Episode 1: Portal In Lenggong

Morning fog covered the narrow road toward Lenggong like an endless white ocean. Light rain tapped softly against the car window with a rhythm that should have been calming, yet somehow made the weight inside Uta’s chest feel heavier.

Uta held the steering wheel with one hand while rubbing the bridge of his nose with the other.

Tired.

The journey from Kuala Lumpur to Lenggong had been much longer than he expected. Worse still, his map application had completely lost signal nearly an hour ago.

“Great…” he sighed quietly. “First day of work and I’m already lost.”

He reached for the brown file resting on the passenger seat.

SEKOLAH MENENGAH KEBANGGAAN DATO AHMAD

The school name was printed clearly on the placement letter.

Uta smiled faintly.

Chemistry teacher.

That was his career now.

After years of studying, sleepless nights in laboratories, and endless struggles to secure placement, he had finally become a teacher.

Yet somehow…

The closer he got to Lenggong, the stranger the feeling in his chest became.

The car radio emitted nothing but static.

KRRRRRRRT—

Uta glanced outside the window.

Massive limestone hills stood silently on both sides of the road like ancient giants sleeping beneath the fog. Even the forest felt unnaturally quiet, as though not a single bird lived there.

A bad feeling crept into him.

He slowed the car.

“This road looked different earlier…”

The fog thickened.

Streetlights flickered strangely.

And then Uta noticed an old wooden signboard at the roadside.

WELCOME TO LENGGONG

Uta released a small sigh of relief.

“Finally—”

But his words stopped.

The letters on the sign slowly changed before his eyes.

The words melted like black liquid.

WELCOME TO… LUMINARA

“…What?”

His heartbeat quickened.

Before he could react—

BOOOOOOOOMMMM!!!

The sky ahead split apart.

A massive ring of golden light opened directly in the middle of the road.

Uta’s eyes widened.

“What IS that?!”

The car shook violently.

The steering wheel moved on its own.

An overwhelming force dragged the vehicle forward.

“No! NO—!”

Golden light swallowed everything.

And the world turned white.

Silence.

Then—

Wind.

Uta awoke coughing violently.

“Ukh—!”

He slowly pushed himself upward.

Grass.

Glowing grass.

His eyes widened.

The sky above him was no longer normal.

It was deep violet-blue, with three moons hanging overhead.

Massive trees surrounding him emitted soft light like living crystals.

The wind carried gentle bell-like sounds that strangely calmed the soul.

Uta slowly stood.

His face is pale.

“I…”

He turned around slowly.

“…where am I?”

His car was gone.

The road had vanished too.

Only a glowing field and a mysterious living forest remained.

WHOOSHHH!

A shadow flashed behind him.

Uta spun around instantly.

And froze.

A girl descended slowly from the air while a spiraling wind surrounded her body. Her long hair moved gracefully as though the wind itself protected her.

Her white-green clothing fluttered softly.

She stared at Uta with surprise.

“A human?”

Uta blinked rapidly.

“Okay… I must be dreaming.”

The girl stepped closer.

“I am Melur Bayu.”

Her voice was soft yet clear.

“Who are you?”

Uta swallowed nervously.

“Uta…”

He pointed weakly at himself.

“…a chemistry teacher.”

Melur Bayu frowned.

“Chemistry… teacher?”

Uta forced a nervous laugh.

“Trust me… I don’t understand what’s happening either.”

Melur Bayu examined his modern formal clothing carefully.

“You are not from any kingdom in Luminara.”

“Well obviously because I’m from Malay—”

SCREEEEEEEEECH!!!

A horrifying scream echoed from the forest.

The ground trembled violently.

Glowing birds burst from the trees in terror.

Melur Bayu’s expression changed instantly.

“That’s impossible…”

The trees behind them slowly turned black.

Roots spread across the ground like living veins.

Dark mist crawled through the forest.

The air grew heavy.

And something moved within the darkness.

Something massive.

BOOM!

A gigantic wooden leg slammed into the earth.

Then the creature fully emerged.

Its body was made of twisted roots and ancient wood. Its eyes glowed with dark purple hatred.

Rimba.

But its entire body had been corrupted by black Void energy.

The creature roared.

ROOOOOOAAARRRRRR!!!

Uta stumbled backward.

“What IS that?!”

Melur Bayu clenched her fists tightly.

“Void corruption…”

“Void?”

“Darkness that devours worlds.”

Rimba slammed the ground again.

Sharp roots burst toward them.

“RUN!”

Melur Bayu grabbed Uta’s hand.

They sprinted across the glowing field while black roots chased them like living serpents.

BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!

Uta nearly tripped.

“This is INSANE!”

Melur Bayu flew low while pulling him forward.

“Welcome to Alam Luminara!”

“What do you mean ALAM LUMINARA?!”

PRRRAAAKKKK!!!

A massive root crashed before them.

The ground split apart.

Uta fell backward.

Rimba raised one arm.

Dark mist gathered into a gigantic spear.

Melur Bayu immediately raised her hand.

A powerful wind spiraled toward the creature.

WHOOSHHHH!

But the Void spear shattered the wind attack effortlessly.

Melur Bayu was thrown backward.

“ARGH!”

Her body hit the ground hard.

“Melur!”

Uta panicked.

Rimba lifted the dark spear high above its head.

The tip aimed directly at Melur Bayu.

No.

For some reason…

Uta’s chest hurts seeing her in danger.

His body began heating up.

Golden patterns slowly appeared across his arms.

His eyes glowed brightly.

A soft voice echoed inside his mind.

Awaken…

BOOOOOOOOMMMMM!!!

Light exploded from Uta’s body.

The Void roots shattered instantly.

Golden energy swept across the entire field.

Rimba screamed in agony.

Melur Bayu stared at Uta in shock.

“Solar power…”

Even Uta himself was breathless.

“What… did I just do?”

The light around his arms formed a glowing energy shield instinctively.

Rimba roared angrily and attacked again.

But this time—

Uta did not run.

He blocked the creature’s strike with his shield.

BOOOOOOM!

The ground cracked beneath his feet.

But he remained standing.

His heart pounded violently.

The fear still existed.

But something inside him was beginning to change.

Slowly, Uta raised one hand toward Rimba.

A golden light gathered in his palm.

Brighter.

Hotter.

Then—

SOLAR BURST.

CAAAAAARRRRSHHHHHH!!!

The explosion of light blasted Rimba deep into the forest.

The dark mist slowly disappeared.

Silence remained.

Only Uta’s breathing could be heard.

He stared at his glowing hands.

“I’m…”

his voice trembled softly.

“…just a normal human.”

Melur Bayu slowly stood while staring at him with fear and hope mixed together.

“No…”

She slowly shook her head.

“You are not ordinary, Uta.”

And somewhere far away…

Within endless darkness…

A pair of purple eyes slowly opened.

Noctra had awakened.

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