Love is an enigma, a boundless realm of mysteries that stretch beyond the confines of our understanding. If love were a subject taught in universities, it would stand alone as an infinite field of study. The more one delves into its depths, the more there is to uncover and learn.
In a world brimming with powerful weapons, each with its own devastating potential, love transcends them all. These instruments of destruction can fell the mightiest beasts, shatter walls, crumble buildings, and even ravage the entire worlds. Yet, the enigmatic force known as love wields a power far greater than the deadliest of arms.
Ikuku's gaze betrayed his bewilderment as he witnessed the incredible scene unfolding before him. His ironclad control over Princess Adaeze had been shattered, despite the unrelenting grip of the crimson moon's curse. The very rules he believed to be inviolable had been defied by the power of this mysterious phenomenon, leaving Ikuku utterly confounded. He had claimed that only the caster's mercy or death could break the curse, yet what had transpired defied all expectations. In his ignorance, Ikuku had underestimated the existence of a force unknown to him: The Power Of Love.
As Princess Adaeze and Ekene broke away from their passionate kiss, Princess Adaeze's eyes snapped into focus, and she realized that the man she had been kissing was Ekene. Thinking he was a ghost, she pulled away in fear.
"Ghost! Don't come any closer!" Princess Adaeze exclaimed, her voice trembling.
Ekene, Cynthia, and Samuel shared a laugh at the absurdity of the situation. Ekene's smile faltered as he took a step forward, his eyes locked on Princess Adaeze.
"Ada, it's me, Ekene. I didn't die!" he said, his voice filled with reassurance.
Princess Adaeze's gaze lingered on Ekene, her expression shifting from fear to confusion. "But how?" she asked, her voice barely above a whisper. "I was sure that bastard crushed your heart."
"It's a long story," Ekene replied, his voice laced with a mix of exhaustion and relief. "I'll explain later. Anyways, where is Grace?"
Samuel pointed down the mountain, his finger trembling slightly. "She's down there."
Ekene's eyes followed Samuel's gaze, and his face broke into a warm smile as he spotted Grace sitting at the foot of the mountain, lost in thought. Her expression was a poignant blend of loneliness and sadness, a stark contrast to the joy that usually lit up her face.
But the serenity was short-lived. A massive snake emerged from behind Grace, its body gliding silently across the ground. Ekene's smile froze as he watched in horror, his friends' reactions mirroring his own. "Grace! Grace! Grace!" they screamed in unison, their voices echoing off the mountain.
The warning calls snapped Grace out of her reverie. She turned towards them, confusion etched on her face. "Why are they screaming?" she wondered, her eyes scanning the scene before her.
"Get away from there, now!" Ekene and his friends chorused, their voices growing more frantic by the second.
Grace's expression changed from puzzlement to alarm as she turned to face the danger lurking behind her. Her eyes widened in terror as she took in the enormity of the snake, its tongue darting in and out of its mouth.
"Ekene! Help!" she screamed, her hand stretching out in desperation.
The group's collective horror intensified as they realized the gravity of the situation.
"I thought we killed all the snakes and aliens before coming here," Samuel muttered, his voice laced with dread. "Where was that monster hiding?"
Without hesitation, Ekene sprang into action. He grasped his sword and took to the sky, flying towards Grace with a desperate urgency. Ekene's heart pounded in his chest as he flew, his sword gleaming in the dimming light. The colossal snake lunged, its gaping maw revealing fangs that glistened like stars. Desperation fueled Ekene's flight, his hand outstretched, reaching for Grace's.
In a moment that seemed to stretch into eternity, the snake's jaws snapped shut, enveloping Grace in darkness. Ekene's fingers closed around her wrist, but instead of warmth, he felt only the wetness of blood as it splattered his face. The chilling realization crashed down upon him – he was holding onto the lifeless hand of his dearest friend.
Memories of their shared past came flooding back to Ekene in a torrent of emotion. He remembered the day they met, their laughter and dreams intertwining as they grew up together. Their scholarship to Divine Gift University, the highs and lows, and the countless moments that had bound them together as more than just friends – they were a family.
A cry rose from the depths of Ekene's soul, echoing through the mountains and reverberating across the land in the stillness of the night. "NOOOOOOOOO!" His voice rang out, a mournful wail that seemed to shake the earth beneath them.
His friends joined Ekene in his grief, their voices a chorus of sorrow and anguish. They had lost not only a companion, but a sister-in-arms who had stood beside them through every challenge and trial. Their journey ahead would be filled with a new kind of darkness – one of despair, and aching absence.
As the reality of Grace's demise sank in, Ekene's grief transformed into a blazing fury. With a savage cry, he turned his wrath upon the colossal snake, his sword slicing through the air with lethal precision. The creature's head was severed in a single, powerful strike.
Frantically, Ekene searched the lifeless body, his heart begging for a miracle that never came. Grace was gone, and the futility of his actions only fueled the flames of his rage. With a series of devastating blows, he vented his anger upon the snake's corpse, each strike a testament to his profound sorrow and pain.
"Ekene," Princess Adaeze muttered, her own tears streaming down her cheek as she watched Ekene
Ekene's friends couldn't bear to see him in that state. But they couldn't stop him either. All they could do was watch as he furiously attacked the lifeless snake's corpse
In the midst of Ekene's fury, a sinister presence crept up from behind. Ikuku's steel-like hand pierced through Ekene's body, clutching his heart, ripping it from his chest once more.
Ikuku's voice was a venomous whisper, his breath hot against Ekene's ear. "I don't know how you survived my last attack, but I'll make sure you're dead this time."
Ekene crumpled to the ground, his eyes locked on Ikuku's malevolent grin as blood trickled from the corners of his mouth. His vision blurred, and the world around him began to fade.
With a cold, calculated laugh, Ikuku took to the skies, abandoning Ekene to suffer in pain as his life force ebbed away
A desperate scream tore through the air, echoing across the mountainside as Princess Adaeze cried out in despair. "NOOOOOOOOO!" Her voice seemed to resonate from the depths of her soul, the sound a haunting symphony of sorrow and rage.
The remaining friends stood frozen, their faces etched with horror as they witnessed the devastating scene unfold. Once again, Ikuku had struck a crippling blow, leaving them to grapple with yet another unthinkable loss.