After a few days of recovery and the initial stages of preparing Kong Valley's defenses, Jiraiya prepared for the next phase of his mission: uniting the surface tribes. He carried with him the weight of the knowledge gained in the depths of Hollow Earth and the urgency of the impending threat. Although the separation was difficult, especially with young Kong seeming to have grown attached to him, he knew his role now was that of messenger and unifier.
He traveled south first, back to the Olwatu territory. The familiarity of the surroundings, the dense primordial jungle, felt comforting after the oppression of the abyss. With his enhanced speed and energy sense, the journey was much swifter than his first trip. He moved through the jungle like a seasoned shadow, avoiding hazards with ease. As he approached the Olwatu settlement, he sent out a pulse of friendly energy, a signal identifying him as the Wanderer who had shared their fire and fought beside them.
The reception was cautious at first, but with recognition, it turned to joy. Kael came out to greet him, his wrinkled face showing surprise and relief. There were emotional reunions with the children he had played with and the women who had cared for him.
"Wanderer," Kael said, his voice raspy, "you return different. The energy around you... is stronger. More... profound."
Jiraiya nodded. Sitting before the sacred fire, he recounted his journey. Not in words, but through gestures, crude drawings in the dirt, and, most importantly, by transmitting the sensations and images of the Hollow Earth through their energetic connection. He showed them the darkness, the stench, the corrupted energy, the Guardians of the Abyss, and the throbbing source of the "Darkness." He showed them the sleeping figure of Father Mountain and the revelation of the weakened seal. He showed them the battle against the Agent of Darkness and the certainty that more was to come.
The tribe listened, their eyes wide, their grunts reflecting fear and awe. They recognized elements of their own legends about the "Darkness" and Father Mountain's sacrifice, but the reality was more terrifying than the myth.
Jiraiya then delivered Leader Kong's message and his own call: the need for unity. The Kongs, the Olwatu, all the surface tribes must unite against the common threat from below. Share knowledge, share defenses, fight as one.
The idea of an alliance with the Kongs was difficult for the Olwatu. They had centuries of history, fear, and reverence for the giants. But the urgency in Jiraiya's energy, the palpable truth in his words, and the magnitude of the danger he described convinced Kael. The elderly leader looked at his tribe, then at Jiraiya.
"The Darkness... has always been a tale to keep the young near the fire," Kael said. "Now... it is the shadow over us. If the Wanderer, he who walks between worlds and bears the mark of the ancestor, says we must join... then we must listen. The Great Spirits have sent us a messenger."
The Olwatu, guided by Kael's wisdom and Jiraiya's conviction, agreed to form an alliance. They promised to share their knowledge of the jungle and their skills in building traps and fortifications with the other tribes.
With the Olwatu agreement secured, Jiraiya headed east toward the Aethel's territory in the canopy. The journey through the different biomes was a demonstration of his mastery over the environment, a fusion of skills that would have left any shinobi from his home world speechless.
He arrived at the Aethel Village in the sky, his cautious approach announced by the sentries. Zehra and Aerion greeted him with a mixture of caution and curiosity. Jiraiya, remembering his previous "investigation" that had caused so much discomfort, focused strictly on his mission.
He recounted his journey, using his knowledge of the Aethel language and energy transmission to paint a picture of the Hollow Earth, the corrupted source and threat. He spoke of the Abyss Guardians and the Agent, and how the Darkness sought to expand, not respecting whether a tribe lived on land or in the sky. He showed how the corrupted energy could affect even the air and vegetation. For emphasis, he performed a small, controlled demonstration, allowing a tiny amount of dark energy to manifest briefly in his palm, a sickly glow that sent shivers down the spines even of the canopy Aethel.
The challenge of convincing the Aethel was different. They were more pragmatic, less given to legends, but they valued safety and survival. Jiraiya argued that the threat would not be limited to the ground below. The Hollow Earth's tunnels could reach anywhere, and once the Darkness was unleashed, no part of the island would be safe. He emphasized that their aerial movement skills would be crucial in a coordinated defense.
Zehra , despite her lingering distrust of the "perverted weirdo," saw the seriousness in his eyes and the power he now radiated, different from his previous clumsiness. Aerion, the chief, pondered the words, observing Jiraiya in a new light. The idea that something could threaten his dominance in the sky was troubling.
Jiraiya proposed the alliance: Aethel, Olwatu, and Kongs, united. To share knowledge of their respective territories, coordinate defenses, and utilize the unique strengths of each tribe. The Aethel with their canopy vision and aerial abilities; the Olwatu with their knowledge of the jungle and its traps; and the Kongs with their brute strength and knowledge of the core regions. And he, Jiraiya, as the liaison, the strategist, the one who could sense the threat from a distance and unite their powers with the energy of the island.
After a debate among the Aethel elders, Aerion spoke. "The threat of the Wanderer... is great. We have never trusted the Kongs, but if the Darkness does not distinguish... perhaps we should not distinguish either. The Aethel will protect our sky... and help protect the land if necessary."
The Aethel agreed, but on the condition that the alliance would last for the duration of the threat. They promised to share their air routes and their knowledge of the flying beasts.
With the Olwatu and Aethel alliances forged, Jiraiya returned to Kong Valley. He informed the Kong leader of his successes. News of the alliance was passed between tribes through swift messengers (both human and Kong) and, in Jiraiya's case, through energy transmissions that allowed for basic communication of intentions and locations.
Perversion had a moment of respite during his travels. Observing the "exotic" (though now familiar) flora and fauna, the unique life forms of each tribal territory, provided abundant "ethnographic and biological material" for his future (and now very theoretical) novels. The natural beauty (and, in some cases, the unusual anatomy) of the island remained a source of "inspiration" for his unwavering mind.
Skull Island was not defenseless. A fragile but real alliance had formed between the surface tribes. Kongs, Olwatu, and Aethel, united by the Wanderer's warning and the looming threat of the Darkness. Jiraiya, the reincarnated Sannin, had achieved the unthinkable: uniting the divided factions of this world. Preparations for a full-scale defense of the island were underway. The battle for the future of Skull Island, the heart of the Nexus, was about to be unleashed on the surface.
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