Oyi ga'aje (son of the soil)

Enemies resurrected

As they locked eyes, a chill ran down their spines. Fear lingered in their gaze, a silent understanding passing between them. In unison, they whispered,“he’s here”. Agaba’s mom grasped the weight of their words, her face frozen in anguish before she slowly regained composure.Ochekawo sprang to his feet, his voice trembling. “Fathers, the prophecy has been fulfilled!”As the words escaped his lips, a fleeting vision seized him. The supreme god peered down from the heavens, surrounded by seven other deities. The vision vanished, leaving Ochekawo breathless.That night, Agaba’s mind raced. Sleep eluded him, and training was a distant thought. The prophecy’s fulfillment weighed heavily on his heart, but the source of the ominous aura remained a haunting mystery.Miles away in the outskirt of Otukpo, a being stepped out into the dawn, Agaba’s face broke into a gentle smile. “It feels good to be back on earth”, he whispered, his eyes gleaming with a mix of trepidation and wonder.As the dark portal burst open, a legion of twisted creatures emerged, their earthly forms distorted by centuries of corruption in the demon realm. Their once-luxuriant hair hung in brittle, lifeless strands, while their skin had transformed into deep, foreboding blackness. The relentless passage of time had desiccated their skin, hardening it into a leathery armor. Some had sprouted single horns, others double, while few remained hornless. The twisted protrusions varied in length, a grim testament to the unforgiving power of the demon realm.Their bodies had contorted into grotesque parodies of human form, with ankles twisted backward like those of birds, fingers elongating into razor-sharp fangs. They loomed above the mortal world, their towering forms moving with an unnatural, jerky speed.Akan, Adejor, and Fumilayo prostrated themselves before Agaba, their foreheads pressed to the ground in abject submission. The cultists gathered outside followed suit, their bodies bent in reverence.Agaba’s eyes gleamed with malevolent triumph as he surveyed his kingdom. “Ah, the sweet taste of oxygen”, he breathed, his voice dripping with anticipation. “six centuries have passed since I last walked this earth, and now, the thrill of conquest courses through my veins once more. The feeling of ownership, of dominance, is intoxicating. I sense no resistance, no worthy adversaries to challenge my rule. The ancient bloodlines, those proud families who once dared to oppose me, have long since been extinguished. The earth is mine and I shall reclaim it”.Akan’s voice dripped with devotion as he replied, “yours, is the throne, my lord. No mortal can withstand your supremacy. The earth has suffered under humanity’s chaotic rule; it’s time for you to reclaim your rightful place and establish order”.Agaba’s eyes gleamed with sadistic pleasure. “I adore your loyalty”, he purred. “But tell me, what sect is this? No matter, you’ll serve as the perfect vessels to test my powers”.With an evil grin, Agaba stretched forth his hand, unleashing a swirling purple mist. The noxious cloud invaded those outside, choking and tormenting them. Yet, this agony was short-lived, for as the smoke coursed through their veins, they began to transform.Thirteen powerful demons emerged, their humanoid forms twisted by the dark energy. Akan, Adejor, and Fumi stood among the most powerful, having inhaled the largest portion of the devilish smoke.As they arose, their names echoed through the air, each one a testament to their new found powers:Ochinya, The destroyer.Iboro, The twistedOviu Ovwen, The demon of darknessItoo Owo, The poison of godAlewu, The scapegoatIyolo, The wickedOkpu Olo, He who hates lightOvwen Okpo, Dark and mysteriousEjee, The musicOgburo Okpoko, The noble chaosOkpe Ite, The evening starAkwume, The warriorAkpaaja, The tricksterThese thirteen humanoid demons stood ready to serve Agaba, their master, as they embarked on a journey to reclaim the earth and e*****e humanity. “As I gaze upon you, my thirteen prodigies, I am filled with a sense of pride. My eons-long sojourn in the underworld was not in vain. The world above shall soon tremble beneath my feet as I usher in a new era of dominance, where the strong devour the weak. The law of the jungle, the survival of the fittest, shall be my gospel. And with you, my legion of demoniac, I shall etch my rule upon the very fabric of the earth”. Agaba’s maniacal laughter echoed through the night, a chilling cackle that sent shivers down the spines of his followers. Yet, they reveled in their new found demonic forms, Adejor now “the twisted”, Akan transformed into “the destroyer’, and Fumi reborn as “the demon/mother of darkness”. to them, this corruption was a blessing from their dark deity. As the night wore on, Agaba found himself wide awake, his mind racing, for it left him too restless to train, his usual calm and focus shattered by the promise of chaos to come. As morning’s early light crept over the horizon, Agaba descended from his room, already prepared for the day ahead. The alarm’s ringing faded into the background as he approached the dining table, where his father sat, lost in thought. The weight of their shared concern bung heavy in the air. Agaba’s gentle voice broke the silence, “Dad?” he called, three times, before his father finally stirred. With a mixture of sadness and resolve, Ochekawo beckoned Agaba to sit beside him.“Son, I’ve been tormented by yesterday’s premonition”, he began, his voice laced with worry. “I know you, too, have been restless. Our worst fears have come to pass. The darkness we’ve long anticipated has finally arrived, and I fear it’s already within our city”. Agaba’s expression remained steadfast, his voice reassuring. “Don’t worry, Dad. We’ll find him, and we’ll put an end to this. We’ve been prepared for this moment throughout our history. Our ancestors have equipped us for this battle. Hope is our guiding light”. Ochekawo’s eyes welled up tears as he gazed at his son. “thank you, Agaba. I wish I could have shielded you from this burden, just as my father did to me”. Agaba’s hand found his father’s, offering comfort. “this is my destiny, father. God brought me into this world for this purpose. I am ready to face it”. With a final glance, Agaba stood up, his voice returning to a more mundane tone. “I’m off to school now. Please ask mom to put my breakfast in the microwave”. with a wave goodbye, he departed, leaving his father to grapple with the weight of their impending battle. The school day unfolded with monotonous routine, but Agaba’s mind wandered, his thoughts shrouded in a haze of concern. Ahmed, his keen-eyed friend, noticed the subtle change in Agaba’s demeanor, sensing that something was amiss.As the final bell tolled, signaling the end of the school day, the two friends converged at the gate, falling into their usual stride as they walked home together. The warm sun cast long shadows behind them, but Ahmed’s curiosity burned brighter than the fading light.“Hey, Agaba, what’s been eating at you all day?” Ahmed asked, his voice low and thoughtful.Agaba’s eyes clouded, his voice barely above a whisper. “It’s him, Ahmed. The enemy I’ve been preparing for… he’s here. In Otukpo”.Ahmed’s stride faltered, his eyes widening in alarm. “You mean the one from your stories? The powerful human demon?”Agaba nodded grinly. “Yes, the same one but this time, it’s different. The aura I sensed was overwhelming, far more potent than my father described. Somewhere in this town, there’s a gateway that allows demons to roam free, unchecked”.Agaba’s voice cracked with urgency. “I need to find that gateway, Ahmed, and seal it before it’s too late. If I fail, the consequences will be catastrophic”.As Ahmed gazed into Agaba’s troubled eyes, his expression transformed from pity to determination. The weight of Agaba’s solitary burden seemed to stir something within him. He realized that the fate of humanity couldn’t rest on one person’s shoulders alone. The destiny of billions required a collective effort, a unified front against the gathering darkness.Ahmed’s thoughts coalesced into a resolute decision. If Agaba’s words were true, he would stand alongside his friend, shoulder to shoulder, against the impending storm.“Agaba, don’t shoulder this burden alone”, Ahmed said, his voice firm and reassuring. “you’re not the only one who can defend humanity. You have your family - your dad, mom, and sister Ene - Nnenna, me, and every concerned individual who’s willing to lend a hand. We’ll all be your allies in this fight. Just give us the word, and together, we’ll face whatever lies ahead”.Ahmed impassioned speech was abruptly interrupted by a sudden commotion. A tall, hooded figure, with a face shrouded in shadows, wrestled a purse from a lady’s grasp. Before Ahmed could fully grasp the situation, Agaba sprang into action, tossing his school bag on the floor.With incredible agility, Agaba chased the thief, weaving through the crowded streets. Ahmed, hampered by his slower pace and the weight of Agaba’s bag, trailed behind, the robber darted into a narrow alley, using his cunning and athleticism to evade capture. He leapt from fence to fence, trespassing through private compounds with ease.However, Agaba proved to be more than a match for the skilled thief. With a fluidity that belied his human form, Agaba bounded over obstacles, his eyes fixed intently on his quarry.As Ahmed struggled to keep up, the thief suddenly halted, spinning around to face Agaba. The air was charged with tension as the two adversaries locked eyes.A sly smile spread across the robber’s face. “Ah, a descendant of Igoche lives”, he said, his voice dripping with intrigue.Agaba’s eyes narrowed, his fists clenched in anticipation. “What are you talking about? Who are you?” he growled, his tone low and menacing.The robber’s words dripped with malice as he continued, “We confirmed the Igoche lineage was eradicated… but Achadu’s descendants were spared. You must be one of them”, he sneered, disregarding Agaba’s questions.Agaba’s eyes flashed with anger. “Are you kidding me? You think I’m ignorant? People can achieve impressive feats with training, but what you did… that’s not humanly possible. Where are you from? Under a rock?” he took a step forward, his fists clenched, ready for a fight.The robber’s laughter sent shivers down Agaba’s spine. “you think I’m foolish? Those moves are signature skills of the Igoche descendants and the chosen successor of Achadu’s powers. I’m not that dumb”. As he spoke, he pulled off his hood, revealing his true form.Agaba’s eye widened in shock and fear, but he steeled himself. “you’re a demoniac… a follower of the conspirator, Agaba. Why did you steal from that woman? What use is her possession to you?”The demon’s grin grew wider, his eyes glinting with malevolence. “You’ll soon learn, boy. You’ll soon understand the true nature of our power, how dare you address our leader by his former name?” the robber’s eyes gleamed with fanaticism. “he is no longer Agaba, but our leader, the great uniter - Ochenteji, the demon king”. he spat the words, his finger jabbing accusingly at Agaba.“And as for this bag”, the robber continued, his voice dripping with malice, “the woman’s aura clings to it. By possessing this bag, we’ll indirectly claim the woman herself, adding her to our king’s legion of mindless puppet for his grace’s first attacks”. Agaba’s mind recoiled in horror. How many innocent lives had already been compromised by these demonic thieves?With a fierce determination, Agaba charged forward. “Enough! Return what you’ve stolen!” The air erupted into a flurry of kicks and punches as the two combatants clashed. The robber wielded the ancient style of Igoche, his movements a testament to the dark powers that drove him. Agaba countered with the modernized style his father had taught him, their blows meeting in a deadly dance of light and shadow.The robber unleashed a flurry of kicks and punches, but Agaba dodged and weaved with incredible agility, blocking each attack with swift precision. Ahmed, who had just arrived, watched the intense battle from a safe distance, his eyes wide with awe.As Agaba gained the upper hand, he pinned the robber against a wall, landing a series of swift and merciless blows. The robber stumbled, releasing the stolen bag, before making a desperate leap onto the roof. Agaba gave chase, but the robber had already vanished into the distance, jumping from rooftop to rooftop with an unnatural ease.Ahmed’s eyes trailed Agaba as he jumped down from the roof, his face etched with concern. “Agaba! Agaba!! what’s going on? Are you hurt?” he exclaimed, rushing to his friend’s side.Agaba’s expression turned grim. “That was a demoniac, a minion to the demon king”.Ahmed’s eyes widened further, “The demon king? You mean the evil Agaba?”Agaba nodded solemnly, “Yes, that’s what they call him. They steal from innocent people, using their auras to posses and e*****e them, expanding the demon king’s twisted legions, as they prepare for their first attack”As the reality of the situation sunk in, Agaba’s face set in determination. “I need to head home and tell my dad about this. We can’t let them continue their evil plans”.As the dust settled, Ahmed and Agaba returned to the shaken victim, carefully handing over her stolen handbag. Her eyes, still wide with fear, sparkled with gratitude as she thanked them profusely. With the ordeal finally over, the two friends bid the woman farewell, watching as she hurried away, clutching her precious belongings.As they walked, Ahmed’s mind continued to reel with the sinister implications of the demon’s plan. The notion that these malevolent beings could harness human auras, emitted through everyday items, to e*****e and control their victims sent shivers down his spine. The mystery of the demon’s lair, hidden somewhere in the shadows, only added to the sense of unease.As they reached the familiar intersection where their paths diverged, Ahmed turned to Agaba, his expression somber. “be careful, Agaba. We don’t know what we’re up against”. Agaba nodded, his eyes gleaming with determination. “I’ll be ready”. with a final nod, they parted ways, disappearing into the evening shadows, each lost in their own thoughts of the darkness that lurked ahead.Agaba comforted him.“I’m going to school now, tell mom to put my breakfast in the microwave”Agaba added and waved goodbye. School went normally, but Agaba wasn’t able to fully concentrate in class, Ahmed noticed his dull mood and he assumed that something bad has happened.After the entire school activity for that day is over, they both met at the gate and as usual walked home together, that was when Ahmed asked Agaba and he finally knew what was bordering Agaba the whole time.“so, you’re telling me that the enemy you’ve being preparing for, is here now in Otukpo?”Ahmed asked.“yh, just like I told you, but the aura I felt was so great he is very powerful and may be even more powerful than what my dad described he was during the past, and the seal seperating the two reality is broken, so therefore, some where in this small town, there is a gateway that allows demons to walk into our realm at will, I got to find it and lock it, or it will be result to a disaster”Agaba lamented.Seeing the looks, on his face, Ahmed only had to pity him, but come to think of it, the fate of the world can’t just rest in the shoulders of one man, the destiny of billions can not be defended by one, we all have a role to play to protect our existence, Ahmed pondered through this and he thought if what Agaba is saying is correct, I’m gonna help him,“Agaba, don’t over think it you alone can’t defend humanity, you got your dad, your mom, your big sis Ene, Nnenna, me, and every concern individual, we’ll all be of help for you, just tell us the word and…”Ahmed gave a wonderful speech but was disrupted by a robbery incidence occurring just a few steps in front, a tall man on hoddie, with his face covered struggled and snatched the purse of a lady, before Ahmed could grasp the situation Agaba plunge into action, before he arrived at the scene, the robber had successfully snatched the purse and was making a run for it, but Agaba chased him through, Ahmed who was slow and also carrying an extra bag (Agaba’s bag) followed behind, the robber ran into a corner and it turns out the robber was skilled as he jumped from fence to fence into people’s compound, but does skills were only a child’s play to Agaba who followed from behind jumping and tossing easily, Ahmed who found it difficult to overcome the barriers had to follow different routes to meet them, all of a sudden the robber stopped and turned facing Agaba, this forced Agaba to stop as he face the robber, “nice…hmm…hmm…so, a descendant of Igoche is alive” the robber said.“hmph…what’re you talking about? Who are you?”Agaba asked, folding his fist for a fight.“wait, no, we confirmed it, they were all dead… ahh… yes… only the lineage of Achadu was spared, you must be from him”The robber continued as he snubbed Agaba’s questions.“are you dumb, don’t you know people that train hard can do that, where are from? Under a rock?, and now you better answer me, Who are you?” Agaba became more serious as he prepare himself for a fight.“ohh, you think I’m that foolish, those moves are the skills taught to the descendants of Igoche and the successor of the next possessor of the powers bestowed on Achadu, you think I’m that dumb” as he said this he laughed evily, and he removed his hod.Agaba starred in shock and surprise, he felt a little frightened but had to shove it in, this is one of minions of the evil Agaba, he’s a demon…“so, you’re a demon, a follower of Agaba right?, why did you steal from that woman? What will her possessions do to you?”Agaba asked coldly“you do not address Agaba by his name, he is no longer Agaba but our leader the great uniter, we call him our king (translate demon king to idoma)” the robber said pointing at him.“and for this bag, her aura is around it, and since it belongs to her, we’ll indirectly use it to possess the woman to expand the military of our king” The robber said.This is bad, if this demon have stolen from this woman, imagine how many they have successfully stolen from, how many humans are on the verge to be possessed,“alright, it’s enough, time for you to return what you’ve stolen” Agaba replied, with an attack.They both clashed and fought with the skills from igoche, the robber used the ancient style of Igoche to battle Agaba while Agaba used the modernized style he was taught by his father to battle the demon.The robber kicked and punched but where all blocked by the swift movement of Agaba, Ahmed who just arrived watched the entire incidence from a corner, Agaba was able to hold the robber to a corner and beat the hell out of him forcing the robber to drop the bag and jump up the roof, before Agaba would follow him up he had already make a run for it, jumping from roof to roof, Ahmed starred in awe, seeing their skills which are beyond human capabilities, he was more shocked to see the demonic looks of the robber.As Agaba jumped down he ran to meet him, “Agaba! Agaba!! what’s going on? are you hurt?” Ahmed scream“that’s a demon, a minion of the demon king” Agaba answered.“the demon king? Is that the evil Agaba?”Ahmed asked“yes, that’s what they call him, they steal from random people and use their aura to possess innocent people to expand the subjects of the demon king”Agaba added “i’ve to head home early and telll my dad this”He said to himself.Ahmed and Agaba both returned to the victim of the robbery and handed over the hand bag to her, she appreciated them, and the both parties seperated, Ahmed continued pondering on the thoughts of the demons using human aura emitted through their items to turn them to creatures that will obey the orders of their ruler, what still remains a mystery among them all is the location of this beasts.They reached their parting point and they said goodbye to each other as they return to their houses.