Then Rivan shot up into the sky, approaching Baskara.
"Heh... Kid, how dare you cause chaos in my house!" he shouted, his spiritual voice echoing across the distance between them.
Baskara merely smirked and replied with a mocking tone,
"Of course... a house that suppresses its own child isn't a home at all. That's why I believe I have every right to cause chaos in a place like this."
Rivan snorted. "Arrogant brat! Before I beat you up, tell me—what's your business here?"
With a calm and indifferent demeanor, Baskara replied,
"I came here... to retrieve my mother. She's being held by an old goat who arrogantly dares to call this place a home."
Rivan furrowed his brows. "Your mother? What's her name, huh?"
"Alright, old man... Listen closely," Baskara said, locking eyes with him. "My mother's name is Tirta. Remember that! Tirta is my mother! And anyone who dares lay a hand on her... come forward—and face me!"
Baskara slowly raised his hand and activated the Fifth Layer of Tapak Geni.
In an instant, the sky changed. The air turned scorching hot. Trees began to dry up, and some houses started to catch fire.
A massive virtual hand, stretching hundreds of meters across the sky, formed perfectly—its surface blazing with fire. The technique was visible from hundreds of kilometers away, as if a fiery divine punishment was descending from the heavens.
Realizing the overwhelming power, Rivan quickly activated the main protective formation around the great house.
He created a giant bowl-shaped shield and hurled it into the sky, aiming directly at Baskara's Tapak Geni. His intent was clear—to push the technique upward, away from the ground to avoid casualties.
The main building was now protected by a double-layered formation. Yet, Rivan cursed in his heart, "Damn it..."
His eyes stared hard at the young man before him. That face... it looked too much like Tirta. It was like staring at her male reflection.
Doubt began to cloud Rivan's mind. Who is this boy's father? Did Tirta cheat on me? Has she been hiding this child all along?
Those questions struck his mind like a storm, stirring emotions mixed with fear and anger that he couldn't yet untangle.
Meanwhile, Baskara floated calmly in midair. His expression was indifferent—no rage, even though the sky seemed ready to collapse.
He had no intention of destroying Rivan's home. This was a calculated intimidation—a clear message that if his mother was oppressed, he would not stand idly by.
He had considered everything. He knew the main building was protected by spiritual formations. And also… someone was watching him from behind the scenes.
Boom!
The devastating strike from the Fifth Layer of Tapak Geni collided directly with the protective formation conjured by Marvin.
A thunderous roar tore through the air, as if two worlds had clashed. The explosion shattered the silence, shaking both sky and earth.
In the sky, clouds rapidly scattered as if fleeing from the unleashed power. Winds born from the clash surged violently, reaching hundreds of miles in all directions.
The Fifth Layer of Tapak Geni released waves of searing heat, drying the atmosphere.
The giant virtual hand in the sky, blazing with fire, seemed to embrace the world with fingers poised to destroy everything. Flames shot into the sky, forming blazing trails that were barely held back by the formation protecting Rivan's residence.
Rivan's protective formation, forged from spiritual energy, soared into the sky and touched the core of Tapak Geni. Though it managed to intercept the attack, it wasn't strong enough to completely deflect it.
Instead, the massive force of the technique caused the formation to tremble violently, cracking in several areas. Reflected fire and energy burst into the heavens, creating a swirling fiery cloud as the technique's power continued to spread, shaking the world.
Down below—in the residential area of Rivan's family—houses near the impact zone were hit by the intense winds.
Buildings shook violently, window panes shattered, doors slammed open and shut under the pressure, and nearby trees began to split or fall due to the overpowering shockwave.
Yet, the ground and homes remained largely intact. There was no direct fire damage, as the technique's force was focused upward—through air pressure and heat.
Still, the terrifying winds, surging at nearly immeasurable speed, nearly tore apart the residential area. Fragile trees were snapped in an instant, and weaker buildings began to crack at their walls and foundations.
There were no flames consuming the ground or buildings—but the destruction caused by wind and air pressure was unmistakable.
Behind the barrier, Rivan, filled with confusion and rising concern, witnessed the aftermath of the clash.
"Damn it!" he cursed in his heart, growing even more furious at the sight of Baskara's calm and indifferent stance, even as the world around him was threatened.
Rivan now understood—this was no ordinary confrontation. This was a strike far beyond their comprehension.
And now, he realized that Baskara—Tirta's son—was no ordinary youth.
Seeing the massive clash between the fifth layer of Tapak Geni and the protective formation he had cast, Rivan was truly annoyed. Even though there were no casualties, the widespread destruction and his inability to contain it completely made him furious. The residential areas below were only hit by hot wind, but that alone was enough to cause chaos.
"Damn kid…" he muttered under his breath, his eyes sharply locked onto the figure of a calm teenager standing in the air amidst the lingering spiritual pressure.
Various thoughts raced through his mind—who exactly was this boy? How could he be this strong? Why did he resemble Tirta? And… why did he call Tirta his mother?
Not long after, several elderly figures with equally powerful auras began appearing around Marvin. The elders of the family, who had been resting in their quarters, had come due to the unusual spiritual pressure.
"Who is this child, Marvin?" one of them asked, his voice deep yet authoritative. His sharp gaze cut through the tense air.
Marvin clenched his jaw, still holding back the surge of emotion. "He claims to be Tirta's son… but I can't believe it. How could that child be this grown up already? Did Tirta have an affair and bear a child without my knowledge?" he muttered in frustration, a mix of anger and shame in his voice.
The elder examined Baskara more closely. His eyes scanned every inch of the young man's face—his eyes, jawline, and long black hair. That face… it resembled Tirta too much in her youth.
"So alike… like a reflection of Tirta in male form," the elder murmured softly, beginning to feel that the young man's claim wasn't just an empty bluff.
"In that case, let me be the one to speak with him," another elder said, stepping forward calmly but with great authority.
He looked up at Baskara, who still stood in the air, surrounded by an aura of heat that was slowly fading. "Son, if you truly are Tirta's child, why cause such a commotion in our family's residence?" he asked in a deep, wise voice, trying to bridge the chaos that had just occurred.
Baskara raised his chin slightly, his tone sarcastic but calm. "I'm not someone who acts thoughtlessly. Of course I have a reason," he replied, staring directly at the elders.
"My mother is being held here… and you even want to make her a pawn in a matchmaking game, forcing her to divorce my father. Disgusting."
Baskara's words brought a brief silence. The elders exchanged glances, while Marvin clenched his teeth, struggling to suppress his anger—and a creeping sense of guilt.
The elder who had spoken earlier remained calm. "Very well then… it's best we talk inside. You can meet your mother directly. Let's resolve this peacefully."
But Baskara shook his head slightly. "No need. I'm very busy. I just came to pick up my mother and leave. No small talk. Not even a drink."
His tone made it clear that there would be no long negotiations today. Hearing that, Rivan finally nodded. "Alright… wait here. I'll inform Tirta."
He quickly descended and entered the main building. A moment later, he returned, accompanied by a graceful woman who looked slightly tense—Tirta.
The moment her eyes landed on the figure of Baskara standing firm in the air, Tirta froze. Her eyes widened, her breath caught. She was paralyzed not from fear… but from shock. The child who used to be so cheerful and small now stood before her… with the body of a twenty-year-old, sharp features that reminded her of her youth, and a spiritual aura that made the ground tremble.
"My son… is it really you?" Tirta's voice trembled as she embraced Baskara tightly, as if to confirm he was truly there.
"Of course, Mom. It's me," Baskara replied gently, hugging his mother. "Don't worry… everything's fine now. I can protect you. And now… it's best we go home."
Tirta nodded, then glanced toward a corner of the compound that looked a bit damaged. "But before that, let's go down for a bit. I want you to meet my younger sister."
Baskara simply nodded and followed behind. They walked toward a house with cracked walls and a front yard full of debris from the earlier clash.
"Son, this is Risa… my younger sister," Tirta said, introducing a woman standing in the doorway. Her face was graceful, with sharp yet gentle eyes. Though beautiful, Tirta's presence still felt more comforting and warm to Baskara.
"Aunt, I'm Baskara," he said respectfully.
"Oh, so you're my nephew…" Risa chuckled. "You're brave to challenge your own grandfather, huh?"
"Grandfather?" Baskara raised an eyebrow, a bit confused.
"Yeah, the one you fought earlier… Marvin. He's your mom's biological father. So, your grandfather."
Baskara scratched his nose while leaning back casually. "Oh… that makes sense. Fits the title of 'old man' just fine," he said nonchalantly, pretending to pick his ear.
Tirta smiled at her son's remark. "Alright, Ris, we'll take our leave now. Come visit sometime."
"Of course, Sis," Risa replied, waving lightly.
Without further words, Baskara and Tirta soared into the sky, leaving the Rivan family estate and flying toward their home—a home that had never truly felt complete without each other.