Meanwhile, the squeaking and hissing of the Ninki Nanka continued.

'Grrrrrrr!'

The naked man jolted in fear.

"Help me, the gods of our land! Save us, the gods of our lands!" His shaky lips silently quivered the prayers as it they were going to be his last. No body knew what was going to happen the next minute.

"This means we are cursed! Those stupid slaves cast evil spell on our gods! This shouldn't have happened! Why now?! Why today?!" The old chief snarled at him.

"Excuse me royalties, I'm from Odo-Ara." A man with tribal marks introduced. "I can't hold a sword neither can I kill anyone let alone, a legendary, serpentine creature. I know I might soon die but I want to be positive. Like our prince, I'm positive, that I'd somehow escape this."

"What's your point exactly?!" The chief hissed.

"Tell me your names and linages, and I will compose songs of eulogy for the both of you."

"Huh!"

"I'd sing songs of your bravery and generosity, in memorial of course. This could serve as hope for others." He held his bàtá drum and drumsticks under his arm."

"You think this is fun? You are at the verge of death and you still want to keep someone entertained! Are you dump or dead? You should also fight!" The chief instructed.

He felt the gravity of the words and once in his life time, he felt like a different person. Ordinarily, he would have killed the slave without second thoughts.

The drummer smiled bitterly, with the knowledge that he might die with his drum at hands. At least, it would be an honorable death. He didn't expect less.

The doors started cracking. As if somehow, it was loosing it's strength. The groan of the creatures outside thundered like the treble when pitch is shifting. The aggressive Ninki Nanka pushed with their scaly bodies.

"Push harder, they mustn't come in!" Banjoko shouted in ancient Yoruba.

Although, others didn't understand, they pushed harder. It was over thirty minutes and the push and pull was still going. Everyone was tired, the cracky door cried out for help. The creatures were domineering the struggle, they were stronger.

Iretiola, who just came out from the giant's chamber walked out in surprise. As if she'd missed a lot. She find her way to Yotifa's side and asked... "What's going on?"

"We have no idea what's at the door. This might be our last minute alive. Would you help me with a charm, maybe?"

"I know the creature. They would definitely burn this hall in feisty. I can see that already. Only few of us would survive."

"Are you saying I might die?"

"Maybe. If the gods will it, we would live."

"Open the doors! I want you to hide yourself along with the twin egg once they're in!" Yotifa instructed. "Be ready, and no matter what, never lose the egg!"

"I'd rather lose my life first!" She smiled and walked twords the door.

Everyone stepped away and took position to attack. With deep breaths, ready to strike

"Be ready! They are closer. It's only five of them..." Bankoko announced as their cry sounded like faded lion's roar, though closer.

"One, two, three!!!"

The animals hit hard on the door and invaded the hall. The ground shake to their might and giant size. Yotifa's jaw dropped to the ground, he could believe what what was coming, right in front of him. Asa's eyes widened in bewilderment and yelled.

"Atttaaccckkkk!!!!"

Shade's arrows target their long bodies with great accuracy. Her feathery earrings dangled as the cold freeze from outside blew in along with them. She made a shot while the arrows stuck their rocky bodies but, they didn't even flinch.

"Agghh!!" Banjoko grunted aloud and took out his sharp sword into ones, skin.  It end up digging into its tail and moaned out with striking pain. The Ninki-Nanka wagged it's tail and threw him away violently, against the wall.

He rolled and stood up again. Even though he was, the size of a rat to a lion beside it, the dwarfs were defiant against the creatures.

Yotifa swung his sword to cut off it's head, the beast wiped it's fist against his face and he rolled away immediately. That was close, a scratch and you're dead.

Although, his swords dropped in the process, Yotifa swung his body and grabbed his sword, ready to strike them before they do.

"Help me!" A girl cried while the beast scratched her up. She dropped dead immediately.

Watching this, Yotifa swallowed hard on his breath, holding his sword tight with both hands. Fighting down the hysteria, feeling the burning heat drip through him in form of sweat. Despite the coldness of the night.

The Ninki Nanka faced his direction. As if being scared, it made a rumbling, warning sound in it's throat, intending to fight and blew out waves of burning fire. Yotifa pulled back and blocked it, with his forearm over his face.

Then he moved closer and jumped on it's rough body. Climbing it like a mountain or rather, a ladder through it's rough, scales.

"Aghhhhh!" Yotifa exclaimed, with combat with the beast.

His sword stamped into its skin in a very deep cut. Yotifa made sure he pushed his sword into it with all his strength. The animal struggled and threw him away. Yotifa held unto his sword, still. Not letting go of it. He made a long, sharp cut and in an instant, the mythical beast staggered before dropping dead. In reaction to this, the young Prince's breath fastened as he took out a breath of relief.

Without stop, he continued. The monster blew fire and a set of slaves rushed into a room. The monster followed them till there was no escape. In fear of it's looks and it's three pointed horns, they threw down their swords. Lanre was part of them tired facing it but he got scratched and fell into the ground. Too scared to fight, others dropped their swords. The Ninki Nanka breathed out fire and they let out a screeching cry. Next, all the ladies got burn.

Asa who had just killed one of the beast faced it with full focus.

A low groan escaped it's nostrils as it stepped back, taking a clearer view of the both of them.

Banjoko along with his army decided to work together. The creatures were stronger and powerful, indeed. A lot of slaves were already dead.

In unison, they climbed the Ninki Nanka's body, up to it's neck. Like flies perching a pice of meat. It groaned out fire around it's scaly body, since it can't burn. The men dropped down to avoid being burnt and climbed up again.

Determined.

It took a lot of effort before they were able to kill it. Then they proceeded to the next. Meanwhile, Yotifa and Asa were with the last, Ninki-Nanka. They were the only two, left.

"Uhh!" The prince gritted his teeth in painful grunts, giving it a deep cut. Asa moved closer in the same manner. One could see the fierceness in her eyes.

"Ahhhh!" Courageous grunts escaped her mouth while she swiped her sword forth with strength.

The beast roared out in victory, breathing out fire again. About to take a turn, the last if the beast struck it's fist against prince Yotifa. This time, it scratched raised it's leg against Yotifa without his knowledge and scratched him down.
As once, this vision blurred and he dropped to his feet. Prince!" A couple of servants cried awhile everyone turned to his direction. Yotifa breaths heavily, while he closed his eyes.

"Ungh!" Asa brought out her hidden knives and threw it with her best shot. She wouldn't let it take advantage of the situation. Ever!
The Ninki Nanka jerked away, as if being tingled. The creature knew no pain. As tall as a mountain she swiped her sword towards it in grunted effort. While it dropped dead in a loud thud.

The beast purred in pain and lowered its gaze. Gently placing it's monstrous head towards Asa, it's breathing stopped at the cold feel of death. As they died, the chains magically separates and the animals disappears. So no one could carry, examine, keep or experiment them for any reason, except they were alive.

Meanwhile, in the verge of death, one of the monsters was still alive, and nobody realized.

The five prisoners in downstairs ran towards the sound of the groans. Curious, they climbed the steps untill the short man amongst them gazed forward. His eyes caught the shadow of the beast that appeared in front of the burning lamps. Immediately, he pulled them aside while the Ninki Nanka walked into the prison without perceiving them. Holding their breath right into the ribcage, the prisoners escaped to the main hall.

The old man in chains who buried himself in a thick, black cloth raised it up. He was light skinned due to the fact that he suffered from Albinism. One of his eyes was ocean blue.

"Martani-Martani!" He whispered the words softly ahe chains broke off at once. About to go out, he was faced with the giant beast.

The cloth changed into a silver scaly cloak, like that made out of a dragon's skin. He put it on immediately and vanished to the Beast's hit. It looked around confusedly and stepped into the dungeon.

"Oh my God! What's that?!" A man with the dungeon keys walked towards it in bravery. Others mumbled in chaos as they begged him to bring the keys but he didn't. In one strike, the monster scratched him down and his body bursted to their scared faces like quashed tomatoes. The metalic smell of blood covered their faces and their could see their death, standing right in front of them.

The keys ended up beside prince Awade. He stretched his legs towards it and grabbed the keys with this hands.

"Help me, please!!!!" The man with injured leg begged while closing his eyes. He felt terrified to even look at the Ninki Nanka one more time. His trembling hands grabbing a stone while he threw it at it. It breath out fire and the dungeon started burning, including the box if treasures, left behind. The spot where the black powder poured puffed out more fire. It's blaze filled the room with smoke, crackling from place to place.

Prince Awade quickly grabbed the keys and unlock his handcuffs his body catches up in fire. It almost took forever since it was his first time seeing such giant reptile, but fast enough. He jumped to where the other man was and unlocked his handcuffs too. Prince Awade and the injured leg man were the only men left in the dungeon. Letting out a terrifying hiss, the both of them faced the unknown creature with fear, plastered on their eyes.

Prince Awade, who seemed a little bolder, grabbed the injured man from the back, and held unto him.

"Listen now, all you have to do is to face it, okay?!" The prince pushed the man to the creature, making the Ninki Nanka grab him with both hands. It ate up his head and threw his body away.

Noticing the prince locking the doors, it blow out fire to him but he jerked. The fire burned a part of his arm and the dungeon door was locked.