Chapter 7: Three Deadly Strikes

Sinto Gendeng, lunged forward with blinding speed. The massive double-bladed axe in her right hand slashed left and right in a frenzied motion. This was the Madwoman Swatting Flies technique. Wiro had practiced this move before with only a kris blade—and even then, the technique had proven formidable. But now, its original creator was wielding it herself, and with a weapon far more terrifying than a mere dagger. The result? Pure devastation.

The axe blurred, flashing so fast it was barely visible. A savage wind roared around it, whipping Wiro’s robe and stinging his skin like a thousand razor-edged lashes. From the open jaws of the dragon head carved at the end of the axe’s handle came a low, ominous hum, like a swarm of angry wasps.

In the blink of an eye, Wiro was swallowed by a storm of swirling blades. His eyes stung. His skin felt flayed by the slicing winds. His ears rang from the awful droning that radiated from the dragon’s mouth.

“Ciaaaaatt!”

Wiro roared and vanished, his body flickering away in a burst of speed. His limbs lashed out, slipping through gaps in his master’s defense, launching precise counterstrikes. But he was outmatched. The axe—strange, savage, and deadly—was unlike any weapon he had ever faced. And in Sinto Gendeng’s hands, it danced with deadly precision.

He barely kept up, relying on his extraordinary lightness skills to evade the onslaught. One slip and the axe would carve through his ribs, his throat, or worse. Several times he struck out with internal energy blasts, but the gales from the axe shattered his attacks like dry leaves in a hurricane.

“Damn that crazy axe!” Wiro cursed. He suddenly dropped low to the ground, his fingers curled like claws, and shot his right hand at the joint of Sinto Gendeng’s elbow.

But just as he did, the old woman’s foot swept downward, aiming straight for his head! Wiro had no choice but to throw himself into a roll across the ground, narrowly escaping a crushing blow.

Thus ended the first technique—wild, overwhelming, and deadly.

Sinto Gendeng stood panting. “Now, the second strike, Wiro!”

She spread her legs wide and leaned forward. Her right hand held the axe straight out before her like a lance. Then, from beneath her black robes, she pulled out a small, dark object that gleamed in the sun.

Wiro narrowed his eyes. Was it a chunk of iron? A stone?

Without warning, Sinto Gendeng struck the dragon-shaped axehead with the object in her left hand.

Fssshhh!

Sparks flew—and then a searing tongue of flame burst forth from the axe, licking toward Wiro like a dragon’s breath!

Startled beyond belief, Wiro let out a cry and leapt into the air. The flames passed beneath him, yet he still felt the scorching heat bite at his legs. Glancing back, he saw a patch of forest behind him erupt into flames!

Before he could land, a second burst of fire shot his way. He hit the ground rolling, narrowly escaping. The grass beneath him was charred black.

Wiro licked his lips. He hadn’t even caught his breath when both of Sinto Gendeng’s hands moved again.

FWOOOSH!

Half a dozen fire blasts exploded toward him from every direction!

“RAAARGHH!”

Wiro howled, raising both hands. He spun wildly, lips murmuring incantations. He summoned the Ice Wind Technique—a blizzard of spiritual force to counter the fiery assault. It helped, but it couldn’t extinguish the heat. The air still burned his skin. His body trembled under the pressure.

“This is insane!” he gasped. But he still hadn’t given up.

With a blood-curdling scream, Wiro vanished from the flames, rolling swiftly across the scorched ground toward his master. As he tumbled, he struck out twice—first with Monkey Tosses the Fruit, then with Sunlight Palm!

Sinto Gendeng had to dodge aside.

The second technique was broken!

Wiro rose, his body soaked in cold sweat. Behind him, the trees still burned. His master stood unmoving, but he noticed that the mysterious object in her left hand had been a firestone, now tucked back into her robe.

“The final strike, Wiro…” Sinto Gendeng’s voice was low and ominous.

Wiro steeled himself. If the first two moves had nearly killed him, what kind of hell was the third?

He watched warily as his master reversed her grip on the axe. She raised the dragon-mouth hilt to her lips and used her fingers to cover the six small holes along the shaft.

Then, like a flute, she blew into the dragon’s mouth.

A haunting melody filled the air.

It began softly, sweet and mesmerizing. Wiro blinked. His heart slowed. His limbs slackened.

Then the sound grew sharper, cutting. His blood vessels felt like they were being jabbed by needles. His blood surged wildly, his vision blurred, and his skull throbbed as though it might crack open!

Realizing the music was a lethal spiritual attack, Wiro fought back. He focused his breath, tried to steady his qi—but he was already too late. The sound rose to a piercing wail, drilling into his eardrums!

He struck out in desperation—but Sinto Gendeng was no longer standing still. She was running in circles around him like a wraith, her melody twisting through the air.

Wiro tried to shout—but no voice came. He tried to leap—but his body buckled.

Every ounce of his strength—internal and external—was being drained by that music!

Bent over in agony, blood seeping from his ears, Wiro’s mind flashed with one final thought: Block the sound!

Gritting his teeth, he summoned the last dregs of energy he had and sealed his hearing. It was excruciating, but slowly… the deadly tune faded.

His strength returned bit by bit. The stabbing in his blood vessels subsided.

Then, in a flash of cunning, he collapsed to the ground and feigned unconsciousness.

As he landed, his right hand scooped a fistful of dirt. In the next instant, he flung the sand toward Sinto Gendeng!

The grains were charged with the Whirlwind Gust Technique, slicing through the air like miniature daggers. Dozens of them shot toward the dragon-mouth and the flute-holes on the axe shaft. Dozens more rained toward Sinto Gendeng’s face.

With a hiss, the old woman pulled her mouth away from the axe and blew sharply forward. The incoming dust burst apart and fell harmlessly.

Then, she slid the axe back beneath her robe.

The third and final strike was over.

Wiro stood, breathing hard, leaning on one leg. His eyes never left his master. Though she had said three strikes, he wouldn’t put it past her to attack again!

But she simply stared.

Wiro scratched his head, baffled. After all these years of learning under her, only now had he learned that Sinto Gendeng possessed a weapon of such strange power—and that she could wield it with such terrifying force!

Not only that, this was the first time she had ever struck at him with such true killing intent. No cackling laughter. No mocking smiles. Just silence, steel, and fire.

And he couldn’t forget that strange song she sang earlier…

Today had revealed more mysteries than he could count.

Suddenly, the old woman blurred forward again.

Wiro braced himself.

A high-pitched laugh echoed around him—shrill and mad like the whinny of a crazed horse.

“You’re insane!” Wiro shouted. He leapt aside just as Sinto Gendeng lunged at him once more!