The jungle was wrapped in morning mist, the air heavy with the smell of wet earth.Arian moved slowly, every muscle aching from the night before. The claw marks on his hands had faded slightly, but the golden glint in his eyes still lingered whenever he caught his reflection in the river's surface.
He needed answers.And the young tiger's distant roar was the only thing pulling him forward.
As he followed the sound deeper into the forest, the mist thickened until the trees became shadows. Then, out of the whiteness, a figure appeared — hunched, draped in a long brown cloak made from woven bark. His bare feet made no sound on the wet ground.
"You came sooner than I expected," the old man said without looking up. His voice was deep and rough, like stone grinding on stone.
Arian froze. "Who are you?"
The man finally lifted his head. His eyes were milky white, blind — but somehow, Arian felt them pierce right through him."I am called Datuk Hitam. Guardian of what remains of your bloodline."
Arian's chest tightened. "My… bloodline?"
Datuk Hitam stepped closer, his cloak trailing over the moss. "You carry the Darah Macan. The blood of the last guardian. It is why the forest whispers to you… and why the hunters will not stop until you are dead."
The memory of silver-tipped spears and masked faces burned in Arian's mind. "What do they want from me?"
"They want to break the pact," the old man said simply. "And you — whether you wish it or not — are the last barrier between them and the forest's heart."
Before Arian could speak again, a rustle came from the mist behind him.Datuk Hitam's head snapped toward the sound. His voice was low but urgent."They've found us."
From the fog, shadows moved — fast and silent. The faint glint of silver broke the pale mist, followed by the whisper of drawn blades.
Datuk Hitam gripped the wooden staff on his back and stepped in front of Arian. "Stay behind me," he ordered.
The hunters emerged one by one, their masks marked with strange red symbols. This group was different — their weapons were longer, curved like tiger claws, and the silver shimmered with a faint blue light.
Arian's heart pounded. The drumbeat from the night before began again, deeper now, echoing in his bones.
One hunter raised his weapon. "Step aside, old man. The boy is ours."
Datuk Hitam's answer was to slam his staff into the ground. The earth trembled, and the mist thickened, curling like living smoke around the attackers.But the hunters were prepared — charms of bone and black thread glowed faintly, cutting through the veil.
A spear tip came at Arian. Instinct took over. His body twisted, his arm lashing out — and claws, real claws, tore the spear shaft in half.
The nearest hunter staggered back, startled. "He's changing—"
A roar ripped from Arian's throat, deeper and louder than before. His muscles surged, his vision sharpened, and his skin prickled with heat as faint stripes shimmered along his arms.
"Don't fight it!" Datuk Hitam's voice cut through the chaos. "Let it guide you!"
The world became movement and instinct. Arian pounced — closing the gap in a blur, claws striking, teeth bared. He moved with impossible speed, dodging blades and breaking weapons like brittle twigs.
When the last hunter fell into the mud, gasping and defeated, the mist began to thin. Arian stood panting, his hands still clawed, his breath steaming in the cold air.
Datuk Hitam stepped beside him, eyes unreadable."Now you understand," he said quietly. "This is only the beginning. The true hunt hasn't even started."
From deep within the forest, a single, thunderous roar answered — not the young tiger's, but something much larger.
The mist finally began to lift, revealing the wet jungle floor littered with broken weapons and unconscious hunters. The smell of blood and rain mixed in the air.
Arian stared at his hands, the claws slowly retracting. His heartbeat was still wild, his senses painfully sharp — every drop of water, every leaf's movement felt amplified.
"What's happening to me?" he asked, his voice low, almost afraid of the answer.
Datuk Hitam studied him for a long moment. "You are awakening. But awakening is not enough. Without control, the Darah Macan will consume you."
Arian swallowed hard. "And if I don't…?"
"Then you will become the very beast the hunters claim you already are," Datuk Hitam said. "A danger to the forest, and to yourself."
A distant roar rolled through the trees, deep and resonant, like thunder under the earth. It silenced the jungle for a heartbeat.
Datuk Hitam's gaze turned toward the sound. "That… is the elder. If you wish to survive, you must reach him before the hunters do."
Arian's jaw tightened. The fear in his chest was real, but so was the strange pull toward that roar. It was calling to him — and he knew he couldn't ignore it.
Datuk Hitam stepped forward, his cloak trailing in the mud. "Come. The path ahead is dangerous, and the hunters will return with stronger weapons. But the forest has chosen you, Arian. Now, you must choose it back."