A pair of glowing red eyes stared out from the bottom of the crack in the ground.
Everyone in Arwana Valley suddenly fell silent.
Even the Black Dragon warriors who had dared to fight before began backing away with fear on their faces.
"Impossible..." their leader whispered.
Brajamusti stared at the crack.
"What exactly did they awaken?"
Grandpa Paijo answered in a heavy voice.
"Something that should never have been allowed out."
The ground trembled again.
CRASH!
A massive hand emerged from inside the crack and clutched the surrounding rock.
The Black Dragon warriors panicked.
"Run!"
They scattered, abandoning the area.
Their leader fled with them.
Brajamusti wanted to chase after him, but Sinta held him back.
"Don't! We have to deal with that creature."
A huge body slowly emerged from inside the crack.
It had the shape of a human, but was far larger. Its body was cloaked in black shadows, and its eyes radiated a red glow.
The creature let out a growl that made the entire valley tremble.
Wira Gantang gripped his staff.
"For decades, I've guarded this thing to keep it locked away."
Rangga nodded.
"And now the seal is almost broken."
Brajamusti held the Dragon Flute.
"How do we stop it?"
Grandpa Paijo pointed to a large stone in the middle of the valley.
"Place the flute there!"
Brajamusti ran.
The creature immediately swung its arm.
Sinta leaped up and slashed at it.
Her attack only forced the creature back a little.
"Wira!" Sinta shouted.
Wira rushed to help.
He struck the ground with his staff, sending out a wave of energy that restrained the creature.
"Brajamusti! Now!"
Brajamusti reached the large stone.
He placed the Dragon Flute on top of the dragon carving.
In an instant, brilliant light filled the valley.
The creature let out a deafening roar.
The crack in the ground began to close.
But before the gate could close completely, the creature reached out toward Brajamusti.
Sinta ran over and pulled Brajamusti away.
The light grew brighter.
CRAAASH!
The Arwana Gate finally closed.
The creature vanished along with the darkness beneath the ground.
Silence returned to the valley.
Brajamusti let out a sigh of relief.
But when he picked up his flute, something had changed.
The dragon carving on its surface now had one additional line.
Grandpa Paijo stared at it seriously.
"That's a sign that the power of your flute has increased."
Brajamusti looked at the flute.
"Does this mean the problem is over?"
Grandpa Paijo shook his head.
"Not yet."
"Why not?"
"Because the person who opened the gate managed to escape."
Brajamusti immediately thought of the Black Dragon leader.
Sinta looked toward the road leading out of the valley.
"Then we still have to chase him down."
Wira nodded.
"And now he knows that you're the owner of the Dragon Flute."
Brajamusti drew a deep breath.
Then he looked at Sinta.
"Do you still want to come with me?"
Sinta smiled.
"I've come too far to turn back."
Brajamusti smiled as well.
Together, they left Arwana Valley.
However, from atop the cliff, someone secretly watched them depart.
Their hand gripped a black dragon emblem.
"Go on, Brajamusti..."
The voice sounded cold.
"We'll meet again."