The Final Battle

Satria stood unsteadily on the cracked and blood-stained floor. His body was covered in wounds, his breathing was labored, and his vision was beginning to blur. Blood flowed from the wound on his right shoulder, making the arm almost immovable. Another wound on his thigh made every step feel like torture. Yet, despite being in such a dire condition, Satria still stood, refusing to fall.

In front of him lay the lifeless body of his mentor. The brutal battle that had just ended had claimed the life of the person he had always considered his guide, caregiver, and protector. Even though Satria had emerged victorious, the victory felt bitter. Satria's eyes swept over his mentor's face, now serene, as if the heavy burden he had carried all this time had lifted with his death.

But Satria didn't have time to mourn his mentor's passing. In the oppressive silence, he heard the sound of slow but steady footsteps approaching. Satria looked up warily, and there, at the shattered doorway, stood a figure he knew all too well.

A man with a solid build and an aura full of arrogance emerged from the darkness. His clean and flawless face radiated an extraordinary pride. He wore crisp black clothing, in stark contrast to the chaos around him. In his hand, he held a long sword, its sharp metal glinting menacingly.

"Apex Branch Leader..." Satria muttered, his voice barely audible from exhaustion.

The man smiled coldly, his eyes full of mockery as he looked at the nearly defenseless Satria. "Look at yourself, Satria. You truly deserve a reward for your bravery in fighting your own mentor. But unfortunately, that bravery won't save you this time."

Satria gritted his teeth, struggling to remain standing despite his body's desperate plea for rest. "So you just waited... waited for us to destroy each other, then came to finish off whatever was left."

The branch leader stepped closer, his sword hovering in the air with a graceful yet threatening motion. "You're right, Satria. I didn't need to dirty my hands when you could do it for me. Now, in this condition, killing you is just a formality."

Satria felt a burning anger inside him, but he knew he had to keep his head cool. In this state, he couldn't let his emotions take control. "You think this will be easy? I'm still standing here, and I can still fight!"

The branch leader chuckled, then looked sharply at Satria. "Really? You can't even lift your arm properly. But alright, if you want to try, I'll be more than happy to oblige."

With terrifying speed, the branch leader darted forward, his sword swinging with full force. Satria, with whatever reflexes he had left, managed to dodge, though his movement was slower than usual. The sword struck the ground where he had been standing, creating deep cracks that spread in all directions.

Satria knew he couldn't face this man in a normal fight. He was too injured and exhausted. However, he also knew he had no other choice but to fight. With each breath he took, he felt his strength waning, but his fighting spirit hadn't dimmed.

Satria gripped the dagger he had taken from one of his previous enemies, raising it with his left hand, the only one still capable of movement. He knew this was not the ideal weapon to face a long sword, but it was the only weapon he had. His eyes locked onto the branch leader, searching for an opening, a weakness.

The branch leader's smile widened, filled with satisfaction. "You really want to fight with that dagger? Pathetic, Satria. You should just surrender and accept your fate."

Without waiting for a reply, the branch leader launched another attack, this time faster and more ferocious. His sword sliced through the air, aiming for Satria's neck with a deadly precision. Satria barely managed to evade, feeling the cold wind from the sword that almost tore his skin.

Satria knew he had to do something, and he had to do it quickly. He decided to close in on his opponent, reducing the distance where the long sword would be more difficult to use effectively. With faltering steps, he advanced, trying to close the gap.

The branch leader realized Satria's intent and moved back slightly, maintaining a safe distance between them. He swung his sword again, this time targeting Satria's body with a powerful horizontal strike. Satria ducked low, avoiding the slash, and quickly leaped forward, aiming his dagger at his opponent's abdomen.

But the branch leader was not an easy opponent to predict. He managed to parry the attack with the hilt of his sword, causing Satria to lose his balance and forcing him to retreat again. "Do you really think you can get close to me in this state?" he mocked, launching a counterattack with his sword spinning like a lightning flash.

The attack struck Satria's left arm, causing him to drop the dagger from his grasp. Satria stifled a scream as blood spurted from the wound in his arm. He staggered back, weaponless and growing weaker with every passing second.

The branch leader saw his opportunity and attacked mercilessly. His sword aimed at Satria's stomach with full force. However, in a move that seemed almost impossible given his physical condition, Satria managed to dodge, and the sword only grazed his skin, creating a deep but non-fatal wound.

Satria knew he couldn't last much longer. With every movement, he felt his body growing heavier, the excruciating pain radiating throughout his body. Yet, amidst the suffering, he realized something. There was one way to defeat this branch leader, one way that carried a high risk, but it might be the only chance he had.

With labored breathing, Satria stood tall, even though his body trembled from exhaustion and pain. He looked straight into the branch leader's eyes and spoke in a soft but determined voice, "You're wrong if you think I've lost. This fight isn't over yet."

The branch leader laughed, thinking Satria was merely bluffing. "Oh, really? What else can you do in this condition?"

Satria didn't respond. Instead, he closed his eyes for a moment, gathering the remaining strength within him. He knew that this final strike had to be perfect, or it would all end here. He opened his eyes and stepped forward with renewed resolve.

The branch leader saw Satria approaching and prepared to end it all with one final blow. He swung his sword again, this time intending to decapitate Satria. However, Satria was ready. With nearly invisible speed, he sidestepped, avoiding the deadly strike, and with a swift motion, he grabbed his fallen dagger from the ground.

Satria quickly turned, using the momentum of his movement to launch an attack toward his opponent's wrist. The branch leader hadn't anticipated such a quick counter, and before he could react, Satria's dagger had already pierced his wrist, causing him to lose his grip on the sword.

The sword fell to the ground with a sharp clang, while the branch leader retreated with a face full of anger and shock. He saw blood flowing from his wrist, and for the first time, he realized he might have underestimated his opponent.

Satria didn't give him a chance to think. He lunged forward, launching a flurry of attacks with his dagger, aiming for the vital points on his opponent's body.