A chilling wind blew, penetrating my senses without resistance, without obstruction. Emptiness. Was this truly what I had yearned for all this time, or was I simply no longer myself?
I was still in the same place, below, within the same room, yet I was utterly alone in a crowd. Nothing brought me joy anymore, nothing made me happy. Even staring at a monster no longer instilled fear. I knew this was wrong, but it only registered in my logic.
Today, for the umpteenth time, I visited Elder Sugeng to search for the reason behind my change and to seek a trace of my former self.
"Karman, let's go to the cafeteria. You've been here for almost half the day."
"No, I won't."
"Come on, you're still as stubborn as you used to be. Everyone is waiting, you're the only one missing."
"Fine," I conceded to Tono, glancing toward Elder Sugeng, who remained unconscious. If only Elder Sugeng were here, I might have someone to ask.
From a distance, Putri called out, waving her hand. "Hey, over here!"
"Karman, go ahead," Tono told me.
"But I..."
"It's fine, I'll take care of it..."
"Ah... okay."
"Karman! Hurry up! We have a surprise for you!"
Tono stumbled, bringing a massive plate of food just for me. "Move aside, move aside..." he muttered, bumping into people as he walked, his view obscured by the mountain of food.
Crash!
The table instantly overflowed.
"So what's the..." I started.
"Finish the food first, then we'll discuss something else."
The moment was filled with laughter, as if they were trying to cheer me up. But the void remained. I laughed occasionally, but I felt nothing.
"We're done. Now it's time to discuss something exciting," Putri declared, unfurling a map scroll. "So, I just found something interesting."
Bonar, Tono, and Putri all looked incredibly enthusiastic.
"Yes! We're going on an adventure again! You're coming, right, Karman?" Tono exclaimed.
"Uhm... I..."
"Come on, Karman, please... It won't be fun if you don't join," Putri insisted.
I couldn't deny it, truthfully, I was afraid. Not afraid of death, but fearful of dragging them into danger again.
"But I think I..."
"You don't need to worry. Senior Bagong will be with us, just like before. Besides, we're only exploring the outer regions."
Senior Bagong. Hm... that sounds interesting, I thought to myself.
"I'm in," I agreed.
"Okay! It's decided. We leave tomorrow. And you, Bonar, tell Senior Bagong that our party is complete," Putri announced excitedly.
"A-alright," Bonar responded.
This day was just the same. I still couldn't feel anything. Perhaps, by socializing with them again this time, I could reconnect with my former self.
The appointed day arrived. The four of us headed toward the Kidang Alas Gate, where Senior Bagong was already waiting upon arrival.
"Greetings, Senior! Have you been waiting long?" Putri asked.
"Not at all. I just got here myself," Senior Bagong replied.
My gaze was locked on Senior Bagong, and his was on mine. It was as if we understood each other, sharing a silent secret. We set off and reached the werewolf den. We hunted madly; our beast's core earnings were countless. Tono was already daydreaming about buying something at the equipment shop.
Until we faced the leader of all the werewolves, everything proceeded normally, we even managed to swiftly take down the Werewolf King, relying on teamwork and Senior Bagong's experience. We were utterly unstoppable.
But what was this... this familiar feeling? White Tiger. What do you want, White Tiger?
"Yes! We had a huge harvest today!" Tono cheered enthusiastically.
A second later.
Fwoooosshh...
An incredibly heavy pressure rendered me immobile. The White Tiger stood directly in front of us. Tono and Bonar had already fainted, unconscious. Putri, who had briefly seemed strong, also collapsed. Only Senior Bagong and I remained standing.
Rage. That was all I felt right now. My heart pounded fiercely, as if every drop of adrenaline was rushing through my veins. It was as if something precious had been snatched from me. But what kind of hatred was this? It defied all logic.
Worse were its eyes. They seemed to convey that we were utterly insignificant. Scornful, insulting, as if nothing we did mattered at all. My blood boiled even hotter.
Roooooaaaarrr!
The White Tiger roared directly at me. My ears bled, and I was sent flying tens of meters, crashing through the forest, shattering trees in my path. Senior Bagong slumped, his ears bleeding, on the verge of losing consciousness.
I couldn't accept this. I had to save my friends, no matter what the cost. Using my remaining energy, I recalled how I activated the Golden Body when its claws tore a hole through my chest before. The flow, I must remember the flow. My hair and eyes began to turn a golden hue. With what I learned from Elder Hartono, coupled with this internal flow, I shot forward like lightning, my fist connecting directly with the White Tiger.
A shockwave erupted, throwing everyone and the surrounding trees back. Yet, the White Tiger didn't budge.
Now, a faint answer began to dawn on me. I hadn't lost myself, rather, my pride couldn't tolerate anyone in this world looking down on me. And that someone was the White Tiger.
Crash!
Its claw struck me, I had no time to react. The attack created another shockwave, and I was sent soaring hundreds of meters until I slammed into a cliff face. My Golden Body Mode vanished. Only pain now coursed through my entire body.
But I wouldn't give up. I activated the Golden Body once more, despite coughing blood. I rushed back towards it. However, the White Tiger merely smiled and returned to the top of the hill.
As I was about to chase it, I realized my friends might be in danger if I left them. Finally, I returned and tried to save my comrades. With Putri slung over my back and Tono and Bonar being dragged by both my arms, I moved slowly.
"You can walk, can't you?" I asked Senior Bagong.
"Karman, why didn't you kill me? Are there no witnesses right now? And I once tried to kill you," Bagong said despairingly.
"What are you talking about? Since when was an ant like you capable of killing me? Don't dream," I said cruelly. "Be grateful for your weakness; thanks to it, you can still breathe tomorrow," I continued.
"K-Karman..." he repeated.
"Senior, enough! I don't want to dirty my hands again. Besides, they still need you," I stated firmly.
"That's not it. I mean, beware of Suheri. Many spies want our sect to fall. Including me," Bagong confessed.
"Whatever."
"And I hope you participate in the tournament and beat them."
I ignored him and continued to carry them out of Kidang Alas.
The entire sect was stirred up again because the White Tiger was more active than usual. Meanwhile, in the back garden, the Sect Leader and Elder Hartono were fishing.
"So, what do you think?" the Sect Leader asked.
"I don't know, I'm confused and afraid," Elder Hartono replied while baiting his hook.
"Didn't you tell him that the Golden Body technique is always bound to great disaster and responsibility?"
"I didn't initially intend to drag him this far. But, what can be done now? I will take responsibility," Elder Hartono stated.
"I understand. Perhaps you still remember your Master and fellow disciples. But, this has become our contract. the White Tiger always demands a Golden Body user."
Elder Hartono remained silent, staring at the water in the pond.
"I understand your worry. But unlike other techniques, the Golden Body chooses its owner. Even the Fist King..." the Sect Leader hesitated.
"Yes, you're right. And I lied to him. Ordinary people like us can only use it for fifteen seconds. Then we die."
The atmosphere was simultaneously silent and tense. Was a storm about to brew?