TRAILING SHADOWS

In a flash, Niniola channeled energy to her feet, speeding off. But just as she did, she slid to a stop as at the far end of the horizon border was Tayo and with him, a host of iron masked Irunmoles, donning a black cape that split from the neck down to the rest of their bodies.

"Tayo..." She screamed, recognizing them immediately.

She knew who they were. They are assassins. Top, high ranking assassins from the Ilu Ogun.

"I'm sorry..." Tayo turned back. "I had to... I had to complete my mission."

"You... Bastaaardddddd..." Ninola swore as the Assassin's leapt up into the air, charging towards the party where Sunday was.

The Assassinns, three in number, dressed in black trousers, baggy but tugged into half of the leg length boots, had nothing on their upper bodies. However, the type of cloak they had on was the type that completely covered their backs and the shoulders as well, only splitting to either sides of the shoulders from the neck joining. This way, their capes fluttered to the back whilst covering the shoulders and the shoulder blades, even dropping to cover part of their arms as well.

On their faces, a metal mask of black sat there. Black and sturdy, it had the carving of a face but the spot for eyes were instead coated in black metal as well, giving it the sensation of an all black eyeball, having superficially engraved eyebrows. However, this mask only covered the front of their face but not the back, revealing their butch styled hairstyle of black to the open.

Assassins, they were called, were part of the special ops teams of Irunmoles that everyone knew were from the Ilu Ogun. 

Highly skilled, agile and went straight to the point without ever creating a mess. Whenever something dirty needed to be done or something of great importance, the mere sight of these black ops taciturn Irunmoles set the tone and the mood immediately. Most times, it would be only a fool who would get remain calm after seeing these ones.

Or, at best, someone who was strong in his or her own rights.

The only thing one did not know was that you could not just pin any assasination cases on the leadership of Ilu Ogun because there was often the cases of rogue Assassins. 

This allowed them get away with anything as it was hard to determine if they were on official assignment or merely just rogues wearing the costumes. 

And that, that made them even the more convenient for this operation.

"How. Could. You, Tayo." Niniola yelled as she gasped, furiously.

"It. It was a mission. I. I had to complete my mission." Tayo said, walking away from the oncoming ruckus while the Assassins lowered to the ground, just behind Niniola.

They were going for the target and did not bother to think about whatever threat Niniola would pose to them.

"Damn you... Tayo. Damn you, damn you... " Niniola huffed, balling up her fists as she stared at the outline of Tayo who was taking slow steps away. 

Had she already become so soft?

Then again, she could not move, rooted to the stop because the only person who could effectively hold those assassins from laying a finger on Sunday, her champion was her. Yet again, Tayo was leaving.

She just might never have the chance to deal with him the way she felt right now.

Meanwhile, Sunday's eyes shone. 

He was at loss at what was happening as the men in black cape dropped to their feet in front of him.

"What... What is all this?" He asked, taking a step backwards.

"Heh!" One of the Assassins snorted, the one in the middle, a hand to his jaws. "You... The prophecy is true. And you know it. The moment you go to Earth is the moment it happens. We cannot allow that to happen."

"That's why..." The one to the left of the earlier stretched his left hand into space by his side, light forming a beam that slowly hardened and thickened into steel. "That's why we cannot allow you leave."

"A threat to our existence should be cut off while still budding. And this is now." The one at the right said, stretching his hand to form a long lance-like sword having double edges like that of a fencing blade except that this was really long for about four feet.

"I don't know what you people are saying but you are wring. All of you." Ibiyemi sparked, putting herself between them and Sunday.

"So, I will ask you, one time only. Leave!" She growled, fisting her hands by her side.

"No!" Sunday said, holding her by her shoulders. "you should go. This is my fight. It is me tht they came for. I just don't know who set them up for this."

He added, trying to budge her away.

"Don't worry, Sunday. I will protect you." Ibiyemi looked back over her shoulders. "After all, that is what friends do." 

"No, this has to be me. You will only end up as collateral damage, Ibiyemi. If anything happens to you, I won't have the guts to look for Wole to... Mmmmhmmm..." Sunday's lips were sealed by Ibiyemi's finger.

"It's fine. I can take it. So, let them bring whatever punishment  they have, I will take it. After all, true strength is achieved in the darkest of hours."

Ibiyemi replied, returning to face the Assassins who surprisingly did not make a move yet. 

She didn't know why but what she said, she knew that was true. She only got an eye because she pushed herself. She was able to learn the illusion cloning technique because if the aftermaths of the battle at the Central Market and the duel session with Tayo.

How about now?

Just how much would she be able to achieve if she engaged them? Pretty much, she guessed.

And if it was that much, she was willing to take it. After all, like Tayo, she had her own secret mission. 

And that was to... Become strong enough to best Wole and her brother Afolabi.

"Charming..." The Assassin on the left muttered.

"But not quite it." The one on the right leaned forward, holding his lance-like sword to the side.

"Now! Let's be done with it. Metal guards." The one in the middle chanted as he held his elbows to form a block. Just as he did, metal sheen encased the back of his hand, from wrists to elbows, the silvery feel of a somewhat roundish arrow shaped shield appearing on both hands just as he pulled them away.

"Now." They chorused in unison as they made to dash forward.

Except that that very moment, the air became super charged making them halt their advance as they turned to see the source of the heat.

"Oh No... you don't!" It was Niniola and she was charging at them, her body leaning forward while a beam of light began to solidify in her right hand. 

"No, Seperate." The one in the middle chanted as he dashed forward, putting his shield arms before him. "She knows the Oko Kiliasi (1)technique."

Hearing that, they split bit within the fraction of that second that they moved, the ones at the sides of the shield guy dashing to the opposite direction while the shield guy dashed towards Niniola, Niniola's spear completed itself, solid and hmong with destructive energies.

"Oko Kiliasi." Niniola chanted, bending down swiftly just as the shield guy reached her with the shields blocking his face as he leaned forward. As she did, she slammed the spear down, the air suddenly rising up in temperature as it connected with the earth.

BOOOOOOOOOOMMMMMM! 

Concussion winds blasted out, Niniola's form rocking as she held on to the Spear that was quickly disintegrating into the ground. The wind howled and whistled, sand and dirties blasting round about while explosive energies surged forward, consecutively in a wide circular reach, blasting away the shield guy and his colleagues into the air.

Immediately, it started, Sunday went into Sage form, dashing forward to carry Ibiyemi I'm princess carry as he started dashing away, chased by the concussion blasts that kept exploding. 

The only person that remained standing still was Kalagar, the Lightning Sage, a look of amus.e.m.e.nt in his face while a miniature tornado of lightning bolts circled very close to his body and the barbeque meat on the ground, forming a shield of sorts.

"Heh!" The Lightning Sage chuckled abit, rubbing his hands together. "Just how much juice have you all got." 

"Hah!" Ninola huffed, just as the spear in her hand vanished away, panting as she rose to her full length.

"That was nice. But, you destroyed my tent. Thankfully, I protected my meal, you know." Kalagar said and bit into the meat he has holding with both hands.

Exasperated, Niniola threw her hands into the air. "Seriously, old man?"

"What?" Kalagar huffed. "You should pay no attention to me. Who you should pay attention to are all about."

"What?" Niniola said, turning around. As she did, her eyes settled on the two Mercenaries from the BlueMoon Mercenary Alliance House.

The female one looked rather familiar with her h.i.p.s and bust. Towards the road was another scene as guards, lightning guards wearing white leather armor that crackled with electricity once in a while began to advance towards them.

"You called them?" Niniola gasped just as Sunday returned with Ibiyemi and set her down, standing with Niniola.

"No, you just created a nuisance here. And from the likes of it, these guards are here to deal with you in respect to the laws of thunder. So, I wonder, how you would fare when surrounded by Enemies on every side." Kalagar said, shrugging.

___________

(T/N)

1. Light Spear Clearance.