Lightning still danced across the street.
Cars were overturned.
Windows shattered.
Smoke slowly drifted through the air.
At the center of the destruction stood Zuberi Adeyemi.
Electricity crawled across his skin like living snakes.
His heart pounded violently.
"What… just happened?"
Rain began pouring from the storm clouds above Windhoek.
In front of him, the Grootslang Spawn slowly stepped back.
This creature was born from the legend of the terrifying Grootslang.
But now…
It looked afraid.
Inside Zuberi's mind, the thunderous voice returned.
"Stand."
Zuberi froze.
"Who are you?!"
The voice rumbled like a storm.
"I am the storm."
"I am the king of thunder."
"I am Shango."
Lightning exploded across the sky.
Zuberi grabbed his head.
"This has to be a dream!"
The monster roared again.
Its massive claws smashed into the ground.
BOOM!
The street cracked apart.
The creature charged toward him.
Fast.
Too fast.
Zuberi tried to move
But his body froze.
"I can't dodge!"
The monster swung its massive claw.
CRACK!!!
Lightning burst from Zuberi's body automatically.
The attack was blown away by a violent shockwave.
The Grootslang Spawn crashed into a car.
Zuberi stared at his hands.
Electricity surged around his fingers.
"I… did that?"
The voice of Shango spoke again.
"Your body remembers my power."
"But you must learn to control it."
The monster stood up again, angrier than before.
Its body began growing larger.
Bones cracking.
Shadow spreading.
The creature was evolving.
Suddenly
A second monster jumped down from a nearby building.
A tall skeletal beast with a long tongue and glowing blue eyes.
Its body was covered in tribal markings.
It was a Tokoloshe, a dangerous spirit from African folklore.
Tokoloshe
The creature laughed in a horrifying voice.
"Two vessels… delicious."
Zuberi stepped back.
"Two?!"
The Tokoloshe moved instantly.
So fast it disappeared.
Then
SLASH!
Zuberi felt claws cut across his jacket.
He barely dodged.
"That thing is fast!"
The voice of Shango thundered again.
"Fight."
Zuberi shook his head.
"I've never fought monsters!"
"Fight… or die."
The Grootslang Spawn charged again.
The Tokoloshe rushed from behind.
Both monsters attacked at the same time.
Zuberi clenched his fists.
Lightning exploded around his body.
The storm above the city roared violently.
"FINE!"
"I'LL FIGHT!"
He slammed his fist into the ground.
CRAAAAAAACK!!!
A massive lightning strike shot down from the sky.
The street exploded with thunder.
The Grootslang Spawn was blasted across the road.
The Tokoloshe screamed as electricity burned its body.
People watching from far away gasped.
"Did that kid just summon lightning?!"
But suddenly
CLAP.
CLAP.
CLAP.
Someone was clapping slowly.
Zuberi turned.
A tall man stood on top of a streetlight.
Wearing a long black coat.
Golden eyes glowing in the darkness.
Behind him floated a strange golden symbol shaped like the Eye of Ra.
Eye of Ra
The man smiled.
"Impressive."
"So the vessel of thunder has finally awakened."
Zuberi shouted.
"Who are you?!"
The man jumped down from the streetlight effortlessly.
Rain fell around him.
"My name…"
He looked up at the storm.
"…is Azrael."
"Hunter of gods."
Lightning flashed across the sky again.
And the monsters behind Zuberi began standing up once more.
Azrael smiled wider.
"Let's see if you can survive the night."