Aji felt the familiar hum of the Shadow Blade vanish the moment he drew the heirloom sword from its sheath. A shiver crawled up his spine—something ancient and monstrous was awakening within the blade’s dark steel. Before he could process what was happening, a wave of raw, overwhelming power surged forth, and the dozens of soldiers surrounding him froze in their tracks, their bodies locked rigid as statues.Aji stared, bewildered, at the still forms of the men who had been advancing on him only seconds before. Then, as if moved by a force not his own, he lunged forward, his arm moving in a relentless, fluid arc. The Shadow Blade sang through the air, again and again, never pausing, never faltering.Screams of death erupted in a terrible chorus, echoing across the barren field. Aji fell into a feverish frenzy, cutting down every soldier within reach with a ferocity that was not his own. Corpses piled up in twisted heaps, their blood pooling across the earth in dark, viscous rivers. The

Slowly but surely, the crimson aura pouring from the Shadow Blade sent the temperature in the forest soaring, wrapping the air in a sweltering haze. Trees began to wither, their leaves dropping in thick drifts as they struggled to reduce water loss against the scorching heat. Even the moss on the ground curled and turned brown, and the air grew so dry it felt like breathing fire.“Hold the formation! Draw on the forest’s moisture to dampen the heat! Do not fear the warmth from his sword!” shouted the one-eyed guardian, his voice cutting through the oppressive air like a blade.At his command, the twelve raised their hands, calling forth the natural essence of the forest—the dampness from the soil, the mist from hidden streams, the dew still clinging to the few remaining leaves. They drew this moisture into a shimmering veil around themselves, then drew their weapons and charged once more.“You place far too much faith in that formation of yours!” Aji roared, his voice echoing through

A thunderous collision erupted between them. Aji was sent stumbling backward seven full steps, while Lodra slid only five—two steps shorter. A wide grin spread across the old man’s face as he measured Aji’s strength against his own, confident that his inner power surpassed the younger warrior’s. “Prepare to join my men in the afterlife, bastard!” Lodra roared, then launched himself forward with blistering speed, aiming for Aji who stood ready to meet the attack. The hand-to-hand combat that followed was a blur of motion. Aji quickly realized that the old man’s power far exceeded that of the twelve guardians he had slain. At first, he was caught off guard by Lodra’s speed, dodging with all his might—but another strike came from the side, accompanied by a massive aura that pressed down on his body like a mountain. “So fast!” Aji was forced to block, and the impact sent him reeling backward once more. “You’re a fascinating warrior,” Lo

When the sounds of battle fell silent at last, Yoga and Ratih emerged from their hiding place. A wave of dread washed over the beautiful daughter of Ki Mangkubumi, her heart racing as she scanned the desolate landscape. She ran as fast as her feet would carry her, her eyes sharp and desperate, searching for the handsome man who had become her beloved just days before.As far as the eye could see, there was no sign of Aji’s body. Tears began to trickle down her smooth, pale cheeks, and she stood frozen against a wooden post, her arms hanging limp at her sides. The grief she had been holding back burst forth, and she could no longer contain the sorrow that threatened to consume her.“We should split up,” Yoga said, his voice steady despite the worry in his eyes. “It will make the search more effective.”Ratih nodded, unable to speak through her tears. They parted ways: she headed toward the few remaining tents that still stood upright, while Yoga ventured further into the devastated are

"Did she not have the chance to speak with you earlier?" asked Aji, his voice carrying the quiet weight of curiosity that seemed to cling to the misty air around them."Speak? Why, even the mere sight of her smile was enough to send a cold dread coursing through my veins—so sharp, so profound, I thought my heart might cease to beat altogether," Ratih replied, her shoulders trembling slightly as she recalled the encounter, her eyes wide with the ghost of that terror."What did she look like? Tell me every detail," Aji pressed, leaning forward, his gaze intense with a hunger for understanding that burned brighter than any flame."Her entire form was shrouded in an aura of deep, crimson light—like the glow of embers in the heart of a forgotten forge. I caught but a fleeting glimpse of her face, and yet... and yet there was something uncannily familiar about it. It was as if I were looking upon a reflection of you," Ratih whispered, her words hanging in the air like a secret woven from sh