Trial by combat for my love: Boom bada boom

Sakuya suddenly found herself standing in the middle of a massive arena, staff in hand. The sky was a swirling vortex of inky blackness, and the air was chilly on her face and skin. The audience was made up of Spirits, gods, and a few humans. On one side of the stands, the 30-plus West African deities glared down at her from their seats, anticipating her inevitable loss. And on the other side, her family. Kanna. Ayane. Shiun. Ash. They all wore worried expressions on their faces. And just like her, they had also been transported from the temple.

...

It happened shortly after she declared a trial by combat. The gods had allowed her a moment to prepare, so she went over to gather a few supplies. She grabbed her fighting belt and hung it around her waist. She grabbed a pen of spirit ink just in case she needed to switch up her style mid-fight. She grabbed a few ofuda papers as well. Kanna had followed her to try and talk some sense into her, but the gods were not ready to listen—so neither was Sakuya. She apologized to her auntie and begged her to please take care of her sisters if anything happened to her. Then she left.

Standing outside, Sakuya initially thought they were going to have the fight there in the temple courtyard. Just like Ogun had with the samurai spirit. The place was a little tight, but still quite spacious. Also, since she had ordered Ash to vacate the premises with her sisters and Kanna, she wasn't really worried about collateral damage, especially to the surrounding structures. Jumo was in trouble, and she needed to save him. That was all that mattered. But as soon as she announced to the gods she was ready to begin her trial by combat, something happened.

The entire temple began to shift and distort, bend and expand, until, slowly, it settled into the giant arena she now found herself in. She quickly realized the place was somewhere within the spirit realm, but it wasn't the kind of spirit realm she was familiar with. Her family were accidentally dragged in with her, but she couldn't bring herself to go talk to them—at least, not yet. That was going to have to wait until after the trial, assuming she didn't die in the first fight.

The rules were clear.

...

"You have evoked the right to trial by combat in order to prove yourself worthy before the eyes of the gods. As a result, you must face off against three individual champions of Ogun's choosing. Given your physical limitations as only a mere mortal, girl, we have chosen to be lenient in your chances of success. To win, you only need to temporarily incapacitate, or draw blood once, from all three champions. Then the life of the offender will be spared, and you may all go home."

"And what happens if I lose?" Sakuya asked, staring up at the raised platform where Ogun stood over Jumo's body. The woman with the glowing white eyes and hieroglyphics—the goddess that had punched her across the face for speaking out of line against Ogun—was the announcer, and she was smiling down at Sakuya as she replied with the following lines:

"Simple. You die. Now prepare for your first champion."

...

Hearing that, Sakuya quickly dropped to her knees to prepare her obi. She laid her bo staff on the ground in front of her. She removed the pen with spirit ink from the belt on her waist and began to draw new power symbols on her staff. She added the symbol of fire. Now, depending on how she handled her weapon, she could use it as a projectile against her opponents. Her speed, keeping her distance, and long-range attacks were going to be her friends in the coming fight. There was no way she was going to outmatch any of the West African gods or Spirits in purely brute strength alone. So she needed to be faster and lighter.

She turned towards her family one last time before she focused solely on the battle. They all still looked worried for her safety. Each and every one of them. Quiet. Resigned. Accepted. They knew this was a fight she couldn't abandon—not when the life of the boy she loved was at stake.

She gave them a nod of reassurance. Don't worry. I am going to be alright.

It took a second, but they all finally responded.

Shiun gave her a thumbs-up, before jumping to stand on her seat and making rapid punching motions in the air.

Sakuya smiled at the little purple-haired girl.

Ayane made a heart shape with her fingers, then held it over her head for her to see.

Sakuya briefly dropped her staff on the ground so she could return the gesture. Heart-shaped fingers over her head as well.

Ash simply nodded, and Sakuya picked up her staff before returning the nod.

Kanna still looked worried. And Sakuya understood.

Boom bada boom.

Boom bada boom.

Boom bada boom.

The sounds of tribal drumming suddenly tore Sakuya's attention away from her family. Something was happening.

Boom bada boom.

Boom bada boom.

Boom bada boom.

An orchestra of strange-looking spirits had appeared in the stands of the arena. Where had they come from?

Boom bada boom.

Boom bada boom.

Boom bada boom.

The ritualistic drumming was coming from them. It was so loud, it caused the walls of her chest to vibrate in response. Sakuya gripped her staff tighter, sensing fully well what was about to happen next. And then, it happened.

From the stands carrying gods and spirits, something began crawling down the walls of the arena, entering the fighting pit. It was her first challenger, and of course, it just had to be the creepiest-looking one of them all.

Its blood-red head and numerous beady eyes were focused on her, while the rest of its hairy spider body gradually settled in place on the ground. The fangs in its mouth were constantly dripping something acidic, and Sakuya could only wish the spirit wasn't as fast as it looked.

There was no fanfare. Nothing. Just a quick little announcement from the lady with glowing eyes.

"Anansi," she said. "The spider god of webs and trickery. You may begin the trial."