Rangga could not say for sure whether he would help Panglima Lohgender or not. It is not easy to determine who is right and wrong in this matter. Rangga also could not blame Rakapati if it was true that he wanted to rebel. Rakapati has the right to restore the glory of the Karang Asem Kingdom. And Panglima Lohgender also has the right to maintain the survival of the Duchy of Karang Asem.
That afternoon, Rangga deliberately explored the Tarik Forest, which was suspected to be the headquarters of the mob, according to Panglima Lohgender. His steps were slow, but his eyes were always sharp to examine the surroundings. He also exerted the science of distinguishing motion and sound.
"Hm, there is someone in the middle of the forest like this. Who is he...?" Rangga muttered to himself when his eyes caught a figure not far from him.
Rangga stepped closer to the hunchbacked figure in the shabby black shirt. The figure turned its back to him. It seemed he was picking up dry wood that was scattered around the forest. The figure turned when it heard footsteps approaching it.
"Sampurasun..." said Rangga kindly."Rampes..." said the man.
For a moment Rangga watched that person. An old man with a slender, stooped body with all gray hair. But the light in his eyes was sharp. A bundle of dry wood was tucked under his armpit.
"Master must be a swordsman..." the hunchbacked old man guessed immediately. Ranga just smiled.
"Master looking for something in this forest?" he asked like probing.
"Maybe, Ki…," said Ranggadisconnected.
"Just call me Ki Rupung. People usually call me that."
"Ki Rupung, have you ever seen people dressed in black around this forest?" asked Ranga directly.
"Often, sir.""Often...?"
"Yes, they are good troops who always defend the common people. Aki doesn't feel bothered, in fact they often help me find firewood or collect all the firewood I get."
"I know who they are?" chase Ranga.
"I told you, they are good people who like to help anyone who is weak."
"I mean, where they live..." Rangga corrected. "What are you looking for them for? Are you an order from
Limbangan Kingdom?" Ki Rupung became suspicious.
"No, instead I want to know more clearly about the problem before deciding which side to take, or not to side with both at all," Rangga explained.
"You must be the Sacred Eagle Warrior.""How do you know Ki?"
"Everyone already knows that Commander Lohgender is looking for the Sacred Eagle Warrior for help. Hm... too bad you're on the wrong side."
Rangga looked at the old man getting sharper. Without saying anything else, Ki Rumpung immediately left. Rangga slightly frowned when he saw the old man walking as if he didn't even touch the ground.
"Hey...!" suddenly Ranga flinched.
As fast as lightning he jumped, but at that moment the old man's body had disappeared as if it had been swallowed by the earth. Ranga looked around. He just realized that the skin of the old geezer's hands were smooth white like a woman's hands, even though his face was full
wrinkles. And the sound....
"I feel like I've heard that voice. But where...? When did I hear. ?" Ranga asked
Alone.
The Sacred Eagle warrior resumed his steps slowly while thinking constantly about the old geezer he had met earlier. The old man's words weighed heavily on his mind at this moment.
"Surely he's not just anyone. Hm..., who is he?" muttered Rangga in his heart wondering.
***
Rangga again stopped walking when he reached the edge of the Pull Forest. His sharp ears as sharp as blades, heard a low groan from the direction of the bush in front of him. With just one jump, Rangga was able to reach the thicket. Her eyes widened when she saw a man dressed as a soldier from the Limbangan Kingdom trying to rape a woman.
"Animal!" growled Ranga.thump!
With just one kick, the man dressed as a soldier immediately fell to the ground and didn't get up again. From his mouth seeping thick black blood. A young woman with clothes torn here and there, immediately shuffled up. His hands immediately covered his chest and some exposed parts of his body, but the torn condition of the cloth and clothes could not hide his smooth white skin from Rangga's view.
"Are you okay. ?" asked Ranga.
"No, thank you sir for saving me," said the woman while shrinking her tears.
"How did you get here?" Rangga asked, glancing at the body of a man dressed as a soldier who was lying lifeless again.
Apparently it was Ranggakicking with the technique of 'Eagle Swooping for Prey', causing the man to die immediately without making a sound.
"I'm looking for my father. He said the soldier knew and wanted to deliver. But..." the woman did not continue her words.
"Never mind, you're safe now. You'd better hurry home. Where is your home?"
"Not far from here. It's near a rock," the woman pointed south.
Rangga directshis gaze was towards the rocky hill not far from the edge of this Forest of Pull. Looks like a small hut standing between the mountains of rocks. Ever since he was in the vicinity of this Forest of Pull, there didn't seem to be a single house on the rocky hill. Even when he came here this morning, there was no hut there.
Before Rangga had time to realize what was happening, he suddenly turned to look at the woman. The beautiful woman who was almost raped, wrapped her arms around Rangga. There's no more fear. His smile grew even wider, and his demeanor spoiled teasing. He let go of the woman's hand that was holding his arm. He took a few steps back.
"You have saved me sir. Now I am yours, you can do anything to me," said the woman.
Rangga looked at the woman inquiringly. Today he found people who felt strange. The Sacred Eagle warrior immediately jumped back as soon as his eyes saw a black spot on the woman's neck. He had seen that stain before.
"Who are you?" asked Ranga. The woman smiled sweetly. Suddenly his body spun quickly. The longer it rotates, the faster it spins, and it looks like only a shadow.
"Thousand-faced Devil...." Rangga hissed as soon as the body's rotation stopped.
Now in front of Rangga stood a beautiful woman wearing a yellow dress. Her face is beautiful with a flower tucked in the ear. Her long hair is tied in front. At his waist tucked into a short sword handled by a skull head. He is Klenting Kuning or better known as the Thousand Face Devil.
"Wonderful! It's not for nothing that you are nicknamed the Sacred Eagle Warrior," praised Klenting Kuning with a smile.
"What are you doing here, Klenting Kuning?" asked Rangga curtly.
"You can answer yourself, Rangga," said Klenting Kuning calmly.
"O..., so the chaos in the Duchy of Karang Asem, because of you...?"
"I'm just defending the truth."
"You speak the truth, the truthwhat are you defending?" "Right!"
Without further explanation, Rangga could already understand the meaning of Klenting Kuning's words. He now understood what had happened in the Duchy of Karang Asem. His suspicions can no longer be denied. Rangga can confirm that Rakapati is behind all these events. And the reason was certain, Rakapati wanted to reclaim Karang Asem, and establish the Karang Asem Kingdom. Unfortunately, those good intentions were ridden by dark figures of the martial arts, like this Klenting Kuning.
"You are a tough and wise warrior. Think before you decide to help Commander Lohgender!" said Klenting Kuning.
Before Rangga could make a sound, Klenting Kuning had already jumped away. In the twinkling of an eye, the woman nicknamed the Thousand-Faces Devil was gone from sight. For a few moments Rangga stood still staring at the woman's departure. Then his feet swung and stepped towards the Duchy of Karang Asem.
The position of the Sacred Eagle Warriorthis is indeed difficult. He couldn't confirm which of the two sides was at fault yet? Only Rangga regretted Rakapati's actions in allying himself with black martial arts figures. The Sacred Eagle Warrior continued to walk slowly with his head filled with all kinds of thoughts.
***
Two shadows flashed in the stillness of the night towards the East of Tarik Forest. Right at the edge of a deep and wide valley, the two flashing figures stopped. They stood looking straight into the valley. There was a large building surrounded by a high, thick, mule fence.
"Are you sure it's their nest, Pandan?"
"Yeah, that's the description I got?"
The two people who turned out to be the Sacred Eagle Warrior and the Death Fan were silent for a moment. Their eyes could not leave looking towards the valley.
"Hm ..., like a nest of robbers," Rangga muttered in a half whisper. "No wonder it's hard to find."
Rangga then looked at his surroundings. area inthe eastern part of the Tarik Forest is indeed difficult to reach. The fort was surrounded by a large and deep valley with steep and rocky hills. Not a single bridge or road could be seen leading to the valley.
"Where did you get that information, Pandan?" asked Ranga.
"Someone worth trusting," said Pandan Wangi.Rangga looked at the girl beside him.
"He said that Rakapati was gathering strength to rebel, he even wanted to take revenge on Adipati Prahasta who had killed his biological father," Pandan Wangi continued, ignoring Rangga's gaze.
"Hm..., so it's true that Rakapati wants to return KarangAsem became a kingdom," muttered Rangga.
"Yes."
"If that's the problem, we don't need to get involved in this matter. I don't know what is right and what is wrong," said Rangga.
"Then, what about Commander Lohgender's request?" asked Pandan Wangi with a thin smile.
"I will tell you later, I hope he will understand," said Rangga.
Pandan Wangi smiled even wider. He didn't realize that Rangga was watching him from earlier. Pandan Wangi's smile immediately disappeared when they heard a rustling behind.
They had not yet been able to do anything, suddenly from behind the bushes and trees emerged bodies wrapped in black cloth. Their number was not less than twenty people. All of them wielded weapons in the form of large, shiny long machetes. Without saying anything, they immediately attacked.
"Be careful, Pandan...!" Rangga shouted as he bounced away from the machete slash of the man in black.
No less than ten people immediately ganged up on the Sacred Eagle Warrior. Rangga no longer had time to pay attention to Pandan Wangi. He was busy dodging every attack that came like rain. Alternating without stopping, as if not giving him the chance to reply.
Damn it! I have to use the Mega Splitting Eagle Wings! snorted Rangga in his heart.
Immediately, Rangga deployed his 'Raw Wings Splitting Mega'. His arms immediately spread wide to the sides. At that moment he moved quickly, waving his hands like the wings of an eagle.
"Aaahh...!"
One shrill screamheard when Rangga's hand
hit the attacker's head. Not to mention the screams disappeared, came another scream, followed by the collapse of a black body with a split head.
"Heh! Where's Pandan...?!" Rangga gasped in surprise when he glanced at Pandan Wangi earlier.
The Sacred Eagle warrior no longer saw Pandan Wangi. Even when he managed to take down one more opponent, there was a long, high-pitched whistling sound. Instantly, the black-clad men who ganged up on him jumped up and disappeared behind the darkness and thickness of this forest.
"Pandanus...!" shouted Rangga loudly.
There was no answer at all, only the echo of his voice bouncing back. Rangga darted his eyes around. The atmosphere around this place was desolate. No one to be seen. Only three corpses lay near his feet.
"That's weird..." Ranga hissedslow.
The Sacred Eagle Warrior did not take a step. His sharp ears immediately heard the sound of footsteps disturbing the bushes and dry leaves. Rangga immediately prepared for all possibilities.
"Oh...!"
***
"What a coincidence to meet here," said Arya Duta who came with Balungpati and Welut Putih.
Rangga doesn't care about Arya Duta's words. His gaze went straight to Pandan Wangi who came with the three men. Just now Pandan Wangi was with him, and disappeared when he was attacked by ten men dressed in black. Now the girl came with Arya Duta and her two companions from the Duchy of Karang Asem.
"Why are you looking at me like that, Brother?" ask
Pandan Wangi is embarrassed.
"Oh, no..." Rangga immediately turned his attention to Arya Duta.
"You haven't been seen since this morning, Sacred Eagle Warrior. Nini Pandan Wangi was worried, and asked me to look for you," said Arya Duta.
"Hmm." He just mumbled incoherently.
"Incidentally someone saw you in this forest, and we immediately looked for you here," continued Balungpati.
"How did you know I was here?" asked Ranga.
"We heard the sound of the fight earlier," Arya Duta glanced at the three bodies near Rangga's feet.
Rangga looked at the three corpses for a moment, then his attention turned to the valley, where stood a large building like a fortress. Arya Duta, Balungpati, Welut Putih and Pandan Wangi also share the same view. A moment later they looked at each other.
"Is that a mob nest?" asked Arya Duta.
"Maybe," Rangga said quietly, barely audible.
"This matter must be immediately reported to the Lohgender Commander," continued Balungpati.
"That's right, Ayahanda Lohgender is waiting for you too, Mister Swordsman," said Arya Duta.
Ranga did not answer. He was still preoccupied with the events that happened to him from morning until tonight. The appearance of the Thousand Face Devil can indeed be a headache. This beautiful woman whose real name is Klenting Kuning can change her face.
Just now, Rangga was fooled again, and got stuck here. He was sure that the one with him earlier was the Thousand Face Devil who disguised himself as Pandan Wangi. Rangga walked without another word. His hands
had pulled Pandan Wangi's hand. While Arya Duta, Balungpati and Welut Putih accompanied behind.
"You were at the inn this afternoon, Pandan?" Rangga asked in a half whisper.
"No, I was in the Duchy of Karang Asem with the Lohgender Commander," said Pandan Wangi.
Rangga was silent, did not ask again. It was clear that what he had met at the inn this afternoon was not Pandan Wangi, but the Thousand Faced Devil. And the one who invited him back to this forest was of course the demonic woman. Rangga cursed inside because he couldn't tell the difference, and was always fooled by Klenting Kuning's perfect disguise.
"Hm..., I can't let my guard down. I have to pay attention to everyone's neck," Rangga muttered to himself.
Rangga could already tell that the stain on Klenting Kuning's neck would not disappear, even though he could change his face a thousand times. That sign is the only standard for Rangga. But it's difficult, because the stain is a bit hidden, and can be covered with hair.
***
The Commander of Lohgender welcomed the arrival of Rangga and Pandan Wangi accompanied by Arya Duta, Balungpati and Welut Putih at the high and sturdy door of the prison fort. They then entered a stuffy room which was only lit by a small lamp. Only Arya Duta entered, while Balungpati and Welut Putih stood guard in front of the tightly closed door. Pandan Wangi narrowed his eyes when a young man whose hands and feet were bound by iron chains on the wall of the room. The situation looks so bad,his whole body was clearly visible wounds usedred-lined whiplash. Dried blood
covering almost the entire bodybruised blue.
The girl shuddered in horror when she realized they were in the torture chamber. The stone walls were covered with dangling chains and dried blood splattering them. In one corner, there was a large hole with a post in the shape of a doorstop above it. A string of ropes dangled across the crossbar. Pandan Wangi couldn't help looking at the big pit full of venomous snakes for a long time. Even though she was a warrior girl, she was horrified to see the various kinds of torture tools. Pandan Wangi immediately turned his attention, he could not bear to see a hanging body that was no longer whole, had been eaten by hungry snakes.
"Sis..." whispered Pandan Wangi. His hand wrapped around Rangga's right hand without realizing it.
"What is the need for the Commander-in-Chief calling me?" asked Rangga after whispering to Pandan Wangi to calm down.
"Look at that person, Kisanak. He is one of the troublemakers who is troubling the Duchy of Karang Asem," Commander Lohgender pointed at the man tied to the wall.
Ranga didn't budgeto see it. His eyes remained fixed on the Lohgender Commander who was accompanied by Arya Duta
"That person has already admitted everything, that their gang is a gang of robbers consisting of people from the martial arts who are highly knowledgeable. And most importantly, their nest is in the Forest of Tarik," Commander Lohgender explained. His tone sounded proud.
"Then what does Master Commander mean by inviting me here?" asked Ranga.
"I would like to ask for your willingness to quell the troublesome mob. You are a pick-match warrior who is difficult to match."
"Mr. Commander believes that statement?"
Pandan Wangi also asked.
"He confessed after feeling the pain of torture," said Commander Lohgender.
"Is he a resident of the Duchy of Karang Asem?" Pandan Wangi asked again.
"I don't know. What is clear is that he is one of those troublemakers. He was caught when he was about to kill a duchy treasurer. Hm..., fortunately Arya Duta quickly found out and managed to catch him alive, although unfortunately, two other people dead."
"How are you, Brother?" Pandan Wangi asked for his opinion.
"Better Uncle Balungpatiasked to identify this person. He's a native of Karang Asem, at least he can confirm whether the person is a resident of Karang Asem or not," said Rangga without paying attention to Pandan Wangi's questions.
"Balungpati...!" shouted Panglima Lohgender.Those who were summoned entered immediately.
"You know this person?" The Commander of Lohgender raised the face of the man bound in chains with the tip of his staff.
"Ah...!" Balungpati looked surprised. His face instantlypale. His eyes did not blink staring at the person with a bruised blue face in front of him.
"You know him, Balungpati?" urged Commander Lohgender."He..., he...," Balungpati seemed to choke in his voice
throat.
"Who is he. Balungpati?"
"He is Karman, Gusti Panglima. One of the soldiers from the Duchy of Karang Asem who was assigned to escort Gusti Ayu Puspa Lukita and Gusti Rakapati to the Duchy of Sedana," Balungpati's voice stuttered.
"Look again, Uncle. Maybe Uncle is looking wrong." said Arya Duta in disbelief.
"That's right, Gusti. He is the Karman Soldier of this duchy," Balungpati said confidently.
"All right, Balungpati. You may leave," sighed the Commander of Lohgender.
Balungpati saluted, then turned and stepped outside. The door was immediately closed again by Arya Duta. Commander Lohgender's face changed when he heard Balungpati's narrative. He had absolutely no idea that the person he had tortured was one of the guard soldiers assigned to the Duchy of Sedana.
Panglima Lohgender then remembered his conversation with the Sacred Eagle Warrior at the duchy grand hall. He was forced to admit the warrior's suspicions, which he didn't take seriously at first. He really didn't recognize one by one the duchy soldiers who were one of the duchy of the Limbangan Kingdom.
"Arya Duta, prepare all soldiers. Depart this very night to the Tarik Forest!" Commander Lohgender's orders.
"Wait a minute!" stop Rangga before Arya Duta canstepped.
Commander Lohgender and Arya Duta looked at the Sacred Eagle Warrior.
"Is Mr. Commander sure that they are in the forest?" asked Ranga.
"The cipher that I spread there already knows the exact location of their nest. And I got the report this afternoon," said Commander Lohgender.
Rangga whose mouth was already open was about to speak again, so he snorted because the Lohgender Commander had ordered Arya Duta to immediately carry out his orders. Arya Duta immediately left. The Commander of Lohgender looked at Rangga and Pandan Wangi for a moment, then stepped out of this stuffy room.
Rangga immediately pulled Pendan Wangi out of the musty, smelly room. They stood in front of the door for a moment watching the departure of the four horses galloping back to the duchy. When the two warriors were about to step
away, suddenly one of the horses turned and approached quickly. The White Welut immediately jumped down as soon as it arrived in front of the two warriors.
"Gusti the Commander asked Tuan and Nini Swordsmen to take part in the Tarik Forest," said Welut Putih.
"Okay, I'll catch up later." said Ranga."I will."
The white welut immediately jumped back onto his horse's back. As fast as lightning he chased the horse. Like an arrow released from a bow, the horse sped away from Rangga and Pandan Wangi. Just then two duchy warriors came, and immediately stood guard in front of the prison door.
"Let's go, Pandan," said Rangga. In an instant it disappeared from sight.
"Damn! What kind of person is a god...?" snorted one of the guards.
"Idiot! His name is also a warrior!" snapped another guard.
"Great, huh...?!"
***
The forest of Tarik which was originally quiet, now seemed to be filled with hundreds of soldiers who surrounded the valley that surrounded the fort on the other side. Some of the soldiers were seen busy making bridges of bamboo which were connected together until they reached across the valley.
Meanwhile, Rangga and Pandan Wangi just watched. Rangga saw that the fort was exactly the same as the one he had seen in the East of the Tarik Forest, only the difference was that it was now in the West of the forest. And the fort was also located across the valley, not at the bottom of the valley.
Meanwhile the ten bamboo bridges are almost there
installed. And it looksstrong enough for twenty soldiers to traverse at once. The Commander of Lohgender who was accompanied by Arya Duta, Balungpati and Welut Putih, seemed to be standing straight looking at the fort on the other side.
"You see there is a difference in the fort, Pandan?" asked Ranga.
"Yes," said Pandan Wangi. "Not like last night."
"I don't know which fort is the real one," muttered Rangga.
"Attack...!" suddenlythere was a loud shouting order from the Lohgender Commander.
Shrieks of war immediately echoed, followed by the soldiers running across the swaying bamboo bridge. The arrow troops also immediately went into action spewing arrows raining down on the fort.
Arya Duta soared high like a bird jumping over the valley, then gracefully landed on the other side. Then his body bounced back through the castle fence. A moment later he came out crouching across the valley. He immediately landed right in front of Panglima Lohgender.
"Empty! The fortress is empty!" cried Arya Duta reporting.
"What...?!" Commander Lohgender looked shocked in disbelief.
"The fort is empty," Arya Duta repeated. "Stop...!" shouted Commander Lohgender instantly. Instantly all the soldiers stopped their actions.
Some of the soldiers came out of the fort. They went straight back across the valley.
"Demon!" Panglima Lohgender growled.
The commander-in-chief's face was bright red. His molars chattered with rage. He felt like he was being toyed with. Meanwhile all the soldiers had returned from across the valley. They are waiting
next order. "Balungpati, White Welut!"
"Servant, Gusti," said Balungpati and Welut Putih together.
"Bring half the soldiers to the duchy!" commander in chiefLohgender.
"I will do it immediately, Lord Commander."
Balungpati and Welut Putih immediately carried out the order. They brought no less than three hundred soldiers back to the Duchy of Karang Asem.
"Aryan Ambassador!" "Yes, Father."
"Bring a hundred soldiers, searchthis whole forest!"
Arya Duta also did not argue. He immediately brought a hundred soldiers selected to search this forest. The Lohgender Commander approached the Sacred Eagle Warrior and Pandan Wangi who were still standing and didn't budge from their place. The commander in chief's face looked tense and held back extreme anger.
"It would be better for the Commander to return to the Duchy," said Rangga before the Commander of Lohgender opened his voice.
"Hm..." Commander Lohgender just muttered.
"That's right, Commander. I feel they deliberately preceded and seized the Duchy of Karang Asem when it was empty," continued Pandan Wangi.
"There must be someone who is a traitor!" Commander Lohgender snorted furiously.
"Come on, Pandan. Let's go now," said Rangga
Pandan Wangi complied. They immediately jumped and disappeared behind the thick trees. Panglima Lohgender immediately ordered the rest of his troops to return to the Duchy of Karang Asem. The words of the two swordsmen were taken into consideration as well. It was indeed possible that the mob of intruders got ahead while the entire army was in the Forest of Tarik.