# Phase 1, Chapter 9: The Rival's Challenge
The morning sun cast a golden glow over Kinabalu Peak, the jungle alive with the hum of insects and the calls of distant birds. Rentap Buana, stood in the clearing. His tattered green shirt was barely holding together, stained with sweat and blood, the scars on his back, ribs, and shoulder a map of his trials. The faint claw mark on his arm, a mark of Kinabalu's favor, glowed softly, a quiet reminder of the mountain's watchful presence. Mira's coral pendant pulsed warm against his chest, her memory a steady flame that fueled him through every challenge. The fisherman's knife at his belt and the staff in his hand were his trusted companions, the *Jungle Stalk*, *Tiger Claw Slash*, *Leaping Fang Strike*, and *Feral Roar Strike* now woven into his instincts after days of relentless training. Guru Harimau Jati stood before him, his scarred frame tense, his tiger pelt cloak catching the light. "Today, you face a rival," he said, his voice a low growl. "A student of mine—Kael, eighteen. He's stronger, faster, more experienced. He'll test your flame."
Rentap's heart quickened, the flame within him—the spark that had grown through each trial—burning brighter, eager for the challenge. "I'm ready," he said, gripping the staff, his body coiled with anticipation.
Harimau Jati's eyes glinted, sharp as a predator's. "Kael's been training for two years. He knows Tiger Martial Art better than you. But you've got something he doesn't—a fire born of loss. Use it." He gestured to the center of the clearing, where a young man stepped forward. Kael was tall, 1.8 meters, his frame broad and muscular, his skin marked with scars that spoke of countless battles. His hair was cropped short, his eyes cold and calculating, and he carried a staff carved with tiger motifs, its wood polished to a sheen. He wore a simple tunic, his arms wrapped in leather bracers, and his stance radiated confidence. "So, you're the new cub," Kael said, his voice dripping with disdain. "Let's see if you're worth the guru's time."
Rentap met his gaze, the pendant warm against his skin, Mira's giggle a quiet encouragement. "I'll show you," he said, dropping into a low stance, the *Jungle Stalk* guiding his movements as he circled Kael.
Harimau Jati stepped back, his arms crossed. "No killing," he barked. "Fight until one yields. Begin."
Kael struck first, his staff a blur as he unleashed a *Tiger Claw Slash*, the sweeping strike aimed at Rentap's chest. Rentap dodged, using the *Jungle Stalk* to slip to the side, and countered with a *Leaping Fang Strike*, leaping forward to drive his staff into Kael's shoulder. Kael deflected it with a flick of his staff, his movements fluid, and followed with a *Feral Roar Strike*, a roar tearing from his chest as his staff slammed toward Rentap's ribs. Rentap twisted, the blow grazing him, and struck back with a *Tiger Claw Slash*, the staff cracking against Kael's arm. Kael grunted but didn't falter, his strength overwhelming as he pressed the attack, each strike faster, harder, forcing Rentap to retreat.
The fight raged across the clearing, the stone pillars bearing witness as the two clashed. Kael's experience showed—his strikes were precise, his footwork impeccable, and he chained his moves with a mastery Rentap couldn't yet match. A *Leaping Fang Strike* from Kael caught Rentap off-guard, the staff slamming into his thigh, sending him sprawling. Pain flared, but Rentap rolled to his feet, the flame within him surging, Mira's scream echoing in his mind—*Brother, fight!* He roared, unleashing a *Feral Roar Strike* of his own, the staff whipping through the air with a force that surprised even Kael. The blow struck Kael's chest, forcing him back a step, but he recovered quickly, his cold eyes narrowing.
"You've got spirit, cub," Kael sneered, lunging with a *Tiger Claw Slash* that Rentap barely dodged, the staff grazing his shoulder, reopening an old wound. Blood seeped through his shirt, but Rentap gritted his teeth, using the *Jungle Stalk* to weave through the clearing, striking from angles Kael didn't expect. He landed a *Leaping Fang Strike* on Kael's back, then followed with a *Tiger Claw Slash* to his leg, each hit fueled by the flame within him, a fire that burned brighter with every memory of Mira—her smile, her trust, her absence.
Kael roared in frustration, his attacks growing fiercer, but Rentap's resilience began to wear him down. The older student's strikes became sloppier, his breathing heavier, while Rentap fought with a desperation Kael couldn't match. In a final clash, Rentap ducked a *Feral Roar Strike*, using the *Jungle Stalk* to slip behind Kael, and unleashed his own *Feral Roar Strike*, the staff slamming into Kael's back with a crack that echoed through the clearing. Kael stumbled, falling to one knee, his staff slipping from his grasp. He panted, glaring up at Rentap, but raised a hand in surrender. "I yield," he growled, his voice thick with resentment.
Rentap stepped back, panting, his body screaming with pain, the flame within him burning steady, a fire that had proven itself. Harimau Jati stepped forward, his expression a mix of pride and scrutiny. "You've bested Kael," he said, his voice gruff. "Your flame holds. But you're still raw, unpolished. Kael, you underestimated him. Learn from it." Kael nodded, his jaw tight, and rose, limping to the side as Harimau Jati turned to Rentap. "Rest today. Tomorrow, we push harder. You've earned Kinabalu's respect, but respect isn't mastery."
That evening, Rentap sat by the fire, the tiger pelt wrapped around him, his wounds bandaged but throbbing. The stone pillars loomed, their carvings glinting in the firelight, as if acknowledging his victory. Kael's defeat replayed in his mind—the older student's strength, his skill, the way Rentap's flame had carried him through. He clutched Mira's pendant, her memory sharper than ever—her giggle, her scream, her hazel eyes full of trust. "I'm getting stronger, Mira," he whispered, the fire casting shadows that danced like the flame within him. The claw mark on his arm glowed faintly, a quiet reminder of Kinabalu's presence, its favor and its claim.
Sleep came slowly, the jungle's sounds a backdrop—crickets, the distant howl of a gibbon, the rustle of leaves in the breeze. Dreams flickered through his mind—Mira running through the jungle, her braid swinging, Kael's cold eyes glaring, the flame within him burning brighter, a step closer to the power of Taming Jiwa, though its whispers remained faint, a distant call on the path ahead.
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