Chapter 1: Dream x Reality

April 18, 2024, early morning under cloudy skies. Ah... another early wake-up call. My name is Sugi Andrianto, 22 years old. I've just graduated as a soldier in the Indonesian Army. I live in Kalimantan. My dream is to keep Indonesia peaceful and safe, just like my ancestors.

My ancestors were soldiers who fought against Dutch colonization in Java. They also joined the New Order army to oppose President Soekarno, retiring as a Brigadier General (Brigjen) in the Indonesian National Armed Forces (TNI). My grandfather was also an Army officer, involved in the Timor Timur conflict. After realizing the mistakes of that invasion, he retired early as a Lieutenant Colonel (Letkol) and discouraged my father from joining the military.

My father went on to become a businessman. However, after learning about my ancestors' stories, my dream became to join the military and contribute to maintaining peace in Indonesia.

After dressing in my new uniform, I step outside, taking in the fresh morning air. Despite the clouds, I feel excited to start my first day as an official soldier.

I walk towards the barracks, not too far from home. Along the way, I see villagers busy with their morning activities. Some greet me warmly, and I feel proud wearing this uniform.

Upon reaching the barracks, we are immediately briefed for our first investigative mission. Captain Hasan leads the morning briefing in the conference room, pointing to a large map marked with red dots across Indonesia.

"Over the past few weeks, there have been reports of unusual wild animal activities in the forests of Kalimantan," Captain Hasan states seriously, pointing to the map. "We've received information about a secret facility near the Loa Haur BDLHK Samarinda Training Forest involved in biological experiments. Our task is to investigate and ensure the area's security."

My heart races hearing Captain Hasan's words. I sense something significant and dangerous unfolding, and I'm about to be part of the team investigating it.

After the morning session concludes, I briefly return home to bid farewell to my family. My mother is preparing breakfast when I enter the kitchen.

"Sugi, are you ready to leave?" Mother asks softly, concern evident in her eyes.

"Yes, Mom. I have to go now," I reply with a smile. "Don't worry. I'll be fine."

My usually quiet father pats my shoulder. "Take care of yourself, Sugi. Although I initially had reservations about you joining the military because of our family history, seeing your enthusiasm now makes me proud."

After bidding farewell, I reunite with my unit.

"Sugi, this is our first official mission together. Don't worry, we've got this," says Frenz, my cheerful batchmate.

"Come on, Sugi, don't forget to bring snacks. Who knows, our journey might be long," adds Erianto with a wide grin.

Herman, sitting in the back, jokes, "Get ready, Sugi. If we encounter giant animals, don't panic."

Rob, known as the group's humorist, chimes in, "Yeah, don't let your hands tremble, or you might shoot your own foot."

We set off for our investigative location in the Kalimantan forest. During the journey, while checking my gear, I notice something striking on the roadside: a significantly larger animal than usual, lying among the fallen trees. Its body appears infected and mutated into something bizarre.

As we stop to investigate further, a neatly dressed man suddenly emerges hurriedly from behind the bushes. His clothes are smeared with blood, and notably, one of his hands is bandaged and dirty.

"My name is Dr. Heinrich Müller," he says shakily. "I'm a scientist working at a facility near the Loa Haur BDLHK Samarinda Training Forest."

I'm shocked by his condition. "What happened, Doctor? Who did this to you?"

Dr. Müller staggers closer, almost falling before my teammates and I catch him. "The facility... it's been destroyed. Strange animals we encountered in the forest were infected by a naturally engineered parasite we were studying there. These parasites evolved rapidly after we developed them. They turned ordinary animals into powerful, uncontrollable giants. We don't have much time."

His words send a shiver down my spine. I realize this mission is far more dangerous than I had imagined.

"Dr. Müller, take it easy. We'll get you to safety and medical care," Captain Hasan says, arriving suddenly to assess the chaos. "But we need more information. What should we do to stop them?"

With labored breaths, Dr. Müller tries to explain, "There's a weakness... these parasites can't withstand extreme temperatures. If we can set traps with very low or high temperatures, we might be able to stop them. But be careful, they're intelligent and adapt quickly."

After imparting this crucial information, Dr. Müller faints from exhaustion and blood loss. We quickly transport him to the nearest hospital in a military vehicle, hoping he survives and provides more information.

I look at my teammates with a tense expression. This mission is more than just routine. It's a battle for survival against a threat we never imagined before.