My heart pounded in my chest. "Ancient? Like, ghost energy?"
IM chuckled. "Maybe. Or maybe it's just the mountain itself. Some places hold onto the echoes of the past, you know."
I didn't feel any better. The hair on my arms stood on end, and I could swear I heard whispers in the wind.
Hushhhh! a whispering voice slithered into our ears.
That must be a ghost, but were we scared? No. Since IM used to be one of those suddenly appearing creatures, I wasn't even scared of ghosts anymore, especially with my imagination manifestation power.
Imagine... a fire surrounding me, giving us light, I thought.
Instantly, a floating ball of fire appeared, illuminating our path.
The flickering light revealed a narrow path winding deeper into the mountain's embrace. The whispers grew louder, the air thicker with an unseen presence.
IM, seemingly unfazed, stepped forward onto the path, the firelight dancing in his eyes. "Well, let's see what this place has in store for us, shall we?"
I took a deep breath, trying to quell the unease churning in my gut. With a hesitant step, I followed IM into the unknown.
As we ventured deeper, the path grew steeper and more treacherous. The whispers morphed into faint murmurs, snippets of conversations long forgotten. It was as if the mountain itself was trying to communicate with us.
I focused on the firelight, letting it guide our way through the darkness. Every rustle of leaves, every snap of a twig, sent a jolt of adrenaline through me. I couldn't shake the feeling that we were being watched, our every move observed by unseen eyes.
"Do you feel that?" IM asked, his voice barely a whisper.
"Yeah, something's definitely here."
"Oi! Little ghost, come out!" IM chuckled as he yelled.
I just looked at him. Clearly, neither of us was scared. We were, after all, the strongest.
Hushhhh! Another whisper echoed through the air.
Both of us scanned our surroundings, trying to pinpoint the ghost's location.
"Help me...." a soft, pleading voice reached our ears.
"Now that's not human," IM said, a hint of amusement in his voice.
"Yep, I could hear that," I replied, my eyes narrowing.
We looked up and saw, perched on a tree branch, a girl with a gaping hole in her stomach.
"Sundel Bolong?" I tilted my head, recognizing the infamous Indonesian ghost.
IM casually picked up a rock and threw it at the ghost.
"Ahhh!" the ghost shrieked as it tumbled from the tree.
The Sundel Bolong, disoriented from the fall, floated back up, her long black hair swirling around her pale face. "Who dares disturb my rest?" she hissed, her voice raspy and filled with malice.
IM chuckled again, unfazed by her ghostly threats. "We do, little ghost. And we're not afraid of you."
I stepped forward, the firelight illuminating my determined expression. "We came here looking for a challenge, and it seems we've found one."
The Sundel Bolong's hollow eyes narrowed. "Fools! You have no idea what you're dealing with. This mountain is my domain, and I won't let you defile it!"
"What's your story?" IM suddenly asked, his tone shifting to one of curiosity.
The Sundel Bolong paused, taken aback by the unexpected question.
I leaned closer, the firelight flickering in my eyes. "Hey, we seek a challenge. Any bad ghosts around here?"
The Sundel Bolong hesitated, her spectral form flickering in the firelight. "A challenge you seek? Very well. There are those who dwell deeper in these mountains, spirits far more powerful and malevolent than I. They feed on fear, on the despair of lost souls. But beware, young ones, for they are not easily defeated."
A wicked grin spread across IM's face. "Sounds perfect. Lead the way, then."
The Sundel Bolong glided ahead, her movements swift and silent. The path twisted and turned, leading us ever deeper into the heart of the mountain. The air grew heavy, the temperature dropping with every step.
"Why are you humans so bold to come here in the middle of the night..." she asked, looking over her shoulder. "Also, what is that flying fire?"
"Just my power," I replied nonchalantly.
"Power... are you a magician...?" she inquired, her curiosity piqued.
"Sort of," I answered vaguely.
"Are you going to exorcise this mountain?" she asked, her voice laced with apprehension.
"No," I replied firmly.
We continued our descent, the path growing narrower and more treacherous. The air crackled with an oppressive energy, and I could feel a palpable sense of dread clinging to the shadows. The Sundel Bolong led us to a clearing, where a massive banyan tree stood, its gnarled roots twisting into the earth like grasping claws.
"Here," she said, her voice echoing through the clearing. "This is where they dwell. The spirits of anger, despair, and vengeance. Be warned, they are not easily appeased."
With a chilling shriek, she vanished into the darkness, leaving us alone in the eerie clearing. The firelight flickered wildly, casting grotesque shadows on the twisted roots of the banyan tree.
"Well, this is it," IM said, a grin playing on his lips. "Showtime."
I took a deep breath, summoning my courage. "Let's do this."
As we approached the tree, the air grew thick with a palpable sense of menace. A low growl rumbled from the depths of the earth, and the ground trembled beneath our feet.
Suddenly, shadowy figures emerged from the banyan tree, their eyes glowing with malevolent intent. They were twisted and misshapen, their limbs elongated and their faces contorted in grotesque masks of rage.
"Intruders!" one of them hissed, its voice like nails on a chalkboard. "You dare trespass on our sacred ground?"
I steeled myself, the firelight illuminating my defiant stance. "We are not afraid of you."
The spirits let out a chorus of chilling laughter, their voices echoing through the clearing.
"Then prepare to face your doom!"
I squinted my eyes, "What type of ghosts are these...?"
The Sundel Bolong, now observing us with a mix of curiosity and wariness, replied, "These are the tormented souls who succumbed to their darkest emotions. Anger, despair, vengeance... they festered within them until they consumed their very essence."
"They were once human, practitioners of dark magic," the Sundel Bolong explained, her voice echoing through the clearing. "They sought to harness the power of the tiger, but their rituals went awry, corrupting their souls and transforming them into these monstrous beasts."
"I-I should go..." the Sundel Bolong stammered, her voice trembling, before hastily disappearing into the darkness.
IM and I stood our ground, gazing up at the towering creatures. Their bodies were that of tigers, powerful and muscular, yet their faces retained a twisted semblance of humanity. Their eyes glowed with a predatory hunger, their sharp claws glinting in the firelight.
Swoosh! IM suddenly vanished into the ground.
I blinked in surprise, then smirked. "Alright, one by one then..."
I turned my attention back to the menacing tiger ghosts, my eyes narrowing with a challenge.
< Chapter 104 > Fin.