AN ENCOUNTER WITH IDOGA.

"Obi stood at the entrance, observing Atika being consoled by Black. "Idoga," he called out to the young man lost in his thoughts. Rising from a deep blue couch, Idoga joined Obi, sporting his usual eerie grin. "Yes, boss," he greeted.

"I wish her sister stood in her place," Obi mused, his hands on his chin.

Perplexed, Idoga questioned, "Why her?" observing his boss intently.

"Because she's a formidable woman, renowned for pacifying numerous villages before establishing dominance at sea to fortify her power and influence.". The two were silent for a while.

"I've been monitoring the new guardian; he lacks strength," Obi disclosed. "Remember the forest incident two months ago?" Idoga shuddered at the memory of the overwhelming power. "It was a mere surge; he can't harness it yet. That's why we need to eliminate him before he grows stronger," Obi asserted, his focus still on the two ladies. Idoga nodded in understanding.

"Idoga, would you be interested in eliminating a guardian?" Obi asked with a chilling, wide grin. "Truly?" Idoga's face lit up. "Yes, I'm offering you a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity."

"Can I keep his nails?" Idoga's excitement mirrored that of a child on Christmas morning. "Yes," Obi replied, patting Idoga's head. Idoga jumped with joy. "I'm going now, boss," he exclaimed before vanishing.

****************************************

At the Ozovehe residence.

Ohi laced up his workout shoes, intending to go for a jog. Stepping out of the golden brown door, he was interrupted by the grating voice that always felt like needles in his ears. "Where are you going? It's four p.m." Bisi rudely addressed him, arms folded tightly across her chest as she scowled at her brother. "None of your business," he grumbled in response.

"Brother, where are you headed? It's four p.m.," Beni inquired politely. "I'm going for a run," he replied warmly before departing.

With a scoff, Bisi retreated indoors, followed by Beni who closed the door behind them. Meanwhile, Ohi jogged through their estate, contemplating his frustratingly slow progress in mastering his powers. Despite excelling in the junior WAEC examination and securing admission to the best boarding school, his foremost concern remained the enigmatic message from the young boy, indicating he had only four months remaining. The boy had ceased visiting his dreams.

A ball unexpectedly landed at his feet, prompting Ohi to pick it up. "Pass the ball," a young boy signaled, gesturing for him to throw it. His teammates stood frozen on the immaculate green field. Ohi kicked the ball, but it halted in mid-air, and he noticed that all the boys were suspended in time."

An unsettling sensation coursed through Ohi's body, causing him to shiver as the ground began to tremble and crack, sprouting trees out of nowhere. The children vanished, and the scene transformed into a dark, ominous forest. The ground beneath him fissured, prompting a swift leap backward, narrowly avoiding a tree that shot up suddenly. Ever since the incident with Belle, Ohi had developed a fear of the wild.

"HEYYO!"

Ohi spun around to face a pale, gaunt-looking young man, his rib cage visible through his skin, barely clinging to his pants. With a horrifying smile plastered across his face, the young man waved at Ohi. "Hey there! I'm Idoga, and I'm here to end you," he chuckled. "What?" Ohi's eyes widened in alarm. "Don't fret; it'll be quick but agonizing," Idoga declared before disappearing.

Ohi swiftly dodged to his left as Idoga reappeared, throwing a punch that hit only air. "Impressive, sensing me like that," Idoga laughed, licking his lips. His demeanor transformed into one of menace. "Time to get serious," he proclaimed, an evil glint in his eyes. "Oh, no," Ohi muttered, cowering in fear.

Suddenly, he vanished, only to feel a sharp pain in his left rib cage as Idoga's sharp fingers pierced his skin. Looking up, Ohi saw Idoga sporting a creepy smile. Glancing down, Ohi observed the hand lodged between his ribs.

Summoning his courage, Ohi punched Idoga's nose and leaped back, enduring the excruciating pain as Idoga's hand retracted from his body. Idoga threw back his head, unleashing a shrill laughter that sent shivers down Ohi's spine.

An unsettling sensation coursed through Ohi's body, causing him to shiver as the ground began to tremble and crack, sprouting trees out of nowhere. The children vanished, and the scene transformed into a dark, ominous forest. The ground beneath him fissured, prompting a swift leap backward, narrowly avoiding a tree that shot up suddenly. Ever since the incident with Belle, Ohi had developed a fear of the wild.

"SUP! Ohi spun around to face a pale, gaunt-looking young man, his rib cage visible through his skin, barely clinging to his pants. With a horrifying smile plastered across his face, the young man waved at Ohi. "Hey there! I'm Idoga, and I'm here to end you," he chuckled. "What?" Ohi's eyes widened in alarm. "Don't fret; it'll be quick but agonizing," Idoga declared before disappearing.

Ohi swiftly dodged to his left as Idoga reappeared, throwing a punch that hit only air. "Impressive, sensing me like that," Idoga laughed, licking his lips. His demeanor transformed into one of menace. "Time to get serious," he proclaimed, an evil glint in his eyes. "Oh, no," Ohi muttered, cowering in fear.

Suddenly, he vanished, only to feel a sharp pain in his left rib cage as Idoga's sharp fingers pierced his skin. Looking up, Ohi saw Idoga sporting a creepy smile. Glancing down, Ohi observed the hand lodged between his ribs.

Summoning his courage, Ohi punched Idoga's nose and leaped back, enduring the excruciating pain as Idoga's hand retracted from his body. Idoga threw back his head, unleashing a shrill laughter that sent shivers down Ohi's spine.

"Is that your idea of a punch? Let me show you how it's done!" Idoga moved so swiftly that Ohi couldn't react in time. He struck Ohi in the stomach, sending him hurtling backward. Crashing onto the ground, Ohi clutched his abdomen, muttering, "This can't be happening again," haunted by memories of Belle tormenting him and now facing an even more unsettling foe.

Shaking his head, Ohi refused to surrender. "I can't give up. Humanity and my family rely on me," he affirmed, rising to his feet. Channeling his power, he made numerous small rocks levitate around him, launching them at Idoga, causing injuries to his head and lips. As the metallic taste of blood filled his mouth, anger surged within Idoga, he stared back at him with an intense thirst for blood. "I intended to grant you a swift and excruciating demise. But now, because of your actions, I'll ensure your death is slow and agonizing."

"Wait, both options result in excruciating deaths. That's unfair," Ohi protested. "Yeah, well, that's how much I detest you," Idoga retorted, pointing at him. "But you don't even know me," Ohi reasoned. Idoga paused briefly, then shrugged. "It doesn't matter."

His appearance underwent a grotesque transformation. Idoga grew taller, his muscles expanded, while his nails and teeth elongated to sharp, protruding points, emitting a menacing growl with saliva dripping from his mouth.

Ohi took a step back, fear coursing through him. He had never experienced this level of terror. He had previously believed Belle to be the most terrifying creature, but he now realized his mistake. It dawned on him that he might encounter even stronger, more merciless, and terrifying creatures in the future. This realization prompted him to question his capability to truly protect humanity.