Chapter 4: Ascendant

The once-blue sky slowly turned into a crimson dusk, accompanied by the sun sinking in the west. A gentle breeze blew softly, brushing against everything in its path.

Bayu and Syafina walked toward the setting sun.

A tightness still weighed on his chest, choking him. As if refusing to let him breathe freely, guilt continuously haunted him like a second skin.

Bayu looked ahead, observing how the world changed in an instant—collapsed buildings, blood-stained streets, and lifeless bodies scattered everywhere.

"Bayu."

Hearing his name called, Bayu instinctively turned. He looked at Syafina as if asking why she had called him.

Syafina didn't answer immediately. Instead, she turned toward a ruined shop. "... Over there, I feel like there's something. Can we check it out first?"

Bayu frowned, then looked in the direction Syafina indicated. After a moment, he nodded. "Alright, but we have to be quick."

"Got it."

Bayu slowly approached the shop's ruins, observing how every corner seemed to have been destroyed by something massive. Shattered glass was scattered everywhere.

His eyes narrowed when he saw a faint glimmer of light behind one of the debris piles. He and Syafina exchanged glances before he cautiously moved closer.

Using the sword in his hand, Bayu pushed aside the rubble blocking the light. As the hidden glow became visible, he finally saw something.

A small turtle was hiding inside its shell. Nearby, a shard of glass from a shattered aquarium lay on the ground. Bayu tapped the turtle's shell lightly, checking whether the tiny creature was still alive.

Slowly, the turtle emerged from its shell, revealing itself. It looked healthy and… cute. Bayu smiled faintly, reaching out his hand and letting the little turtle crawl onto his palm.

"What is that, Bayu?" Syafina, now standing behind him, asked. "... A turtle?"

"Yeah," Bayu replied briefly. He lifted the turtle and stood up, watching as it curiously observed its surroundings. "It was probably the shop owner's pet."

"Adorable," Syafina remarked, gently stroking the tiny turtle's head. It was so small that it barely covered the width of a palm. "Can we take it with us?"

"Rather than letting it die, yeah, we might as well take it." Bayu carefully slipped the turtle into his pocket. Strangely, it fit perfectly.

"What are you going to name it?"

"Hmm… I'll think about it later." Bayu then glanced around, realizing that night was approaching. "We need to find a place to rest first."

"You're right. Should we keep heading west?"

"You sure?"

"Are you underestimating me?" Syafina crossed her arms, seeming displeased by Bayu's question.

"No, if you're feeling too tired, we can rest now and continue tomorrow."

"Oh, so that's what you meant. Sorry, I misunderstood." Syafina sighed, feeling slightly guilty.

"It's fine. Let's keep moving." Bayu glanced at the turtle nestled in his uniform pocket. A small smile formed on his lips before he turned and resumed walking west.

The crimson dusk had now given way to the dark night sky. Clouds had vanished, revealing a vast expanse of twinkling stars. The moon shone beautifully tonight, a stark contrast to the state of the land below.

The sound of crackling fire filled the air, its smoke drifting upward. Warmth spread through its presence, but it also served as a warning—get too close, and you'll burn.

Bayu stared at the night sky, while in his hands, the little turtle rested comfortably.

"Hey," Bayu looked at Syafina, who was also gazing at the sky. Hearing Bayu's voice, Syafina turned toward him.

"Don't you... miss your family?" Bayu asked hesitantly. He didn't know what kind of family Syafina had, but usually, people would miss them.

Syafina remained silent, not answering right away. Her gaze shifted to the burning fire.

"..No."

"..I see." Bayu didn't ask for a reason, understanding that Syafina was uncomfortable with the topic.

'Could there be problems in her family?' Bayu wondered but didn't dwell on it.

"Where did you get that lighter?"

"I always carry it with me."

"For what?"

"..A small threat for those who try to touch me." Syafina observed the small lighter in her hands.

Bayu knew exactly what Syafina meant by "touching." It wasn't in a positive way.

He chose not to respond, instead focusing on the tiny turtle in his hands.

'Honestly, I wonder how this little guy survived.'

[ Bayu ]

Bayu flinched and looked around again. That voice was back, like the wind whispering in his ears.

[ East, Bayu! ]

He frowned and turned to the direction the voice mentioned.

From the darkness, a terrifying silhouette emerged, its form inhuman.

"Syafina," Bayu quickly tucked the turtle back into his uniform pocket, grabbed the sword he had set on the ground, and stood up, eyes still fixed in that direction.

Syafina was confused at first by Bayu's reaction, but she reached for her bow and stood up as well. She followed his gaze, and when she saw the eerie silhouette in the darkness, her eyes widened.

"I hope you still have some energy left, Syafina," Bayu said, because honestly, his body was still weak. He gritted his teeth, trying to endure the unbearable pain in his head.

The reason they had rested earlier was because he could barely take another step. His body was completely drained, and the pain in his head was overwhelming.

Bayu and Syafina turned and ran west.

Their steps were hurried, breaths uneven. They hadn't fully recovered yet.

They almost forgot—this world was no longer the same.

They ran deeper into the darkness, leaving behind the warm glow of the fire. They had no clear destination, only that they needed to go west.

'I still don't understand why the voice told me to go west,' Bayu thought, ignoring the cramps in his legs.

[ Bayu ]

"What?!" Bayu snapped in frustration. The voice kept whispering incomprehensible things.

Then, something surreal happened.

A transparent screen appeared before him, glowing with a bluish light. Bright white text hovered in the center, forming words that almost felt tangible.

Bayu stumbled back, eyes wide as the holographic screen materialized out of nowhere. His breath hitched, and he quickly wiped the cold sweat from his forehead.

"What... is that?" His voice broke, disbelief evident in his tone.

As soon as the transparent screen appeared, Syafina froze. Her hand lifted as if to swat it away, but the screen remained, floating in front of her.

"What the hell is this?!" Syafina took a step back, unable to take her eyes off the glowing screen.

Bayu stared at the urgent-looking screen, his mind momentarily blank.

This was not normal.

He cautiously reached out but quickly pulled his hand back.

"Is this... real?" he muttered hoarsely.

"Bayu! Run!"

Bayu snapped back to reality. He had been so shocked that he forgot they were still escaping the monstrous figure.

Strange noises filled the air.

These weren't just any sounds—they were whispers of terror, crawling into their ears, swirling in their minds, gnawing at their sanity with each passing second.

Bayu and Syafina ducked behind a ruined building, staying still to avoid detection.

A heavy dragging sound echoed, accompanied by a sickeningly familiar stench that grew stronger every second.

Bayu shut his eyes, silently praying to the Almighty for safety.

After what felt like an eternity, the noises faded, replaced by the eerie silence of the night.

Finally, Bayu let out a sigh of relief.

His attention returned to the glowing blue screen, still hovering in front of him, clear and vivid.

Cautiously, he reached out and touched the blurred text.

A strange sensation spread through his fingertips.

[ Hello, Bayu ]

As the text appeared, the same words echoed in his ears.

'Is this screen... talking to me?' Bayu wondered. He glanced at Syafina, who was also trying to interact with her own screen.

'Alright… should I just say hello back?'

After hesitating, Bayu finally spoke.

"..Hello?"

[I—]

The screen suddenly flickered violently, its text distorting as if suffering from a severe glitch.

Bayu flinched, eyes widening in disbelief.

Then, in the blink of an eye, the screen vanished into thin air, leaving no trace behind.

He stood frozen, mind still reeling from what had just happened.

A moment later, the blue screen reappeared, looking perfectly normal as if nothing had happened.

[ Sorry ]

That was what it said.

'Did… this screen just apologize?' Bayu was baffled. Could a screen even feel sorry?

[ Hello, Bayu. Congratulations, you have been chosen as a candidate for 'Ascendant.' You just need time to evolve into a true 'Ascendant.' ]

"..Ascendant?"

Dozens of questions flooded Bayu's mind.

What was an Ascendant?

Why did they exist?

Why was he chosen?

And why him, of all people?

"Bayu," Syafina called, making him turn to her.

"You… got a message about 'Ascendant' too?" she asked, showing him her own screen.

"Yeah, I did."

"What do you think it means? This is all so strange. First, the sudden appearance of those creatures, and now this 'Ascendant' thing?"

Bayu remained silent, processing Syafina's words.

She was right.

This was all too bizarre.

Bayu had been so focused on survival that he hadn't stopped to consider that none of this could be mere coincidence. There had to be a reason behind this destruction.

And were they really the only survivors? It was impossible that out of everyone in the world, only he and Syafina remained.

One proof of that was the man who had saved him earlier.

The urge to uncover that man's identity and intentions burned strongly within Bayu.

For some reason, he felt strangely familiar.

"Yu."

Bayu turned to Syafina and noticed something different about her.

Her eyes held a sense of relief.

Before all this chaos, Bayu had always sensed something hidden in Syafina's gaze—something heavy, like an internal pressure she carried.

But now, she seemed… lighter.

'Maybe she's relieved because she's no longer under pressure,' he thought. 'But the pressure of survival is still here.'

Deciding not to stay idle, Bayu stood up.

He glanced at the turtle still tucked inside his uniform pocket, then pulled out the small lighter Syafina had given him and picked up a piece of wood.

He flicked the lighter, igniting the tip of the stick. The fire flickered, slowly burning from the edges.

"Let's go. This place isn't safe to rest."