Steel met claw again.
Faster.
Sharper.
This time, the impact didn't throw Wira back.
It held.
For a brief moment, both forces locked—perfectly matched.
The man's eyes narrowed.
"…you've stabilized your output."
Wira smirked faintly.
"Told you. Fast learner."
He pushed forward—
Not with brute force—
But with control.
The man stepped back.
Not forced.
Choosing distance.
Re-evaluating.
Good.
That meant something had changed.
Behind them, Ayu exhaled slowly.
"…he's not just adapting anymore."
No.
Wira was aligning.
The golden aura around him flickered—then tightened, wrapping closer to his body instead of exploding outward.
Cleaner.
More efficient.
More dangerous.
The man lowered his blade slightly.
Not in surrender—
In acknowledgment.
"…you're no longer unstable," he said.
Wira tilted his head.
"So we're done here?"
"Not even close."
The man raised his weapon again.
But this time—
He didn't attack immediately.
Instead, he spoke.
"You asked who I am."
A pause.
"I am part of the group that prevents this island from collapsing into chaos."
Wira frowned.
"…you've got a weird way of doing that."
"Because you don't understand the scale," the man replied.
His blade dimmed slightly—but didn't deactivate.
"We are the ones who erase anomalies."
Ayu's voice cut in, sharp.
"Don't listen to him, Wira."
The man didn't look at her.
"Uncontrolled awakenings."
"Corrupted entities."
"Failed guardians."
Each word landed heavier than the last.
"We eliminate all of them."
Wira's eyes narrowed.
"…so that includes me."
"Yes."
No hesitation.
No doubt.
Ayu stepped forward.
"You don't even know what he is yet," she said.
"That's exactly why he's dangerous," the man replied.
Finally, his gaze shifted to her.
"…Ayu."
Wira blinked.
"…you know him?"
Ayu didn't answer immediately.
Her jaw tightened slightly.
"…he's with them."
"That doesn't answer my question."
The man spoke instead.
"She knows," he said. "She just doesn't agree anymore."
Wira looked between them.
"…okay, I'm missing context."
Ayu exhaled.
"…they're called the Penjaga Garis," she said.
"The Line Keepers."
Wira frowned.
"Line between what?"
Ayu's eyes hardened.
"Human world… and everything else."
That tracked.
"…and their job is to kill anything that crosses it?"
"Yes."
The man added calmly—
"Before it becomes a threat."
Wira gestured around.
"These things already are threats."
"Exactly," the man said.
"And they came from the same source as you."
Silence.
That hit.
Wira's expression darkened.
"…I'm not like them."
"Not yet," the man replied.
That was enough.
Wira stepped forward.
Aura tightening again.
"You keep saying that," he said.
"Let's test it."
The man sighed—almost disappointed.
"I was hoping you'd choose reason."
"Yeah," Wira replied.
"Not really my style."
The man raised his blade again.
This time—
The symbols didn't just glow.
They expanded.
Spreading along the weapon.
Up his arm.
Across his body.
Ayu's eyes widened.
"…he's activating a seal form."
"Meaning?" Wira asked.
"Meaning you're about to get cut into pieces if you don't get serious."
"Noted."
The man's presence shifted.
Heavier.
Sharper.
The air itself seemed to bend slightly around him.
"…last chance," he said.
Wira didn't hesitate.
"Not interested."
A beat.
Then—
Both moved.
Simultaneously.
BOOOOM—!!
The street exploded beneath them.
This time, the clash wasn't contained.
Shockwaves rippled outward.
Walls cracked.
Debris lifted.
The gap between them—
Gone.
Wira pushed harder.
The golden aura flared—
Brighter.
Hotter.
For a split second—
Something formed behind him.
Faint.
Massive.
Not fully visible—
But unmistakable.
Ayu's breath caught.
"…no way…"
The man saw it too.
And for the first time—
His composure cracked.
"…Barong."
The word came out quieter this time.
Not dismissive.
Not analytical.
Careful.
Wira didn't see it.
Didn't know.
But he felt something shift inside him.
Not just power.
Recognition.
Alignment.
The man jumped back, creating distance.
Not retreating.
Reassessing.
"…this changes things," he said.
Wira rolled his shoulders slightly.
"Good."
The man lowered his blade—just slightly.
"You're no longer a simple anomaly."
A pause.
"You're a variable."
Wira raised an eyebrow.
"…that supposed to sound threatening?"
"It's supposed to be accurate."
Silence fell again.
Tension thicker than before.
But different.
Less immediate killing intent.
More… calculation.
Ayu stepped forward slightly.
"…so what now?"
The man didn't answer immediately.
His gaze stayed on Wira.
Long.
Measured.
Then—
"…we observe," he said.
Wira frowned.
"That's it?"
"For now."
That didn't feel reassuring.
The man turned slightly.
But before leaving—
He spoke one last time.
"If you lose control," he said calmly—
"We won't hesitate next time."
A pause.
"And we won't come alone."
Then—
He disappeared.
Just like before.
Gone.
Silence returned.
Real silence this time.
Wira exhaled slowly.
"…I don't like him."
Ayu nodded.
"Yeah."
"…you used to work with them?"
Ayu didn't answer right away.
Instead, she looked at him.
At the faint golden aura still flickering around his body.
At what she had just seen.
"…we have bigger problems now," she said quietly.
Wira frowned.
"What?"
Ayu's expression hardened.
"If they recognized you…"
A pause.
"…others will too."
Wira's chest tightened slightly.
"Meaning?"
Ayu met his gaze.
"Meaning you're not just being hunted anymore."
Her voice dropped.
"You're being watched."
Somewhere far away—
Something shifted.
Ancient.
Awakening.
And this time—
It wasn't just responding.
It was interested.