Phase 1: Rise of the Orphan Blade
Chapter 5: The Nexus Under Siege
Part 1: Gambit and Assault
Kerisforge Stronghold had made me a Kirin Blade, but its shadows were a crucible, forging my resolve against a war that refused to relent. I'm Rentap Buana, sixteen, bound to a vow from Blood Island, a keris that burned with jade light, and a fight that had become my soul's fire. Rahzeth's capture and his revelations—my parents' betrayal, Taring Zenhmaut's vengeance, new strongholds like Ironveil Spire—had shaken the Nexus, but the Clan's rally had bound us tighter, a family forged in jade and blood. I want to share with you what it was like to prepare for a strike that could turn the tide, to face an attack that brought the war to Kerisforge's gates, and to learn that being a Kirin Blade isn't just about planning—it's about standing when the shadows strike first. This is the part of my story where the war came home, and I found strength in the light we carried together.
The Starlit Spire's rally lingered in me, the jade rune on my vambrace a constant hum, syncing with Taming Jiwa's pulse, a reminder of my role—Kirin Blade, adept, leader in a war that was no longer distant. Aisha and Rizwan were my anchors, their coral-etched and humming kerises glowing, their loyalty forged in Starfall Hollow, the Coral Abyss, Black Coral Ridge, Moonshadow Cove. Taming Jiwa was my guide, its jade light deeper since the Starlit Kirin's trial, the coral orb, Lila's bead, the rune pouch, Suri's jade-edged dagger, and my rusted kerambit my ties to Jaya and Mira, my parents, whose legacy, tainted or not, drove my vow. My scars—kirin's mark, shoulder, thigh, arm, side, leg—were healed but ever-present, the mantra Ya Rahman, Ya Rahim my rhythm, Astra-Nusantara Silat forms—Storm Claw, Veil Tide, Iron Surge, Star Whisper, Sky Fang—flowing sharper, jade waves bright in the coral arena.
Kerisforge was a fortress of purpose, novices training with fierce focus, adepts patrolling coral halls, elders' staff taps a steady drumbeat. Master Zainah pushed us harder, Aisha's precision a dance, Rizwan's fire a storm, our spars a testament to the Nexus Grounds, our bond unyielding. Kadir was our guide, his staff tapping coral, his eyes sharp with strategies, while Suri's smirk promised battles, her daggers glinting with intent. The Shadow Nexus Map, Idris's betrayal, Hafiz's ambush, the Starlit Kirin's rune, Rahzeth's truth—they were pieces of a war, and Taming Jiwa's pulse, Assyafiee's whisper, my mother's plea to find them, burned in my heart. I was a Kirin Blade, but Ironveil Spire loomed, and Taring Zenhmaut's shadow was moving faster than we'd hoped.
It began in the forge's heart, a jade-lit cavern where ley lines hummed, coral walls pulsing, anime-style energy flickering like the Nexus itself. Elder Amira called us—me, Aisha, Rizwan, Kadir, Suri, Zainah, Elder Rahim, Elder Laila—her starlit staff planted, the Shadow Nexus Map spread across a coral table, Ironveil Spire's red rune glowing like blood, Starless Depths and Crimson Hollow faint but ominous. The crimson shard from Moonshadow glowed faintly, sealed in jade, a reminder of the Tide's chaos, Rahzeth's words—The Tide's followers are everywhere—heavy in the air.
Amira's voice was sharp, urgent. "Ironveil Spire is Taring Zenhmaut's stronghold, a fortress of coral and iron, guarding a ley line nexus. Rahzeth named it their heart, where the Crimson Tide's remnants regroup. We need to infiltrate, gather their plans, weaken their hold. Rentap, Aisha, Rizwan, with Kadir and Suri, you'll lead the gambit. The Nexus trusts you, but Ironveil is a fortress, not a cave."
I gripped Taming Jiwa, its pulse a storm, the coral orb glowing, the Starlit Kirin's rune burning in my mind, visions flickering—Assyafiee, his keris raised, kirins diving through a crimson sea, my parents' blades glowing, urging me forward. "What's the plan?" I asked, my voice steady but heavy, the Kirin Blade's burden clear. "Ironveil's not Moonshadow. It's fortified, guarded."
Kadir stepped forward, his staff glowing, a coral slab rising, etched with Ironveil's layout—towers, coral gates, ley line conduits. "The spire's core is a sanctum, like Moonshadow's, but shielded by iron runes. We infiltrate through the underchannels, coral tunnels beneath the spire, sabotage their ley line conduits, and steal their plans. Stealth is key—strike and vanish."
Suri's smirk flashed, her daggers catching the jade light. "Sneaking's my game, Blood Island. But Ironveil's crawling with wraiths and worse. We'll need more than Veil Tide."
Aisha's coral-etched keris glowed softly, her voice calm but sharp. "The underchannels are a maze. We'll need the Kirin's rune to guide us, and a distraction to clear the gates."
Rizwan grinned, his humming keris tight in his grip. "I'm good at distractions. Let's light up their shadows."
Zainah nodded, her armor glinting. "I'll lead adepts to hit the outer defenses, draw their eyes. You five—Rentap, Aisha, Rizwan, Suri, Kadir—go for the sanctum. The Nexus needs proof of their plans."
Rahim's scarred arms crossed, his voice gruff. "Ironveil's wraiths are trained, not wild. Your Silat must be flawless, Kirin Blades."
Laila's silver hair glowed, her coral staff pulsing. "The Starlit Kirin's rune will guide you, Rentap. Trust Taming Jiwa, trust your team. The Nexus is with you."
Amira's staff tapped, ley lines flaring. "Go with caution. Ironveil is Taring Zenhmaut's pride, and they'll guard it fiercely. Return with proof, return whole."
We left the forge, Taming Jiwa warm, the Kirin's rune a beacon, Aisha and Rizwan's trust a fire, Suri's daggers a promise, Kadir's nod steady. The Ironveil Gambit was a blade, cutting closer to Taring Zenhmaut's heart, and I'd carry it, for my parents, for the Nexus.
Preparation was intense, the next dawn a blur of coral halls and jade-lit forges. Suri drilled us in Veil Tide, sharpening our stealth for Ironveil's underchannels, jade waves cloaked in shadow, while Kadir taught us to disrupt ley line conduits, Taming Jiwa's pulse syncing with their hum, the coral orb amplifying its glow. Aisha's Silat was precise, Rizwan's fierce, our forms a unit, like the Nexus Grounds had forged. We packed light—Taming Jiwa, Suri's dagger, the kerambit, the rune pouch, Lila's bead, the coral orb—each a piece of my path, from Crimson Cliff to Kerisforge. Zainah gave us coral disruptors, rune-etched shards to break the conduits, and warned, "Ironveil's chaos will fight back. Stay together."
But the war didn't wait for our plans. At midnight, as we readied the war-boats, a coral horn blared, its wail echoing through Kerisforge, ley lines trembling, jade flames flaring in the spires. Taring Zenhmaut had struck—war-boats, black as shadow, their red-runed sails glowing, crashing into Kerisforge's bay, wraiths and warriors pouring onto the coral docks, crimson waves bursting, anime-style chaos clashing with jade in the dark.
Zainah's voice roared, her armor glowing, her keris raised. "To the docks! Kirin Blades, hold the line!"
I drew Taming Jiwa, its jade waves bursting, Storm Claw steadying me, the mantra Ya Rahman, Ya Rahim in my soul. "They're hitting us now," I said, my voice raw, Aisha and Rizwan at my side, Suri's daggers glinting, Kadir's staff blazing. The Ironveil Gambit was on hold—the Shadow's First Strike was here, and Kerisforge was the battlefield.
The docks were chaos, coral cracking, jade and crimson waves clashing, anime-style bursts lighting the night. Novices fought with desperate focus, adepts weaving Silat, elders' mantras stabilizing ley lines. Aisha wove Star Whisper, her coral-etched keris precise, cutting through wraiths, Rizwan's Iron Surge fierce, shattering guards, their jade waves syncing with mine. Suri struck like a tempest, her daggers a blur, Kadir's staff weaving jade waves, a shield against crimson tides.
I fought with Veil Tide, cloaking my steps, Sky Fang feinting, Iron Surge powering my strikes, jade waves breaking crimson, a wraith's red-runed keris grazing my arm, chaos burning, my leg's scar aching. The enemy was relentless, their warriors led by a shadow captain, their black coral armor etched with red runes, their keris blazing, crimson waves heavy, twisting ley lines, stronger than Moonshadow's wraiths.
"Kirin Blade," the captain hissed, their voice cold, their eyes sharp, knowing. "Rahzeth's fall changes nothing. Taring Zenhmaut claims the Nexus."
I countered with Star Whisper, the Kirin's rune guiding me, my jade wave clashing, coral splintering, blood mixing with seawater, a new cut on my forearm burning. "The Nexus stands," I said, my voice raw, Taming Jiwa blazing. Aisha flanked them, her Silat fluid, Rizwan's strikes covering me, Suri's daggers relentless, Kadir's mantra steadying the docks' pulse.
The captain was fierce, their crimson waves overwhelming, ley lines twisting, threatening to break. I felt doubt, Rahzeth's truth—The Nexus is a lie—Idris's voice, my parents' fall, but Taming Jiwa's pulse was fire, Assyafiee's soul, Aisha and Rizwan's trust, urging me on. I whispered the mantra, weaving Star Whisper with Iron Surge, my jade wave a spear, shattering the captain's guard, Aisha disarming them, Rizwan breaking their stance, Suri's dagger at their throat.
"Fall back," I said, Taming Jiwa glowing, jade waves bright, the Nexus's light in my strike. The captain laughed, their red runes fading, their keris ash, as Suri bound them, Kadir sealing their sigil. The wraiths retreated, their war-boats fleeing, crimson waves fading, Kerisforge's jade light holding firm.
The docks were scarred, coral cracked, blood mixing with seawater, but Kerisforge stood. Zainah rallied the adepts, novices tending wounds, elders stabilizing ley lines. I stood with Aisha and Rizwan, Taming Jiwa in my hands, its pulse warm, the coral orb, bead, and rune pouch my anchors, the Kirin's rune glowing, tied to the war's chaos. The shadow's strike had tested us, but the Clan's strength—our strength—had held.
Kadir's hand rested on my shoulder, his nod proud. "You held the line, Rentap. Ironveil waits, but tonight, the Nexus is ours."
Suri's smirk returned, her daggers glinting. "Nice work, Blood Island. Ready for the spire?"
Aisha's eyes were steady, her keris glowing. "We're stronger now. Taring Zenhmaut won't break us."
Rizwan grinned, his blade humming. "Let's take Ironveil and burn their plans."
I nodded, Taming Jiwa warm, visions of my parents, Assyafiee, the Nexus, burning bright. The shadow's strike was a warning, but Kerisforge was our home, Aisha and Rizwan my family, Kadir and Suri my guides, the Nexus our purpose. Ironveil Spire was next, and we'd face it, with jade, with fire, with a vow that wouldn't break.
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