The fog slowly parted, revealing a stone path cutting through Arwana Valley.
Brajamusti walked at the front beside Sinta. Behind them, Wira Gantang and Grandpa Paijo followed with serious expressions.
The figure standing at the end of the path still had not moved.
As they drew closer, his face gradually came into view.
An old man in white robes stood there, carrying a long staff.
He stared directly at Paijo.
“It’s been a very long time, Paijo.”
Grandpa Paijo stopped.
“Rangga...”
Brajamusti turned.
“You know him, Grandpa?”
The old man gave a faint smile.
“Everyone who has ever guarded the Dragon Flute knows one another.”
Brajamusti immediately looked at the flute hanging from his waist.
“Then you were its guardian too?”
Rangga nodded.
“But I’m no longer a guardian.”
Sinta stepped forward.
“Why not?”
Rangga looked toward the valley behind him.
“Because my task now is to guard something far more dangerous.”
Suddenly, a rumbling sound echoed from within the valley.
The ground shook.
Brajamusti nearly lost his balance.
Paijo immediately said,
“We have to leave.”
Rangga shook his head.
“There’s no point. They’ve already awakened it.”
“Who?” Brajamusti asked.
Rangga looked at him.
“The Black Dragon.”
Before Brajamusti could ask anything else, several warriors appeared from behind the cliff.
Their leader was the man who had attacked Brajamusti in the forest.
“You’re too late,” he said.
Wira immediately stepped forward.
“So you’re the one who opened the path to the gate?”
The man smiled.
“The Arwana Gate will open tonight.”
Sinta drew her sword.
“You have no idea what’s going to happen.”
“We know.”
The man raised his hand.
The warriors immediately attacked.
The battle grew fierce.
Wira faced the Black Dragon leader, while Sinta helped Brajamusti fight the other warriors.
Paijo and Rangga stood beside a large stone covered in carvings.
Brajamusti saw his flute begin to glow again.
He blew a single note.
A wave of wind swept over the enemies.
But this time, the ground only shook harder.
Rangga shouted,
“Stop!”
Brajamusti stopped blowing.
“What’s happening?”
Rangga stared at the flute, worry written across his face.
“Every time you use its power here, the Arwana Gate opens wider.”
Brajamusti was stunned.
“So I’m actually helping them?”
“Unintentionally.”
A rumbling sound grew louder from within the valley.
Cracks appeared in the ground.
Sinta hurried over to Brajamusti.
“We have to find a way to close it.”
Paijo nodded.
“There is one way.”
Everyone looked at him.
Paijo pointed to a large stone in the middle of the valley.
“Place the Dragon Flute there.”
Brajamusti gripped the flute tightly.
“Then I’ll do it.”
He ran toward the stone.
But after only a few steps, the Black Dragon leader suddenly appeared in front of him.
“Hand over the flute!”
Brajamusti prepared to fight.
Behind them, the crack in the ground widened further.
A horrifying sound rose from the darkness.
Sinta looked down.
Her face went pale.
“Brajamusti...”
“What?”
“There’s something moving down there.”
Brajamusti turned.
From the bottom of the crack, a pair of red eyes slowly opened.