Arya stood in the center of the ritual circle, which glowed with a fierce red light. The massive figure, covered in black fire, glared at him with a contemptuous sneer. The demon's voice echoed through the air, heavy with bitterness.
"You are too small to fight the will of darkness. This mountain will mark the beginning of our power's rise."
Arya remained undaunted. With Rangda's mask on his face, he felt the ancient power surging within him. Behind him, Rangda and Barong stood ready, waiting for the right moment to strike.
"Devil," Arya said firmly, "I am not alone. Bali will not bow to your dark forces."
The Battle in the Ritual Circle
The imposing figure, identifying himself as Belphegor, one of Astaroth's trusted demons, swung his hand, conjuring a burst of black fire toward Arya. Swiftly, Arya leapt to the side, using Rangda's power to create an energy shield that blocked the attack.
On the other side of the circle, Rangda and Barong battled Belphegor's minions, preventing them from strengthening the ritual.
"Arya!" Rangda shouted. "This circle connects our world to the darkness. You must sever the connection from its core!"
Arya looked toward the center of the circle. There, a large stone pulsed with dark energy, engraved with an ancient symbol that connected the mortal realm to the demon dimension. However, Belphegor stood protectively in front of the stone, guarding it with all his might.
"No one will pass me!" roared Belphegor, summoning a wall of fire that encircled himself and the stone.
United in Power
Arya turned to Rangda and Barong. "I need your help. We must strike together."
Rangda nodded. "Let's combine our powers. I will break the fire wall, and Barong will shield you from Belphegor's attacks."
Arya extended his arms, channeling the energy from both his protectors. Barong's stable, protective power merged with Rangda's wild, destructive energy. A golden-blue light enveloped Arya, creating an aura that made Belphegor take a step back in surprise.
"What is this?" Belphegor demanded, his voice tinged with both fury and fear.
Arya leapt into the air, gathering all of his energy. Rangda unleashed a wave of dark energy at the fire wall, shattering Belphegor's protection. Barong swiftly blocked the demon's retaliatory attacks, creating a path for Arya to reach the ritual stone.
Destroying the Circle of Darkness
As Arya neared the stone, he felt the dark energy attempting to hold him back, wrapping around him like thick shadows. But he refused to give up. With all his strength, he summoned the power of Rangda's mask, conjuring a light that burned away the shadows.
"Arya, hurry! The ritual is almost complete!" Rangda cried.
Arya raised his hand, summoning a brilliant spear of light. With a cry full of determination, he hurled the spear at the ritual stone.
"No!" Belphegor howled, attempting to stop him. But Barong leaped forward, blocking the final assault from the demon.
The light spear struck the ritual stone, exploding in a massive burst of energy that illuminated the entire Pura Besakih. The ritual circle shattered, and the dark energy that had enveloped the place slowly began to fade.
A Bittersweet Victory
Belphegor howled in pain before vanishing in a burst of black smoke. His followers fled, leaving the once-sacred Pura Besakih eerily quiet again.
Arya collapsed to the ground, breathless. Rangda and Barong rushed to his side, checking to make sure he was alright.
"Good job," Rangda said proudly. "You severed the connection."
But Barong warned, "This is just the beginning. The darkness still lingers, and Astaroth will surely find another way to break into this world."
Arya nodded, though his body was exhausted, his resolve remained strong. "We will fight them. No matter what, I won't let Bali fall into their hands."
In the distance, Mount Agung stood tall, seemingly bearing witness to their struggle. Yet in the silence, Arya knew a greater threat was waiting.
(To be continued...)