Phase 1: Rise of the Orphan Blade
Chapter 5: The Nexus Under Siege
Part 4: Council and Clash
Kerisforge Stronghold had shaped me into a Kirin Blade, but its shadows were a tide, pushing me to rise or drown. I'm Rentap Buana, sixteen, bound to a vow from Blood Island, a keris that blazed with jade light, and a fight that had become my soul's fire. The Crimson Codex and Starless Depths' tablet had laid bare Taring Zenhmaut's war—a network of strongholds, ley lines twisted to forge a Crimson Nexus, a mirror to our own. Rahzeth's truth, Ironveil's fall, the docks' defense, Starless Depths' crimson heart—they were battles, but Crimson Hollow, the final stronghold named in the codex, was a wound we had to close. I want to share with you what it was like to stand among elders and plan a war, to lead a strike into a hollow where chaos reigned, and to learn that being a Kirin Blade isn't just about courage—it's about carrying the Clan's hope when the shadows scream victory. This is the part of my story where the Nexus struck back, and I found strength in the light we forged together.
Starless Depths had tested us, Aisha and Rizwan's loyalty a fire that burned unyielding, our Kirin Blade bond a shield against Taring Zenhmaut's chaos. Taming Jiwa was my anchor, its jade pulse 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—shadowed by betrayal—drove my vow. My scars—kirin's mark, shoulder, thigh, arm, side, leg, forearm, new side cut—ached faintly, 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 resolve, novices training with fierce purpose, adepts patrolling coral halls, elders' staff taps a drumbeat of war. Master Zainah pushed us harder, Aisha's coral-etched keris weaving with grace, Rizwan's humming keris fierce, our spars a dance of trust forged in Starfall Hollow, the Coral Abyss, Black Coral Ridge, Moonshadow Cove, the docks, Ironveil, Starless Depths. Kadir was our guide, his staff tapping coral, his eyes sharp with strategies, while Suri's smirk was a blade, her daggers glinting with intent. The Shadow Nexus Map, Idris's betrayal, Hafiz's ambush, Rahzeth's truth, the codex's weight—they were steps in 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, adept, but Crimson Hollow loomed, and the Nexus needed us to end it.
It began in the council chamber, a coral cavern glowing with ley lines, jade flames casting shadows, anime-style energy flickering like the Nexus itself. Elder Amira summoned us—me, Aisha, Rizwan, Kadir, Suri, Zainah, Elder Rahim, Elder Laila—her starlit staff planted, the Shadow Nexus Map spread across a coral table, Crimson Hollow's red rune pulsing, Ironveil and Starless Depths dim but ominous. The Crimson Codex and Starless Depths' tablet lay sealed in jade, their red runes a map of Taring Zenhmaut's war—a final ritual to fuse ley lines, to birth a Crimson Nexus.
Amira's voice cut through, sharp as coral. "The codex and tablet confirm Taring Zenhmaut's plan—a Crimson Nexus, a chaos heart to break our own. Crimson Hollow is their last named stronghold, a coral valley where their final ritual brews. We strike now, disrupt their nexus, end the Tide. Rentap, your team has faced their shadows—lead the assault, with the Clan behind you."
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 soaring over a crimson valley, my parents' blades glowing, urging me forward. "What's the plan?" I asked, my voice steady but heavy, the Kirin Blade's burden clear. "Crimson Hollow's not Ironveil or the Depths—it's open, exposed, but their ritual's strong."
Kadir stepped forward, his staff glowing, a coral slab rising, etched with Crimson Hollow's layout—valleys, coral spires, ley line nodes. "The hollow's nexus point is a coral altar, like Starless Depths, but larger, guarded by sentinels, wraiths, and a ritual master. We assault the valley, sabotage the nodes, and break the altar. Speed and force are key—hit hard, hit fast."
Suri's smirk flashed, her daggers catching the jade light. "Open ground, big fight? I'm in, Blood Island. But their master won't be like Rahzeth—they'll be ready."
Aisha's coral-etched keris glowed softly, her voice calm but sharp. "The nodes are spread across the valley. We'll need to split, cover ground, and regroup at the altar."
Rizwan grinned, his humming keris tight in his grip. "I'll take a node and burn it down. Let's end their Tide."
Zainah nodded, her armor glinting. "Rentap, Aisha, Rizwan, Suri, Kadir—you'll lead the vanguard, sabotage the nodes, and strike the altar. I'll lead adepts to clear the valley's edges, hold their forces. The Nexus needs this clean."
Rahim's scarred arms crossed, his voice gruff. "The ritual master will wield chaos, like Ironveil's warden, but stronger. 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 the Nexus's light. Break their ritual, end the Hollow, return whole."
We left the chamber, 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 war council had set our path, Crimson Hollow our target, and I'd lead it, for my parents, for the Nexus.
Preparation was swift, the day a blur of coral halls and jade-lit forges. Suri drilled us in Iron Surge, sharpening our strikes for the valley's open ground, jade waves heavy as coral, while Kadir taught us to disrupt ley line nodes, 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. 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 nodes, and warned, "The Hollow's chaos will test you. Stay together."
We left at dusk, war-boats cutting through the bay, their kirin sails dark under starlight, Kerisforge's spires fading into the sea's black. Kadir steered ours, Suri at the bow, her daggers glinting, Aisha and Rizwan at my side, their kerises ready. Zainah led the second, adepts silent, their jade armor glowing, ready to clear the valley's edges. The sea was restless, ley lines pulsing with chaos, Taming Jiwa's jade pulse fierce, the Kirin's rune guiding me, visions of Assyafiee and my parents steadying my heart.
Crimson Hollow loomed, a coral valley carved into cliffs, its spires glowing with red runes, ley lines twisted, anime-style crimson flickers clashing with jade in the dark. The nexus point was central, an altar pulsing with Taring Zenhmaut's sigil, three ley line nodes fueling its chaos. Zainah's team struck first, jade waves bursting at the valley's edges, drawing sentinels and wraiths, their red-runed kerises blazing, crimson waves clashing, a distraction to cover our path.
We split, Veil Tide cloaking us, Suri and Kadir taking one node, Aisha and Rizwan another, me alone for the third, our plan to regroup at the altar. The Crimson Hollow Assault was fire, jade against crimson, coral spires cracking, ley lines trembling, anime-style waves clashing in bursts of light. My node was a coral pillar, glowing with Taring Zenhmaut's sigil, guarded by wraiths, their red-runed blades blazing, crimson waves flooding the ground.
I fought with Veil Tide, cloaking my steps, Sky Fang feinting, Iron Surge powering my strikes, jade waves breaking crimson, the node's chaos roaring. A wraith's blade grazed my arm, chaos burning, my side's scar aching, but I planted the disruptor, Taming Jiwa blazing, its jade pulse syncing with the shard, the node shattering, ley lines stabilizing. The wraiths surged, their red runes overwhelming, but I wove Star Whisper, my jade wave a spear, clearing the path.
I reached the altar, Aisha and Rizwan joining me, their nodes broken, bloodied but standing, Suri and Kadir close behind, their jade waves bright. The altar was vast, a coral monolith pulsing with Taring Zenhmaut's sigil, a crimson shard embedded, a ritual master standing before it, their black coral armor etched with red runes, their keris blazing, chaos incarnate. "Jaya's son," they hissed, their voice cold, powerful, echoing Rahzeth. "Taming Jiwa's light is bold, but the Crimson Nexus rises. You're too late."
I drew Taming Jiwa, its jade waves bursting, Storm Claw steadying me, the mantra in my soul. "The Nexus stands," I said, my voice raw, the Kirin's rune guiding me. We fought as one, Suri's daggers a tempest, Kadir's jade waves a shield, Aisha's precision cutting through, Rizwan's fire breaking guards, my jade waves shattering crimson, the altar's chaos roaring.
The master was a storm, their red-runed keris slashing, crimson waves heavy, twisting ley lines, stronger than Ironveil's warden, fiercer than Starless Depths' sentinels. I countered with Star Whisper, the Kirin's rune guiding me, my jade wave clashing, coral splintering, blood mixing with dust, a new cut on my leg burning with chaos, my arm's scar aching. Aisha flanked them, her Silat fluid, Rizwan's strikes covering me, Suri's daggers relentless, Kadir's mantra steadying the altar's pulse.
I planted the disruptor, Taming Jiwa blazing, the altar shattering, the crimson shard dimming, ley lines stabilizing, wraiths fading, the master's keris ash. "The Tide falls," I said, Taming Jiwa glowing, Aisha and Rizwan panting, bloodied but standing, Suri's smirk sharp, Kadir's nod proud. "We're done."
The war-boat ride back was quiet, the shard locked in coral, Aisha and Rizwan bruised but fierce, Suri's eyes scanning the sea, Kadir's face grim but proud, Zainah's team joining us, their adepts wounded but alive. I sat at the bow, Taming Jiwa in my lap, its pulse warm, the coral orb, bead, and rune pouch my anchors, the Kirin's rune still glowing, tied to the Hollow's chaos. The assault had broken Crimson Hollow, Taring Zenhmaut's ritual stalled, but the codex's network lingered, a war far from over.
Kerisforge loomed, its jade spires glowing, and I felt the fight—mine, Aisha's, Rizwan's, Suri's, Kadir's, the Clan's. The war council had united us, Crimson Hollow's fall a victory, but Taring Zenhmaut's shadow was deep, and we'd face it, with jade, with trust, with a vow that burned brighter than any chaos.
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