Chaos erupted.
The royal guards charged forward—only to be swept aside like dry leaves by a brutal wave of dark power.
Rian drew his short sword and stood protectively before Melati.
Nadira snapped her magnetic gauntlets on, her mechanical arrow hissing, primed to fire.
Across the hall, Sinta's spellbook began glowing blue, drawing moisture from the air like a predator inhaling.
But the one who moved faster than anyone—
Was Sri Baduga Maharaja himself.
The old king rose from his throne. His frail frame fell away, replaced by a presence of ancient dominion. His face no longer feeble, but wreathed in holy wrath.
The agate pendant on his neck blazed in blinding crimson.
"Gajah Gumarang—WEAPON MODE!"
The ancient elephant—its skin a living fortress of stone—roared. Glowing red cracks crawled across its body like molten veins.
In a flash of energy, the colossal beast compressed, transforming into a titanic shield—larger than the palace gate, covered in hissing magma patterns.
Enemy #1 and #2 rushed at Ramdan.
BRUUK!
Gumarang's shield struck like a meteor. Bones shattered, blood sprayed, and not even a scream escaped their crushed lungs.
Enemy #3 tried to leap away.
"Not fast enough," growled the King.
The shield spun—like a titanic sawblade—ssraakk!
The body was cleaved mid-air. Two chunks of meat thudded down like bags of rotten flesh.
Enemy #4 and #5 spewed venom toward Sinta and Melati.
The Salakanagara troops formed a barrier, but the toxic mist seared through—burning lungs, collapsing them in gasping agony.
Ranjana ripped open his robe.
His agate necklace flared like a wild flame.
"Bayuprabawa—BEAST MODE!"
A massive Garuda manifested. Not just any mythical eagle—this was a storm-winged beast of the skies.
Its body wreathed in shields of air, its eyes crackling lightning.
Enemy #4 swung a cursed blade—
Bayuprabawa's right wing slashed—craaaak!
The arm tore clean off, a geyser of blood spraying high.
Enemy #5 turned to flee—
Too late.
Bayuprabawa's tail swept in a horizontal arc, a blade of wind severing both knees.
He collapsed, shrieking for death.
Bima Sakti gave the signal.
"Silat Sera Formation—Monkey-Tiger Style!"
Enemies #6 through #10 lunged together, swinging venom-coated machetes.
Bima and his troops spun like dancers—monkey techniques to dodge, tiger strikes to pounce.
The first three were beheaded, their skulls sailing like coconuts.
The last two were pierced by claws of energy through their chests.
Their bodies crumpled.
One remained.
The leader of the attack.
He was surrounded, yet wore a calm smirk.
He slowly stepped backward—his body melting into shadow.
"You think this is victory? We're just the opening act."
He stroked his agate stone.
In a heartbeat, his form twisted. Fangs burst forth. Claws grew into scythes.
Mana of darkness exploded outward.
Dingg!![Warning! Enemy has entered Uncontrol Mode: Beast Form!]
With impossible speed, he pierced the front line—
ZRAAT!
His sword stabbed straight into Bima Sakti's gut.
"No!" cried King Sri Baduga.
Banyu and Arumi rushed in.
Banyu leapt, prosthetic leg glowing. His kick landed square on the beast's chest—
No effect.
The beast didn't budge.
Its counterattack came fast and brutal—black claws plunged into Banyu's chest.
Arumi opened her book.
"SIXTH MANTRA: GUMULING CAKRASANDHI!"
Magical sands spun into a colossal disk. Arumi rode the golden vortex, crashing into the beast head-on.
An explosion of starlit dust engulfed the battlefield—
But it wasn't enough.
The beast rose again, its body scorched but intact.
Its mask cracked.
CRAKK!
Dust fell as the truth was revealed.
The face underneath…
Was young.
Too young.
Too familiar.
Ranjana froze. "Father… who is he?"
The King's voice reached only those nearby:
"…He is Dahana. Your uncle. My own brother."
Every soldier turned to stone.
Even the wind dared not stir.
Dahana, bloodied and half-beast, let out a bitter laugh.
"Finally… you remember me, Brother."
Sri Baduga staggered back.
His shield fell to the ground.
"No… why you…?"
"I wanted to be heir. But there was always Dewawarman. Always you."
Tears welled in the King's eyes.
"I couldn't… kill you…"
Before anyone else could react, Ramdan stepped forward.
Blood trickled from his temple.
His right hand shimmered with light.
"Rian lost control once. But we saved him.We can do the same for Dahana."
He activated the crystal on his belt.
"VIRTUAL LAB SYSTEM—ACTIVATE."
Holographic circles bloomed.
Virtual seals floated in the air.
A new-age hymn echoed from the void.
"Help me," said Ramdan.
Ranjana grabbed Dahana's right hand.
Sinta took his left.
Rian and Arumi held his right leg.
Melati and Nadira held his left.
Ramdan stood at the center.
"Purification Protocol: SEAL OF ANGKARA MURKA."
Dahana's body trembled.
The beast's scream rang out—like it came from the abyss itself.
The seal roared, resisting eviction.
Bones cracked, holy light scorched the ones holding him—
But no one let go.
"KEEP GOING!" Ramdan shouted.
The red-black energy finally shattered.
Dahana collapsed.
Silence.
He was human again.
His face… exhausted.
New blood oozed from reopened wounds.
The King approached slowly.
"Dahana…"
The younger brother opened his eyes.
"Brother… I…"
"Why…?"
A weak smile spread across Dahana's lips.
"I was the one who cursed you… to weaken you… to take the throne…"
"My brother…" whispered the King, tears falling.
"But this… this is bigger than us."
Dahana looked at everyone present.
"Every royal child… from the Seven Heir Continents…They've already been marked by the Seal of Angkara Murka.They think it's a blessing.But it's the call of annihilation."
He looked at Rian.
"He… was the first."
His body began to unravel from within.
His hair turned white.
Cracks of light burst from his chest.
"Breaking the seal… costs a life."
Ranjana clutched his hand.
"You're not alone anymore."
Dahana looked at him, smiling.
"You… look like Mother…"
CRAAK!
His body crumbled, particle by particle—into dust of light.
Not darkness.
Not fear.
But peace.
Sri Baduga bowed his head.
Silent.
A single tear fell to his brother's ashes.
Everyone remained still.
Only one sound lingered—
The heartbeat of destiny.