Arya ran frantically, his breaths labored, trying to recall the path he had taken to reach the large tree adorned with jasmine flowers that Dio had pointed out. However, the more he ran, the more the dense mist swallowed his vision. Finally, drenched in sweat, he found himself standing before a massive white structure resembling the walls of the Yogyakarta Palace. Plengkung Gading, a sacred site revered by the people of Jogja, loomed before him, majestic yet foreboding.
Arya paused for a moment, leaning on his knees as he tried to catch his breath. Muttering to himself, he replayed the conversation and Rika's peculiar behavior when they last met.
"No wonder I'm still single," Arya said aloud, his voice tinged with bitter laughter. His words echoed in the eerie silence, making the atmosphere even stranger.
Through the thickening mist, a small figure peeked out from behind a roadside food cart. The figure's black eyes stared intently at Arya, its initially innocent expression morphing into a sinister, sly smile.
"Could he be... HUMAN?" the child whispered to itself before its face contorted further, as if savoring a secret pleasure.
Suddenly, Arya heard a small voice calling out to him, "Brother..."
He looked around, his eyes searching for the source of the voice. But the dense mist obscured his view, making him feel like he was in an entirely alien world. From within the mist, a small child dressed in traditional Javanese attire emerged. Their face radiated sadness, as though pleading for help.
Arya approached cautiously. "What's wrong, kid?" he asked gently, trying not to scare the child.
"I don't know how to get home," the child said softly, their voice barely above a whimper. The child's eyes gazed at Arya with a look of hope, stirring his compassion.
Without a second thought, Arya offered to help. They walked through the mist, following roads that felt increasingly distant from the real world. However, despite walking for some time, the child still did not recognize the way home.
"That's enough, Buto. How far do you intend to take that human child?" a woman's voice echoed from within the mist. Her tone was cold but commanding, freezing Arya in his tracks.
"Who's there?" Arya whispered to himself, but his question went unanswered.
The child's smile gradually faded. The soft voice transformed into something deep and monstrous, like a giant's.
"How delightful to be visited personally by the legend herself, NAGINI," the child said mockingly.
The mist around them swirled violently, responding to the name spoken. From within the fog, a woman in a flowing red gown appeared, exuding an intimidating aura. Nagini stood tall, her sharp eyes fixed on the child.
"Leave the human to me, and I will take him away," Nagini said in a threatening tone. An oppressive energy radiated from her, making the air around them feel heavy.
"Unfortunately, I must decline your order, oh Commander," the child sneered. Its face twisted into something even more horrifying, the sinister grin amplifying the darkness surrounding it.
Nagini wasted no time. With a swift motion, she unleashed an attack of red light that struck the child's body directly, sending it crashing into the building behind it and shattering the walls.
At the same time, Arya felt his body weaken. He collapsed to the ground, his vision blurring. Pain coursed through his body from head to toe. Blood trickled from his nose and mouth, filling him with panic.
"What's happening? What's going on?" Arya thought desperately, struggling to stay conscious.
From within the mist, the child reemerged. Its body appeared intact, though faint scars marked its form. In a mocking tone, it said, "What a warm welcome since we last met, NAGINI."
Gradually, its form began to shift. The body grew larger until it took the shape of a towering figure wielding a massive club. Its grin was thin but filled with menace.
"Ahh~ done playing house, are we?" Nagini taunted dismissively.
Meanwhile, Arya struggled to breathe. His body trembled violently as his consciousness began to fade. Even opening his eyes felt like lifting a tremendous weight. "What is this?" he wondered, panic surging through him.
The battle between Nagini and Buto commenced. Their clashes destroyed several nearby structures, leaving gaping holes in the ground. While Buto fought with seriousness, Nagini seemed to toy with him, as though stalling for time.
But suddenly, they both stopped. Their noses caught the same scent.
"This smell..." they said in unison, their eyes turning to Arya.
"The blood of the descendant," Buto said, his voice dripping with hunger. Without hesitation, he charged toward Arya like a ravenous beast finding its prey.
Nagini tried to block Buto's advance, but he quickly hurled his massive club at her, forcing her to retreat.
"Get out of there, or you'll die!" Nagini shouted urgently toward Arya.
Just before Buto could reach Arya, a powerful energy surged, throwing him back. From within the mist, Rika appeared, her eyes glowing with a rare fury.
"Don't you dare touch my friend," Rika said firmly, her voice filled with anger.
Nagini smirked faintly. "Ahh~ so she finally shows herself," she said, her gaze dripping with condescension toward Rika.