2025-09-08 03:57:35
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The Mthethwa Training Arc (part 2) : Ndabuko Vs Shaka!
“Quiet!” King Dingiswayo’s voice thundered through the open space, silencing the crowd instantly. His presence alone demanded attention, his tall frame and sharp eyes sweeping across the gathering like a storm. The warriors of the Mthethwa clan, both young and seasoned, straightened their backs and fixed their eyes on him. Dingiswayo raised his hand, pointing directly at Ndabuko. “Step forward, boy. Introduce yourself properly, in full, like a real man should.” The crowd shifted, whispers running like fire. All eyes turned to Ndabuko as he stepped out, his chest rising and falling, his jaw clenched. He drew in a breath. “I am Ndabuko Dlamini, son of my ancestors, bearer of their strength. I came here to sharpen myself, to stand as a warrior among the Mthethwa.” Murmurs rose among the people. Some smirked, others nodded in approval. Dingiswayo’s eyes narrowed, studying him with a quiet intensity. “You came here to sharpen yourself, you say. That is good. But words are only wo
Before The Journey To The Mthethwas
Ndabuko stood at the top of the hill, arms crossed, eyes scanning the village below. Smoke rose from the thatched roofs in lazy spirals, the afternoon sun painting everything in a warm, almost deceptive glow. Peace, if you could call it that, was fragile. Stubborn people holding on with gritted teeth and quiet prayers, the kind of people who refused to break even when the world seemed determined to crush them. He let out a breath that didn’t quite reach relief. “Yeah… peace. That’s exactly what we have, right? A big, ticking disaster waiting to happen.” Below, the youths trained relentlessly. Spears flashed in the sun, dust rising around their feet as they lunged and struck with precision. Sipho moved among them, correcting stances, guiding movements, his young face serious under sweat-streaked hair. Ndabuko’s lips twitched. “Kid’s too serious. Remind me to grab him a smile before he starts thinking life is all war and shadows.” The Tribal Conquest System hummed quietly in his m
The Mthethwa Training Arc (part 1)
The journey to the Mthethwa settlement stretched longer than Ndabuko imagined. The trail baked under the sun, the dust clinging to his ankles and the air dry in his throat. His spear weighed heavy against his shoulder, and his small bundle of belongings pressed against his back. He told himself with every step, ‘This is where warriors are forged. If I fail here, my name will die before it even begins.’ When he finally reached the gates of the encampment, the sound of drums throbbed through the air. The settlement pulsed with life, young men sparring, elders watching from shaded seats, the sharp thud of spears striking wooden posts. Yet the moment he crossed into their space, silence fell. Eyes turned toward him, sharp and unwelcoming. Mthethwa youths, some his age and others older, sized him up with sneers curling across their lips. Their bodies already bore the marks of training, scars, hardened muscles, postures that dripped with confidence. They looked at him as though prey h
War Sounds
The raid had left its mark and not just on the torn-up ground and patches of blood on the grass, but in the faces of the people. They looked tired, shaken, and unsure. No one said it out loud, but the same thought hung in the air: what happens now? Ndabuko walked slowly through the camp, taking in everything around him. People were tending to wounds, fixing up torn shelters, or just sitting quietly, lost in thought. Every face he passed showed signs of pain and strength. He could feel their hopes resting on his shoulders, it was heavy, but meaningful. Sipho came up to him, holding a wooden spear tightly in both hands. There was a quiet determination in the way he moved. His grip was a little shaky, but his eyes were clear and serious as he looked up at Ndabuko. "The boys are ready to train harder," he said. His voice was calm, even though his hands were still trembling a little. "After what happened during the raid, they want to be better and be ready." Ndabuko looke
A Steel Forged In Fire
The council gathered fast, warriors were circling the fire with sharp eyes and tense shoulders. No one wasted words. The flames cracked, shadows shifting over faces hardened by battle and loss. Ndabuko stood with them, he was no longer an outsider as people originally said or even assumed he was. His voice carried now and his presence was for sure indeed was undeniable. The clan was watching and expecting to see if he would rise higher. Ndabuko clenched his fists, staring at the flames. ‘Wow, this is overwhelming, I never imagined I’d ever be sent back to the past, living the way our elders and ancestors once did. It’s rough, tougher than the life I had in the future, or my past which is the future from here, that’s for sure’ Ndabuko spoke softly to himself. Chief Bheka stood at the center, his broad frame silhouetted against the flames, his voice resonating with a gravitas that silenced the murmurs of the gathered men. "The northern tribes grow bolder," he said, hi
The Scouting Shadow
Ndabuko stood at the camp's edge, his breath visible in faint clouds as he gathered the scouting party. Sipho lingered close, his young face a study in contrasts, eyes bright with determination yet shadowed by a nervous tension that Ndabuko recognized all too well, a mirror of his own younger self. Mthetho and Jabulani, the two seasoned warriors, stood nearby, their silence heavy with unspoken understanding. Their eyes flicked toward the forest, where the northern trails waited, treacherous and unforgiving. Ndabuko felt the weight of their trust settle on his shoulders, a burden both daunting and galvanizing. In his mind, the System hummed softly, its interface projecting a faint map that glowed like embers against his thoughts. The path ahead was a tangle of dense forest, jagged ridges, and hidden ravines, each twist a potential trap. His pulse remained steady, though the pressure of the mission pressed against his chest. This was more than a test of skill, it was a proving gr