The Gathering storm

The robber-demon burst through the foreboding gates, he was met with resistance from the hulking guardian of the inner sanctum.

"let me pass!" he implored, his voice laced with desperation.

The guardian, a towering figure with eyes that blazed like hot coals, sneered at the robber-demon.

"Why should I grant you an audience with Ochenteji?" he taunted, his voice dripping with disdain.

Undeterred, the robber-demon stood tall, his voice unwavering. "I possess information of the utmost importance, gleaned from the shadowy alleys. Information that could prove invaluable to our lord, Ochenteji"

The guardian snorted, his ridicule biting. "what secrets could a lowly street thief like yourself possibly uncover? You're nothing but a flea on the underbelly of our great kingdom, look at you, you look like someone that have been starving for 4 centuries".

The air was electric with tension as the robber-demon's anger simmered, threatening to boil over.

"you dare mock me? I'll ensure that Ochenteji himself hears of your insolence, and you'll pay the price for your arrogance!"

Just as the situation seemed poised to escalate into chaos, a melodious voice intervened, calm and authoritative.

Fumi, a mysterious figure, emerged from the shadows, her presence commanding attention.

"What's the meaning of this commotion?"

The robber-demon, still seething, pointed an accusatory finger at the guardian.

"this…this obstinate fool, chunk of garbage, with a poop for a brain refuses to grant me an audience with Ochenteji!"

The guardian's face twisted in a snarl. "He dared call me a 'chunk of garbage'! I'll feed his head to the worms of hell!"

Fumi's gaze swept the pair, her expression stern. "Enough! What's this vital information you claim to possess?"

The robber-demon's eyes gleamed with a mixture of excitement and trepidation.

"Today, I encountered someone well-versed in the ancient martial arts, capable of manipulating the very elements themselves… a direct descendant of the revered Achadu bloodline".

The room fell silent, as if the very air had been sucked out. The guard's eyes widened in stunned incredulity, his anger momentarily forgotten.

The weight of the robber's words settled like a dark shroud, casting a pall of foreboding over the gathering.

Fumi's face reflected her intense curiosity. "Are you certain of what you claim?" she pressed, her voice laced with a hint of skepticism.

The robber nodded vehemently. "Yes, I swear it's true! He employed the ancient martial arts, and his eyes… they bore the unmistakable mark of the Achadu bloodline- it was bright purple, and the eight pointed star shone through".

Fumi's expression turned resolute.

"That's enough. Grant him an audience with Ochenteji, and ensure he recounts every detail about this individual. The king must know everything".

With uncharacteristic haste, the guard parted in two to grant him entry, and he stepped into the grand throne room - the sacred sanctum of the dark church.

As he approached the throne, he bowed deeply, paying homage to Ochenteji. With reverence, he recounted his tale, spilling every detail of his encounter with the mysterious individual bearing the Achadu bloodline.

Ochenteji listened intently, his expression unreadable.

Yet, as the robber finished his account, a hint of a smile played on the king's lips.

"that's all I know, your highness", the robber concluded.

Ochenteji's voice was low and measured. "I foresaw this eventuality. I never expected the Achadu bloodline to be eradicated, for I had chosen to spare them in the past".

The throne room erupted into a cacophony of hushed conversations and stunned whispers, as demons and courtiers alike struggled to comprehend the king's revelation.

Ochenteji's voice thundered through the throne room, his words dripping with malevolent intent.

"Silence! This time, I will not be swayed. My power has grown exponentially, surpassing the limitations of the ancient stone. You will need ten thousand Echurs to defeat me. I will conquer this world, and then set my sights on the stars. All civilizations will bow to the might of the Neo-Idoma Empire. The Achadu bloodline is nothing but insignificant insects, deserving of annihilation beneath my feet. This time, I will construct my throne from their skulls, get drunk with their blood, and condemn their souls to eternal torment in the realm where they once forced us to endure 400 years of misery".

As Ochenteji's declaration echoed through the throne room, the assembly erupted into a frenzy of excitement, with congratulations and applause ringing out.

The air was electric with anticipation.

Ochenteji raised his hand, and the room fell silent once more.

"I am not yet finished. Before I embark on my campaign of conquest, I must first settle the score with the Achadu bloodline. They have earned my eternal wrath for imprisoning me, for imprisoning us, for 4 long centuries. As a symbol of our victory, each of us will drink their blood, and savor the taste of vengeance".

The throne room exploded into chaos, with the crowd shouting their support and fervor.

Akan's voice cut through the din, his words laced with strategic intent. "Let us devise a plan to bring about their downfall".

A wicked grin spread across Ochenteji's face, a visage that embodied the very essence of destruction and chaos.

"Your consideration is appreciated, but I've already set my plan in motion", he declared, his voice dripping with malevolent intent.

Meanwhile, in a humble abode, Agaba's father walked through the door, exhausted from a long day's work.

But before he could even greet his family, Agaba approached him with a troubled expression.

"Dad, I met one today", he said, his voice laced with concern.

Agaba's mother chastised him, "is that how you greet your father after he's worked hard all day? You should have waited".

But Agaba's father waved her aside, his curiosity piqued. "What did they look like? How did you encounter it?" he asked, his eyes locked intensely on his son.

As Agaba recounted his harrowing encounter, Ochekawo's anxiety and fear intensified, his mind racing with the dire implications.

"this is spiraling out of control", he thought, his inner turmoil deepening. "We still haven't located their stronghold, and now they're creating human puppets? We need to act swiftly, or risk losing this battle incrementally".

Ochekawo's thoughts swirled in a maelstrom of concern, rendering him oblivious to his wife's gentle summons.

"Dad, Dad…" Agaba's voice pierced the fog of his father's preoccupation.

Ochekawo's response was a distant, abstracted hum, as if he was awakening from a trance.

Agaba's words of reassurance wrapped around his father like a soothing balm.

"you're lost in thought, Dad. The table is set. Please, eat something. we'll find a way to defeat these monsters. We won't lose; we'll emerge victorious".

Agaba's conviction was a beacon of hope, and Ochekawo's sigh of relief was palpable, just in time to avoid provoking his wife's ire.

His wife eyes flashed with a mix of determination and frustration, her voice a gentle yet fierce whisper.

"My love, I grasp the gravity of our situation, and I'm baffled as to why the universe has entrusted our humble family with this monumental responsibility. Yet, I assure you, we shall triumph over the perils that lie ahead. Goodness has always prevailed, and the Achadu lineage has never succumbed to the forces of darkness. Our ancestors' sacrifices will not be in vain; their legacy will fuel our victory".

Her words were a potent elixir, imbuing Agaba with a sense of hope and purpose.

As he gazed at his family, Agaba's imagination was ignited, and visions of triumph danced in his mind.

"We will emerge victorious", he thought, his courage bolstered by the conviction."Come here!", Agaba's mum said, as she widened her arms for a hug, squeezing both her husband and her son, in a tight hug.

Seeking solace in physical discipline, Agaba retreated to his room, only to emerge with a newfound sense of determination.

Under the cover of night, he slipped out to train, his mind craving clarity.

As he assumed a prayer-like posture, his arms outstretched, a voice pierced the darkness, calling out his name,"Agaba! Agaba!!…" the sudden interruption shattered the stillness, and Agaba's heart skipped a beat as he turned to face the unknown caller.

As the voice pierced the night air, Agaba's eyes narrowed, and he turned towards the sound.

To his surprise, Nnenna stood before him, having scaled the fence and landed with a gentle thud in his compound.

"Who knew Barbie could clear fences too?", Agaba teased, a mischievous glint in his eyes.

Nnenna's face flushed with indignation. "What did you take me for? I'm not lazy!"

Agaba chuckled, holding up his hands in mock defense.

"Hey, I didn't mean it like that. I just didn't expect my girlfriend to be so agile".

Nnenna's cheeks deepened in color, and she struggled to respond.

Agaba's smile only grew wider as he asked, "So, what brings you here at this hour?"

Nnenna finally found her voice, her tone laced with a hint of defiance.

"First of all, I'm no one's woman… I came here because we didn't meet up today. Don't think I missed you or anything; I'm just concerned about what's going on".

Agaba's grin returned, and he began to share his own news. "I was about to start training when you arrived. We encountered something mischievous today, and…"

But before he could continue, a blood-curdling scream pierced the night air, coming from Nnenna's home.

As they sprinted towards the compound, their hearts racing with anticipation, Agaba and Nnenna burst through the gate, their senses on high alert.

But they were beaten to the punch by Agaba's parents, who had already sprang into action.

Inside the house, a scene of utter chaos unfolded.

Nnenna's father, his eyes vacant and his movements mechanical, had been conjured into unleashing a horrific attack on his own family.

Nneka, Nnenna's sister, cowered in the closet. Her silent prayers and tears the only sound as she await her.

But then, a loud bang shook the door, and Ochekawo's booming voice echoed through the hallway. "Papa Nneka! Mama Nneka! Who's home? What's going on here?"As Ochekawo took in the mayhem before him, his eyes widened in horror.

The living room was in disarray, and the sound of muffled crying drifted from the kitchen. With caution, Ochekawo and his wife approached the kitchen, their hearts heavy with foreboding.

The sight that greeted them was nothing short of gruesome: bloodstains splattered the floor, and mama Nneka lay crying, her body battered and bruised.Ochekawo's wife rushed to her side, her voice trembling with shock.

"Mama Nneka, what happened? Who did this to you? You're bleeding profusely!"With a weak gesture, mama Nneka pointed upstairs, her voice barely above a whisper. "Up…upstairs…hurry, my daughters are in danger".

Ochekawo's face darkened with concern. "danger? Are you being robbed?"But before he could react, his wife seized his arm, her eyes wide with urgency. "Just do it!"