Skull Island held its breath. Guided by Jiraiya's warnings and the vibrations felt by Leader Kong, the tribes mobilized. The Olwatu fortified the jungle edges that bordered seismic zones. The Aethel reinforced their canopy villages and prepared aerial patrols. The Kongs established defensive perimeters around their ancestral valleys, the mountain foothills transformed into natural bastions. Jiraiya moved between the camps, a familiar and respected figure, coordinating efforts through energy signals and their shared language. The alliance, born of necessity and cemented by mutual respect (and Jiraiya's demonstration of power), was ready.
The attack came with a fury beyond even Jiraiya's descriptions. The earth shook with unprecedented violence, opening multiple new fissures across the island, not only in the mountains but also in the jungle valleys and near the coasts. From these wounds in the earth, the "First Wave" of Darkness emerged.
Skullcrawlers of all sizes swarmed, along with the blade-jawed Blind Burrowers, the arachnid Shadow Dwellers that crawled across any surface, and other nightmarish creatures Jiraiya hadn't seen in the depths. Some were like colossal insects with armored plates, others like reptiles with twisting limbs, all of them imbued with that dark, corrosive energy. They seemed more numerous, more aggressive, and, chillingly, more coordinated than in the previous raids.
Kong Valley was one of the main points of impact. Jiraiya was there, fighting side by side (or rather, ankle to ankle) with Leader Kong and his tribe. The battle was a maelstrom of fury and destruction. The Kongs pummeled and crushed the beasts with their raw strength, their roars echoing in the air. A whirlwind of movement and energy, Jiraiya used his agility to move through the chaos, flanking larger enemies and picking off smaller ones that tried to slip through the Kongs' defenses.
"This way, big boys!" Jiraiya shouted, attracting the attention of an Earth Brute trying to flank the Kong leader. He dodged a massive charge by millimeters, then channeled primordial energy into his hands, creating a concentrated blast of air and rock that knocked the Brute backward.
In the Olwatu jungle, tribal hunters used the environment to their advantage. They guided emerging Skullcrawlers into dug traps camouflaged with overgrown vegetation, immobilizing them so they could be finished off with poisoned spears and arrows. Olwatu archers, hidden in the treetops, fired precise volleys of poison-tipped arrows, bringing down Shadow Dwellers attempting to climb the trees.
In the canopy, the Aethel proved to be formidable defenders. They moved across their walkways and vines with astonishing speed, using their bows to harass the flying Hollow Earth creatures and Shadow Dwellers who tried to reach them. Some bolder Aethel, using ziplines, would drop from above to launch surprise attacks with spears infused with the aerial energy they channeled, striking enemies to the ground before returning to the safety of the canopy.
Jiraiya, with his energy perception, acted as the nerve center of the defense. He could sense the appearance of new breaches, the direction of major attacks, and the location of the strongest enemies. He used his energy to send directional pulses, a sort of basic "telepathic map" for Leader Kong and, through tribal resonances, for the Olwatu and Aethel leaders.
"More on the east flank!" he would shout, or send a pulse of hot energy toward an area that needed reinforcements.
Her skills were pushed to the limit. She used the Primordial Oodama Rasengan several times to break through enemy lines or bring down the toughest beasts. She created barriers of purified energy to protect groups of tribal warriors from dark energy attacks. She manipulated the terrain with her empowered Doton to create makeshift barriers or traps. She even attempted an unstable and risky version of her toad summoning, but the island's energy seemed to clash with the contract's energy, resulting in a small, distorted summoning that disturbed the enemies more than it harmed them. "I need to work on that!" she thought amidst the chaos.
The battle was fierce and protracted. Casualties began to mount in the tribal ranks. Cries of pain mingled with the roars and shrieks of the beasts. Jiraiya saw the determination on the faces of the Olwatu, the relentless agility of the Aethel, and the unwavering fury of the Kongs. They were fighting for their home, united for the first time.
At a critical moment, a gigantic Blind Burrower, imbued with dark energy, emerged near where the female and juvenile Kongs were. It moved toward them with terrifying speed. Leader Kong was locked in combat with a Netherstalker.
Jiraiya acted without thinking. He channeled all the energy he could, feeling Father Mountain's essence resonate within him. He launched himself at the Burrower, not aiming for a technique, but a direct attack of pure energy. He enveloped himself in an aura of gold and green energy and slammed into the creature like a meteor.
The impact was explosive. The Blind Burrower howled as pure energy met its corrupted form. Jiraiya punched it repeatedly, unleashing blasts of energy through his fists and legs. The creature, unable to withstand the purifying energy, writhed and eventually imploded in an explosion of dissipating earth and energy .
The exertion left him breathless, the energy in his body temporarily depleted. He fell to his knees, but the immediate danger had passed.
Gradually, the tide turned. The combined ferocity of the Kongs, the cunning of the Olwatu, the mobility of the Aethel, and Jiraiya's unique power began to push back the First Wave. Without the Agent to direct them, the creatures of Darkness became less coordinated. Slowly, one by one, the remaining beasts retreated into the fissures, fleeing the unified resistance.
Silence fell upon the island again, a silence filled with gasps, the crunch of broken branches, and the wails of the wounded. The earth was scarred by battle, the trees toppled, the ground pitted with fissures. But the tribes had prevailed. The First Wave had been repelled.
Jiraiya stood up, pained but with a deep sense of satisfaction. He looked around. The Kongs were helping the wounded Olwatu. The Aethel were descending from the canopy to assess the damage. The differences still existed, but the blood spilled side by side had sealed the alliance in a way that words never could.
Leader Kong approached him, nodding respectfully. The remaining tribal leaders also approached, their expressions solemn but grateful.
The victory felt hollow. Everyone knew this was only the first skirmish. The "Darkness" had retreated, but it hadn't been defeated at its source. The threat still lingered.
Jiraiya looked toward the mountains, toward the depths of the Hollow Earth. He knew more waves would come, perhaps stronger, more organized. The defense of the island would be a constant struggle. But now, he was not alone. He had the Kongs, the Olwatu, the Aethel, united under the banner of mutual survival.
The First Wave had arrived and been repelled. The tribal alliance had withstood the test of fire. Jiraiya, the Nexus Agent, had led the surface dwellers in their first victory against the Darkness of the Abyss. The road ahead was uncertain and dangerous, but for the first time, there was true hope on Skull Island.
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