The deep and terrifying whirlpool of water began to spin with unimaginable force. In the midst of the usually calm forest, nature seemed to rebel, sending all the elemental power into one horrifying focal point. The wind spun so violently, carrying large stones and tree branches that were tossed about with tremendous force. Even those standing at a distance could feel the strength of the whirlpool—the scattered Elvian forces were a clear testament to the magnitude of the force unfolding.
Dimas stood there, caught in the chaos that was sweeping over him. The wind came so strong that it seemed intent on tearing everything in its path asunder. His whole body was swept away by the fierce gusts, and the swirling dust obscured his vision. Even the large rocks, once stable, seemed weightless, lifted into the air and floating above him. Everyone, including himself, could do nothing but cling to whatever they could grasp.
"Hold on to something, Dimas!" Indra's voice rang out, nearly drowned by the roaring wind. Dimas heard him, and with agility, he grabbed hold of a nearby tree trunk. His gaze remained fixed on the water whirlpool, which now seemed to be swallowing everything in its path. Not far from him, Elvian soldiers were struck one by one, thrust backward by the merciless power of the wind.
Several moments passed in tense silence. Then, the air suddenly felt strange. The scorching heat changed in an instant, as though the seasons had shifted in the blink of an eye. A chill seeped into Dimas's skin, as though he had ascended to the summit of a snowy mountain. Ice crystals began to form, covering the trees, the giant roots crawling beneath the earth, and even the very ground itself. Dimas could feel it—the entire world transforming into a frozen realm in the span of mere seconds. Even the once warm soil now felt slick and hard, as though it threatened to trap anyone who dared to step further.
With quick reflexes, Dimas leaped to a low-hanging tree branch nearby. His feet were nearly frozen, and he knew that if he didn't act swiftly, his body would be trapped in the bitter cold ice. His body still trembled from the immense power, and although he tried to remain calm, thoughts of Anggi began to creep into his mind.
Dimas knew that there was only one cause behind all of this—Anggi. That girl, who had always been so close to him, was now within the reach of a power that could erase everything. In his growing anxiety, Dimas turned his gaze toward the whirlpool of water, now freezing over, as though each breath he took carried the growing shadows of his concern. Anggi, whose extraordinary power he knew well, could not be left alone in such a state.
"Indra," Dimas's voice rasped, filled with the tension surrounding them. "This... this must be Anggi's power. I have to go to her. I... I'm afraid something terrible will happen to her if I don't find her now."
Indra, standing close by, looked at him sharply, the firmness in Dimas's words striking like lightning in the stillness of a moment. "Dimas, don't!" shouted Indra, but his voice was lost in the shrieking wind. "We must hold our ground here, it's too dangerous!"
But Dimas didn't care. His eyes were filled with an unwavering resolve. "Indra, I can't wait. I have to find Anggi, no matter what happens!" His voice trembled, yet it was full of a certainty that could not be swayed.
Indra fell silent, as if contemplating every word Dimas had spoken. He understood deeply the bond between Dimas and Anggi, and how heavy the worry now weighing on his friend's heart. After what felt like an eternity in those few seconds, Indra nodded.
"Alright," said Indra, his voice serious. "Then I'll go with you. We must move carefully, Dimas!"
Together, they began to move, their steps heavy and difficult. The closer they came to the heart of the whirlpool, the colder the air became. The closer they got, the more evident and terrifying the changes around them became. Ice crystals multiplied, coating the fragile trees and the hard earth, creating a world that seemed lifeless—frozen and still.
The once wild whirlpool of water was now frozen, trapped in time. The world seemed to stop breathing, with only the wind swirling and ice crystals gleaming. Dimas felt the air closing in, almost unable to breathe in such a bitter chill. Every step they took seemed to pull them deeper into this frozen world, yet their resolve remained unbroken—they had to find Anggi before it was too late.
The atmosphere around them shifted suddenly. In the midst of the frozen forest, filled with tension, a terrifying sound suddenly shattered the silence, slicing through the stillness that had enveloped the place. Like an ice statue struck by a giant hammer, the sound echoed, shaking the air that had been trapped in silence.
Dimas and Indra exchanged glances, their eyes filled with questions. What had just happened? Something large, something unexpected. Though the wind's rage weakened, the piercing cold that cut through their skin did not relent. The world around them remained frozen, as though halted in a moment of time that defied understanding.
"What was that sound?" asked Indra, his voice heavy, almost muffled by the dying wind.
Dimas merely shook his head, his mind focused on one thing—Anggi. The deeper they walked toward the center of the freezing water whirlpool, the stranger the world felt. It was as if nature itself was fighting against them, but there was something more important than all of this. Anggi—she had to be found. The girl, whose power had always been extraordinary, now felt fragile and lost.
"Let's hurry!" Dimas cried, rushing ahead.
Without another word, they quickened their pace. Every step they left behind felt heavy, as if the earth beneath them demanded more effort. Finally, after a few more steps, they reached a clearing surrounded by ice, and there, in that place, something awaited.
There, in the frozen forest, they found Anggi's unconscious body, her form almost sinking into a pool of dark blood that belonged to Strigifavorus. The blood stood in stark contrast to the frozen ground surrounding it, creating a horrifying scene. A chilling silence enveloped the place, with only the sound of Dimas's labored breath and the rustling snow covering the forest.
Indra gaped, his eyes wide as he looked at the corpse of Strigifavorus—the giant owl monster that had once threatened them. The beast's body was now shattered, torn into fragments of ice like debris scattered about. Each part of its body, once unimaginable to be destroyed, now lay strewn around them—cut, bloodied, and frozen in lethal ice. Indra, still shocked by the destruction, could only stand frozen for a moment, realizing the sheer force that Anggi had unleashed.
Dimas had no time to reflect. His gaze was already fixed on Anggi's body, lying upon the frozen earth. Without a second thought, he ran toward her, his steps hurried, as though each passing second were a wager of life and death. Anggi's body lay limp, motionless, and the blood flowing from Strigifavorus seemed to worsen the situation. Dimas's heart tightened, each breath heavier with the growing fear.
Dimas stopped beside Anggi, his eyes staring at her pale face. He lifted her upper body, pulling her into his arms. In a panic, he shook her, calling her name and slapping her cheeks.
"Anggi! Anggi! Wake up!" Dimas's voice cracked with rising anxiety. There was no answer, only the silence that pressed down harder.
Indra approached, standing behind Dimas, his gaze full of concern. He knew Dimas wouldn't find peace unless the girl woke up. Soon, Dimas, frantic, checked Anggi's pulse. His hands trembled as he felt her neck, almost unwilling to believe the reality before him. The pulse was faint, but still there—barely enough life left to feel.
"Thank goodness... she's still alive," Dimas whispered, almost not believing his own words. His heart ached, yet there was a glimmer of hope still burning within him. "But so weak... Anggi, please... don't die!"
Dimas looked at Anggi's face with wet eyes, his hands holding her body tightly. He felt like the most useless person in the world. After all, he had promised to protect her, to ensure nothing bad ever happened to her again. Now, he realized, those words were just empty promises. He still couldn't do anything for the girl he loved so deeply.
"Right! Shella! She might be able to help you. I'll take you to her right now," Dimas said, relieved after finding a glimmer of hope.
Dimas looked at Anggi's limp body in his arms, her eyes closed with deep pain, his heart pounding as he hurried to bring her to Shella, far from the battlefield. With quick steps, he tried to distance himself from this frozen forest, seeking a safer place. On the other side, Indra walked beside him, still alert, though he knew their steps were limited.
But soon after they began moving, a sharp, whizzing sound sliced through the air. A swift arrow struck the ground just before Dimas's feet, shaking the earth with a loud clang. Dimas froze for a moment, staring at the arrow in shock. He knew this was a warning—and more than that, a threat from the Elvian forces who were still trying to stop them.
"Don't move!" a firm voice rang out from the front, causing Dimas and Indra to turn quickly. A member of the Elvian cavalry, adorned in magnificent armor, stood before them, flanked by dozens of soldiers, ready for battle. They stood tall, weapons in hand, radiating an aura of menace.
Indra, seeing their numbers, didn't hesitate to draw his sword. The blade gleamed under the dim light. Though he knew he was outnumbered, Indra's knightly spirit demanded he not bow to anyone. He fixed his gaze on the Elvian soldiers with unwavering determination, ready to fight if needed, even though he knew that to face them meant confronting the entire Elvian army in the forest.
"Hold, Indra! Don't strike until we are attacked!" Dimas whispered, his eyes still focused on the Elvian forces that were closing in on them.
"Don't be arrogant! I know that was just a warning. Between a knight and a street thief, who do you think has more battlefield experience?" Indra shot back with a mocking tone, though he kept his guard up to avoid seeming weak. Both knew that in this situation, power alone was not enough. They needed to find a way to avoid further conflict.
"What are humans doing in Elvian's sacred forest?"
The Elvian cavalry leader shouted again in Elvian, his command firm, causing the air to grow even more tense. Dimas and Indra exchanged confused glances, unable to understand a word of the leader's speech. The loud command echoed around them, but it only sounded like a string of foreign words they could not comprehend.
The cavalry leader asked again, louder this time, his sharp gaze fixed on them, trying to discern their purpose for being in Elvian's territory.
"I ask again, what is your purpose here?" he yelled in a higher pitch, and Dimas felt an underlying threat in the question.
Still, Dimas and Indra could not understand the language. They looked at each other, confusion clouding their hearts as they wondered what would happen next. The tension mounted as the Elvian forces surrounded them from all sides.
However, as the Elvian soldiers closed in and saw the shattered remains of Strigifavorus around them, their expressions changed. They froze, their eyes wide for a moment, as though they could not believe the scene before them. They knew only one person could have done this—Anggi.
Some of the Elvian soldiers began to erupt in euphoria, cheering loudly, forgetting the tense atmosphere from moments before.
"Wow, look at that! She really killed Strigifavorus!"
"Impressive! She has the Esze power equal to that of the elders!"
"She's amazing! She fought until the end, bleeding like that."
"Truly a legend... the Blood Hunter. I think that name suits her."
"But wasn't she the one who awakened the monster?"
"But she redeemed it by killing it, right?"
Suddenly, a burst of praise rang out among the Elvian forces. Dimas, not understanding their words, sensed they were praising Anggi. He felt a slight relief—at least her name wasn't being vilified, even though their situation was dire.
But in the midst of this euphoria, the Elvian cavalry leader's voice rang out again, louder and full of fury. "Silence!" he shouted, ordering his troops to shut their mouths and cease all cheering. In an instant, the entire army fell silent, and the only sound left was the cold wind sweeping through the frozen forest.
After the tense silence, the Elvian cavalry leader's gaze fixed sharply on Dimas and Indra.
"Capture them," he ordered coldly, his voice filled with power, signaling that the decision was final. The Elvian soldiers hesitated but began to move toward Dimas and Indra, who could no longer resist their numbers.
"Stop!"
Before the soldiers could move any closer, a strong, authoritative voice rang out, halting everything. A figure emerged, tall and noble, wearing silver armor emblazoned with the Elvian royal insignia. Prince Keylan, who appeared to be an unapproachable figure, stood calmly at the heart of the battlefield that had come to a standstill. His face was full of determination, but there was a softness beneath it.
"Let them go!" commanded Prince Keylan, his voice firm, his eyes full of intent as he looked at Dimas and Indra. "They are not enemies. Let them leave."
For a moment, there was doubt among the Elvian forces. Some soldiers seemed to want to defy him, but Prince Keylan was the highest-ranking military officer. With undeniable authority, he stared them down, making them retreat, although a few remained visibly discontent.
Prince Keylan repeated his command, this time more forcefully. "You hear my order! Let them go!"
Reluctantly, the Elvian soldiers, who had surrounded Dimas and Indra, pulled back, giving them room to depart. Dimas and Indra exchanged glances, emotions swirling between relief and unease. They knew this was their chance to leave, though the world around them was still full of uncertainty.
Dimas looked at Prince Keylan with deep gratitude, though he said nothing. The two men exchanged a brief look. Though they did not understand each other's words, their gazes spoke volumes. Keylan knew Dimas was thankful, and in turn, Dimas understood that Prince Keylan wanted him to save Anggi's life immediately. With that, Dimas quickly lifted Anggi and stepped away, leaving the now quiet battlefield behind.