The Last Theft

Arya Mandana was determined not to let the Mongols colonize Java. No matter who they collaborated with, Mandana asked all the white sects to unite to make the group that helped the Mongols a common enemy.

Forget the competition and struggle for influence over the kingdom, for now Majapahit is cleaning up its own internal problems. Mandana spoke like a son who loved his country.

"I have often heard of your ability to destroy the enemies of the black faction. And now that faction is working with foreigners from far away. Of course, I won't let that happen. As an officer of this kingdom, I am called to defend the land of my birth. As a warrior, I also want to defend it. So I hope you will do the same as I do.

This was Arya Mandana's final speech before the meeting ended. And he also gave the name of his group as Mandakini. He hoped that this group would become a great clan that would regenerate even though rulers came and went.

But for Kebo Galungan, this meeting was the beginning of the end, as he had to investigate the deaths of his students.

The two warriors sent by Mandana to investigate eventually broke the news that their deaths were closely linked to the mysterious disappearance of young children in villages around the Kediri region.

And it was done by a mercenary group called Alas Gunung, led by Bumi Terjang.

Alas Gunung?

Jagat had been to their headquarters to accept a job, but that was all. He continued to listen to the report, remembering that he had also been offered the same job by Wirahasa, and somehow it was all intertwined.

Wisesa had also offered him a new job, and it definitely had nothing to do with the theft of the Kitab. All these pieces of the story came together as a whole that Mongol and Wirahasa were preparing a plan to seize power as Kediri's successor.

Druwangi, one of the warrior couples from the Brantas River, mentioned that Alas Gunung used to be close to Panewu of Kediri. This meant that all the black sects that joined Mongol were warrior figures who had been close to Kediri.

"I know their base!"

Jagat suddenly shouted from behind as they crowded around Mandana. All eyes were immediately on him.

"Take me there immediately, Jagat."

"All right. But there is one condition."

Jagat had nothing to lose by helping someone. This was the typical merchant of a Jagat. Some sneers were heard, including from female warriors like Druwangi. He remembered Marini, who had the same lip curvature as him. And he didn't care.

The condition was mentioned by Jagat when the two of them had separated from the other warriors. It was a simple condition because Jagat just wanted to know something.

"Why the Book of Demons?" asked Jagat.

"Because it is not of this world."

"You mean from the demon world. How is that possible?" It seemed that Jagat didn't know much about the martial world filled with different powers.

"Have you never heard of Calon Arang?" Kebo Galungan asked back.

"I've only heard of his book, which was fought over by the entire martial world, but that was hundreds of years ago." (1)

"His book also contains teachings on raising the dead. Calon Arang was just a human devoted to the underworld, and she became his follower, and her book is nothing compared to the Book of Demons."

"What is the power of this book?" asked Jagat, remembering his encounter with Sabrang Panuluh. He was sure that his wife had rolled up the book in a cloth. It would have been easy for him to snatch it.

"People who master the book will be able to take the full power of a demon, such as endurance, speed, and strength. They can change the moves I acquired in the world to become more powerful."

"And you have a copy?"

Jagat's last question, before they mounted the horse Jagat had hidden behind a bush, finally came out.

Kebo Galungan replied, "Copy or original, no one will be able to read the words in this book. It's too complicated to read. Let's go. I've told you what you want to know. Now take me to their headquarters."

"Wait, then why did you buy it from Wisesa?"

"That's enough. You know enough, young man. Now take me to the Mountain Alas headquarters."

That was enough information for Jagat. He had to steal the Book of Demons and learn it for himself. That way, he could protect Gendis and Ki Wardiman, the man who had given him his talents and abilities.

He felt that Kebo Galungan was just a person who wore white clothes but had black intentions in disguise. The way he explained the book was like someone who had great ambitions for the martial world.

Such people should not be involved in the Mandakini clan. Regeneration will be destroyed because of their ambition. Jagat compared himself to not joining a clan because it is better to be alone than to be united in hypocrisy. Because the rainbow looks beautiful, but it's transient. But black and white are two eternal colors that have always existed on this earth.

He had been in the black world for a long time, and he wanted to enter the white world for himself. Not to enter a world that looks white but has many colors in it.

This is called hypocrisy.

After accompanying Kebo Galungan to a large river where the villainous herd was hiding, Jagat hurried back to Wijen Village to retrieve the book.

If his calculations were correct, he would arrive during the night. Kebo Galungan would have plenty of time to return to his wife. That is, if he made it out safely.

Unlike before, this time Jagat infiltrated the village in the middle of the night. When the chill of the night had forced the villagers to fall asleep in their blankets.

Jagat descended the hills on the outskirts of the village at a slow pace because he had plenty of time. He was confident that the students of Kentabuana would no longer be on guard because of the death of three of his disciples.

What an unfortunate fate for a senior disciple. This was the price of one's entry into the martial arts world.

He stealthily walked along the path that formed the boundary next to the house. The only light came from two torches placed at the side and front of the fence.

Inside the house, the faint light of the oil lamp still shone. Unlike the houses of other residents who turn off all lights at nightfall, Kebo Galungan's wife's house seemed to illuminate the surrounding area.

However, there was still activity going on inside the house. It would not be wise to continue to move recklessly into the yard of the house.

But this was Jagat's only last chance. He knew he would not return to this place as it was quite a distance from Tuban, Ki Wardiman's house. With his face partially covered by a piece of black cloth, Jagat protected his identity. Only his eyes were visible, radiating determination to pierce the darkness of the night.

With slow and careful steps he walked on. Every step was planned, every sound of his feet accompanied by an effort to remain unheard. The goal was clear, to find out what was going on inside the house.

From inside the house, from one room to be exact, discordant voices could be clearly heard. A woman's voice was humming something. It sounded like an incantation.

"Present the Queen of Darkness from all the dark worlds. Rest in the silence of the night. I am your humble servant..."

The words were clearly organized in a soft and slow voice. Jagat tried to find an opening to peer through the neatly woven rattan wall. He found only a hole the size of a pebble, which was enough to accommodate the apparition in his eyes.

The voice came from a woman strongly suspected to be the wife of Kebo Galungan.

"Calon Arang, my queen of all queens of the world... .... Dayu Datuh, my mother of mothers. I am your son calling you here...."

How surprised Jagat was to hear Calon Arang's name mentioned by Kebo Galungan's wife. It turned out that his wife was a follower of Calon Arang, who had become a legend among black cultists.

In front of him was a book, most likely a copy of the Book of Demons. Jagat was faced with a dilemma. His wife might have asked Calon Arang to help him study the book. Or maybe he wanted to translate it so he could understand it.

I don't know. Jagat would not allow it. It would be dangerous to read the original book without a teacher, let alone a copy that might contain typographical errors.

Jagat decided to take the book directly, while Kebo Galungan's wife was concentrating on her ritual.

There was only a window for an entrance, as the door was locked from the inside. He didn't want to disturb the action.

The window was right on Kebo Galungan's wife's side. Half of his feet had entered the middle of the room and finally stood completely on the wooden floor of the house.

His figure, visible only to the eye, began to walk on tiptoe, silently. The hand had reached out from the side and the book was already in its full possession. All that remained was to raise it slowly until it was fully grasped.

In the midst of a wave of prayerful voices, Jagat walked back to the window to complete his mission.

"One step away and this house will be your tomb."

The voice full of prayers and incantations became a threat. Immediately the cold air came in. Jagat knew that he was facing a powerful magical force.