Wormwood

10th May, 2025

      The day for the great games had finally come; this year the president and some ambassadors and many other dignitaries trooped into the now metropolitan city of Calabar. Within 8 years we built back majority of the dilapidated buildings, repaired roads and restored the glory of the city, security was at maximum. Many people complained about why they had to go through ten automatic scanners and ten manual scanners before they could step into the city, dad always told them the same thing, "its protocol, sorry for any inconveniences". The games always lasted for ten days, we fought everyday and always won, dad just sat there with the dignitaries and waved with a big smile. The final day of the tournament came and every year the kings guard 'Phoenix Cree' would stand at the center of the arena and brag about how no one was strong enough to challenge him and win the tournament. Actually no one dared to challenge him ---we wanted to but dad said no, he was almost 8'5 feet and as wide as a 4 feet child, his stamina was unprecedented and sometimes I wondered if he could be killed. This year I and Mmaette were going to defy both the kings order and that of our fathers, so we stepped forward and the whole arena was wreathe in deafening chatter.

'Do you both have a death wish?' Phoenix bragged

'No' mmaette replied

'Mmaette I swear this is not the time for jokes, please be serious.' I got upset

'What?! He asked.' She laughed

Our father had left his seat in rage, we knew what was coming.

'Where is dad?' I asked looking back at where he sat

'I have a feeling he's coming down here soon...' Mmaette said

'Are you children mad?! What makes you think I'll let both of you fight that monster.' CODS Matthew said from behind us fully suited in his army green gladiator costume.

'Oh come on dad! Just let us test our strength, can't you prove me wrong for once and not be over protective.' Mmaette grumbled

'Dad, you're fully suited. Do you want to fight him?' I asked

'I didn't wear all of these to take photos.'

'He's bigger than you and you haven't fought in 8 years.' I said

'So?'

'So dad, you're rusty and he's going to kick your butt. I'm not ready to be fatherless just yet.' Mmaette rolled her eyes

'Thats sweet honey although I can sense the sarcasm, I have fought big guys before, this is no different.' He said

'You almost died once.' I said

'Well I'm still here, so almost didn't kill me. Now both of you, go to the viewing point, watch carefully you might learn a thing or two from this old man.'

'Whatever! Show off...' Mmaette hissed and walked away

'Don't die.' I said joining my sister

The battle was the fiercest I and Mmaette had ever espied, for a second we thought our father would not make it ---but the man was a cockroach. He took a lot of blows, too many to count, at some point Mmaette gripped my hand out of fear from the head shots. Dad knew he wouldn't be able to reach the giant because he was much taller so he began attacking his knees with heavy blows, his waist and his chest unrelentingly with speed and precision to bring the giant to his knees. After 25minutes of intense combat both men were completely drained, staggering and bleeding profusely with their weapons broken. They both waited to muster up strength to fight again but just when they were about to resume the king ordered the match to end. We ran quickly to our dad to help him to the infirmary, he could barely walk and he weighed a ton; by the time we dragged him out the whole arena raised an encore for their new champion.

'Well what do you know, seems like you're their new champion.'

'These people like to see blood and whatever that Phoenix guy was oozing out of his body, I won't satisfy their insatiable urge for blood.'

'Total show off.' Mmaette scoffed

'But you didn't win.' I said

'Well neither did he. I underestimated him but so did he, today the city of stars know better than to mess with humans.'

'I think you just made us more famous than we were.' Mmaette added

Chief of defence staff Matthew just became the most popular name in Nigeria, his decisions and suggestions from that day both to the president and the king were to be respected and treated as urgent. He was idolized as the quintessential exponent in the art of war.