KNIGHTS OF MANAH VALLEY
Fire Whip (4)

Once upon a time, Kartala was very eager to buy wine, because it ran out of money, the old man borrowed it to Empu Tulak. Until the debt is piled up, Kartala paid him by being a servant in helping the manufacture of weapons Empu Tulak.

However, the story did not spread to the martial world. If all the warriors knew, of course Kartala was very embarrassed because of his behavior. Fortunately, Empu Tulak shut down one of the secrets of Kartala until now.

“What do you need to come to my place?” Empu Tulak looked at the warriors sitting in front of him.

“So here—!”

Kartala recounts the intention of his arrival to meet his old friend. Lokadenta that has crossed the line must be stopped. By asking permission in advance to Empu Tulak, so as not to offend the old man who had taken care of his disciple.

“I've asked the young man for help!” Empu Tulak pointed at Manah Valley which was taking water at the well beside the hut. “I'm sure the boy can stop Lokadenta!”

“What is that young man, Empu?” Darma Jaya who was curious about the Manah Valley interrupted the conversation of the two old men.

“She is Manah Valley!” sahut Empu Tulak stroked his beard. “He was a traveler from the far east and was about to head for the Duchy of Kotaraja!”

Empu Tulak told the outline of Manah Valley to the warriors in front of him. According to him, the young man was not much different from himself when he was young, like to wander and eradicate evil.

“Please sir!” Manah Valley offered some boiled yams and warm tea to the guests of Empu Tulak, then the young man was going to go back to clean the kitchen.

However, Kartala invited the Valley of Manah to join them. Kartala observed the body of the Manah Valley, the old man could sense that the young man in front of him only had Andhap-level canuragan knowledge.

“What!” Kartala frowned. “How could this lowly youth want to stop Lokadenta!”

“You might be surprised after seeing his ability!” sahut Empu Tulak defended Manah Valley, because the old man had seen for himself the ability of Manah Valley when saving him. “If you have any doubt, you can test it!”

“Let me try this young man's magic, elder!” Darma Jaya interrupted the conversation and moved from her seat to the courtyard of Empu Tulak lodging followed by Manah Valley.

“Please guidance swordsman!” The Valley of Manah crossed his right hand in front of his chest and bowed his body.

“I Darma Jaya!” darma Jaya introduced herself. “Pardon if it's too rough!”

Darma Jaya mounted the horses, as did the Manah Valley. With a single move, Darma Jaya shot towards the Manah Valley shaking her sword. This time it was just a sword technique, without any inner energy, as a bluff to the Valley of Manah.

However, unexpectedly by Darma Jaya, the Manah Valley easily evades any attack of Darma Jaya. Although Darma Jaya had deployed all her sword techniques, but could not hurt the Manah Valley, not even being able to touch a strand of her hair.

For a long time the two of them exchanged styles, even if only empty hands, but the Valley of Manah is able to withstand every style of sword Darma Jaya. Now Darma Jaya widens the distance to the Manah Valley.

“Sabayu Sword!”

One white light shot horizontally towards the Manah Valley. By opening the Gate of Darkness, both hands of the Manah Valley were enveloped in a black aura of inner power and fended off the Darma Jaya attack that contained deep power.

One strike turned direction and landed right on the tree behind the Manah Valley and was destroyed instantly.

“What!” shouted the warriors who witnessed the match test of the two.

Realizing that the first attack failed, Darma Jaya put more power in her sword. Manah Valley did not want to lose, the young man's body was suddenly enveloped in a black aura of inner energy, a sign of having used the Second Gate—Gate of Life.

“Sabayu Sword!”

With a zig-zag movement, the young man repelled Darma Jaya's attack with his right hand, left hand, then with his right hand again. Which makes Darma Jaya attack turn direction about the tree and the tree was destroyed instantly.

Until on one occasion, Manah Valley has been behind Darma Jaya with the palm of the hand attached to the back of the sword youth.

“What!” Back all the warriors were made shocked by the speed of the Manah Valley.

“I didn't expect my attack to be broken so easily!” Darma Jaya praises the Manah Valley. “I admit defeat, pende—!”

“Manah Valley, just call Manah Valley!” The Manah Valley interrupts the words of Darma Jaya. “You are the winner brother of Darma Jaya. You have what I don't have!”

Darma Jaya turned her body widened her eyes and said, “what is it, brother Valley?”

“You have a very capable sword technique, whereas I'm just an empty-handed fighter!” the Valley of Manah is low. “If you have even more inner strength, I can't possibly withstand your Sabayu Sword Style!”

“Depend on speed to fight!” Kartala interrupted the conversation between the two of them. “I just saw it this time, hahaha! You are indeed Tulak jelly!”

***

The next day, the warriors from the white stream led by Kartala gathered in the courtyard of Empu Tulak's house. The attack was immediately carried out given that Lokadenta had taken over the duchy's government.

There were not too many warriors left, as all had been forcibly recruited by Lokadenta. If the warriors had heard of this plan of attack, it was likely that the white warriors would have gladly joined Kartala.

The attack was only centered on the Joglo Duchy, for the other four regions would also surrender if the central government was defeated. However, all that is not easy considering Lokadenta recruits many black warriors and also the heirloom whip is still in his hands.

“We ask for blessing from empu!” say them simultaneously.

“I hope you guys can stop the kid!” sahut Empu Tulak's.

They set out for the duchy in several stages, so as not to be too conspicuous. Some warriors are divided into small groups of five to ten people.

This time the Valley of Manah accompanied Kartala on the front row with some remaining white warriors. While Darma Jaya and his subordinates, as well as other warriors, had just departed for a while.

Entering the gate of the capital of the duchy, Kartala's entourage was blocked by several guards. In just a few seconds, the Manah Valley had managed to knock out seven gatekeepers, with various broken bone injuries.

“What!” the warriors behind Kartala.

They had just seen a different fighting style to most warriors. Having incredible speed, the young man did not even kill his opponent. Only paralyzing by making his opponent injured broken bones.

“Why don't we just kill this savage!” said one of the warriors approaching the gatekeeper who broke his wrist.

“Don't uncle, even if they act carelessly, it's solely a command from Lokadenta!” sahut Manah Valley.

“We never know, if they also have a family they have to live with, have people they care about!” continue the young man. “Maybe they did it out of compulsion or fear, though in fact they could have been better people than us!”