The inky veil of shadow that had clung to the form of Brenggolo Karang slowly dissipated into the air. He was acutely aware that prolonged reliance upon such power would drain his vital essence to a perilous degree, leaving him diminished and vulnerable in the days to come. For all his mastery of the dark arts, even he knew the boundaries that must not be crossed if one wished to preserve their strength for the battles yet to be fought.The disciple of Caraka pondered, too, upon the art of combat itself—how every strike must be honed to perfect precision, how every movement must serve a purpose beyond mere force. His keen eyes had not missed the subtle signs that his adversary still held back the full measure of his might; though bruised and tested by their exchange, the youth stood firm and unyielding, his posture bearing none of the weariness that should have befallen one so young in the throes of such fierce conflict.As the last wisps of shadow faded from Brenggolo Karang’s frame,

As the thick veil of dust finally cleared, Aji—still lying on the shattered earth—could see Caraka standing perfectly still where he had been all along. Not even a single inch had he moved, despite the tremendous force of their collision.The warrior, not yet thirty years of age, felt searing pain tearing through his chest. A dry cough escaped his lips, followed by a stream of bright red blood that stained the ground beneath him.“His power is immense,” he thought to himself, his mind racing even as his body screamed in agony. “Even my full strength was not enough to shift him from his place.”Caraka’s form rose to hover one meter above the ground, then glided forward with unnatural grace toward the fallen Aji, who had yet to find the strength to stand. “Have you finally understood the vast gulf between our power? I know you have not yet unleashed your greatest strength—but even if you did, it would change nothing!”Still burning with rage at the intrusion into his sanctuary, Caraka v