Kabut tipis mulai menyelimuti pulau itu.

  Asap dari

  markas besar Legiun Obsidian masih mengepul ke langit malam. Api kecil masih menyala di beberapa bagian bangunan yang hancur

  Di tengah tanah yang penuh dengan puing dan bekas ledakan—

  terbaringlah jasad Orion Karel Draven.

  Kesepian.

  Hanya suara ombak yang terdengar dari

  .

  Di dekat tubuh itu berdiri empat sosok yang tubuhnya dipenuhi luka dan darah

  Alpha.

  Elang.

  Serigala.

  Palu.

  Tak seorang pun berbicara untuk beberapa saat

  Pertempuran panjang yang baru saja berakhir masih terasa di dada mereka.

  Alpha menatap wajah Orion yang kini tak bernyawa.

  Matanya tidak lagi dipenuhi kebencian seperti saat pertempuran sebelumnya.

  Hanya ada efeksi.

  Dia berkata pelan.

  “Dia… petarung yang luar biasa.”

  Elang itu berdiri di sana dengan tangan bersilang

  Angin malam membawa helaian yang berlumuran darah.

  “Untuk bisa bertahan melawan kami berempat sampai sejauh itu…”

  Dia menghela napas pelan.

  “…tidak banyak orang di dunia ini yang mampu.”

  Palu menggugurkan

  Dia menatap tubuh Orion dengan gemetar berat.

  “Dia hampir membunuh kami beberapa kali.”

  Serigala yang selama ini diam akhirnya berbicara.

  Suaranya rendah.

  “Dia juga seorang pemimpin yang menakutkan.”

  Dia menatap wajah Orion

  “Seandainya takdirnya sedikit berbeda…”

  “…mungkin hari ini yang terjadi di tanah adalah kita.”

  Keempatnya kembali mengamati.

  Hubungan mereka dengan Orion tidak mengecewakan musuh dan teman

  Sebelumnya-

  mereka pernah berdiri di lapangan latihan yang sama.

  Pernah berperang dalam operasi yang sama

  Sebelum dunia memaksa mereka untuk memilih jalan yang berbeda.

  Alpha akhirnya tergeletak di samping tubuh Orion.

  Dia menutupi mata Orion dengan tangan.

  “Perang kita telah berakhir.”

  Dia menghela napas pelan.

  Elang itu melihat sekeliling.

  “Tidak benar jika meninggalkannya begitu saja.”

  "Kita akan menguburnya."

  Serigala itu mengamati langit markas Obsidian

  "Di sini."

  "Di tempat yang dia bangun."

  Mereka berempat mulai menggali tanah dengan penjepit darurat dan tangan mereka sendiri

  Tanah di pulau ini keras dan bercampur dengan bebatuan.

  Namun mereka terus menggali.

  Beberapa menit berlalu.

  Lubang itu akhirnya cukup dalam.

  Alpha dan Palu mengangkat tubuh Orion dengan hati-hati

  Mereka menurunkannya ke dalam tanah.

  Tidak ada dada.

  Hanya tanah dan langit malam.

  Namun bagi seorang petarung—

  Itu sudah cukup.

  Elang itu berdiri tegak.

  Dia memberi hormat militer

  Wolf dan Hammer melakukan hal yang sama.

  Alpha berkata pelan.

  “Orion Karel Draven…”

  “Musuh.”

  “Pemimpin.”

  “…dan seorang pejuang sejati.”

  Dia menatap tanah yang menutupi tubuh Orion.

  “Dulu kita berada di pihak yang sama.”

  “Dan kami juga biasa saling berburu.”

  Dia mengucap sesaat.

  “Semoga kau menemukan kedamaian… di medan perang terakhirmu.”

  Angin laut bergelembung lembut.

  Setelah itu mereka meninggalkan makam sederhana tersebut.

  Sementara itu-

  di atas kapal induk militer yang berlabah di lepas pantai pulau itu

  Lampu medis menyala terang

  Tubuhnya dipenuhi luka.

  Beberapa dokter militer bertindak cepat.

  “Tekanan darah stabil!”

  “Bersiaplah untuk transfusi darah!”

  “The bullet has been removed from the shoulder!”

  One of the doctors breathed a sigh of relief.

  “He is strong.”

  “Ordinary people would have died long ago.”

  Outside the medical room—

  Several members of Nox Aegis stood waiting.

  Meanwhile across the island—

  joint military forces began a cleanup.

  Some of the remaining Obsidian members were captured.

  Some others tried to escape to the shore using small lifeboats.

  The searchlights from the aircraft carrier swept across the surface of the sea.

  “Target moving in the eastern sector!”

  “Intercept them!”

  But some lifeboats managed to disappear into the darkness of the sea.

  In the island's own jungle—

  If you stumble upon this narrative on Amazon, it's taken without the author's consent. Report it.

  The combing force found hundreds of fallen bodies.

  Both from Nox Aegis and Obsidian.

  On a plain filled with temporary graves—

  an old man stood watching everything.

  He is the great General of Nox Aegis.

  He stared at the island for a long time.

  The land is covered in scars from war.

  Blood.

  And sacrifice.

  A young officer approached.

  "General…"

  “We have made a preliminary count of the casualties.”

  The general turned his head.

  "How many?"

  The officer swallowed hard.

  “Five hundred Nox Aegis members died on this island.”

  The general closed his eyes.

  “And from Obsidian’s side?”

  “Several hundred too, General.”

  The sea breeze blew his military coat.

  The general looked at the island again.

  Then said in a deep voice.

  "Starting today…"

  “…this island no longer has its old name.”

  The officers stared at him.

  The general continued.

  “This place is a grave for fallen fighters.”

  He stared at hundreds of graves.

  “This island will be known as…”

  Island of a Thousand Spirits.

  “As a reminder…”

  “…that this war ever happened.”

  The soldiers around him stood still.

  No one dared to speak.

  Soon after that-

  four figures appeared from the direction of the forest.

  Alpha, Eagle, Wolf, and Hammer.

  Their bodies were covered in wounds.

  Their uniforms were torn.

  But their steps were still firm.

  The general stared at them from a distance.

  He smiled faintly.

  “Those stubborn fighters are finally back.”

  When they arrived at the beach—

  the aircraft carrier's lights illuminated their faces.

  Palu took a deep breath.

  "Finally…"

  “This war is over.”

  The eagle stared at the dark sea before them.

  “Ten years…”

  “It feels like a lifetime.”

  The wolves stared at the island behind them.

  “Many did not return.”

  Alpha stared at the aircraft carrier standing majestically in front of the beach.

  There-

  their future awaits.

  He said softly.

  "Let us go home."

  The four of them walked slowly towards the mothership.

  Behind them—

  the blood-filled island slowly sank into the darkness of night.

  But the history…

  will forever be remembered as the place where the great war ended.

  Ocean waves gently crashed against the hull of the aircraft carrier standing majestically on the shore. Searchlights from the deck illuminated the soldiers who had just returned from the blood-soaked island.

  One by one the members of Nox Aegis climbed up the iron stairs.

  Their steps were heavy.

  Their bodies were covered in wounds.

  But the war… was finally over.

  As soon as they arrived on the ship's deck—

  Alpha, Eagle, Wolf, and Hammer paused for a moment.

  Slowly they removed their combat masks.

  A mask that for years made them known as deadly shadows on the battlefield.

  The mask was removed.

  And behind it—

  their true faces are seen again.

  Arman.

  Mahendra.

  Arga.

  Fikri.

  For the first time since the battle began, they were themselves again.

  At the end of the ship's deck—

  two people stood waiting anxiously.

  Hannah.

  And Prime Minister Van Arzelo Anim.

  As soon as I saw Arman and Mahendra's faces—

  Hana's eyes immediately filled with tears.

  He covered his mouth with his hand.

  “Arman…?”

  “Mahendra…?”

  Van, who usually always looks calm as a national leader, can no longer hide his emotions.

  He walked quickly towards them.

  As soon as they were only a few steps away—

  Arman smiled faintly.

  “Looks like we kept our promise.”

  Hana couldn't hold herself back any longer.

  He ran.

  And immediately hugged Arman tightly.

  Her tears broke out.

  “Thank you… thank you…”

  “If you guys hadn't come… I might have—”

  Arman patted Hana's back gently.

  "Stop it…"

  “You are safe now.”

  Mahendra stood beside them with a small smile.

  Van finally stood right in front of his two old friends.

  For a few seconds…

  no one spoke.

  Van looked at their faces which were covered in wounds.

  His eyes are red.

  Then he hugged them both at once.

  Something he almost never did as a state leader.

  "Thank You…"

  his voice was hoarse.

  “You saved the most important woman in my life.”

  Mahendra chuckled.

  “Not just for you.”

  He turned to Hana.

  “He is also our friend.”

  Arman added casually.

  “Besides, if we fail…”

  “…you definitely won't stop chasing us.”

  Hana chuckled amidst her tears.

  Van took a deep breath.

  “I owe you my life.”

  Arman shook his head.

  “We never count the debts between us.”

  Mahendra patted Van on the shoulder.

  “We just do what has to be done.”

  After that touching moment—

  Van walked to the other side of the ship's deck.

  There-

  Arga and Fikri were sitting near the toolbox while cleaning the blood from their hands.

  Their uniforms were torn.

  But both of them looked relaxed.

  Fikri even had time to laugh a little.

  “Did you seriously see Magnus’ face when Eagle kicked him?”

  Arga grinned.

  “I thought his jaw was really off.”

  They laughed softly.

  Suddenly a shadow of a person stood in front of them.

  Both of them looked up.

  That's Van.

  Prime Minister of their country.

  But surprisingly—

  Van raised his hand.

  Giving military salute to both of them.

  Arga and Fikri immediately fell silent.

  Arga stood up slowly.

  “Mr Prime Minister…?”

  Van said calmly.

  "Thank You."

  Fikri raised an eyebrow.

  "What for?"

  Van looked at the two of them.

  “To risk your lives for my country.”

  He lowered his hand.

  “You are heroes.”

  Arga smiled slightly.

  “If we are heroes…”

  “…we definitely don't look like this.”

  He pointed at his blood-stained uniform.

  Fikri added with a laugh.

  “And heroes usually don't like to joke around in the middle of a war.”

  Van finally smiled.

  For the first time that night.

  “This country owes you a great debt.”

  Arga patted Fikri's shoulder.

  "In that case…"

  “Pay us back with a nice dinner after you get home.”

  Fikri nodded quickly.

  “And a long leave.”

  Van chuckled.

  “Deal.”

  Soon after that-

  They all walked together towards the carrier's medical bay.

  In that room—

  Reza, the Ghost, lies on a treatment bed.

  His leg was heavily bandaged.

  Several medical devices were still attached to his body.

  As soon as the door opened—

  Reza turned his head.

  He saw five very familiar faces standing at the door.

  Arman immediately grinned.

  “Look who's still alive.”

  Mahendra added.

  “I thought you had turned into a real ghost.”

  Reza snorted.

  "Very funny."

  Arga approached while patting Reza's bandaged leg.

  “So this is what an elite sniper is?”

  “Shot in the leg like a rookie?”

  Reza grimaced.

  “Try standing in my place.”

  Fikri laughed out loud.

  “I don't even have to stand up.”

  “I've had enough of watching you fall.”

  Mahendra added mockingly.

  “We almost gave you a tombstone.”

  Reza sighed.

  “Are you guys friends or devils?”

  Arman answered casually.

  "Both of them."

  Laughter erupted in the room.

  For the first time since the war ended—

  they all really laughed.

  Van stood near Reza's bed.

  He stared at the man for a few seconds.

  Then said sincerely.

  "Thank You."

  The room suddenly became silent.

  Van continued.

  “Because of all of you…”

  “This country still stands.”

  He looked at each of their faces one by one.

  “And I still have people I love.”

  Reza smiled weakly.

  “Mr Prime Minister…”

  “…we're just doing our job.”

  Van nodded slowly.

  Then he said:

  “Now it's time to go home.”

  Outside the medical room window—

  The aircraft carrier slowly began to move away from the island.

  The island is now known as...

  Island of a Thousand Spirits.

  The war is over.

  And they finally…

  go home.

  Night once again enveloped the island that had just become a major battlefield.

  Small fires still burned in the ruins of the Obsidian Legion headquarters. Thin plumes of smoke rose into the dark sky, while the sea breeze carried the scent of iron and wet earth mixed with blood.

  The aircraft carrier carrying the Nox Aegis forces had long since disappeared over the horizon.

  The island was quiet again.

  But not completely empty.

  From behind bushes, from gaps in concrete rubble, from hidden shelters—

  Some of the surviving Obsidian members began to slowly emerge.

  They look shabby.

  Some are limping.

  Parts of his body were still covered in wounds.

  One of them said quietly while looking towards the sea.

  “They're gone…”

  The others answered with heavy breaths.

  “If they were still here… we would have died a long time ago.”

  Some of them walked towards the collapsed building.

  They started to dig through the rubble.

  Some people take weapons that can still be used.

  Someone collected the remaining bullets.

  There were also those who lifted the supply boxes which were still intact.

  “Take it all.”

  “We can't stay on this island for long.”

  Someone opened a metal coffin buried under the rubble.

  Inside there are still some communication equipment and medicines.

  “This can still be used.”

  The others took flashlights and shone their lights around.

  “We have to leave before dawn.”

  “If they come back… we’re finished.”

  Some of them walked towards the beach to look for any lifeboats that might still be left.

  Others were still busy dismantling the destroyed headquarters.

  That's when—

  a voice was heard from behind the darkness.

  Calm.

  But it's clear.

  “Where is Valen Kryos?”

  Everyone immediately stopped.

  Some of them reflexively raised their weapons.

  From behind the shadows of the ruins—

  a young man appeared.

  His steps were relaxed.

  His face was calm.

  It was as if the island that had just been filled with war was just an empty garden to him.

  One of the Obsidian members glared at him.

  "Who are you?"

  Another added suspiciously.

  “How did you get to this island?”

  The young man stopped a few meters from them.

  He smiled faintly.

  “I came… for Valen Kryos.”

  The statement immediately provoked emotions.

  One of them raised his gun.

  “No one comes to this island just to ask one person.”

  The others took a step forward.

  “Are you a spy?”

  The young man just tilted his head slightly.

  "I only ask."

  “Where is Valen?”

  One of the Obsidian members lost his temper.

  “Kill him.”

  In a flash—

  five people attacked him at once.

  Knife drawn.

  The guns are pointed.

  But what happened after that—

  too fast for the eye to follow.

  The young man moved.

  His steps were light.

  One person tried to stab with a knife—

  The young man caught her wrist and twisted it hard.

  CRACK!

  The man fell down screaming.

  The others shot.

  The young man ducked, slid to the side, and then slammed his elbow into his attacker's chest.

  BANG!

  The man's body was thrown and hit the debris.

  Two other people attacked at the same time.

  The young man turned his body—

  a spinning kick hit one of them in the jaw.

  BUAK!

  The other one tried to stab him in the back—

  but the young man was already faster.

  He grabbed the man's arm, threw him to the ground, and then pressed his knee on his neck.

  Just a few seconds—

  It is all over.

  Five Obsidian members lay on the ground.

  Complain.

  But no one died.

  The young man stood up straight.

  He looked at them one by one.

  His face remained calm.

  But there was something cold in his eyes.

  He said softly.

  "Now... I'll ask you again."

  “Where is Valen Kryos?”

  The Obsidian members looked at each other.

  One of them finally spoke with a heavy breath.

  "He…"

  “…he died.”

  The young man did not react.

  “Killed by Magnus.”

  Others added.

  “In the middle of the forest.”

  “His body is still there.”

  The young man walked over to the man who had spoken earlier.

  He crouched in front of her.

  His gaze turned cold.

  “Take me there.”

  The man swallowed hard.

  Seeing the young man's abilities just now—

  they know one thing.

  They have no choice.

  A few minutes later-

  Mereka berjalan menembus hutan yang gelap.

  Cahaya senter menyapu tanah berlumpur.

  Suara serangga malam terdengar di mana-mana.

  Akhirnya mereka tiba di sebuah area kecil di tengah hutan.

  Di sana-

  Sesosok tubuh hancur di lumpur.

  Tidak ada yang punya waktu untuk melukisnya

  Bajunya robek.

  Darahnya sudah kering.

  Itu Valen Kryos.

  Pemuda itu berjalan mendekat perlahan

  Dia menatap tubuhnya selama beberapa detik

  Lalu gemetar.

  Dia dengan santai gemetar tubuh Valen.

  Wajah Valen tampak pucat

  Namun tetap mempertahankan senyum tipisnya.

  Pemuda itu berkata dengan lembut.

  "Sayang sekali."

  Dia merogoh saku jaket Valen.

  Tangannya menemukan sebuah flash disk kecil

  Dia mengeluarkan tablet dari sakunya.

  Flash disk telah dimasukkan.

  Layar tablet menyala.

  Sebuah rekaman muncul.

  Suara Valen

  dari sana

  “Seharusnya aku mendengarkanmu…”

  “Jika kau datang ke pulau ini… sudah terlambat.”

  Pemuda itu hanya mengamati selama beberapa detik.

  Lalu matikan layar.

  Dia tersenyum.

  Tapi senyumnya dingin.

  “Kau salah paham, Valen.”

  Dia berdiri.

  “Aku tidak datang untuk mendengar ucapan terima kasihmu.”

  Dia mengangkat flash drive sedikit

  “Aku hanya datang…”

  “…untuk mengambil kembali barang yang kupinjamkan padamu.”

  Pemuda itu memasukkan tablet itu kembali ke sakunya

  Dia bahkan tidak menutup mata Valen.

  Mayat itu tergeletak di lumpur.

  Pemuda itu kemudian berjalan menuju anggota Obsidian yang tersisa.

  Mereka mundur beberapa langkah.

  penampilan mereka menunjukkan campuran rasa takut dan kebingungan.

  Pemuda itu berhenti di depan mereka.

  Matanya menyapu wajah mereka satu demi satu.

  Lalu dia berkata dengan suara datar.

  "Mulai sekarang…"

  "Kamu punya dua pilihan."

  Dia menunjukkan ke tanah

  “Pilihan pertama…”

  “Mati malam ini.”

  Lalu dia menatap mereka tajam

  “Pilihan kedua…”

  “Ikutlah denganku.”

  Salah satu dari mereka bertanya dengan suara yang berlawanan

  “Kenapa kami harus ikut denganmu?”

  Pemuda itu tersenyum lagi.

  Namun kali ini senyumannya terasa lebih menakutkan.

  "Karena…"

  "…Obsidian belum selesai."

  Mereka saling

  Akhirnya, satu per satu mereka menundukkan kepala.

  Tidak ada yang berani melawan.

  Akhirnya, satu per satu mereka memerintah kepala.

  Pemuda itu berbalik.

  Tanpa bertemu mereka lagi.

  "Kalau begitu…"

  "Bersiaplah."

  Dia mulai berjalan menembus kegelapan hutan

  Para anggota Obsidian yang tersisa mengikuti dari dekat

  Malam perlahan menelan mereka.

  Dan jauh di belakang—

  Tubuh Valen Kryos tetap sendirian di tanah berlumpur.