Phase 1: Rise of the Orphan Blade
Chapter 5: The Nexus Under Siege
Part 5: Echoes and Vows
Kerisforge Stronghold had made me a Kirin Blade, but its shadows were a crucible, forging my heart against a war that refused to fade. 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 very breath. Crimson Hollow's fall had struck a blow to Taring Zenhmaut's Crimson Tide, shattering their ritual nexus, but the Crimson Codex warned of a deeper network, a shadow that lingered despite Ironveil, Starless Depths, and the Hollow's defeat. Rahzeth's truth, the docks' assault, the codex's weight—they were battles, but the Tide's last echo called, and I had to answer. I want to share with you what it was like to face the remnants of a chaos that knew my name, to renew a vow that carried my parents' legacy, and to learn that being a Kirin Blade isn't just about victory—it's about standing when the shadows whisper your end. This is the part of my story where the Tide's echo faded, and I forged my path for the war ahead.
Crimson Hollow had left us scarred but unbroken, Aisha and Rizwan's loyalty a fire that burned brighter, 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 cuts on arm and leg—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 vigilance, novices whispering of Crimson Hollow's fall, adepts patrolling coral halls, elders' staff taps urgent. Master Zainah trained us relentlessly, Aisha's coral-etched keris precise, Rizwan's humming keris fierce, our spars a testament to the Nexus Grounds, our unity forged in Starfall Hollow, the Coral Abyss, Black Coral Ridge, Moonshadow Cove, the docks, Ironveil, Starless Depths, Crimson Hollow. Kadir was our guide, his staff tapping coral, his eyes heavy with plans, while Suri's smirk was a blade, her daggers glinting with pride. The Shadow Nexus Map, Idris's betrayal, Hafiz's ambush, Rahzeth's truth, the codex's network—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 the Tide's echo called, and the Nexus needed us to silence it.
It began in a coral cell beneath the stronghold, its walls pulsing with sealing runes, jade flames flickering, ley lines humming faintly, anime-style energy dancing in the air. Elder Amira called us—me, Aisha, Rizwan, Kadir, Suri, Zainah—to interrogate a Crimson Hollow sentinel, bound in coral chains, their red-runed sigil sealed by Kadir's mantras. Their eyes were sharp, cold, but flickering with defiance, a shadow of Rahzeth's fire.
Amira's starlit staff tapped, her voice sharp. "The Crimson Tide is broken—Moonshadow, Ironveil, Starless Depths, Crimson Hollow. Speak, sentinel. Where is Taring Zenhmaut's last echo? What remains of your war?"
I gripped Taming Jiwa, its pulse syncing with the cell's hum, the coral orb glowing, the Starlit Kirin's rune burning in my mind, visions flickering—Assyafiee, kirins trapped in crimson waves, my parents' blades fading in a shadowed sea. "The codex named your network," I said, my voice steady but raw, the mantra in my throat. "What's left? Where's the Tide's heart now?"
The sentinel's gaze fixed on me, Taming Jiwa's jade light clashing with their sigil's red, anime-style malice flickering in their eyes. "Jaya's son," they hissed, their voice low, venomous. "You think you've won? The Crimson Tide's strongholds are ashes, but its echo lives—in the Veilspire, a hidden coral reef where our final ritual waits. The Crimson Nexus will rise, and Kerisforge will burn."
A chill hit me, Taming Jiwa flaring, visions shifting—Assyafiee, a coral reef glowing with red runes, crimson waves drowning kirins, my parents' faces fading. "Veilspire?" I said, my voice tight. "Where is it? What's the ritual?"
Aisha's coral-etched keris glowed softly, her voice calm but sharp. "Speak, or your sigil breaks."
Rizwan's humming keris tightened in his grip, his grin fierce. "Name the place, or we're done talking."
Suri's daggers flashed, her smirk sharp. "A reef? That's a trap, Blood Island. But they're desperate."
Kadir's staff tapped, his mantra steadying the cell's ley lines, his eyes grim. "Veilspire's not on the codex. Prove it, or you're lying."
The sentinel laughed, low, chilling, red runes flickering. "Veilspire is our secret, beyond your map. The ritual binds the ley lines' last threads, birthing the Crimson Nexus. Strike, Kirin Blades, and meet your end."
Kadir sealed the sentinel's sigil, their laughter echoing as we left, Taming Jiwa's pulse fierce, the Kirin Blade's burden heavier. Veilspire was a shadow, but the Tide's echo was real, and the Nexus needed us to face it.
The strike was planned at twilight, in the Starlit Spire, its coral peak open to the sky, ley lines pulsing like a cosmic heart, starlight painting the air, anime-style jade flickers dancing with mantra runes. Amira called the Clan—elders, adepts, novices, Kirin Blades—her starlit staff raised, Kadir, Suri, Zainah, Rahim, Laila at her side, their staffs and blades glowing. The coral altar glowed with Nexus light, the Shadow Nexus Map spread, Veilspire's location—charted from Kadir's ley line traces—marked in red, the crimson shard from Crimson Hollow sealed in jade.
Amira's voice echoed, fierce, reverent. "Kerisforge Clan, the Crimson Tide is wounded, its strongholds broken, but its echo hides in Veilspire, a final ritual to birth their Crimson Nexus. Rentap, your team has faced their shadows—lead the strike, end the Tide's echo, protect our Nexus."
I stepped forward, Taming Jiwa in my hands, its jade pulse a storm, the Kirin's rune burning, visions flickering—Assyafiee, Jaya, Mira, their kerises raised under a cosmic sky, kirins soaring, their vow mine. Rahzeth's truth—my parents' betrayal—clawed at me, but the Clan's eyes, novices' awe, adepts' nods, elders' faith, held me firm. "The Tide's echo ends tonight," I said, my voice raw but clear, the mantra in my soul. "Veilspire's ritual will break, because we're Kirin Blades, the Nexus's light, and we fight as one."
Aisha raised her coral-etched keris, her voice steady. "We stand with Rentap, with the Nexus. The Tide falls."
Rizwan's humming keris flashed, his grin fierce. "Let's burn their shadows, Kirin Blades."
Suri's daggers glinted, her smirk wide. "You've got fire, Blood Island. The Clan's ready."
Kadir's staff tapped, his nod warm, while Zainah's eyes shone, Rahim's scars softened, Laila's silver hair caught the jade light. Amira raised her staff, starlight pouring, jade waves bursting from the altar, anime-style kirins soaring in the air, their scales glowing, binding the Clan's will. "The Nexus strikes," she said, her voice heavy with pride. "Kirin Blades, lead us."
The Clan roared, novices and adepts raising their kerises, jade waves a sea, and I felt it—the Nexus, my parents, Assyafiee, alive in Taming Jiwa's pulse, Aisha and Rizwan's trust, the Clan's strength. The Tide's last echo was a shadow, but our strike would be light, a fire to end Taring Zenhmaut's chaos.
The assault was swift, war-boats cutting through the night, 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 flank Veilspire's defenses. 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.
Veilspire was a coral reef, hidden in a misty lagoon, its spires glowing with red runes, ley lines twisted, anime-style crimson flickers clashing with jade in the dark. The ritual core was central, a coral altar pulsing with Taring Zenhmaut's sigil, guarded by sentinels, wraiths, and a shadow priest, their black coral robes etched with red runes, their staff blazing, chaos incarnate.
Zainah's team struck first, jade waves bursting at the reef's edges, drawing sentinels and wraiths, their red-runed kerises blazing, crimson waves clashing, a distraction to cover our path. We moved with Veil Tide, Suri leading, her stealth flawless, Kadir's staff tapping for ley line shifts, Aisha's focus and Rizwan's eyes our guide. The altar was vast, its crimson shard larger than Crimson Hollow's, ley lines screaming, Taming Jiwa's jade pulse clashing, visions flickering—Assyafiee, a Crimson Nexus rising, my parents' plea echoing.
The shadow priest turned, their staff flaring, red runes blazing, crimson waves flooding the reef. "Jaya's son," they hissed, their voice cold, echoing Rahzeth's venom. "Taming Jiwa's light is fleeting. The Crimson Nexus is born, and you'll drown."
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. The Tide's Last Echo was chaos, jade against crimson, coral spires cracking, ley lines trembling, anime-style waves clashing in bursts of light. Suri struck like a tempest, her daggers shattering wraiths, Kadir's staff weaving mantras, jade waves a shield. Aisha wove Star Whisper, her coral-etched keris precise, Rizwan's Iron Surge fierce, their jade waves syncing with mine.
I fought with Veil Tide, cloaking my steps, Sky Fang feinting, Iron Surge powering my strikes, jade waves breaking crimson, the altar's chaos roaring. The priest was fierce, their crimson waves heavy, twisting ley lines, stronger than Crimson Hollow's master, wilder than Ironveil's warden. A wraith's blade grazed my thigh, chaos burning, my leg's scar aching, but I pushed forward, Taming Jiwa blazing, the Kirin's rune guiding me. Aisha flanked them, her Silat fluid, Rizwan's strikes covering me, Suri's daggers relentless, Kadir's mantra steadying the altar's pulse.
I reached the altar, Taming Jiwa pulsing, its jade clashing with the crimson shard, visions flooding—a network fading, ley lines freed, Taring Zenhmaut's chaos breaking. I planted a disruptor, Aisha disarming the priest, Rizwan breaking their stance, Suri's dagger at their throat, Kadir sealing the altar's runes, the crimson shard dimming, ley lines stabilizing.
"The Tide ends," I said, Taming Jiwa glowing, the altar ash, Aisha and Rizwan panting, bloodied but standing, Suri's smirk sharp, Kadir's nod proud. "We're done."
Back at Kerisforge, under the Starlit Spire, the Clan gathered, jade light glowing, the Shadow Nexus Map clear of red runes for the first time. Amira raised her staff, her voice warm, proud. "The Crimson Tide is silenced, its echo broken. Rentap, Kirin Blades, you've carried our light."
I stood before the altar, Taming Jiwa in my hands, its jade pulse calm, the Kirin's rune glowing softly, visions of Assyafiee, Jaya, Mira fading but warm. Rahzeth's truth, my parents' betrayal, lingered, but the Clan's trust—Aisha's steady eyes, Rizwan's fierce grin, Suri's sharp nod, Kadir's quiet pride—held me firm. "I'm Rentap Buana," I said, my voice clear, the mantra in my soul. "Kirin Blade, Jaya's son, Mira's heir. My vow is the Nexus, its light, its people. Taring Zenhmaut's shadow may rise again, but I'll stand, with Taming Jiwa, with the Clan, for as long as I breathe."
The Clan roared, jade waves a sea, anime-style kirins soaring, and I felt it—the Kirin's Oath Renewed, a fire that burned brighter than any shadow. The war wasn't over, but Phase 1 was done, and the Nexus was ours.
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