Chapter 2: Thunder Trials and Humility

I waka around the Immortal Realm for five thousand years, thinking say with my luck and power, I fit still shine for this big world. But this time, I mess up. E shock me say if you no gree give up your freedom and join one clan or family, you no go even see cultivation method. The thing wey I dey proud of, the natives for Immortal Realm dey take am joke. The Immortal Realm wey I suffer reach, na just starting point for the real people wey dey there. I no gree. My destiny na my own, no be God get am. With vex for my mind, I rush enter my first thunder trial.

Those days, I still dey walk with chest up. But as I enter the big cities of Immortal Realm—Ah, e shock me! People wey their names no reach my ankle go just dey form. Even to see training scroll na wahala. I remember the first time I go greet one big Elder for scroll, the man just dey look me like say I be stubborn goat. "O boy, for here, na your family dey talk, no be you." Chai! Who for Umuola go believe say their Sun Zikora fit dey beg for ordinary training method? Na so pride nearly finish me. But my spirit no gree—my own path, my own wahala. Dem say if goat hear lion roar, e go remember say grass no be food for everybody. So I tear shirt for thunder trial, shouting, "I go break this yoke or die trying!"

To become immortal no mean say you no fit die; every five thousand years, you must face tribulation. That night, I fall from ten thousand feet land for bottom valley, raise dust everywhere, but nobody even notice. As I dey ground, I survive, but e be like say I don already die. I know say the next thunder trial, I no go make am. I tire. I just wan sleep. Maybe, if I sleep finish, everything go change.

When I land for that dry valley, even the ants for ground waka pass me. My spirit weak like tired masquerade after festival. Na only moon dey shine for my face, no brother, no friend, no praise singer. Even my shadow dey shake, as if e dey pity me. Inside my chest, pain wey no get name. Na so I lie down, make sleep carry me—wetin remain again?

Who I be? Heh. Just one complete failure.