2-1 Geng Merah (The Red Gang)
While walking along the sidewalk, Nagini heard a desperate cry from a meatball vendor pushing his cart.
Vendor: "Mercy, Bang! Please don't take my money! I haven't sold anything yet!"
Two thugs in red T-shirts were gripping the vendor's collar.
The first thug was skinny, with a thick mustache and slightly slanted, wide eyes. His name was Taryo.
The second thug was short and stocky, bald-headed, and coughed from time to time — perhaps suffering from bronchitis. His name was Dirman.
Taryo: "This is our turf! You have to pay security money!"
Vendor: "Please, Bang, I haven't made a single sale yet!"
Suddenly—
Smack!
Vendor: "Aduh!"
The vendor staggered, clutching his cheek in pain.
Dirman had to stand on tiptoe to deliver that slap.
Seeing such injustice, Nagini strode toward the scene.
Though her mind was still torn between finding Suro and understanding this strange future world, as a warrior who defended justice, Nagini could not stay silent.
Nagini: "Hey! Stop what you're doing!"
For a moment, Taryo and Dirman froze and turned to face her.
***
2-2 Taryo and Dirman
Noticing Nagini's bright red clothing that looked straight out of the 16th century, the two thugs exchanged glances.
Taryo: "Judging from your costume, you must be a lost wayang actor!"
Dirman: "How dare you lecture us! We are the Red Gang, rulers of this area!"
Nagini: "Hey, Peyek Teri (Anchovy Cracker), and you, Roda Gerobak (Cart Wheel), what you're doing is a crime! It must stop!"
Nagini had just nicknamed Taryo Peyek Teri (anchovy cracker) and Dirman Roda Gerobak (cart wheel).
Taryo: "A wayang actor, and you dare to scold us?"
Dirman: "Taryo, let's deal with this wayang actor first, then take her to the hideout!"
Taryo: "Yeah! We'll give her to our boss Tarno! We'll get a reward!"
Dirman: "And when Tarno gets bored, I'll be your boyfriend instead!"
The two burst into crude laughter.
Seeing their lecherous grins, Nagini's anger flared. Her eyes gleamed sharply.
***
2-3 Tarno, Leader of the Red Gang
Nagini: "You two have truly crossed the line!"
Nagini was furious.
Suddenly—
Smack!
Taryo was sent flying to the side. His left cheek swelled up instantly, as if stung by four hornets at once.
On the other side—
Thud!
Dirman was knocked backward. His lips ballooned as though he had just gulped down scalding coffee.
Neither thug saw how Nagini moved. All they knew was the pain now throbbing through their faces.
In one swift move, Nagini had slapped Taryo and punched Dirman.
Taryo: "Aduh!"
Dirman: "Waduh!"
With just one strike, the two thugs were cowed. They struggled to get up, intending to leave the scene.
Taryo: "You'll pay for this!"
Dirman: "We'll tell our boss, Tarno!"
Taryo: "You'll feel the sting of Tarno's badik knife!"
Dirman: "You know? Tarno is from Lampung."
Taryo and Dirman staggered away in retreat.
***
2-4 The Red Gang's Hideout in Kampung Rambutan
Tarno glared at Taryo, whose cheek was swollen, and Dirman, whose lips were badly bruised.
He slammed the table hard.
Slam!
Tarno: "Who dares do this to you?!"
Taryo and Dirman cowered.
Taryo: "We don't know, Boss. She was a woman in red clothes, like a wayang costume."
Dirman: "She moved so fast and hit so hard — we were down in a single move!"
Tarno snorted in anger.
Tarno: "Idiots! You, Petruk! And you, Bagong!"
He jabbed a finger at Taryo and Dirman, then barked again.
Tarno: "Losing to a woman?! You've ruined the fearsome reputation of the Red Gang in this area!"
The room fell silent. Around twenty gang members were present, including Taryo and Dirman.
Tarno: "Why were you even fighting a wayang actress?!"
Taryo: "She was helping a bakso vendor, Boss."
Dirman: "His name's Jono."
Tarno narrowed his eyes, then slammed the table again.
Slam!
Tarno: "Ah, Jono again! Always that troublemaker!"
The gang members exchanged glances. Everyone knew Jono was the hardest person to squeeze for 'security money.'
Tarno: "Paiman, take ten men with you. Tonight, we finish Jono!"
Paiman: "Yes, Boss!"
Tarno: "But don't take Somat! You know Somat, right?"
Paiman: "Yes, Boss. His legs are bent like the letter O."
One member, Wayan, cut in:
Wayan: "But his appetite's enormous…"
The entire gang burst into laughter.
Tarno: "Where is Somat?"
Paiman: "Didn't come in, Boss. Says he's sick."
***
2-5 Nagini's Poisoned Needles
Jono: "This is my wife, Marni, and my daughter, Sawitri."
Nagini shook hands with Marni and Sawitri. The four of them talked about Jakarta, as Nagini had many questions about this modern city.
Jono then changed the subject.
Jono: "Bu, what if the Red Gang comes to our house?"
Marni instantly pulled her daughter into her arms. This shabby rented home could not hide the family's fear and anxiety.
Marni: "We can only pray, Pak…"
Sawitri: "I hope they don't beat you like they did last month."
Nagini: "Are they truly that cruel?"
Jono: "They can be worse. Sometimes they kidnap young girls to pay off their parents' debts."
Nagini shuddered in disgust at Jono's words.
Without realizing it, her right hand touched the pocket of her clothes. Inside were stacks of poisoned needles.
Not just one stack — three.
First stack: deadly poisoned needles. A single scratch could take a life. These were called Jarum Beracun Tingkat Tiga.
Second stack: poisoned needles that would knock the victim unconscious for hours. These were Jarum Beracun Tingkat Dua.
Third stack: poisoned needles that would only weaken and sap strength. These were Jarum Beracun Tingkat Satu.
Nagini took out the third stack — Jarum Beracun Tingkat Satu.
***
2-6 Jono's Rented House
Night had fallen.
A group from the Red Gang, led by Paiman, arrived in front of Jono's rented house. They numbered ten men.
Paiman: "Hey, Jono! Get out here! Or I'll break down your door!"
Paiman barked the threat loudly.
The neighbors in the surrounding rented rooms quickly shut their doors. They were terrified at the sight of the red-shirted thugs gathering in front of Jono's home.
Inside Jono's place, it was silent. The front door stayed shut; no signs of movement.
Paiman's patience began to fray.
Paiman: "Bejo, break it down!"
Bejo stepped forward, ready to smash the front door—
But before he could act…
Thud!
Bejo's body suddenly flew backward, crashing to the ground beside Paiman.
A massive lump, the size of a fist, was already forming on his forehead.
Paiman's eyes widened.
In front of him now stood a woman in red clothing — like a wayang performer's costume.
***
2-7 Nagini vs Paiman
Paiman: "So, you're the troublemaker!"
Nagini's nostrils flared as she glared at Paiman and the Red Gang members.
Paiman barked an order.
Paiman: "Surround the wayang woman! Beat her up!"
Four thugs rushed to encircle Nagini.
Meanwhile, inside the rented house, Jono, Marni, and Sawitri peeked anxiously through a crack in the door, worried for Nagini's safety.
Nagini lowered her stance, ready.
Paiman, Wayan, and Tarjo stayed back, glancing between the fight and Bejo, who was still groaning and clutching his forehead.
Before the four attackers could make their move, Nagini struck first.
A single punch smashed into the jaw of the man in front of her.
Thump!
He flew backward, moaning in pain — his lower jaw shifted left, his upper jaw to the right. The hinge seemed dislocated.
Nagini spun and delivered a kick to the thug on her left.
Wham!!
He collapsed sideways, clutching his waist — likely sprained or wrenched.
Pivoting again, she slapped the thug on her right.
Smack!
He fell flat on his back, lips swollen and bleeding.
Finally, with a quick shift of her weight, she drove a kick into the stomach of the last thug behind her.
Wham!
He crumpled forward, clutching his belly in agony.
In a single lightning-fast sequence, all four lay on the ground.
Paiman stood frozen, mouth agape. His courage began to drain away.
Nagini swept her gaze toward the remaining gang members.
Nagini: "Anyone else want a sprain? Step forward."
The remaining thugs exchanged uneasy glances but said nothing.
***
2-8 Paiman Runs
Seeing his four comrades sprawled out, the courage of the remaining men soared away like birds into the night.
Only three were left standing — Paiman, Wayan, and Tarjo.
Paiman swallowed hard.
Trying to hide his fear, he barked an order, his voice trembling.
Paiman: "Tarjo! Wayan! Get her! Finish off the wayang woman!"
Silence.
No response.
Paiman turned around.
Empty.
Tarjo and Wayan had already vanished.
Fear surged through Paiman. Without another thought — or a shred of pride — he spun on his heels and bolted, chasing after his fleeing men.
He ran for his life.
Meanwhile, Bejo and the other four lay groaning on the ground. Slowly, they staggered to their feet, clutching their injuries.
Nagini's sharp gaze followed them until they began limping away from the neighborhood.
***
2-9 Confronting Tarno
Nagini approached Jono.
Nagini: "Pak, where is Tarno's hideout?"
Jono: "Near the traffic light, in an abandoned building."
Nagini: "I need to wipe them out at the root, so they'll never trouble people again."
Jono: "But the Red Gang members are very cruel."
Marni: "Especially Tarno, their leader."
Jono: "True. Tarno's a skilled fighter, Nagini."
Marni: "You must be careful, child."
Jono: "And Tarno is also skilled with a knife."
Nagini nodded.
Nagini: "Pak Jono, Bu Marni — don't worry. The Red Gang must be destroyed."
Budi, a neighbor, chimed in.
Budi: "That's right, Kak! So they'll stop har.....
***
2-10 Raiding Tarno's Lair
Meanwhile...
A few young men stepped forward, volunteering to escort Nagini to the Red Gang's headquarters.
Nagini's bravery had clearly rubbed off on them.
Budi shouted boldly,
Budi: "We have to fight back!"
Another local, Saridin, joined in,
Saridin: "Let's drive them out of our neighborhood!"
The crowd erupted:
All: "Agreed!"
The people were fed up—sick of being extorted and beaten by the Red Gang. Now, with Nagini here, courage was spreading like wildfire.
Budi: "Sister Nagini, let us escort you to the Red Gang's den."
Nagini smiled and nodded.
It wasn't just Budi and Saridin—ten young men came along, each carrying a wooden club or a length of steel pipe.
Then, suddenly, a frail old grandmother hobbled over, gripping a wooden club of her own.
Budi: "Hey, Grandma! Where are you going?"
Grandma: "I'm coming with you! I want to whack Tarno!"
The young men laughed at her fiery spirit.
Budi: "No, Grandma, stay at home! You'll throw out your back."
She ignored him and waved her stick threateningly.
Grandma: "Watch out, Tarno! If I see you, I'll use this!"
Moments later, she was out of breath, wheezing. The boys could no longer hold back their laughter.
Budi: "Seriously, Grandma. Go home."
With a huff, she finally gave in and turned back.
Nagini then set off toward Tarno's hideout, accompanied by the ten young men, each gripping their weapon of choice.
***
2-11 Tarno's Wrath
At the Red Gang's headquarters...
Tarno sat at a table littered with beer bottles. A cigarette burned in his left hand, while his right gripped a large mug of beer. A few small packets of kacang Sukro were scattered around.
He took a slow sip, imagining that the troublesome woman had already been dealt with, and that Jono had paid his "security fee."
Bang!
The front door slammed open. Tarno's daydream shattered instantly.
Panting in the doorway were Paiman, Wayan, and Tarjo.
Paiman: "Boss, it's bad! That woman in red is insanely strong!"
Tarjo: "Yeah, Boss! In just a few moves, she floored us!"
Wayan: "She's as fast as the wind!"
Tarno's face darkened.
Tarno: "But your faces look fine. No bumps, no swollen cheeks..."
Paiman: "That's because..."
Wayan: "We..."
Tarjo: "Ran away, Boss."
Furious, Tarno drew a badik from his waist—a blade rumored to carry a mystical aura.
Tarno: "Cowards! The lot of you!"
The three lowered their heads in shame.
Tarno: "Looks like I'll have to take care of this woman myself!"
But before he could finish—
Crash!
The front door was kicked clean off its hinges, flying straight toward him.
Clang-clatter
It smashed into the beer-covered table, sending bottles shattering across the floor. Kacang Sukro scattered everywhere.
Tarno leapt to his feet, stunned.
In the doorway stood a woman in a red outfit, hands on her hips. Behind her, ten young men brandished wooden clubs, their eyes blazing with determination.
Tarno's blood boiled. His voice trembled with rage.
Tarno: "Today, I'll end you!"
With a roar, he charged at Nagini, badik raised high.
Unfortunately for Tarno, his courage wasn't contagious.
Paiman, Wayan, and Tarjo had been scared since the start—and now, seeing the armed young men, their fear spiked.
Paiman: "We're outnumbered!"
Tarjo: "Let's run!"
But Wayan was already gone. No one knew when he had slipped away.
Paiman and Tarjo exchanged a glance—then bolted out the back door.
***
2-12 Two Naginis
Nagini stood her ground, easily sidestepping each slash and stab from Tarno's badik.
Tarno was skilled in a fight, but here, he was clearly outmatched.
In a flash, Nagini countered.
Wham!
Her uppercut slammed into Tarno's jaw, lifting him slightly off the ground.
Before his body could fall,
Wham!
A front kick crashed into his stomach.
Tarno doubled over like a cyclist in mid-pedal, crashing to the floor. Two of his teeth went flying, and his stomach churned painfully. The badik clattered away.
With effort, Tarno tried to stand, but his body swayed.
Nagini: "Still think you can finish me?"
Tarno glared at her, eyes wide, his vision spinning. He could swear he was seeing two Naginis.
Tarno: "Am I drunk?"
No. He'd just been Nagini-drunk—pounded senseless.
End of Chapter 2
To be continued chapter 3
***