Baskara looked at both of his hands.
A strange transformation pulsed beneath his skin—
as if his body had become one with the force of nature itself.
His body felt solid, strong, and light at the same time,
as though his entire being was wrapped in something deeper than mere muscle and bone.
He clenched his fist.
With the slightest effort, the air around him shivered.
Yet there was no wild surge, no destructive tremor.
All that power was perfectly focused, fully controlled.
A faint smile formed on Baskara's lips.
"I understand now... this is the legacy of the Wisesa Stone," he murmured softly.
He named this transformation the "Wisesa Body"—
a body that had undergone union with the sacred energy of the earth,
granting him extraordinary strength without losing balance.
The Wisesa Body didn't just enhance his physique,
it also bestowed a special ability known as the "Wisesa Point Strike."
This ability allowed Baskara to strike a single specific point—
be it stone, metal, or even energy fields—and destroy it without damaging anything around it.
An absolute power under total control.
Baskara slowly exhaled,
feeling a new rhythm within himself.
Not just power to destroy,
but also the power to protect—
with precision, with full intent.
After successfully awakening the Wisesa Body, Baskara took a deep breath.
His body now felt firm, as though grounded directly to the core energy of the earth.
Without wasting time, he began walking again through the branching tunnels of the cave,
dark and filled with whispers of wind from untrodden depths.
Each step felt lighter yet more solid, as if the surrounding rocks were parting to make way.
Baskara remained calm, his eyes sharply observing every detail,
looking for the slightest trace—be it a sign of human presence, energy residue,
or any clue that pointed toward his true mission: finding Sekar.
The Meraga Stone Cave seemed endless, winding and twisting
as if it led him into the secrets of a forgotten world.
After a long time navigating the tunnels, Baskara finally let out a long breath.
"Impossible... This cave is too vast, like it has no end," he muttered.
He realized that, for now, going deeper would only waste strength and time.
It would be better to leave and assess the situation outside.
Soon, Baskara had reached the cave's entrance.
Warm sunlight shone above his head, making him realize—it was already midday.
Inside the cave, he had felt no sense of time, especially after that long moment
when he was immersed in union with the Wisesa Stone.
For Baskara, it had felt like a brief instant—while the outside world had passed him by.
Just as he was about to head toward the city of Tirta Negara,
he suddenly sensed someone's presence.
Instinctively, Baskara hid behind a large rock near the cave's entrance.
"Wait... someone's coming this way," he whispered in his mind.
From his hiding spot, Baskara watched calmly.
Several figures in black clothing flew past above him,
riding flying artifacts shaped like long green leaves.
The leaves were flexible yet sturdy, their tips sharp,
conveying both elegance and sharpness.
"I'd better follow them from a distance," Baskara muttered, his eyes narrowing in caution.
With light movements, he began tracking the mysterious figures,
keeping a safe distance and making sure not to draw any attention.
Baskara continued tailing them from afar.
His movements were nearly silent, blending with the shadows of trees and rocks along the hillside.
Soon, the black-clad figures landed in front of another cave.
This cave was different from Meraga Stone Cave—
smaller, just enough to accommodate a group of dozens.
Its entrance looked more refined, as if deliberately shaped,
with darkened stones and faint markings resembling ancient symbols surrounding the doorway.
Baskara crouched behind a bush, eyes sharply observing.
Several guards stood outside, armed with short spears tipped in black.
Inside, shadows moved about,
and faint voices of serious conversation echoed—
as if something was being planned.
"Is this their base...?" Baskara thought.
He held himself back from getting too close.
For now, gathering information from a distance was wiser than barging in without a plan.
From within the cave, a secret conversation could be heard.
"So? Did the Atmadewa family not follow us here?" one of them asked in a low voice.
"No. Looks like they were completely overwhelmed by our surprise attack," another replied.
"Besides, none of the high-ranking nobles were in Tirta Negara at all."
"Good... Has the leader returned the artifact to the sect?"
"Yes. They've already left the city. Only our group remains."
"Then we should head to the sect soon as well. Don't forget—erase all traces.
We must leave no clues behind."
"Understood," they answered in unison, their voices cold and alert.
But then, one of them asked again, hesitantly,
"But... is it true the woman is also going to be taken to the sect?"
"Let the patriarch handle it," another replied, curt and firm.
Hearing the conversation from his hiding place, Baskara furrowed his brows.
His sharp senses picked up every word clearly, not missing a single detail,
while the group remained completely unaware of his presence—
a sign of how vast the difference in power between them truly was.
"This group... they've completed their mission," Baskara thought.
"The woman they mentioned... who is she? Is it Sekar... or someone else?"
His mind raced with questions.
The attack on the Atmadewa family, Sekar's abduction,
and now this mention of a mysterious woman—
the pieces were beginning to connect, though the full picture remained unclear.
Without wasting time, as the group began leaving the cave,
Baskara followed from a distance.
His movements were smooth, almost merging with the wind and forest shadows.
"I have to find out where they're going," he vowed silently