E chinye mmanya ma a kpatụghi ya aka, ọ bụrụ ida mba.

If the wine tapper does not re-visit the tree top, it appears as if he has abandoned the tapping enterprise.

His green eyes had taken a manic glint and were now invoking emotions that even the great Aniga found difficult to control. His fears and insecurities, once under his disposal were now grave enemies. Eshu was wearing his battle gear, a dark green dyed leopard skin with adorned with the weapons of his fallen enemies. Swords, daggers and arrows, all of which he used none of; there was no need for weapons when you were the weapon. His beard was scraggly and rough, blood was splayed all over his body, whether it was Eshu's or a fallen comrade, Aniga couldn't tell. He seemed stronger than usual and Aniga could feel it from his aura even if he couldn't see it.

Eshu thrives and gets his power from chaos and what greater chaos is war?

Aniga gestured with his left claw and called his staff to come and the 3-foot-long curved stick appeared. It was made out of the first tree to ever exist and it was crafted with all sorts of magic that would hopefully help him in this fight against Eshu.

"Eshu," Aniga said, speaking with authority hoping to hide the fear he was feeling as he avoided Eshu's eyes. He knew what they could do. "You know you can't take this chain from me. The tools of creation must be given freely with the holder's consent until death as it was in the beginning."

Eshu simply smiled. "Or I could kill you right now and take the chain." He put his blood covered finger to his chin, comically appearing to think. "But I will not, I do not need the chain for anything, I'm powerful enough now and after you've all destroyed yourselves, I'll finally be able to do what want with this damned world."

Aniga willed his staff to glow with power from the earth goddess, Ala. "I will not allow you, Eshu."

"You don't have a choice." He answered, suddenly angry. Like a mirage, the world spun and suddenly they were in a prison ground in front of a large tree.

Eshu spread his arms in a ta-da gesture and Aniga struck even quicker than neither of them had expected but as the staff connected with Eshu's jaw, it shattered and broke, the pieces falling on the ground turning to dust.

Aniga recoiled in shock. "But...how...how is this possible?" Aniga said, his eyes widening. In over a hundred years, he had used the staff to vanquish enemies and maybe some friends. How then could he now be looking at the dust particles from this same staff.

"I told you," Eshu said. "I'm more powerful than I've ever been and these pesky tools of creation are a threat." He walked towards Aniga on the floor as Aniga moved backwards in fear. "And you know, turtle, what I do to threats."

Aniga faced Eshu and a new bravery seemed to form. "Do you worst, kill me and let me die for order and good that I have lived for. Do it, you coward!"

Eshu flashed his teeth in a sick smile. "I won't kill you, turtle, I'll do much worse."

Eshu knelt down and faced Aniga at eye level, his green eyes shining brightly paralysing Aniga. "Do you remember back then, when you had all your adventures? Before you had gone to the side of the angels?"

Eshu stood upright and walked to the tree, making Aniga trail behind him. He placed his arm on the tree bark. "I particularly loved the time when you tried to make it to heaven, do you remember? Why don't you try to make it again, this time climbing this tree? Hmm, how does all of eternity sound?"

Aniga walked towards the tree, mindlessly as he began to climb, each time slipping and falling down, only to climb up again.

A Sisyphean journey that would never end.

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