ADJOINING REALM
OLD FRIEND

"Enough man! I admit defeat!" said the tiger as it continued to rotate its body.

Jaka and Darto face to face, they find out about the continuation of the movement, and spontaneously stop at the same time.

"What was the purpose of you coming here?" sergeant Darto while continuing to circle the tiger who has now curled up.

"I just came to make sure a huge energy suddenly came in my territory" the tiger said then tried to stand up.

After the tiger stood firmly a black light suddenly fluttered from all over its body. Darto and Jaka immediately put up a vigilant position, before finally returning to lower their weapons when they saw the tiger in front of them turned into a human form.

"Then? You intend to exterminate us, right? I know you are one of Banaspati's children" continued Darto.

The tiger man continued to grimace, he continued to hold the wounds on his arms and legs as he said, "That's exactly what, I came because I thought my leader was coming."

"You mean?" jaka Sahut.

"Energy in your body, it's her gift, isn't it?" the tiger replied while looking at Jaka's body.

"No! I never felt energized by that barbaric being!" sergeant Jaka. He seemed emotional after his opponent thought that Jaka was his ally.

"Hey ... Do you know Darma and Surya?" timpal Darto after seeing a confused tiger and also the face of Jaka who was so angry.

"Oh ... don't tell me that young man is Ki Surya's successor?" sahut tiger while pointing towards Jaka.

"Yes, he managed to take advantage of the banaspati curse that reined in the entire blood-descendant line of Ki Surya" replied Darto as he removed the weapon in his hand. He drew near to the humans so the incident asked, "Have you ever met the elder Jaka?"

"Sorry .. I've been sassy. If I knew that the young man was Ki Surya's descendant, then I might meet him with a gift instead of attacking him" the middle-aged man said, bowing slightly.

"Who are you?" jaka asked curiously, he also removed the red spear in his hand and immediately sat down beside the figure.

"I'm a friend of Kanjeng Darma. I also know Ki Surya well, before the two of them disappeared, I always sent the two of them to go to their destination. But after Ki Surya was stricken with banas starch, and Kanjeng Darma took him away, I immediately became a captive of banaspati," said the man as he looked up, his gaze glazed over his memory, with teary eyes.

After telling the story, suddenly the man sniffed, he smelled Darto's sweat and said, "Why does the smell of your body remind me of Kanjeng Darma?"

"He's his descendant" said Jaka briefly. He answered without thinking long.

"There's something I need to ask. If you want to be on our side, Jaka can release the banaspati energy that binds your neck. Now solemnly answer, do you want to fight the banaspati with us?" said Darto disperse the lament of the tiger in front of him.

"There's not a single reason I can find to refuse. I was just afraid of him, but I didn't put the slightest bit of respect on the figure who injured the two closest to me" replied the tiger with a straight look, he spoke with a very serious face, so Darto and Jaka immediately nodded and accepted the tiger as one of unexpected help.

After Jaka and Darto nodded, Jaka immediately cut off the red energy wrapped around the tiger's neck, he instantly absorbed all the energy of the banaspati that lodged in the tiger for a long time. In contrast to everything, the banaspati energy that stopped inside the tiger's body could not be compared to the villagers. His energy was so abundant, considering that it had been so long that the tiger was restrained.

After Jaka finished removing the shackles, Darto immediately held every wound on the tiger's body. He channeled energy from his body, to speed up the healing of wounds. Holes on the tiger's legs and hands slowly close, gradually shrinking to leave dry skin that looks like skin that almost healed from a scratch.

"Thank you young man, now I'm sure after feeling the energy of both of you. Kanjeng Darma used to take care of me when I was injured, the energy is very similar to that coming out of your body" said the tiger after Darto pulled his hand from his arm and leg.

"Of course, I already have plans to bring you to be our friend. But I didn't think that you were our ancestral friend" said Darto and then stood up and stepped into the village.

"You want to go to the village? Or go back to the woods?" Said Darto as he walked, he deliberately asked after seeing the figure of the man put on a confused face.

"If I may, from now on I'll come with you .. ," said the strangled tiger, confused by not knowing the nicknames for the two young men in front of him.

"I'm Jaka, this is Kang Darto you can call us by name only, better to hear than young people," continued Jaka.

"Well Jaka, Darto. From now on I will follow you guys, you can call me Komang, that's the name Kanjeng Darma gave me, "he said with a big smile, he rushed after Jaka and Darto, he rushed after Jaka, then walk to Jaka's house which is being used to hide by all residents.

After arriving, Jaka informs Abah Ramli that the village situation is safe. Hearing that Abah Ramli immediately asked all residents to return to their respective homes. That night Komang stopped at Jaka's house, only he slept in the form of a tiger, and curled up on the porch of Jaka's house. He keeps his new friend safe, by staying asleep while protecting Darto and Jaka.

After a blind morning greeting, Abah Ramli again gathered all the citizens. They were urged to bring all the precious things, because Abah Ramli would bring them out of his hometown. Unstoppable by tears that broke from all eyes, they ran towards the house with great joy, considering that their entire lives had been spent in the place that locked them up.

It didn't take long for everyone to regroup with a bundle of strings on their backs. No one carried much, for indeed they had no valuables other than the clothes and farming tools they always used every heart.

After everyone had gathered, Abah Ramli led the way to the pesantren, everyone really put on a happy face, not least Jaka. He continued to hold Si Mbok's hand, with a bright face at every step of his foot.

As for Darto, he walked with Komang in the back, he continued to put a smile on his face, after seeing all the expressions of the population who were so happy. Today, the story of a remote and hidden village has finally found its final point.

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