"We seem to argue a lot over superficial things, Danu. We get so worked up over it all, too." Michael sighed. "I want to apologize. For good this time. As a blood-thirsty soldier, I was always rewarded for being so steadfast in my ways. But, as of now, I seem to have a lady pegging me down."
Looking over to Michael Quinn with her ice-blue eyes, Danu simply shrugged. "You're really a handful, you know that? But... you're a friend. And I value allies. I'm not going to give up on you so quick."
Michael bowed. "I appreciate that, goddess. However... I have a plan. It's been bubbling up in me for quite some time."
"And what would that be?" Danu raised an eyebrow, her fluffy white hair dancing in the wind.
"I recall how you said that Abellio, Belenus, and you aren't showing off your powers here because you don't want to get caught. You simply wish to find Morrganne and reign in her help in order to fend off Queen Medv and the Wild Hunt... but I have a different approach."
"Michael, I don't like where this is-"
"I know you don't like where this is going. But I'm afraid I wish to part ways here. Perhaps, once and for all. But I want to know, if I were to indeed die, that everything is alright between us."
"Markel Gwynne, what the fuck are you talking about?" Danu raised her voice, her skin blushing. "You're not going to die! I won't allow it!"
"Danu... please. You see, if you, Belenus, and Abellio wish to reach Morrganne by taking the slow and safe game... then so be it. But I'm not afraid of the Wild Hunt. You see... I was made to be a super-soldier. I'm truly a superhuman. I-"
"You're not seriously going to try and give a speech on how it'd be rational for you to fight Queen Medv head on, are you?" Danu kicked up sand as her and Michael continued to walk along a nearby beach.
"That's exactly what I'm going to say." Michael tightened his lips.
"Michael... I can't let you do that."
"Then use your powers to stop me. Oh wait, you can't and you won't." Michael held eye-contact with Danu for some time before Danu began to walk into the ocean.
"Fine. Do what you will. I can't stop you."
"Why are you walking into the water? Do you plan on drowning yourself?" Michael gripped his weapon tightly. "This isn't the Epic of Odysseus, you know?"
"You actually think that the goddess of water can drown? That's so absurd it's not even funny." Danu frowned. "Submerging myself under water helps me think and calm down. I used to take many long showers when I was in my human form... even before I gained memory of my past goddess life."
"I see. Well, I'm sorry I've brought you... so much stress. But I must go. I cannot stay here any longer. My passion is on the front-lines, you see. Just like Adalhelm's. If I die out there... then so be it."
"Medv has an ichor-radar so she can see us if we use our powers but... if there's a high chance that you're going to die, then I wanna just meet up with Bel already. I miss him too damn much! I'm- I'm going to use my powers!"
"Danu! What? That was so quick. Did you even think that out? Don't do it. No. Stop. No! NO!" Michael threw his arm out, but it was too late.
Behind him, a gigantic horde of dead horsemen raced his way.
"Well... let's do this." Michael clutched his staff tightly, then stabbed a dozen horses with a ferocious frenzy.
Danu turned around and threw an ice spear at the horsemen which fell off their horses. The iron armor which they had dawned was crusty and vulnerable. Ancient and withered, the huntsmen fell one by one.
Standing proudly out of the ocean, Danu raised an arm out. "I'm tired of running away, I'm going to-"
Behind Danu, a ginormous figure stood tall. A giant silhouette, with long and flowing hair, had emerged from the ocean.
"DANU! LOOK OUT!" Michael screamed, his hand reaching for her as his staff fell to his side.
But it was too late.
Danu coughed up blood and bits of organ tissue.
"Danu... you couldn't have hidden from me forever." the sickening reverb of Queen Medv spoke as an arm punched its way through Danu's chest.
Her jaw tightening in pain as her eyes rolled back in agony, Danu's body suddenly fell limp onto the sand.
"No... way. A goddess can't... die. Goddesses and gods... are immortal!" Michael squealed as he clutched at his chest.
Queen Medv's body was mostly revealed and nude as she wore very little but a ripped black dress. "Really? Is that so? Well then... please tell me why I've just killed her. I'll stomp on her some more for you, just to prove-"
"No! No, no, no. Please. That's really okay. You don't have to prove it. Please... Medv... you don't understand! Lord Abellio is going to be so pissed with me! I let his girlfriend die! Fuck! I'm so screwed!"
"Hm. You're an interesting one. You care not for this goddess's life being tarnished... you simply wish to not see your own trouble? How selfish. But I should expect no less from the superhuman." Medv stepped closer to Michael.
"Please." Michael looked at Danu, whose hand was now over the sandy ground of the beach. Blood spewing out from her chest, her lifeless face was still frightened. "You're right... I don't have empathy for seeing someone die. The blood-thirst I developed in the army was... too much. It made me asocial. But... Medv... I beg of you. TAKE ME INSTEAD! I DON'T NEED TO LIVE ANYMORE! I WANT TO SEE BEL, BELENUS, AND DANU HAVE A HAPPY ENDING!"
Medv laughed then, her feminine voice shaking all of the Tir Na Mabi. "You think a mere human would appease the life of a goddess? You dying will bring back no one, fool. Since my 'taking-over' of the human world, so many covenants have been in my name. I have changed the course of history with creating the giant world-government known as 'Gretchenia'. I am stronger than any of the other deities in this realm."
Michael shook his head so quickly it almost seemed like he was turning into a torpedo from the neck up. "No, no, no. Queen Medv... I don't believe you! I know there's a way to bring her back. She's a... goddess. Even if she's dead right now... there still has to be a way. BRING HER BACK!"
Medv crossed her arms. "Indeed. There is a way."
"See! I fuckin' knew it!"
"Pffft. You're getting so hysterical from Danu's death that it's almost comical. Careful you don't ruin the tone of the moment now. Nevertheless... you understand that gods and goddesses have multiple forms, right?"
Michael nodded his head so quickly that he began to give himself a bloody nose.
"Well... Danu has died in this form but she has not died in her other forms."
"Right, right, right. How do we get her into those other forms? HOW? Lord Abellio will not be happy. LORD ABELLIO WILL NOT BE PLEASED!"
"Her dying body must be exposed to the three elements which she presides over. The moon... water... and air. She is currently in the vicinity of water and air... but no moon. And it isn't just any moon. She must be under the presence of the Earth's moon. In the Tir Na Mabi, she is not anywhere near the Earth's moon. When she feels the things which her power presides over... she will transform into one of the other forms she has left."
"She told me that she a few forms... so it shouldn't be too hard." Michael clenched his teeth.
"Ah, she has lied to you then. Poor Michael Quinn. You trusted the word of a tricky goddess."
"Wh- what?" Michael's green eyes grew.
"She used to have a few other lives... but this isn't the first time she has gotten in trouble like this. She has used up a few of her forms before. She is now only left with... one... more."
"Just one? Oh my. That sounds tenacious. Also... this whole damn process sounds so ritualistic and tedious! She must be brought back to the human world? But... I've been trapped in the Tir Na Mabi for so damn long. It's been an accursed experience. I've been trying to find someone who can open up a portal to the other world. I want to go back home... and... see... my... FAMILY!" Once more, out of a bitter rage, Michael slew some horsemen along with their horses. "I do not fear this Wild Hunt. I will cut them down... even if it is endless."
"Such big words from such a mortal man. I don't care how much of a superhuman you say you are. Part of that title is still 'human'. You still have an exhaustible amount of energy to you. Even Danu could not stop me."
"I will make sure that Danu... can breathe life once more. Allow me to traverse the human realm with her corpse... and I promise I shall not bother you."
"I actually would like it you bothered me. Please... worship me. Annoy me with your loyalty. Leave Abellio."
"I... don't know if I can... do-"
"Of course you don't know. Which is why Danu isn't coming back to life anytime soon."
"You... BITCH!" Michael belted as he charged at Medv with his staff.
"Such reckless behavior. I even knew where Bel was earlier. He had used his power to kill some demented fairies a while back." Laughing, Danu then turned around to see a violet, twisting portal open up behind her.
A man with curly black hair stepped out.
Michae's eyes widened as he fell to his knees. "You... look like... Abellio."
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Final Phenomenon: E-Lunar, Route A (4) (MANUSCRIPT)
Fantasy2071. The legendary God of Apples, Abellio, was kidnapped from Earth and taken to the Otherworld. Though this world is his home, he seeks to track down and destroy those who have wronged him as they reside in this world. No man nor deity...
