Bab 21: Together
Sun stood still, his mind engulfed in a swirling tempest of thoughts.
In that moment, he felt the weight of his dreams pressing upon him, an unyielding force that whispered to him,
"You cannot die yet, for there is a path you must follow."
Suddenly, a voice shattered the stillness, slicing through the tangled web of Sun's contemplation.
"Sun! Sun! Sun!" Ethan's desperate cry echoed in the air as he thrust Cato into the waiting arms of Isaac.
As the words reached his ears, a flicker of doubt danced within Ethan's mind.
He pondered the possibility of escape, only to swiftly dismiss it. His heart sank as he realized that even if he were to attempt fleeing, he would be effortlessly ensnared by his relentless pursuer.
Ethan rose to his feet, his gaze fixed upon the motionless Sun.
With a mixture of anticipation and uncertainty, he called out to him once more.
"Sunnn!" The name hung in the air like a plea, a lifeline cast into the abyss of their perilous circumstances.
At last, Sun's dazed gaze refocused, his consciousness snapping back to the present.
His eyes surveyed the scene before him—the fallen Isaac, the resolute Ethan, and the looming figure of their adversary.
A surge of determination surged through Ethan, his voice quivering with urgency.
"We must defeat him, or we shall perish here. The elder may take an eternity to arrive, and time is a cruel ally. We have to take action."
Sun met Ethan's gaze, a silent agreement passing between them.
They both understood the gravity of the situation, the dire consequences that awaited them if they failed to rise above this looming threat.
With a single nod, Sun affirmed his commitment to the cause, ready to face the enemy head-on.
Isaac rose to his feet, his eyes fixed on their adversary with a mixture of defiance and weariness.
The wounds on his stomach seeped crimson, evidence of the brutal assault he had just endured. Despite the pain, a glimmer of determination flickered in his eyes, a silent declaration that he would not yield easily.
Cato, driven by concern, stepped forward, his voice tinged with apprehension. He attempted to communicate, to reach out to their assailant in a plea for reason.
But the words hung in the air, lost amidst the chaos and the cold, calculating gaze of their enemy.
Before anyone could react, their assailant struck once again, launching a vicious attack on Isaac's vulnerable abdomen.
Pain exploded within Isaac, forcing him to grit his teeth and stifle a cry. The force of the blow sent him hurtling through the air, his back colliding with the unforgiving bark of a nearby tree.
A trail of blood painted the ground beneath him, a stark reminder of the merciless brutality they faced.
Ethan, fueled by a mix of anger and concern for his fallen comrade, lunged forward, his fists poised for combat.
However, their adversary moved with unnerving speed, gracefully evading Ethan's strike. With a swift and well-placed knee, their enemy struck Ethan in the stomach, forcing him to stagger backward, his face etched with pain.
Sun, undeterred by the display of their foe's agility, launched himself into action, aiming a precise kick at the man's leg.
Yet, the enemy sprang into the air, a wicked smile playing upon his lips as he effortlessly evaded Sun's attack.
In a swift motion, he retaliated, seizing Cato and hurling him with great force towards a nearby tree. Cato crashed against the trunk, the impact reverberating through his body.
As Sun pressed on, determination etched upon his face, he lunged forward, aiming to strike his foe's back.
But the enemy, a master of evasion, skillfully sidestepped the blow, countering with a powerful knee that slammed into Sun's abdomen.
The force of the strike sent Sun recoiling backward, inch by painful inch, closer to his compatriots.
In the midst of this relentless assault, their adversary stood before them, a sinister smile curling his lips.
His gaze held a hint of sadistic pleasure, relishing in the pain he had inflicted. Each movement he made exuded a calculated precision, a dance of violence that sent shockwaves through their hearts.
The air crackled with tension, a blend of fear, anguish, and the unyielding spirit of those who refused to surrender.
Blood stained the earth, mingling with the dust of battle, as they faced the unrelenting foe who stood as a harbinger of their darkest fears.
Cato's voice trembled with pain as he sought to rally their spirits.
"Listen, we can't afford to fight alone. We need to join forces, stand as one."
Ethan's voice carried a note of desperation, his plea laden with unspoken regrets.
"Sun, I know our past has been distant, but we can't let that divide us now. Let's put aside our differences and fight as a united front."
Sun's nod conveyed both a begrudging agreement and a glimmer of newfound respect.
It was a silent acknowledgment of the gravity of the situation, an understanding that their only chance lay in unity.
But before they could proceed, Isaac stepped forward, determination etched on his blood-stained face.
His voice, though weakened by his injuries, resonated with unwavering resolve. "Let me take the lead this time. I'll face this adversary head-on."
Cato's concern cut through the air, his voice tinged with worry.
"But, Isaac, you're injured. It's too dangerous."
Isaac's response carried a thread of self-sacrifice, a willingness to face the danger headlong.
"Cato, we don't have time. Make a plan quickly. I'm already wounded, and we can't afford further delay."
A mix of emotions swirled within their group—fear, determination, and a shared understanding of the sacrifices they had to make.
The weight of their injuries and the impending battle hung heavy in the air, intertwining their fates and underscoring the urgency of their need for a strategy.
As Isaac stepped forward, his footsteps faltering slightly, the others watched with a cocktail of emotions—a blend of admiration, concern, and a touch of guilt.
Each member of their team recognized the stakes, the potential for loss, and the fragile threads of their camaraderie that were now being tested.
In that moment, their unity became a lifeline, a flicker of hope amid the encroaching darkness.
Their shared purpose bound them together, forging a determination that transcended their individual struggles.
Cato's mind raced, his brows furrowing as he swiftly pieced together a plan.
Their lives depended on their coordination, their ability to exploit the enemy's weaknesses.
With each passing second, the weight of their mission pressed upon him, driving him to forge a strategy that would tilt the odds in their favor.
As Isaac braced himself, summoning the last reserves of his strength, the atmosphere crackled with a potent mix of trepidation and resolve.
They stood on the precipice, ready to face their nemesis, as the stakes soared to dizzying heights.
Isaac's jaw clenched, his body pulsating with an electric surge of adrenaline. Ignoring the searing pain coursing through his veins, he propelled himself forward, defying the limits of his battered form.
Every fiber of his being was focused, his mind sharp as a razor, as he engaged the formidable opponent with a calculated dance of martial prowess.
Each strike he unleashed, each feint and parry, were designed to exploit the man's vulnerabilities, to pierce through the armor of his unyielding defense.
Cato, his gaze fixed upon the unfolding clash, became a master conductor, orchestrating their collective assault with the precision of a virtuoso.
His mind whirled with ceaseless analysis, swiftly deciphering the patterns and openings within the enemy's technique. With a subtle nod, he communicated his tactical insight to the others, wordlessly conveying the plan that would turn the tide of the battle.
Ethan, fueled by a blend of unyielding determination and a primal fury, surged forward like an unstoppable force of nature.
His knuckles blazed with intensity, his every punch carrying the weight of his resolve. The air crackled with the unleashed power of each strike, a visceral testament to Ethan's unyielding spirit.
The enemy faltered, his confidence wavered, his surprise momentarily breaking through the façade of invincibility.
But the man swiftly regained his composure, retaliating with an uncanny swiftness and precision that left Ethan reeling, his body jarred by the impact of each punishing blow.
Emotion roiled beneath the surface—a volatile mix of hope, frustration, and a fierce determination to overcome the odds.
The battlefield became a stage for the clash of wills, the embodiment of their indomitable spirits. The stakes rose with each passing second, a relentless crescendo that set their hearts ablaze.
Status Power Mingguan
-- Peringkat
Power 
-- Power
stone