The Return of the Fire Dragon Swordsman
Maharesi Padmanaba

From the top of the small forest trees behind Panji Tejo Laksono, Luh Jingga who saw Panji Tejo Laksono was sheathing back the Fire Dragon Sword to its scabbard immediately exclaimed, "Kangmbok Gayatri, that's the Prince Kangmas. Let's go over there".

Gayatri nodded in understanding and the two immediately shot towards Panji Tejo Laksono who was still standing staring at Ki Pancatnyana's corpse lying just like that on the ground. The arrival of the two of them immediately distracted the young prince. A sweet smile was immediately engraved on the handsome face of Panji Tejo Laksono.

"Why did you guys come here?", asked Panji Tejo Laksono as he walked over to the two of them.

"We're worried about your safety, Prince Kangmas. Of course we can't stand idly by to see you leave in a hurry" Gayatri said, casting his gaze around the place where there were three corpses lying there. Panji Tejo Laksono replied, Luh Jingga has already spoken.

"Who are they Kangmas?", Luh Jingga pointed towards the 3 corpses.

"Only people are looking for things. Just let them. Let their corpses be the hungry satisfiers of wild animals in this forest. Let's get out of this place. Surely the Seloageng soldiers are confused looking for us" Panji Tejo Laksono replied immediately.

"Alright, we understand Prince Kangmas", Luh Jingga nodded in understanding as well as Gayatri. The three compacts immediately tracked the ground violently then bounced high into the air then used the twigs of trees growing in this small forest as a pedestal and darted away from the place.

After the three disappeared from sight, a black shadow flashed quickly and stopped at a considerable distance from where the corpses of Ki Pancatnyana, Wugu and Kenca were. Although from a considerable distance, but he could still see the bodies of the three people. The black shadow that was none other than Nyi Dadap Segara immediately knelt on the ground and prostrated to the corpses. Apparently after Ki Pancatnyana was killed at the hands of Panji Tejo Laksono, Nyi Dadap Segara immediately snatched the nearby Demon Bone Sword and quickly hid behind the rocks far enough from the place of battle. After seeing the departure of Panji Tejo Laksono and his two wives, Nyi Dadap Segara ventured to pay his respects to Ki Pancatnyana, Wugu and Kenca for the last time.

"I swear to you, this grudge will surely be avenged. Goodbye Kakang Pancatnyana, Wugu and Kenca", while wiping the remaining tears that had flowed on his cheeks, Nyi Dadap Segara immediately darted rapidly eastward, to the Pakuwon Weling area.

Nyi Dadap Segara soon met some of his personal bodyguards outside of Weling City. Without waiting for a long time, they immediately rushed to leave the place to return to Pakuwon Tumapel. Along the way, Nyi Dadap Segara just silent without much to say. Ki Pancatnyana's death in front of his eyes was still visible in the eye pelukan. This really made Nyi Dadap Segara depressed.

Without turning towards his residence, Nyi Dadap Segara continued to pound his horse across the highway that leads east of Mount Kawi. Accompanied by ten of his subordinates, he ceaselessly drove his horse as if he wanted to reach the Duchy of Dinoyo City located east of Mount Kawi.

By late afternoon, Nyi Dadap Segara had arrived at the place he was headed. A large house located on the edge of Dinoyo City. It seems that the house is the house of a noble because it can be seen that in front of the entrance gate of the house there are two soldiers of the Duchy of Dinoyo who are on guard.

Two gate guard soldiers immediately confronted Nyi Dadap Segara and his followers.

"Stop there!

What do you want to come here?", hardened the soldier while crossing their spears as a sign of prohibition.

"Tell Tumenggung Ranasuta that Nyi Dadap Segara, the trader from Wanua Siganggeng wanted to meet" said Nyi Dadap Segara after they jumped down from his horse followed by all his followers.

"Wait there. I will face Gusti Tumenggung Ranasuta to convey your message", said the soldier as he stepped into the mansion which is the Dinoyo Katumenggung. The other soldier stood guard in front of the gate.

A burly man with a thick moustache seemed to be teasing his pet bird in front of the Katumenggungan Dinoyo pendopo when the gate guard soldier entered. This man who is about 3 decades old wears a fine red cloth sling covering half his chest like the usual noble man's clothes.

"What are you here without being called?", asked the burly man as soon as the soldier saluted him and sat cross-legged before him.

"Please forgive Gusti Tumenggung..

Outside there are some people who want to meet Gusti Tumenggung. One of them claimed to be named Nyi Dadap Segara, a trader from Wanua Siganggeng", reported the soldier quickly.

Hearing the name Nyi Dadap Segara called, the burly man who was none other than Tumenggung Ranasuta was a little surprised.

'Do you want that woman here? Is there anything important that I have to come directly to my house?', Inner Tumenggung Ranasuta.

"Send him in. If anyone else wants to see me while he's here, just tell him I'm not there", Tumenggung Ranasuta shook his hand as a sign that the soldier immediately retreated.

"Sendiko dawuh Gusti Tumenggung", the soldier immediately respected and inching back leaving the Katumenggungan pendopo. Ranasuta immediately clapped his hands twice, and the two loyal Katumenggung ladies-in-waiting for the order immediately retreated from that place.

Shortly afterwards, Nyi Dadap Segara came along with 4 of his personal bodyguards, while 6 others waited outside.

"Welcome to Katumenggungan Dinoyo, Nyi Dadap Segara.

Nyi Dadap Segara immediately circulated his gaze around the place. As soon as he saw that no one was in the place, Nyi Dadap Segara immediately answered Tumenggung Ranasuta's question.

"There's something you need to know Tumenggung Ranasuta. Can't you let me go inside to talk?".

"Hahahaha, I forgot to have good manners because I was shocked by your arrival, Nyi Dadap Segara. Please enter please enter.", Tumenggung Ranasuta stepped into the Katumenggungan pendopo followed by Nyi Dadap Segara and 4 guards.

After arriving in the pendopo, they immediately sat cross-legged on the floor of the Katumenggungan Dinoyo pendopo.

"Now tell me, what is the important thing that makes you get to my place, Nyi Dadap Segara? Quickly say, do not make me curious", asked Tumenggung Ranasuta immediately.

"The leader of our seventh group, Resi Mpu Wisesa was killed by the new Ruler of Seloageng Duchy, Panji Tejo Laksono. It seems he began to sniff the existence of our group in the Panjalu region" said Nyi Dadap Segara while staring at Tumenggung Ranasuta who looked surprised not playing to hear the speech of the middle-aged woman.

"It is true that our existence in the Panjalu region is smelled by the regional rulers at the border. If this is the way, the plan of the raid to Panjalu must be accelerated.

I must immediately meet the second leader in order to suppress Prabu Samarotsaha so as to immediately attack the Panjalu defense" said Tumenggung Ranasuta immediately.

"You're right, sixth leader. In lieu of your father as the sixth previous leader killed by Prabu Jayengrana during the great war, you must not miss this opportunity to avenge the death of your parents", Nyi Dadap Segara burned embers of vengeful fire Tumenggung Ranasuta that had been still burning in the chest of the high officer of the Dinoyo Duchy soldier.

"And just so you know, the ruler of the new Duchy of Seloageng, Panji Tejo Laksono is the eldest son of Prabu Jayengrana. By killing him the same as you will make Prabu Jayengrana feel the pain of losing our loved ones", added Nyi Dadap Segara increasingly heated the heart of Tumenggung Ranasuta.

"I agree with your opinion, Nyi Dadap Segara. I will face the second leader immediately. You wait in Wanua Siganggeng until the time we destroy Panjalu", said Tumenggung Ranasuta with a fiery spirit. Seeing that, Nyi Dadap Segara immediately smiled meaningfully.

****

Meanwhile, on the slopes of Mount Mahameru, precisely in a cave displaying a small lamp from castor oil, a thin old man with a long beard was sitting cross-legged in silence. His white and simple clothes signified that he was a hermit. With great perseverance, his mouth continued to kamit recite the praising mantra of the god with his eyes closed tightly.

Suddenly a voice appeared in the ear of the old hermit..

"Maharesi Padmanaba, you've had enough of your brata. Get up and listen to my word"

Hearing that voice, the old hermit called by the name of Maharesi Padmanaba immediately opened his eyes. A blinding light could be seen spinning in front of him.

"Who is your majesty and why awaken the servant's butcher?", asked Maharesi Padmanaba while worshipping the white and blinding light.

"I am Lord Brahma.. Your papa brata made the Gods in Suralaya that's why I came to see you. I know you want to face Hyang Agung immediately because you are tired of living in this world.

But before you go to Swargaloka, you must release your body and the canuragan you have, Maharesi Padmanaba", the voice again sounded in the ears of Maharesi Padmanaba.

"Why should I let go of my knowledge and body, Lord Brahma? Already hundreds of people I asked to kill me but no one could do it", Maharesi Padmanaba continued to salute at that blinding white light.

"There was a young knight in the Panjalu region. He was the eldest son of Prabu Jayengrana, Maharaja of Panjalu. He is the incarnation of Lord Kamajaya who will be the father of the great King in Jawadwipa Land.

Seek him out, only he can lead you to the realm of eternity", having said so, the voice disappeared along with the disappearance of that blinding white light. Maharesi Padmanaba immediately rose from her prostrate place and smiled meaningfully.

Immediately he stepped out from inside the cave where he had been imprisoned all this time while saying,

"Prabu Jayengrana's eldest son,

Wait for my arrival...."