Last Breath

The arrow once again targeted one of Sangkih's prey. Jagat Wengi chose among the three opponents who had moved to take cover. But Sangkih didn't let them get away. One of them was pulled out and struck with punches and kicks.

At least Sangkih's actions could reduce the enemies that Jagat Wengi targeted with his arrows.

Now, only two enemies remained. It was between the senior or one of his members. The problem was, both of them moved swiftly to deceive Jagat Wengi's arrow aim.

"Chase the archer!" the senior shouted to his member. Cleverly, the senior changed positions, circling around Sangkih to obstruct Jagat Wengi's line of sight. At the same time, he provided an opportunity for his member to leave the courtyard and head towards the tree where Jagat Wengi was located.

A loud thud struck Jagat Wengi's ears as a small knife lodged into a branch, followed quickly by another knife moving in sync with its owner's leap onto the tree.

The knife throw was straight and swift, splitting the air. With reluctance, the bow became a shield to avoid the sharpness of the knives.

The knives indeed hit the bow, causing it to fall and break when the member approached and snatched it away.

With his shoulder-length hair, the member attacked Jagat Wengi from behind, targeting his exposed back. Jagat Wengi had briefly lowered his head while still trying to reach for the fallen arrow below.

The knife grazed the tree bark, and the bark scattered onto the ground. Truly an intriguing knife play from Jagat Wengi's opponent.

Ignoring his fallen arrow, Jagat Wengi retaliated against the Poison Kala member's attack. The large branch they were now standing on began to strain under the movements of the two individuals.

Dried leaves fell as their movements intensified. In the next moment, a knife came once again from Jagat Wengi's right arm, slashing from the shoulder down to his neck.

Quickly, Jagat Wengi grabbed his opponent's wrist and thrust his knee toward the enemy's abdomen. He pushed his body slightly backward, intending to reduce the force's impact.

He moved to another branch to change positions and add variation to his attack. His position was now directly below Jagat Wengi, but it didn't last long as Jagat Wengi immediately leaped down and retrieved the arrow from the ground.

He hoped that the enemy wouldn't notice him taking the arrow earlier because he could use it as a secret weapon.

He regulated his breath accordingly. Adjusting the rhythm of the battle was crucial when facing tough opponents like the members of Kala Racun.

The enemy followed suit, descending. Engaging in Jagat Wengi's invitation for an open fight. There were no obstructing branches or leaves blocking their view. It was just Jagat Wengi and his opponent.

The arrow was concealed behind Jagat Wengi's arm, and in front of him, the enemy held a small knife in both hands.

The knives were held differently, one was aimed at Jagat Wengi while the other pressed against his opponent's palm.

Behind the fence, Sangkih's fight against his opponent was also taking place. On this windless, dark night, the atmosphere grew hotter as the situation and the number of opponents balanced out.

It was unclear who would take the initiative to attack first. Jagat Wengi's sharp pair of eyes observed his opponent's shoulders, indicating which knife strike would move first.

Surprisingly, his opponent moved first, like a startled deer running and leaping. The knife aimed at Jagat Wengi earlier wasn't part of his initial attack. Instead, the knife in his left hand became the focal point.

Jagat Wengi refused to be outdone. He lunged towards the same direction while also unleashing the arrow that emerged from behind his arm with both hands. However, his opponent's eyes were quicker than his attack, causing the swipe to hit the opponent's knife.

And another knife successfully targeted Jagat Wengi's left arm through a swift and forceful swing. Blood splattered out, blending into the dark night in contrast with its red droplets.

"Aargh!" Jagat Wengi screamed in pain. He knew it wasn't over yet. All he could do was swing the arrow in front of him to shorten the distance in the fight.

The opponent returned with a knife attack. Jagat Wengi felt like he was fighting against a deer. This disciple of the Posion Kala school was the fastest enemy he had ever faced. Fighting against him required not only techniques and skills but also mental strength and intelligence.

Jagat Wengi truly had no chance to retaliate. Until finally, the arrow he had hoped to use as a weapon slipped away as his focus was constantly diverted by the opponent's knife play.

Empty-handed, Jagat Wengi continued to defend himself while thinking of a way to escape the tight fight.

"Just a moment, Posion Kala!" Jagat Wengi slid back with both hands extended in front of him.

The serious expression on his face made the enemy question and pause in their defensive position.

"I know your friend inside. I once drank tuak with him."

"Brother Wadra? How is that possible?"

"I am Jagat Wengi. Have you forgotten about me?"

They furrowed their brows, pondering deeply to recall the thousands of names in their minds. "Jagat Wengi..., the book thief? What are you doing here?"

"What do you think? I initially came to steal this school's book, but then you all showed up. Well, I give up now."

"Who sent you?"

Jagat Wengi didn't immediately answer. It was an odd question in their conversation. The term "sender" was usually used for individual thieves or groups and rarely associated with a school.

"Somebody from Kediri. And what about you?" Jagat Wengi asked in return. The question implied that Poison Kala had been commissioned by someone.

His nod suggested that he didn't want to get caught up in the dialogue, and then he continued, "So, we have different clients! And you're nobody."

Two knives swung swiftly, cutting through the air in the darkness of the night. Jagat Wengi retreated, unable to hold his ground since he truly had no weapon at the moment. His attempt to influence the enemy had failed.

It would be best for him to escape from this place and leave Sangkih behind since his thieving mission had failed and his business ended here.

However, it wouldn't be easy for him to simply run away from an enemy skilled in knife fighting. His steps halted as a knife plunged right in front of his foot, forcing him to dodge and divert his escape route to the other side, closer to the school's fence.

Yet, from the front, a figure blocked his vision again, compelling him to stop.

Sangkih had successfully immobilized his opponent's neck and brought him out to show his comrade.

"Are you alright, Gendal?"

The restrained figure glanced at Jagat Wengi with a bewildered and inquisitive gaze. He muttered under his breath, "Gendal...."

Next, Sangkih issued a threat to the enemy standing behind Jagat Wengi.

"Throw your knife now, unless you want this machete to pierce his throat." The tip of the machete pressed tightly against his neck. And reluctantly, the enemy's knife had moved closer to the ground near Jagat Wengi.

"Gendal... I feel like I've seen you before."

Jagat Wengi felt awkward and conflicted in his current position. He approached and delivered a hard slap to the face of the senior disciple.

"My face is common. It's everywhere. No need to be surprised."

After the slap, he punched the senior disciple's stomach, causing him to choke and spit out fluid from his mouth.

"He is indeed Jagat Wengi, Brother. The book thief!"

Jagat Wengi wouldn't allow this to happen. He had to quickly seal the enemy's mouth shut or, if necessary, silence him forever.

He picked up the discarded knife and threw it directly, piercing the enemy's heart. Jagat Wengi made sure his target was dead, no longer breathing.

Sangkih was slightly shocked by Jagat Wengi's actions. The situation grew even more chaotic as the senior disciple managed to grab Sangkih's hand and twist it, reversing the situation.

He seemed saddened by the death of his comrade. The machete, now in his hands, was pressed against Sangkih's neck. Jagat Wengi wouldn't allow that to happen and tried to wrest it from the enemy's grasp.

Sangkih also attempted to catch the hand holding the machete, struggling to keep the blade at a distance from his own neck.

Jagat Wengi lunged forward like a tiger pouncing on its prey. He tightly clasped both legs, but it left his back vulnerable for the enemy to swing his machete.

As the machete swung, Sangkih saw an opportunity to seize it. A struggle for the machete ensued. Jagat Wengi rose again, but his abdomen received a kick from the enemy.

In an incredibly swift turn of events, Sangkih failed to defend the machete he was trying to snatch. The enemy's force was too strong, and the machete ended up piercing his own stomach.

He fell slowly to the ground. The enemy ran towards his fallen comrade and examined his condition. These two scenes ended in the same way. Jagat Wengi also observed Sangkih's condition.

Blood flowed profusely from his stomach. Sangkih's face grew paler. With a trembling voice, he asked, "Who are you really?"

"I-I am Jagat Wengi."

Sangkih smiled, about to say something but was hindered by his pain.

"Forgive me, Brother Sangkih. Forgive me. I owe you my life."

"The mattress... Under the mattress. You can find it in the small room below."

Jagat Wengi guessed that Sangkih was referring to a sacred book.

"Deliver it to the grandmaster in Majapahit."

"Jagat Wengi! This isn't over!" The enemy shouted from behind, threatening while carrying his deceased comrade.

Two messages simultaneously. Jagat Wengi remained silent, unable to respond. Sangkih's condition worsened with irregular breathing.

"Please deliver that book, my brother. You came here to protect yourself from the wicked, but my final message to you: Become wicked to protect goodness."

Those were Sangkih's last words, and Jagat Wengi could only ponder without understanding the meaning behind his message.