Once upon a time in East Java, there lived two very strong animals named Sura and Baya. Sura was a tough shark, while Baya was a mighty crocodile. Although different species, they lived together in the vast ocean.
At first, Sura and Baya were friends. They swam together, explored the depths of the sea, and enjoyed the cool waves. However, when it came to food, their friendship was tested. Both were known to be greedy and unwilling to share, even a small piece of food. Every time they saw food, their instincts emerged, and they fought fiercely until one of them gave up.
One hot day, when the sun was shining brightly in the sky, Sura and Baya went hunting for food again. Suddenly, Baya's sharp eyes caught a goat drinking on the beach. His saliva dripped imagining the deliciousness of the meal.
"Delicious! This is my lunch!" said Baya as he approached the goat.
"No way! This is my lunch! You are so greedy, Baya! I haven't eaten for two days!" shouted Sura as he swam towards the beach.
Both of them charged at the goat, and in an instant, a fierce fight ensued. Their tails slammed hard against the water, creating huge waves that crashed onto the shore. Teeth clashed, claws scratched, and the ground shook. Neither of them was willing to give in.
The fight lasted for hours until both of them were exhausted. Their breathing was heavy, and their bodies felt weak after attacking each other non-stop. Realizing that the fight was futile, Sura finally proposed a solution.
"I'm tired of fighting, Baya," Sura complained breathlessly.
"Me too. But what can we do? We always fight over food," Baya replied, still trying to catch her breath.
"I have an idea," Sura said with a hopeful look. "How about we divide our territories? I live in the water, so I'll hunt for food in the sea. You live on land, so you hunt for food on land. We set the beach as the boundary of our territories. That way, we'll never meet again."
Baya's eyes narrowed, thinking about Sura's proposal. "Hmm... Let me think about it. Okay. Starting today, I'll stay on land, and you stay in the sea. But remember, Sura, if I see you on land, I won't forgive you!"
"Agreed!" Sura replied with a big smile, happy that they could finally avoid unnecessary fighting.
For a while, everything went peacefully. Sura swam freely in the sea and caught fish, while Baya explored the land, hunting small animals. Each of them had their own space and food. The sea and land were calm again.
But the peace did not last long.
One day, Sura had difficulty finding food in the sea. The fish began to dwindle, and his stomach growled with hunger. His eyes looked towards the riverbank, where he saw fish swimming in the shallow water.
"Water is part of the river," thought Sura. "And the river is connected to the sea. So, technically, this is my territory too!"
With that reason, Sura swam into the river, hoping to catch some fish. He splashed water as he passed through the shallow water, his fins breaking the surface of the water. However, before he could catch a single fish, a loud roar was heard from the riverbank.
"Hey! What are you doing here, Sura?!" shouted Baya angrily. "This is my territory! We agreed that you stay in the sea, and I stay on land!"
"But there's water here, right?" Sura answered defensively. "If there's water, then this is my territory too!"
"Nonsense! You broke our agreement, Sura!" Baya snapped as he charged into the water.
The fight began again. Their roars echoed throughout the forest. With claws and teeth, they fought mercilessly. Sura bit Baya's tail hard, and in return, Baya bit Sura's fin with full force. The water mixed with blood, turning the river red.
This time, Baya was stronger. With a final, powerful bite, he grabbed Sura's tail. The shark groaned in pain, realizing that he had no choice but to retreat. Defeated and wounded, Sura swam back into the sea with his body covered in wounds.
"Stay in the sea, you coward!" Baya growled, standing upright with his tail throbbing in pain. Even though his tail was injured, he felt victorious because he had succeeded in defending his territory.
The area where Sura and Baya fought was a mess. The surrounding land was damaged, and the river water was filled with blood. The villagers who witnessed the fight talked about it for years. They told their children and grandchildren about the shark (Sura) and the crocodile (Baya) who fought so fiercely that the land around them was forever remembered.
Over time, the place where Sura and Baya fought became known as Surabaya — a name derived from "Sura" the shark and "Baya" the crocodile. The story of their fight became a legend and a symbol of the city of Surabaya.
As a reminder of this story, the community built a statue depicting Sura and Baya fighting. The statue stands majestically in the middle of Surabaya, symbolizing the spirit of courage and determination. This statue has become a symbol of Surabaya, reminding everyone of its strength, resilience, and the importance of keeping promises.
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