After passing Rangda's trial, Arya felt more confident, yet he also realized that the responsibility he carried was growing heavier. The new power he had acquired felt immense, but there was still something he didn't fully understand. Rangda, now his khodam, continued to accompany him, providing guidance on what needed to be done.
That morning, Arya and Rangda stood at the edge of Lake Batur, enjoying the temporary tranquility before their next steps. However, the silence was broken by a dark shadow moving in the distance. The clear sky slowly became covered by unnatural black clouds.
"This is beginning," Rangda whispered with a serious tone. "Darkness from another realm has entered here."
"Another realm? You mean...?" Arya asked, staring at the shadow.
"Demons from the West," Rangda replied. "They have broken the dimensional boundaries and are now using Bali as a gateway. Azazel, Lilith, Beelzebub, and Belial. they are a far greater threat than you could ever imagine."
Arya fell silent, feeling his chest tighten upon hearing those names.
They decided to visit a village that had reportedly been affected by the presence of darkness. Upon arriving, Arya and Rangda found the village in ruins. Houses were burned, offerings that were normally placed at the temples had been trampled, and the villagers were nowhere to be found.
As they walked along the village path, the air suddenly turned cold. Whispering sounds filled the surroundings, like cries and wails merging into one. From the shadows, small creatures with glowing red eyes emerged.
"Those are the spirits under Azazel," Rangda said. "They are not a major threat, but they are a sign that Azazel is near."
Arya prepared to use his powers, but Rangda stopped him. "Your power isn't enough to face them all. We need to go to a more sacred place to strengthen our defenses."
They arrived at Pura Besakih, the sacred temple regarded as the spiritual center of Bali. However, as they drew near, Arya sensed that something was wrong. The priests at the temple informed them that the sacred symbols at the temple had been defiled by invisible hands.
"This power is trying to weaken us from within," Rangda said angrily. "If we don't act quickly, they will destroy this place completely."
At night, when the moon began to rise in the sky, Arya and Rangda prepared to face whatever came their way. A thick fog enveloped the temple, and the sound of heavy footsteps echoed from the distance. Then, a large figure appeared: Azazel, with eyes glowing like embers and a massive weapon in his hands.
The Initial Battle
Azazel wasted no time in attacking. He struck the ground with his weapon, creating shockwaves that shattered the temple stones. Arya and Rangda were thrown back, but Rangda quickly recovered and used protective power to shield Arya.
"Arya, listen to me," Rangda said. "Our power is not enough to defeat him right now. We must use the temple's energy to fight back."
Arya focused his attention on the temple, feeling the spiritual energy flowing around it. With Rangda's guidance, he began to channel this energy into a mantra he had never used before. A strong white light emanated from his hands, forcing Azazel to step back a few paces.
However, Azazel didn't give up. He launched a final assault, summoning dark spirits to aid him. Arya almost lost control of his energy, but Rangda took over, creating a barrier that protected the temple from total destruction.
Seeing himself defeated for the moment, Azazel retreated, but not before leaving a message.
"You are merely delaying the inevitable. Darkness will consume this place, and you will not be able to stop us."
After the battle, Arya felt exhausted but more determined than ever. He knew this was just the beginning. Rangda told him that they needed to strengthen their alliance with other entities in Bali, such as Barong, if they were to fight these demons.
"This battle is not just about physical strength," Rangda said. "It's about maintaining the balance between our world and the other realms. If we fail, not just Bali, but the entire archipelago will fall."
Arya gazed at the dark sky. He knew the road ahead would grow increasingly difficult, but he was ready to face whatever came.
(To be continued...)