Chapter 1: Blood and Iron

The founding of the Great Oyo was written in blood and iron, forged with plenty brutal battles. At the center of everything stood Prince Adeyemi, son of the Alaafin—the Oyo’s real weapon, his shadow long across the red earth whenever he rode out. For almost every fight, Adeyemi and his fierce Egba Warriors were unstoppable, making people say they never lost.

People still talk about the way he and his men moved—like thunderstorm for dry season, rolling through villages and towns. Even the elders that love to exaggerate say, "If Adeyemi enter battle, better find somewhere to hide, unless you wan chop koboko from spirit hand." The respect for him cut across age and tongue; children in Ibadan would play-war and shout his name as their champion, mothers would add a little prayer for him when grinding pepper at dawn. If you waka for the bush and hear Egba Warriors’ drums, na make you begin pray say your own no go finish that day.

But for this particular battle, it was just small remain—like the space between teeth—before death would carry him go.

You know say war no be play. Sometimes, na one small step dey separate king from ground. For Adeyemi, the real test be this one; the ancestors self dey look down dey shake head, as if to say, "Make we see how you go take survive this one."

Wetin happen?