THE LEGEND OF KIWAKAAZI

Clanging sounds were heard coming from the triangle of light. The battle between the white dwarf’s zombies and the two most wanted people inside Nomposuro was getting serious. Kiwakaazi II and Kiwakaazi III would disappear and when they appear clash kafundes. They will fight one-on-one for a while and disappear again.  

Deila was fighting Zakaru. The five golden blades were particularly troublesome but she held her own. And whenever she was in a pinch, Kiwakaazi III will spare a few of his golden swords to help her out.

But the way these two fight troubled the dwarf. Their combination…? Since when did they build such great understanding? Ten, eleven or twelve days of fighting together inside Nomposuro could not have forged this great understanding. He was watching the battle with all his senses and had noticed that the two could make a move without necessarily using words or even gestures. That was not something you see between two people who became friends less than fifteen days ago. They don’t cease to amaze him. He was always wondering what they were going to do next.

Kiwakaazi III disappeared and Deila run away from Zakaru towards Kiwakaazi II. The second Kaazi did not need to disappear. He stood ready for Deila’s attack. Perhaps he had the perfect plan to kill her in one strike. Zakaru also waited for Kiwakaazi III to attack. “Sadin! Uhurusa (the first dance of fifty golden swords),” screamed Kiwakaazi III. The red mark on his face had grown a little bit longer.

Zakaru sent his golden blades flying. Deila halted. Kiwakaazi II shifted focus from Deila and looked up. It was raining; raining golden swords. They were too close to him. He disappeared instantly. When he appeared, a couple of the golden swords had injured his shoulder and more swords rained on him. He disappeared again and his next appearance landed him in the clutches of Deila. She drove her claws through his spinal cord. It barely made contact but he was weakened anyway. The rain of swords continued. Kiwakaazi II looked up and saw Zakaru’s golden blades. They hung above him trying to fight off Kiwakaazi III’s golden swords but were outnumbered. He was stabbed many times. He also collapsed to the ground and disappeared.

The white dwarf was now silent and wearing a frown. He had no more words. These two had demonstrated a new level of teamwork. Kiwakaazi III is strong and Deila the shinko is also strong but together they are simply unbeatable. He could not fathom any group of kranju that could stand this duo. In his mind even if all the shinkos, all the nhutus, and all the dwarfs came together to fight this couple, they might still lose. But he was not going to give up. He still has many aces under his sleeves. These two will shrivel under his power. They should just wait and see.

Kiwakaazi III and Deila now focused all their attention on the last legend standing; the strongest of them all — Zakaru Sidiata (Zakaru the immortal). Zakaru looked up. Kiwakaazi felt Zakaru’s energy rise exponentially. He thought, ‘There is no way he can use that.’ Both Zakaru and Kiwakaazi screamed simultaneously, “Sahuuhu Uhurusa!”

Kiwakaazi (the second) and his family of wanderers arrived at Awufodom previously known as Nananompofie (Home of the Ancient Ones). The rumors were true. Awufodom was really scary. Thick fog surrounded the whole land. Not even the ground they walked upon could be seen — zero visibility. It was also as silent as a cemetery. The wanderers shook and shivered in fear of the unexpected. They followed their brave leader’s footsteps. They neither saw him nor heard him speak; only his footsteps were heard. Prior to this, Aran had tasked the brave and fearless men to form a wall around the rest of the Asoglis (wanderers). They were to protect the rest at the expense of their own lives.

Suddenly, they heard sounds: cries of phantoms. Some of the people could not take this mental torture and wanted to run away. They tried to break through the circle of brave men who surrounded them. They struggled; they begged and cried to be released. They did not want to die. Maybe it was Arangosango’s exceptional organization skills or perhaps it was the dedication of the brave men who worked under him but the wall was never broken. Next, they heard the voice of death calling out to every one of them. It came as a long howl. No one could pinpoint exactly the source of the howl. It came from the left, then from the right; from in front and from behind. It kept changing and that was even more tormenting.

You know how impatient man can sometimes be. They directed all their anger at Kiwakaazi II, beloved of Dedeli. Some swore that if they should die in this ghost filled hell, they will never rest. They will haunt him and his descendants for a thousand generations. Some shouted that if they should not make it out unscathed, they will curse him from beyond the grave. The fog lifted and revealed what to the people was the end of their lives. Damn Kiwakaazi II and his crazy obsession to save Princess Dedeli. Now they are going to be torn to shreds.

Kiwakaazi and Zakaru were busy moving their fingers to control golden swords. Five hundred golden swords had been summoned by both superior warriors. Kiwakaazi really struggled defending both himself and Kaki from Zakaru. He told her to stay close so that the golden swords that circled them both can defend them. Zakaru used fewer swords as defense. He attacked with almost four hundred of his swords. Kiwakaazi was not having it easy at all. Kaki was worried. She feared the number of golden swords were too many and could leave Kiwakaazi (the third) with headaches and nose bleeds.

A pack of wolves surrounded the wanderers. Most of them thought, ‘Why Kiwakaazi? Why…? Why have you brought us here to be slaughtered?’ All the wolves howled for one last time as if saying, “Be prepared to die, ignorant humans. How dare you enter our home?” and attacked together. The brave soldiers of Aran readied their weapons and took their stance. ‘Bring it on!’ they thought. Kiwakaazi (the second) lifted his right arm. Aran asked, “Are you sure?” Kiwakaazi only nodded while still holding his right hand up. Aran with great difficulty asked the men to lower their weapons — to stand down. And with even much greater difficulty, they lowered their weapons. The wolves run very fast towards them. They snarled at them; glared at them and growled at them, and, when they got close enough, pounced on them.

Golden swords flew all over the triangle of light. They clashed and attacked. The clashed and defended and then they stopped and rallied around their masters. Kaki asked, “Why are you using this technique again? You seem to have forgotten what happened the last time you used it.” Kiwakaazi was already tired and out of breath. He answered saying, “Because it is the only technique that can counter his. Don’t worry; I can handle it this time.” “You don’t appear to be handling it,” insisted Kaki. But Kiwakaazi moved his fingers as if playing a piano and the dance of the golden swords begun again. Zakaru did the same. Kaki looked at Kiwakaazi for a while and turned her attention to Zakaru. “I have to do something, anything, before he ends up sacrificing himself again. I don’t believe the walanuntso (river of cleansing) can be used twice. But what can I do with so many golden swords flying around?” she questioned.

When the wolves pounced, a few of the people pissed and shit themselves. Death can do that to people. Many of them closed their eyes and hid their faces. The face of death is very scary. Some passed out. The fear of death is very strong. But what happened? Nothing! The wolves jumped and disappeared before they could do any harm. The people realizing this started hugging one another. They sung and praised the gods for protecting them. Kiwakaazi II stood unmoved during this moment. In the past, he was not just their leader but their greatest source of laughter. He came up with all the jokes and did all the crazy things that made them laugh.

But after his strange meeting with Princess Dedeli, he became this serious, reserved and focused man. He just stood there and watched the thick fog that surrounded the central empire come together. When the process was complete, the tallest, biggest and meanest wolf of all stood there. It was growling at them. Fear returned. They hugged each other more tightly — this time not in joy but in fear. The huge wolf howled again. This howl was so loud that the wanderers were sure everyone in the world heard it. But that was not the only scary thing. This wolf spoke to them. Can you believe it, a talking wolf?

Deila looked at Kiwakaazi III. The white dwarf watched them. He heard no exchange of words; no gestures were exchanged. But he was certain they were going to do something together — they always did. He hated it and yet admired it very much. But what, what is their plan this time? The shinko stood on Kiwakaazi’s left. She leapt forward and started circling the immortal. She paused in between her runs to catch and throw a golden sword, made available to her courtesy Kiwakaazi III, at the immortal. Zakaru simply disappeared and appeared elsewhere within the triangle. The golden swords of Kiwakaazi chased after Zakaru and Deila kept on catching and throwing some at him with great speed.

Kiwakaazi III focused hard. The Sahuuhu Uhurusa was extremely difficult to control. The strain it placed on his body and brain was unimaginable. But he had no option. It was the only technique that could counter Zakaru’s Sahuuhu Uhurusa. He bled from his nose again and suffered great headache. But he held on. If he were to lose the Sahuuhu Uhurusa, they would both die. He watched the dwarf with the corner of his eye and instantly moved his pinky finger in a different direction; destination — towards Kuntunkunuku (Papa dwarf).