After Basil realized that the sword carried a great legacy, he and Hamza continued their journey across the island. As they made their way in silence, they were suddenly confronted by a massive wall surrounding a large portion of the island, with towering watchtowers rising from it, monitoring every movement in the area.
The two stopped in front of the wall and examined it carefully. Basil, looking at the towers, said, "I think we've reached our destination… the kingdom we were searching for."
Hamza replied after a moment of silence, "We must sneak inside without being detected. We don't know how the people of this kingdom deal with strangers."
Basil answered, "I agree with you. We have to move carefully. But how are we going to climb this wall?"
At that moment, Basil remembered something and said, "I have an idea. I can use the glove and transform it into a grappling hook to climb the wall."
Hamza looked at the glove and asked, "Can you do that?"
Basil nodded with a brief smile, then activated the glove. A hook attached to a metal chain shot out from it.
Hamza stared at the hook in astonishment and said, "This glove… it truly is remarkable!" Then he added, "Alright, we should wait until nightfall to sneak inside."
When night came, Basil prepared the glove and got ready to launch the hook. As soon as he fired it, it shot forward quickly and latched firmly onto the edge of the wall.
He looked at Hamza and said, "I'll go up first."
Basil began climbing carefully, using the hook to pull himself upward with steady movements until he reached the top. Once there, he launched the hook again toward Hamza.
After Hamza grabbed the hook firmly, Basil used the glove to pull him up until Hamza reached the top safely beside him.
When they successfully reached the top, they took a deep breath to regain their strength. As they moved cautiously among the shadows, they noticed one of the guards walking toward them.
Basil stepped back slightly to give Hamza room. With a swift and calculated move, Hamza struck the guard on the neck with precise force, causing him to fall unconscious without a sound.
As they moved carefully, the kingdom inside was submerged in darkness, except for the faint moonlight and a few hanging lamps flickering softly, reflecting the beauty of the place in an aura of mystery.
Basil paused for a moment to observe the kingdom in the quiet of the night and whispered to Hamza, "Let's do a quick sweep of the area and find a safe shelter."
They continued their way, sneaking through narrow alleys and old buildings. The city whispered with its faint sounds, and the scattered lamps cast long shadows along the walls.
After some time searching, they climbed to the roof of one of the houses via a side stone staircase. The rooftop was spacious and abandoned, covered with some planks and worn burlap. They sat behind a low wall, out of sight, beneath a sky adorned with moonlight.
There, they rested in silence, watching the city from above while the calm wrapped around the place like a veil of mystery.
At the start of the morning, Basil and Hamza began exploring the kingdom. As they walked, they suddenly stopped at one of the water canals that ran between the old buildings.
There, upon the calm surface of the water, they saw a breathtaking and strange sight.
The city was magnificent, scattered with lakes, alleys, and waterways. People stood on long, sturdy wooden poles, balancing skillfully as they paddled with even longer sticks that helped them move between the canals.
Their movements were graceful and precise; they stood firmly as if they had grown accustomed to this method since childhood. Their feet balanced confidently on the poles as they glided smoothly across the canals, while the soft sounds of rippling water harmonized with their steps.
Their loose garments swayed with the wind, adding a touch of authenticity and strangeness to this remarkable scene.
At that moment, their eyes fell upon a majestic structure at the heart of the city: a towering palace overlooking everything around it. Its walls were made of white stone, sparkling under the sunlight, crowned with domes and uniquely designed windows that reflected the light and gave the palace a magical and imposing brilliance.
Behind it, in the distance, rose a gigantic tree with a massive trunk and branches stretching in every direction, standing like a colossal shadow on the horizon, hiding secrets yet to be revealed among its limbs.
As they wandered through the kingdom, they noticed a large crowd gathered as if witnessing an important event. Curiosity drove them closer, where they saw a man fighting a strange creature resembling a kangaroo, although it is smaller in size than the ones they had seen in the desert.
The battle was taking place in an open arena, and the announcer declared in a booming voice, "If the challenger defeats the Horo, he will win the prize: two lamps with glowing larvae inside"
After the man lost to the Horo, Basil said in surprise, "Isn't this the same creature we saw in the desert when we fled from the herd?"
Hamza replied thoughtfully, "Yes, it is. But how did they bring it here?"
They continued walking until they noticed another gathering filled with noise and excitement. When they arrived, they saw a group of people shouting loudly, dramatically changing their facial expressions, and moving violently. They struck their hands against their bodies and stomped the ground forcefully. They were chanting, and their chanting was filled with fierce cries and intimidating sounds.
The dance seemed like a symphony in which hands, arms, and legs moved in harmony, accompanied by voices, intense gazes, and body movements. It was a vivid expression of this kingdom's strong culture.
During this, they also noticed that the dancers possessed a dark green stone embedded in their bodies, marked with glowing engravings, often placed in the chest area or on their arms.
Basil and Hamza stood in astonishment at what they witnessed. All that vitality and energy indicated that they were in a place filled with life and challenges.
After watching the dance, a large, heavily built man stepped forward toward the crowd. A prominent scar marked his face, and engravings covered his body. He wore a necklace from which small skulls hung, giving him an imposing appearance.
He shouted loudly, "O sons of the Mazi, welcome to this special day! Today, we are here to celebrate the courage of the spirit and our ancient traditions. This duel is a reflection of the life we live together as one family. Whoever steps into this arena today shows us the true meaning of bravery and boldness, and we are here to honor the spirit that unites us."
The tribe erupted in applause and cheers, surrounded by an atmosphere of joy and anticipation.
Basil asked one of the bystanders in a low voice, "Who is that man?"
The man grew angry and answered harshly, "Don't you know him? He is the leader of the Mazi tribe, the commander of the wall guard — Scarface — and standing beside him are his three brothers: Hunter, Sekio, and Morani."
Then Morani, one of the brothers, stepped forward confidently and shouted, "Who among you wants to duel?"
Someone from the crowd replied, "I, today, will defeat you!"
A small-built boy stepped into the arena with remarkable courage, astonishing the crowd. Two tattoos marked his face — one symbolizing the Mazi tribe, and the other extending from his forehead down to his chin.
He held two daggers skillfully, and despite his young age and slight build compared to Morani and his brothers, he appeared confident and determined.
The crowd began murmuring among themselves, questioning the boldness of this boy.