Wira : The Peerless One from Mount Tarakan

Wira was engrossed in his new lesson on weaving bamboo, focusing on every knot Ayu taught him. His carefree laughter echoed as he successfully created intricate patterns, completely unaware that outside, his name was beginning to be whispered with fear and curiosity.

Laksmi, on the other hand, couldn't share his joy. The whispers carried by the merchants from the city had chipped away at her peace of mind. She knew that words like "mountain demon," "strange power," and "Jati 'Beardie' fleeing" would soon attract the attention of people far more dangerous than a group of ordinary assassins. The martial world was a hotbed of intrigue and power struggles, and Wira's indescribable strength was a magnet for them.

That evening, Laksmi sat near Aunt Suri, helping prepare dinner. The savory smell of cooking filled the kitchen, but Laksmi's thoughts drifted far away.

"Auntie," Laksmi began, her voice soft. "I think… we can't stay here any longer."

Aunt Suri stopped her movements, looking at Laksmi with concern. "Why, child? You're safe here. And Young Wira saved us."

"Precisely, Auntie," Laksmi replied, glancing towards Wira who was happily playing congklak with Ayu in the corner, occasionally letting out bursts of laughter. "Wira's power… it's too great for this village. News of Jati 'Beardie's defeat and retreat must have reached the Night Shadow Sect leaders. And they won't sit still. They'll come with even greater force, and perhaps other sects curious about Wira's power as well."

Aunt Suri sighed. As a villager who often interacted with travelers and merchants, she knew well the cruelty of the martial world. "You're right, child. This village is too small to withstand such a storm. But… then where will you go?"

Laksmi lowered her gaze, contemplating. "I don't know, Auntie. But we have to move. Perhaps to a bigger city, or find a place that can conceal Wira's power. I also need to find out why my parents were killed and what this 'key to destruction' means." She clutched the jade pendant around her neck tightly.

Wira, who somehow overheard their conversation, approached with an innocent face. "Going again? Where to, Laksmi?"

Laksmi looked at him. She couldn't hide the truth. "We have to leave here, Wira. News about you has spread. More bad people will come."

Wira frowned. "More bad people? Why do they always come? Don't they have anything else to do?"

Laksmi gave a bitter smile. "That's how the world is, Wira. Not everyone is as innocent and kind as you are." She briefly explained how the martial world worked, about rivalries, grudges, and the struggle for power. Wira listened seriously, trying to grasp these new concepts.

"So, if we go to a city, will I meet more bad martial artists?" Wira asked.

"Perhaps," Laksmi answered honestly. "But in a city, we can also find information, and maybe a safer place to hide or find out what happened. And there, you can learn more about humans. The real ones."

Wira looked at Laksmi, then at Aunt Suri and Ayu who were looking at him with sad eyes. He sighed, a rare action for him. "Alright. In that case, we'll leave tomorrow morning."

The decision was made. After dinner, Laksmi and Wira bid farewell to Aunt Suri and Ayu. There was a touch of sorrow in their parting. Aunt Suri provided them with food and a little money.

"Be careful, child," Aunt Suri advised Laksmi, then looked at Wira. "Young Wira, take good care of Young Laksmi. The outside world is cruel."

Wira nodded firmly. "Understood, Auntie! I'll definitely protect Laksmi. Don't worry, Auntie, Wira's here!"

Dawn broke, painting the eastern sky with gradients of red and orange. The air was still cold, veiled in morning mist. Wira and Laksmi were ready at the edge of the village. Wira carried a small bag containing provisions, while Laksmi carried a larger bag with some clothes and important items.

They looked at Rainbow Valley Village one last time. A place where Wira received his first lessons about human life outside the mountain. A place where the imprint of his power began to be etched, setting off ripples that would soon become waves.

"Come on, Wira," Laksmi invited, looking at the footpath stretching before them, heading towards the rising sun, towards a wider, unpredictable world.

Wira nodded, then walked beside Laksmi. His steps were firm, full of enthusiasm. He was ready for the next lesson about humans, unaware that every step they took would bring them closer to the destiny that awaited. The martial world, which had only heard whispers of rumors, would soon witness for itself the Unrivaled power from Mount Tarakan.

The journey from Rainbow Valley Village to the next village, which Laksmi called Old Stone Village, took more than half a day. They walked along quiet rural paths, sometimes passing through sprawling green rice fields, sometimes slipping between small forests. Wira continuously asked about new things he saw—strange birds, plants he had never encountered, even animal tracks different from those he knew on the mountain. Laksmi patiently explained, occasionally smiling with amusement at Wira's endless innocence.

Towards late afternoon, as the sun began to dip towards the west, the shadows of the trees stretched long before them. The smell of burning wood, usually a sign of village life, was now mixed with a faint burning odor. The air felt unusually quiet.

"It seems we're close to Old Stone Village," Laksmi said, frowning. She sensed something was wrong. There was no sound of herders, no children's laughter to welcome them.

They walked further, and the sight that greeted them made Laksmi's face turn pale. Old Stone Village, which should have been bustling, now looked like a ghost town. Several huts were burnt, their roofs collapsed, and thin smoke still curled from the ruins. House doors were wide open, some shattered as if forcefully broken. Not a single soul was visible.

Wira, who had been cheerful moments ago, stopped. His innocent expression slowly vanished, replaced by a cold, serious one. His Sura senses picked up something unpleasant. He smelled faint blood, the scent of fear, and a strong Laksa aura, though it had now faded.

"What happened here, Laksmi?" Wira asked, his voice low, yet with a worrying tone. "Why are these houses damaged? And… why is no one here?"

Laksmi walked slowly, peeking inside one of the burnt huts. Tears began to well up in her eyes. "This… this is a raid, Wira. It must have been the Night Shadow Sect."

She found familiar large footprints, and near a collapsed house pillar, a crescent moon symbol roughly carved into the ground. The emblem of the Night Shadow Sect. They must have stopped here after fleeing from Rainbow Valley Village, or perhaps this was another one of their raiding routes.

Laksmi turned, her face grim. "They must have been looking for the 'key to destruction' here too. Or just venting their anger over their defeat." She clutched the pendant around her neck, fear creeping back in. She knew well the cruelty of this sect.

Wira looked around. He saw a wooden toy lying on the dusty ground, a broken bowl, and traces of a brief struggle. He could feel the sadness left in that place.

"So… they hurt the people here?" Wira asked, his tone flat. There was a faint glint of Sura in his eyes, like ocean water swirling beneath the surface. He didn't like seeing destruction and oppression inflicted upon the weaker. This was a new thing he learned about humans: they could be incredibly cruel to their own kind.

Laksmi nodded, sobbing. "Perhaps… killed or kidnapped them. They didn't leave any traces."

Suddenly, from behind an intact hut, a soft groan was heard. Wira immediately turned, his eyes sharpening. Without waiting for Laksmi, he shot forward.

Laksmi called his name, but Wira had already disappeared behind the hut. Laksmi hurried after him, her heart pounding. She hoped Wira wouldn't be too reckless.

Wira found an old man with white hair lying behind a pile of wood, his body soaked in blood. A broken sword was still tightly clutched in his withered hand. His breathing was shallow, his eyes closed.

"Hey, Old Man," Wira called, his voice gentle. He squatted down, placing his hand on the old man's chest. Sura faintly flowed from his palm, trying to feel the man's vitality.

Laksmi arrived, panting. She gasped when she saw the old man's condition. "Wira! He's badly hurt!"

The old man opened his eyes slightly, looking at Wira with a blurry gaze. "Night Shadow Sect…" he whispered weakly, blood oozing from the corner of his lips. "They… went on a rampage last night…"

He couldn't continue. His eyes closed again, his breathing stopped. Wira withdrew his hand from the old man's chest. He felt the departure of life, something he often experienced while hunting, but this time it felt different. This was death caused by the hands of other humans.

Wira looked at Laksmi, his expression now no longer innocent, but enveloped in sadness and a faint trace of anger. "He… he's gone. They are very evil."

Laksmi lowered her head, wiping away her tears. "Yes, Wira. They are evil."

This incident in Old Stone Village was the bitterest lesson Wira received about humans and their brutality. The world outside the mountain was not only complicated but also brutal. And Wira, with all his strength, now had to face that reality.