The next day, Shanum, Denar, and Grandma immediately departed back to Yogyakarta by plane—a journey that usually takes hours now felt extremely long because worry weighed heavily on their hearts. Inside the plane, Shanum felt an unusual energy vibration spreading throughout her body, as if something was trying to pull her underground.
"You feel it too, don't you?" Denar asked in a soft voice, holding Shanum's hand tightly. "That negative energy is so strong. I can feel it even from far away up here."
Grandma nodded with a serious expression, looking at the ancient map she always carried. "This isn't just ordinary energy disturbance, dear. Something very old and very powerful has awakened from deep within the earth. I feel this is connected to the war between our ancestors and the group that worshipped dark powers hundreds of years ago."
When they arrived at the airport and continued their journey by car to the village, the sight that greeted them left them shocked. The rice fields that were usually green and fertile now looked yellow and dry, trees began to curl their leaves even though the dry season hadn't arrived yet, and even the small river that usually flowed abundantly was now only left with murky puddles.
"What's happening here?" Shanum whispered with worried eyes.
As they entered the coastal community area, they saw community members gathering with faces full of fear. Dewi immediately approached them, her body slightly unsteady and her face pale. "You've finally come! The dark energy grows stronger every day. We've tried to hold it back with all our strength, but it's not enough."
Before they could speak further, the ground began to shake violently. Large trees started to fall, and a piercing rumbling sound came from the direction of the beach. From behind the thick fog rising from the sea, large figures with deep black colors began to appear—they had no clear form, yet the aura emanating from their bodies was extremely painful and full of hatred.
"You won't be able to stop us, descendants of Sri Rahayu!" a voice like grinding hard stones echoed from among the figures. "We've been imprisoned for centuries because of your ancestors' actions! Now it's time for us to take revenge and conquer the entire world!"
Shanum immediately recognized that this was not an enemy they had ever faced before. The figures were part of the "Shadow Army" that had once been their ancestors' main enemy—creatures that fed on negative energy and hatred, which had been trapped in an underwater cave for centuries.
Without further ado, three large figures shot toward Shanum at incredible speed. They extended deep black tentacles that tried to ensnare her body. Denar quickly jumped forward and formed a strong golden shield around Shanum.
"Don't you dare touch her!" Denar shouted in a powerful voice. His shield glowed brightly, sending some of the figures reeling backward.
But the number of enemies was too great, and their power was far stronger than expected. A Shadow Army leader with a clearer form emerged at the front—its face like an open skull, with eyes burning like embers. It pulled out a black bell that emitted a humming sound that made everyone feel dizzy and weak.
The power coming from the bell was so strong that Denar's shield began to crack. Shanum tried to help using her silver necklace and the potions she had brought, but the negative energy came too strongly and made her fall to the ground.
"I can't hold it anymore, my love!" Denar shouted in a voice full of pain. At the same time, one of the black tentacles managed to penetrate his shield and stab him in the chest. The golden light that usually glowed from his body began to fade, and he fell to the ground with an extremely pale face.
"DENAR!" Shanum shouted in a voice full of grief and fear. She tried to approach his body, but the negative energy surrounding Denar prevented her from getting close. The blood coming out of his body was not the usual red color, but golden light that slowly faded into the air.
The Shadow Army leader laughed with a piercing voice. "Now you have no chance left, Shanum Asmara! Surrender now and let us take what is rightfully ours!"
But before they could attack again, Grandma and Dewi, along with all community members, appeared forming a protective circle around Shanum and Denar. They channeled their power together, creating a blinding white light that forced the Shadow Army to step back several paces.
"We can't hold on like this for long!" Dewi shouted, gasping for breath. "Their energy keeps growing stronger with time!"
"We must retreat first and save Denar!" Grandma said in a firm voice. She pulled out an old silk cloth inscribed with mantras and quickly covered Denar's body, preventing the negative energy from attacking him further. Together with several strong community members, they carried Denar into a house that had been protected with various potions and mantras.
Once inside the safe house, Shanum watched Denar's condition worsen with a heart full of fear. The light in his eyes began to fade, and his body grew colder even though he was in a warm room. The golden blood still slowly seeped from the wound in his chest, and no ordinary medicine could stop it.
"What do we do, Grandma? How do we heal Denar?" Shanum asked, her voice trembling with tears. She tried to touch Denar's hand, but the bone-chilling cold made her pull back. "All the potions I know can't heal a wound like this!"
Grandma sat beside Denar with a face full of grief but also determination. She gently touched Denar's forehead, and her eyes began to flicker with a faint silver light. "His wound doesn't come from this world, dear. It's a wound made by cursed dark energy that has been trapped for centuries. Ordinary medicine won't be able to heal it."
"Then what do we do? I can't lose him, Grandma!" Shanum shouted through her tears. She couldn't imagine living without Denar by her side—all their dreams and hopes would be in vain if Denar couldn't be saved.
Grandma took Shanum's hand and closed her eyes for a moment. After a few minutes, she opened her eyes with an even more serious expression. "There's one way we can try, but it's very dangerous and requires great sacrifice from you, dear. We must go to the Cave of Eternal Love located in the middle of a very deep forest—the place where our ancestors, Sri Rahayu and Raden Kertarajasa, stored their purest love power."
"The Cave of Eternal Love? What is that, Grandma?" Shanum asked with confused eyes.
"It's a very sacred and also very dangerous place," Grandma explained as she began to gather various tools and potions they would need. "Inside the cave lies the Water of Eternal Love that can heal all types of wounds, even those from dark powers. But to get it, you must face a personal test that will measure the depth of your love for Denar. No one else can help you there—you must go through everything alone."
At the same time, Dewi entered the room carrying a small green shield. "I've talked with the community leaders. We will hold our ground here and fend off the Shadow Army's attacks as long as possible. But you must hurry, Shanum—their energy will keep growing stronger, and if we can't heal Denar soon, his power will be exhausted and he will return to being a spirit who can no longer interact with the real world, or even disappear forever."
Shanum nodded firmly and wiped the tears from her face. She looked at the weak Denar with a heart full of pain but also full of determination. "I will go anywhere and do anything to save him, Grandma. I will never give up."
Grandma nodded proudly and began giving very detailed instructions on how to find the Cave of Eternal Love and what to do inside. She also gave an additional necklace made from old sandalwood roots and a small pouch containing special potions that would help Shanum face dangers along the way.
"While you're gone, I will use all my power to keep Denar stable," Grandma said in a soft but determined voice. "But you only have three days. If you don't return by then, nothing will be able to save him anymore."
Shanum nodded and gently kissed Denar's forehead. "I will be back soon, my love. Don't give up yet. We still have many dreams we need to fulfill together."
That same night, Shanum began her journey into the deep and mysterious forest. Along the way, she felt various types of negative energy trying to block her path—strange shadows appearing from behind trees, whispering voices trying to make her give up, and strong winds trying to make her lose her way.
But every time she felt weak and wanted to give up, she remembered Denar's weak face and the love they shared. She used the necklace her grandma gave her and chanted the taught mantras, making silver light glow brightly and drive away all forms of approaching negative energy.
After walking for several hours, she arrived at a small river whose water sparkled like crystal under the full moon. According to her grandma's instructions, she had to cross the river by walking on the water's surface—this was the first test to prove the purity of her intentions.
Without hesitation, Shanum stepped onto the water's surface. With the help of mantras and the power of love within her, she managed to walk on water without sinking. When she reached the other side, a small path that had not been visible before appeared in front of her, leading deeper into the forest.
But before she could continue her journey, the figure of a beautiful woman in a purple dress appeared in front of her. Her face was beautiful but full of seriousness, and in her hand was a large mirror glowing with golden light.
"You are Shanum Asmara, aren't you?" the woman said in a melodious but powerful voice. "I am the guardian of the entrance to the Cave of Eternal Love. Before you can enter, you must pass the first test—seeing the possible future if you fail to save Denar."
Without further ado, the mirror in her hand began to glow brightly. Shanum saw a vision of herself in the future—living alone, becoming very successful in agriculture but with an always empty heart. She saw Denar return as a spirit, no longer able to interact with the real world and only able to watch her from afar with eyes full of sorrow.
Her heart felt like it would break seeing that sight, but she remained strong and looked firmly at the guardian. "I will not let that future happen. I will do anything to save him, even if it means sacrificing everything."
The guardian smiled softly and nodded in approval. "You have passed the first test well. But the tests to come are far more difficult. Are you ready to face them?"
Shanum took a deep breath and stepped forward with steady steps. "I am his beloved, and I will do anything for our love."
As she stepped into the small path that had appeared, the surrounding trees began to part and form a beautiful corridor with flowers she had never seen before. She knew that the real test had only just begun, and she had to be prepared to face everything that would come to save the one she loved.
Meanwhile, at Grandma's house, Denar's condition continued to worsen. The light in his eyes was almost gone, and his body grew even colder. Grandma and Dewi, along with all community members, worked very hard to keep his body's energy stable. The Shadow Army continued to attack with increasing strength, and the protective circle they had created began to show signs of breaking.
"You must come back soon, Shanum," Grandma whispered, her eyes tearful with worry. "We can't hold on much longer."