The next morning, Arka was jolted awake. Cold sweat drenched his body, and the alarm on his phone showed 7 AM. He tried to remember the nightmare he had just experienced, but the details were hazy, leaving only a strong sense of unease.
After calming himself down, Arka began to tidy up the items that had fallen during last night's earthquake. He found it strange; the earthquake was quite strong, yet he hadn't woken up at all. While pondering, he rushed to the bathroom to get ready for a day that, he thought, would be the same as the days before.
After showering, Arka sat in front of the television while having breakfast. The screen was filled with news about last night's events: a new dimensional rift, the emergence of a very strong monster, and the many Hunters who fell in battle. The main highlight was the epic battle between the Leader of the Sumatran Tiger Organization, Bara Wirawan, and the Leader of the White Iron Organization, Kinar Puspita. Arka watched seriously, seeing the immense destructive impact of the fight between the two S-level Hunters.
"So, this is what their power is like," Arka muttered, his eyes glued to the screen. "The damage they can cause is this huge."
The news then shifted to display a list of the Hunters who were killed and injured. Arka glanced at the names until his eyes stopped at one he knew very well: Rangga, listed among the injured Hunters.
Arka's heart pounded. He immediately grabbed his phone and tried to call Rangga, but there was no answer. His worry peaked; Arka could no longer continue his breakfast. Without wasting any time, he rushed out of the house and ordered an online taxi to the special Hunter's hospital, which was not far from the Hunter's Central Agency building. He had to see Rangga's condition with his own eyes.
Upon arriving at the hospital, Arka ran in a panic, looking for Rangga's room. His steps stopped in front of a glass door. Through the glass, he saw Rangga lying helpless on the bed, tubes attached to his body, and his face pale. Rangga was in a coma. Arka was silent, clenching his fists and gritting his teeth, remembering that Rangga was his only good friend in high school, a friend who was always by his side. However, next to Rangga's bed, he saw a pair of parents sitting with sad faces. Arka felt a little relieved; at least Rangga still had a loving family. A feeling he hadn't felt in a long time. Arka's parents were killed in the same dimensional rift incident, leaving Arka alone since he was a child.
Arka decided not to go in, not wanting to disturb Rangga's grieving parents. He turned around, walking out with slow steps. The sight along the hospital corridor made him even sicker. Many other Hunters were lying there with severe injuries. Arka's hatred for the current world, where humans were forced to survive in the shadow of the horror of monsters from another realm, became more deeply rooted.
Arka walked out of the hospital, lost in thought along the crowded street. The deafening sound of car horns snapped him out of his daze. He walked without a destination until his eyes stopped at a newly opened coffee shop. On its front window, a small poster read, "Part-time help wanted." With no other choice and driven by the need to survive, Arka made a decision. He would apply to work there.
Perhaps, this was a new beginning for him. Or perhaps, it was just a way to endure the old wounds that continued to gnaw at him.
°°°
The next morning, Arka got ready with mixed feelings. It was his first day back at work after a long time, even if it was just as a part-time worker at a coffee shop. He put on his new uniform and left, hoping this job could give him a little stability in his life full of uncertainty.
At the same time, in the main meeting room of the Hunter's Central Agency building, a tense atmosphere hung in the air. All the representatives from the six largest hunter organizations in Indonesia were gathered. The door opened, and Chairman Harsa Baskara entered the room with his secretary, taking his place in the central chair that had been prepared.
Harsa started the meeting in a serious tone. "Alright, let's start the meeting," he said. "Given the large number of rifts occurring throughout Indonesia lately, I urge these six largest organizations to expand their patrol areas. We must minimize civilian casualties."
"As you all know," he continued, "dimensional rifts can happen anytime and anywhere without warning. Therefore, we also need to expand the education program for civilians so they know the early signs of a dimensional rift."
A representative from one of the organizations raised their hand. "Chairman Harsa, aren't dimensional rifts unpredictable by any device?" he asked.
Harsa nodded. "That's right. There is no device that can predict when a rift will occur. However, before a larger dimensional rift appears, there are usually signs of smaller dimensional rifts that precede it. That gives us at least ten minutes to an hour to react. Although some rifts occur suddenly, most take time to form," Harsa explained.
"Our job is to train the public to recognize these signs and report them as quickly as possible," he added.
The meeting's atmosphere became even more serious. The organization leaders nodded, understanding the weight of the task that awaited them. The pressure was mounting. Last night's events, with the high number of Hunter casualties, were solid proof that the threat from another world was growing. The Hunter's Central Agency had to act quickly before everything fell into chaos again.
°°°
Arka's days returned to normal, busy with his new job as a part-time barista at a coffee shop. Sometimes he worked mornings, sometimes afternoons, but the routine gave him a little peace. As he was walking home one afternoon, his phone rang. A message came in from Rangga. Arka's heart pounded as he opened it. Rangga had woken up from his coma.
Without wasting time, Arka rushed to the special Hunter's hospital. When he arrived at Rangga's room, Rangga's mother, who was sitting beside him, immediately went out, giving the two friends some privacy. Arka sat on the chair next to Rangga's bed, his feelings a mix of sadness and relief. Sad to see the wounds on Rangga's body, but relieved that his friend was okay.
Rangga sighed, giving a small smile. "Well, this is the risk, Arka," he said with a soft laugh. His laughter made Arka feel a little calmer.
"I got a part-time job at a coffee shop," Arka said, trying to change the subject.
Rangga nodded, then began to enthusiastically recount the events of that night. He told a dramatic story about how he fought the smaller monsters, but when he got to the part about his encounter with the very powerful monster, his face changed. His eyes glazed over, his hands trembled, and a traumatized expression appeared on his face.
"That monster... its aura was horrifying, Arka. I couldn't move. It felt like all the energy in my body was being sucked out," Rangga whispered, his voice trembling.
Arka, seeing Rangga's condition, immediately tried to calm him down. He patted Rangga's shoulder. "Thank goodness you're still alive, Rangga. You fought hard," he said, trying to encourage him. "You should be grateful that you survived. That's what's most important."
Rangga looked at Arka. His eyes still held fear, but he slowly nodded. The meeting solidified their friendship but also opened Arka's eyes further to the harsh reality that Hunters had to face.