Chapter 22: Battle of Refine Warriors
The explosion shook the world.
A deafening boom split the night, sending shockwaves through the forest and panicked birds flapping into the sky. The canopy trembled. Dust and smoke billowed upward, thick as storm clouds, smearing the moonlight and casting hellish shadows across the trees.
From within the choking gray fog, a shadow burst forth—Ardian, his form cutting through the air like a missile, landing in a crouch at the base of a towering tree. Splinters crackled beneath his boots. His breath came steady, sharp eyes already scanning.
Then came the thunder.
A hulking figure emerged behind him—massive, horned, and cloaked in a flickering aura of heat. The forest's terrifying genderuwo, stepped through the smoke like a demon through fire, his eyes burning with primal rage.
He charged without warning. His enormous fist shot forward, aimed straight at Ardian's gut.
Whoosh!
The punch missed by inches as Ardian twisted sideways, his movement fluid and precise. The genderuwo's blow struck the tree instead—obliterating the trunk with a fiery detonation. Flames licked upward from the bark, as if the wood had been scorched from within.
Ardian let out a low whistle. "Whoa. You burned the tree just by punching it?"
He backed off a step, eyes narrowing.
"I see... you're generating heat by rubbing negative energy against itself—friction-based combustion," he muttered, nodding in appreciation. "That's some refined technique."
The Genderuwo didn't answer. His only response was a low growl, eyes never leaving his prey.
"To pull that off, you'd need surgical control of negative energy," Ardian continued, shifting into a loose fighting stance. His grin returned, edged with adrenaline. "But don't get cocky. I'm no ordinary human."
He raised two fingers to the air. In an instant, the shadows around them rippled—and swarms of ghostly rats erupted from the ground. Their bodies twisted mid-run, transforming into inky-black chains that shot toward this genderuwo, wrapping tightly around his arms, legs, and torso.
The creature roared, struggling as the bindings pulled taut.
"Do you think these rats will stop me, boy!?" he bellowed.
Then—sizzle—steam began to rise from his skin.
The air shimmered with heat. Flames erupted around his body. The spirit rats wailed, charring into cinders as their chains melted away under the wave of heat.
Ardian shielded his face. "Damn… he's heating the air into a full-blown field of friction. Like a mobile furnace."
The Genderuwo lunged.
His arm blurred, and Ardian barely leapt clear before a massive hand smashed down where he'd been, splintering roots and soil. Ardian spun mid-air, channeling momentum into his legs—and countered with a blinding punch straight into the monster's face.
BUGH!
It connected—but the retaliation was instant. Genderuwo's other arm swung in a wide arc, catching Ardian in the ribs and launching him sideways into a cluster of trees.
Crack! Wood shattered. Leaves rained down.
Dust rose again—but through the haze, Ardian emerged, coughing but upright.
Charred rats dropped from his shoulders like spent bullets, having taken the brunt of the blow.
"He used them as armor…" Gundala muttered, disbelief flashing in his eyes. "He's… clever."
Silence settled again. Just wind and crackling embers.
Then—
Snap.
A twig broke underfoot. Both fighters moved.
The genderuwo struck first, swinging in a wide arc—Ardian ducked low, letting the blow pass over his head. He twisted and retaliated with a spinning kick that landed flush against the big creature's jaw.
BRAGH!
The genderuwo staggered, but recovered mid-fall and retaliated with a horizontal sweep of his arm. Ardian was knocked off his feet, tumbling—but he grabbed his chain mid-spin and yanked.
The enchanted link coiled around genderuwo's ankle, and with a shout, Ardian pulled—slamming the creature into a wall of trees.
BOOM! BOOM! The trees toppled in a domino of destruction.
Genderuwo groaned, buried under bark and leaves.
Ardian sprinted forward. He leapt with a roar, ready to strike—but genderuwo opened his mouth wide.
Flames erupted—three fireballs hurtling through the air.
Too fast to dodge. Ardian raised his hand. From his palm, more rats appeared—coalescing into a circular shield.
BRAK! BRAK! BRAK! The projectiles exploded on impact.
Smoke and embers clouded the scene. But Ardian kept flying—his left hand glowing with golden light.
He struck.
BRUG!
A devastating punch hit genderuwo's gut. His body bent forward violently, black blood spurting from his mouth.
Ardian jumped back, landing in a crouch. The heat still radiating from genderuwo's form made it impossible to stay close.
The beast staggered to his feet, coughing but laughing. "Yes… That's the burn I missed. The thrill!"
Ardian grinned. "Oh, it's lit alright, and I'll toast you into ashes."
He raised his hand. His tone shifted, calm yet commanding:
"In the name of the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful... I return this destructive creature of Yours to Your will!"
The air trembled. Glowing sigils in ancient Aramaic flared to life across genderuwo's face and chest.
Then—
BOOOOM!
The forest exploded with light. The scream that followed pierced the sky.
"ARGGHHHHH!!"
But Ardian didn't flinch.
He charged forward, using the opening. One swift kick to the back of Gundala's knee brought the beast crashing down. Before he could recover, Ardian leapt and spun—
Boom!
His heel collided with the side of Gundala's head.
A second sigil activated.
More fire.
More pain.
Gundala writhed, limbs thrashing. He roared and launched fireballs in every direction. One seared through the trees—another struck Ardian's arm.
"AARGH!"
The rats shielding him screamed in unison, sacrificing themselves.
Ardian fell to one knee, clutching his burned arm.
"I'm sorry…" he whispered to the dying spirits.
When the smoke cleared, genderuwo stood—barely.
Half of his face was gone. His abdomen hollowed out. He looked like a burnt husk.
The Genderuwo rose, laughing. Half his face was destroyed. His belly was hollowed out. Black blood flowed.
"This human… almost obliterated me."
Gundala's laughter slowed. He stood tall with pride, despite his mangled form.
"Let this be known, young warrior." His voice rang with ancient strength. "I am Gundala Tirtopurwo, a warrior bound by the old code. I give you my name, for you have earned it."
Ardian blinked, surprised.
"You are not just a skilled fighter," Gundala continued. "You are a storm in human form... and I was honored to cross fists with you."
Ardian falls into silence as this kind of local spirit that have an honor, was quite rare. Thus, make this Gundala must be a part of warrior in a Kindom from spirit realm.
Ardian exhaled, shaking out his fist. "You were strong. Not bad for a warm-up."
"A warm-up…?" Gundala wheezed a laugh. "You plan to fight Them?"
Ardian met his eyes. "Second-rank… maybe even first."
"You plan to fight second-rank… even first-rank astrals?" Gundala laughed maniacally. "You're insane... and I want to see it!"
"You're a rare human, may I know your name, son of Adam?"
"Ardian Putra Wirawan, just some ordinary Ghost Detective passing through."
"I'll remember it..." Dark energy began to coil around him. Slowly, his body started to regenerate. "I must retreat. My power is not yet whole. But we will meet again."
"Like hell you will!" Ardian hurled a stone laced with sigils—but it shattered midair, blocked by some unseen force.
Before disappearing, Gundala looked back. "No wonder Eyang Ismoyo took an interest in you, Ardian Putra Wirawan, child of Adam."
Then—he vanished.
Silence.
Ardian stood alone in the wreckage, chest heaving. The name echoed in his mind.
Eyang Ismoyo.
Who?
He barely had time to process it when something shimmered at the corner of his vision—a faint glow tied to the base of a banyan tree. A Qorin, bound in spiritual chains.
Ardian stepped closer, snapping his fingers. The ghostly rats returned, wrapping around the bindings and dissolving them gently.
"Go now," he said softly. "Return to your source. My companions will guide you."
The Qorin bowed, then vanished into the dark with the rats in tow.
Ardian looked skyward. Dawn was coming, pale light bleeding through the trees.
His hand still trembled, the ache of battle pulsing through him.
A thought crossed his mind—quiet and sincere.
"I wonder how the others are doing…"