Amidst the chaos of the viper assault and the revelation of my power, something within me demanded attention.
Hunger.
Perhaps this was my first experience fighting in a group, causing me to almost forget something crucial and dangerous. The hunger. I might lose control of my body.
"Quick, throw me our supplies!" I shouted, staggering, nearly losing consciousness.
"What do you mean? Don't tell me you want to eat everything?!" Tono exclaimed, a mix of shock and anger, knowing my appetite.
"Hurry! It's vital!" I yelled.
Tono threw the food box. I devoured it like a starved animal. Finally, my consciousness began to return.
"Alright," said Senior Bagong. "It seems our first plan has failed. We'll proceed to Plan B. Charge through, grab the Jade Moon Lotus, and retreat. Maintain formation!"
We formed a tight formation. Ignoring other monsters, we charged directly toward the Jade Moon Lotus's location.
Upon arrival, we were too late. The horde of monsters was unstoppable.
We had only one choice: flee together and abandon the Lotus, or someone had to hold them off.
"Putri, Tono, Bonar, you three get out. Let Karman and I hold these monsters. We're the strongest," said Senior Bagong.
"What do you mean?!" Putri snapped. "We came as five, we leave as five, together!"
"But it's too risky," Bagong argued.
"No," Tono calculated, trying to find a way out.
"Hey, why are you all just standing there?!" Bagong yelled. "Our lives are at stake! If all five of us go, maybe one of us won't make it. But we'll hold them off temporarily. You reach safety, then we'll retreat together!"
They hesitated, then agreed.
We cleared a path. I, together with Senior Bagong, held back all the approaching vipers.
Perhaps it was time to use the Golden Body technique taught by Elder Hartono, even if I could only maintain it for 30 seconds.
From a distance, I saw they were almost reaching safety. I began to demonstrate the Golden Body. My hair turned golden, my eyes shone with a golden light, my body felt harder.
This was a forbidden technique that didn't use qi, but life energy. It seemed this technique was designed specifically for me.
I had to hold these monsters for 30 seconds with Senior Bagong.
Senior Bagong with his combat experience, me with my power. We slaughtered the enemies extremely quickly. In a short time, one-third of the horde was annihilated.
"After these 30 seconds, I might be weakened. So Senior Bagong, I beg for your help to protect me after this," I said.
"Alright. Maintain it!"
We continued slaughtering until finally, 30 seconds passed. The burden inside my body felt immensely heavy once the Golden Body's time expired. I felt weak, almost as if all my energy had been drained.
Fortunately, only a few enemies remained. However, among them, the most dangerous one we hadn't killed yet: the Viper King.
But as long as Senior Bagong was here, I felt safe. Perhaps with only this many monsters left, he could help me walk out of the encirclement.
I leaned against a tree. Senior Bagong fought, eliminating several vipers.
He approached me, pulling out something he had been keeping.
An egg.
What? So all this time, it wasn't abnormal monster behavior? The vipers were deliberately lured by Senior Bagong?
What is the meaning of this?
He remained silent, lifted the egg, then threw it at my body, shattering it.
The vipers screamed, deafening my ears.
Then Senior Bagong drew his sword and stabbed me squarely in the chest.
"Don't blame me. Blame your power that interferes with our plans."
Blood continuously gushed from my chest. Regeneration was very slow. Perhaps this was an effect of the Golden Body.
BRUK!
A powerful kick landed squarely on my chest, breaking my ribs, throwing me far away.
"Remember this. Don't blame me. Blame your fate and become fertilizer for our plans."
What does this mean? Why is Senior Bagong doing all this?
Before I could realize it, while I was still confused, the vipers began to swarm.
I tried to get up and run, but my body wouldn't listen. It refused to move.
Suddenly....
CRACK!
The ground beneath me cracked and collapsed into a ravine. I fell into it.
Scene Change
At the entrance to the Kidang Alas secret realm, Tono, Putri, and Bonar were waiting for Bagong and Karman.
"What's happening, Putri? Why are they taking so long? Didn't they say they would follow immediately once we got out? But it's past the time, and I'm worried something happened to them," said Tono.
"Calm down, Tono. I know very well who Karman is. He was able to fight hundreds of beasts when we hunted in the outer section..."
"Have you forgotten what level the monsters inside are?!" Putri said angrily. "It's not the same at all! They can't be compared to the monsters outside!"
Suddenly, the portal moved, and a figure emerged.
Senior Bagong.
Putri felt slightly relieved. "Finally, they made it. But... where is Karman?"
"Forgive me. I couldn't save Karman," said Bagong.
"What do you mean?! Did you sacrifice him?! This is all your fault!" Putri shouted.
"No. It turns out the viper siege was because Karman stole the Viper King's egg."
"What do you mean?! Someone like him! Why are you accusing Karman of that?!"
"Perhaps you didn't realize it when he was hungry. It seems he ate something, possibly including that viper egg."
"So you're saying because of him, it was impossible for you to save him?!"
"If I had saved him, it might have brought that King-level horde to the outer area, endangering all our disciples."
The atmosphere fell silent.
"But at least we must deliver this to Physician Sugeng." Putri held the Lotus with flowing tears.
Her hands trembled.
The Lotus was damaged. Only a part remained.
The news of Karman's death reached Elder Hartono's ears.
"I am not... I am not as great as you, Master," he said in his heart. "I have failed to educate a disciple. Even if this mistake was due to his carelessness, as his teacher, I was not strict enough. I hope someday I won't need to take on another disciple."
He stared at the book he had once given to Karman.
It was still on his desk. Because Karman never had the chance to return it.
Hartono closed the book.