Second dark artifacts [Daramukti Shield] 1

“Well, maybe it’s time we start wearing him down,” Puspo Geni taunted.

“Remember—don’t kill him. If he dies, his plan will succeed,” Pusmoko snapped.

“Yeah, yeah, I know. If we kill him, he’ll appear right in front of Darmusdra, won’t he?” Puspo Geni replied.

Unaware of the difference in their power, Jenggolo charged straight at Puspo Geni.

His skeletal hand clashed against Puspo Geni’s elbow.

“I already told you, we’re on a different level,” Puspo Geni mocked.

“Even your king, Darmusdra, is no match for us,” Pusmoko jeered.

Still underestimating his opponents, Jenggolo assumed they couldn’t kill him because he was stronger. But for Pusmoko and Puspo Geni, the reason was entirely different—they couldn’t kill Jenggolo for other reasons, not because they lacked the strength.

“If you’re really that strong, why don’t you just kill me now?” Jenggolo laughed loudly.

“We can’t kill you because you’re an annoying opponent,” Pusmoko retorted.

“Weak yet acting tough—wake up from your wet dream, boss,” Puspo Geni sneered.

Jenggolo’s temper flared like boiling steam, and without preparation, he lashed out at Puspo Geni, consumed by his own rage.

His hand struck Puspo Geni’s chest.

Puspo Geni didn’t flinch—not even a hint of pain. He felt nothing at all.

“Didn’t even feel a thing… how do I even describe this pain? I can’t. I’m confused,” Puspo Geni mocked. “At least, if you want to make me feel something, this is the minimum level you should be hitting me with.”

Puspo Geni clenched his fist, ready to strike Jenggolo. But he paused—he didn’t want to kill him in a single blow.

If that happened, Jenggolo’s plan would certainly succeed.

“Hey, Puspo Geni—hold back your strength,” Pusmoko ordered.

“I’m already thinking about it. I just don’t want this blow to be fatal,” Puspo Geni replied.

He hesitated to attack. The standard of power for the underlings of Demon King Semar was far above that of the underlings of other demon kings—so much so that he feared his strike might erase Jenggolo instantly.

“Just hit him already, what’s so hard about that!” William interjected.

“Are you thick in the head? If he dies, he wins!” Puspo Geni shouted.

“Huh? How does that work?” William tilted his head.

“Don’t ask—no time to explain!” Puspo Geni barked.

He wanted to strike now, but doubt lingered. He decided to test his strength first, slamming his fist lightly into a piece of metal.

The metal shattered into dust.

“Oh… still that strong, huh,” Puspo Geni muttered, looking at his hand.

“Oh, so that’s how strong you are,” Jenggolo grinned wickedly.

He had already thought of a plan: to summon the dark artifact used by his king.

A magic circle formed beneath his feet.

Its design was grotesque—a circle of dozens of hands clutching skulls that were swallowing eyeballs, glowing with a blood-red light.

“Sang Sudro tolo rupo karmo, sang sworo rupo murko, doyo rekso wujud sang angkoro, dadio rupo seng murko!” Jenggolo chanted.

A shadowy blackness rose from the magic circle.

It formed into an object: a pitch-black shield like obsidian, with a lion’s head bulging from it, crowned with antelope-like horns.

Puspo Geni recognized it immediately—it was one of his king’s artifacts. One of the eight Dark Artifacts created by Demon King Semar: the Daramukti Shield.

Forged from fragments of Semar’s own fingernail, the artifact’s power was overwhelming. No matter how strong he was, Puspo Geni knew he couldn’t match Jenggolo now.

Not because of Jenggolo’s strength, but because each Dark Artifact contained one-eighth of Demon King Semar’s full power.

“What artifact is that Jenggolo’s carrying?” William asked.

“That’s one of the eight artifacts created by the demon king we serve. It’s the Daramukti Shield,” Puspo Geni stated firmly.

“So it’s similar to Sidran Gasra?” William asked.

“Historically, yes. But in terms of strength, that shield is even stronger,” Pusmoko explained.

“What can I do for you, my small master?” the Daramukti Shield spoke to Jenggolo.

“Destroy the two demons in front of me—and after that, destroy this kingdom!” Jenggolo commanded.

Now Pusmoko and Puspo Geni understood the gap in strength. They knew they could no longer defeat Jenggolo, yet they still resolved to hold him back—at least until Sudirja arrived.

William, upon hearing that the shield was one of the eight Dark Artifacts, felt fear creep into his heart. He never thought he’d encounter such a thing a second time.

Even so, he prepared to fight against it, knowing full well he was no match for it. But running would mean certain death.

If only he had brought the sword gifted by Pandi, he might have been able to escape—slipping away through fragmental transference. That was his thought.

Unfortunately, he had left the exoferite sword with Dion.

He could try using the Gonto Sero spell, but he knew it was a mythical-level magic with a long incantation.

If he attempted it, he might be killed before he finished the chant.

If only he already understood Javanese at the krama level, he might have been able to draw much more manna by adapting his spells. If only, before being transported to this world, he had studied the Javanese language seriously with his pen pal.

Perhaps then he could decipher many of the spells in this world. That was William’s thought now.

Reluctantly, he activated his magic circle.

A beautiful magic circle formed beneath his feet—decorated with stars and jasmine flowers, glowing with ruby-red light.

“Hyperfade knowledge of motion,” William chanted.

His magic circle shifted into another one—this time, a design of five stars surrounding a triangle, glowing with lapis-lazuli blue.

“Hyperexpand of dimensional distance,” he chanted again.

Even knowing his attacks would do nothing, William still struck at Jenggolo with all his might.

“I know this won’t work, but at least I tried,” William said, hitting Jenggolo’s head.

As expected, the blow had no effect.

“Looks like we should give it a try too,” Puspo Geni said, glancing at Pusmoko.

“You’re right,” Pusmoko nodded.

A magic circle formed beneath their feet—complex and menacing, glowing blood-red.

“Lan wujud ingkang sukmo, lan kerso ingkang rogo, Puspo dadi rupo, asmo dadi angkoro. Lan asmone doyo Semar dadio sukmoku, lan dadio rupo seng sekuat angkoro murko,” Puspo Geni and Pusmoko chanted in unison.

Their bodies transformed.

Puspo Geni’s appearance turned monstrous: goat-like horns, the head of a crocodile, eyes burning red like embers, a body covered in sharp spines, and spider-like legs.

Pusmoko’s form was even more terrifying: the skull of a tiger, scythe-shaped horns like the grim reaper’s blade, snail-like eyes glowing blood-red, a body torn and shredded, with ribs jutting outward.