"You two are going to fight each other," Bora-ra declared.

Petir and Tanah stared at each other grimly, both of their expressions stone cold. The sweat on their faces betrayed their brave facades.

Bora-ra was dead serious. They had no idea what their motive was, but they knew if they didn't oblige, something worse would occur. Despite this, they still had that little bit of fight left in them.

"Why?" Tanah demanded. "If you think you're going to make me fight my sister, you're sorely mistaken. What's your game, Bora-ra?"

In lightning speed, the alien lunged at the lightning manipulator and held her up by the throat, which was ironic, since Petir saw this coming. In spite of this, she didn't resist. She would rather let her take the pain rather than let Tanah be hurt for her sake.

He was crushing her wind pipe. She didn't struggle, but her fists were clenched. She couldn't die just yet. Not until Tanah was out of here. Her eyes flared blood red—

Bora-ra flung her against the wall, snapping her out of her building rage.

"Petir!" Tanah rushed to her side. Bora-ra didn't stop him.

Petir pushed his hands away, signalling that she was fine. Her neck was already starting to bruise.

The red-skinned criminal loomed over them. "If you don't fight," he threatened, brandishing his axe, "I will kill the both of you slowly."

Tanah and Petir's hearts sank.

* * *

Ever since the airplane fiasco, Air and Angin hung out more often. Mostly to hone their skills and their synchronization, but their friendship had strengthened nonetheless. Having a positive point of view was different from Api's pessimistic perspective.

"How did you get your powers?" Angin breathed, wiping sweat off his brow. No matter how cold Ais's powers may be, the physical training had taken a toll off his body. If it wasn't for his and Api's previous workouts, he might not have made it halfway through.

Air's eyes were on the birds in the nest. "Hm? Did you say anything?"

Angin pouted. "Aw, I feel so neglected." He plopped himself next to Air, sitting on the grass. "I asked how'd you discovered your abilities."

She looked at him. "I got mine by saving someone from drowning." Her eyes fell on her boots. "What about you?"

Angin's smile turned melancholy. Stretching, he laid back onto the flora, arms crossed to provide comfort for his head.

"I accidentally pushed Daun off a high tree. Like the ones in jungles." His eyes closed, as if reliving the moment. "It's been years, but I can't forget. I still see her scared face. She knew that she was going to die. She forgot because of her young age, but I..."

He paused and bit his lip. A sour feeling struck his nose, and he knew he was going to break down again. Not now. Not in front of someone close to his sister. He couldn't afford to let Daun worry over him. He didn't deserve it.

Air's lips parted, but she closed it instantly. She knew what pain felt like. She'd seen Api return beaten up and bruised. But causing your loved one pain by your own hand unintentionally? She couldn't imagine.

As much as she was desperate to help, she was reluctant to intrude in his personal life.

If he needed help, she'll be right here.

* * *

Gempa dodged another electrical sword. The lightning's hum buzzed by his left momentarily before returning to the back. Raising a barrier, the sword was deeply embedded into the rock, its lightning bouncing off harmlessly.

The beak Halilintar's cap was lowered like the grim reaper. She was ten times deadlier in this form, but he could sense her reluctancy. Neither of them wanted to harm each other.

If he could knock her out, she would be out. She won't have to suffer. But him? Not so much. If it meant Petir would be safe, he would accept it. It's his responsibility as her brother. He had promised to save her from pain.

Bora-ra and his minions were watching. He and his sister were barricaded from them by a layer of energy. Their laughs and taunts were audible, but they tuned them out.

He summoned a golem. A fissure cracked from the ground and out crawled a stone giant with molten gold flowing through its joints. His fists tightened.

"Petir, I'm sorry," he whispered. He raised his arm, and the golem followed his movements. The golem's gigantic arm was raised to crush Halilintar, who had made no attempt to dodge.

Closing his eyes, he made the blow. The eruption of an explosion burst from the area, and he knew he had hurt his sister physically. Tears rushed to his eyes—

A hand clamped over his eyes.

"I'm sorry," Halilintar whispered. Something was shoved into his mouth. Out of instinct, he swallowed the bitter taste of a sleeping pill.

His world spun. His feet started to stumble, his world spinning. Through his blurry vision, he could see that Halilintar remained frozen in her spot. There were tears in her scarlet eyes.

Gempa's head hit the ground, and Halilintar had won this battle.

* * *

Api's muscles burned. His spine seemed like they were being welded together by torches. His entire body racked with agony, but he didn't stop. He kept pushing the barbells up and refused to halt.

I'm a fucking screw up, he thought in anger. Everything he touched dies. Everything he tried to make better turned worse. He was a fucking failure. A cast out. A dysfunctional gear in the system.

Working out was the only thing that kept him going. It kept him alive, letting the blood gush in his ears, roaring in his head. It was the one thing that physical violence was logical.

It was also the one thing he didn't screw up.

His arms turned to jelly. The barbell suddenly seemed too heavy for him to handle. It threatened to crush him, going dangerously low to his chest.

Api screamed. His pent-up frustration and grief were released in this desperate act of survival. Adrenaline burst through his veins. With a roar, he pushed the dead weight off him and dropped it on the floor, the marble shattering upon the impact.

He laid there, arms dangling off both sides of the backrest. His sweat mixed with his tears. His body was burning with soreness.

Not yet, he told himself. Not until I stop crying over this stupid matter.

The gym was his sanctuary, but it was also his personal torture centre.

* * *

Petir watched her brother's elemental form melt away, revealing the male who had worked so hard for her cause, who'd abandoned everything just for her.

She fell to her knees, staring at his serene, unconscious face.

She couldn't cry. She just stared at him, thanking him for all he's done for her. Her tears socket wouldn't work. Waves after waves of grief and sadness crashed into her, but she can't cry. Her tears refused to fall. People said crying was a method of mental regeneration—to heal whatever's broken.

She wasn't broken. Crying couldn't fix her.

Petir was shattered.

I'm sorry. I'm sorry. I'm sorry. I'm sorry. I'm sorry.

Apologizing couldn't fix things anymore.

The energy barrier dissolved, followed by a series of slow clapping.

"Congratulations." Bora-ra's voice was sickly sweet, but laced with venom. "I see I have my next righthand man ready for service. If you refuse, your brother will be disposed of. Is that clear?"

"Yes," Petir answered robotically. Her actions disgusted her. She had hurt her brother. It was the final string that had snapped. The string that connected her to reality. She had severed the connection by her own hand.

Sitting on her knees, she could only watch as KikiTa dragged the unconscious Tanah back to his cell, leaving her alone with the devil himself.

"Rise, my lieutenant," Bora-ra said. "Your loyalty is to me only."

Mind blank, Petir obliged.

She looked up to her new master and bowed down to him, her knee and fist cold against the metal floor.

"Yes, my lord."