The ground trembled as Ifedayo straightened, her war hammer crackling with raw energy. Sparks danced across her bronze armor, her eyes burning like molten steel. She stood between Ayo and Ngozi, her presence a declaration of war.
Ayo's instincts screamed. Though he barely understood who he was—or who he had once been—something ancient stirred in his veins. These weren't random attackers. They were emissaries. Hunters.
"I don't want to fight," he said, hands raised. "I don't even know what's happening."
Ngozi circled to his left. "Then stay out of the way."
Ifedayo took a defensive stance. "The soul weapon chose him. That means he belongs with Ogun's line. Step aside, river girl."
Ngozi's dagger glinted. "He belongs to no one."
Without warning, she moved—fluid and fast like the river she hailed from. Her blade whistled through the air, aiming for Ifedayo's side. But Ifedayo blocked with her gauntlet, countering with a shockwave punch that sent Ngozi flying into a tree.
Before she could recover, Ifedayo turned to Ayo.
"Come. Before others come who won't give you a choice."
Ayo hesitated. "I'm not going anywhere until someone tells me what's happening!"
Ifedayo's brows furrowed. "The gods are returning. You are the key."
Ngozi groaned and stood, blood trailing down her temple. "Don't trust her. Her people want to control you, not help you."
"I don't trust either of you!" Ayo shouted.
Suddenly, the sky cracked open.
A spiral of golden light descended. From it emerged a robed figure, staff in hand—Temitope of Baba Aye. He landed between the three, slamming his staff into the earth.
A pulse of light spread out, freezing everyone in place.
"I told you this would happen," Temitope muttered to himself. "Three Heralds converging. Too soon."
He waved his staff, releasing the stasis. Everyone staggered.
"Who are you?" Ifedayo demanded.
"Temitope," he said calmly. "Sent by the Grand Mage to protect the reincarnated soul. Unlike the rest of you, I'm not here to kidnap him."
Ngozi scoffed. "Says the man who just froze time."
Ayo stepped back. "What do you all want from me?"
Temitope looked at him, softer than the others. "We want to help you remember. When your soul returns, the world will need you."
"Why me?"
"Because you're not just Ekwensu reborn," Temitope said. "You're the only one who can bring back the Old Ones. Chi, Shango, Yemoja, and more. And the one who can decide whether they stay dead."
Ayo's breath caught.
He remembered flashes—flames over a battlefield, water turning to blood, lightning striking down gods. He remembered faces—divine and wrathful—turning on him.
He remembered being alone.
"Why would I bring them back?" he asked.
"Because the world is slipping," Temitope said. "The balance is breaking. Monsters are awakening. And only the Old Ones can keep the Veil intact."
Ifedayo lowered her hammer. "He comes with me."
"No," Ngozi said firmly. "He comes with all of us."
Temitope looked between them. "Or… we let him choose."
All eyes turned to Ayo.
He looked at the three. A warrior, a river witch, and a scholar-mage. All powerful. All trained. All dangerous.
And yet… all waiting for his answer.
"I'll go with all of you," he said. "But only if no one tries to fight again."
A long silence.
Finally, Ifedayo nodded. "Fine. But if she tries anything—"
"I won't," Ngozi muttered. "Unless you do first."
Temitope raised a hand. "Let's get moving before the next Herald finds us."
"Next?" Ayo asked.
Temitope's eyes darkened. "There are six soul weapons. You've awakened one. The rest… will call out to their guardians. And not all of them will want you to succeed."
As they began walking, Ayo glanced down at the blade on his back. It glowed faintly, almost like it was… alive.
Somewhere, deep in his soul, a whisper answered:
"This is only the beginning."