Ekene's eyes fluttered open, revealing a desolate, formless desert that stretched out endlessly in every direction. The landscape was devoid of any defining features, its monochromatic palette casting everything in shades of white and black. In the distance, people wandered aimlessly, their faces expressionless and their bodies reduced to mere silhouettes.
"Where am I?" Ekene wondered, his confusion mounting as he tried to make sense of his surroundings. Memories of the trial, the valley of no return, and the anaconda's deadly grip flooded his mind. "I was swallowed by a snake... am I dead? Is this heaven?" he wondered
Ekene rose to his feet, the soft, ash-like sand shifting beneath him. He began to walk, approaching the people who seemed to be going about their business without a care. "Excuse me," he said, attempting to get someone's attention. "What is this place? Where is this place? Why is everything in black and white? Can someone tell me what the heck is going on here?!" But his words fell on deaf ears. The people didn't flinch, didn't react, and didn't even acknowledge his presence.
Frustrated by their unresponsiveness, Ekene continued his search for answers. As he walked, he noticed a light shining in the distance. It was faint, but it was there, a beacon of hope in this desolate landscape. Without hesitation, Ekene followed the light, his feet carrying him towards it with a mixture of curiosity and desperation.
As Ekene ventured deeper into the mysterious landscape, the light grew more intense, its brilliance illuminating the monochrome expanse. At last, he discovered the source – a majestic sword, its silver and gold hues a stark contrast to the colorless desert. The sword lay on the ground, its blade glinting with a mesmerizing sheen.
Ekene cautiously approached the enigmatic weapon, his gaze fixed on its radiant form. Hesitation gripped him as he pondered its significance, and ultimately, he decided to leave the sword untouched. Looking for answers to the mystery, that is the desert, he attempted to turn away as he continued his journey through the formless desert.
A voice, strange yet somehow familiar, cut through the silence. "Where are you going?"
Startled, Ekene searched for the speaker, only to discover a young man who was the mirror image of himself. This doppelganger possessed a will of his own, leaving Ekene to wonder if he was merely another person.
"Who are you?" Ekene inquired, his curiosity piqued as he cautiously approached his lookalike.
"What are you talking about? It is me," the stranger replied, his voice an uncanny reflection of Ekene's own.
"I don't know you. Why do you look so much like me? Why do you sound so much like me? It's as if I'm talking to myself." Ekene pressed, grappling with the absurdity of the situation.
The stranger's eyes locked onto Ekene, their shared gaze piercing the veil of confusion that shrouded them both. "That's because I am you, and you are me. We are one! I've been with you since you were born. I know your name. Isn't it sad that you don't know mine, Ekene?"
Ekene's eyes widened in shock at the sound of his name, his mind racing to comprehend the unfathomable connection between himself and this enigmatic figure. "So if we are one, does that mean your name is Ekene too?"
No sooner had Ekene posed the question than he found himself ensnared within the confines of an unknown creature, its slimy walls contracting around him. The realization struck him with sudden force. "So, I was swallowed after all, huh?"
The voice of the stranger reverberated in his ears, tinged with disappointment and irritation. "Next time, make sure you at least know my name. Stupid partner!"
"Huh? Where are you?! Where?!" Ekene cried out
In the blink of an eye, Ekene found himself transported to yet another strange and unfamiliar place. Unlike the colourless desert, this new world was vibrant and alive with hues that danced upon the landscape. The sudden shift left Ekene questioning his whereabouts once more. "Great! Now where am I this time?"
A female voice, alien yet melodic, called out from behind him. "Ekene."
Ekene turned to face the voice, only to be met with a shocking sight. Ten naked women stood before him, their unclad forms a stark contrast to his conservative upbringing. Flustered and embarrassed, he shielded his eyes in an attempt to maintain his composure.
One of the women, her lips quirking into a cheeky smirk, remarked, "Oh?"
"Is this the first time you're seeing a naked woman?" another teased, their laughter filling the air.
"Shut up! Why are you all naked?" Ekene snapped, his frustration mounting as he struggled to process the bizarre scene unfolding before him.
As the women continued to tease Ekene, one of them drew attention to his own state of undress. "Wow! Your thing is big and long! Our princess really has eyes!"
Mortified, Ekene realized that he, too, was naked. He immediately covered himself with his hands, his cheeks burning with embarrassment.
"Don't look!" Ekene ordered, desperate to maintain a modicum of privacy.
The women erupted in laughter once more, their mirth a stark contrast to Ekene's discomfort.
"Don't worry about it. This world was designed that way!" one woman said, attempting to put him at ease. "Here, everyone walk without clothes."
Another woman stepped forward, offering insight into their unique connection. "But in our case, we are naked because we were turned into giant snakes about 25 years ago. We are the snakes that attacked you at the Valley of No Return."
Ekene's eyes widened in shock as the weight of the woman's revelation settled upon him. The cruel hand of fate had not only transformed these women into creatures of legend but had also bound them to a tragic existence.
"Who turned you into snakes?" Ekene asked, his voice a mixture of curiosity and horror.
"The eyes of the gods!" the first woman replied, her tone tinged with bitterness.
Ekene's brow furrowed as he struggled to comprehend the motivations behind such a devastating act. "Why'd he do such a thing?"
The first woman stepped forward, the pain of her past etched into her features as she prepared to share the story of their transformation. "Long ago, I was happily married with a child. But things began to spiral out of control when the Eze Mmuo set his eyes on me. He told me to be his wife, but I refused, because I loved my husband."
The air grew heavy with the weight of her words as she continued. "He then killed my husband and told me to be his wife since my husband was now dead. I still refused. I told him I would never marry an old fool who killed my beloved husband. My refusal irritated him so much that he raped me."
Ekene listened, his heart aching for the suffering these women had endured.
"As soon as he was done with his acts, I suddenly noticed that I didn't have hands and legs anymore and my tongue felt strange in my mouth. I asked him what was wrong with me? He said this way, I'd be more useful to the gods. He then cast a spell on me that made me uncontrollably ferocious. I saw myself digesting my only son. In the same way, we were all turned into snakes."
The second woman chimed in, shedding light on the fate of another victim. "Similarly, the Queen was turned into a python. She was raped by Eze Mmuo, and suddenly she turned into a snake. However, in her case, Eze Mmuo forgot to cast his spell, so she still has her memories, emotions, and control over herself."
Ekene nodded in understanding, his mind piecing together the intricate web of suffering and malevolence that had ensnared these women. "I see. So that's why the queen didn't attack me when I visited the palace, huh?"
"That's right!" the second woman confirmed, her voice filled with a mix of sorrow and resignation.
Ekene's rage burned bright as the plight of the women fueled his desire for justice. His mind filled with thoughts of retribution, driven by the need to avenge those who had suffered at the hands of the Eze Mmuo.
"Ekene," the first woman called, her voice heavy with sorrow and resignation.
"What?" Ekene responded, his attention snapping back to the women before him.
"Please, kill us. We're tired of living like snakes. Put us out of our misery!" the first woman requested, her plea tinged with desperation.
Ekene's brow furrowed, his mind racing for a way to save them from their cursed existence. "There has to be a way to save you all, to reverse the curse."
The fifth woman shook her head, her eyes filled with despair. "No, Ekene. Death is the only saving grace for us. Our husbands and children are all dead. We have nothing left in this accursed world. Please put us out of our misery."
The sixth woman chimed in, offering a sliver of hope amidst the darkness. "For our queen, though, and everyone else who was turned into snakes in the kingdom, the only way to turn them back into humans is to defeat Ikuku in combat and save Amosu village."
Ekene's curiosity piqued at the mention of this mysterious foe. "Who is Ikuku?"
At that moment, Ekene found himself transported back to the formless desert, face to face with the lookalike young man who called himself Agu.
"For the 360th time, I'm Agu," the lookalike young man said with a hint of exasperation. "And we are partners."
"So, I'm back here, huh?" Ekene said, his eyes scanning the familiar surroundings.
"You should be able to hear my voice now. I've yelled my name for about 360 times already," Agu complained.
"Save your breath. I heard you," Ekene replied, his focus shifting to the shining sword that stood before them.
Agu watched as Ekene approached the sword, its light growing in intensity as if in response to his presence.
Ekene, determination etched on his face, called out to the weapon, his voice ringing with purpose. "The sword that bears the name of the king of the jungle, lend me your strength! Agu!"
As soon as the words left his lips, Ekene grasped the sword, its radiant light enveloping him as he prepared to embrace his destiny and fight for the salvation of Amosu village.
In a flash, Ekene found himself back within the confining darkness of the anaconda's belly. The sword remained firmly in his grasp, its radiant light piercing the shadows that surrounded him. With a fierce cry, he drove the blade into the snake's stomach from the inside, cutting through its flesh and leaping out of the fatal wound.
The lifeless serpent's body collapsed to the ground, a gruesome testament to Ekene's tenacity and newfound power. The nine remaining snakes, sensing the fall of their kin, launched a frenzied attack on Ekene, their fangs and coils seeking to subdue him.
Ekene, armed with the enchanted sword, deftly dispatched each of the serpents, his movements fueled by a strength that seemed to grow with every strike. As the last snake fell, the spirits of the women he had met in the desert realm rose from the corpses of the vanquished creatures, their smiles radiant with gratitude as they ascended to the heavens, finally free from their cursed existence.
Outside the Valley of No Return, the villagers rejoiced, their laughter and cheers a stark contrast to the somber atmosphere that hung over Ekene's closest companions. The king, Princess Adaeze, Cynthia, Grace, and Samuel all wept, their hearts heavy with the weight of Ekene's death.
As the celebration continued, Princess Adaeze's voice rang out, firm with resolve. "Ekene, I'm going with you. Wait for me!"
"Adaeze, stop this!" the king ordered, his voice trembling with fear and desperation.
Tears streamed down Princess Adaeze's face as she faced her father, her voice unwavering. "No! Father, my life is nothing without him!" With a final, determined glance at the king, she turned and made her way towards the Valley of No Return.
Before she could reach the gate, a violent earthquake rocked the entire village. The ground beneath their feet trembled, and the sky grew dark, casting a shadow of uncertainty over Amosu and the fates of Ekene and Princess Adaeze.
As the earth continued to quake, a gleaming blade sliced through the gate of the Valley of No Return. The villagers watched in awe as the sword effortlessly destroyed the imposing barrier, their fear momentarily replaced by shock and wonder.
The chief priest, his voice trembling, declared, "Igwe, the gods are still angry. They desire human sacrifices."
A familiar voice echoed from within the valley, laced with determination. "A human sacrifice, huh? Good idea! How about you offer yourself?"
"Ekene!" Princess Adaeze screamed, her eyes locked on the billowing dust and debris that shrouded the entrance to the once-forbidden realm.
As the dust settled, Ekene emerged from the Valley of No Return, the enchanted sword firmly in hand. With a fierce cry, he plunged the blade into the ground, a wave of energy pulsing through the earth beneath their feet. "The blade that bears the name of the king of the jungle, Agu! Lend me your strength!"
Instantly, the earthquake ceased, and a calming silence swept across Amosu villaage. The assembled villagers could hardly believe their eyes – Ekene had not only survived but had returned to them with the power to subdue the earth itself.
Princess Adaeze, her heart bursting with relief and love, raced towards Ekene and threw herself into his embrace. Tears of joy streamed down her face as Ekene's friends gathered around him, their laughter and shouts of celebration piercing the air.
The king, his voice thick with emotions, muttered. "My son, you survived. Thank you."
As the celebration continued, Samuel asked the question on everyone's mind. "Dude, how did you survive? I was scared."
Ekene chuckled, patting his friend on the shoulder. "Haha, I will explain later. But first, we have to do something very important."
Princess Adaeze, her gaze fixed on Ekene, inquired further. "What's that?"
Ekene, his eyes filled with a mixture of determination and wisdom beyond his years, replied, "Watch."
Ekene then turned his attention to the chief priest, his voice unwavering as he addressed the figure known as the Eyes of the gods. "Hey, Eyes of the gods, or whatever you call yourself, you've got some explaining to do. Tell the villagers the history of the Valley of No Return, right now!"
The chief priest, taken aback by Ekene's boldness, retorted, "You dare challenge the Eyes of the gods?" With a wave of his hand, he cast a spell that summoned a circle of fire around Ekene, causing the young warrior to brace himself against the rising heat.
Ichie Chinwetalu, a respected elder of the village, shook his head in dismay. "Ah, Ekene might have been lucky enough to survive the Valley of No Return, but picking a fight with Eze Mmuo? He has crossed the line!"
The chief priest continued his incantations, launching a barrage of explosive fireballs at Ekene. Princess Adaeze screamed in terror, her heart pounding in her chest as she feared for the life of the man she loved.
"The ear that doesn't listen to warning will go with the head when it is cut off," the chief priest declared, his voice filled with malice.
Ekene's voice rang out through the chaos, demanding the truth. "You still haven't answered my question, Eze Mmuo. I said tell us the history of the Valley of No Return. Don't push me to do what I might regret later!"
As the smoke cleared, the villagers were astonished to see Ekene's figure still standing tall, unharmed by the chief priest's onslaught.
"He's even challenging Eze Mmuo. Does he feel no fear at all?" the king wondered, a smile spreading across his face as he observed Ekene's unwavering determination.
"Well, since you don't want to talk, I guess I'll just proceed with the true judgment from the throne of ultimate justice," Ekene proclaimed, emerging from the dissipating smoke.
In a single, fluid motion, Ekene swung his sword and sliced through the chief priest's neck. The villagers watched in horror as the priest's head fell to the ground, rolling across the floor before coming to a stop at the feet of the king. A stunned silence enveloped the crowd, their eyes fixed on Ekene as they struggled to comprehend the gravity of his actions.