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Chapter 27 - Tiamat's Awakening

The Goddess Quetzalcoatl, with an air of authority and curiosity, stood in her divine presence, demanding to know the identity of the mysterious figure who had stepped forward. It was none other than Ushiwakamaru, once a valiant warrior, now corrupted by the ancient, primordial Mud of the Goddess Tiamat. As she stepped forward with an ominous determination, ready to unleash another devastating attack upon her foes, the shock and disbelief palpable among Fujimaru and his companions were overshadowed by the gravity of the situation. Their dear friend, now a mere puppet of dark forces, had succumbed to the insidious corruption.

 

Ishtar, in her wisdom, then revealed a chilling truth to Fujimaru, stating, "Those consumed by the primordial Mud of Tiamat ceased to be themselves; instead, they became mere extensions, mere children, of the fearsome Goddess Creation." The implications of this revelation weighed heavily upon the group as they grappled with the realisation that their once-loyal comrade had become an enemy, a pawn in a perilous game beyond their understanding.

 

Fujimaru and his loyal companions braced themselves for the impending battle as the renowned Ushiwakamaru unsheathed her sword, poised to strike. However, just as the blade was about to make contact, Mash swiftly intervened, deflecting the lethal attack with skillful precision. Sensing the urgency of the situation, the benevolent Goddess Ishtar and the fearsome Quetzalcoatl swiftly joined forces to assist Mash in repelling the formidable Ushiwakamaru.

 

Witnessing the seamless coordination among his comrades, the courageous hero Fujimaru seized the moment and issued a strategic command to Mash, urging her to incapacitate the enemy servant without hesitation. Responding to his directive with unwavering determination, Mash, supported by the formidable Quetzalcoatl, engaged in a fierce clash with Ushiwakamaru, each combatant showcasing their unparalleled skills and prowess in the heat of battle.

 

Meanwhile, Ishtar, with her divine powers at the ready, carefully observed the unfolding skirmish, biding her time to exploit the slightest opening that would allow her to decisively turn the tide against their adversary. As the magical energies surged and intertwined on the battlefield, creating an electrifying aura of tension and anticipation, it became evident that a decisive moment was on the horizon.

 

In a dazzling display of divine might, Ishtar unleashed a devastating attack aimed directly at Ushiwakamaru, a torrent of overwhelming power engulfing the enemy servant in a blinding display of sheer force. In a matter of mere moments, the once formidable Ushiwakamaru was reduced to nothing but ashes, scattered by the powerful onslaught of Ishtar's divine retribution, marking a crucial turning point in the harrowing battle.

 

As the dust slowly began to settle around them, Fujimaru and his loyal companions found themselves momentarily relieved, thinking that they had successfully bested the formidable Ushiwakamaru in battle. However, their brief respite was shattered when they witnessed Ushiwakamaru's astonishing ability to multiply herself, each new incarnation poised for combat while declaring, "Now you will all die like the ants you are," prolonging the fierce struggle between them. 

 

 

 

With a chilling resolve in her eyes, Ushiwakamaru declared her allegiance to the primordial goddess Tiamat, vowing to obliterate every human in her path as an act of devotion to her deity. In a desperate attempt to advise Fujimaru on a potential solution, Professor Romani Archaman urgently contacted the battle-weary group, emphasising the imperative need to swiftly and decisively incinerate Ushiwakamaru's clones with a single, overwhelming attack. The consequences of failing to neutralise each duplicate became increasingly dire, threatening to exponentially escalate the already perilous odds stacked against their party. It was a race against time as Fujimaru and his allies braced themselves for the pivotal moment that would determine the course of their encounter with the relentless and enigmatic Ushiwakamaru.

 

The fierce battle unfolded under the watchful eyes of the heavens as the powerful goddess Ishtar found herself drained of her magical energy, a realisation that sent a moment of distress rippling through her being. Sensing his companion's plight, Fujimaru, who had long forged an unbreakable bond with the goddess through the ancient contract of master and servant, acted swiftly. Drawing from his innate magical reserves, he selflessly channelled a surge of energy to rejuvenate Ishtar, a feat made possible only by the deep connection they shared.

 

Meanwhile, the radiant figure of Quetzalcoatl valiantly defended their flank, skillfully holding off the relentless onslaught of Ushiwakamaru's indomitable duplicates. With her path momentarily cleared, Ishtar seized the opportunity to unleash a cataclysmic assault of unparalleled magnitude, conjuring forth a blazing tempest that engulfed her adversaries in a torrent of scorching flames. The sheer power and precision of her attack left no room for doubt as her enemies were swiftly vanquished, their forms reduced to ashes in a singular, devastating sweep.

 

As the dust settled and silence descended upon the battlefield, the crumbling clones of Ushiwakamaru served as a grim reminder of the chaos that had unfolded. In a haunting moment of eerie calm, the spectral echoes of the fallen warrior's voice reverberated through the air, foretelling a chilling prophecy to Fujimaru. With solemn words heavy with portent, she whispered, "Twice with the same tactics, guess I underestimated you. Even so, for you, victory is impossible. At this very moment, the Grail has been delivered to mother." In a final, poignant gesture, Ushiwakamaru disintegrated into a cloud of ethereal dust, leaving behind nothing but the ominous echo of her dire warning hanging in the air.

 

Fujimaru and Mash found themselves facing a dire situation, prompting them to reach out to King Gilgamesh for assistance and guidance. Upon making contact with the king, they wasted no time in meticulously detailing the escalating threat they were up against and sought to collaborate on devising a strategic plan to combat it effectively. Mash, embodying a sense of urgency, directed her inquiries towards the current state of affairs in Uruk, the city in peril. However, their hopes were met with a heavyhearted expression on the king's face as he somberly disclosed the grim reality unfolding within the city walls. King Gilgamesh painted a grim picture of their city under siege, besieged by the relentless Lahmu creatures encroaching from every corner, with their defences strained to the breaking point, offering them a meagre hour before their fortifications would be overrun.

 

While grudgingly acknowledging their dire circumstances, the king proceeded to enlighten Fujimaru and Mash on a harrowing revelation that shed a dark light on their predicament. With a solemn tone, he recounted a chilling tale of a Black Mud lurking in the sea, stating, "The black sea water is the embodiment of Tiamat authority itself. It infects those who touch it, copies the authority into their cells, and makes them her slaves. Every one in these lands, be it a servant or human, is forbidden from touching the mud." King Gilgamesh's words carried a weight of caution as he emphasised the insidious nature of this enchantment, warning that even the mightiest of heroic spirits were not impervious to the overwhelming sway of Tiamat's authority.

 

In that moment of revelation, the gravity of their predicament weighed heavily upon Fujimaru and Mash as they grappled with the unsettling truth laid bare before them. As the king's words lingered ominously in the air, a sense of foreboding crept over the valiant duo, realising the perilous path that lay ahead in their quest to defy the relentless onslaught of Tiamat and her formidable authority.

 

Fujimaru, King Gilgamesh, and their loyal companions convened to devise a strategic plan; their minds focused on countering the imminent threat poised by the delivery of the Grail to Tiamat at the heart of the Primordial Mud. The king passionately explained to Fujimaru that the very instant the Grail changed hands, the primordial Mud set forth a catastrophic chain of events, its ominous presence swiftly expanding across the sea, enveloping every corner as it inexorably approached the land, poised to unleash devastation in its wake. Concurrently, the Mud continued its relentless proliferation of the formidable Lahmu, a formidable force multiplying at an alarming rate. Fueled by unwavering resolve, Fujimaru assured the King that the annihilation of humanity would not come to pass uncontested, declaring with unwavering determination their commitment to stand against the looming catastrophe. The professor, a beacon of knowledge in their midst, imparted a glimmer of hope, elucidating that the key to dispelling the primordial Goddess and quelling the encroaching Mud rested in their ability to emerge victorious in battle, a victory that held the promise of banishing the treacherous Mud from the sea, halting its destructive advance before it could wreak further havoc upon the land.

 

The King, realising the imminent danger lurking in the depths of the Mud, issued a decisive order to Fujimaru and his courageous band of companions, instructing them to set forth towards the heart of the primordial sea. With a sense of urgency propelling them, the party wasted no time and embarked immediately on their journey, utilising the majestic Quetzalcoatl wings beast to soar through the skies above. However, as they made their way towards the sea, ominous signs of impending chaos began to manifest as the horde of monstrous Lahmu started encroaching upon the land, painting a grim picture of the challenges awaiting their arrival.

 

Fujimaru's duty became abundantly clear amidst the unfolding turmoil: to confront and vanquish the primordial goddess before her menacing power could wreak havoc upon the city of Uruk. With steely determination, the party pressed forward, drawing closer to the centre of the mud, only to be greeted by a startling sight that shook them to their core—the once-dormant primordial goddess had now fully roused from her ancient slumber, taking on a humanoid form and fixing her gaze ominously upon the venerable city of Uruk, her intentions shrouded in mystery and foreboding. 

 

 

Fujimaru, along with his courageous companions, advanced towards the primordial goddess. At that moment, Ishtar took a moment to enlighten Fujimaru about the being they were about to face. She revealed that the figure looming below them was none other than Tiamat, the ancient goddess believed to be the very source of all creation. Suddenly, a sense of urgency swept over them as Tiamat began to gather her formidable powers, causing an ominous tension in the air. Realising the imminent danger posed by the impending energy onslaught, Professor Romani Archaman urgently warned Fujimaru of the catastrophic consequences that Uruk would face if they failed to act swiftly. Together, they understood the critical need to confront Tiamat before her devastating energy blast could be unleashed upon the city. Sensing the gravity of the situation, Goddess Ishtar stepped forward and declared to Fujimaru that the time had come for her to reveal her most powerful and decisive attack against Tiamat. The weight of their mission pressed heavily upon them as they braced themselves for the intense battle that was about to unfold against the primordial goddess of ancient origins.

 

The Goddess Ishtar, standing tall and radiant, gazed upon Fujimaru with a determined look in her eyes as she beseeched him to supply her with the magic energy that she needed. Understanding the urgency of the situation, Fujimaru focused his innermost magical essence and channelled it towards Ishtar with unwavering determination. As the magic energy flowed from Fujimaru to Ishtar, a brilliant connection formed between them, binding their fates together in a powerful exchange of mystical forces.

 

High above, Ishtar positioned herself with grace and purpose, preparing to unleash the full extent of her divine power in a climactic showdown against the formidable foe, Tiamat. With a resolute voice, Ishtar uttered the ancient incantation, "Gate open," invoking a mystical gateway that tore through the fabric of reality itself. From beyond the veil of the known universe, a swirling vortex of cosmic energy descended upon Ishtar, infusing her with an otherworldly power unlike anything the world had ever seen.

 

Empowered by this cosmic infusion, Ishtar summoned forth her ultimate attack, a manifestation of celestial might that took the form of a radiant arrow of pure energy. With a fierce battle cry, she commanded the arrow to descend upon Tiamat, invoking the name of her divine bow, "Smash it down, bow of the heavens." In an awe-inspiring display of divine wrath, the arrow streaked across the sky, leaving a blazing trail in its wake as it homed in on its target.

 

As the sea dramatically split into two from the fierce attack of the goddess Ishtar. Fujimaru hastened to consult the professor about detecting the spiritual origins of Tiamat. Engulfed in anticipation, Fujimaru eagerly sought guidance from the knowledgeable professor, Romani Archaman, who informed him that the residual spirit origin of Tiamat had all but dissipated following the impactful assault. Overwhelmed with relief and jubilation at their hard-won victory, Fujimaru and his faithful companions gratefully received the professor's counsel to patiently await the receding of the murky mud aftermath in order to secure the Grail. Amidst the joyous revelry echoing through the air, a sudden shift in the spiritual presence captured the attention of the professor, heralding the ominous resurgence of the primordial goddess Tiamat from the depths of the ocean in her awe-inspiring true form. In that fleeting moment where hope and despair intertwined, the behemoth goddess emerged with a steely gaze fixed upon the radiant city of Uruk, setting hearts aflutter with a potent mix of dread and awe. Sensing the peril that loomed large with Tiamat's monstrous appearance, Fujimaru, Mash, and their allies hastily made the unanimous decision to initiate a strategic retreat back to the fortified walls of Uruk, their minds racing with thoughts of the impending confrontation and the safety of the city's inhabitants.