Chaos outside the office of the red line slowly subsided. The guards who had just arrived around twenty people with various abilities were cleaning the remnants of the shadow forces. Some use land-based capabilities to repair damage on the road, while others purify air from the remnants of dark energy that lumpy like toxic fog.
Inside, Bimo sat on the floor, leaning on the dented wall. Dr. Maya was checking the burns on her arm, while Wulan handed over a glass of water she had prayed for.
"You're almost killed, Bimo," Wulan said, his voice trembled between worry and angry.
"There is no other choice, mother," Bimo answered, fatigue. "If the giant hit the door, we were all dead."
The main steel door opened, and the new guards began to enter. They all looked at Bimo with respect and curiosity. A middle-aged woman with long hair decorated with live flowers stepping forward.
"You are the fire," he said. That is not a question, but a statement.
"I am Bimo," he replied, trying to stand up. Riani immediately helped her. "And we are grateful for your help. We will not survive without you."
"The call is very clear," said an old man with a stick made of winding roots. "The words and fire woke us from sleep. I am Suryo, from Central Java. I can communicate with stones and metals."
"I'm a goddess," said the woman decorated with flowers earlier. "From Bali. I heard a whisper from flowers and trees. They told me about this battle."
One by one, they introduced themselves. They came from all over Indonesia. Farmers, artists, teachers, fishermen all with ordinary life that hide extraordinary heritage.
"We don't have time to introduce a long introduction," Anton said, still fixed on his console. "My energy scanner began to recover. And what I saw ... not good."
Everyone huddled around the monitor. The map of Indonesia is still filled with red dots, but now they move with different patterns.
"They retreat," Danu said.
"Not backward," Anton said. "They consolidate. Look." He enlarged the map of Java. All small red points move towards three certain locations: a volcano in West Java, an ancient forest in Central Java, and a large temple complex in East Java. "They gathered. Like ... like a bee that returned to the nest."
"They are strengthening the defense at those three points," Karna Karna, the forest guard. "Prepare something."
"Or they are preparing three bigger attacks," Sri added.
Suddenly, all computer screens and monitors in the room turned black for one second. Then, a text message appears, written in a simple blood font.
Welcome, forgotten guards. The real game will start soon. My first three cards have been opened. Can you give him up before they use it? Your time is very limited.
The message disappeared, and all systems returned to normal.
"He ... he spoke directly to us," Riani whispered, shuddering.
"That is 'who planned in the shadows'," Bimo said. "He is no longer hiding. He challenges us directly."
Anton immediately works. "I tracked the source of the message. That ... it came from everywhere and there was no source. As it was emitted directly into our system through other dimensions."
Dr. Maya analyzes her message. "Three cards. That must refer to their three consolidation points."
"Mountains, forests, temples," murmured Bimo. "Each represents different elements." He turned to the guards. "We must divide ourselves. We attack these three points simultaneously before they are ready."
"It's very risky," Wulan said. "Our strength will be divided."
"But if we don't do it, and they launched an attack from the three places, all of Java could be destroyed," Bimo denied. "We must take this risk."
They quickly form three teams.
Mountain Team (Mount Ceremai, West Java): This team will be led by Karna, the forest guard, whose strength over the earth is very suitable for volcanic terrain. He will be assisted by Suryo (communication with stones) and ten other guards who have the ability related to land and fire. Their task: infiltrate the mountain and destroy the enemy operating center.
Forest Team (Sancang Forest, Central Java): This team is led by Sri, the dancer of life, who can manipulate life energy - something that is needed in forests filled with dark energy. He was assisted by Dewi (communication with plants) and ten other guards with healing and illusion abilities. Their task: purifying forests from corruption of dark energy and destroying enemy rituals.
Team Temple (Temple Sukuh, East Java): This team is the most dangerous. Temples are often a place with strong spiritual energy and are easily manipulated for crime. This team was led by Bimo himself. He was assisted by Danu (water controller for purification), Riani (psychic senses to scan traps), and the rest of the other strongest guards. Their task: attack the heart of enemy spiritual surgery.
Wulan, Anton, and Dr. Maya will remain in the red line office, becoming the center of command and coordination for the three teams.
"We are moving now," Bimo ordered. "Use the vehicles brought by the guards. Anton, give us a real-time update through aerpiece."
Without wasting time, the three teams departed, leaving Jakarta who was still on standby.
The journey of Bimo and the temple team to Sukuh Temple was carried out quickly. The car they were traveling in was modified with protective symbols, making them not detected by ordinary eyes.
"I feel the evil energy that is very strong from there," said Riani, closed her eyes. "Like ... like a throbbing black sun. They are preparing something big."
"What's that?" asked Danu.
"I don't know. But it is connected to many destiny lines. Like ... like a portal," Riani answered, trembling.
Arriving around the temple, they realized that the place had been surrounded by a shadow forces. However, they did not attack. They are just in case.
"They are waiting for something," Bimo whispered. "Let's come in."
Using a combination of Danu's ability to make the thick fog and illusion ability from another guard, they managed to sneak through external guard and enter into the main temple complex.
Inside, the scenery they see makes them freeze.
Dozens of people the followers of the Jinn who are still alive stretched out in a circular formation. In the middle of the circle, there is an ancient stone altar. On the altar, it depends on a large black crystal that is loosened with terrible dark energy. From the crystal, black rays radiate over the sky, forming a kind of energy dome.
"That's not a portal," Riani whispered, her voice trembled in fear. "That is ... umbrella. A large -scale energy shield. If they finish it, it will protect all their operations from detection or spiritual attack. They will be able to operate in broad daylight without fear of being detected!"
"We must destroy it," Bimo said. "Right now."
Without thinking, Bimo jumped into the open area, the hand was burning.
"Stop this ritual!" he shouted.
The followers and shadow creatures who keep the ritual surprised, but immediately compile a defense formation.
Fierce battles ensued. Bimo and the guards against followers and shadow creatures. Danu tries to purify the area with a burst of water, but the crystal energy is too strong.
"Bimo, that crystal!" Riani shouted, who was avoiding the scratch of a creature. "I feel the weak point! At the top!"
Bimo nodded. He gathered his strength to jump and destroy the crystal.
But suddenly, a cold and familiar voice echoed in his head.
"Too late, the god of fire."
From behind the altar, a figure appeared. He is a human, wearing a black robe. His face was covered with a mask, but his eyes shined with evil purple light. In his hand, he held a stick with the tip shaped like a scorpion.
"I was the first card of the planner," said the figure, his voice was like the roar of the wind in the cave. *"Gate guard. And this gate will remain open.
He pointed his stick at Bimo. A purple energy rays gushed, not towards Bimo, but towards crystals.
The black crystal shook loudly and then radiated the energy shock wave that hit everyone in the room. The guards were thrown back. Bimo himself fell to his knees, feeling his energy was sucked for a moment.
"What is he doing?" shouted Danu.
Riani, who was holding her sick head, answered with horror, "He did not strengthen the shield ... he activated him earlier! He sacrificed his stability to finish it now!"
The robed figure laughed. "The shield is active! Now, there is no spiritual power that can touch us in these three holy places! We are unbeaten!"
On the sky, the black energy dome from the three locations-mountains, forests, temples-suddenly became dense and visible to the naked eye, like a terrible Aurora. Then, the three domes are connected to each other, forming a giant dark energy triangle above the island of Java.
In the comms, Anton's voice sounded broken, full of interference.
"Bimo ...! Lap ... an! Famen ... Our sensor ... can't ... Pierce it! We are blind! Mountain teams and forest teams ... trapped inside! Communication ... Disconnected!"
Bimo stood up, staring at the cage figure with a burning anger. They have lost in this step.
The gate guard laughed again. "The game has just begun, the guard. Now, you are trapped in a cage with us. Let's see who will survive."
The message from the planner was not just a challenge. That is a trap.
And they have been trapped in it.