The Thousand Mask Warrior

Lasara

Hunting heads and attacking other tribes to obtain slaves from the tribe was very common and even important as part of the Nias community, especially the fighters and chieftains, even before the Caucasians reached the archipelago.

The problem now is that, before the 17th century AD, the Nias slave trade only took place on the islands of Samudra Malay and Aceh, but after the arrival of the bull traders, the demand for the supply of these slaves increased.

The slave trade became high at Walanda's request in Betawi and Madagascar. The chieftains at Nias then made many profits on this slave trade. Having slaves, the chieftains were considered strong and powerful. Tribal wars to hunt down enemy heads and make defeated tribes slaves - or take slaves already in the tribe - are increasing.

Indeed, if thought, this is similar to the headhunting war of the rural Daya tribe on the island of Tanjung Pura. But there are some differences. For example, these Nias warriors were targeting treasures in the form of gold jewelry. The Nias tribes attacked other tribes for slaves, or vice versa, because other tribes attacked to take slaves, then the tribe had to be avenged to get their slaves back.

In contrast to the Daya tribe where headhunting is carried out as a form of culture, beliefs and certain ceremonial conditions, the Nias take the head of the enemy to be exhibited in front of their house which is called bale as a form of show of power. The chieftain who has many enemy heads is highly respected because it means he has the strength and wealth to be able to and deserve to own and sell slaves.

Three Nias warriors dressed in Katilapan area clothing: buttonless and sleeveless tops in red, yellow and black and cloth subordinates wrapped in loincloths, had already passed their balato swords. The short sword had a scabbard that contained a kind of small round basket of rattan containing a variety of amulets from tiger fangs or wild boar fangs for the power of attack. The lasara-shaped handle of balato - a Nias-respected creature with a sinister shape and a combination of birds, dragons, deer or tigers with horns - swayed as the blade of balato was played. In their left hand, the Nias warriors grasped a wooden shield shaped like a banana leaf named baluse.

It is time for these Nias warriors and warriors to carry out their obligations. They were from one of the Nias tribes that lost the war. The leader liked it and many soldiers were killed and beheaded. They themselves became slaves sold.

De Paula bought them, not as slaves, but as mercenaries. De Paula was able to see the skills of these three people well. They were assigned to various attacks and defenses of Pranggi's enemies. Clearly they were more fortunate than the other Nias slaves who sacrificed themselves in the service of enemy ships today.

***

The roaring bed charged forward using both of its rotational rods. Kali Majapahit moves back scattering out.

PRAK, PRAK, PRAK!!!

Three strokes of nearly ten quick blows Katilapan almost went into the head of Babiat Sibolang, but was aground by the spikes of his two iron-hard arms.

Mossak Toba is accustomed to exercises to harden the body including both hands in order to face various attacks. Seeing Katilapan pull out both of his rotational sticks made Babiat Sibolang dare to hit both his arms to fend off the attack of the Bisaya swordsman.

Katilapan also felt a fundamental difference between warriors with immune knowledge and Toba warriors. The skin that is impenetrable due to the ability of the occult can still be broken through with deep force to destroy the bones or innards of the opponent's body, but the Toba Mossak makes the skin, the, the flesh and bones of this warrior are just as strong naturally although not necessarily able to withstand sharp weapons.

Narendra jumped into his spear. Babiat Sibolang. The palm of his hand where the fingers bend to form the sole of the tiger's foot is ready to release energy in crushing Narendra's chest when he was in the air.

The bed glided with the low horses and slashed Babiat Sibolang's hand as hard as possible.

PRAK!

The rattan cane rattled broken, laced with fibers. Babiat Sibolang's arms barely shifted at all, so the tiger palm blow made from Mossak Toba was still hit Narendra's chest.

The attacked one was thrown and rolled on the floor of the deck of the ship. The trident spear came off. The bed was stunned, but not long because his body was also pushed by the Babiat Sibolang kick.

The enemy's kick didn't really hurt Katilapan. He got up slowly, threw away his rotten wand that had been broken and looked at Narendra anxiously.

Fortunately, the power blow in Babiat Sibolang was disturbed by Katilapan so that not all the power in managed to get out and provide great destruction.

"You okay, Narendra?" katilapan.

Narendra shook his head, "You go first, Katilapan. I sat here first," he said tiredly.

Katilapan sighed bitterly and shook his head, "You're this, Narendra. Who told you to always attack from the top? You're an easy target for him. Can't you see the horses are so low?"

Narendra laughed mockingly. "Ah, how are you? Crushed your rattan too, didn't it?"

"It's all because of you. I still have one rattan anyway. Look carefully how I beat him," Katilapan replied no less mocking.

"Please, please ... Good luck, friend," said Narendra again smiling irritatedly.

***

Three Nias warriors won't lose. Unlike the warriors who used to fight on the deck of the ship with their low horses, the three jumped unusually high like squirrels towards Jayaseta and Datuk Mas Kuning.

Jayaseta rolled back and avoided the two slashes of the two Nias warriors. Datuk Mas Kuning is gently twitching. The tip of the balato just as wide as his nose.

Jayaseta lowered her head, relaxed her hands, including the right hand that held the peudeung. The horses are relaxed, not low nor high. Mah Meri's mask covered her face. The two enemies could not figure out what was going on behind it, including the usual feeling drawn on the face as well as the sight of both eyes.

Datuk Mas Kuning just momentarily glanced towards Jayaseta. He immediately went forward to reply to the opponent's attack: wagging the holster and turning his dagger.

YES, NO!

Two punctures stuck in baluse's shield. The swordsman jumped short and slashed straight sideways towards the neck. Datuk Mas yellow flickers its sheath which instantly tears apart the balato tarpaulin.

Jayaseta follows Datuk Mas Kuning's attack which has been done to one of his opponent's Nias warriors. He shifted a little, then jumped short while blasting the peudungnya to one swordsman Nias.

THE TRACK!

Peudeung attacks can be repelled. But Jayaseta used a small chance after he jumped short to throw his body high jump.

While spinning once in the air, he read the peudeung towards the enemy's head behind the baluse. This quick and unexpected attack was still able to be fended off by the enemy by raising his balloon.

Sparks of fire were seen from the impact of the two metal blades of the sword. As a result of Jayaseta's powerful slash, the warrior Nias was inevitably pushed forward. He rolled back to prepare the horses.

***

Upstairs, de Paula was getting riled up. He could no longer bear to see the troops and their mercenaries downed one by one. He raised his hand slowly, as a sign of the order of the shooters preparing quietly.

The crew of the slave ship Nias, some Balinese and an old man in black soot also watched the movements of the gunners carefully. All of them secretly exchanged messages. The older crew slowly felt the cloth headgear and took a small round metal slab with a hole in the middle.