THE LEGEND OF KIWAKAAZI

Kaki was already on her knees. Aran had grown immensely powerful after spending some time in Nompowaka (circle of power). She did not stand a chance. She could not match Aran’s speed, strength or skill and had sustained many cuts on her body. Aran stood about six steps in front of her and said, “I am sorry, Kaki. But I have played with you for too long. It is time to die.” He raised his sword. Kaki neither closed her eyes nor blinked. She was ready to die for Kiwakaazi. She was completely fearless. Aran’s sword was high above his head. Instead of killing her, he stopped and returned his sword to his side on his right. He smiled and turned.

“It seems you are finally ready,” remarked Aran. Aran saw the look he expected to see in the boy’s eyes. The look that screamed of determination and strength believed to be the power of Zuulu; the power of the human mind that guided Zakaru to defeat Kakai. “Now I can take my time to destroy you,” thought Aran.

Kiwakaazi held on firmly to the hilt of the kafunde (demon mummifier). The black thread moved and wrapped around his left arm like a snake. It grew and covered his entire body but there were gaps; majority of his body was exposed. Kiwakaazi attacked first. He ran as quickly as he could towards Aran. Kaki was still kneeling behind Aran. She was drained of strength. Her body was healing but she was still very weak – too weak to help Kiwakaazi. She only hoped he could fight without her and prayed she recovered quickly to help him out.

When Kiwakaazi got close to Aran, he raised the kafunde and attacked Aran vertically with it. Aran held his sikan dompesan (three-edged bone sword) above his head horizontally and stopped the kafunde. Kiwakaazi attacked with the pointed end of the kafunde. Aran stepped out of the attack. He shifted his entire body and while Kiwakaazi was running past Aran, he made a horizontal cut across Kiwakaazi’s chest. Yes! That was how strong Aran was. Aran drew first blood. Kiwakaazi watched while the wound across his chest healed very slowly. He still felt the pain. Aran turned to face him wearing a cheeky smile. Kiwakaazi thought, “Arrogant man!” and attacked again.

Kiwakaazi swung the kafunde from left to right aiming for Aran’s neck. Aran deflected the kafunde with his sikan dompesan. Kiwakaazi’s chest was once again exposed and for the second time, Aran cut Kiwakaazi horizontally across his chest. Kiwakaazi fell flat on his back while blood flowed from his chest. Kaki looked worried and Kiwakaazi looked surprised.

Noticing the surprise and worried expressions on the faces of Kaki and Kiwakaazi after Kiwakaazi’s second cut, Aran said, “Let me tell you something about Shinko. The name “Shinko” is my name and only mine, not the other beasts. I am sure you know the story about how Gbelemantse was defeated by Zakaru. After his defeat, his boss and ruler of the three planes, Ishfa’s (god of time) voice was heard. He was disappointed in Gbelemantse and took the responsibility of disconnecting souls from their bodies from him. He commanded me, Gbelemantse’s second in command, to assume that responsibility. To accomplish this task, Ishfa forged this weapon for me. Do you now understand young alien, your weapon came from Gbelemantse but mine came from his master, the god of time himself.”

Aran went on to say that, “If you think you can defeat me, then you are more naïve than a child playing with fire; you are more ignorant than the chicken that strayed far away from its mother when the hawk was lurking, and you are surely more stupid than the man who goes poking the bear. The difference in power between you and me is like the difference between heaven and earth. You cannot defeat me even with that weapon. You lack the power and experience to defeat me. You should just give up and die a peaceful death without much struggle — it is your only option.” It was an eloquent speech indeed from the man known to be good at using words.

After the rather long speech by Aran, Kiwakaazi said, “Let me ask you just one question. Have you ever been defeated?” Aran did not understand the import of such a question but it took him back to the first time he felt defeated. It was to a human being. It was someone he recognized as a true warrior. He did not know this person’s name but I do and he was the man called Zibaru (meaning the son of the devil).

Let’s take a break from the fight between Aran and Kiwakaazi to Aran’s really first defeat as both Shinko and Arangosango.

Zibaru was the first man to use the kafunde in Nomposuro. Zibaru was the first man to defeat all the shinkos (fury beast) and the sibudu (single headed water serpent). The great Arangosango Shinko fell to Zibaru. Tall (well over six feet tall), Zibaru-si-Asrafo (Zibaru the warrior), stood in his unique Rahasi outfit. His eyes were as red as blood and his body covered by the impregnable armor; the black vest of a Rahasi (guardian of hell).

The vest covered his body from feet to just beneath his neck. Three red rings run around his wrist on both arms and one bold ring around his upper arms. A V-mark extended from his neck towards his chest as if he was wearing a V-neck shirt. A straight white mark extended from the point where the two lines met to form the V to his waist. A white ring surrounded his waist. White marks run parallel from this waist through his thighs, legs and feet. 

If this was how much the kafunde changed Zibaru on the outside, then no one can fathom just how much he had been changed on the inside. With his right hand, he handled the kafunde (demon mummifier) such that, the pointed tip faced the earth while glaring at Aran Shinko.

Aran was human wearing his long white unbuttoned robe. The wind blowing past his body exposed his muscular chest and six-pack. A white thread served the purpose of a belt around his waist. He too, handled his Sikan dompesan (three-edged bone sword) with his right hand. He glared back at Zibaru for a while until both men screamed and vanished.

So we all know that Zibaru defeated Aran Shinko. But how exactly did he do it. To answer that question, we must first understand the kind of man Zibaru was. To understand that also, we have to leave Nomposuro temporarily. We have to go back to Zibaru’s past.

It all started when one day the entire Central Empire (Nananompofie) changed to become a dark forest. The Emperors of the four remaining empires feared what had happened and sent men to investigate the forest. Initially, a team of warriors, scientists, herbalists, wise men and priests totaling a hundred embarked on the great adventure and only one man returned. We already know his story.

Speculation about the forest probably being inhabited by evil beings was started. Fear terrorized the world. What if these beings escape the forest? What will happen to poor mankind? To ease the minds of people, the Emperors of the four empires met and agreed on the perfect cover-up story – a story to secure the mental and emotional health of their people.

“Nomposuro was being investigated. So far, there is no evidence to support the theory that the forest was being inhabited by immortal demons. Ease your minds, sleep, eat, drink and be merry. Nomposuro poses no threat at all!”   

Meanwhile, about a thousand soldiers were assembled and prepped to enter Nomposuro. Their task was to purge the forest of its evil. Ten years passed and none of them returned. Nomposuro earned the name “Ankoba” — a place of no return.

After the Nomposuro council stumbled on the secret that Nomposuro will be vanquished by one man only, they started the Asrafodom (league of warriors) program. Their base was in Asrafofie (home of warriors); a special village created within Nibooman (Western Empire). Asrafofie was where the best warriors from all over the world in the arts of hand combat, swordsmanship, archery, firearms, etc. were assembled and trained. An Asrafo wears a dirty green sleeveless shirt and black shorts. A blue thread was used as belt. They were grouped into four.

The lowest ranked Asrafos were dangerous level Asrafos; those who bear the exclamation mark as a symbol on their left shoulder. Above the dangerous Asrafos were the harmful level Asrafos; those who bear the cross sign on their left shoulder. Higher than the harmful Asrafos were the explosive level Asrafos; those who bear the circle with many lines surrounding it and sitting on top as the highest rank were the toxic level Asrafos; those who bear the skull on their left arm. Only one man was a toxic level Asrafo; the leader of Asrafodom. He was known as Jemba but everyone called him Okyerefo (teacher).

Sokaala; a village in the south was being tormented by a monstrous child. Sokaala was very close to Nibooman and only a thick forest separated it from Yolopo in Nibooman. The rumors reached Okyerefo and he became interested in this monstrous child. He sent three of his best warriors, all explosive level Asrafos to bring this boy to Asrafofie alive. These men were Waa-gunde, the best marksman (guns) of the league; Silonbe, the best swordsman and Agai, the poison archer.

Back to Nomposuro: Aran and Zibaru were close enough. Zibaru attacked first. He swung his kafunde from right to left and Aran too did the same. The two weapons clashed and the two weapons were withdrawn instantly by their handlers. They repeated this two more times and both warriors were still evenly matched. Aran went on his knees and while swinging his dompesan (three-edged sword) from left to right, Zibaru was also swinging the kafunde from right to left aiming for Aran’s neck.

Before Zibaru journeyed to Nomposuro; the three explosive-level Asrafos were inside the forest around ten in the morning. Silonbe stood in the middle of Agai (on Silonbe’s left) and Waa-gunde (on Silonbe’s right). Silonbe said, “Okyerefo’s intel says he hides here during the day and attacks Sokaala at night. We must scatter and find him before nightfall.” Waa-gunde questioned, “Who made you leader?” Agai shook his head and asked, “Tell us your plan, Waa-gunde?” Waa-gunde stood puzzled for a while. He made many faces and after a while said, “Fine, we will do what Silonbe is suggesting, but that does not make him leader.” Suddenly, they felt movement in the bushes behind them and turned. Silonbe drew his sword. Agai planted an arrow in his bow string and pulled.  Waa-gunde freed two pistols strapped around his waist from their holsters and started shooting.

Back to Nomposuro: Aran was the quicker of the two. He cut through the impregnable armor and disappeared before Zibaru’s kafunde made contact. Zibaru lowered his head and watched while the armor heal itself and healed his body in the process. The cut was unexpectedly deep. It healed but the pain lingered. Zibaru lifted his head to face Aran. Aran stood some distance away from him. He had a cut on his neck that was almost completely sealed. He looked very determined and thought, “That was very close.” Zibaru and Aran exchanged glares again. Then, Zibaru roared and disappeared.

Silonbe quickly shouted, “Stop!” Waa-gunde continued to shoot. Silonbe placed his sword close to Waa-gunde’s neck and shouted, “Stop before I end you now!” Waa-gunde stopped. Silonbe and Agai both looked incensed. “What is wrong with you?!” barked Agai. “What did I do wrong?” asked bemused Waa-gunde. “Everything!” shouted Agai. “Okyerefo commanded us to bring him back alive,” explained Silonbe. Agai entered the bushes and emerged with two dead rabbits, cruelly gunned down by Waa-gunde. Silonbe warned, “Do not fire your weapon unless it is necessary. You will not like what Okyerefo will do to you if you should kill this boy.” He walked towards his right leaving Agai and Waa-gunde. Agai also walked away after giving Waa-gunde a suspicious look.

Waa-gunde alone stood in one spot not sure where to go. Should he go left or right? He was contemplating which direction to take when he heard movement in the bushes behind him again. He thought, “More rabbits. This time, I will not kill you.” He was turning his body to face the direction from where the noise came.

Zibaru appeared behind Aran. The pointed end of the sword was already closing in on Aran’s back. Aran quickly disappeared and Zibaru disappeared with him. They both appeared and swung their swords from right to left again. They clashed. Zibaru quickly swung his left hand and punched Aran in the face. Aran was forced backwards by the punch. By the time he regained control over his body, Zibaru was already close. The pointed edge of Zibaru’s sword was already in contact with Aran’s chest and was piercing his body towards Aran’s heart.