Bab 48: Rise to the call
The Sentinel headquarters buzzed with frantic activity. Operators moved between consoles, their hands flying across keyboards as they restored communication systems that had been down for hours. Finally, the network flickered to life, and the commander's voice came through, sharp and urgent.
"Seiji! The city is under attack!" the operator reported, his voice strained with urgency. "We've managed to get some intel: Jingwei has been injured, and we're losing ground. We need all hands on deck—immediately!"
Seiji stood silent for a moment, his expression unreadable. But inside, his mind raced. Jingwei injured? What in the world is going on out there?
The transmission ended abruptly, leaving a tense silence in the air. Seiji turned, his usually relaxed demeanor replaced with a rare seriousness. Behind him, Jin stood tall and resolute, his figure more defined and powerful than it had ever been. Months of grueling training had honed his body to near perfection. His once-lean frame was now taut with muscle, his movements sharp and deliberate.
Seiji's gaze softened slightly as he addressed his student. "Looks like the world's given you your first real test, Jin. The city is under attack, and it seems like things are worse than we thought. This is your chance—your opportunity to step up."
Jin didn't hesitate for a second. His eyes burned with determination, and without a word, he turned toward a corner of the bunker. There, leaning against the wall, was a blade—sleek, slim, and deceptively simple in design. The long, narrow sword gleamed faintly in the dim light, its edge honed to perfection. Seiji watched as Jin picked it up, his grip firm but fluid, like the weapon was an extension of his arm.
"That blade," Seiji said, stepping closer, "I gave it to you nine months ago, but it wasn't ready for you then. Now? You're ready. That sword is as sharp and precise as you are. Wield it well."
Jin turned the blade in his hand, examining it. "I'll make it count," he said simply, his voice calm but laced with resolve.
Seiji smirked, a hint of pride flickering in his eyes. "You'll do more than that. Now let's go. The city's waiting."
Without another word, the two blurred out of the bunker, their movements so swift they were barely visible. The air around them seemed to ripple as they launched themselves toward the chaos, the world outside rushing past in a blur of motion.
Meanwhile: Jingwei's Desperate Measure
Elsewhere, the chaos was reaching its peak. Fires raged in the distance, and the city's once-bustling streets were filled with cries of panic and the sounds of destruction. Above it all, Jingwei hovered unsteadily in the air. His normally flawless composure was shattered, his face pale and strained.
The venom's effects were advancing rapidly. What had started as a single cut on his arm had spread like wildfire, blackened veins snaking up toward his shoulder. His breathing was labored, his mind racing. If this reaches my chest, it's over.
With no time to waste, he activated his communicator. "This is Commander Jingwei! I need a healing Sentinel—now!" His voice was sharp and commanding, but beneath it was an edge of desperation.
As he awaited a response, Jingwei's eyes darkened with resolve. I won't let this take me down. Not like this.
His gaze fell on the blackened, decaying limb, and his jaw tightened. Without waiting for aid, he unsheathed a blade from his belt—a small but deadly blade that gleamed in the flickering light of the burning city. With a deep breath, he steadied himself.
"This is nothing," he muttered under his breath, more to himself than anyone else. With a single, precise motion, he slashed through his arm just above the infected area. The blade bit deep into his flesh, severing the limb in one brutal stroke.
Pain shot through him like lightning, but Jingwei didn't falter. Blood poured from the wound, but he clenched his jaw and focused on the task at hand. With his free hand, he quickly applied a makeshift tourniquet to staunch the bleeding. The decayed arm fell away, landing in the ruins below with a sickening thud.
Hovering above the devastation, Jingwei took a moment to steady his breathing. The venom's progress had been halted, but the cost was high. He clenched his remaining fist, his eyes narrowing as he stared into the chaos around him.
"Viper… Shade… you'll pay for this," he growled, his voice low and deadly. "This isn't over." He said….
Status Power Mingguan
-- Peringkat
Power 
-- Power
stone