In his wisdom, the Dragon God chose not to burden Arya with the affairs concerning his twin children, still cradled within his wife's womb. His focus, the deity believed, should remain solely on the imminent rise of the Demon King.When their discourse reached its natural conclusion, Arya escorted Ratnasari back to the Sastrajingga Palace. His intent was clear: to share the joyous news of Ratnasari's pregnancy with Queen Dyah Pitaloka. However, the darker tidings would remain unspoken, for Arya wished not to weigh upon his mother's thoughts. To bring a smile to her face was a happiness in itself.As Arya departed from the Dragon God's realm, Ananta Shesa, too, vanished, returning to the dominion of the dragons. He sought counsel with the Dragon King, to deliberate on the matters afflicting Arya and Ratnasari. For Arya was the chosen one, a figure they must safeguard with utmost care, lest the realm of dragons also suffer should the Demon King rise from defeat and vanquish the gods.Wi

With a faint, unreadable smile curving upon his lips, the short, plump warrior with hair as green as moss—Brojonoto—began to deliberately slow the rhythm of the battle. Though the strain of channeling his energy to see through the darkness gnawed at his strength, he knew he could still endure far longer than his opponent, whose inner force was clearly inferior.Braganata, known across the martial world as The Flying Horse, displayed a vastly different attitude. Instead of conserving energy, his strikes grew increasingly fierce, each one fueled by frustration and pride. His only thought was to end the battle quickly before his strength waned. He refused to waste what remained of his inner power merely to see through the veil of night. Yet no matter how furiously he attacked, every swing, every thrust of his blade, was effortlessly deflected by Brojonoto.The tall, broad-shouldered man with sharp features—leader of the Black Sect in the northwest region—felt his composure slipping away.

As soon as he stepped out of the tent, Prime Minister Bayu Aji strode with purpose toward one of the two great tents standing amid hundreds of smaller ones scattered throughout the forest encampment. Of those two, one belonged to King Wijaya Kusuma and his consort, while the other served as the quarters of Princess Rani and Princess Dewi.Upon entering the royal tent, Bayu Aji bowed deeply before taking a seat cross-legged on the mat.“Well, tell me,” King Wijaya Kusuma began, his tone calm yet commanding. “Have there been any developments concerning that man?”“He has regained consciousness, Your Majesty. I have just come from checking on his condition,” replied Bayu Aji respectfully.“And? Did he say where he came from, or how he ended up in such a state?”“According to his confession, he is merely a wandering hermit, Your Majesty. He claims those wounds were the result of a skirmish with a band of robbers.”King Wijaya Kusuma’s lips curved into a faint, knowing smile. “And do you b

Braganata finally smiled — a wide, genuine smile that softened the years etched on his face. His hunch was correct. The man who had just arrived was indeed his long-lost friend, the only one who knew his true name before he took on the identity of Braganata.“Wijaya Kusuma— no, forgive me… Your Majesty, King Wijaya Kusuma,” he said awkwardly, realizing that the friend who once shared his youthful days in the Sect of the Divine Sword was now a ruler of a great kingdom, Jaya Buana.King Wijaya Kusuma returned the smile with warmth and nostalgia. “You don’t need to be so formal, Indra. Speak to me as you used to. Honestly, I never imagined we would meet again after more than twenty years. If only I had recognized you when my soldiers first found you, I would have ensured you received the finest treatment.”“The healer’s medicine was more than enough to treat my wounds,” Braganata—whose real name was Indrajaya—replied softly. “But tell me, how did you become the king of Jaya Buana?”King

There was a deep unease in Ki Mangkubumi’s heart, a quiet but persistent dread whispering that his suspicions might be true. Yet he held firm to his faith in Arya. With all the young man’s experience and composure, Ki Mangkubumi believed he would be able to handle whatever dangers might arise.The three of them soon left the chamber and began walking toward the grand hall to confirm the truth for themselves.Meanwhile, inside the main hall of the palace, Braganata sat utterly silent. Not a word left his lips. His eyes were lowered, his shoulders stiff, as though weighed down by an invisible chain. Despite being the fourth-ranked warrior of the Black Order—a man once feared across kingdoms—he now felt like a lone stag trapped in a den of lions.It was not fear of death that made him uneasy, but confusion. His thoughts were tangled between loyalty and survival. He knew that Brojonoto would not hesitate to slander him before Sastra Wijaya, twisting facts and turning his name into a weapo