THE LEGEND OF KIWAKAAZI

A few hours before the han-hum (battle of immortals), it was a beautiful morning. The sun was high in the sky. The clouds were fluffy blue and white. The air blew gently. It smelled great and felt warm. Different kinds of birds were flying in the sky and singing happily. Their song; “Oh what a beautiful day to be alive!” A couple of hours later, the two men; Wosu (the invisible man) and the Kusu (the dead man) met on solid ground and changed everything. The birds stopped singing and flew southwards. It became windy and the air felt cold. Dark clouds invaded the sky and took over blocking the sun in the process. Flashes of lightning and thunder strikes were seen and heard on that day. Then it began to rain heavily.

The wosu was irritated by Zakaru’s response. So he frowned, just threw the cloak that hung behind him to the ground and leapt off his horse to attack Zakaru. Zakaru also jumped off his horse and their swords clashed and made a clanging sound mid-air. There was no time to waste. Zakaru turned to face and attack wosu. He swung his sword and the wosu blocked it with his sword. The exchanges continued fiercely and the rain fell just as heavily as the fight. The ground became soft; soft enough for the two immortals to leave their footprints. Their large footprints marked the earth. With every step, every bend and turn, they left marks on the earth — marks that remained long time after the battle. This place where the immortals fought remained a popular tourist site in the north until the end of the Saharaifa (Saharan Civilization).

Sharpened and pointy pieces of wood flew towards Kiwakaazi and Deila. Kiwakaazi’s strength was waning but he had to do something. He forced and tried opening his left palm. The kafunde fought and freed itself from the vines and flew straight for his palm. The instant he grabbed the hilt of the kafunde, his appearance changed. He became a Rahasi (guardian of hell) with two fairly long red marks underneath his eyes. The length of the marks summoned a hundred golden swords (Sadindin! Uhurusa). The spears were cut into tiny pieces just before they drilled Kiwakaazi and Deila’s bodies. Once their work was done, the number of golden swords reduced to fifty (Sadin! Uhurusa). It was still very close; so close that Deila’s head bled from almost being drilled by a spear. The golden blades released Kiwakaazi and Deila. Deila was almost out of breath. Kiwakaazi caught her and asked, “Are you okay?” She just freed herself from his arms and changed into Kaki (the white shadow of death). After changing, she too started singing; a loud and unpleasant song that vibrated every tree and the very ground in Adopedan.

The “han-hum” was one of the greatest battles ever fought in the history of the Saharaifa (Saharan Civilization). The battle was so fierce that the armies of the two warriors kept on moving backwards to make room for the battle. Each attack by Zakaru was blocked by wosu and vice versa. Most of these attacks and blocks were done using their odd weapons; the Zabugi gbeleda vuju (keys to hell) and the Uhurusa katui (ultimate slayer of the gods) which was famously known by then as Zakaru’s slayer.

With these two weapons they attacked each other and with these same weapons, they defended themselves from being cut. Then Zakaru attacked from above. The wosu was slow in lifting his sword. Zakaru smiled. He knew he was going to split his opponents head into two. But the wosu just lowered his sword and presented his head to Zakaru. “Strike it and see what happens?” were probably his thoughts. Zakaru struck the completely hairless head of the wosu with all his strength.

Sound is not as fast as light and it requires a medium to travel through. It therefore takes some time to reach its target. Even though comparatively this time is short, to the kranjus, this is enough time to defend. Kun (first dwarf) was slow in reacting to her attack but defended himself perfectly. A big hollow tree with a huge trunk grew around the dwarf and by the time it was destroyed by Deila’s cry, Kun was nowhere to be found.

Deila took to the sky and Kiwakaazi remained on the ground. With his ability to sense the sinister intentions of the kranjus, he was fearless. “Looking for me?” asked Kun from behind Kiwakaazi. Kiwakaazi heard his question followed by a crack in the earth. Kun emerged from the ground standing on a ginormous root, smiling. The dwarf wore armor; a wooden armor made from the strongest wood in the forest. His head was being protected by a wooden helmet. Kiwakaazi moved his fingers and fifty golden swords attacked Kun from various directions. Kun also moved his fingers and commanded branches and vines to his defense.

Kiwakaazi was slowly gaining control over the kafunde. Initially, he could not control the golden swords when they multiply. The golden swords will reduce from fifty to five after about three minutes of using the Sadin! Uhurusa (dance of fifty golden swords) or after about a minute of using the Sadindin! Uhurusa (dance of a hundred golden swords).

Now, he commanded all hundred golden swords. About thirty revolved and rotated around his body to destroy the roots and vines that occasionally attacked from underground and behind and the remaining seventy he commanded with his own fingers to attack the dwarf. He moved his arms and fingers and moved the golden swords. But Kun was a worthy opponent. By moving his arms and fingers, he too used his vines and branches to stop Kiwakaazi’s golden swords. He even used leaves and petals of flowers. They were the worse. Once a leaf or petal touches a golden sword, it shatters it and Kiwakaazi will have to create a new one with his mind. It was exhausting but good training on just how to command the golden swords.  

Deila was flying over them and did not seem interested in joining the battle. She noticed for the first time that Kiwakaazi was doing more than fight. It appeared he was having fun. He was serious as usual but perhaps something about the dwarf excited him. Remember Kun said he was not really interested in killing them. Perhaps that was it. Both Kun and Kiwakaazi had no interest in killing one another. They were just having fun. Unfortunately, the loser would die but it would have been fun anyway.

Kun was concentrating hard on his battle with Kiwakaazi but also seemed to be having fun. It was like a serious game between two very best friends. “But sorry we can’t waste all of our time playing with you. We have to move” thought Deila. She opened her mouth; prepare for the Kaki-lala (cry of death).

Zakaru had lost his footing and was falling. What happened? He struck the Wosu’s head with all his might, and, instead of splitting his enemy’s head into two, his sword bounced off the wosu’s head. He lost his balance for a second there. The Wosu quickly ceased the opportunity to attack Zakaru. The Wosu attacked with the tip of his sword. Zakaru saw something; it was as if the swords were spinning on the square base. “This could mean trouble” he thought. He held his sword firmly.

It was the first time any mortal beheld the fabled Rahasi (guardian of hell) transformation. The Wosu drove his sword through Zakaru’s chest and pulled it out quickly. The sword travelled a couple of centimeters through the impregnable armor of the Rahasi transformation and after it was pulled out, the vest healed and sealed that opening. Many of the men whom gathered that day to witness this great battle pissed and shit themselves. They were following demons all this while.

Deila’s cry was taking too long. Kiwakaazi expected it but heard nothing. He turned to look up and instantly all his swords surrounded him warding off all the attacks from Kun. The dwarf was mightily surprised. He learned for the first time that the golden swords were primarily wired to protect Kiwakaazi.

Anyway, the reason why Deila’s cry was not heard was because her mouth had been blocked by a large leaf. Deila was wrong to assume that the dwarf was not paying attention to her. He was paying attention and waiting for the right moment. Not only her mouth but many leaves attached themselves to all parts of her body. She started to change from Kaki back to human. First it was her wings and then her tail. Then her long sharp claws disappeared before she started to lose her white fur. With her wings gone, she fell under gravity.

Kiwakaazi whispered, “It is the leaves and petals. They can subdue power. How is he going to save her? He can’t use his golden swords. He may injure or worse kill her. He can’t get carelessly close to her. He may be attacked by those leaves and lose his powers too.” Kun asked, “Have you carefully considered your options?” Kiwakaazi answered, “Yes! I have just one option.” Kiwakaazi looked up and saw a great number of the leaves coming together to form a huge bird. The green bird flapped its wings and flew towards Kiwakaazi with speed. The golden swords attacked them while Kiwakaazi changed locations in a flash.

Zakaru had shown his hidden powers — the Rahasi transformation. The Wosu took in three deep breaths and repeated the words “gbeleda, gbeleshie, gbele jimi” meaning “Great death is here to take you to the Afterlife.” His body did not undergo many changes. He only looked more buff and his skin glistened. The two swords merged into one single and long sword. One part of this sword still maintained a silvery appearance and the other part was still black.

The Wosu shouted, “Behold the key to hell! I am sending you there, Zakaru.”