The jungle grew denser with every step, the canopy above locking out most of the daylight. Shafts of golden light pierced through the leaves in narrow beams, painting the damp earth in shifting patterns.
Arian followed closely behind Datuk Hitam, who moved with the ease of someone who had walked these paths his entire life. Each turn seemed random, but Arian sensed a strange rhythm to the old man's steps — like he was following a map only he could see.
"The hunters call it Hutan Tertutup," Datuk Hitam said without looking back. "A place where compasses fail and paths change when no one is watching. But for those chosen by the forest…" His voice lowered. "…the way reveals itself."
Arian's skin prickled. He realized the sounds of the jungle had changed — quieter, as if the creatures were holding their breath. Even the river they followed seemed to flow more softly here.
They stopped at a massive tree whose roots twisted into the earth like the claws of a sleeping beast. Carvings covered its bark — old symbols worn by centuries of rain. Datuk Hitam rested his palm on one of the symbols, and the roots shifted with a groan, revealing a narrow passage leading underground.
"Below lies the Jantung Rimba," the old man said. "The place where your bloodline began… and where you will either master your gift or be devoured by it."
Before Arian could respond, a rustle came from the trees behind them. Shadows moved. The sound of dry leaves crunching under boots drew closer.
"They've tracked us faster than I thought," Datuk Hitam muttered. His eyes, though blind, turned sharply toward the sound. "Inside. Now."
Arian hesitated only a moment before ducking into the dark passage. The air inside was cool and damp, and the walls pulsed faintly with an amber glow, as if the tree itself was alive.
But just as they reached the first bend, a voice echoed from the entrance — deep, mocking."You can't hide him forever, old man."
Arian froze. The voice was familiar — one of the hunters from the night before. But now, it carried something else… a growl beneath the words.
Datuk Hitam gripped his staff tighter. "Go deeper, Arian. The elder waits."
Arian's footsteps echoed softly as he moved deeper into the tunnel. The amber glow grew stronger with each step, lighting the way like a trail of fireflies trapped in the wood. The air smelled of resin and something older — like rain on stone that had not seen the sun in centuries.
Behind him, faint clashes rang out — the sound of Datuk Hitam's staff meeting steel. He wanted to turn back, but the pull in his chest was stronger than his fear.
The tunnel opened into a vast underground chamber. The ceiling arched high above, supported by living roots as thick as pillars. At the center lay a pool of water so still it looked like polished obsidian, reflecting the glow from the walls.
Arian stepped closer — and froze.
From the far side of the pool, something moved. Slowly, silently, a massive shape emerged from the shadows. Golden fur caught the faint light, each stripe shimmering like molten metal. Eyes the color of burning amber fixed on him, and the ground seemed to vibrate with every step it took.
The Macan Emas.
It stopped at the water's edge, its gaze locking with Arian's. No roar, no growl — just a heavy silence, thick with weight.
Then, a voice — not from its mouth, but inside his mind."Blood of my blood… why have you come?"
Arian's knees nearly buckled. "I— I don't know. They're hunting me. Datuk Hitam said—"
"The hunters are nothing. The true danger… is within you."
The tiger circled the pool, its reflection rippling in the dark water."You feel it, don't you? The rage, the hunger. Without balance, it will consume all you love — and the forest itself."
Arian clenched his fists. "Then teach me. Show me how to control it."
The Macan Emas stopped, lowering its head until its eyes were level with his."Control is earned, not given. You will face the Trial of Stripes. If you succeed, you become the forest's guardian. If you fail…"
It bared its fangs, each one glinting like a dagger."…you will be buried here, among the roots."
From above, a loud crash echoed through the chamber — the sound of wood splintering. Datuk Hitam's voice rang out, strained and urgent. "Arian! They're coming through!"
The Macan Emas stepped back into the shadows."Your trial begins now."
The crash above grew louder. Dust and splinters rained from the ceiling as the hunters forced their way in. The faint amber glow of the chamber began to flicker, as if the forest itself was holding its breath.
Arian's eyes darted to the dark tunnel behind him, then back to the Macan Emas. "If I take this trial… will it give me the strength to protect them?"
The great tiger's gaze sharpened, molten eyes narrowing."Strength without restraint is destruction. But if you pass, you will not only protect — you will rule your own blood."
Another boom shook the chamber. A spearhead pierced through the root wall at the entrance, twisting and tearing its way in.
Datuk Hitam stumbled into the chamber, his cloak torn, staff stained with mud and blood. "Arian! Decide now!" he barked.
The Macan Emas stepped back into the shadows, its voice like distant thunder in Arian's mind."Step into the pool, and the forest will judge you."
Arian's chest tightened. He could hear the hunters shouting as they poured into the tunnel, their footsteps echoing closer.
Without another thought, he leapt into the obsidian pool. The cold water swallowed him whole, pulling him down, down, until the world above was only a fading glimmer of light.
The last thing he saw before darkness claimed him was the golden silhouette of the tiger diving in after him.
The icy grip of the water dragged Arian deeper, its silence deafening. He kicked and fought, but the darkness pressed in from all sides, swallowing his breath.
Then — warmth.A pulse of golden light bloomed below him, and the shadows recoiled. Shapes began to form in the glow: towering trees made of fire, rivers of molten gold, and a sky swirling with stars he had never seen before.
Arian felt his chest tighten, not from lack of air, but from the weight of something vast pressing against his mind.
A voice — deep, ancient, and everywhere at once — spoke inside his skull:"Welcome to the Heart, Blood of the Tiger. Your trial begins… now."