The Thousand Mask Warrior

Robbery of an Arab Merchant

The horse-drawn carriage and two ox-drawn carts had come to a complete stop. Exactly nine bagundals stood at very fitting conditions surrounding the group which was later known to be owned by the Arab merchant.

All the clinking weapons had already come out of the scabbard. Three men from the bagundal held tightly to the short cleaver, two people holding the kelewang , the other two people hold a short and long spear with a calcareous or megantara-shaped spear eye that is a kitchen of three-humped spear eyes at the base but straight tapered at the end, while the last person who seems to be the leader of the bagundals has drawn a long and wide keris with beautiful and complicated carvings in the head. It seems that this heirloom keris is a keris in the style of the island of Bali or Samudra Malay Island.

All of them have a cruel face. Not only from the look on their faces, but cuts and codets prove that they have gone through the rigors of life as seasoned robbers. In addition to the hair that curls are deliberately not curled, all also grow whiskers and beards although not all of them succeed. Some of these begal people seem to force to grow a thin and rare beard and mustache. All done to show the effect of agar and cruel.

They also dressed in black to support their robbing appearance. But even though they are black-black, even to their jarit and iket, their fashion materials are the best silk materials that are soft and beautiful. The icons on their heads were decorated with silver or gold. They also wore gold and silver necklaces decorated with precious stones under their sleeveless shirts and buttons. Their belts are of cowhide and buffalo with the best material so that the luxurious shine is exposed to sunlight that slips through the sidelines of the trees. Their upper arms also did not escape the silver ornaments that encircled them.

The chairman himself is quite well-groomed with a thick mustache and a neatly arranged beard. Unlike his subordinates who wore sleeveless shirts and buttons, he wore a black silk shirt with sleeves along the wrists with shiny silver buttons and gold chains. If not from their abusive behavior and words, one would have guessed they were wealthy merchants instead of begundals. This legal troupe seems to be proficient in their work and really enjoy the results of their robbery by becoming rich.

With the officers of these mules showing their power and threat to their potential victims, “Woi .. out all!” one of the members of the mule was bluffing.

Before long, the door of the horse carriage that was at the very front opened. But before his passengers could be seen, at the same time from within the two oxcarts in the rear row, he yelled at ten men armed with swords, spears and shields. Their clothes show approximate clothing. The ten armed men rushed forward to protect the horse-drawn carriage and face their obstructors.

“Wah, wah, wah .. there was a surprise apparently,” the begundal leader who unsheathed the keris is now speaking with his voice of the para. “No loss I block this troupe. I told you our job this time was right. Looks like we're going to have a big harvest today kids, ha ha ha …” his speech this time was intended for the group of robbers of his subordinates who were then struck with the laughter of men who he called ‘anak-anak’.

Although it is found that this group is not without protection and resistance, the leader robbed even excited. This for the leader meant that the objects carried in the horse-drawn carriage and the ox-cart must have been very valuable. Moreover, the ox cart and horse carriage are indeed from another beginning than others because of the luxury of its shape.

After laughing satisfied the robber leader instead put a long, beautiful furred keris into the sheath that is tucked in the belt of the front of his clothes. Then he backed off, pulled over and pushed down sitting cross-legged by the road, just under the jackfruit tree, “Come kids, give it a fun spectacle! Play with them first, but not too long, later I will be bored,” his raucous voice gives orders to his men with a tremendous impression of disdain.

Hearing this command their laughter and stiffness disappeared and did not wait for long the mules immediately put their silat horses ready to attack. Their faces became increasingly violent and serious contrary to the words of the leader who seemed to underestimate the enemy. It seems clear that I have no idea how many times they robbed and faced this kind of situation.

The ten men guarding the merchant entourage let out a war cry and immediately hunted down the robbers with their weapons. Before long, the road turned into a battle field. The ten guards thrust their spears with trained moves. Perhaps they were hired warriors to secure the goods of this wealthy Arab merchant. It could be their former ponggawa keraton or swordsman from a certain silat college who decided to make a living with swords and spears.

In a few breaths, begin to see this battle map. Despite having good skills in estimation, in fact, the ten guards lack good cooperation. They may be hired randomly or privately instead of in the form of groups so they often collide and confusion when hunting and attacking a herd of robbers that amounted to seven people – eight when counted with the leader who mengaso under the jackfruit tree.

Robbers are almost always doing their work by gangbing. Often their numbers were far greater than the bodyguards of their victims. Although not infrequently the ability of the robbers silat was above average, but by ganged they ensure that their work will work well.

This time the number of bodyguards was indeed slightly more than the robbers, and this was also probably beyond their own estimation. But that doesn't mean much. As we compile the guards, the ability of the robbers in silat is also very qualified, not to mention because after all the robbers are desperate people who have a lot of experience in the black world. Killing may have been their culture.

Sure enough, one bodyguard fell wide with two gaping stabs in his chest by the spears of two robbers. Shortly after, two more people fell. One bodyguard was slashed on his shoulder by a kelewang, while the other ‘not as lucky as his friend's’, because he died with a terrible death where two robbers pressed him to the cart.

When he was already leaning and there was no room to run, all the attacks went straight into his body without any obstruction. Puncture by puncture, stabbing by poke makes the guard die horribly in the condition of charcoal crab tattoo, aka torn. The rest of the bodyguards deaths were just a matter of time. They were scattered and now instead of escorting the wagon, they were controlling their own lives.

Robbers are very serious people. They scallops taunt their victims to frighten them, but when they are faced with an opponent in a fight, their sincerity is seen from every terrible and deadly style. All of them have paired styles.

The three blustering robbers who attacked alternately, their short slash of a machete became three times more dangerous. Although their cleaver is short because it is used with three pairs, the moves are like someone with two shadows. Two robbers with lewd also cut the enemy with rough moves but support each other. As a result, in three occasions, the two spearmen released their weapons and shields and rolled on the ground as both of their arms were cut off.

Two pairs of long and short lances of chalk megantara complement each other and managed to kill two more people with their stomachs unraveled. The rest is not without woe. Their wounds were everywhere. The fight that occurred only less than two sips of this tea left the guards in a mess. In addition to dead the rest of the bodyguards were severely injured and exhausted.

This rapid incident made two people sais ox carts in two different carts suddenly jump from their seats. They immediately looked for a safe place by the road, not knowing what to do as well especially since their souls were threatened. The actions of these two men are natural where the rest of the bodyguards are like waiting to die like their colleagues who died horribly lying stiffly bathed in blood on the ground with lives that are no longer attached to their bodies.

The strangulation of the victory of the herd of robbers echoed in the air as the shuffling of weapons with blood pouring into the air made the guts of the opponent chirp as small. The rest of the guards who had been injured and desperate had almost lost their spirits too when suddenly the sound of whips breaking the sky along with the collapse of a robber because they were not aware of what had happened just now.

The horse-drawn carriage jumped from its place and was now standing on the ground. The robbers did not pay attention to the figure of the sais because they only thought of the guards and the people in the horse carriage. Apparently the sudden screech of the whip managed to make one of the robbers holding a short machete lay unconscious on the ground. This is particularly surprising to those flocks who think victory is at hand. The bodyguards alone did not manage to touch let alone injure them, this one train sais with the trigger even managed to subdue one of them.

The door of the luxurious carriage was now also opened and a figure of a person came out from inside. A middle-aged man with a distinctive Arabic face grasped a long simitar sword on the right and a short keris on his left immediately stood side by side with the carriage sais. Both of them formed horses.

“Bags, I won't let you take whatever I bring!” said the middle-aged Arab. His voice even though it shows his age, but still very firm especially because accompanied by overflowing anger.

“Your advance at once, who is lucky to get to hell right now,” with a growl this old middle-aged man brandishing his weapon.

One of the robbers who had fallen because they were not ready is now awake and standing again. Scratches of the whip were flushed red by blood sticking around his neck.

“Beched! Old age and******** this sais is tired of living apparently. We've chopped down your mercenaries. Now with takabur you want to catch up with them immediately.” with regret the robbers who collapsed earlier berate maki.

“Ha ha ha, the more interesting this. I wondered more and more what was in the wagon and the chariot,” the robber who had been sitting quietly under the jackfruit tree pounding his thighs hard while laughing.

His interest can no longer be covered up. “Don't have a virgin in your carriage that's a parent. Is she pretty heh? I happen to have never felt an Arab virgin, ha ha ha ha ha ..” the leader of this band of robbers still continues to laugh and seems to enjoy the events that are in front of him.

The horse sais that had completely inaudible from earlier suddenly let out a shriek by screeching its whistle made from the skin of the beast. He also twirled the whip. As a result, although the whip is not a weapon that can directly kill the opponent like a sharp weapon, but inevitably this movement disables the opponent who avoids the long and flexible weapon. Space was formed between the assailants and the sais and his master.

This situation was then used by the Arab merchant to directly attack the robbers without saying much more. The fight broke out again. The sais with his whip continued to break the state of the attackers by twirling into the air and smashing them abruptly at the robbers. The robbers rolled over and clumped around dodging this attack. Two-three cuts left wounds on their arms or legs. This makes the robbers more angry but for a while they have to continue to avoid and have not been able to approach the attacker.

Because of the character of the robber who was full of anger and impatient, the robber with a long spear struck by a sabetan on the foot stormed into the whip circle that was circled in the air to attack the sais. Unfortunately for him because he did not pay attention to the merchant's curved simitar sword slashing his shoulder.

This was not at all expected so that blood poured out profusely from the wound along with the fall of the spear he held. Not long after one whip hit his neck. The whip coiled around his neck, locking twice the strangling turn of his airway. With a single stomp he was thrown and spun into the air and fell to the ground unconscious.

The other colleagues growled in annoyance and forgot the compactness of their paired moves by simultaneously advancing while shouting furiously. The whip rotates and whips again as it dissolves the sugar-covered ants. Their attacks were hampered by scuffles for the sake of scuffles. If anyone forces into the whip storm circle, the merchant is ready with a simitar or prick of his keris. This is what happened to the short spear that was consumed by anger because his spear-stroke partner was unconscious.

Due to his impatience, a piercing of the keris injured his thigh. Although it was not so bad but lost balance made the middle-aged Arab skipper finally also managed to hit his stomach with a kick in his stomach. Heartburn attacked for a while because he did not remember anything else because he was lying unconscious following his partner.

It should be with these circumstances that the wind of victory favors the group of rich merchants. The rest of the bodyguards who shrivel their guts can plunge back into the war. But they only gawk at the greatness of the sais couple and the Arab merchant. Perhaps shame also loomed in the corner of their eyes. As a result runyam, their disengagement in this fight made the leader who initially did not want to participate in the battle scene become impatient. His smile and laughter had been wiped out especially the two pairs of sais and his master had not shown any signs of exhaustion and both of his men were lying unconscious.

While once again patting his thigh violently in a show of aggravation, he stood up swiftly and simultaneously ran and bounced into the air with his height. It circled once past the heads of his men who were still having difficulty approaching both of their opponents. Arriving on the ground, he was immediately greeted by whipping. But unlike his men, the leader can nimbly avoid the whip of the sais. This shows the capable leader's canuragan abilities that make him indeed worthy of being the leader of this horde.

Nimbly the robber leader convulsed, rolled on the ground and approached the sais. The robber leader is able to see the pace of the whip and where the whip is going. Without holding a weapon, the robber leader can move his entire body flexibly. Therein lies the gap in the whip whip whirlpool. From the beginning, the band of robbers were unable to penetrate the fortress made whip the sais because they concentrated the attack on their weapons and less tenacity. While the leader who has experience and a level of silat that far surpasses his subordinates certainly acts differently.

The first business is finished, penetrating the defense of the sais whip. The next business was to avoid the attack of the merchant who had been waiting at the center of the whip storm. By rolling he managed to escape the simitar sabetage, as well as a quick jiz that he could avoid by slightly rewinding his body. After turning his body, with lightning fast the robbed leader threw his body towards the Arab merchant and managed to hit him with a tremendous force of impulse so that the merchant slammed back and rolled three spears away.

He also managed to get very close to the sais. Without wasting time he immediately brushed off the arm of the sais. The edge is not just a brim, because with the power and ability of the robber leader, whip detached and thrown away from the hands of the sais. It is clear that the whip is a very dangerous weapon in a long-range fight, but not so if the enemy is this close.

Not just up there. One fist hit the chest of the sais making a bounce back hit the horse carriage making the horses neigh hard. The robber leader jumped forward, pulled the beautiful keris and stuck it into the chest of the sais then pulled it very quickly and stuck it again for the second time. The sais died without a sound.

In the science of skill using keris, the leader of robbers is the master. Keris is grasped with the right hand and index finger on marijuana, which is the base of a thick keris blade. Puncture attacks must be in a space close to the target. In doing this puncture the elbow must remain curved. If the arm is straight, then the puncture will not be fast and good. Speed and close proximity are the hallmarks of keris. This weapon is a weapon that gives a surprise compared to open combat tools one on one such as a sword or spear.

Therefore the attack of the Arab merchant kris is still easily read by the leader of the robbers. Keris attacks should be full of movements that are difficult to predict and usually target the stomach through the kidneys. The robber leader also remembered when he became an executioner who gave the death penalty. The public for the executioners use keris, in addition to beheading with a sword, to kill the victim by thrusting the kris from behind through the collarbone at the top of the chest until it penetrates the heart. The right way to kill enemies quickly.

The leader robbed his body back slightly avoiding the merchant's attack, but then with lightning fast forward his body and pierced the base of the merchant's right arm. This is what is called a surprise move. The merchant's stifled cries burst into space and his simitar sword fell to the ground. The leader's long keris is robbed profitable because of its long distance and wide slats.

This prick doesn't stop here. Like the sting of a giant bee, the wide and long dagger pierced many times into the merchant's right arm, right and left thighs, and left hull. The merchant fell into a state of disrepair because important parts of his body were suddenly paralyzed with heartbreaking pain. Blood sprayed profusely forcing out from the body of the merchant who fell to his knees. The keris is still grasped but there is no power at all to use it.

“Listen well old hai middle-aged, the person you are dealing with is the famous chief of robbers all over the land of Java, Pasundan and Bali as the Demon Bees! Deliver this later to those who precede you when you get to hell, ha ha ha ha …” the face of the robbing leader who turned out to be nicknamed the Demon Bee was less than an inch from the face of the Arab merchant. His stern eyes showed a tremendous cruelty waiting for death to come upon his victims.

The merchant nodded. In between his short breaths and the excruciating pain in all parts of his body suddenly felt regret that was more painful. If he knew that these robbers were led by the Demon Bee, he would not have to sacrifice the lives of others, including his faith.

The name Bee Demon has become a kind of main note on merchants and traders who travel along Bali, Surabaya, Pasuruan, Probolinggo, Blambangan to Mataram and Cerbon. They are known to be ruthless mainland robbers and have a powerful leader mandraguna. Not waiting for the time to linger again, the rest of the guards who were still gawking stood outside the fight to hear the name of the Demon Bee had just frowned with the rangs. Perhaps they regretted having received a guard job with this much danger.

The Demon Bee gets its name because its long keris moves sting, fast and deadly like a bee. Curtains or wavy bladed that it has as in general keris is used to penetrate the flesh and slip between the bones. When stabbed and removed quickly, the wound will be very severe. The greatness of the Demon Bee certainly not only lies in its long keris but from the moves with the speed of the bee sting that he mastered. But unlike most robbers, strangely they are also known to be lazy to spill blood if the people who are robbed want to give up their property voluntarily, but once the victims fight, it is all gone. This time, the merchant fought back.

At first the merchant thought these robbers were ordinary robbers he had faced and even crippled throughout his trading experience. This time what he was worried about now was no longer his treasures and merchandise, nor his own life which was now over the horns, but his only daughter who was hiding in a carriage.

It is true that the Demon Bee said that there should be no virgin in the carriage that half-dead merchant protect. If he refuses the whining of his daughter who asked to be invited to Mataram to see the splendor of the country, maybe now the girl is still in her large and comfortable house in Blambangan.

Although Blambangan is a very anti-Mataram kingdom and almost all of its people are still religious and Buddhist, Blambangan quite able to accept foreigners as long as they are considered not to disturb the community and whatever they embrace and do not impose the teachings of other religions.

In the past, once one of the most famous guardians of Islam, namely Sheikh Maulana Ishaq who came from Samarkan had lived in Blambangan as an honorable Islamic figure. He married Dewi Sekardadu, daughter of Prabu Menak Sembuyu, king of Blambangan kingdom at that time. Syakh Maulana Ishaq who is known digdaya and has the magic in terms of treatment managed to drive away the pagebluk or plague that plagues the kingdom. His extraordinary ability also managed to heal the king's daughter, Goddess Sekardadu so that Goddess Sekardadu also eventually became the wife of Sheikh Maulana Ishaq.

Sheikh Maulana Ishaq in addition to obtaining an honorable position as duke of most of Blambangan, he was also given the right to spread the teachings of Islam in the Blambangan region. Unfortunately many dignitaries and ranks of the royal priyayi Blambangan who was disturbed and did not like him so that the Sheikh was forced to ask permission of the wife who was seven months pregnant to leave Blambangan so as not to there was bloodshed. However, even though the Islamic people are still not so large have been formed in the region and its existence has been accepted. Maybe this is the beginning of the formation of Muslim citizen groups in Blambangan.

“Let's see if there really is a virgin in your carriage this old man,” say Demon Bees make the merchant's heart deflect. His weakly kneeling body made it very difficult even to just raise his head. Not to mention the blood that kept flowing from the dots on his body. With a faint look, with a sting in the chest, he saw the girl being forcefully pulled out of the carriage and pushed to the ground.

“Ha ha ha ha .. what did I say. Apparently you have a virgin in this car. Look kids, we're going to party tonight, ha ha ha ha ..” inevitably all the robbers are cheering, screaming in excitement.

Not why, but the scene in front of these robbers was indeed an incredible sight. A girl might be four or fifteen years old who was sitting on the ground with these teary eyes was so beautiful.

The girl absorbed all the characteristics of her father who was indeed a person from the Arabian peninsula. Her nose was so sharp, her eyes were wide and beautiful, her skin was yellow clean. He wore a kebaya typical of eastern Java, but some of his hair was covered in a scarf that formed a veil. The girl as he pleased but did not say a single word, her nimble gaze aimed at her father who was still kneeling with blood drenched almost all over her body.

On the side of the road, behind bushes and trees not far from it, Jayaseta was stunned to see this heartbreaking event. From far away he heard a voice like a fight. With his silat skills and canura science, he ran closer as fast as he could without a sound.

But it's all too late. There are already casualties. At first he did not want to interfere anymore. The reason as usual is that he does not really know and understand who the opponent is, who has what.

It has been almost two months his journey has almost always been tinged with fights. His name was already circulating much faster than his feet were walking. At least a quarter of the island of Java may have heard the echo of the name of the Thousand Mask Warrior who is always involved in the fight against black people, begundal, and others, robbers and middlemen who just want to try their knowledge against Jayaseta.

Mataram was a large kingdom that increasingly showed its fangs. With this situation, a lot of state and government events that may escape his observation. It could be that this fight was a problem in the country of Mataram. Between the former Mataram forces who were fired for failing in the attack on Betawi with Mataram forces who are still officially a Mataram royal army as he knows.

Maybe this fight is a fight that occurred between the entourage of royal officials conquered Mataram against the traitors Moreover, the luxurious grandiose horse carriage belonging to this group shows the impression of a royal official. See also the group of troops who protect the car entourage, like the soldiers only. But hundreds of possibilities continue to scatter in Jayaseta's head.

Unfortunately more attention, he understood that this was a robbery, not a quarrel due to state problems. His justice-filled heart rebelled when he heard that the chief of this begundal was a Demon Bee whose name he had known since he was a child while still in Giri there. He could not possibly stand idly by again when he saw the merchant's daughter being pulled by the bee and thrown to the ground. As he watched, there were already too many casualties. Does the girl have to be the victim of immorality and cruelty of this begal group?

Jayaseta took her clothes off again, folded them and put them in her leather puffer bag. Now he's bare-chested. From his leather puffer bag he also took out a ganongan mask and immediately he wore. Not waiting for long, he immediately bounced into the air out of the shrubs by the roadside after previously hiding his leather puffer bag behind a banyan tree.

The robbers surrounded the girl while laughing. Some of them did not even hesitate to poke on the shoulders, arms, and face of the merchant girl who tried to brush her off many times with a face that showed a mixture of annoyance, grief, and disgust, disgust and fear.

“Honey once a Pair of Brothers Spear is as cute. Otherwise they can both enjoy this woman, ha ha ha ha ha .. ,” chirps one of the robbed while laughing out loud in excitement.

“Basic you are. Where is your friend's loyalty. Quickly you wake them both up. They need to enjoy our hard work.”

“Ah, you're the only one who's awakening them. Or we leave them alone until we're done. Let them get the rest, ha ha ha ..”

“Ha ha ha .. They must have gone berserk when they realized later we had fun first and he only got the rest, ha ha ha … , “ they continue to put each other down while continuing to tease the girl.

The Demon Bee itself sheathed its long dagger and folded its hands in front of its chest. He nodded with satisfaction. This beautiful sight before him was no ordinary sight. He had never robbed and raped a woman as beautiful as the son of the Arab merchant. Although it is not a type of lewd begundal, the charm of the girl is too strong. He couldn't bear not having it.

A TWO!

Suddenly the Demon Bee kicked one of its men hard enough that the man was pushed two spears and fell rolling on the ground. He grimaced and looked up at the Demon Bee with a face of astonishment. Uncompleted, the other two three robbers were also thrown away with shouts of shock and pain.

“Enough!” the raucous voice of the Demon Bee echoed. “This time my brothers, I cannot share with you. This girl is mine. Just take whatever you want in the cow cart or the horse carriage. No need to leave anything for me.”

“Oo ... ooo .. so that's why you kicked me, Bee?”

“Weleh ... That's also the reason you attacked us?”

“How can you call us brothers if you just want to enjoy the gift yourself, huh?!” waves of displeasure from the mouths of his men.

“You are indeed we made a leader because of your devotion. No one doubts that. But this is too much. A pair of Radical Spears fell victim and are still cute, now you want to take his best treasure. What do they say later?”

“Hah! Try to hear the words of someone who from the beginning had an opinion to enjoy the woman without resuscitating a Pair of Sisters Spears. Now you're saying that I'm the one who wants to take the result?” retaliating the Demon Bee silenced his men.

“Bebah, Bee. Are you in love with that woman?” ask one of the robbers again.

The Demon Bee holds up its long keris, “If yes why?!”

This answer almost completely silenced all the robbers. They grumble but have not taken any action even though their anger and aggravation have been in the crown. But without realizing it, even without being given a cue by anyone, two pair of robbers armed with malleable wield their weapons. The Bee became very alert and prepared to do anything to fight for the girl he already considered a right to belong.

This kind of fight is common among robbers. There was hardly a group of robbers who were loyal and knightly. Their leader is usually the most powerful of them and will be replaced with anyone stronger. Their only desire is one, to become rich and enjoy every piece of their robbery with a rapping. This was also the case in the Demon Bee's robber entourage. Although the word ‘brother’ is spoken by the Demon Bee to refer to his men, of course, this means nothing if they do not get the right results.