Prince of Danopati

The black flames had vanished. In an instant, a fierce wind swept through the area.

Dust flew everywhere, obscuring their vision.

They couldn’t even see one another.

“I didn’t expect a child of the heavens to be here,” a voice came from behind the swirling dust.

“Who are you!?” Arjuna shouted.

“Oh, my apologies for not introducing myself. I’m Sukmo Lawu, son of the demon king Somo, who has already been slain,” the voice replied.

Arjuna could hear it—not just the voice, but the sound of footsteps.

The sound grew clearer, like bones snapping.

The figure emerged, terrifying in form: three rhinoceros-like horns on his head, three eyes, and skin glowing red like embers.

“Are you the one who caused this magic disaster?” Arjuna yelled.

“Ah, no. I can’t create such a thing, but this area exists under my command,” Sukmo Lawu grinned wickedly.

“You all, prepare your magic circles!” Arjuna ordered, uncertain of what to do.

The dust cloud didn’t just limit visibility.It separated them from each other.

“Pointless. You’ve already been divided,” Sukmo Lawu mocked.

Arjuna had no choice.He had to face this enemy alone.

He spread his wings.

The feathers turned into arrows and shot toward Sukmo Lawu.

Sukmo Lawu formed a magic circle.

A symbol appeared in midair: a circle with a star and an eye, glowing blood red.

“Asmo pati rekso dunyo isi soro molo dadi rupo,” Sukmo Lawu chanted.

A sword materialized from the air.

He countered the attack with ease.

That beautiful yet dreadful blade rang against each arrow that came his way.

Arjuna remained composed, his eyes locked on Sukmo Lawu. There was no fear in him. His stance showed readiness— his talon-like feet, wings, and arms all poised like a knight prepared to strike.

Sukmo Lawu hurled his sword at Arjuna.

Arjuna’s wings, now shining silver, rang out as they clashed with the sword.

The sharp clang of metal echoed beautifully and painfully in his ears.

The sword returned to its master.

“You’ll pay for everything you’ve done,” Arjuna declared.

“Ooh, how fierce~ You really think you’re going to win, don’t you?” Sukmo Lawu sneered.

Arjuna considered using magic, but knew the environment would strike back. His only option was to fight without it.

Maybe if he wasn’t a knight, he’d be trembling with fear, lowering his head and begging for mercy in disgrace.

But he was a knight. That didn’t happen. In the depths of his heart, the code of chivalry was etched in stone. It had fused with his soul.

Better to die with honor than live in shame.

To him, victory didn’t always mean defeating the enemy. Victory meant overcoming the fear inside—even when facing an overwhelmingly powerful foe.

“Where are the others!?” Arjuna shouted.

“Oh, don’t worry,” Sukmo Lawu smiled. “I’m just letting my pets play with them. Nothing more.”

His rage boiled, but Arjuna stayed calm. A knight must face his enemies with a cool head. That was his principle.

He charged at Sukmo Lawu.

Sukmo Lawu raised his sword—

Too slow.

Arjuna had already grabbed his hand.

With chilling precision, Arjuna flapped his wings again.

The arrow-feathers surrounded them.

He also gripped Sukmo Lawu’s shoulder tightly with his eagle-like talons.

“You will die here before you send out any information,” Arjuna glared.

“So this is how strong a child of the heavens is,” Sukmo Lawu smirked.

Magic circles formed from every direction.

Fire, black lightning, ravens, and thousands of daggers shot toward Arjuna.

The daggers clashed with the arrows around them.

Until there were no arrows left.

Arjuna released his grip and leapt back to avoid the incoming barrage.

“Got you,” Sukmo Lawu laughed.

Black lightning struck Arjuna.

He fell to the ground, flames engulfing his body.

Maybe an ordinary man would’ve given up.

But not a knight like him.

Even as fire devoured him—

He rose, standing once more.

Fire couldn’t frighten him. He would not tremble just from burning.

From the ground, water surged.

It enveloped Arjuna, extinguishing the flames.

His burn wounds vanished.

The water condensed, forming a humanoid figure.

In front of Arjuna stood someone like a hero.

“Ah, Prince Randiman. Why don’t you leave him and join the Danopati Kingdom?” Sukmo Lawu bowed, a deceitful gesture.

“Don’t be a hypocrite, demon. You’d only use me for destruction,” Randiman said firmly.

“That’s not destruction—it’s called having fun,” Sukmo Lawu grinned.

“That’s what you call fun, huh?” Randiman transformed his arm into a sword.

“You’d gain powerful allies if you joined us,” Sukmo Lawu tempted.

“The Antasen are natural enemies of the demons. If I joined you, you’d only have me destroy my own kingdom,” Randiman replied.

“So what? That’s part of the fun too,” Sukmo Lawu reasoned.

Randiman dashed toward Sukmo Lawu.

His arm clashed with the eerie sword.

Of course it hurt—he felt each clang directly in his bones.

But it didn’t shake his courage.

He raised his arm again and again.

Each time, his strikes clashed with the blade.

But none of them landed a hit.

Still, there was no fear in his expression. Only determination—signs that a plan was forming.

“Aren’t you supposed to be separated from the others?” Sukmo Lawu asked.

“Yes, physically we are. But we still stand on the same ground,” Randiman answered.

“Smart and analytical... but can you all escape safely?” Sukmo Lawu mocked.

“Of course we can,” Randiman’s hand transformed—now shaped like a mantis’s claw.

Once again, with confidence, he shot toward Sukmo Lawu.

Their blades collided once more.

“Oh, now your attacks are getting structured,” Sukmo Lawu remarked.

“You will die here, Sukmo Lawu—prince of the demon land known as Danopati,” Randiman shifted one leg into liquid and submerged it into the ground.

Ice thorns burst from below.

Nearly impaling Sukmo Lawu.

“Horrifying... quite the strategy,” Sukmo Lawu leapt back.

“Prince Randiman, watch out!” a voice called from behind.

It was Arjuna, wings spread wide.

A plan sparked in Randiman’s mind.

“Just attack. I have a plan for it,” Randiman instructed.

Arjuna flapped his wings.

Several arrows pierced Randiman’s body—

Or so it seemed.

They passed through him, as though his body were made of water.