It's All Over
Icy chills crept up Zarda's spine, flowing directly into his wand. It shifted from a translucent blue to a deep violet purple. In an instant, sharp icicles shot forth from his wand, piercing a soldier across the way with lethal precision. The speed of the attack caused the soldier's blood to thicken, transforming it into glistening icy shards. The villager's face turned to stone, frozen in terror. The weight of his upper body caused him to topple forward, shattering like glass upon the warm steel beneath him. All that remained on the ground was a solitary dog tag. Mosiya momentarily shifted his gaze away from the wall to catch a glimpse of Zarda. What he saw was awe-inspiring. Zarda radiated with an ethereal white light, and his eyes shone with an intense, vivid blue. Violet and blue bolts of energy crackled around his elbow and wrist, flowing into his hands. When their fingers met, icy arrow-shaped shards erupted from the tip of his wand like gunfire. Zarda radiated such extreme cold that his breath escaped in plumes of hot steam. Incredible, Zarda mused; he possessed multiple powers, each manifesting in remarkably distinct ways. He had harnessed the ability of freeze vision along with the skill of ice-cold manipulation.
In time, the warriors realized that by uniting their strengths, they could forge a supercell. King Usian and Jarvius teamed up effectively, combining their unique abilities. Usian possessed the power to manipulate sound and light, capable of generating, controlling, or absorbing as much as he wished. On the other hand, King Jarvius wielded the ability of mind control, allowing him to manipulate memories, thoughts, and perceptions of reality. Together, they created an illusion, convincing the humans that they were much farther from the Makana kingdom than they actually were. The ruse was successful; the animals observed as the humans struggled, shouting in frustration at one another. The pale-skinned individuals were bewildered, unable to comprehend how they had suddenly found themselves several miles away from the animals they had just faced. Usian further amplified their confusion by using his powers to muffle sounds, ensuring that the humans only heard their own voices and the ambient noises in the background. This deception laid the groundwork for Umoja to cast a force dome over the Makana warriors, similar to Mosiya's wall, but this one enveloped them entirely, rendering them invisible. It was clear to all what powers the Butterfly King possessed. King Tian and King Jomo unleashed their powers with a force that was nothing short of miraculous. King Jomo wielded the ability to animate the inanimate, bringing lifeless objects to vibrant life, while King Tian possessed the power to manipulate earth and stone. With a swift motion, King Tian twirled his spear above his head, summoning large boulders from the ground. He exchanged a nod with Jomo, signaling that he was ready for the next phase. King Jomo focused his energy, transforming the rocky masses into a towering stone giant, commanding it to attack the unsuspecting villagers. Chaos erupted as the humans found themselves fighting for their survival. The warriors stared in disbelief as the massive creature tore through everything in its path, smashing equipment with ease. To the terrified villagers, the giant seemed to materialize out of thin air, prompting panic as they scrambled for safety. Jarvius, meanwhile, warped the very reality of the landscape around them, causing many villagers and frightened onlookers to tumble and stumble, desperately trying to find solid ground amidst the confusion.
Zarda called out to Jarvius, Umoja, and Usian, requesting that they restrain their powers for a moment. He aimed to instill fear in the humans and demonstrate the extent of their strength. If this didn't convince them to retreat, he was prepared to make them regret it. Meanwhile, King Frederick and Zafar hurried to Zarda's side.
"Let me give it a try, Your Majesty," said the bullfrog in a croaky voice.
Zarda gazed down at his tiny companions and instructed them to hold their positions until he signaled them to move. The humans had been disoriented, hiding behind nearby trees. Once the invisibility dome dropped, their vision cleared and their hearing returned. They realized they had been made to look foolish and their anger boiled over, fueling their desire for revenge. A dark-skinned man in an olive-green uniform sprinted back to retrieve a missile launcher from one of the wrecked vehicles. Wasting no time, he fired a projectile at the group of warriors. But King Shafira was faster. He darted forward like a streak of light, his movements so rapid that they blurred in the air as he charged towards the weapon. Thanks to his super agility, he was able to maneuver around the missile in what seemed like slow motion, while to the naked eye, he appeared almost invisible. Seizing the missile, he redirected it back towards the man who had fired it, resulting in a devastating explosion that tore him apart, leaving gory remnants splattered across the twisted metal of the wreckage. At that moment, the humans could endure the torment no longer. Fear had abandoned them, and they charged at the warriors with full force. Zarda planted his feet firmly on the ground, preparing himself for a physical confrontation. He turned to King Frederick and Zafar, signaling them to attack. The bullfrog leapt into the air, crossing his daggers in preparation. Meanwhile, Zafar remained grounded, also crossing his blades, while unleashing a swirling blackish-green mist. He harnessed the power of vortex breath. Frederick released a toxic gas, targeting only the humans, ensuring that it would affect no one else.
Gravity quickly pulled him back down, landing him on his feet as he observed the chaos around him. The fog enveloped the front line of soldiers, and the noxious fumes ignited a burning sensation in their throats, forcing them to heave up viscous black tar. Those behind them came to a halt, ceasing their flight, and retreated swiftly to safer ground. Zafar, displaying his cunning, dodged the fog's lethal grasp by veering away. He transformed into a bird and soared above the fray. Calling out to a nearby flock of weaver birds, he summoned them with his voice. Responding to his call, they gathered in a vibrant yellow mass and dove toward the second row of foes, their sharp beaks aimed at the enemies' eyes. They clawed at human faces with their pointed feet, creating panic—some fled while others swatted the birds away and pushed through. Zafar skillfully wielded his ability to control animals, not just morphing into any creature at will, but also commanding and imitating them. As he returned to his meerkat form below, the humans surged past him. The first to engage were three pale figures, coming face-to-face with the warriors. The battle erupted on foot, with the clatter of weapons and cries of fear echoing around them. Kiama moved aside and called for King Ghakarhi. The imposing gorilla approached his zebra friend with a serious demeanor.
"Allow me to use my powers on you. I possess the ability of augmentation, which means I can enhance or diminish the abilities of others. Whatever power you hold, I want to channel it through you so that you can unleash it against the humans," he explained.
The fierce-looking gorilla nodded silently in agreement and turned away, positioning himself like a runner awaiting the signal from King Kiama.
"So, what's your power?" the zebra inquired, intrigued.
The gorilla flashed a smirk. "Super strength," he replied in a thick British accent.
Kiama was enveloped in a distorted fuchsia aura as he directed the energy towards the gorilla, enveloping Ghakarhi in the process. The energy radiating from the gorilla transformed into a bright yellow hue. When their energies merged, it created a striking pinkish-orange color, zapping Ghakarhi and causing his physique to grow even larger than before. He had physically transformed into a living King Kong, the enormous creature roaring as he beat his chest. He had doubled in size. Ghakarhi charged at the pale villagers. With his left hand, he seized two of them, squeezing them in his bone-crushing grip, while with his right fist, he swung hard with his gift, sending one of the pale individuals flying through the air. He didn't hit the ground running upon his return to Earth. Instead, he bent backward at a painful angle, slamming his neck into the ground and breaking it instantly. A grotesque gurgle of blood escaped from his lips. Ghakarhi was indeed a true monster, ruthlessly shattering every human he ensnared. The scene was devolving into a nightmarish spectacle of bloodshed and disfigurement. The pale villagers and warriors fought desperately for hours, while the stone giant joined Ghakarhi in the fray. To the right, Zarda unleashed rapid bursts of energy, his body reaching an unnaturally boiling point.
Zarda's pale skin ignited with flames. His eyes shone with a fiery reddish-orange hue. The wand he held unleashed enormous fireballs, launching them at the humans. Delighted, Zarda realized he had unlocked yet another power: the ability of night and heat vision. His power instilled fear in the people.
The remaining villagers started to flee, crying out "Wanyama Waliolaaniwa," which translated to "cursed beasts" in Swahili.
The pale individuals were facing defeat. Yet, two of them had managed to slip away and conceal themselves in a dense thicket near the conflict. They were busy loading more liquid arrows into their weapon, biding their time for the perfect moment to strike. From their hiding spot, they observed Zarda as he wielded his staff. The warriors began to drift apart. Meeku and Slash had been locked in battle nearby, while Mazunga and Matiti fought back-to-back on the opposite side. Other notable kings were engaged in combat at a distance, confronting whatever threats lay before them. Meanwhile, King Zarda stood resolutely on his own, bravely defending his kingdom. Numerous tributes, nobles, guards, Zebo's, fighters, foot soldiers, stewards, and others were engaged in battle in large clusters. The pale individuals had managed to take down several Makana warriors and intended to keep their rampage going. Meeku was agile and quick on his feet, delivering powerful and lethal strikes. His armor flexed seamlessly with his movements. For a brief moment, He was drawn away from slash for a second. A man in camouflage had put up a formidable resistance, diverting his attention.
After defeating the human he had been battling, Slash turned to assist Meeku, unaware that another pale figure was shadowing him. Suddenly, a sharp, piercing pain struck the back of his head, causing him to drop to his knees. He extended his right arm in an attempt to signal Meeku, but no words came to him, and Meeku remained out of reach. The old lion's spirit was departing from his eternal form. His life had faded, leaving behind only the memories of a formidable warrior. Now, he would join his King Ezekiel in eternal peace. Meeku engaged in a fierce battle with his opponent, slashing and stabbing with determination. Just as he turned around, he saw Slash's life fading away. In shock, he let out a deafening scream that drew everyone's attention, including Zarda's. Even the human adversaries they were fighting paused to take notice. Slash had faced unspeakable terror; a blunt machete handle had collided with the back of his head, shattering his awareness and liberating him from life's hold. Around him, Meeku's environment slowed, transforming into a warped tunnel of vision. His breathing grew erratic, and tears filled his eyes. In the distance, Mazunga and Matiti watched the horrific attack, their cherished leader brought down right in front of them.
Mazunga shouted as they rushed towards their mentor, but it was too late. The human standing over the lifeless body wore a sinister grin. Zarda had dashed in from behind, swiftly cutting the man's throat with the very sword that slash had forged him long ago. A thin stream of blood flowed from the wound before the pale figure crumpled to the ground. The sword, now reforged, transformed into a sleek and lethal weapon, sharper than ever. The kingdom of Makana was reeling from shock. Believing that Zarda had slain the last human, the warriors let their guard down. Zarda then summoned many of them to help gather the wounded and deceased from their realm. He directed others to collect and burn the bodies of the villagers and the pale people in a large pyre. Meeku, Mazunga, and Matiti knelt in sorrow, mourning their leader and dear friend. Over time, Mazunga had formed a deep bond with Slash, a sentiment he never imagined he would feel. He remembered a time when he continuously felt inadequate in the eyes of his leader. He reflected on the triumphant moment when he defeated Slash in battle, realizing it was that victory that finally earned him respect. Mazunga knew he would miss Slash more than anyone else.
"How could this have happened?" Mazunga wondered.
Burdened by grief and fatigued from the hard-fought victory, Zarda craved solitude to reflect and collect his thoughts. It was finished and behind them. Nobody possessed the ability to revive the dead. Had they been capable, mazunga would have undoubtedly utilized that power. It was one gift the creator chose to withhold. Zarda moved away, passing the bush where the men remained concealed. His gaze was fixed on the heavens, oblivious to the threat lurking nearby. He called out for the master.
"Why, master, do you persist in taking my family away from me?" he asked, feeling a deep sense of defeat in that vulnerable part of his heart.
From a hidden vantage point, the men steadied their aim at the exposed area behind his elbow, the sole gap in his armor. The shot was swift and silent. Zarda felt a sharp sting in his elbow and instinctively swatted at it, mistaking it for a mosquito drawn to the blood that coated him. But it wasn't his own blood; it belonged to those whose lives he had taken. His vision gradually faded into a dark, hazy blur. His legs began to tremble, and exhaustion washed over him. He collapsed to his knees and toppled onto his left side. The men quickly rushed over to the massive creature and quietly dragged him onto a concealed path behind their wrecked vehicles. Fortunately, one of the vehicles had suffered less damage than the others. They strained to lift Zarda's heavy body into a metal crate, which had small holes punched in it for ventilation, but was otherwise uncomfortably dark and stuffy inside. Zarda was forced into this grim metal box, and they secured the door, locking it from the outside. In a flurry of activity, they climbed into their vehicle and revved the engine. It roared to life as they sped away, kicking up loose dirt in their wake. Before any of the animals could comprehend what had just happened, Meeku called out for his brother, but there was no answer, and Zarda was nowhere to be found. A wave of unease swept over King Gwembeshe. He hurried to Meeku and the two other lion warriors. His abilities of foresight and clarity were igniting within him. His crown shimmered with a radiant golden hue. With a determined focus, he cleared his mind. The present moment faded away, and he journeyed back in time to witness the final act unfold as if it were occurring anew. The giraffe king observed the ghost of Zarda retreating, only to be seized and carried away by two pale figures. As the vision ended, his consciousness snapped back into his body. He gasped for breath, reorienting himself. Turning his gaze, the King noted that all eyes were now fixed upon him.
"I can see a cloud of darkness. There are two pale people emerging from it with weapons in hand. There is a stealthiness about them. Oh No! I see Zarda he is unaware of the danger lurking, Zarda has been taken, our one true King he is gone!" The giraffe king exhaled fearfully with his eyes wide. Holding his crown humbly as it adorned his head.