The scenery immediately transformed quickly to the Chamber of Echoes. Dioha found himself facing the Watchers council, one knee down on the ground. He slowly got up not sure if this was another test. It seemed pretty easy beating the Saber-wolves, he wondered if that was the only memory the council pulled up from his sub consciousness and tailored the test after. He waited to be addressed. Orsun spoke first.
"NOW, THERE REALLY IS NO DOUBT AS TO WHO THIS FINE YOUNG MAN IS. WELCOME BACK LOVE. I THOROUGHLY ENJOYED THAT. ESPECIALLY WHEN I KISSED YOU, MADE ME WET."
"WILL YOU GIVE IT A BREAK, ORSUN?
WAIT! WHEN YOU KISSED ME?" Dioha asked raising his hand to his lips.
The goddess of love was lovesick and this made everything dangerous and complicated, especially for her. If the Femure cadet was Orsun, then the other four cadets represented the other members of the council. That would then mean, the attack of the humans was a part of the test.
"AMADIOHA IS BACK!" Osoóse beamed.
He looked to Mother Ngam who was smiling at Dioha like a mother whose son just performed a wonderful and impossible feat.
"WELCOME BACK AMADIOHA, SON OF LIGHTNING AND THUNDER. THERE IS YOUR SEAT."
"WELL, SINCE THE MAJORITY HAVE ALREADY DOLED OUT THE INDUCTION SPEECH, WELCOME WAR GOD." Eshu joined in.
"THERE'S NO WAY HE IS ASCENDING THAT THRONE!" Aganju said, getting up and pointing to one of the empty thrones.
"I AM THE GOD OF WAR, ALWAYS HAVE BEEN! THE ENFORCERS NOW PRAY TO ME!! SPEAK UP CHIEF!!!" Aganju continued, looking at someone behind Dioha.
"YESS, MY LIEGE."
Dioha turned to look behind him from where the voice had come. Behind him were the chieftains of all the tribes of Ngame, both from the majority and minority tribes. The man who stood up and answered Aganju was dressed in the customary native apparel for chiefs, a costly Ankara wrapper round his waist with beads of different sizes adorning his neck, wrists, and ankles. The upper part of his body was naked as the Enforcers loved to show their muscularity even when dressing for important occasions. His chest was broad, breast well formed and visibly parted in the middle. This dude was the new chief Aganju installed after killing the old one who was Dioha's friend. Dioha decided to use him as an example. Electricity sparked in Dioha's eyes, the enchanted ring on Dioha's finger still active, they crackled in his palm as he flung a lightning bolt at the chief. The chief was roasted where he stood as nearby chiefs jumped away from the area so as not to be hit by mistake. The smoking corpse of the chief slowly tilted backwards and crashed to the floor. Enraged, Aganju jumped off his throne. He was going to put Dioha in his place once and for all, Accords or not.
"AGANJU, STAND DOWN. YOU CAN'T ATTACK A FELLOW MEMBER OF THE COUNCIL. REMEMB…" Eshu reminded him.
"SCREW THE ACCORDS. THIS WEAKLING WHO GOT KILLED BY MERE MORTALS IS NOT FIT TO SIT WITH GODS. LET ME SEND HIM TO THE AFTERLIFE PERMANENTLY." Aganju was past reasoning with as he shut Eshu, his only ally at the moment up. Eshu tried another tactic, turning to Mother Ngam.
"MOTHER NGAM, THE ACCORD STATES THAT ANY MEMBER OF THE COUNCIL IS FREE TO DISPUTE THE CANDIDACY OF ANY NEW MEMBER. AND SUCH DISPUTES CAN BE SETTLED IN A DUEL AGAINST SAID NEW MEMBER OR ANY VOLUNTEER IN THE COUNCIL." Eshu said in a rush to Mother Ngam.
"YES?"
"IF HE FIGHTS DIOHA NOW, IT WOULD BE ON THE BASIS OF THAT LAW." Eshu completed.
"IS THAT WHAT AGANJU WANTS?
Osoóse asked.
"YES! IT IS WHAT I HAVE ALWAYS WANTED. THIS PUNK SHOULD BE THE GOD OF THUNDER ALONE. HE SHOULD LEAVE THE WARRING TO ME."
"BUT YOU UNDERSTAND THIS IS A ONCE IN A LIFETIME DUEL, RIGHT?" Osoóse asked.
He was afraid for Dioha. He didn't know when exactly Dioha began using the ring. If he did right from the beginning of the test, he had just a few minutes left. The effects of the ring could be wearing off anytime soon.
"YOU'LL BE FORFEITING THE RIGHT TO EVER SETTLE ANY FUTURE DISPUTE WITH HIM THROUGH A SHOW OF STRENGTH." Osoóse continued.
"ENOUGH TALK! I WANT THIS!!" Aganju bellowed.
"RIGHT THEN. I VOLUNTEER TO FIGHT ON HIS BEHALF." Osoóse said calmly.
Everyone turned to look at the God of Nature incredulously. The God of Nature was brave, kindhearted and very powerful but he just wasn't a brawler. He wouldn't be able to withstand the sheer might of the God of Violence. His good nature would cost him the fight before it ever really began thereby putting Dioha at the mercy of this madman.
"NO. I'LL FIGHT FOR DIOHA INSTEAD." The Goddess of Beauty was already up and stepping off her throne.
Seemed like everyone wanted to help him fight his battle today. Dioha appreciated the gestures but would rather handle the matter by himself.
"THANK YOU, BOTH OF YOU. BUT I CAN HANDLE THIS BY MYSELF."
"ORSUN, OSOÓSE, STAY BACK. AMADIOHA WANTS TO FIGHT HIS BATTLE." Mother Ngam ordered the two.
Orsun and Osoose couldn't go against Dioha's wish let alone now that Mother Ngam just waded into the matter. Orsun returned to her seat while Osoose cast a protection spell on the cluster of tribal chiefs who were hurdled near the door. No one wanted to get in the way when two heavyweights were rearing to have a go at each other.
Two flaming axes materialized in Aganju's hands as he dashed towards Dioha. He was blindingly fast. In just a split second he had closed the distance between them. Two axes crackling with electricity appeared in Dioha's hands. Aganju struck vertically with his left axe which Dioha blocked horizontally with his right axe. Aganju's right axe swung upwards going for Dioha's guts. Dioha reacted quickly by throwing himself backwards evading Aganju's upward slash. Aganju closed in immediately going for a crisscross slash with both axes. Dioha bent backwards as the blades of the axes swished dangerously close to his chest. Aganju kicked with his right foot sending Dioha to the floor. Dioha used the momentum of his fall to roll over his head and get back up, but he met Aganju in the air already slashing down with his left axe. Dioha was forced to block with both axes in an X shape. Aganju followed up with a round house slash using his right axe which Dioha ducked under. Dioha rose up with a head butt, the top of his head meeting Aganju's chin. Aganju staggered back but quickly did a double upward slash sequentially, left then right. Dioha had suspected a quick counter would follow so after head butting, he had stayed back which means Aganju just slashed at empty air as Dioha waited at a safe distance. Aganju dashed towards Dioha throwing one axe at him as he moved. Dioha parried the flying axe to the side. The axe hit the protective shield covering the chiefs far back startling one chief who would've had his head split in two if there'd been no covering. Aganju threw the second axe when he was very close to Dioha and threw himself instantly like a spear at Dioha. Dioha fell backwards, landing on his back to the floor letting the axe fly past. Aganju was spinning like a drill in midair, broadsword in his hands thrust forward. Dioha kicked upwards, with the soles of both feet, at Aganju as he spun over Dioha. This broke Aganju's spinning motion sending him high into the air with his back exposed to ground attack. Dioha launched himself right after Aganju, axes gone instead a long spear with jagged sharp teeth in his hand. He thrust at Aganju's exposed back. Aganju's shield reacted instinctively, blocking Dioha's spear attack. The two of them landed on their feet. Aganju made to move towards Dioha again.
"YOU'VE LOST THE FIGHT." Osoóse interjected, getting up.
"NO WAY!!!"
"YOUR SHIELD INTERFERED." Dioha said, mockingly.
"I DIDN'T USE IT."
"BUT YOU KNOW THE RULE OF THE DUEL. YOU LOSE ONCE YOUR SHIELD SAVES YOUR ASS." Orsun pointed out.
Aganju looked very bitter and looked like he was going to make one rash move. But he controlled his anger instead ranting about stupid duels that didn't permit spilling of blood. He walked out of the chamber angrily.
"YOU CAN HAVE YOUR SEAT, DIOHA. WE HAVE MUCH TO DISCUSS." Mother Ngam entreated Dioha.
"WHAT TIME IS IT?" Dioha asked.
"11PM. WHY?" Orsun asked.
"11PM? SO THE TEST LASTED THE WHOLE DAY." Dioha said.
"YES." Osoóse answered.
"WHY INCLUDE HUMANS IN THAT TEST?" Dioha directed at Eshu.
"YOUR MEMORIES PROVIDED THE MATERIALS AND DETAILS FOR THAT ATTACK. AND IT LOOKS LIKE YOU FAILED. THAT BRINGS ME TO THE QUESTION; WHY DID YOU TRY TO ENTER THE HUMAN TERRITORY?" Eshu asked, his brain formulating different possible reasons.
Dioha tensed. He had to respond in a way that would diffuse Eshu's curiosity and not raise a red flag in the other council members minds.
"I WOULD RATHER GO TO MY SANCTUARY AND TEND TO MY BUSINESS. WHEN THE COUNCIL SITS UP AND FINDS WHO ATTEMPTED THE ASSASINATION ON ME, MAYBE I'LL BE WILLING TO CHAT WITH YOU ALL THEN."
Dioha turned to the chiefs.
"NOW YOU HAVE SEEN THE TRUE GOD OF WAR. I WILL KILL ANY WHO PRAYS TO THE GOD OF VIOLENCE IN MY PLACE. TAKE THIS MESSAGE BACK AND LET IT BE KNOWN AMONG MY PEOPLE."
Dioha walked out of the chamber leaving everyone with mixed feelings. Mother Ngam looked disappointed while Orsun was angry. Dioha had left without any consideration for her. Osoose, on the other hand was grinning. The God of show offs was back. Eshu was expressionless, a cold glint in his eyes.
THE COUNCIL MEETINGS SHOULD BE FUN FROM NOW ON. Osoóse thought.
The chiefs looked at each other, fearful of what they'd just witnessed. They were dismissed by the Watchers. The Enforcer contingent, who'd travelled with their chief to the meeting, carried away the corpse of their chief, knowing a new chief had to be crowned within a fortnight.