They said the gods were silent. But silence was never peace. Not when the ground shook beneath burning hamlets. Not when the bloodlines - descendants of the wielders, that had stood for centuries were vanishing like footprints in the harmattan dust.The Idoma Kingdom was shaking. And at the center of it all stood Chief Eponu, the fourth generation descendant of Igoche, the wielder of martial techniques - once celebrated as the “Iron shield of Otukpo”, now whispered about in corners like a shadow in the dark. It began quietly. The Ijaha bloodline - descendants of the wielder of water, Ijaha Enegolinu - was the first to go. Their village, situated around the banks of the River Benue was found drenched in the blood of it inhabitants. Human corpses scattered around, each looking gruesome, like the angel of death just walked past the village, the entire lineage were wiped out by something unknown. A week later, the Edache clans - masters of the wind, descendants of Oyihoma Edache - w

Weeks later, after the cleansing of the Igoche and Ofu bloodlines.Agaba appeared from the forests, covered in blood and lies.He wore a ripped tunic, dragging a cracked sword, his steps were weak and countable, he collapsed in the middle of the road, his wounds were inflicted on him by his followers following his command - the road to Apa from Otukpo.After sometime, the distant creak of wooden wheels broke the silence of the lonely path. A merchant rode his cart toward Apa. But as his horse snorted and slowed, he narrowed his eyes - there, lying motionless at the centre of the road, was a body. The merchant pulled the reins, bringing his cart to a sudden halt. He leapt down, heart pounding, and knelt beside the still figure. He pressed against the neck with his fingers. There is a pulse… though faint, but steady, eerily syncing with the rhythm of his own heartbeat. A gasp escaped his lips. Without wasting a moment he heaved the body into the cart, climbed atop the seat, and whipped

The wind brushed gently against zinc roofs. Morning dew clung to the leaves of tall asthetic trees. Birds stirred lazily, chirping over distant mosque calls, and the grueling sound of the pastor speaking in tongues through the megaphone,the sun hadn’t yet poured fully over Otukpo when Agaba sighed, dropping his spoon noisily.His mouth still full of steaming pap.Across the table, his mother, Ihotu, stood, her hands on her waist, apron still tied around her waist, eyeing him like a soldier eyeing an unfinished drill.“One more cup full, young man. You are not leaving my house on an empty stomach”.“But, mum, I’m full and also late for school”, Agaba cried.“And you’ll still be late with strength”, she replied.“Bring that plate, here!”She said, as she slapped another spoonful of akara onto his plate before returning to the kitchen, muttering about how “children of nowadays want to faint at assembly”.His sister, Ene, leaned on the wall, smirking.“lil bro, better eat up! Don’t go a

That night, the town felt off.The wind blew colder than usual. Dogs barked at nothing.In an old-styled church near the town’s edge, at the end of Ogobia road, the candles burned too bright.Something evil stirred.Candlelight flickered as a group of figures in black robes gathered around the church.In the church, a lone pastor knelt in prayer. The building hummed in spiritual resonance. He felt - an unease. A tremor. Something unnatural.Then the door creaked open.Three figures entered. Eyes glinting with malice.Adejor, Akan and fumilayo. Behind them, ten silent figures stood like grave markers in the night.Adejor’s voice echoed through the sanctuary.“Look at this. A pastor. Alone in the house of his God”.The pastor turned, eyes met the figures, he grabbed the edge of the altar, his blood running cold, his sweat pores burst like a fountain.“Who… who are you?” he stammered, “You have no right -”Fumilayo raised a hand.“Silence”, she yelled, with an evil grin “tonight, permit us

Decades after the Invasion and fall of Otukpo, something supernatural happened. When all hope had dimmed, the heavens stirred. In the realm beyond the stars, the Celestial council - deities of natural balance - watched the suffering of the Idomas. “we cannot interfere in Human affairs”, one god said. “We cannot allow this atrocities to continue”, Another replied. “Let the supreme god, respond to the issue, he only controls fate”, another god replied. “Its time, Let us give what rightfully belongs to humanity, the ability to render it dominion on their planet. But first we will put these powers in the hands oppressed, let them be the ones to usher in the era of prosperity to mankind”, the supreme god declared. They all stretched their right hands in agreement. And they created it.The Echur - a sacred stone, forged from the essence of all seven primal elements of existence and reality: fire, air, water, earth, Organic life form, war, and astral motion. At its center pulsed an eig