The Skimmer-X sped across the thick purple sea, leaving a trail of white foam that was immediately swallowed by the churning water. Je twisted the throttle hard, feeling the vibration of the ion engine travel from the handlebars through his arms. Behind him, Sinta gripped his waist tightly, while Guntur and Saraswati held onto the safety rails at the back."HOLY CRAP! JE! IS THIS A WATER BIKE OR A NUCLEAR ROCKET?! IT’S TOO FAST, DAMMIT!" Guntur screamed. The high wind made his filthy cheeks flap hilariously, "I feel like a MotoGP racer, but the circuit is fruit-cocktail soup!""Shut up and just hold on, Tur! If you fall, I’m not turning back to get you!" Je barked without looking away. His eyes were fixed on the coastline emerging from behind the red fog."Master, there is movement beneath the water," Saraswati warned. Her transparent body began to glow blue, a sign she was detecting energy anomalies, "Many of them. They are following us!""Sinta, is your radar picking up anything?" J

The darkness inside the Japanese Cave was not pure black. The coral rock walls had been coated in a network of organic fibers glowing a dim purple, pulsing slowly as if following the earth's heartbeat. The air inside was extremely humid, smelling like a mixture of wet moss, rusted iron, and an intoxicatingly sweet aroma—the signature scent of 'Curator' spores."Damn, are we entering a cave or the throat of a giant?" Guntur muttered. He raised his homemade rifle, using a flashlight tied with rubber bands to the end of the barrel. The light swayed, illuminating walls that looked like flayed muscles, "Look at that, Je! The walls move when the light hits them! It creeps me out, dammit!""That’s not an ordinary movement, Guntur. It’s a phototropic reaction from Surya’s collective nerves," Sinta replied. She walked beside Je, her steps calm though her silver eyes continued to scan every corner, "This Silk Road is the main aorta connecting the South and the North. Surya uses this path to sen

The sulfurous heat began to seep through the pores of the now dark-red nerve walls. Je coughed, his chest feeling as if it were being squeezed by invisible concrete. The golden light in his hand flickered, showing that his 'Lust Aura' was struggling against the increasing sulfur density."Damn, that smell... this isn't Merapi anymore, it's dragon farts with acid reflux!" Guntur grumbled, covering his nose with a scrap of his jacket, "Je, can't you paint a fan on this wall to cool things down?!""Shut it, Tur! Just breathe slowly!" Je barked. He turned to Sinta, who was walking with stiff steps, "Sin, oxygen is low. My system says this isn't just sulfur, but a high-dose hallucinogenic gas!"Sinta stopped, her silver eyes blinking wildly, "This is 'Melancholy Spores'. Surya dumps all the negative emotions he harvests

The walls of the 'Kencana-Ascent' vibrated violently as the organic steam carriage ascended the steep slopes of Merapi. Inside the control cabin, the air felt thick and hot, filled with the intoxicating scent of sweat and golden steam. Je was just about to take a long breath after the synchronization ritual with Sinta when suddenly all the lights inside the carriage turned a deep red.BEEP! BEEP![Security Warning!][Intrusion Detected: 'Void-Reaper' Predator Unit Has Entered the Rear Carriage.][Status: Enemy has Skill 'Energy Predation' – Absorbs Aura Energy within a 10-Meter Radius.]"Damn! Can't even get a moment's peace before another uninvited guest shows up!" Je cursed. He quickly pulled up his pants, while Sinta was still panting on the driver's seat, her body still glowing silver."Je... don't break the connection..." Sinta whispered, her voice hoarse, "If you stop now, this train’s engine will die and we’ll slide down into the crater!""Sinta, there’s a monster in the back!

The organic lift opened with a sound like tearing skin. The hot Merapi air immediately hit Je’s face, bringing the smell of sulfur mixed with the densest spore aroma he had ever inhaled—a smell so sweet, so stimulating, that the nerves at the base of his groin throbbed instantly."Damn... this isn't air anymore, it’s a god-level arousal gas!" Je cursed, holding his breath, "Guntur, don't inhale too much!""Too late, Je! My nose already smells like a whole perfume shop!" Guntur stepped out of the lift, wobbling, his face flushed, "Hey, why do I see the rocks here shaped like... man, I can't even say it, Je!"Sinta stepped out, her body still emitting silver steam from their sync in the lift. Her silver eyes glowed wildly, processing the millions of data flowing in the Pasar Bubrah air, "Je, be careful. The spore concentration here reaches 98%. Every breath you take is an invitation to lose your sanity,""I haven't had sanity since I got on the train, Sin," Je replied. He reached for hi