A long time ago, deep in the heart of Central Kalimantan, there lived a skilled hunter named Sangi. He was renowned for his unmatched ability to track and capture animals, ensuring that his family and village never went hungry. Sangi lived near the banks of a great river, surrounded by the vast, untamed jungle.
One day, as he ventured into the dense forest, he spotted the footprints of a wild hog. The tracks were fresh, pressed deeply into the damp earth, leading him deeper into the jungle. Moving with the silent grace of a seasoned hunter, Sangi followed them, weaving through towering trees and thick vines. Eventually, the trail ended behind a massive tree with roots like twisted serpents.
As he prepared to strike, expecting to find the wild hog, he was met with a sight that left him frozen in shock. Just beyond the tree, a colossal dragon—scales glistening like polished bronze—was struggling to swallow the very hog he had been tracking. The hog was so large that the dragon could not devour it easily, its jaws stretching wide, its sharp fangs glinting in the dappled sunlight that pierced through the jungle canopy.
For several agonizing moments, the dragon struggled. Then, with a frustrated snort, it released the hog and turned its piercing golden eyes toward Sangi.
Sangi’s breath caught in his throat. He wanted to flee, but his legs felt as heavy as stone. The dragon’s gaze held him in place, rooting him to the earth. Slowly, the great beast slithered closer, the ground trembling beneath its weight. Just as its massive head lowered to Sangi’s level, its form dissolved into thick, swirling smoke.
When the smoke cleared, a tall and regal-looking man stood before Sangi, his sharp eyes filled with an ancient wisdom.
"You have seen what was not meant for human eyes," the man said in a deep, commanding voice. "For that, you must bear my fate."
Sangi’s heart pounded. "W-what do you mean?" he stammered.
The man gestured toward the half-eaten hog. "Eat."
Sangi’s stomach churned. "I cannot. I am a man, not a beast."
"You can," the man insisted, his voice like the rumbling of distant thunder. "For now, you are no longer just a man."
At that moment, Sangi felt a strange force coursing through his veins. His body twisted and contorted. His skin hardened into shimmering golden scales. His hands curled into claws. His legs merged, forming a long, powerful tail. He could feel his body expanding, his senses sharpening, his lungs filling with a new kind of breath.
He had become a dragon.
Overcome by an unnatural hunger, Sangi devoured the wild hog in a single bite. The taste was foreign yet oddly satisfying.
Then, as quickly as it had come, the transformation faded, and Sangi found himself standing on two feet once more, his human form restored.
"What… what have you done to me?" he gasped.
The man sighed. "The same thing happened to me many years ago. I saw a dragon eating, and then I became like this. We are now the same kind of being—half human, half dragon. We can transform at will, and as a gift, we will remain forever young. I am over a hundred years old, but look at me—I still appear the same."
Sangi was still in shock. "So, I can live forever?"
The man nodded. "That's right. However, there is one condition you must follow. Never tell anyone your true identity. If you break this rule, you will turn into a dragon forever and will never be able to return to being human."
Before Sangi could ask more, the man vanished into the jungle mist.
The Curse of the Dragon’s Secret
From that day on, Sangi lived a double life. By day, he was the same skilled hunter his village knew and respected. But in secret, he would slip into the shadows of the jungle, shed his human form, and become a magnificent dragon, gliding over rivers and feasting in the moonlit forests.
As the years passed, Sangi remained unchanged. While his friends aged and his children grew into elders, he looked the same—strong, youthful, untouched by time. Whispers spread through the village. People became suspicious. How could a man live for so long without aging a single day?
On his 150th birthday, the questions became unbearable. Villagers surrounded him, demanding to know his secret.
"Tell us, Sangi! How do you remain so young? Have you struck a deal with spirits? Are you even human?"
At first, Sangi held his tongue, remembering the warning of the dragon-man. But the pressure grew unbearable. The people he loved, the village he had protected for generations—they no longer looked at him with respect, but with fear.
Frustrated and desperate to prove himself, Sangi finally shouted, "You fools! I am not merely a man—I am a dragon!"
Laughter rippled through the crowd. They did not believe him.
But before Sangi could say another word, his body began to tremble violently. A searing pain spread through his limbs as golden scales erupted across his skin. His fingers curled into claws, his legs twisted into a powerful tail, and his back arched as massive wings burst forth.
He had transformed.
But this time, there was no going back.
The villagers screamed in terror, fleeing from the monstrous form before them. Sangi roared in anguish, his great wings beating against the sky. He had broken his vow, and now he was bound to the dragon’s form for eternity.
Realizing he could never again live among humans, Sangi spread his wings and flew toward the river. With one final, sorrowful glance at the village he once called home, he dove into its depths, vanishing beneath the waters.
From that day forward, the river became known as Sangi River—a reminder of the hunter who became a dragon and the price of revealing forbidden secrets.
Moral Message
This story teaches the importance of keeping secrets and honoring the trust given to us. Sometimes, revealing something that others are not meant to know can lead to unexpected consequences. Additionally, this tale reminds us that every person has different sides within them, and balancing those aspects is the key to living a harmonious life.
