While the area was calm, one could hear the breath of the air washing ashore. One could recognize the smell of wet wood, stagnant water, and mildew on the half-dry branches. Suddenly, in the middle of the river, the water rose like a mountain.
"Splash!" The waves crashed onto the shore. "Splash!" Then, the fin of a shark appeared. The squale slowly emerged from the water. On its back, Plutus stopped, then jumped off the shark to reach the bank of the Niger River. The sun was at its zenith, and the spray of the water could be felt on Plutus's clothes.
Plutus turned his back to the river, inhaling the smell of the warm Niger beach in all its splendor.
"Ahhh, that reminds me of the Amazon forest... Well, where could that crazy little demon who thinks he's a God be hiding?" Plutus said.
He opened his hand and whispered incantation words. Suddenly, a colossal black horse appeared.
"How are you, Actarus? It's been a while since we last saw each other!" Plutus called out. He then transformed into a man with attire appropriate for the desert; he decided to take this route to avoid being noticed.
"Let's go, Actarus!" Plutus shouted, and once the gallop began, only dust was left behind them.
It had been three days now since Plutus had left to conquer Mammon's heart, leaving the sanctuary in the hands of Ogun and his barbarity. Three days of intense training for Johnny, our hero, who was now able to materialize weapons in his mind and use them. But he was still so far from Ogun's level.
Johnny hoped to reach Ogun's level, but he realized it was impossible. Throughout training so violent that it earned him a broken rib, a fractured arm, and numerous wounds on his half-dead body, Ogun asked him to give up.
"Finally, I don't think you're that good! You should give up and find a job, kid!"
"Never! You think I'm going to stop everything after coming this far?" he retorted, pinned to the ground, face down.
He lifted his face with difficulty, surprising all the gods in the sanctuary, even Apollo, who watched him out of the corner of his eye.
"Before Plutus returns, the whole world will know that a mere human has wounded a god! You'll see!" Johnny cried.
He got up with difficulty. "Hmph, hmph," a jerky breath. Blood came out of his nostrils, his aura was stirring all around him. He looked at the god with fearless determination.
"Finally! You're getting serious, kid! Come and show me your strength, kid!" Ogun said.
"This boy has courage," Apollo said.
"What inner strength," thought Hera.
"May the force of nature be with you, little one," said Shango, wishing him good luck.
"You're even more unpredictable than Mark! Not bad," thought Khonsu.
"Ah, bastard! Babière!" said DJ.
"The poor guy is going to get his neck broken by Ogun! But he doesn't lack courage, I like him," whispered Oshun, the goddess.
"Finally, you're showing them your inner strength, little one," said Plutus, reaching his peak of pride.
It was surprising to see a young boy with such inner strength, unique endurance, and determination. Johnny did not lack audacity. The God of War felt honored and decided to return the favor. Ogun unleashed his spiritual energy at the lowest level. The intensity of his strength was so dense that each of the present gods instinctively activated their aura to avoid being touched by his brutal power.
"He always overdoes it, that barbarian!" said Oshun, protected within a large water bubble. The other gods each had their own protection.
As for Mammon, he arrived at the goddess Faro's place in Mali. He began to explain the reason for his visit, but the goddess did not let him finish. She told him she was on board, simply because she wanted to stretch her legs, but that his cause was stupid and he was going to lose this war.
"Faro, hello! How are you, my sweet goddess?" Mammon said.
"To start with, you're going to lose this war, and I think you know it," Faro said.
"Am I to understand that you are not rallying to my cause?" Mammon added.
"That will be my story to tell. It's personal!" replied Faro, the Malinké goddess.
"Maybe I will come with you, but not for you. I have a personal matter to settle with... and I need action," she added.
Suddenly, they heard a light galloping sound getting closer and closer. A desert rider, a messenger, arrived.
Once near the goddess Faro, the rider stopped, dismounted the black horse, and knelt down. Desert riders often came to see the goddess to transmit messages, as she had a pact with the lord of the deserts.
"My Queen, I have a message," the rider said.
"Speak!" Faro retorted.
"Are you sure you want to help this demon who thinks he's a god?" the rider said with a mean smile.
"You dare speak ill of me in my presence?" Mammon immediately retorted. He instantly made a large gold coin appear, whose edges were filed like a sword, and threw it at the messenger.
To his great surprise, the messenger caught it with his mouth, with his teeth, and crushed it (Broaaaaa) with incredible force. The debris flew into pieces. With a mocking laugh, eyes closed, he threw the rest onto the ground.
When he looked at the messenger's face, he saw Plutus looking at him with a mischievous air.
"You better keep your cool! It is not worthy of the god you believe yourself to be, Mammon!" Plutus said.
"Bastard! What are you doing here!" Mammon exclaimed, completely infuriated.
"For the last time, I am telling you to calm down, or this war will end right here and now!" Plutus said, calmly, with great seriousness.
Suddenly, two tigers appeared near Plutus. He specified that they had not been fed for a long time.
"Boys, calm down! And besides, Plutus didn't address you, unless my ears are numb too!" said the goddess Faro.
"I am not coming for war, Mammon. I am coming to try to find a common ground to avoid this stupid war you want to start, nothing else," Plutus said.
"Stupid! Stupid! You keep saying I'm stupid. I accept it! But this war will indeed take place, with or without you, Faro!" Mammon cried out.
"I come in the name of the council of gods to make you see reason. Please, my brother, drop it and return to quietly serve your sentence," Plutus added.
"Never! You hear me, never!" Mammon retorted.
"I just told you to calm down! I am going to war, but not against you, Plutus. I have a personal matter to settle!" said the goddess Faro.
"But you can have your war, I have nothing against it. But try to have it another time, just that!"
"Are you trying to impose your will on me, Plutus?"
"No, not at all, my Queen. But I think I have perfectly received the message. And you, Mammon, think about it," Plutus said.
Then, Plutus mounted his horse and left. As he rode away, Mammon left him a message:
"Go! And tell your old comrades that I don't need their pity!" he cried out.
Once again, Mammon refused to listen to reason, and with him Faro, who personally held a grudge against one of Plutus's allies. Plutus took the road toward the bank of the Niger River. As for Johnny, he was about to launch himself at Ogun.
How will Johnny's fight against the God of War unfold? And will Mammon change his mind? We will continue his itinerary.
See you in the next chapter.
Souhaiteriez-vous que je réponde à la question posée à la fin du chapitre (Comment se déroulera le combat de Johnny contre le dieu de la guerre ? Et est-ce que Mammon changera d'avis ?) en utilisant mon imagination ?