The Sword Of The Fire Dragon

Arya vs Suromenggolo

Back to the Panguripan Abyss

In the midst of Arya's training, Sarwana approached him and started a conversation. “Arya, I’ve received another report from my people about suspicious movements in the forest. I’m not feeling well right now; could you go check it out?”

Seeing Sarwana’s pale expression, Arya nodded. “Leave it to me. You should rest!”

After receiving directions from Sarwana, Arya leapt high into the trees, swiftly and gracefully hopping from one branch to another.

Upon arriving at the location Sarwana had pointed out, the handsome young man observed the scene from a tall, dense tree. He hid behind a massive tree trunk, making it nearly impossible for anyone to detect his presence.

Not long after, Arya squinted his eyes, spotting an old man in black robes with a small frame walking toward the tree where he was hiding.

The old man scanned his surroundings, as though searching for something. In his hand was a wooden staff that appeared ordinary, but Arya could sense an immense energy emanating from it.

“There's no use hiding in the tree—come down, or I’ll force you down!” the old man suddenly shouted. The tip of his staff was already aimed at Arya’s hiding spot.

The handsome young man was startled, almost in disbelief. Without even looking, the old man had somehow pinpointed his exact location.

Lightly, Arya descended and landed softly on the ground. So light was his landing that not even a sound was heard when his feet touched the earth.

“Are you trying to show off your skills to me? You’ve barely scratched the surface of martial arts, yet you dare to flaunt yourself before me!” the old man snapped.

Arya scratched his head in confusion. “Didn’t you just tell me to come down? Why are you angry now that I’m here?”

“Because you’re showing off in front of me!” The old man glared at Arya intensely. “There's no doubt about it—you must be the one!”

“What do you mean, sir?” Arya asked, bewildered. After all, this was his first encounter with the old man.

“Don’t play dumb! You’re the one who slaughtered my disciples!” the old man accused, pointing his staff at Arya again.

Arya scratched his head once more. He couldn’t offer an excuse to deny it, as it was entirely possible that the people he had killed in the forest days ago were indeed the old man’s disciples.

“They brought it upon themselves by causing chaos in this forest. I was merely delivering justice!” Arya replied.

“Justice, you say? Just because they entered this forest, you decided to massacre them as you pleased?”

“It’s pointless talking to an old man,” Arya sighed in irritation. “Your disciples didn’t just enter the forest; they caused chaos. I warned them, but they ignored me. Don’t blame me for taking action when they wouldn’t listen.”

“Curse you! You’ll pay for their deaths!” The old man’s face turned red with fury.

“I have no intention of fighting you, sir. But if you insist, I’ll defend myself!” Arya retorted. He couldn’t think of a way out, and it seemed their battle was inevitable.

“Scoundrel! Challenging Suromenggolo is a fatal mistake. But I must admit, you have guts, young man!”

“When did I challenge you? Weren’t you the one who wanted to kill me? Do you expect me to just stand here and do nothing? One thing you should know: I never run from a fight,” Arya responded coldly, his respect for the elder disappearing as Suromenggolo’s thirst for blood became evident.

“Hahaha... You’re insane! With your feeble skills, I’ll crush you into pulp with ease!”

Arya furrowed his brows. “Why can’t he sense my energy?” he wondered to himself.

“You’re afraid, aren’t you?” The old man smirked arrogantly.

“Afraid? There’s not a trace of fear in my soul. If you want proof, come and get it!” Arya challenged, refusing to back down.

“Foolish boy! I’ll rip that mouth of yours apart...!”

Before Suromenggolo finished his sentence, Arya’s body was flung far back. The old man’s attack was so swift it was invisible to Arya’s eyes.

Arya’s body flipped through the air before crashing into the ground, carving a trench into the earth. He only stopped when his body slammed into a large tree, causing it to crack and fall.

Unbeknownst to him, the energy within his body had formed a protective layer, shielding him from more severe injuries.

The young man coughed lightly before spitting fresh blood from his lips—the first blood spilled in his battle against another human.

Standing up, Arya channeled his internal energy to alleviate the pain in his chest. His vision blurred slightly but remained manageable.

Rather than being surprised that Arya had withstood his attack, Suromenggolo smiled broadly. “Hahaha... Not bad, young man. You managed to endure my initial strike.”

Arya didn’t reply. He walked forward after stabilizing the pain coursing through his body.

Suromenggolo’s expression suddenly changed as he felt a massive energy radiating from the young man’s body. That energy slowly pressed down on him with great force.

Though somewhat overwhelmed by Arya’s energy, Suromenggolo immediately unleashed an equally immense force, pushing Arya back.

Arya struggled to break free from Suromenggolo’s energy pressure. But he didn’t anticipate the old man’s next lightning-fast attack.

A sharp cry escaped Arya’s lips as his body was hurled several meters backward. This time, however, he had learned from the first strike and didn’t tumble helplessly. He swiftly balanced himself and stopped just as his back hit another tree trunk.

Arya smirked, enduring the pain in his chest and back once more.

“His attacks are incredibly fast. I can’t even see his movements,” he thought to himself.

His mind raced, searching for a way to perceive his opponent’s speed. He recalled his training in body-lightening techniques, where focusing energy on his feet allowed him to move as swiftly as the wind. This time, he decided to channel energy into his eyes.

The first attempt caused Arya unbearable pain. His eyes burned intensely, and he cried out in agony.

Argh!

The young man screamed, covering his eyes with his hands.

Suromenggolo watched in confusion at what was happening to the young man. But he ignored it, preparing for his next attack.

The pain and heat in Arya’s eyes subsided after a moment. As the torment faded, he opened his eyes again.