Fujimaru, along with his companions, journeyed through the mystical lands of Erindu under the guidance of the powerful Goddess Jaguar warrior, their hearts set on the retrieval of the legendary Axe of Marduk. Their quest was fraught with challenges, but their determination never wavered as they pressed on towards their ultimate goal. The goddess Jaguar's presence was a beacon of hope and protection, leading them through treacherous terrain and mysterious obstacles with unwavering strength. Getting close to the goddess temple, they were attacked by the goddess winged beast. At that point, the mage Merlin instructed Fujimaru, and with determination in his face, he commanded "head straight for the temple while I keep the beasts at bay."
Upon finally arriving at the sacred temple of the benevolent Goddess Quetzalcoatl, a sense of reverence and awe washed over Fujimaru and his companions. The divine aura surrounding the temple was palpable, infusing them with a sense of purpose and duty as they stood before the majestic deity. The air was charged with anticipation, as if the very elements themselves awaited the unfolding of a significant event that would shape destinies. The goddess welcomed them with a smile itching on her face; she stated, "Welcome to my temple of the sun."
The Professor reached out to Fujimaru, his urgent message echoing through the ether, saying, "Fujimaru, the only way to weaken the Goddess's Quetzalcoatl's formidable powers is to shatter the Sun Stone you see at the top of the temple." Fujimaru understood the gravity of the situation and steeled his resolve, knowing that the fate of not just his companions but the entire realm rested on their ability to confront the divine challenge that loomed ahead.
As preparations for the imminent confrontation intensified, a sense of unity and camaraderie enveloped the group. Each member brought their unique skills and strengths to the table, forging a bond that transcended mere companionship. The looming threat of the Goddess Quetzalcoatl's wrath only served to solidify their resolve, transforming fear into courage and uncertainty into unwavering determination.
Finally, the awaited moment arrived: the goddess descended from her lofty throne, a radiant figure of immense power and beauty. The air crackled with tension as she prepared to unleash her wrath upon the intruders who dared challenge her divine authority. Fujimaru and his companions stood firm, ready to face whatever trials awaited them, their hearts beating as one in the face of impending danger.
In the midst of the clash between the goddess Quetzalcoatl and the valiant heroes led by Fujimaru, a series of fierce exchanges unfolded on the battlefield. Initially targeting Fujimaru with a powerful assault, the Goddess Quetzalcoatl found her strike skillfully deflected by the ever-protective Mash. Meanwhile, the Goddess Ishtar, sensing an opportunity amidst the chaos, unleashed a relentless barrage of attacks towards Quetzalcoatl. The clash of these mighty deities reverberated through the battlefield, each showcasing their immense powers and unwavering resolve.
As the battle intensified, reinforcements arrived in the form of Anna and the Jaguar Warrior, strategically positioning themselves to launch a coordinated assault against the formidable Quetzalcoatl. With precision and teamwork, they mounted an attack from the right flank, while Mash valiantly held the left, creating a momentary advantage against the goddess. However, Quetzalcoatl's divine strength and cunning were formidable, and even the combined efforts of Fujimaru and his companions struggled to tip the scales in their favour.
In a dramatic turn of events, Quetzalcoatl unleashed a potent combination of brute force and magical prowess, overwhelming Fujimaru and their allies in a relentless onslaught. The Goddess Ishtar, in a valiant attempt to aid her comrades, found herself gravely wounded by a vicious counterattack from Quetzalcoatl, rendering her immobile and vulnerable amidst the chaotic battlefield. The outcome of the epic confrontation remained uncertain.
At the moment, Fujimaru set his sights on the sunstone resting upon the sacred altar dedicated to the revered goddess Quetzalcoatl. His purpose was clear—he intended to shatter the ancient artefact in a bid to weaken the deity's divine powers. However, the Goddess, with her unparalleled strength, had effortlessly vanquished four of Fujimaru's comrades, prompting her to swiftly make her way towards the Sun Stone with the intention of thwarting Fujimaru's destructive plan.
Upon reaching the Sun Stone, Fujimaru experienced a sudden surge of conviction, believing that he held the potential to sway Quetzalcoatl to his cause. As the Goddess confronted him, questioning his reluctance to obliterate the sacred stone, Fujimaru found himself compelled to express his growing admiration for her. In his eyes, Quetzalcoatl was not a malevolent deity; she harboured a deep love for humanity, a sentiment that evoked a sense of hesitation within him.
Fascinated by Fujimaru's unexpected display of empathy and understanding, the Goddess Quetzalcoatl listened intently to his heartfelt words. Their interaction on the brink of destruction and devotion sparked a unique connection between mortal and deity, setting the stage for a profound bond that transcended their initial conflict.
With a sense of surprise, the magnificent and powerful Goddess Quetzalcoatl was deeply moved by the unwavering courage displayed by Fujimaru during the intense battle, prompting a profound sense of compassion to well up within her divine being. In an unexpected twist of fate, the Goddess Quetzalcoatl, with a growing sense of excitement pulsating through her celestial form, approached Fujimaru and graciously acknowledged his valour by admitting her own defeat, thus signalling her intention to initiate a sacred pact between Master and Servants with him. The group, taken aback by this sudden turn of events, stood in awe as they witnessed the extraordinary bond forming between the goddess and the courageous Fujimaru. Seeking to rectify the misunderstandings that had transpired, the Goddess Quetzalcoatl revealed to the group that the 100 Soldiers of Uruk, whom she had vanquished in battle, were, in fact, alive and well, their souls miraculously preserved through her divine intervention. She went on to explain that the blame for this confusion lay not with the soldiers nor herself, but rather with the Jaguar warriors, who had failed to convey the truth to them accurately. With a tone of solemn sincerity, the goddess disclosed how she had cast a potent resurrection spell upon the soldiers before engaging them in combat, illustrating her commitment to justice and compassion even in the midst of conflict and chaos.
In that moment, the goddess made the decision, stating, "I lost this battle, so as of right now, I will be leaving the three goddesses alliance." She decided she was going to unite with Fujimaru and his loyal companions with the noble goal of thwarting the catastrophic incineration threatening all of humanity. In a truly majestic display of her authority, the Goddess summoned forth her majestic wings, Beast, to assist in the crucial task of safely transporting the formidable Axe of Marduk to Uruk, where destiny awaited. As night fell and the weary travellers sought respite, Fujimaru and the party reached a consensus to set up camp for the night, knowing that the journey ahead held great danger and uncertainty.
Under the shimmering moonlight, as the crackling campfire danced with mystical energy, the enigmatic Goddess Ishtar, radiating an aura of unfathomable beauty and grace, gracefully approached Fujimaru for a profound conversation that would shape their shared path. However, to Fujimaru's dismay, the weight of exhaustion proved too heavy to bear, and he succumbed to a deep slumber, unaware of the celestial being's presence. In the depths of his dreams, Fujimaru's consciousness stirred, catching a fleeting glimpse of Ishtar, whose form seemed to shimmer with ethereal brilliance, a mere echo of her usual divine countenance. In a moment of divine intervention, the Goddess, her soothing voice echoing through the realm of dreams, urged Fujimaru to relinquish his waking state and embrace the tranquilly of sleep, encircling him with a gentle enchantment that pulled his mind into a state of peaceful repose.
The next morning, the party set out while embarking on their path to Uruk. Lady Citri, a respected figure in the realm, approached Merlin with distressing news—the untimely demise of King Gilgamesh, a revered ruler in the land. In response to Lady Citri's sombre revelation, Merlin, with his characteristic calm demeanour, assured the Priestess that King Gilgamesh's fate was not that of a mere mortal; his legacy and spirit would endure beyond the realms of mortality.
Expressing her concern, Citri shed light on the recent surge of unusual deaths plagued by inexplicable weakness within the city's borders. The priestess, with a tone heavy with sorrow, narrated how the aura of death seemed to cast a long shadow over the city of Uruk, leaving its inhabitants stricken with fear and uncertainty. It was as if an ominous presence had descended upon the once-vibrant city, shrouding it in a cloak of sorrow and despair.
Amidst this eerie atmosphere, Quetzalcoatl intervened to offer her insight. With a voice that resonated with authority, she declared that the recent string of deaths was not a natural occurrence but a result of a sinister force at play. Pointing towards the three goddess alliances, she hinted that one of the deities from the alliances might be responsible for unleashing such malevolent forces upon the City of Uruk.
Caught off guard by this revelation, Fujimaru mustered the courage to inquire further, seeking to unveil the identity of the mysterious goddess behind these calamities. The benevolent deity conveyed a crucial piece of information to Fujimaru. It was revealed to them that the final member of the Three Goddesses alliance was none other than the Goddess Ereshkigal, who held the esteemed titles of both the Queen of Kur and the ruler of the underworld. Quetzalcoatl provided further enlightenment by explaining that Ereshkigal's gallu spirits possessed the daunting ability to extract souls from those who were feeble and spent, casting a sense of dread over the group. Their eyes widened in astonishment as this revelation sank in, prompting a shared glance towards Ishtar in search of her reaction. However, the goddess Quetzalcoatl categorically clarified that, stating, "The Three Goddesses alliance was composed of myself, Gorgon, and Ereshkigal, the sovereign of Kur and the mistress of the underworld," solidifying the gravity of the situation. In that defining moment, the goddess Ishtar seized the opportunity to set the record straight by firmly stating to Fujimaru and their resolute companions that she had never been affiliated with the Three Goddesses alliance, thus dispelling any lingering doubts or misconceptions in the air.
At that intriguing moment, when the wise mage Merlin unravelled the intricate connection between the mystical goddesses Ishtar and Ereshkigal, he shared a profound insight with Ishtar. Speculating that their summoning might intertwine their beings, he vividly painted a scenario where Ereshkigal, in her cunning ways, could have potentially coexisted within Ishtar's very vessel, unbeknownst to her. Delving deeper into the complexities of the spiritual realm, Merlin elucidated how Ereshkigal, bound to the underworld, would require a physical body to traverse beyond her domain. As the conversation unfolded, a sudden recollection dawned upon Fujimaru as he pondered the enigmatic figure that had crossed paths with him before. "Could it have been the elusive Goddess Ereshkigal manifesting before me during that fateful encounter?" he wounded.
Merlin the mage imparted a crucial piece of information to Fujimaru and their loyal companions: the soul of King Gilgamesh could possibly be lingering in the depths of the underworld. It was suggested by the mage that if they were successful in defeating the formidable Goddess Ereshkigal, they might have the chance to bring not only the king but also the souls of the citizens back to their rightful bodies. However, the Goddess Ishtar, with a tone of warning in her voice, revealed a vital detail to Fujimaru. She explained that the underworld was a place where even heroic spirits and deities struggled to exert their influence and power.
Upon hearing this troubling revelation, the radiant Goddess Quetzalcoatl wore a sombre expression as she confessed to Fujimaru and the others that she, too, would be weakened and powerless in the underworld. It was a sobering moment as the gravity of their upcoming quest began to sink in.
Amidst these revelations, Ishtar took charge and declared that she would guide them on their journey into the underworld. With unwavering determination, Fujimaru and Mash, under the watchful eye of the Goddess Ishtar, set out on their daunting expedition, bracing themselves for the challenges that awaited them in the mysterious and perilous realm below.