ASTAKONA [COURSE EIGHT]
Chapter 6

Inside that black hole, the atmosphere was so gloomy and frightening. Zara woke up with a sick head and smelled a stinging stench all around her. He was surprised to see many human skeletons and skulls scattered around him. His heart was pounding, as if a huge wave was hitting his chest. His screams echoed in the walls of the cave that was full of death.

As she awakens, Zara realizes that she is in the hole. Quickly, he closed his mouth so that his screams would not be heard again.

"Where am I?" he murmured in panic.

The memory of Kedidi being kidnapped just now lit up in his mind, spurring him to attempt to rise from the black-mossed spot and move towards the red light visible in the distance.

However, his fate was completely impartial. The red light was not the exit he had hoped for, instead leading him into the valley of a terrible disaster.

Zara heard Astakona's prohibition speech by the group.

The prohibition of Astakona was unleashed with awe-inspiring force, enveloping the region with gripping silence. The sound of the drums further amplified the aura of darkness that enveloped them.

No less than 50 members of the black-robed group gathered around Kedidi coffins. There were four circular formations surrounding the coffins. The nearest circle with the middle coffin sows white flowers with sincerity. The second and third circles move with ceremonial movements, raising and lowering the hands with a certain rhythm. Meanwhile, the last circle plays a musical instrument that creates a magical twang.

The sudden appearance of Indra from behind Zara shocked the girl to the point of almost screaming. Despite struggling, Zara could not escape from Indra's strong grasp.

"Dhh! I'm Indra" whispered Indra slowly in Zara's ear.

Zara frowned suspiciously but eventually believed that it was Indra. He obeyed Indra's cue to move somewhere, trying not to be heard by the members of the black-robed group.

Indra stopped and investigated the surroundings carefully, looking for the best way to save Kedidi.

"You wait here, don't go near there. I will save Kedidi," said Indra firmly.

Zara was confused and asked, "Why?"

Indra gestured for Zara to stay in place. He lit a fire from his hand, ready to face the challenge.

Suddenly, the two black-robed group members that Zara had seen before appeared in front of her. They were calm and ready to fight but Zara became a little shocked.

Shortly thereafter, Indra introduces his partners, Haise, and Cinnyrix, who turn out to be familiar allies.

"Remember. Don't go there." Indra instructed Zara to wait at the spot, and she promised to return once the rescue mission was completed.

After setting off towards where Kedidi was, they were faced with an unexpected attack.

"The 4th Black Stadium. The night of falling asleep."

Suddenly, Indra and his partner were knocked unconscious on the battlefield.

In a gripping silence, Indra opened his eyes. He found that he had been sitting on his knees, wrapped around a twisting of thorny roots that tightly bound him, causing his body to be pierced by those sharp thorns. Blood started flowing from the scratched clothes.

"Aghhhh!!!!" The screams of Indra and his friends thrashed in pain. However, the more they attempted to break away, the tighter the winding grasped onto them.

Zara waited for a long time. His heart was not troubled to think of his friend who had not yet returned home. There must be something that happened to them and he rushed to track Indra and his friend earlier.

Turns out he was right. They've all been trapped there.

"Indra! Haise! The cinnyrix!" zara screamed inwardly seeing they had been captured.

Kedidi was lifted from the keranda. Then, both his hands were tied to the iron bars on the left and right, using manila's gentian rope pulling him up so that only the tip of his thumb touched the ground.

"SNAKE!" shouted one of the group members.

Suddenly, the entire group was seated facing Kedidi. The thump of the drum and the sound of other musical instruments kept silent.

A masked figure of a black crow appeared standing next to Kedidi. Morkus, their leader, looked towards Indra and his friends. His smile thrown showed his crime as he clapped.

"We help you, we must die? Do you think killing us is so easy? Haha! Welcome to the black territory of death, O soldiers of the ants of Astakona."

"Who are you? Release her!" Indra's screams, anger and pain fused in his screams.

The black-robed man smiled sinisterly, revealed his sharp teeth, then walked to the back of Kedidi. His hand held onto Kedidi's hanging shoulder.

"I? I'm Morkus! Chief Eastern Hige! Didn't you read about me in your reference books? You are so good at learning!"

He looked at Kedidi's soft cheek and licked it.

Indra felt her blood boiling. "Based coward! Never touch my friend like that! Ahhhhhhh!!!" Indra's screams intensified as the root's twists began to break his ribs.

His friends also screamed as the roots responded with excruciating pain. They are trapped in a black spell that they cannot let go of using Astakona.

"Haha! I enjoyed your reaction. Don'worry. This little brother we'll look after like perfumed oil." Morkus said maliciously.

Then Morkus stood again in front of Kedidi, and from his robe, he drew out a sharp black sword.

"You don't touch him sometimes!" Jerit Indra's.

Morkus stepped over haughtily, facing the sprawling Kedidi. His sword glittered sharply, ready to plunge into Kedidi's heart without mercy. Suddenly, Indra's scream echoed in the air.

"Conditioned!" yells.

However, fate has intertwined, and Morkus ferociously sticks his sword in the heart of Kedidi. Kedidi's mouth froze with blood, and Morkus drew the sword viciously, making the blood rush. Then, with a golden cup decorated with thorny roots, Morkus caught Kedidi's blood and divided it among their group. The blood was drunk with a voracious appetite.

Indra closed her eyes, unable to see Kedidi in that state. Her cries broke, lamenting over the unfortunate fate of her best friend who had been persecuted so cruelly.

Zara, who witnessed all this, was unable to stand firm. His legs were trembling, and he felt weak. Tears flowed down his cheeks nonstop. He was afraid of the brutality that lay before his eyes.

After the drink was drunk, they waited in hopes of gaining new strength. But nothing happened. The anger of Morkus peaked, and with his anger, he threw his sword on the ground. Morkus approached Kedidi's blue corpse and, sadistically, tore his little belly apart and threw a sword on the ground in anger.

Zara could not bear to see the suffering of her best friend. Without a doubt, even profound courage ambushed him.

"Needs!!!!!!" zara shouted with a roar. He dashed swiftly to retrieve the sword that Morkus had dropped to the ground

Suddenly, all eyes were on him. Indra was shocked to see what Zara was doing. He also looked ahead.

Morkus. "Who are you?! Why aren't you affected by the black sign like everyone else?!"

Indra tried to warn. "Zara!!! You crazy?! You can't beat him!"

"What can you do now? Huh! Basic Tias! Not aware of reality. You guys who are as weak as humans dare to fight us? Are you guys blind? Are you guys deaf? Look around you. No one can resist us!" Morkus taunted Zara with a snobbish tone.

However, Zara remained firm on her feet. His anger was boiling within. His tears flowed, but no fear could master them.

"The only ones who can fight you are those who don't have Astakona!" zara shouted with anger.

"Shearing!" Angry Morkus.

With agile movements, Zara suddenly appeared behind Morkus, preparing to lock his neck. Morkus was surprised and tried to dodge, but did not succeed completely, so his neck was scratched slightly and pulled out a speck of blood. Quickly, Morkus covered her with his sleeves.

Indra's comrades watched the scene in surprise.

Zara's expressionless face approached the already cornered Morkus.

"Return Kedidi back to her before you kidnap her. Otherwise, I will retaliate with even more horrific atrocities" Zara said firmly.

"Well!" Morkus was surprised and raised his hand next to her.

"The 4th black stakona. A sleeping night." Morkus attempts to use his magic, but Zara remains unwavering.

"Do you think I'm stupid and easily fooled? Tias won't be affected by Astakona, "sobbed Zara cynically.

However, the group had not been able to save the chairman suddenly a scream was heard in the crowd.

"Aargh!!!!" Horrible screams filled their crowd. Suddenly, groups of ticks appeared and quickly began to eat the meat on their legs. Everyone panicked and tried to escape, creating chaos.

Morkus himself panicked and gave orders to his followers.

"All retreat! Astakona black 2nd. Out of sight!" yells. Then, a puff of black smoke appeared and took his followers away.

Meanwhile, the fleas eat with greedy thorny roots wrapped around the body of Indra and his friends. They become very weak and eventually collapse.

The lice then slowly moved away leaving them and into a small vault. Mary and Buceros appeared and covered the iron coffins.

Showing the condition of his friend and the victim he must save made him isolated by his actions.

"We're too late Buceros." Maria said.

Zara approached Kedidi and untied the bond in her hand. He laid Kedidi's corpse on the ground and pointed his hand at Kedidi's stab.

"Astakona Seij first. Healing leaves," he said with hope. However, nothing happened. He sat down, knelt, and cried bitterly because he could not save Kedidi because of the amount of blood lost.

"Zara." call Indra in pain, but the call is not heard.

.....

Crying and sadness were all around. Everyone feels broken. Kedidi's mother and father, especially, looked heartbroken. Their son returned in a sadistic and lifeless state at dawn. Almost Kedidi's mother blames herself, but is refuted and placated by caring neighbors. They all helped to arrange Kedidi's funeral lovingly.

Indra also felt very sorry for the loss of her best friend.

Police, soldiers and doctors from Astakona came to investigate and provide assistance to the injured family and friends. Doctors from Astakona Seij treated the wounds of Indra, and his colleagues.

After he finished that evening, Kedidi was buried.

Haise, whose entire body was covered in bandages, approached Indra and Zara slowly.

"They were members of the Hige who were looking for the owner of the Emerald Astakona. Astakona Seij holders are often targeted because of their similarities. We are also saddened by the passing of your friend. You did your best to save him" Haise said sincerely.

Indra and Zara could only remain silent. Their eyes were still red and swollen as tears were incessantly flowing from last night.

"You must be strong" said Haise again.

Then, a purple-haired girl appeared and looked gently at Zara who was still sad.

"Zara," call him.

However, Zara did not reply, she just stared downwards.

"I'm Maria. I can feel your feelings about losing someone. May you be strong and steadfast in the face of this life."

Maria took out a colorless clear Astakona-eyed bracelet from inside her pocket.

"This is a new technology for Tias. The name of this bracelet is Loperas. We created it to overcome the weakness of the Tias people. Although it is still in the testing phase, take this, at least a little help," Maria said, offering her bracelet to Zara.

"We have to go now, and Indra, I have bad news for you" Maria said.

Indra who was initially silent, finally said, "Why?"

"Our mission this time failed. We were directed to arrest you and the other friend until the trial was over. This is a heavy case. There's a chance you'll be tried in the academy court. About your family, I explained to them." Haise said.

Maria approached Indra and pulled out a black wooden pen.

"Do what you want. Even though my body is there, my heart will always remain here" Indra said.

"Where are you going, Indra?" asked Zara who suddenly made a sound

"I have to go back to the academy" Indra replied. He stood up and extended his hand. Maria carefully scratched her wrist and formed a handcuffs.

"Since when did you study at the academy?" zara asked, somewhat surprised.

Indra was silent. He followed Mary, and her friends. Cinnyrix makes a portal in the shape of a circle and they leave, leaving Zara.

In a deep sense of sadness, Zara faces a challenging future and loses all her friends. His life became dark so fast.