King Wirabhumi, Rengga, and Indrajaya could hardly believe what they had just heard from Arya, the youngest son of King Dharmalaksana.“You mustn’t act recklessly,” Rengga warned, his tone filled with urgency. “That place is swarming with masters of the highest martial realms!”Indrajaya quickly added, “He’s right, Prince. Even if we intend to rescue Wiguna, we’ll need a meticulous plan first.”He walked over to a long wooden table, taking a piece of dried parchment and a quill before sitting back down. With sharp precision, he began sketching the layout of the Hell Sword Sect. His eyes would occasionally close as he strained to recall every detail of that dreadful place.“The sect is surrounded by tall, thick walls,” he explained, circling several points on the parchment. “There are watchtowers stationed on these positions—each constantly guarded.”Then his quill moved to the far end of the map. “The prison is located here, at the very rear. It’s the most heavily guarded area of the

Like a nest of hornets stirred by a careless hand, Brojonoto’s grumbling refused to cease even after he slammed the door of his private chamber shut behind him. His round face flushed with anger as he paced the room like a caged beast.“How could the Leader send Sukraya to lead the search?” he muttered, his voice rising with every word. “A weakling like him doesn’t deserve such an order! It should have been me!”For a moment, his furious expression melted into something more sinister—a grin of malice that slowly curved his lips. A wicked glint shimmered in his moss-green eyes.“Very well, Sukraya,” he hissed under his breath. “Enjoy your little mission while it lasts. Let’s see how long you can stand before I pull the ground from under your feet.”With that thought festering in his mind, Brojonoto adjusted his robe, brushed back his greasy green hair, and marched out of his room, his mind already weaving a plan.---Meanwhile, at the front gate of the Hellfire Sword Sect, two guards s

A day had passed.Brojonoto sat alone in his dimly lit chamber, lost in deep thought. His mind was still restless after leaving the Sect two nights ago to ambush Sukraya’s group. Though two days had gone by without any sign of discovery, he could not rest easy. His biggest fear was that once Sukraya’s men returned and reported the ambush to Sastra Wijaya, the leader of the Hellfire Sword Sect might launch an investigation.He rubbed his face with both hands, trying to shake away the unease gnawing inside him. The faint flicker of the oil lamp cast a wavering shadow on the wall, making the room feel smaller than it was.Just as he tried to calm his breathing, a sudden knock on the door startled him.Brojonoto’s heart almost leapt out of his chest. For a long moment, he froze, gripping the armrest of his chair tightly as if holding onto life itself.He drew a deep breath—then another—forcing air through his lungs to steady his pounding heart. Only after several long seconds did he rise

Sastra Wijaya listened intently to the words of the two men before him. As masters of espionage and reconnaissance, Wisnu and Songgogeni were not people whose analyses could be taken lightly. He knew full well that both of them would try to defend themselves against any accusation regarding the recent assault, yet deep down, Sastra found their reasoning sound and undeniably logical.“Back in the main hall,” Sastra began, his brows furrowed, “I suspected that the assailant must have possessed the element of fire. Among all the warriors gathered there, several indeed have an affinity for it. However, I still find it hard to believe that one of our own from the Dark Faction would commit such an act. Why would those who share the same path turn their blades upon one another?”“Can’t you use your divination ability, Grandfather?” asked Wisnu carefully.“I already tried,” Sastra replied, shaking his head. “But all I saw was darkness. My sight was clouded, as if something—someone—was deliber

As the murmur of conversation filled the camp, Indrajaya stepped out from his tent. The man, whose hair had long turned silver with age, walked steadily toward the fire where Arya and the others were gathered. The faint crackle of burning wood flickered across his face, revealing the exhaustion and pain that had long settled in his eyes.“I thought you were going to rest, Uncle?” Arya asked, his tone calm yet filled with concern as he turned his gaze toward the elder.Indrajaya did not answer right away. Instead, he slowly sat beside Rengga, who was crouched close to the flames, hugging his knees.“My eyes refuse to close, Prince,” Indrajaya finally said in a low, weary voice. “The faces of my wife and child keep haunting me. No matter how hard I try, they won’t fade away.” His breath trembled as he exhaled, the weight of sorrow pressing upon his chest. “I still cannot understand… why those who claim to follow the path of light could commit such cruelty toward my family.”Arya looked