As they caught their breath, a voice echoed from behind, "Oh, thank God! I thought I'd never see anyone..." The sudden words forced Amina, Mike, Bisola, TJ, Gidado, and Avovome to spin around, their eyes scanning the surroundings to identify the speaker. Their gazes met a man who seemed old, yet not old, clad in tattered, worn-out silk clothing. His face bore the marks of age, but somehow, it didn't quite fit. As he gestured, his wrists peeking out from beneath his sleeves hinted at a mysterious truth – one that remained hidden from prying eyes.
The man drew closer, his eyes locking onto the group as he continued, "And here you all are. Great! Ah, great!" His tone was laced with a mix of relief and curiosity. Mike forced a smile, asking, "What's up with you?" The man's expression turned somber, his head bowing in anguish as he recounted, "I've been stuck in here, navigating through this place, hoping to find my way after my friends were killed by... this creature." His voice cracked, and for a moment, it seemed like he'd fill the space with tears. "Agwankaya is no joke," he added, his words carrying an unspoken warning of the dangers that lay ahead.
Mike nodded sympathetically, "We're actually moving ahead." The group nodded in agreement, and the man asked, "If you don't mind, can I follow? It's scary out here." Mike nodded, and the man fell into step behind them. As they walked in silence, the man suddenly broke the stillness, "How long have you guys been here?" Gidado, walking beside him, replied, "Not long." The man's response was laced with a hint of desperation, "Ten days for me. Just hide and seek. But it's good you're here."
Amina, who'd been quietly listening, interrupted, "And?" The man's gaze darted around the group before he replied, "Just trying to survive." Gidado hummed in response, while Amina's senses tingled, sensing something off about the man. She chose to remain silent, pretending to focus on her surroundings.
As they continued on their journey, the man's pace slowed, and he fell behind, bringing up the rear behind TJ. In a shocking turn, he attempted to attack TJ from behind, but TJ's sudden force sent him crashing to the ground. The group rushed to his aid, thinking he'd lost his footing, but the scene unfolding before them told a different story.
As they helped the man to his feet, Amina's gaze drifted to his wrist, where the faint outline of snake skin glistened in the light. A shiver ran down her spine as she realized something was terribly off. "I knew it," she whispered to herself, but she pushed the thought aside, attributing the strange sight to her imagination. The snake skin seemed to vanish as suddenly as it appeared, leaving her wondering if she'd really seen it.
After they continued on their journey, the man mysteriously fell back, and this time, he transformed into a snake-like creature with human hands. It was as if he'd shed his human disguise, embracing his true form. But TJ's mysterious force burst forth once more, repelling the creature and sending it flying.
The group's eyes widened in shock as they turned to face the creature. Amina's expression was calm, almost expectant, as if she'd sensed something was amiss. "I sensed it earlier, but I couldn't quite pinpoint it," she said, her voice laced with a mix of curiosity and unease.
The snake creature charged forward, its half-body undulating as its human hands grasped for its target. But the same force that had repelled it earlier emanated from the group, sending it stumbling backward. The group stood frozen, their swords at the ready, but they were taken aback by the sudden display of power.
Gidado's gaze fell upon the glowing stone around Mike's neck, the same stone given to them by Ego, the Guardian of the Skies. His eyes widened in realization as he noticed the same glow emanating from his own stone. "Hahaha! The stone, it's the stone!" he exclaimed, his voice filled with excitement. "It's the power of Ego's gift that's driving this creature back!"
The group quickly grasped the significance of the stones, and Mike and Gidado positioned theirs towards the snake. The others followed suit, holding their stones like shields as the force emanating from them consumed the creature. The stones pulsed with an otherworldly energy, imbuing the group with a sense of confidence and protection.
The snake rolled on the floor, its body shrinking as the force light washed over it. It was like a fish flailing out of water, its movements becoming more erratic as it diminished in size.