WAR

The torches flicker violently.

Akin stares at his father, his chest rising and falling rapidly. His mind races, his thoughts a storm of confusion and fear.

A forgotten bloodline? A power he was born with? A destiny he never asked for?

No.

This must be a mistake.

AKIN

"How can this be true?"

Ogunlaja's expression is firm.

OGUNLAJA

"You feel it, don't you? The power within you. The whispers. The unnatural strength."

Akin clenches his fists.

Yes. He feels it. He has always felt it.

But he has ignored it. Rejected it.

AKIN

"If I truly have this power, why did the spirits not choose me?"

Ogunlaja exhales.

OGUNLAJA

"Because they feared you."

Akin's breath catches.

OGUNLAJA

"The spirits only bless those they can control. But you… you were born with a power that answers to no one but itself."

Akin's entire body tenses.

OGUNLAJA

"And now, others will come for you. Those who have been waiting for your awakening."

Akin grips the hilt of his sword.

AKIN

"Who?"

Ogunlaja steps closer. His voice drops lower.

OGUNLAJA

"The Keepers of the Old Blood."

Akin frowns.

AKIN

"Who are they?"

Ogunlaja looks toward the dark sky. His face is grim.

OGUNLAJA

"They are the ones who destroyed your ancestors."

A cold shiver runs down Akin's spine.

OGUNLAJA

"For centuries, they have hunted those like you. They believe your kind should not exist."

Akin takes a step back.

AKIN

"My kind?"

Ogunlaja nods.

OGUNLAJA

"You are the last of them, Akin."

Silence.

The words hang heavy in the air.

The last.

The only one left.

Akin's fists tremble.

OGUNLAJA

"They will come for you, Akin. And when they do, you must be ready."

Akin swallows hard.

AKIN

"Then I must leave Ajilomi."

Ogunlaja looks at him sharply.

OGUNLAJA

"Running will not save you."

AKIN

"Then what do I do?"

Ogunlaja steps closer.

OGUNLAJA

"You fight."

Akin's heart pounds.

Ogunlaja grips his shoulders firmly.

OGUNLAJA

"Starting tonight, your training begins."

EXT. AJILOMI TRAINING GROUNDS – MIDNIGHT

The sky is black. The moon, hidden behind thick clouds.

Akin stands in the center of the training grounds. Sweat drips from his forehead. His hands are bruised. His breathing is ragged.

But he does not stop.

Ogunlaja circles him like a predator.

OGUNLAJA

"Again."

Akin raises his sword. His arms ache, but he ignores the pain.

Ogunlaja attacks.

Their blades clash. Sparks fly.

Akin struggles to keep up. Ogunlaja is faster, stronger, more experienced.

OGUNLAJA

"You hesitate."

Akin grits his teeth.

Ogunlaja strikes again. Akin barely blocks in time. The force sends him stumbling back.

OGUNLAJA

"Your enemy will not give you time to think. You must react."

Akin breathes heavily.

Then—

A whisper in his mind.

???

"Move."

Akin dodges.

Ogunlaja's strike misses by a hair's breadth.

For a brief moment, Akin feels it—

A connection to something deeper.

Ogunlaja narrows his eyes.

OGUNLAJA

"Good. You are listening."

Akin grips his sword tighter.

Ogunlaja lunges again.

But this time—

Akin is ready.

EXT. AJILOMI VILLAGE – DAWN

The sun rises.

The villagers go about their daily activities.

But something is wrong.

A group of riders approaches the village gates. Their horses are black. Their cloaks flow like shadows.

The guards tense.

These are not traders.

These are not messengers.

One of the riders steps forward.

His face is hidden beneath a hood.

RIDERS' LEADER

"We seek Akin."

The guard stiffens.

GUARD

"Akin is under the protection of Oba Ogunlaja."

The leader chuckles.

RIDERS' LEADER

"Not for long."

He raises a hand.

A cold wind sweeps through the village.

The torches flicker—then die.

The guards exchange nervous glances.

Something is wrong.

Something unnatural.

The leader lowers his hood.

His eyes—

They are pure black.

RIDERS' LEADER

"Tell your king… the hunt has begun."

EXT. AJILOMI TRAINING GROUNDS – MORNING

Akin wipes sweat from his forehead. His muscles ache from training, but his body feels stronger.

Then—

A warrior runs into the training grounds.

WARRIOR

"My king! Riders have arrived!"

Ogunlaja turns sharply.

OGUNLAJA

"Who are they?"

WARRIOR

"They seek Akin."

Akin stiffens.

Ogunlaja's face darkens.

OGUNLAJA

"It is too soon."

Akin looks at him.

AKIN

"The Keepers?"

Ogunlaja grips his sword.

OGUNLAJA

"It seems they no longer wish to wait."

Akin's blood runs cold.

The whispers in his mind grow louder.

???

"They have come for you."

Akin grips his blade.

AKIN

"Then let them come."

EXT. AJILOMI VILLAGE – DAY

The sky darkens.

The wind shifts.

A strange, eerie silence falls over the village as the Keepers of the Old Blood stand at the gates. Their black horses snort, stomping the ground impatiently. Their leader, a tall, hooded figure with piercing black eyes, does not move.

His presence alone feels unnatural.

The Ajilomi warriors stand ready, gripping their spears tightly. The air is thick with tension.

At the front, Ogunlaja steps forward, his hand resting on the hilt of his sword. Beside him stands Akin, his heart pounding in his chest.

The leader of the Keepers raises his head slightly. His voice is calm, yet carries a weight of power.

RIDERS' LEADER

"Akin of Ajilomi. We have come for you."

Akin clenches his fists.

AKIN

"Then you have wasted your journey."

The leader chuckles, a hollow, empty sound.

RIDERS' LEADER

"Have I?"

He lifts his hand—

And the world shifts.

A wave of unnatural darkness erupts from his palm, spreading across the ground like liquid shadow.

The villagers scream as the darkness reaches the gates, snuffing out torches and chilling the air.

Akin takes a step back. A strange, cold feeling crawls up his spine.

Ogunlaja grips his sword tighter.

OGUNLAJA

"Ajilomi is under my protection. You will not take him."

The leader lowers his hand, the darkness retreating slightly.

His black eyes lock onto Akin.

RIDERS' LEADER

"You are not meant to exist. Your bloodline was erased for a reason."

Akin grits his teeth.

AKIN

"Then why am I still here?"

The leader's expression darkens.

RIDERS' LEADER

"Because we failed. But not this time."

He raises his hand again—

And the Keepers attack.

EXT. AJILOMI VILLAGE SQUARE – CHAOS ENSUES

The battle explodes.

The Keepers move like shadows, their weapons slicing through the air with deadly precision.

Ajilomi's warriors clash with them, but something is wrong.

Their enemies do not move like normal men. Their strikes are unnaturally fast, their wounds do not bleed.

Akin grips his sword, his pulse roaring in his ears.

A Keeper lunges at him.

Akin reacts on instinct—his sword slashes through the enemy's chest.

But the Keeper does not fall.

Instead, he laughs, grabbing Akin's wrist.

KEEPER

"Is that all?"

Akin's eyes widen—

Then his body moves on its own.

A burst of power erupts from within him, sending the Keeper flying backward.

The whispers in his mind return.

???

"You are waking up."

Akin breathes heavily.

The battle rages around him, but he feels something shifting inside.

Something powerful.

Something dangerous.

Ogunlaja fights like a lion, cutting down enemies with ruthless precision. But for every Keeper that falls, another rises.

Ajilomi's warriors are struggling.

Akin grits his teeth. He has no choice.

He must unleash what is inside him.

He must fight like never before.

EXT. AJILOMI GATES – MOMENTS LATER

The Riders' Leader watches the battle unfold.

His black eyes narrow as he focuses on Akin.

RIDERS' LEADER

"Show me what you truly are."

Akin stands amidst the chaos, his sword dripping with shadowy blood.

The whispers grow louder.

???

"Let go."

Akin closes his eyes.

And then—

He lets go.

A shockwave of power erupts from his body, knocking back every enemy in his path.

Ogunlaja stops mid-fight, his eyes widening.

The villagers stare in awe and horror.

Akin opens his eyes.

For the first time, he truly sees.

His body feels lighter. Stronger. Faster.

The whispers are no longer whispers.

They are part of him.

And now, he is ready.

He grips his sword.

And charges into battle.

EXT. AJILOMI VILLAGE SQUARE – FINAL STAND

The Keepers falter.

For the first time, they seem afraid.

Akin moves through them like a storm. Every strike is precise, every motion effortless.

He is no longer fighting like a human.

He is fighting like something more.

Ogunlaja watches, his mind racing.

This is not just skill.

This is power.

Raw, untamed, ancient power.

The Riders' Leader grits his teeth.

He raises both hands—

And black flames explode from his palms, racing toward Akin.

The villagers scream.

Ogunlaja moves to intercept—

But Akin raises his hand.

And stops the flames.

Gasps fill the air.

Akin stands in the middle of the battlefield, the black fire swirling harmlessly around him.

He looks at the Riders' Leader.

And smiles.

AKIN

"You lose."

With a final burst of energy, he unleashes a blast that shatters the enemy's forces.

The Keepers stagger back, their bodies flickering like shadows.

The Riders' Leader snarls.

RIDERS' LEADER

"This is not over."

With a final glare, he and his warriors fade into the darkness.

The battle is over.

But Akin knows—

This is only the beginning.

EXT. AJILOMI PALACE – NIGHT

The fires have been put out. The dead are buried. The wounded are treated.

But the scars remain.

Akin sits outside the palace, staring at the stars. His body aches, but his mind is restless.

Ogunlaja approaches.

He says nothing for a moment.

Then—

OGUNLAJA

"You fought well."

Akin exhales.

AKIN

"They will return."

Ogunlaja nods.

OGUNLAJA

"Yes. And next time, they will be stronger."

Akin clenches his fists.

AKIN

"Then I must become stronger too."

Ogunlaja watches him carefully.

Then he places a firm hand on Akin's shoulder.

OGUNLAJA

"Rest, my son. Tomorrow, your real training begins."

Akin looks at him, surprised.

Ogunlaja has never called him son before.

A warmth spreads through Akin's chest.

But he does not rest.

Because in his heart—

He knows the war is far from over.