With nothing more than a simple nod, both men answered the question. The announcer, visibly relieved, exhaled deeply before stepping down from the stage. Beneath the platform, a loud, broad-shouldered man — the gambling bookie — began shouting to the crowd, his voice echoing across the arena as he tried to lure spectators into placing their bets. He waved his hands frantically, doing everything he could to make the opening match of the tournament as thrilling and profitable as possible. "One against two! One against two!" he cried out, his tone sharp and desperate to draw attention. When no one seemed interested, the bookie raised his offer again, his voice rising with enthusiasm, “One against three! Come on, one against three!” That finally stirred the crowd. One by one, people began to step forward and place their wagers. Most of them chose Sapto as the likely winner, while only two brave souls placed their bets on Aji. One of them was Ratih, who used the remaining coins Aji ha

The man’s temper flared at Ratih’s sharp words. He shot up, ready to leap onto the stage, but his friend quickly grabbed his arm and shook his head.“Don’t make trouble now,” his companion warned, glancing nervously toward Aji, who was watching them closely.The furious man cast a brief glare at Aji before helping lift Bogang—whose body hung limp and battered—off the ground. Together, the two men pushed through the crowd, guiding their defeated comrade away from the stage.Ratih landed lightly as she jumped down from the platform. Graceful as a cat, she approached the handsome man who had arrived just a moment too late to witness her full display of skill.“Lucky for you your opponent didn’t notice your weakness,” Aji whispered beside her ear, his tone calm but teasing.The beautiful girl frowned slightly. “And where exactly is this weakness you’re talking about?” she asked, curiosity flickering in her eyes.“I’ll show you at the inn,” Aji replied with a small grin. “There’s a gap in

“Watch your tongue!” Aji shouted right in front of Birowo’s face. With lightning reflexes, the handsome young man caught Setiono’s leg that flew toward him and twisted his body, reversing their positions in one swift motion.“Did you really think I’d let you fall and lose that easily? No way! That insolent mouth of yours needs to be taught a lesson first!”Now their positions were reversed—Birowo stood near the edge of the stage while Aji pressed forward, launching relentless attacks like a storm.Setiono, known in the martial world as The Living Corpse, struggled to parry and evade the continuous strikes aimed directly at his face. He knew that a single blow would send him tumbling down, ending the match in instant defeat.From time to time, his eyes flicked sideways, measuring the distance to the edge. One wrong step would send him plunging from the platform—and that would mean the end.Seizing a brief lull in Aji’s assault, Birowo leapt toward the center of the stage, hoping to reg

From the stage earlier, Aji had caught a glimpse of a man standing a fair distance away—silent, still, and calm as a mountain. Yet from that distance alone, Aji could feel the man’s energy pulsing faintly in the air. It was powerful, refined, and restrained—the kind of strength that could rival his own. Perhaps slightly below his level… or just slightly above.“Who is that warrior you were talking about?” Ratih asked curiously, her eyes following Aji’s gaze. She had come to trust his instincts, and if Aji spoke of someone with respect, that man must be exceptional.“You’ll see soon enough,” Aji replied, his tone measured. “When he steps onto the stage, you’ll understand.”He then gestured for her to follow, and together they walked toward a large banyan tree standing near the edge of the field. Its wide branches spread like a guardian’s arms, casting cool shade beneath them. Aji leaned against its trunk, folding his arms, his gaze never leaving the stage.“He should be fighting today,

The match had ended almost as soon as it began. The young woman’s movements were sharp, precise, and filled with the quiet elegance of someone who had mastered her art through relentless practice. Her opponent, perhaps overconfident or simply careless, made the fatal mistake of misstepping—and in that instant, Ratih’s body moved like a whip. She spun gracefully, her legs scissoring upward in a flash. The impact landed squarely on her opponent’s chest, flipping the woman backward before her head struck the wooden stage with a heavy thud. The crowd gasped as the fallen fighter lay unconscious, sprawled motionless upon the floorboards. Ratih had claimed victory, swift and clean.When the excitement of the battle faded, Aji suggested they take a walk through the village to clear their minds. The two of them, walking side by side under the afternoon sun, drew the eyes of nearly everyone they passed. Their quiet harmony—the calm poise of the handsome warrior and the gentle radiance of the b