#1 To Protect

My name is Batara, now I'm 17 years old in sun calendar. I live with my family in a village in the middle of the forest. Here in the village, we can live peacefully. We have gardens of vegetables and cattle to eat.

This village is surrounded by a wall of root from The Goddess Nyi Pohaci tree. The tree core is the center of the village, it is so tall to the sky that we can't see the edge since it's covered by the clouds.

We pray to a god called Sang Hyang Kersa. He is the creator and protector of the village.

We never go outside of the forest. We don't know how far is the forest end. Stepping outside means death. There are monsters who can kill you anytime. Some of us even think that the end of the world lies on the edge of the forest.

In my case, I'm strong enough that I can walk outside without worrying the monsters. I can kill them with bare hands and I never encounter anything that I can't defeat. But, I'm expected to be the next village head. So I can't break the rule that my ancestors had made. Another reason is that I have a fiancé that I will marry next week.

Now, I'm on patrol. I'm standing on the top of the wall. The time is evening, but my eyesight as good as a bat. I can see in the darkness and my sight range is like a bird.

Then, I spotted something unusual. I feel a horrifying aura with murderous intent. I smell a really strong scent of blood. It's not just one creature, they like an army, marching to this village.

This is bad, I have to tell the elders! They are not normal monsters, they are stronger than I have met all this time.

"Ring the bell!!" I said to the others.

Then I proceed to walk down the stairs then go to the elders building.

I knock the door.

"Enter," someone said from the inside.

I open the door then kneel before them. There are three people inside, and I know them very well. One is the most respectable, the current village head, Empu (*title equivalent to a Guru) Wisnu.

"What is wrong Batara?" He said.

"I saw an army of strong monsters-no-demons marching to our village."

"Are they really strong?"

"Yes, they are very strong."

['So this is what the prophecy said.'] Empu Wisnu think.

"Can you estimate when will they arrive?"

"Probably about two thousands counts."

"Then we have to be hurry, tell the others to be prepared."

"Understood."

I exit the building then tell the others to be prepared.

Then I go to my home, there I'm greeted by my fiancé Wulan.

"Welcome Kakanda (*darling)."

"Yes, Wulan." I kiss her forehead.

She is my beautiful fiancé. Her appearance told to be similar to The Goddess Nyi Pohaci. With her long black hair, brown eyes, and light brown skin. Her clothes decorated with plant motifs called Batik, wrapped her body.

"I heard the bell, are there danger coming to us?"

"Yeah, I have to be prepared. Could you put on my armor?"

"Alright."

She helps me to put on my special armor, gleaming radiantly with healing aura. I place my holy sword on my left waist, and a twisted-snake-like-blade called Keris on my left chest.

"May God Sang Hyang Kersa bless you, promise me that you'll return." She said then kissed my lips.

"I promise that I'll return."

*****

In the front of the gate, we are standing prepared for the attack. There are a hundred of us and the enemy is about five hundred.

Among them, I'm the strongest. I can kill a hundred of the enemy, then the three elders each of them can kill about 50 enemies, and the others are strong too.

"It's been a while since I used magic, my power is not same as my young days." Empu Wisnu said.

"Yeah me too," the other elder said.

They are standing on the front line with me.

About two thousand counts later, we spot the enemy. The distance is about 200 feet from us.

They stopped right there. Then someone that looks like a leader or captain standing in the front of them. It wears a full armor. From his head to his feet is covered by black steel and also covered in fresh bloods. It seems that they have gone on the hard battle and they also have intelligent.

"What is your purpose coming here you demons!" I shouted.

Then the leader answered.

"We are coming here to get something from that tree, and killing everybody in the process. Please do a bit resistance. Otherwise, it'll be boring."

"What an arrogant bastards ..." Empu Wisnu said with murderous eyes.

"..."

Everyone becomes silent, they surprised to hear Empu Wisnu swears for the first time.

After hearing that I also feel anger inside my chest.

"We won't let you!!"

I raise my sword highly then chant a spell.

"In the name of Sang Hyang Kersa, by the power of the holy sword, he entrusted to me. I call the power of nature ..."

"Oh shit!!! Everyone Spread!!" The demon shouted.

"...From the sky and the earth, from the north and the south, from the west and the east. Abide my call. Destroys the enemies!!!"

I swing my swords strongly, then it produces a light that burns everything that it touches

The earth split, the trees are burning, and about a hundred of demons turns to ash.

"What a crazy area attack, luckily I'm fast enough" the demon leader thought. "But he must be using about half of his energy ... or maybe not?" he thought after seeing Batara didn't look tired.

"Damn! I didn't manage to hit him even though I aimed using my magical power!" I said in frustration. The demon must be an agile type, or it's using some sort of life saving technique or some treasure.

If it's using some technique or treasure, then it must not be able to do it again in the short periode.

But it's fine, I reduced the burdens for the other.

I look to the elders and they nod. Then I shout:

"Attack!!!"

"Hooo!!!"

We run toward them. Gripped our weapon strongly with killing intent.

I run directly to the leader. Then our swords clashed. This time it doesn't seem to be able to dodge. So the demon leader must be using some sort of technique or treasure.

"What is your name?" it said happily.

"Batara, my name is Batara!"

Every time our swords meet, it produces a thunder-like-sound.

"I'll remember it Batara. I'm Kalabuat, one of the Demon Lord commander."

We made two step back. Observing each other movement, measuring each other capabilities.

"You are strong, what are you? Why do you looks like a human even though you must be not?"

I keep my silence since I don't know what he is talking about.

This time he makes a move first. He attacks me by swinging his sword diagonally. I parried his attack, then preparing to aim his head.

But he evades my attack, then trying to kick me from the right.

I block his attack with my right hand. I intended to grab his foot, but then he leaped and kick my jaw by his left foot.

I almost fall, but then I keep my stance.

I lost my concentration for a moment, spotting Wulan observing the fight from the top of the village wall.

Why is she there! She must be really worried about me.

"What is this? Where are you looking to?? Are you mocking me? Stop looking to the others and fight me seriously!!" He shouted angrily then swing his sword from the top.

I block his sword vertically.

Damn, he is strong. Every time I block his sword, it feels so heavy.

Our eyes meet, we keep pushing each other like this for quite some time.

"That twisted blade, I feel strong power there, why don't you use it?"

"I don't need to use this to defeat you!!"

I force my power to make him step back.

I have to finish this soon. He is really dangerous.

Then I readily my sword, make my stance. I focus my energy all over my body.

Thunder-like-sound can be heard around me. Then I gaze my enemy, executing my 'Thunder Step Technique'.

Meanwhile, he makes a defensive stance, as if he feels something is coming.

"Accept this, demon!!"

Then I vanished from my spot. Time is so slow in my perspective. I attacked him from all direction. Approximately I made a thousand slashes.

Then my sight return to normal. I return to my previous spot.

"That was intense," he said with blood coming all over his body.

He is really dangerous, even with super fast speed like that, he managed to block half of my attack.

"But I'm not lost yet,"

Then, black aura coming all over his body. Despite the injury he has as he looks like a dying person, it seems that he is stronger than before. He looks like a madman battle maniac.

Before I realized, he is already standing in front of me. He swings his sword horizontally, just like before but now is different.

His strength overpowers me, I can't hold his attack.

"You're strong, but you're underestimating me."

He kicked my body, makes me thrown several steps.

"Did you think that you can kill me while reserving some of your power for something else?"

He walks slowly toward me.

"No, it won't happen. You can't kill me with that naive thought."

My stomach is hurt, I can barely stand.

"Now, just see that your family to die."

He raises his left hand horizontally.

I know it, he is doing something.

I feel dark energy gather on his hand. The energy stacks so much in the amount that I never see it before, it is even stronger than my holy sword slash.

"Let me tell you something, Batara. About my power. The secret is, the more I'm dying, the stronger I get. So you have to be able to kill me in a move in order to defeat me. I will make you suffer for all these injuries. Now watch this."

"NOOOO!!!!"

He released the energy, producing a pillar of a ray.

I tried to leap with all my might.

"Where are you going!" he said while throwing his sword.

It cuts my left hand, but it won't stop me.

I execute my Thunder Step technique. Making time almost stopped in my perspective.

Then I'm standing in front of the energy. Using my sword and my body as a shield.

"In the name of Sang Hyang Kersa, please give me the power to protect my family!"

I close my eyes, then I feel something really bright shine to my eyes.

"I'm sorry Wulan, I won't be able to keep my promise ...."

***

I feel a warm air on my cheek. Then there is a light shines through my eyes.

I wake up. The first thing I know that this is morning.

Where am I? Why am I here?

Then I hear a girly voice shouted:

"The hero wakes up! The hero wakes up! Tell master to come!"

She grabs my shoulders. Then shake me a little.

"Are you alright? Can you hear me??"

"I don't know..., where am I? Why am I here?"

"It's long to explain. Do you feel something wrong besides that?"

I look over observing my surroundings.

My head hurt so much.

My heart started to beat faster.

I started to feel sadness all over my body.

But why I feel so sad??

I don't know. I don't know the reason at all.

I .....

"I ... I... I don't remember anything ..."

"Why ..." I said as tears runs on my cheeks.

She gazes my eyes silently.

"Oh, God ...."

=============