Nagini's Mystical Power

  Seeing Burhan chase after Broto but unable to do anything because his hands were stiff from Nagini's icy aura, the four bodyguards began to panic.

  They feared the Great Madam more than they feared Nagini—even though right now, they were struggling to move their fingers on the triggers of their rifles.

  Reno: "Damn it! What do we do, Ko?"

  Riko: "If we can't finish them off…"

  Rifai: "The Great Madam will be furious."

  Rendi: "You all know what happens when the Great Madam gets angry?"

  The four exchanged glances, dread of Mariana outweighing reason.

  Reno: "She'll give you lumps or twist your joints."

  Riko: "That's the lightest pain."

  Rifai: "Sometimes she knocks out your teeth."

  Riko: "That's only moderate pain."

  Rendi: "The worst is breaking arms or legs."

  Riko: "So far… she's never broken anyone's neck."

  They looked at each other again. Fear of Mariana pushed away all logic.

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  Slowly, the numb fingers began to move.

  Up ahead, Nagini lowered her stance, channeling her inner energy. Her right hand reached for four level-two poisoned needles.

  Reno, finally able to move his hands, accidentally squeezed the trigger of his AK-47.

  Bang! Bang! Bang!

  Ratatatatatat!

  It wasn't just one bullet—it was a whole burst.

  But Nagini's vigilance was razor-sharp, heightened by her mystical powers. The moment Reno pulled the trigger, she leapt lightly into the air.

  ***

  Nagini Dodges the Bullet Storm

  Hearing gunfire, Giono, Tono, Rani, Rina, Ngatmo Wijaya, and Karsiyah rushed toward the sound behind a door ahead.

  Giono: "Well, I'll be a goat! Someone beat us to it!"

  Karsiyah: "Curses! Let's go thrash Broto!"

  Ngatmo: "The shots are behind that door."

  Tono gripped his pistol tightly and joined the run. Rani and Rina followed.

  At the door, without hesitation, Giono kicked it open.

  BAM!

  What they saw was stunning—a woman in a red leather jacket, floating in mid-air.

  Her body was so light, it was almost clinging to the ceiling.

  Rani: "Sister Nagini!"

  Rina: "Sister Nagini?"

  Giono: "Goat Almighty!"

  Karsiyah: "Curses!"

  Ngatmo: "Amazing!"

  Tono: "Impossible!"

  They were all astonished—some in awe, some in disbelief—that in the modern day, someone could still defy gravity.

  Even more incredible, the red-jacketed figure was evading a storm of bullets beneath her.

  ***

  Two Guns Pointed at Each Other

  Meanwhile, Burhan, chasing Broto and Sawitri, gripped his pistol tight.

  Burhan: "Stop, Broto! Or I'll shoot!"

  Broto halted briefly and turned to face him, his own pistol aimed at Burhan.

  Two guns, pointed at each other.

  Sawitri, standing beside Broto, looked panicked.

  Sawitri: "Stop it, Uncle Broto! Stop, Brother Burhan!"

  The two men stared each other down.

  Sawitri: "The Madam's been good to me, Brother Burhan…"

  Burhan: "But your parents are worried sick."

  Sawitri hesitated.

  Sawitri: "They don't need to worry. I'm fine."

  Burhan took a step closer.

  Broto: "Stop right there, Mr. Burhan! One wrong move and it's over!"

  Broto stepped backward, pistol still aimed, his left hand gripping a black case chained to his wrist.

  Broto: "Let's go, miss. The Madam is waiting."

  Burhan: "Stop! I will shoot!"

  Broto: "And I will shoot you, Mr. Burhan!"

  Neither dared pull the trigger first. Broto kept backing toward the top floor—where Mariana and the helicopter waited.

  ***

  Helicopter with Tail Number 24C

  On the rooftop, the helicopter's rotor blades began to spin slowly. The operator had just started the engine. The tail bore the number 24C.

  Mariana stood at the helicopter's doorway. Each corner of the helipad was guarded by a man with a heavy AK-47.

  Beside Mariana, a young man held a remote controller, his eyes glancing up at a drone in the sky before focusing on its live feed on the screen.

  Not just any drone—a combat drone.

  Mariana heard gunfire and felt a cold wave rolling in from the stairwell—a cold that wasn't natural, laced with mysticism.

  Mariana (to herself): "Nagini…"

  She lowered her stance and slowly unfolded a paper fan. From her wrist, a wave of heat began to spread, pushing back the cold.

  To be continued