Phase 1: Rise of the Orphan Blade
Chapter 2: Tides of the Nexus
Part 1: Clash of the Hierarchy
Kerisforge Stronghold stood as a sentinel of coral and jade, its spires piercing a dawn sky streaked with Nexus light, where Rentap Buana's vow faced its next crucible. At sixteen, he was a Kirin Blade novice, scarred but unbroken, Taming Jiwa glowing at his side, its seven waves pulsing with jade fire. The rusted kerambit at his hip whispered of Jaya and Mira's betrayal, their plea—find them—etched in his scars: kirin's mark on his chest, cuts on his forearm, thigh, bicep, shoulder, side, a second forearm cut, a second thigh cut, a bruise on his side, scrapes on his shin and knee. The coral orb in his pouch thrummed, the rune pouch and Lila's bead clinking softly, anchoring him as ley lines surged beneath the fortress. Rentap had faced wraiths, rivals, the Starlit Kirin's Shade, and the Ancestral Whisper, forging a bond with Aisha and Rizwan through blood and steel. Now, the Starlit Kirin's rune burned in his mind, warning of a betrayer's shadow, while Idris's hostility festered, and Kerisforge's elite adepts loomed, ready to test his place. As coral halls buzzed with purpose, Rentap stepped into the arena, Aisha and Rizwan at his side, their kerises ready, the tide of the Nexus rising to challenge his resolve.
The novices' quarters were a blur of coral bunks and jade-lit lanterns, the air thick with salt and tension. Rentap's wounds ached, bandaged but raw, the mantra Ya Rahman, Ya Rahim steadying his breath. Visions lingered—Jaya's blade uniting allies, Mira's plea, a spectral shadow hissing of the betrayer. Aisha's calm resolve and Rizwan's fierce loyalty were his anchors, their unity a flame in Kerisforge's vastness. At sunrise, Kadir's staff tapped the coral floor, summoning them to the Tide Arena, a sprawling coral platform suspended over a jade-lit lagoon, its surface etched with Nexus sigils. Master Zainah stood at the arena's edge, her coral armor glinting, joined by Adept Rafiq, a towering figure with a jade-etched keris and a stern gaze. Elder Amira watched from a coral balcony, her starlit staff glowing faintly, the ley lines humming like a storm.
Rafiq's voice boomed, cutting through the arena's pulse. "Rentap Buana, Aisha, Rizwan—novices forged by the Kirin Trial. The Nexus demands more. Face the adepts, prove your unity, or be cast from the hierarchy."
Rentap gripped Taming Jiwa, its pulse syncing with his heart, the coral orb flaring. Aisha's coral-etched keris gleamed, her braid tight, eyes steady. Rizwan's humming keris swung loosely, his grin sharp but wary. Idris and Hafiz stood among the novices, Idris's coral keris glinting, his sneer venomous, whispering to Hafiz, their eyes locked on Rentap. The shadow's warning echoed—the betrayer watches—and Rentap's scars burned, but his vow held firm: find the betrayer, protect the Nexus, honor Jaya and Mira. The Tide Arena's ley lines roared, and Rentap stepped forward, ready to face the elite.
The Tide Arena shimmered, its coral platform swaying faintly over the lagoon, jade waves lapping below, anime-style light rippling. Rafiq gestured to three adepts—Sari, lean and swift, her keris crackling with jade energy; Malik, broad and unyielding, his coral blade etched with storm runes; and Laila, her keris glowing with starlit runes, her stance fluid. "These are Kerisforge's elite," Rafiq said. "Novices, you'll spar as a unit. Survive their tide, and you rise."
Zainah's gaze pierced Rentap. "Taming Jiwa carries Jaya's legacy, but legacy is earned. Lead your unit, Rentap, or falter."
Kadir's voice was steady, his staff glowing. "Sync with the ley lines, novices. Let your bond guide you."
Rentap's heart pounded, Taming Jiwa flaring, the coral orb amplifying the ley lines' hum. Aisha and Rizwan nodded, their kerises drawn, and they stepped onto the platform, coral crunching underfoot. Idris's whisper reached Rentap's ears, sharp and deliberate: "You'll break, Blood Island." Rentap's blood surged, but Aisha's glance steadied him, Rizwan's grin a spark. The adepts advanced, their kerises gleaming, and Rafiq raised his hand. "Begin!"
Sari struck first, her keris slashing in Star Whisper, a fluid arc of jade energy aimed at Rentap's chest. He pivoted, Veil Tide cloaking his steps, dodging as coral dust swirled, and countered with Storm Claw, Taming Jiwa slashing in a crescent arc, jade waves clashing with Sari's blade. The impact jarred his bicep's cut, blood seeping, but Sari spun, her keris weaving Sky Fang, nicking Rentap's shoulder, a new cut burning. He cursed, rolling left, coral scraping his knee's scrape, and struck with Iron Surge, Taming Jiwa powering a downward slash, jade light bursting.
Aisha flanked Malik, her coral-etched keris powering Storm Claw, jade waves rippling, striking his side. Malik grunted, his coral blade blocking with Iron Surge, storm runes flaring, his counter grazing Aisha's thigh, a shallow cut bleeding. Rizwan faced Laila, his humming keris slashing with Star Whisper, coral shards spraying, but Laila's starlit keris wove Veil Tide, dodging and nicking Rizwan's arm, blood dripping. Rentap's vision flickered—Jaya's blade uniting allies—and he shouted, "As one!" syncing with Aisha and Rizwan.
They moved together, Star Whisper weaving their jade waves, ley lines roaring. Rentap struck with Sky Fang, Taming Jiwa thrusting at Sari's arm, jade light flaring. Aisha's Veil Tide cloaked her, dodging Malik's heavy slash, her keris nicking his shoulder. Rizwan's Iron Surge powered a strike against Laila, coral dust choking the air, but her starlit keris grazed his side, a new cut bleeding. Sari's keris slashed again, jade energy surging, knocking Rentap back, a new cut on his side burning, coral dust stinging his eyes. He staggered, the Kirin's rune pulsing, Mira's plea steadying him.
The adepts pressed, their kerises a storm. Malik's storm runes flared, his blade slashing Aisha's arm, blood seeping. Laila's starlit keris struck Rizwan's leg, a shallow cut dripping, but he grinned, countering with Storm Claw, his blade a blur. Rentap roared, Veil Tide cloaking him, and struck with Star Whisper, Taming Jiwa slashing Sari's guard, jade waves surging. Aisha's Sky Fang pierced Malik's defense, nicking his chest. Rizwan's Iron Surge disarmed Laila, her keris clattering. Sari faltered, and Rentap pressed Taming Jiwa to her chest, jade light flaring. "Yield!"
The adepts stepped back, panting, bloodied but nodding. The crowd roared, the ley lines calming. Rafiq's nod was sharp, Zainah's gaze grudging. "You held the tide," Rafiq said. "Kerisforge sees your unity."
As the arena cleared, Idris shoved through the crowd, his coral keris drawn, Hafiz at his side. "You think you're Jaya's heir?" Idris snarled, blade raised. "You're nothing, Blood Island."
Rentap's blood boiled, Taming Jiwa flaring, but Kadir's staff slammed the coral, his voice thunder. "Enough, Idris! The arena settles scores, not words."
Idris glared, sheathing his keris, but his whisper hissed in Rentap's ear: "The betrayer's closer than you think." He turned, Hafiz following, their eyes cold. The coral orb flared, the shadow's warning echoing—the betrayer watches—and Rentap's scars burned, a vision flickering: a shadowed keris, Jaya's blade falling. Aisha's hand steadied him, her voice calm. "He's baiting you, Rentap. Stay focused."
Rizwan's grin was fierce, his keris tight. "Let Idris scheme. We'll cut through, Blood Island."
Rentap nodded, Taming Jiwa sheathed, the rune pouch and Lila's bead grounding him. His side's new cut bled, shoulder, thigh, and arm cuts throbbing, knee and shin scrapes raw. Amira's staff glowed, her voice warm. "You lead well, Rentap. The Nexus binds you three. Train, grow, face the tide."
Kerisforge's spires loomed, coral halls alive with purpose. Rentap's vow burned brighter—find the betrayer, protect the Nexus, honor Jaya and Mira. The adepts' spar was won, but Idris's threat and the shadow's warning grew sharper, a tide surging. Rentap Buana, Kirin Blade novice, stood with Aisha and Rizwan, ready to meet it, the Nexus's light their guide.
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