The Real Monster Appears

The arena was still roaring with cheers and disbelief.

Mri had won.

Dipangkar had surrendered.

But—

Something felt wrong.

A chill ran down Mri's spine.

His instincts screamed.

He turned around—

And then—

BOOM!

An unimaginable pressure crashed down on the entire arena.

It felt like the air itself had turned into concrete.

The audience gasped—some fell to their knees.

Ayang and Rihan's faces darkened.

Even Mri… felt it.

A step echoed across the arena floor.

Through the dust—

A figure emerged.

Dipangkar.

But—

Not the one Mri fought.

This Dipangkar was different.

Taller. Bulkier. His presence was suffocating.

And his Aura…

A deep green, darker than any Aura ever seen before.

His eyes…

Sharp. Cold. Dangerous.

"You've entertained my doppelgänger well," he said, his voice calm but powerful.

The crowd froze.

"Doppelgänger?"

Mri's fingers curled into a fist.

So that wasn't the real one.

The real Dipangkar was only now stepping into the fight.

And he was much, much stronger.

The Fear in the Air

Ayang gritted his teeth.

"This… This is bad."

Rihan was speechless.

The Revolutionary Stars felt the pressure weighing on their chests.

Even The Dragons' own members looked nervous.

One of The Dragons' division captains swallowed hard.

"The real Dipangkar… is a monster."

Even Tulina, standing in the crowd, clenched her fists.

She looked at Mri.

She knew him better than anyone.

And she knew—

For the first time… Mri was truly facing someone overwhelming.

Mri's Reaction

Mri didn't move.

He didn't let the fear show.

But inside—

He was intrigued.

Finally.

A real challenge.

Dipangkar smirked.

"I underestimated you."

He cracked his knuckles.

"But this time, I'm the one fighting."

The crowd held their breath.

Would Mri accept?

Would he fight again?

Would he survive?

Then—

A soft voice cut through the tension.

"That's enough, Dipangkar."

The Girl Who Changed Everything

Mri blinked.

A girl stepped between them.

She was slim, athletic, with long dark hair tied into a loose ponytail.

Her sharp blue eyes held no fear.

She didn't flinch under Dipangkar's aura.

The entire arena froze.

She walked forward, ignoring everyone else, and placed a hand on Dipangkar's chest.

"Stop showing off. You're embarrassing yourself."

Dipangkar's expression twitched.

Mri narrowed his eyes.

This girl…

She wasn't normal.

She was strong.

And the way she spoke to Dipangkar—

Like an equal.

"Who is she?" Rihan muttered.

The answer came from Ayang.

His voice was low. Serious.

"She's Jasmine. Dipangkar's younger sister."

Mri's eyes widened.

Dipangkar's sister?

A member of The Dragons?

Then—why was she stopping the fight?

Jasmine turned to Mri.

"You look tired."

Her voice was calm. Unbothered.

Then she turned back to Dipangkar.

"You won't fight him today."

Dipangkar frowned.

"You're interfering?"

Jasmine crossed her arms.

"It's not interference. It's common sense."

Dipangkar exhaled sharply.

Then, after a moment—

He smirked.

"Fine."

He turned back to Mri.

"Consider yourself lucky."

And with that—

He turned and walked away.

The arena exploded into chaos.

Mri didn't fight.

Dipangkar left.

Jasmine stopped the battle.

But in that moment—

Mri knew.

This girl…

Jasmine.

She was going to be important.

And for the first time in a long, long time—

He felt his heart skip a beat.

The Unshaken Girl

The arena was still buzzing with chaos.

Mri stood still, his gaze locked onto Jasmine.

Dipankar, the leader of The Dragons, had just walked away.

Not because he wanted to—

But because she told him to.

And he listened.

Who was this girl?

The Unshaken Girl

Jasmine turned to Mri.

"Are you alright?"

Her voice was soft but firm.

She looked him straight in the eyes—unshaken.

Mri, still catching his breath, didn't answer immediately.

He wasn't hurt. Just… surprised.

Jasmine studied him for a moment, then sighed.

"I thought so."

She turned to leave.

"Wait."

Mri's voice stopped her.

He wasn't used to curiosity—

But this girl felt different.

Jasmine glanced back.

"What?"

Mri frowned slightly.

"Who… are you?"

A small smirk played on her lips.

"Jasmine."

Short. Direct. No wasted words.

Then—

"I know that," Mri crossed his arms. "But why did you stop the fight?"

Jasmine's expression didn't change.

"Because it was pointless."

Ayang and Rihan, who had been watching silently, exchanged glances.

Rihan whispered, "She's not scared of Mri… or Dipangkar. That's rare."

Jasmine continued, "Dipangkar already won the moment he walked in. There was no need to prove it."

Mri's eyes narrowed.

"You think I would've lost?"

Jasmine shrugged.

"It wouldn't have mattered."

A subtle challenge.

Mri felt a flicker of annoyance.

And yet—

He wasn't angry.

He was intrigued.

Jasmine turned again, ready to leave.

"You'll see me again soon, Mri."

And with that—

She disappeared into the crowd.

The Aftermath

Tulina clenched her fists.

She had been watching the entire exchange from the stands.

And something about the way Mri looked at Jasmine—

It reminded her of how he used to look at her.

A strange feeling settled in her chest.

Jealousy? Regret?

She didn't know.

She turned and walked away before Mri could notice her.

Meanwhile, in The Dragons' Camp

Dipangkar sat in his tent, deep in thought.

Baikon, his vice president, looked confused.

"Why did you stop? You could've crushed Mri."

Dipangkar smirked.

"Maybe. But I've got time."

He leaned back, his dark green Aura flickering slightly.

"Mri isn't weak. But he's not ready yet."

Baikon frowned.

"Ready for what?"

Dipangkar's smirk widened.

"To understand his real place in this academy."

Later That Night

Mri sat on the academy rooftop, staring at the moon.

Jasmine's words echoed in his mind.

"It wouldn't have mattered."

He clenched his fists.

Something about her…

Something deep inside him stirred.

He didn't know what it was yet—

But he knew one thing for sure.

This wasn't the last time he'd cross paths with Jasmine.

And for the first time in a long time—

He wanted to see someone again.

Calm Before A Storm

A Hidden Intent

The academy grounds were quiet—too quiet.

Mri walked through the dimly lit corridor of the Revolutionary Stars' camp, his mind occupied by one thing—Dipangkar.

His aura had been unlike anything Mri had ever felt before.

Dense. Suffocating. Overwhelming.

Even Ayang and Rihan, both powerful in their own right, had remained silent in his presence.

Mri clenched his fists.

"If that was his true aura… I need to get stronger."

But there was something else bothering him.

Jasmine.

She had stopped the fight—without even lifting a finger.

And Dipanhkar had listened.

Who was she really?

A Meeting in the Shadows

Meanwhile, deep inside The Dragons' territory—

Dipangkar stood on a rooftop, arms crossed, looking down at the academy grounds.

Baikon, his vice president, stood beside him.

"You let Mri live today."

Dipangkar chuckled.

"I don't kill prey that hasn't realized it's being hunted."

Baikon smirked.

"So, he's just another stepping stone?"

Dipangkar's expression darkened.

"No. He's different."

Baikon raised an eyebrow.

"How?"

Dipangkar's green aura flickered.

"Because he carries something that no one else does—"

His eyes gleamed.

"A Yellow Aura."

Baikon stiffened.

"Impossible."

"Believe what you want." Dipangkar turned away. "But soon, everyone will know who Mri really is."

A Sudden Encounter

The next morning—

Mri was training alone, perfecting his stance when—

"You're overthinking it."

He turned sharply—Jasmine stood a few feet away, watching him with a neutral expression.

Mri exhaled.

"And you're everywhere."

She smirked.

"I have my reasons."

Mri studied her.

She didn't have an aura activated, but something about her felt... powerful.

"Why are you here?" he asked.

Jasmine walked closer.

"Because you interest me."

Mri raised an eyebrow.

"In what way?"

Jasmine crossed her arms.

"You're strong, but you don't know why yet."

Her gaze sharpened.

"Tell me, Mri—how much do you actually know about Auras?"

Mri stayed silent.

Did she know something he didn't?

Jasmine smirked.

"I thought so. Looks like I'll have to teach you myself."

Mri frowned.

"And why would I learn from you?"

Jasmine's golden eyes locked onto his.

"Because if you don't—Dipangkar will destroy you."

Mri tensed.

He hated to admit it—

But she was right.