In the middle of the chaos of the Viper attack and the discovery of my power, something inside me asked for my attention.
Hunger.
Maybe this was my first time fighting with a group. It almost made me forget something important and dangerous. The hunger. I might lose control of my body.
"Quick, get our supplies!" I shouted, and I was almost knocked out.
"What do you mean? Don't tell me you want to eat everything!" Tono exclaimed, feeling shocked and angry, and knowing my appetite.
"Hurry! It's vital!" I yelled.
Tono threw the food box. I read it as fast as I could. Finally, I started to come to.
"Okay," said Senior Bagong. "It looks like our first plan didn't work. We'll move on to Plan B. Charge forward, grab the Jade Moon Lotus, and then retreat. Maintain formation!"
We stood close together. We went straight to the Jade Moon Lotus, ignoring all the other monsters along the way.
When we arrived, it was too late. The horde of monsters was unstoppable.
We had only one choice: we could all run away and leave the Lotus, or someone had to stop them.
"Putri, Tono, Bonar, you three, get out. Karman and I can handle these monsters. We're the strongest," said Senior Bagong.
"What do you mean?!" Putri lost her temper. "We came as a group of five, and we'll leave as a group of five, together!"
"But it's too risky," Bagong said.
"No," Tono thought, trying to figure out a way out.
"Hey, why are you all just standing there?!" Bagong yelled. "Our lives are in danger! If all five of us go, maybe one of us won't be able to go. But we'll delay them for now. You get to safety, and then we'll retreat together!"
They hesitated, then agreed.
We made a path. I and Senior Bagong protected everyone from the approaching vipers.
Maybe it was time to try the Golden Body technique taught by Elder Hartono, even if I could only do it for 30 seconds.
From far away, I saw that they were almost safe. I started to show the Golden Body. My hair turned golden, my eyes shone with a golden light, and my body felt harder.
This was a technique that was not allowed and did not use qi, but life energy. It seemed like this technique was designed specifically for me.
I had to hold these monsters for 30 seconds with Senior Bagong.
Bagong is a senior and has fought in wars. I have a lot of power. We killed the enemies very quickly. In a short time, one-third of the horde was killed.
"After 30 seconds, I might be tired. So Senior Bagong, I need your help to protect me after this," I said.
"Okay. Maintain it!"
We kept slaughtering until 30 seconds had passed. The weight inside my body felt extremely heavy once the Golden Body's time was up. I felt weak, like I had no energy.
Luckily, there weren't many enemies left. However, the most dangerous one we hadn't killed yet was the Viper King.
But as long as Senior Bagong was here, I felt safe. Maybe with just this many monsters left, he could help me get out of the circle of monsters.
I leaned against a tree. Senior Bagong fought, killing several vipers.
He came up to me and took out something he had been hiding.
An egg.
What? So, all this time, it wasn't just normal monster behavior? Did Senior Bagong deliberately lure the vipers?
What does this mean?
He didn't say anything, picked up the egg, and threw it at me, breaking it.
The vipers screamed, making my ears ring.
Then Senior Bagong pulled out his sword and stabbed me right in the chest.
"Don't blame me. You are responsible for the problems we are facing."
Blood was coming out of my chest. The area was not rebuilt quickly. Maybe this was because of the Golden Body.
BRUK!
A strong kick hit my chest, breaking my ribs, and throwing me far away.
"Remember this. Don't blame me. You can blame your fate on us and become part of our plans."
What does this mean? Why is Senior Bagong doing all this?
Before I knew it, the vipers started to swarm.
I tried to get up and run, but I couldn't. It wouldn't move.
Suddenly...
CRACK!
The ground cracked and collapsed into a deep hole. 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 going on, Putri? Why are they taking so long? Didn't they say they would follow us right away? But it's past the time, and I'm worried something happened to them," said Tono.
"Calm down, Tono. I know 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're not like the monsters outside!"
Suddenly, the portal moved, and a figure appeared.
Senior Bagong.
Putri felt a little better. "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?!"
"Maybe you didn't realize it when he was hungry. It seems he ate something, possibly including that viper egg."
"So you're saying that 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."
Everyone became quiet.
"But we have to make sure we deliver this to Physician Sugeng." Putri held the Lotus with tears flowing down her cheeks.
Her hands were shaking.
The Lotus was damaged. Only a part of it remained.
Elder Hartono learned about Karman's death.
"I am not... I'm not as great as you, Master," he thought. "I have failed to teach a student. Even if this mistake was due to carelessness, as his teacher, I was not strict enough. I hope that I won't need to accept another disciple in the future."
He looked at the book he had given to Karman.
It was still on his desk. Karman never got the chance to return it.
Hartono closed the book.