Hours ticked by until night finally fell at 8:40 PM WITA. Ever since just past Maghrib, the situation had remained unchanged: the drama practice at the school was still going strong.
Everyone practiced diligently, though a few still tried to sneak in some playtime. Seeing this, Kasih glared fiercely, her eyes widening as a freezing burst of ice erupted around her.
Elsewhere, Shintia and Risky were practicing their scene.
Simulating a proposal, Risky knelt on one knee, leaning forward slightly while holding a ring box in his hand, gazing up at Shintia as she stood before him.
Even during a rehearsal like this, Shintia couldn't help but feel thoroughly annoyed with Risky. She stared at him with a look that radiated pure disgust.
In her mind, Shintia thought...
If only Dea could just leave Suo alone—it's not like Suo's parents aren't already there for her.
Inside a wooden museum, located close to the previous site near the reservoir...
Robert stood before two preserved crocodiles stuffed by local residents, known locally as the Sangatta Crocodile or the Estuarine Crocodile.
On the left was a male black crocodile nicknamed the Sangatta Monster, rumored to have once eaten a 35-year-old woman.
The accompanying information placard read:
ESTUARINE CROCODILE
(Crocodylus porosus)
HABITAT: SWAMP AREAS. RIVER MOUTHS. BRACKISH WATER.
ORIGIN: KENYAMUKAN RIVER, SANGATTA SUBDISTRICT, KUTAI REGENCY, EAST KALIMANTAN
AGE: 70 YEARS OLD
GENDER: MALE
It weighed up to 850 kilograms with a length of 6.8 meters.
Right beside it stood another, slightly brownish female crocodile. Rumor had it that she had once consumed a 40-year-old man.
Robert stood in front of the male estuarine crocodile, opening his palm as a purple light emanated from it.
As the estuarine crocodile absorbed the energy, its fingers and tail began to twitch, little by little, until the creature fully revived from its years of taxidermy.
A hissing sound rose from the crocodile's jaws, signaling an intent to devour Robert—though that effort would get it nowhere.
Without realizing it, the crocodile's body suddenly became locked in place, unable to move freely.
"Old crocodile, don't play games with me... The outside world has changed since the days you remember. I have use for you, so calm down for a moment."
Slowly, mobility returned to its limbs. The estuarine crocodile shifted its form—transforming into a human, taking the shape of an old man fitting its seventy years of age.
"Apa awak endak'i dengan aku ni?"
(What do you want with me?)
The local legend that he was a human who had turned into a crocodile demon turned out to be entirely true.
"So it's real?! I thought it was just local folklore. Turns out you really are a crocodile shapeshifter."
"Awak carang ngan aku pati, makanku awak! Baru tahu rasa."
(Speak quickly, or I'll eat you! Then you'll find out.)
"Ahahaha... I'm curious, is it true that you need human souls to fuel that mystical, terrifying dark magic of yours?"
"Bujur. Aku butuh beneh dengan namanya manusia supaya ilmu hitamku jadi tambah pore kekuatannya, aku ndak beneh."
(True. I desperately need human souls so that my dark magic grows even more powerful. I want them badly.)
"Alright then."
Purple light flashed from Robert's hand again, this time producing several small, sunflower-seed-sized orbs. These were human souls Robert had harvested using his magic.
Robert offered them to the crocodile spirit.
"Take these. These are human souls I've collected. Nowadays, it's no longer dark magic or anything like that from the era of old folks like you. Magic and power are just normal everyday things now—so don't be shocked by this."
"Benehan? Apa maha gasak dunia ni sampek segektunya beneh? Aku hidup dululeh, ndi gala gak awak ni."
(Really? What has the world come to that it's gotten this crazy? Back when I lived, it wasn't anything like this.)
"Believe it or not, just follow my orders, Muara."
"Jelek kali nama."
(That's an ugly-ass name.)
Muara snatched the souls and shoved them straight into his mouth without a second thought. Instantly, a reaction beyond Robert's expectations took place.
Muara's body convulsed violently. He collapsed to the ground, thrashing and rolling around as he failed to endure the excruciating agony caused by consuming too many human souls at once.
Robert smiled faintly as he watched, a faint dark aura bleeding out from Muara's body.
His appearance shifted, growing younger—resembling a man in his early twenties. Muara stood up straight with a grim, serious expression.
"Hahaha...!!!"
Robert felt deeply satisfied and proud to have resurrected the ancient river monster.
"His memories remain, but I will be the one controlling his consciousness and existence."
Robert patted his shoulder, his own form beginning to fade slightly as he altered his status to that of a soul-manifested entity.
In a dark forest in West Kalimantan, filled with the loud, echoing chirps of crickets from nowhere, Robert walked while holding an unusual fishing rod—an expensive-looking setup baited with ten live goldfish.
He finally reached the bank of a massive, sprawling river known as the Kapuas River.
"Is this the right spot?"
Robert cast the goldfish bait into the water and waited. It didn't take long before the rod grew heavily burdened. Slowly, a giant fish known as the Tapah materialized from the depths.
The fish possessed a long, dense, torpedo-like body with smooth, scaleless skin. Its head was large and broad, featuring a massive mouth lined with sharp teeth.
The Tapah also sported a pair of long barbels on its upper jaw, with a purplish hue tinting the top of its head.
Its size rivaled that of a blue whale.
Robert smiled faintly once more, setting his grand plan in motion to claim the mythological beasts and legends passed down through generations in Kalimantan.
10:05 WITA.
The drama class wrapped up their practice. Shintia looked in a rush to leave
immediately, but Risky blocked her path.
"I want to head home fast, get out of my way!"
"Do you want me to walk you home?"
"No, I'll walk myself. Move!"
Shintia shoved past Risky's shoulder and stormed off.
Walking down the sidewalk—still bustling with people hanging out and gathering around local food stalls and street vendors—she drew close to Celis's house. In the distance, right in front of the gate, lay the motionless figure of a young woman around Shintia's age.
"Who's that?"
Without a second thought, Shintia rushed over with a surge of worry, even though she had no idea who the girl was. She gave her shoulder a gentle nudge.
The girl was strikingly beautiful, with classic hime-cut black hair, though her clothes were filthy. Whatever had happened to her had left her completely unconscious.
"Is she passed out?"
Shintia tried to lift her, but she was too heavy. In the end, Shintia had to drag her by the ankles straight into the house, propping her head up with a pillow.
The girl's body shifted slightly—Shintia watched her closely. After a few moments, she began to twitch and even made facial expressions.
Curious and worried, Shintia hoped she would wake up soon...
Only for the girl to let out a loud snore, sleeping sideways with her mouth wide open and drool trickling out.
Shintia's expression shifted from deep shock to utter disbelief. Her worry instantly evaporated and turned into blazing fury.
She screamed at the top of her lungs right into the girl's ear.
"HEYYYYY!!!!! WAKE UUUUUPPP!!!!!!"