At noon, on the grounds of the Wilwatikta palace, the townspeople gathered. They flocked to witness the execution of the death penalty that some of the core Wilwatikta army officers received. Death penalty spectacles occur nearly every three months. Usually those who receive the execution of the death penalty are rapists, murderers, corruptors, and fugitives who have harmed the state. However, it was only that day that those executed were part of the royal officials, an event that was very rare.
The hot sun in the rainy season adds to the tense atmosphere in the field. The Wilwatikta people already liked the spectacle of the execution. In the past, the townspeople were reluctant to watch the death penalty because they could not bear to see a human being accepted the cruelty of punishment, but over time they got used to the spectacle of the death penalty wrapped in the concept of the folk performance.
The Wilwatikta royal court has various methods of capital punishment. Each death sentence given depends on the type of crime the perpetrator has committed. There are methods that directly cause death, there are also methods that must accept death tenderly with great torment.
For criminals who are considered very bad, they will be given a death sentence that is full of torture. Meanwhile, for criminals who are still considered to have honor, or have served the country, they will be given an immediate death sentence.
The death penalty with the slow method that is most often displayed is when a criminal is executed not by humans but by animals. The animals used for the execution included snakes, horses, crocodiles and tigers. When such a spectacle of executions was held, the townspeople would cheer full of joy even though the scenes shown were terrifying. Rape perpetrators and rebels usually got this execution.
If the execution was carried out by a snake, the perpetrator would be tied with his hands and feet, then thrown into a trench that was filled with various types of snakes, ranging from venomous to non-venomous ones. Types of snakes used include cobras, rice field snakes, and pythons. The number of snakes can reach hundreds. The perpetrator who received this execution often screamed for forgiveness and expressed remorse, but all these requests were only hope before the angel of death came. Of course, the method with snakes is very cruel, because the perpetrator is not possible to put up a fight.
There are also executions using horses. This type of execution was often accepted by rebels. Their hands and feet will be tied to the saddle of the horse, then pulled by the horse in the opposite direction until the perpetrator's limbs are cut off, including his head. This method is very painful, and does not allow resistance.
The method of capital punishment by animals that allows resistance by the perpetrators is execution by crocodiles and tigers. The perpetrators will be confronted one on one against a crocodile or tiger without being equipped with a weapon. The perpetrator of the crime who received the execution of a tiger or crocodile was a rebel whose prowess was recognized by the king himself. Although the perpetrators may give resistance, the result is that they often lose, even though the perpetrators have some martial arts skills of silat.
However, tigers or crocodiles used to execute are not ordinary tigers and crocodiles, so the cases that often occur are the perpetrators of crimes losing to crocodiles or tigers. The method of punishment using a tiger or a crocodile is a spectacle for the death penalty that Wilwatikta residents enjoy the most, and it is even used as a welcoming event for important guests visiting the Wilwatikta palace.
Human executors can also carry out slow execution, provided that the perpetrator has the right to be executed by humans. Usually the perpetrators who have defied the royal order and the corruptors get executed slowly by humans. The tools used to execute are usually spears and keris. When using a spear, the perpetrator will be slowly stabbed with his left shoulder until it penetrates the heart. Meanwhile, if a keris is used, the perpetrator will have his stomach torn apart until all the intestines and stomach come out.
As for the quick execution that is owned by the kingdom is the punishment of beheadings. This punishment is accepted by criminals who are considered to have dignity, so they must be given a quick and respectful death.
The assertiveness in prosecuting criminals through various death sentences is impressive, however, the Wilwatikta people rarely know who the criminals are being convicted of and how the trial process takes place. The Wilwatikta court, which holds the legal authority, works like a fog.
Some suspicious of the proceedings of the trial never tried to find out because of the looming sentence. Therefore, the strict laws that seem extraordinary are nothing more than manipulation.
That afternoon, what became the spectacle was the slow death sentence carried out by animals, namely tigers. The execution was carried out exactly a day after King Agni's return from Mataram. The perpetrators who were to be executed were directly sued by Empress Arumwangke, on the accusation of having failed to carry out state duties.
The night before the execution...
"You have failed me! The time I have given you is in vain!" Empress Arumwangke said angrily to the five elites who had previously been ordered to kill Ratna and her child.
"Please forgive empress, at least we have succeeded in eliminating the former empress ..." replied an elite somewhat stammered.
"Are you stupid?! Ratna is not a real threat! The child ... The child who is a threat!! " Empress Arumwangke stood up from her seat while kicking the body of an elite soldier so that it hit a wall.
Empress Arumwangke arranged her breath. Inside the secret room, everyone fell silent. Empress Arumwangke then sat back down. "I've run out of patience with you guys. The failure that you brought me, tomorrow will accept the consequences! " After saying that, Empress Arumwangke rose from her seat, then left the room. Before leaving the room, he said, "Prepare yourself tomorrow against Simamurka!"
Hearing that, the five elite people immediately took a shock. They were speechless, speechless. Simamurka is a magic tiger. A fierce magical creature with terrifying abilities. The only ones who could subdue Simamurka were Empress Arumwangke and King Agni.
It is said that Simamurka is a type of tiger born in the middle of dusk. A tiger born just as the sun is in the middle of the road just before sunset. His birth was accompanied by fear that swept through the minds of all forest dwellers, because the birth of Simamurka was a sign that the shift of times would occur so hard and hard. The appearance of Simamurka only happened once every five hundred years.
Simamurka's form is not much different from a tiger in general. It's just that, its body is twice as big as a tiger in general, and its skin is as thick as steel. Not only that, Simamurka was even able to move as fast as the blink of an eye, making it impossible for ordinary humans to conquer Simamurka.
Once upon a time, Simamurka went on a rampage on the city streets for five minutes. In just five minutes, nearly a thousand people died! The incident occurred as a result of the actions of the daughter of Empress Arumwangke, who casually released Simamurka from her cage. "I want to see how strong Simamurka is. Give him five minutes mom. " Said Nalarah, son of Empress Arumwangke, who was five years old at the time.
After five minutes, Empress Arumwangke summoned Simamurka to return to the cage using only the nickname of Simamurka's real name. Instantly, Simamurka stopped raging, and obeyed. Despite knowing about the incident, King Agni was normal. He gave modest compensation to people who suffered losses because of Simamurka.
Tomorrow, Tiger Simamurka will be the executor of five elite warriors who have served Wilwatikta for twenty years. Inside, the five elites were afraid, but at the same time, they felt that they had received pride in being able to face off against Simamurka head-on. Even if they managed to defeat Simamurka, the execution would still be carried out and replaced by a spear.
Execution time...
In the waiting room made of wood, five elite soldiers were waiting for the execution against Simamurka. Not a single one of them trembled, and not a single one of them showed a contrite face.
The elite warrior clothes that had clung to their bodies for twenty years, were now stripped off. The jarik of the keris they were proud of was gone, as was the heirloom keris which was their main weapon. Nothing remained on their bodies except black cloth pants and a udeng to cover their long hair. Meanwhile, they were shirtless.
"I'm sorry, for bringing you ..." Said an elite soldier who was about to be executed.
"No regrets. We are indeed wrong because we sided with Empress Arumwangke." Answer a friend.
"If someday the circle of reincarnation is real, I hope we can meet again." Said someone else.
"Right.. Maybe what we receive today is karma..."
"And this karma will flow round and round, until one day it comes in front of the King and Queen Wilwatikta's face. We are indeed sinners and guilty for siding with them, but at least we do it wholeheartedly."
"Regret only applies to people who act halfheartedly..."
Suddenly a roar could be heard from outside the room. The signal music for King Agni's arrival was beaten loudly. The music from the gamelan flows through the air, penetrates into the ears. The cheers of the Wilwatikta people expressed admiration, amazement, and submission to the king and god who led Wilwatikta.
"Ah, this gamelan sound ... It's time ... Let's go." Invite one of the elite five warriors with their head tilted up in pride. The five of them walked down the hall to the prepared execution ground.
At the end of the dark passage, a light revealed Simamurka's silhouette. He was waiting with a great aura for the soldiers who had failed to carry out evil!