Doomsday Pillars

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The Army Base

This would be the most important phase. There were 18 regional military command centers all around Indonesia. The one in Bali was the 9th Division. This division controlled 4 districts in its jurisdiction. The Bali island district, and the islands on the east as the other three districs; the West Nusa Tenggara District, the East Nusa Tenggara District, and the East Timor District.

Today all the head of the four districts gathered. The division led by Major General Agus and each district represented by a colonel. The whole division controlled six infantries, one cavalry, and one combat engineer battalion. There was also the special force, the Red Barret, stationed there. It amounted to 8500 soldiers.

In the meeting, the person Alex looked forward to meet the most was Captain Farel. An army intelligence officer. In Alex previous life, he was one of Bali"s survival leader. He was born in a family of soldiers but graduated from Oxford University. A genius, unfortunately, the smarter the person was, the more skeptical they were. Regent"s introduction and Aria being present were not enough to move them. Alex must explain the doomsday in a hypothetical situation. Luckily Captain Farel still a rational person.

Alex requested the army to recall all non-active personnel back to their bases. He even requests all the reserve soldier and trainees to gather. Their presence managed to add 10.000 more soldiers. In total, there"d be over 18.000 military personnel. These soldiers separated into 4 districts. The Bali district itself had total a little over 8000 soldiers.

Alex gave them the information about his base, discussed strategies and asked them to prepare a two-way radio to communicate.

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The Governor"s Office

Governor Agung was the leader chosen by the people of Bali. When the doomsday start, the death of the President would end the main government of Indonesia. Alex didn"t know the fate of this governor either. In his previous life, he never met him. The governor either died from the disease or died very early.

The meeting was important. The governor facilitated a meeting with the local authorities and religious leaders. There were almost 100 invitations sent out, but only 25 of them came to the meeting.

This result was within Alex expectation, as it"s currently still in the holiday season. Mayor Rendy of Bay City was the best example. Even so, Alex still wished to see them. Alex briefed them the same information all over again. And he couldn"t help but felt as if he"s on a Writer Book Tour.

"Doomsday Pillar: Meet and Greet"...

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The Pencak Silat Society

This was a martial art dojo. The biggest and the most famous base of traditional martial art in Bali. During many Bali incidents that threatened the locals e.g. the Bali bombing in 2002 and 2005. Or the prison break in 2017, the Pencak Silat Society was the most reliable activists on-site. Their total members were more than 5000 pract.i.tioners. Some of the best survivors in Alex previous life were members of this society.

Generalizations in Pencak Silat technique were very difficult. Styles and movements were as diverse as the Indonesian archipelago itself. The principles behind the movement of Pencak Silat were self-defense and self-control. The techniques were not limited to hand-to-hand combat. The pract.i.tioners also trained in the used of sharp edges weapons e.g. dagger, saber, also spear and s.h.i.+eld.

Like many other martial arts, the pract.i.tioner"s level shown by their belt color. White, yellow, green and blue, were the four basic levels. When pract.i.tioners mastered the basic techniques, they received recognition with the violet belt. Complete the advance training would receive brown, and then the red belt. While the master level pract.i.tioners would receive the honorable white sash.

In Bali"s Pencak Silat Society, out of 5000 members, there were 500 red belts and only 70 white sash masters. From this masters, twenty people receive the t.i.tle of Guru, and only three receive the Maha Guru t.i.tle.

Today Alex group welcomed in the hall by the masters. Some of the Gurus also posed as the Indonesian Army trainer, thus his visit received in open arm. It was an honor to be received by a Maha Guru.

Alex saw a few faces he recognizes within this hall. It"s quite nostalgic. He fought together with a few of them as comrades.

Alex stood in the middle of the hall facing the Mahaguru. Surrounded by the many masters who sat on the floor.

"Mahaguru Indra, I"m Alex. I came with important information, but before that, I wish to have a friendly match with one of the masters. I hope you can grant my wish", Alex said.

A guru sat on the sides said, "A brave man, but do you have the capability? Which one of us would you like to spar with?"

Alex stared at one of the youngest looking masters in the hall sitting next to the Maha Guru then pointed at him...

"I heard so much about master Rama"s talent, will you give me this honor?"

The master named Rama startled that he was the chosen one.

Another guru jumped in to comment, "Hahahha. Mr. Alex, Rama may look young but he is not weak, in fact, I think he is the one with the most potential in here."

Alex knew this guy name, Rama. In his previous life, Rama is a Saint fire element spirit enhancer. One of the strongest survivor in Bali. He was a very talented martial artist, received his violet belt when he was 16. Red belt when he was 20. Then study other martial art skill around the world. Winning an Olympic medal in silat. Returned to master the White Dove techniques style of the pencak silat. Received his white sash at the age of 24. Then last year at age 25, he received the honorable t.i.tle of "Pendekar". The brave and fierce spirit enhancer name Rama. Alex wanted him to be part of his team.

"So will I be granted this honor?" Alex clasped his hand and bowed to the maha guru.

"Do you accept Rama?", the Maha Guru asked him.

"Yes Maha Guru, I accept"

Rama felt that this Alex is not a normal guy, as a talented spirit enhancer his perception was beyond normal.

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The fight starts with them bowing to each other

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"Thank you for accepting", Alex smiled at Rama.

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One

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Two

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Fight!

Immediately, Rama performed his tiger stance move. It"s a defensive crouching style. The Pencak Silat was best in its defensive forms and explosive moves.

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Alex smiled, at last someone worthy... this time he gets the chance to attack first...

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SHHHHH

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Full speed ahead. BAAAMMM!! .. Rama barely managed to block Alex punch. He got pushed back a few steps. All the masters in the hall startled.

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Within Alex group, its the first time Theo saw his skill and he"s astonished. Cindy as excited as always while Aria kept her cool.

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Usain Bolt, the Olympic gold medalist broke the 100-meter world record with his 9.69 seconds dash. Alex in his high stage mortal realm can run less than 8 seconds. He can advance a 10-meter distance of less than 1 second.

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Alex surprised too. Rama managed to block his high-speed attack. He indeed was a great talent. Alex a.s.sumed that Rama had pa.s.sed the limit of the medium rank mortal realm. Impressive. Such a talent at a young age.

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The fight went on for another 10 moves. In the Pencak Silat steps techniques, the 8 direction considered as basic techniques. Yet Rama managed to master and utilized it perfectly.

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After 10 more moves, Alex felt Rama"s moves got stronger and faster.

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Another surprise, Rama"s White Dove techniques already surpa.s.sed the mortal realm. As a spirit enhancer, Rama was very talented in the using of inner energy. The Pencak Silat called it Chakra. The inner energy that can create powerful explosives strikes.

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Alex exchanged a few more moves, but in the end, Rama still lost. All the masters surprised. They all possessed a mastery in the martial artist. They could tell the move Alex showed were beyond the limits of the human body.

Alex then told them about the secret of his strength, about the coming doomsday, and his base. On the 31st, the Bali island will be in chaos. Alex requested the help and co-operation of the Pencak Silat society. They were, of course, willing to help, it"s their island. Alex left another two-way radio for them. Unfortunately, with the current condition, there was no reason for Rama to follow him. So Alex left empty-handed.

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Three days have pa.s.sed... and already it"s the 30th of December. On the way to the base, Alex felt something different from the street of Bali. It didn"t have its usual charm. Less music on the street, less party, and fewer crowds. The human minds were unique, they rejected to believe in the doomsday message. But when it becomes near to D-date, it disturbed their mind. This could be a good sign, Alex thought.

Alex returned to the base after 3 days. The base population exploded 5 times. There are now more people staying on the base than before the announcement. The team was hard at work separating the newcomer. There was nothing much Alex can do at the moment than allocated them all in some of the warehouses. These sudden increase of people was a good sign that his message had accepted by the locals. But it also could bring a problem.

Not the time to worried about it, this be the last day, Alex spent it with some quality time with his family. The tension made it hard, but as usual, Hendrik always could light up the mood.

Another day pa.s.sed.

And the D-day finally came. Even with all the planning and preparation, deep down Alex was afraid. No one could ever be prepared for this.