°It's in dangerous times that the worth of a man is revealed°
KOFI'S POV
Seeing the unexpected as a monster rose up front the ground, we were all taken aback seeing the full body of the monster as it fully came out. It was a gigantic snake with hard scales and large fangs. The scales of its body were darken giving it an eerie black colour.
"That's.... the black Titanoboa", Femi said after pausing for a while. The black Titanoboa looked down on us from above and hissed. Before we knew it, we were hit by a gust of wind. We all placed our weapons firmly on the ground to prevent us from being tossed away by the wind. Large cuts appeared in our body from that attack which were all healed by Annika.
"How's that possible?",I asked shouting. "Femi, you said there was no danger ahead".
"I did say I wasn't sure",Femi answered looking at me.
"Guys we don't need to argue", Kwami said clenching his sword. "We have a huge monster in sight. Let's retreat".
The black Titanoboa looked at us as we retreated slowly with a disgusted face as it knew we were too weak to even fight it but strangely, it didn't charge towards us like other monsters did. Instead, it hissed again and rocks fell from above sealing out path of escape.
"It can manipulate earth!", I marvelled watching our escape route being sealed.
"No",Femi said touching the wall beside him. "This hidden passage itself is an enigma. Did you notice that it changed to accommodate the Titanoboa and it's regenerating the broken ground into a whole new one. In another words, we have stumbled in a forbidden ground".
The huge snake then slammed its body on the ground, creating a wave of cracks and tremors towards us. We jumped out of the way to avoid being caught by the cracks.
"It's like as if it's testing us", Kwami said as he balanced himself on the ground.
"And what should we do about it?",Aluna replied screaming. Annika didn't say a word but I'm sure she's frightened too.
"Guys",I said trying to calm everyone down.
"We are about to die",Aluna continued panicking as she held her chest. "I should say my last prayers".
"Guys",I shouted calling their attention. "I brought an artifact. It's a defensive artifact and it will envelope us with a large shield, protecting us from any attack. I just don't know how long it can last against a monster of that size".
"Kofi", Aluna said hugging me. "You are a life saver. What are we waiting for? Activate the artifact".
"Ok", I replied as I activated the artifact. A thick large shield- like barrier emerged,enveloping us.
"We are safe for a little while",Femi said spoiling the mode again.
"Whatever you mean", Aluna replied grabbing Femi clothes by the throat.
"Aluna calm down", Kwami said trying to separate them.
"I won't calm down", Aluna retorted back glaring at Femi. "If I survived this, you and I are going to have a talk.
She then left Femi and walked to Annika side, grabbing her hand with a test in her eyes.
"What do you mean by we are safe for a while?"Kwami asked walking towards Femi.
"As I said before",Femi began. The shield will last for a short while as the huge snake can break it whenever it pleases but it's just there,watching us. I believe it enjoys playing with its prey.
"No side to escape either", I said looking around.
"I believe we should strike first",Femi suggested leaving us dumbfounded.
"Our swords won't cut through", I said trying to make him see reason. "The snake is quite gigantic and if we managed to reach its body, the scales are quite hard.
"Maybe we should give back the potion?",Aluna said looking at all of us. "We might be allowed to leave".
"Not possible", Femi replied. "We have seen the forbidden fruit and we can't be expected to tell the tale".
"What's your plan then", Kwami asked Femi face to face. "Surely you have a plan before coming in situation like this".
"I..", Femi paused before continuing. "I have no plan".
"We are dead", Aluna cried hugging Annika. "We are so dead".
"The shield is cracking", Annika said bringing their attention to the artifact they used. She has been quiet for a while now. "What should we do?"
"Guys",Kwami addressed them all. "It's an honor knowing you all. Maybe in the next life, fate will be kinder to us".
"Next life!", Aluna blatted shaking her head. " I'm not dying now. Not now".
"Everyone",Femi said in a calm voice. "I know you all resent me because of this and I'm sorry for bringing you into my mess and this situation. It's my fault and I'm prepared to pay the price".
"What are you saying?",I asked with my eyes wide open. "Surely you are not..."
"Hum",Femi nodded his head. "I just have one request. When I'm through with this fight, give me the awakening potion. It's the one with the red cap. If not, I'll really die".
"What are you saying?",I asked again. "So you do have a plan".
"No I don't",Femi shaked his head in disagreement. "I'll just fight it head on".
"You can't be serious", I said as I tried to stop him but he moved swiftly, avoiding my hands.
"Did you see that?",I asked the others pointing to what Femi did. "His movement changed. Can he really do it?"
Femi somehow moved out of the cracked shield. How he did that, I don't know. He then walked and stood in front of the huge snake who was just watching curiously. Suddenly, we saw Femi sidestep almost immediately. At the same moment,the ground on which he stood cracked and dissolved.
Poison?,I thought. I see. Its poison is that strong to melt the ground instantly. Leave the poison for a moment, how's he avoiding them. His movement is no less than an A rank speed. How's that possible.
Femi move further, reaching the snake. He slashed with strength at the scales of the snake but the sword bounce back, almost cracking
"This sword is strong",we heard him say.
He then dodged the tail of the snake which was aimed at crushing him. With precision while in mid air, Femi shot three bullets to the eye of the snake, hoping to blind it like he did to the mutated Rati but the bullet dropped down to the ground crushed after meeting the eyes. No damage was done.
"Do you see that", Aluna pointed. Her voice indicating surprise.
"Huh",I nodded with my mouth opened.
"That's is clearly a high level fight", Kwami said watching as the cracks multiple on the shield as different wave of thick winds resulting from the fight kept on damaging the shield. "How long is the barrier going to hold?"
"I don't know", I answered.
"This is bad", Kwami said pacing about. "We would have died if not for the protection of this artifact. The pressure and aura from this fight will kill us all should this artifact wear out completely"
"I thought you were prepared to die",I said with my eyebrow raised.
"That was..", Kwami stammered, clearing his throat. "Anyways, there might still be hope for us all".
We continued to watch as Femi slalom and weave through every attack the snake made, making it furious. I guess he was looking for a weak spot. The snake started to treat Femi seriously as different balls made out of venom were released simultaneously creating a web of venom spit, all aimed at Femi. Femi on the other hand kept on watching the balls of venom as they landed on him, creating a torrent of the snake's venom on the ground. It then disappeared, leaving a wide hole behind. We all thought he was done for until we saw him at the back of the snake head, giving a heavy kick.
Bammmmmm
The earth shook as he landed that kick,causing the snake to judder a few times.
"I'd die from that kick", I said halting the silence among us as we watched.
"Everytime he was training with us,was he holding back?,Kwami asked in an hypothetical manner
"I knew he had a secret", Annika added as well. "I didn't just expect this much of a secret. He might even be more powerful than our principal".
"Guys", Aluna cried, calling their attention at the shield. "Bad news. The shield is fading".
"What!", We all said.
"Oh what do we do?", Aluna cried holding Annika's hand tightly."This fight is no way done".
Baaaaaaammmmmmm
Femi's body slammed our shield, breaking it instantly. The force pushed us all away and we had to use our weapons to stabilize our landing.
"Here",Femi said, dropped his weapons. "I don't need my sword and gun".
"What will you use then",I asked clearly baffled. Its scale is that hard that...
"My punches should be enough",Femi interrupted me. "I just need enough shockwave".
Shockwave, I thought. Ah, I get what he's saying. He's trying to create enough shockwave capable of ending the snake's life once and for all
"What about us?", Aluna asked. Hope was seen in her eyes "How are we going to survive from the shockwave".
"Here",Femi replied, throwing another artifact to me. How he got it,I don't know as well. "You can use it. It has a high level protective function.
"Where did you..?, Kwami tried to ask but Femi shut him up almost immediately.
"It doesn't matter where. Just use it".
He left , moving with an insane speed towards the snake. The snake who recovered from the attacks it had received from Femi, suddenly opened its mouth and gathered a big ball of fire. The ball increase to an heavy size, reaching up to twice the size of its head.
"It can use fire as well", I said totally amazed. "That ball can level a small town, even our academy would be reduced to half its size".
Femi on the other hand , gathered mana on his right hand. There was a coating on his hand as he moved. We then saw nothing except a bright light moving towards the snake. The snake release the ball of fire while Femi release his punch with his voice echoing in our eyes
"Quick the artifact",I shouted.
[Shockwave path: One punch]
Booooooooommmmmmm
The earth below split apart into two sides with a hole in between causing different rocks to collapse as the earth continued shaking. Even though we had a barrier covering us, we were not left out as the ground below us also had a cobweb of cracks. Soon enough,the ground repaired itself again.
"Guys are you seeing this",I said looking at the ground being fixed back together with top speed.
"How's this possible?", Annika asked. She seemed intrigued. "How can this place repair by itself. It's not possible right?"
"Where's Femi?", Aluna asked. She had lost track of Femi and was looking for where he might be amidst the trouble they were in. "I can't find him".
"There he is on the wall", Kwami replied pointing towards the right side of the wall.
We saw Femi with blood all over his body as he crash up high in the side of the wall. The gigantic snake on seeing that its prey was down, shot another ball of venom towards Femi driving him deeper into the crack before he fell down to the ground below. His clothes were torn off, revealing part of his underwear but it was surprising that he was alive after taking much damage.
The moment he stood up after he had fallen, his demeanor changed, it was as if the Femi we knew was gone and this guy was another person. He had cold eyes which were lifeless and had a vibe of death within them. He moved near the snake who was also surprised at the present situation. The snake use its body to slam down on Femi causing different tremors as it did that continuously.
"Femi is dead", Aluna said dropping down to the ground. " I'm not sure if our principal can survive the attack. That snake enhanced its body for that attack".
"Look",I added with fear in my eyes. "It's using its tail to coil round Femi".
We all saw the snake using its tail to coil round Femi's body trying to squeeze it to death but no matter how it tried, Femi didn't die. He just kept on looking.
"I get it" , Femi said,his voice giving us the creeps. My hair even rose up. " It's true you don't have a weakness but you overlook one part. If a higher ranker fights you, you'd lose. Why? it's because of power and it's easier to kill you by destroying your head".
Femi shook the snake off and threw it away by the tail. I didn't know when my mouth opened. The snake is so huge, about 20 meters and he carried it as if it was nothing. Then, light gathered around his hand again as Femi watched the snake charging towards him.
Is he going to use that technique, I thought.
"We should pray this barrier holds", I said to the other who nodded in agreement.
" I'll show you what it means to be powerful",Femi said clenching his fist at the gigantic snake.
Suddenly, Femi appeared in the air directly above the head of the snake. His speed was so unreal as he stretched out his hand and with all his strength, punched the head of the snake.
[ Shockwave Path: Total Annihilation]
Boooooooooooommmmmm
We were blinded by the light in the air as everywhere was blown off. The shockwave emanating from the attack destroyed everywhere and we were thrown off from the barrier as it broke and dissipated into nothingness. The cry of the snake was even unheard as Femi's punch totally crush the skull of the snake, bringing an end to its life.
We were all injured from the last attack and Aluna tried her best to heal us as fast as she could. After being fully healed,Kwami rushed to catch Femi who was falling freely in the air at high speed. Using his sword art movement, Kwami caught Femi mid air before crashing on the ground, causing a deep crack.
" I'm all right", Kwami shouted. "Quick, give me the potion he requested.His pulse is very weak"
I took the awakening potion out of the storage and gave it to Kwami who poured everything down Femi's throat. Unexpectedly, we were blown off by the pressure and mana fluctuation coming from Femi's body as the potion miraculously did its work. His body suddenly rose in the air causing great gust of wind all around him and .....I passed out. Yeah, I didn't even know when I fainted. After a while, I woke up on a familiar lap with bandage all over me.
"Don't move", Annika said with a soft tone. "Your body is still healing up".
"Annika",I said recognizing the voice. "What happened?"
"After taking the potion", Annika began. "Femi's mana core was created almost immediately which is quite surprising to me and you guys fainted from the pressure and aura he was emitting".
"You didn't..",I said wondering how she didn't faint like we did.
"I had a lucky charm", She replied cutting me off.
"Indeed", I smiled. "Lucky you".
"That's not all",She continued. "It's wildly known that after awakening, you start at F- rank but I couldn't sense Femi's rank. I felt he was above us so I use the appraisal from the school watch and guess what, he's B rank".
"B rank!", I said coughing as I did. " How in the world is that possible?".
"I believe the awakening potion had a rank up effect with it", That's my theory.
"This is .." my eyes were wide open and I didn't know what to say.
Soon the others woke up and were briefed the whole situation before Femi woke up finally.
"Yo Femi", Kwami said as Femi opened his eyes. "Care to explain why you have been lying to us".
************************************
(Back to Femi's POV)
Where am I?,I thought as I open my eyes into nothingness. It was quiet and white all about. I remember killing the black Titanoboa which is a huge feat for me. My Superior Physique skill is actually real. I didn't bleed or have any damage from the attack and I could even kill the snake with my fist. I still feel there's more that meets the eye with this skill.
"Hey kid",A familiar voice sounded in my ears".
"Mr Jack,how did you....",I asked surprised at seeing him here with me.
"We are connected", He answered cutting me off. That's all I can say. "Quite a fight you had there".
"I endangered my friends",I said with a sad tone. I felt bad at what I did.
"No",Jack smiled. "You protected them. You are a good kid and that's why I know my heritage would be better off with you".
"What's even your heritage",I asked completely curious.
"Don't ask me", Jack said helping me to my feet. "It's a secret".
"So",I said looking at his face. "Why are you here?"
"Yeah right", He said stammering a little. ,I came because of the method you used to kill that little beast.
"Little beast", I repeated his words. Is this guy serious. I then raised my fist.
"No", Jack said, looking at me weirdly. "Your special talent".
"Oh right",I replied bring down my hand awkwardly. "Nemesis.... but I didn't...."
"You might not notice because of the anger and all that happened",He began, explaining like a scholar. "You see, part of the Titanoboa's skills is the protective mana it generates around its head particularly to protect itself from the higher ranks. That's why it can even go up against an S+ or SS- ranker despite been S rank. When you gave the last blow, the mana around its head disappeared the same instant you landed that punch. It was as if the protective mana never existed. What I'm saying is,you used your special talent unconsciously and that aided the speed of your awakening as your body was fully devoid of mana in your system thereby allowing the awakening potion to fill up your body with mana. Your core also was created at the same time and I'm not sure why. We humans require two days after awakening to fully develop a core. Maybe it's an added effect? I'm not really sure. Anyways,when you get back to the academy, use the ring I gave you, you will know what to do concerning your talent and how to use it without harming yourself.
"That's a lot of information for me",I said as I watched him talk and finish all he had to say. I'm sure if I was in a toon world, stars would gather around my head. " I'd check the ring up"
"Good",Jack said as he turned his back. "It's time for you to wake up now. "You have rested enough".
I nodded and not long enough the space faded and I woke up with a start.
"Yo Femi. Care to explain why you have been lying to us?"
******************************
In a library, a 1.75 meters robot with the figure of a human stood by the wall lifelessly. Soon, the eyes of the robot which lacked luster started to glow.
"Initiation complete",The robot said in the dim library. "Starting heritage transfer process... Transfer complete".
Soon after,the robot went back to how it was before.
***********
In a well furnished room with a huge crest on top of the wall,a man sighed. He had brown hair over his white body and his face excluded maturity as he turned the documents he was reading.
"Patriarch", His attendant which was a male shouted as he came into the room. "He's here. He's here".
"You",the man who was also the patriarch crushed the table with his fist. "Haven't you been told not to disturb me when I'm busy with my work? I should....".
"Patriarch", The attendant repeated. "He's here".
"Who's here?"
"It's better you see for yourself", the male attendant said as he turned, walking out of the room which was the first floor and moving to the balcony outside.
The Patriarch stood up and followed him. They arrived on the balcony and found quite a few people below looking up to the sky. Curiously, the Patriarch looked up and saw a star shining brighter than all others with a unique rainbow color
"This ... This is truly fascinating",The Patriarch said as he was amazed. We haven't seen the overseer of time and space in more than a hundred years"
"People are astonished as well",The attendant added. "I hear there's a special team being gathered all over to find the overseer. What should we do?"
"Gather the mercenaries we have", The patriarch ordered with a serious tone "We shouldn't lag behind as well. If I can get the overseer in my hands, imagine how powerful our family will be. We mustn't lose to others".
"Yeah Patriarch",The attendant answered, leaving his side to relay the message given.
"Now now",The Patriarch smiled. "Let the race begin".
..................
"Hmm,I can't seem to connect with the characters. Maybe something went wrong? I wanted to ask about Kwami sword art movement and Annika lucky charm. I guess that would be later then.
See you next time".