บท 55: Ride & Tame

The Elder Shaman slowly morphed into that of creature he was thinking earlier...

The white hair of the Shaman gradually turned dark, its mouth and ears elongated as it transformed into that of a horse! The weak and unsteady figure of the Shaman was then replaced by a tall, burly figure of a Tikbalang.

Upper body similar to a robust warrior. It had a horses' head, and two feet with visible dark hooves as It stood tall, overshadowing the little Argus.

"Tik—Tik—Tikbalang..." Gaping his mouth wide, he muttered in an almost inaudible tone, Argus was clearly surprised to actually meet a Chaotic Rank being at the woods.

All Supernatural Beings had their own respective ranks or classes, those beings with ill intentions towards tribesmen or beings, particularly shapeshifters, who dwell among the people are called the Chaotic Class. These dark entities either feed on people or just want to harm people, hence they were collectively called the chaotic class.

This Class commonly had beastlike figures and is the bane of particular places. But regardless of its intentions, Tribesmen put emphasis on respecting their dwelling places. Some even believed that they were agents of Gods themselves.

...

Yet, the poor Agus might have accidentally disturbed a Tikbalang's dwelling place and have led him to his impending death as punishment.

Argus planted his torch to the ground and prepared himself for a battle. After the Tikbalang morphed into its full form, revealing a bulky, muscled creature...

This supernatural being immediately dashed towards Argus.

In fright and panic, Argus brought out his wooden weapons. The weapons which their Tribe had always been proud of, a weapon from the art of Kali!

A thirty-inches long bamboo stick was held firmly at each hand of his hands. He gritted his teeth, although scared, Argus thought: "I won't go down without a fight! Not even a Supernatural Being can deter my path to revenge!"

With trembling knees, some visible tears poured out from Argus's eyes.

He was scared!

As if the creature in front of him knew what he was thinking, it neighed and its lips curled upwards. Stomping its feet, it dashed towards Argus.

Argus having an internal battle on his own clumsily jumped to evade the Tikbalang.

When he landed, he immediately rolled over and made an about-face to shift his sight towards the Tikbalang. The Tikbalang was enraged!

He missed Argus from that frontal assault and it neighed in preparation to strike again as it dashed forward with its two hooves firmly planted beneath the ground surface, smudging the earthen soil with its own foot imprint.

Argus breathed deeply, calming himself. He made a double strike towards the Tikbalang in a fluid manner akin to slapping someone with a whip—This technique in the arts of Kali that his father, Abba, Datu Sadjar taught him is called Niku.

The Tikbalang was hit! It neighed as it paced backward, halting his advance.

Sliding his fingers from the handle to the front tip of the sticks, Argus performed the second technique of the Kali—rearing the end of the stick into a sharp twist as he flicked his wrists to land a difficult maneuver towards the opponent's neck. It is called Punya.

But in this case, since the enemy is definitely taller than him, Argus has to jump in order to successfully perform the strike.

But then, the Tikbalang suddenly ducked, he swiftly evaded Argus's strike! His Kali was rendered useless against a Supernatural being!

Argus sight turned blurry from a fast dashing fist from the Tikbalang.

Well, Tikbalangs are known to be fast and agile, coupled with bulging muscles. Its strikes could definitely pack a ton!

The dazed Argus became unprepared from the next punch the Tikbalang released. Then a series of punches came lunging towards him.

Argus received the full force! He flew towards the trunk of a tree, hitting his back. He coughed up some blood after the hit. The firm grip on his two sticks was loosened, the sticks gradually slid away from his hands.

Argus instantly became hopeless as he stared at the Tikbalang who is now stomping his two hooves in preparation for another dash.

"Is this my end?" He muttered to himself. His sight is turning white, but he remembered his promise for revenge.

Gnashing his teeth, just before the fast Tikbalang have reached him, he rolled to his side and picked some stone at the same time. The Tikbalang has hit his head unto the trunk instead of Argus's chest.

It became dazed due to the impact.

Then Argus, like a sneaky thief suddenly appeared swinging his arms rapidly as he bashed the head of the dazed Tikbalang, making it completely dazed once more.

It knelt to the ground, neighing in a sorrowful scream. The limping Argus then saw a golden hair amongst the black hair of the Tikbalang's nape.

If he remembered clearly, whoever is able to take that golden hair around the nape of a Tikbalang can make any Tikbalang a willing slave.

Argus smirked and instantly dashed forward towards the Tikbalang, he rides him at the top of its shoulders, attempting to take the golden hair.

"Stay still, I will become your master!" Argus whispered as if trying to explain to the Tikbalang.

But when the Tikbalang have heard him, it suddenly stood up shaking its head. It neighed and neighed while shaking its body and head repeatedly, trying to shake Argus away from its back.

Argus held its hair, afraid that he might fall from the Tikbalang's back. And the Tikbalang went into a rampage!

It ran across the forest like a wild stallion in heat! Its screams were heard through the quiet and eerily silent woods.

Occasionally jumping from time to time as it ran forward, it circled the large boulder of rock, attempting to make Argus surrender from being dazed.

Argus's head is now spinning and seeing stars. His grip on the Tikbalang's hair is slipping. He is slowly losing his consciousness as the Tikbalang ran and ran wildly.

But Argus is not willing to give up! "Just you wait! You wild donkey! I will tame you!" He yelled in desperation.

...

Quite some time have passed and the Tikbalangs' wild drive was slowly diminishing. Its movements are now weakening, it neighed as if it was screaming in surrender.

By this time Argus gradually regained his clear vision as he peered at the Tikbalang's nape. The golden hair is within his reach!

Without wasting this chance, Argus has let loose his tight grip at the Tikbalang's hair and immediately shifted a firm grip towards the Tikbalang's golden hair.

His fingers dangled at the cascading golden hair, then with a strong force, he pulled it with two of his hands.

And right then, the golden hair rumored to give anyone mighty enough to dare pluck them a loyal slave became a reality.

Argus has done the almost impossible! He had successfully plucked the golden hair!

Gasping for air, Argus on his knees slowly stood up as he tied the hair unto his ring finger and raised it so that the Tikbalang can see it.

When the Tikbalang turned his face, he saw Argus smirking from ear to ear as he showed the already plucked golden hair.

The Tikbalang then, immediately lowered its head as it bowed deeply while bending its knees. "Greetings to Master" The Tikbalang abruptly spoke, also gasping for air in surrender to Argus.