Pangawasa Warishing (Giant Tree Ruler)
Chapter 3 - The Wolf

Royal City, on a clear morning, a man sat facing a window and turned his back to his desk in a room located on the 43rd floor, in a 79-story building.

The blond man picked up the phone from someone.

“Halo” Says the hell Man while putting his foot on the other leg.

Another man across the phone replied. “Report Tuan. Last morning I saw Samudaya's party go to Alas Warishing together with a child about 15 years old.”

“Oh, so those who leave. Good, continue reconnaissance, if they make it out of there, Report it to me immediately.” The man in the blue suit replied.

“Good Mr.” Answer the man across the phone.

The phone was closed by the company's CEO-style man, who then stood up and put his left hand into the pocket in his pants pocket, while still facing the window he said. “Maybe I can be a container for my Master if they can get Rubber from Warishing.” Smilingly.

—-

In a fairly arid land and with the sun directly overhead, indicates the time has entered the middle of the day.

A group of 6-man adventurers, were walking excitedly in the drought land. But the wind blows strong enough from the north as they travel westward, so the heat of the sun is not so pronounced.

“Penta, do you want to drink?” asked Prabu who was walking at the very back of all the members of the group.

“No, it's okay, I haven't been thirsty.” While walking carrying a large bag.

Although asked by Dyah to bring enough goods but Penta insisted to keep carrying all the goods he brought from the village. He was worried that if not brought his goods would be lost in the inn, even though the inn had guaranteed the goods they entrusted would not be lost.

“Penta, you don't have to worry we will run out of water, because Dyah can use water magic, if needed.” Said Rani.

“No, I'm really not thirsty yet kok.” Replied Penta gave a subtle smile to Rani.

“Alright if it is like that.” Rani spoke with a slight frown. “But, Penta, By the way you can magic what? What elements are you good at?” Ask Rani quickly.

Penta who was a bit surprised, replied quietly. “Eh me, Anu, Actually I can't magic.”

“Ohh, so you can't magic, whereas I thought, I can teach you magic on this trip.” Rani replied disappointedly.

“Oh, Sorry.” Penta said while bowing her head.

“Eh, no, I don't blame you Penta, not at all.” Reply to Rani quickly.

Dyah who had been walking in front of the two of them, lowered her footsteps, who was now in the middle of the two of them, said. “Penta, you don't have to worry if you can't magic. There are many people in this country who cannot magic, many professions that do not require magic. There were even adventurers who could not magic, and there were quite a lot of them in the Kingdom City.”

“Iya I know, it's. That's why I decided to become a doctor.” Penta got excited again and replied to Dyah quickly.

“Oh. So you want to be a doctor, it's amazing loh.” Rani bowed her body slightly to look at the face of Penta who was walking to the left of Dyah..

Penta turned her left face to cover her reddened face. “Iya” Reply slowly.

Dyah moved his eyes from right to left and then to right again, he did it to glance at Penta and Rani who had exchanged glances. Then Dyah laughed a little.

Looks like Dyah knows what's going on here. But he didn't say anything and chose to keep it that might someday be an interesting story, he thought deviously.

Rani who was astonished by Dyah's behavior, asked. “Why are you laughing?”

“No, I think it's just interesting.” Dyah smile.

“What's interesting? Because Penta wants to be a doctor?” Rani is still curious.

Dyah turned her face away from Rani and replied. “Not that. You want to know.”

Penta who also felt astonished returned to turn her face to Dyah, but at that time her eyes with Rani's eyes met. Penta quickly turned his face back and his face grew red.

Dyah who noticed the laugh grew louder.

Rani, who did not understand what was happening, looked back and said. “Ya is already.”

“What they are doing.” Rakyan who led the way said with a glimmer.

The reef, which was several steps behind him, spoke while looking around with its binoculars. “Let them have fun now! Hmm, strange I see nothing here other than the arid flat land ahead there.”

“Well we've only been halfway through the day, so it's only natural that the forest isn't yet visible.” Rakryan answered.

“Maybe, but according to the informant I asked, they said here it would be foggy if it had been a half day walk from the city.” The reef tried to explain the information he got.

Rakryan glanced a little right. “Not good if there is no fog when we walk there.”

While lowering the binoculars from his eyes, Coral countered. “That's true, but if we.., well maybe this is more.” The coral wanted to explain something, but then stopped his words and continued walking.

—

At night, the air that had been warm began to feel cold. The road they went through was still a flat wasteland and did not indicate there would be any change.

While walking Dyah looked at the watch on his left hand. “It's 8 o'clock, I think we should rest here now.”

As the leader of the Dyah party who decides when the party will move or rest.

Dyah himself was an adventurer who had no doubt of his experience, his journey with the hero gave him a lot of courage and ability to lead a party, so his current comrades trusted Dyah very much.

Dyah then assigns tasks to each member of the trip, including Penta. At first Dyah did not ask Penta to do anything, but Penta insisted on helping, so Dyah was forced to give her a light duty.

The ones in charge of building the tent were Prabu and Karang, while Rakryan was keeping watch around, he would be ready if something approached.

Rani and Penta prepare the food. They only carry canned food that contains meat on average and some contain nuts, for those containing nuts can be directly eaten, but for those containing meat must be cooked first.

Penta asked in confusion. “How will we cook this, I tell you not to bring stove. In addition we also do not have a pan or fryer.”

“You don't need to worry, it's all there's a solution.” Rani answered with a smile.

Penta's face turned red again so she turned her face away from the girl whose hair was braided to the side. Rani just watched and said nothing.

It seemed like they did not bring any stoves or other cooking utensils. Dyah decided not to carry it because it would be troublesome if it carried too much equipment. Especially when it comes to running away from monsters that they cannot defeat.

Dyah walked closer to Rani and Penta who were getting ready, then asked. “Is everything ready?”

“Already.” Rani answered briefly while rummaging through the contents of one of the cans.

“Good.” Dyah then squatted down and put the stick she had been holding onto the ground in a sleeping position.

The wand was unlike a typical high-end magician wand, just like a beginner magic wand made of wood from end to end, for the tip called the top of the stick it is made thicker and circular like a semicircle at the end of the surface, while the side called below it is made taper like a needle but not sharp like a sewing needle.

Then he pointed one of his palms towards the top end of the stick. And a small fire began to burn, the fire seemed neither big nor small, or rather like a small bonfire.

Meanwhile Rani, reciting the mantra “oh cahya. mugi karsaa paring pangayoman so tiyang ingkang awon.” by positioning her hands in front of her chest and both palms face up, like a person who is praying.

Suddenly a light appeared above his two palms and began to make a pot-like shape.

The centa who noticed, made a sound. “Haaaa, magic can be used like that?”

Dyah just laughed looking at the Penta level.

Rani walked carrying the pot of light towards the campfire that came from Dyah's stick. “Of course, it's an easy thing.”.

Penta who was astonished by what happened immediately asked. “Ahh, the coke can float?” With surprise.

Dyah also laughed out loud.

Rani laughs but not as hard as Dyah. Coral and Prabu who had just finished building the tent just laughed a little.

The Penta who had a surprised face now turned red.

Dyah who was aware of the sudden change in color of Penta's face, immediately apologized, said.“Maaf” while chuckling and rubbing his eyes. “Maaf” slowly stopped his captive, but there were still tears on the edge of his eyelids. “I don't mean to mock, but, huf. It's common here. You also see in the Royal City, there are magic cars that can float and magic motors that can fly in the air. It was all thanks to the help of Magic Crystals. Well, I just put a magic crystal next to my wand, so naturally the pot of magic can float.” Then the laughter really stopped.

“Oh turns out so.” Penta whose face was still flushed was satisfied with Dyah's explanation.

After the pleasant incident they all started eating, except for Rakryan who was still on guard.

The centa who was aware of it asked while chewing the meat that came from the can he was holding. “Rakryan don't eat?”

The coral sitting on his right answered. “He will eat after I'm done, we used to keep watch in turn, and the ones on guard should not eat until replaced with others, fearing that there are monsters that attack when we all eat.”

“What does it need to be like that? Though if you look around there are no monsters at all around here.” Ask Penta again.

“Of course, because even though it looks safe, actually, the outdoors is very dangerous. You will not know when will be attacked by monsters even though the environment here looks quiet. But still there may be monsters lurking from a distance or monsters that are camouflaged so that they cannot be seen by the eyes, and suddenly he will attack you from behind. Therefore, those on duty should not be off guard one bit.” Bright Coral with a long.

Dyah who realized something said. “From Penta's words I just realized. Why are there no monsters we have seen since walking from Watu Samudra, this is really strange.”

Penta responded to Dyah with a question. “Isn't it better like that?”

“Maybe better, just might not.” The coral that had finished eating and was now rummaging through its empty cans that he had placed on the ground was like thinking of something.

The atmosphere that was a while ago crowded with laughter now became quite quiet, maybe the speech of the Reef had made everyone worried.

Coral's worry is not without basis, after he finished eating and replaced the vigil with Rakryan, he told the story of his adventures in a valley called Bada, which he called Bada, it is a valley located on an island in the Northeast of Java island where the royal city of Kalingga is located.

At that time Karang had not been with Samudaya's party and was not as strong as it is today. His party used to be at the Knight level and they got a mission to hunt down a monster named Celeng in the Bada valley it was an easy mission for the Knight party level. But I didn't think anything bad happened to them. Karang told me that the place where he had his friends overnight was also quiet as it is today. From a distance there were no monsters at all, there were only grasses as far as the eye could see and without knowing there would be danger coming they slept without anyone standing guard. It happened so fast and all he remembered was that there was a figure of an invisible monster tearing one of his friends apart, he and the others could only escape.

Coral recounts her past troubles while playing a dagger in her right hand and facing the ground. Penta could only silently hear the story of the Coral and continued to stare at the dagger played by the Coral.

—-

They began to sleep and change guard, the first guard is Karang and Prabu, then Rakryan and Penta. At first Rakryan wanted to stand guard alone but because Penta was pushy so he let her go, and an awkward atmosphere occurred while the two of them were on guard.

The morning air has begun to feel, the air that was cold enough last night is now cooler. The heart that was not strong with cold so shivered. Rakryan who realized that gave a robe he used to wear to Penta. But the atmosphere remained awkward between the two of them.

Fog began to envelop the party's camp. Rakryan and Penta who were on guard somehow they leaned their shoulders against each other. Oh, apparently they're asleep. This might be quite dangerous because if they were to fall asleep it meant that there was currently no one guarding the surroundings surrounding the party's camp.

Coral who was sleeping fast, felt a danger and immediately woke Prabu who was sleeping next to him then he came out of his tent, then shouted at the tent where Rani & Dyah slept.

Dyah who had just been awakened by the cry of Karang heard the sound of the roar of animals, immediately he shook the body of Rani who was still half conscious.

“Rani, Rani, Rani, quickly wake up, no monsters, let's hunt.” Say Dyah while shaking it.

“Iya, yes, yes.” Rani answered slowly, lifting her body and rubbing her eyes.

Dyah who was already wearing his robe immediately came out of the tent. When Dyah came out, he was a little surprised because the area where his group camped was already filled with thick fog. The view back then was very dark, all Dyah could see was the fog.

Immediately Dyah raised his staff to the sky and cast a spell. “Geni nesu, menehi life iki dalan kanggo gamblang” at the same time the circle of fire came out of the void and surrounded the end of the stick. “Fire Illumination” as the word comes out of Dyah's mouth, 3 balls of light, not but 3 balls of fire emitting very bright light spread out in three different directions.

The condition that was so dark became somewhat bright but was still filled with thick fog. The visibility may be only one meter although the light fireball can be seen quite clearly from below with a considerable distance.

Dyah looked to his right and left several times, he was looking for his other friends. Dyah wants to move to make sure Penta is okay, but she can't leave the tent she used to sleep in because there is still Rani who is preparing in it.

Dyah is more worried about Penta than her other friends because she believes in her friends' abilities and especially because Penta is not an adventurer. It would be very dangerous if Penta separated from the others, especially under these conditions, Dyah thought.

“Ayo.” Shouted Rani out of the tent.

“Iya.” Dyah responds and sticks out her right hand to pull Rani.

They both ran, in a direction that was difficult to explain. Because the fog was very thick the direction became unclear. Dyah runs while pulling Rani and yells calling Penta's name. But there's no answer at all.

Dyah stopped when he saw a shadowy figure that was like a dog being on standby attacking.

“I hope I saw wrong.” said Dyah gasping for breath.

“What did you say?” Ask Rani who is still holding on to him.

Greeaugggggg, a furious sound from the creature that suddenly leaped rapidly towards the two of them.

Siaaaal won't have time to use magic. Dyah muttered in heart.

Bukk! A very loud sound was heard. Suddenly the two women's eyes darkened covered by the figure of a man in knight clothes.

“You guys okay?” Ask Prabu who breathed a sigh of relief.

“Ahh, Prabu is you? Mercifully. I think we will perish earlier. hehe.” replied Rani who was still trembling.

“Where else? Especially Penta?” Dyah asked without answering Prabu's question.

“He was with Rakryan, I saw them fall asleep. Because the fog was getting thicker so I decided to go back to the tent where Prabu was still sleeping. Both are better than their own. So I threw something towards Rakryan, he will definitely get angry.” Murmured Coral at the end of his sentence who walked backwards while crossing his two hands holding a dagger, on standby.

Coral decides to return to Prabu's place rather than approach and wake Rakryan or Penta, as he is worried if Prabu is alone in this situation.

“He will definitely be angry. Jeh, that's not it. What if your throw misses?” Dyah who was very worried about Penta so acted a little annoyed.

“When I missed.” The coral replied with a shout while looking a little back. “Ah, shit, it doesn't matter now. Relax, relax Dyah Guitarja.” He continued his words to calm Dyah. Looks like Karang is aware of what Dyah is worried about.

Dyah who then realized to be a little calm. “You are right, sorry. But not usually Rakryan fell asleep. It's bizarre”. The already calm Dyah tried to understand and analyze the current situation.

“What about the creature that attacked earlier?” Dyah patted Prabu's left shoulder.

Prabu who remained on alert, said. “Dia. The creature had woken up again, but when he woke up it split in two. Continue they escape towards the mist.”

“Ehh, splitting?” Rani surprised.

“So true that creature, this is more dangerous than I thought.” Dyah muttering.

“That creature? What it really is, it looks like a wolf, but there is no way a wolf can live on this island, not.” The coral asked while detailing the form of the creature.

“There is no time to explain it now, I will explain it as you go. We should go look for them both.” Answer Dyah firmly.

The four of them stepped carefully while being on standby to deal with any attacks that might suddenly come.

On the way to find Rakryan and Penta, Dyah explains what the creature really is. Dyah said, the creature was just a myth from the info he heard.

The monster was named Wolf Alas Warihing. It was a monster that you would not find anywhere other than in Alas Warihing. The creature had a wolf-like shape and had fangs that were like Smilodon. The terrible thing about the monster is that he'll defend himself in two and come back to life if you kill him, but his life after that will only last 12 hours, then he would vanish without a remnant. However, if you prefer to fight it, it will not be endless for 12 hours, whether you can survive that long without rest, plus the number that will continue to grow if killed. It will only make you more overwhelmed. And also the special ability of the monster is to create a fog around it that will make you fall asleep if you are off guard.

“Huf, I thought all this time the monster was just a myth, but actually met on the first night of our trip. It's really troublesome.” He ends his story with a complaining sentence.

It seemed compared to fear, the monster nicknamed Wolf Pedestal Warihing was more to make Dyah feel troubled.