Chapter 106

Chapter 106

Nelson

I went to see Ezinna in the evening and Max was with him when I came around. A lot of things are changing and I would be swallowed up by it if I don't change with it. No, I will be the one to head the changes.

"Ezinna, I came to speak with you."

"I will be leaving then." Max stood up but I stopped him.

"It is a good thing that I found you here, you also need to hear what I have to say." We all sat down and I looked at the two of them without speaking and it made them nervous. I can clearly hear the sound of Max's heart beating very fastly.

"I have noticed that you two have become exceptionally close."

"One thing led to another and we discovered we have a common interest." Ezinna replied and I nodded.

"I have also noticed that Max has been making you stronger through some rituals." I don't care what or how the ritual was being performed. I only care about the reason for the ritual.

"You of all people must know the need of being strong." Ezinna scoffed but I didn't show any change in my facial expression.

"Tell me, what are your reasons for being strong?" He tried to answer but I raised my hand and motioned him to stop.

"Be careful of your answer because I will take it seriously and it will affect my response." He stopped and exchanged a glance with Max.

"We have always relied on you and that has been a heavy burden on you. I feel that I will be able to lessen the burden if I become as strong as you." He replied and since I have gotten Titus's powers, I can clearly know when someone is lying. What he said now has no lie in it because the sound of his heart never changes.

"That is so thoughtful of you." Had his answer been because he just wanted to become stronger than me, I would have shown him how impossible it is.

"I am glad you think so." I stood up as I was done with what I had to say.

"I will leave you two to continue what you were doing." I headed towards the door.

"Nelson, just now you spoke like you are still the strongest. That may no longer be true." Max said and I smiled and turned to him.

"I guess we will find out tomorrow." I responded and then looked at Ezinna.

"Do give me a good fight." I left them with a smile.

Everyone has gathered and are all eager to watch the fight between me and Ezinna. I was more concerned about losing myself in the process. Xena noticed my nervousness and tried to calm me down.

"If you win or lose, it doesn't matter to me and those that truly love you." I smiled and nodded. No need to trouble her with the truth. I walked to the arena where Ezinna was already standing waiting for me.

"It took you so long." He said and smirked.

"Why are you so eager to lose?" I responded and he stopped smiling and then Max stood out from the crowd.

"Today, we have gathered here to watch the showdown between the two strongest. We shall take it as our last entertainment before we start our journey." There was sadness laced in his voice.

"Are you ready?" Max asked.

"Yes," we both answered.

"Alright then, fight." Ezinna dashed towards me at blinding speed and knocked the air out of my lungs. The speed he displayed was nothing compared to his speed in the past. I was pushed a few feet back but didn't fall.

"I have greatly underestimated you." If it was me before I met Titus, I would have been knocked out. But I am now different and the surprised look on his face shows he didn't get the expected result.

"I am the one that underestimated you." He came rushing the second time but that was a bad move on his path because I can't be fooled twice. I dashed towards him and stopped him midway with a powerful uppercut. The punch was so powerful that it knocked him out of the ground and sent him flying backwards. He got up and shook his head to rid himself of his dizziness.

"You still punch twice as hard. Now, let us get down to business." He transformed into a wolf and dashed towards me. I am expected to do the same since we get stronger in our wolf form but I didn't transform. I am having a feeling that I will be able to handle whatever he has to offer.

"He didn't transform?" I heard murmurs from them but I ignored and focused my attention on the raging wolf rushing towards me.

"How have you improved?"

I tried stopping him and he pushed me back. I heard my muscles tightening by how much strength it was taking me to stop him. He kept pushing me back, so I had to lift him off the ground and throw him aside. He whispered as his large body crashed against the ground. His pain was short-lived as he came back clawing at me.

Our fight was longer than I expected. The weirdest part was the fact that our injuries weren't healing like it supposed to. All the injuries we gave ourselves by teeth or claws weren't healing. But the bones that were broken by crashing against the ground or walls were healed. We don't need any more information to know that we are above the rest. I am still in my human form and barely holding on to my sanity.

"Is it not a win for Nelson having lasted this long against Ezinna." Leo said and the person agreed to his words. Ezinna went back to his human form and was totally naked. Max covered his nakedness and Ezinna's face was filled with frustration.

"Sadly, I have to accept my defeat. We fought equally and you are still in your human form." I smirked because I knew I would have done more damage to him if I wasn't holding myself back. He knew of it too and it made him more frustrated.

"You gave a good fight." I spoke genuinely. I have a feeling that he will be far stronger than he is in years to come.

"Don't indulge me, it is you that won and you remain the strongest." He raised my hand and everyone celebrated my win.

After the celebration, Ezinna stood up to address everyone. Now fully clothed but the wound was still in our body. Xena hated the fact that my wounds are not healing irrespective of what she did.

"It is time to address the elephant in the room?" He said and everyone kept quiet.

"Since we are all leaving and starting up a new life, how will the wolves be split?"

"It should have been the winner that will take all." I saw his frown and I smiled inwardly.

"But that would be too much for me because you are equally a good leader like I am, if not better." I am being truthful, he is a better leader. Being the strongest doesn't make you a leader.

"So, what do you propose?" Ezinna asked.

"It is simple, we can allow them to pick who they want to be with and make the person their leader.". I looked at the faces of the wolves and they looked sad. Maybe it was because of having to choose. I guess my earlier thought was wrong.

"No need for that, let us cast a lot," Xena suggested and Ezinna accepted. Max and Leo didn't say a word since it didn't concern them. They went and gathered white and black pebbles as many as the wolves. I represent the black pebbles and Ezinna represents the white pebbles.

"You all will have your eyes blindfolded, in that way you won't know which pebbles you pick." There was a flaw in the suggestion.

"What if a family member picks a different pebble?" I asked.

"You are right, let every family send a representative." Xena said and they all did and the pebbles were shortened to the numbers of the representatives. I love how Xena is always handling situations calmly. I watched as they all kept picking, some were happy for what they picked as their friends picked the same one. While some were indifferent about the whole thing. As fate may have it, I got most of the people I wanted.