but he was almost eaten by a sharp prick when trying to advance. He rolled back. When raising his head, the Acehnese swordsman was already on top of his head ready to throw a glittering peudeung blade on the skull.

***

The warriors and sailors Bugis and Mangkasara shouted loudly. It was time to get into the battle. If you wait too long then their heads may explode so not strong patience.

All of them pushed forward, targeting which opponent will be targeted. Maybe the old man first, they thought. The vulnerable old man, the old man who is like a master. Must be kris, badik and alamang or sudang they do not mind drinking the blood of grandparents.