Interlude Marionette’s Journal

16 July 2537 CE

All hope was lost when my child fell into the very flame he was supposed to harness.

I found no joy lingering in the chamber where his cries and voice once echoed, where I could still hear the soft patter of his steps — a presence of a phantom. In my grief, I have locked myself away in the grand library, searching for answers.

Why had the gods and goddesses gifted me with such a wonderful child, only for the world to snatch him away?

The answer was not in the manuscripts of a thousand scribes. It lay in the unknown future, a future even the Proleptis essence-bearers struggled to foresee. I was but a son-less mother, and my world had crumbled with him.

Yet, it was not the end for all mortals. There had to be an answer, a way forward to save them from the sixth apocalypse. I may have failed as a mother, but I would not yield. My profound prayer echoed and seeped into the walls of the library, into the pages of the ancient tomes.

Perhaps it was the Moirai who guided me, for I stumbled upon a manuscript depicting the divine legendary Bow of Sol, a weapon wielded by the sun god himself to rival the primordial beasts. This had to be it.

The bane of the apocalypse and the salvation for our broken world.

30 January 2538 CE

My priority became a solo expedition to find the Bow of Sol. The quest led me toward faraway lands, from the Strait of Nukki and the mountains of the Alps, and into the wild, extensive continent of Aethian. I rediscovered the soul of the people and animals, the fiery passion in their eyes. Despite all odds, they lived for tomorrow — they weren’t giving up, so why should I?

After I arrived in Aethen, the capital city of Aethia, Caelia Adreas greeted me with the utmost hospitality. I almost grew comfortable with the warm bed and lavish delicacies, but when the thought crossed my mind, I knew it was time to move on. Caelia suggested my next stop should be the remnant of a fallen Pantheon on the west coast of Aethia — a sun deity sanctuary, where stone pillars more ancient than time itself still stood.

Following the geographical changes over millions of years, it was evident that the tectonic plates had drifted, causing certain landmasses to part. One of these was Nate-etan Island, the most secluded and faraway place on Earth. It lies 3,000 kilometres from any point of mortal contact. Even the stars felt closer. That part was a fact; the International Space Station was nearer.

16 September 2538 CE

Terrifying news was relayed from aboard. The first sign of the apocalypse drew near as the Light of Punishment was unleashed on the mortal races. The land of Germund was in ruin, its society crippled under raging wars. The fractured moon was a stark testament, a chilling reminder.

The end was nigh.

I had to move with haste. Fate tested me once again with the wide-range collapse of portal spells following the incident. I had but one choice: to travel by sea. Caelia was enthusiastic to gift me a sea cruiser as a parting gift, amongst other things.

28 October 2538 CE

For weeks, I journeyed across the endless sea, keeping my sanity in check with Galah, a glorious pink cockatoo. I couldn’t be bothered to name her anything else. The little thing insisted she be called for what she was. Her song was a true wonder in the echoless sea, and my loneliness was mended.

As I disembarked, I was met by the glistening shellshore of Nate-etan. This place was untouched, unpolluted, like Gaia’s first design. The first evidence reaffirmed my belief of the once-joined tectonic plates, with the correlated flora and fauna of the mainland. It would be a great effort to search the entirety of this island, but my determination far outweighed the task.

30 December 2538 CE

It took a month to set up the sonar detector through transmutation, tuning it to find the signature frequency of the ancient remnant rocks. Meanwhile, I settled into a tiny cabin on the edge of the forest, where a pristine river ran from the mountain at the centre of the island. Another month passed, filled with false signatures from prehistoric rocks, until finally, the ancient remnants were discovered with a small excavation operation. The first tangible evidence brought me joy I hadn’t felt in a long while. My journey would not be in vain.

15 March 2539 CE

I had made a great discovery, evidence of an ancient civilisation. I unearthed ornate pieces of jewellery, plates, and vessels, to name a few. One of which was a metallic tablet of ancient texts, its initial markings resembling the worship of the sun god. However, I had strayed further and further from the shoreline and into the deep mountains, facing an increasing threat from native predators — giant terrestrial arthropods. I called them Treecrabs because they could climb trees. They tasted awful, but their mass provided excellent transmutational material.

28 March 2539 CE

My years at the Arcane Institute and the optional philology courses had paid off. I successfully decrypted the text, which reaffirmed that the sun sanctuary was located on this island. My journey for the Bow of Sol had never been closer. Multiple archaeological discoveries increasingly pointed toward its resting place within that sanctuary, the details of which I will not record here.

My luck ran out when I searched extensively through the forest and found no such structure. Nature had reclaimed everything, burying it under the soil. Perhaps more excavation was required. I began to second-guess myself, wondering if I should return to Caelia for her support. But I had stayed off course for too long, and the world was at stake.

The floating reed stopped mid-stroke, its dancing flame casting mesmerising shadows. Marionette glanced over her shoulder. She snapped the journal closed, letting it settle on her worn leather belt. The stench of the dead arthropod should have warned the rest away, as it did most nights. Have the Treecrabs grown bolder as I creep closer to their territory?

“Hush!” Marionette signalled to Galah, who was perched atop a low-hanging branch.

She reached for her holster, and a soft ring resonated as she drew her arc gunblade. The double-barrelled gun, integrated with a long ultra-duplex-steel blade, was capable of blasting a hole through the thick shells of the Treecrabs with ease.

Marionette’s gaze swept through the layers of trees, catching something amidst the dimly lit forest ground. She took aim, her other hand recounting her bullets. “Only six left. I need to transmute more later,” she analysed quietly.

“Galah, birdeye,” she instructed as she drifted forward in silence.

Galah flapped her wings, circling high above.

“There is a shifting figure, twelve o’clock, a few hundred metres,” Galah shrieked in a high-pitched frequency that only an essence-bearer of Zoionphones could hear.

“Tsk… A stray Treecrab, I fear,” Marionette grumbled, keeping herself low and ready. The small mechanism clicked as she disengaged the safety lock.

The shrubbery rustled in front of her, and a dark figure emerged, stumbling and rolling onto the ground.

The furred face and big, round eyes were the giveaway. This wasn’t her enemy. Not yet, anyway.

“Halt!” Marionette shouted, her tone stern, the barrel of her gun aimed true at the face of the unexpected visitor.

“WAAAA~WAAA! D~Don’t shoot!” the big marsupial shrieked, hands clenched to its chest. Its ragged leather cloak lifted up, exposing its belly.

She narrowed her eyes in suspicion. “So, you can talk,” The creature spoke the language of mortals, not animals.

“Kaku speaks!” The marsupial nodded, scrambling to its feet. It measured over 150 centimetres in height. “Kaku would thank you if you can keep that out of my face.” He pointed at the gunblade held by the bewitching woman. Marionette had dark red hair styled into a ponytail, with a slanted fringe covering her left eye. Her exposed right eye was red like a ruby, accentuated by a seductive mole just below it.

“Craftier than I thought,” Marionette murmured, lowering her gun. Galah fluttered down and perched herself atop her shoulder. “Explain yourself. Are you an Animori who lives here? Is there anyone else? Why haven't I run into any of you? Why couldn't I find any evidence of an intelligent species before? And why are you seeking me out now?”

Kaku tilted his head, momentarily processing her rapid-fire questions. He brushed leaves off his leather cloak. “Well, Kaku got chased by that!” He pointed with his paw at the Treecrab’s carcass next to the bonfire. “Thanks to the Primordial Beast, Kaku lost them in the wild. Kaku is simply fast.”

“Go on,” Marionette gestured with her gun, causing the marsupial to flinch slightly.

“I am no Animori. Kaku doesn’t shapeshift. We are Quokkas who live underground!” he clarified, rubbing his cheeks, his extra skin contorting. “We have been observing you since the day you arrived in your boat.”

“It’s not a boat,” Marionette corrected automatically. “Did you just say ‘we’?” Her eyes quickly scanned the surroundings with caution, but only crackling sounds returned. No ambush, I hope. If they wanted me dead, they’d have attacked already. This thing is unarmed and looks awfully friendly and cute for its own good.

“We have been living in peace for decades, see?” Kaku held up his paws. “Until the tide brought them, the Treecrabs. They hunted us down like livestock!”

“The Treecrabs?” Marionette eyed him.

“Because it can climb a tree,” Kaku explained, rubbing his chin cleverly.

“That’s a coincidence, because I call them Treecrabs too.” She chuckled, deciding to sheathe her gunblade. It wouldn't be needed for now. The giant Quokka appeared to be overly stimulated by any sign of threat.

“That explains your caution, observing me first to see if I’m a friend or foe,” Marionette said, checking her gear: leather armour, arc boots, and the arthropod chest plate she had just transmuted.

“Yes, yes!” Kaku nodded, rubbing his hands together as he approached her. “Well… You seem to be searching for something.”

“We are,” Marionette glanced at Galah, who chirped in agreement. “The Sol Pantheon. The resting place for the Bow of Sol.”

“Never heard of it,” Kaku said. “But there’s a higher power who might.”

“Don’t play games with me, Quokka,” Marionette said sternly, her lips twisting into a dark grin. “Give it to me straight, or else.”

“Y~Yeah!” Kaku wobbled his head frantically. “The Primordial Beast told us… If you help us with the Treecrabs, he’ll see you.”

“See me? What even is this Primordial Beast?” Marionette asked. “Like Byakko, Ventiff, or a Phoenix?”

“I don’t know what those are. It’s our deity. He protects us from harm,” Kaku said, scratching his underarms.

“Hang on a minute.” Marionette scoffed in disbelief, thinking it was some sick joke. Kaku just looked at her with a straight face. “Your deity just gave me a quest? You’re not joking?”

“Why would I?” he blinked.

“Fine. I don’t have any leads anyway,” Marionette grumbled, her shoulders slumping in defeat.

“It’s a deal then!” Kaku nodded, flashing a toothy smile.

“Deal,” Marionette replied as Galah chirped in agreement. She massaged the bridge of her nose tenderly. “What am I getting myself into… A smiley, giant Quokka who worships a primordial beast. Not the craziest thing I’ve seen, but it’s up there.”

At ease, Kaku walked over and sat next to the bonfire. “Very well! When do we leave?” He seemed to search for something, until his eyes found a fairly sizeable rock, which he promptly picked up.

“What are you doing?” Marionette sat down across from him.

“The elders told me to accompany you on this quest, and I can’t go empty-handed.” He looked around, making sure no one was eavesdropping, then whispered conspiratorially, “It’s the King Treecrab we’re talking about!”

“And what is your rock going to do? Annoy the beast to death?” Marionette crossed her arms, a frown creasing her brow.

“Kaku’s rocks have saved me countless, I repeat, countless times! You’ll see,” Kaku said, puffing out his chest with pride.

“Can we be serious for a moment?” Marionette’s tone turned sombre. “You’re a liability.”

“What’s a liability?” he asked, tilting his head.

“Forget it. Just give me a pointer and let me slay this beast,” Marionette said firmly. “Do you even know the difference between that rock and this?” She slapped her gunblade, producing a sharp metallic clink.

“No…” Kaku admitted.

“Well, this puts holes in the Treecrab and kills it.” She pointed at a fractured shell on the nearby carcass, from which purple blood was still oozing. “Yours does none of that.”

Nodding vigorously, Kaku tucked the rock under a fold of his loose skin that acted like a sack. “You’re right. You’re a magi!”

“Good. We leave at first light tomorrow. I need to get a few things,” Marionette instructed calmly.

“Umm… What should Kaku call you?” he gestured with an open palm.

She smirked, a spark of confidence in her eyes. “I am Marionette. You can call me Mari.”

The morning sun arrived, its rays filtering through the canopy as Galah chirped, surveying the forest ground. The giant rodent’s purr stopped. He sat up, rubbing his drowsy eyes and noticing the thin blanket draped over him. She must have covered me last night.

Nearby, the campfire had already been tidied up, and the arthropod carcass was gone. Marionette had spent the early hours transmuting it into usable assets. Her leather armour was now tainted with purple bloodstains, carrying the stench of rotten seafood.

“Wakey, wakey,” she quipped, cleaning her face with a moist napkin.

“That stench… ugh…” Kaku wrinkled his nose.

“Yeah. I hope I don’t have to go anywhere civilised soon, so…” Marionette smiled. Galah landed on her shoulder and reported, “All clear! All clear!”

“Good girl,” Marionette praised, gifting her a few seeds from a side pocket.

“You can talk to animals?” Kaku gasped, his mouth agape.

“Yes, it’s one of my essences as an Arcanist or a magi, as you say,” she explained, brushing Galah’s head with a finger.

“Whoa… That’s awesome. Can you talk to that lizard over there?” Kaku pointed with his paw at a reptile sunning itself on a tree branch.

“I can, but he doesn’t want to talk. He’s a shy one,” Marionette said calmly, bending over to adjust her arc boots for a more comfortable fit.

Yawning, Kaku stood up. “Let’s get this journey started, shall we?” He took a potato from his underarm sack and took a bite.

“Is that my potato?” she scowled, pointing.

“Was,” Kaku corrected with a grin. “You left that little garden and hut weeks ago.” He took another bite. “I’ve got some left, do you want one?” He fished a few more out of his sack.

“Ugh… No… I’ve got bread.” She shook her head and, in turn, produced a thin loaf.

Kaku watched her with curious eyes. “It’s very thin.”

She clasped it between her hands and chanted, “Metamorphosis!” The thin loaf expanded into a foot-long, warm and steaming. She broke it in half and handed a piece to Kaku. It was filled with a sweet, dripping red paste.

“Try it! I made it with strawberry yam,” Marionette urged, her gaze almost motherly.

Reluctantly, he took a bite. A burst of flavour exploded in his mouth. His eyes dilated with overjoyed sweetness, and the half-eaten potato dropped forgotten to the ground. “Tasty! What is this thing called?”

“Strawberry yam and bread,” she chuckled, sharing a crumb with Galah.

“You truly are the magi!” Kaku fell to his knees. “I shall worship you too!”

“Fufu! Please don’t!” She laughed, grabbing his arm to pull him up. The giant Quokka was much heavier than she’d expected.

Soon, they were travelling alongside the pristine river, pushing through high blades of grass. The gentle sound of water flowing over rocks provided a serene background to their journey, which, surprisingly, took a mere two hours. Kaku guided her toward the edge of the forest, where the trees gave way to sand.

“There!” Kaku pointed at a cave, its arched entrance easily ten metres high. “One of our scouts saw the Treecrab dragging an animal carcass into this! Some even said they saw its big pincers and evil eyes!” He mimicked the long, stalked eyes of a crustacean.

“How big is it?” Marionette asked, tapping her cheek in deep contemplation.

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“They didn’t say. They ran the first chance they got. It’s that scary!” Kaku nodded emphatically.

“Ugh… That’s helpful, I guess.” She bit her lip before beginning to formulate a plan. “We’ll have to lure it out. Set traps to pin it down, especially its massive pincers and mandibles. From my observation, Treecrabs are nocturnal foragers, so they won't come out in the sunlight. Fighting it in a flooded cave would be a terrible idea. The King Treecrab will likely have a special ability other than its massive size; we have to keep that in mind.”

“Exactly! I have absolutely no idea what you’re talking about!” Kaku gave her a thumbs-up, forcing a smile.

“Don’t worry about it. The bottom line is, you run when I tell you to. Got it?” Marionette winked.

“Yes, ma’am!” Kaku clasped his paws and bowed.

The sun had drifted far across the horizon. The seagulls had fallen silent, leaving only the sound of palm trees rustling in the wind.

“This had better be worth it.” Marionette’s mind drifted. The tide had come in and begun to flood the cave, the white noise of the waves ebbing and flowing. “Of course, it will be.”

She sat atop the cave entrance, her hands clasped and resting on her thighs. Below, Kaku slept on a flat rock slab, covered with her thin thermo-blanket. The stench of the sea was overwhelming, thanks to the mountains of fish she had piled in front of the entrance — a grand bait for their game.

Quiet moments like this always brought her back to a happier time. A life with a warm bed, running water, and electricity; a life where she never had to struggle for food.

“I do miss people,” she whispered. She missed the friends and family who talked and enjoyed pointless banter. A sudden shift in her expression brought a bitter smile to her lips. It was her late son. His chortling still rang in her ears as if it were yesterday. In the blink of an eye, he had grown up to be such a fine, strong man. A prime disciple. He was her joy, her pride.

She pressed her hands over her mouth, hard. She had failed him. Death came knocking, and she didn’t even get to say goodbye. There was no corpse in the casket; she didn’t even bother showing up to the funeral. Her husband must have hated her for it. He couldn’t look her in the eyes.

The helplessness and sorrow were a paramount tide threatening to drown her.

“It’s happening again. I always run…” she muttered bitterly, her feelings rising and falling like the surging waves below.

In all honesty, this whole expedition was just a gimmick, a sham. A distraction from the truth she refused to face. Her son was gone. She needed to accept that, wholly. She had been adrift long enough, living in the wilderness, on an island with no arc comm, talking to no one but animals and… whatever Kaku was.

It’s stupid that I’m only realising this after a year. Marionette sniffed, wiping a tear from the corner of her eye. In the darkness, she found a resolution. She needed to go back, with or without the artefact. The realisation hit her hard. Her husband and her other children were still there, awaiting her return.

“And if the world is ending, I’d rather be with them than here,” she said, a dry chuckle escaping her lips as she rubbed her eyes. I want to hold them one last time. She couldn’t stop the tears now as they came rushing forth.

For what felt like an eternity, Marionette made a silent wish to the heavens that she might at least get to say the things that had been bottled up inside for so long.

A real confession.

But first, she had to make it out of here alive. Marionette brushed a hand against her gunblade and the bullets she had prepared — twenty-seven rounds of high-yield Empyrion-grade ammunition.

A loud noise snapped her back to reality. A crunching and groaning echoed from the cave, like rock grinding against rock. It was the sound of massive joints moving, followed by the long, dragging scrape of an armoured underbelly on stone and sand. The ground itself seemed to tremble.

“It’s coming,” Marionette spoke in a hushed tone, her eyes sharp. She bolted from her seat and shook the sleeping Quokka awake.

“Wha—” Before he could scream at the sight emerging from the cave, she clamped her hand over his mouth. “Stay here, Kaku,” she instructed sharply.

“Galah! Birdeye!” she commanded, sending her bird into the night sky.

A hiss and a rumble emanated from the creature as its multiple jaws devoured the piles of fish, its big pincers scooping them inwards.

“It’s starving,” she told herself, checking the rope at her side with a few tugs. She clipped herself in and began to rappel down the cliff face.

The creature’s size was staggering; it nearly filled the entire cave entrance. Its calcified shell was like the thick metal plates of heavy armour. This was the biggest hunt of her life.

As Marionette descended, she knew it was only a matter of time before its stalked eyes detected her, and she would lose the element of surprise.

She drew the gunblade quietly and began to rock back and forth, creating a pendulum effect. Then, with enough momentum, she cut the rope, sending herself flying forward.

THUD!

Her arcboots landed with a solid clap atop its flat carapace. Instantly, its highly sensitive antennae twitched erratically, detecting her presence. Nimbly, she made her way towards its head, her gunblade taking aim at one of its stalked eyes. Her finger gently squeezed the trigger.

Bang!

The eye exploded. The creature shrieked, a deafening hiss that echoed across the beach. It thrashed wildly, its pincer rubbing at the ruined, bleeding socket. Marionette slid across its back, the glowing gunblade arching toward its remaining eye.

“Die, you filth!” Marionette roared, but its eye darted out of her blade’s path. She cut through empty air and tumbled eight metres to the ground below.

“Nnngh!” she grunted through clenched teeth. Her arc boots weren’t completely built for such a high drop. The rumbling of its massive claws, six on each side, reverberated through the sand as they swiped at her.

Ignoring the pain, she tumbled forward and rolled to safety.

The monster, enraged, snapped its pincers violently, slamming them into the ground and sending sprays of sand into the air.

“Take this!” Marionette took aim again and fired three sets of rounds in quick succession; her rapid reload was flawless. The monster blocked with its pincer, cracking the shell and drawing more purple blood.

That only made it more aggressive.

“I need a clear shot at its head!” Marionette muttered, rushing toward the dry shore. “Mari, the trap is fifty metres out!” Galah signalled, flying in a circle over the target location.

The monster slammed its claws down, left and right, each impact sending a tremor through the ground.

“Come on! You overgrown seafood!” Marionette taunted, and then she sprinted as fast as she could. A frothing bubble gathered at its jaws, followed by a loud hiss.

Her eyes widened as a jet of high-pressure water shot out, cleaving a trench through the beach. The force of the blast threw her tens of metres into the air. The world became a dizzying blur as the gunblade was torn from her grip. She slammed into a palm tree, the shocking impact followed by a hot, spreading numbness.

“Oh, no! Kaku must do something!” Kaku gasped, slapping his temples with his paws while frantically looking for something to help.

On the ground, Marionette coughed dryly, scrambling to her feet. Her breath came in ragged heaves; her front and back had taken a direct hit.

It’s too powerful. Another blast like that and I’m a goner, she thought. Her chest armour was fractured, and she loosened it to breathe.

“It’s going to attack again!” Galah shrieked from above.

Another water beam blasted towards her. On pure reflex, Marionette leapt to retrieve her gunblade. She rolled several times, coming to a stop with her gun aimed. Three more shots rang out into the night.

It blocked again with its pincers, the stalk-eye swivelling in fury as its many legs scraped across the sand, dragging its bulk towards her.

It shot another blast of water, and Marionette tumbled in anticipation. “Not so tough now!” She returned fire, aiming at a leg joint.

CRACK!

The bullet blasted through the exoskeleton, snapping one of its legs clean off. It hissed, grinding its jaws in agony.

The King Treecrab swung its pincer down blindly. She rolled to the side, grunting as the claw slammed into the sand where she’d just been. As the pincer landed, it struck a hidden pressure plate. The trap sprang, launching a heavy metal net that pinned the massive claw to the ground.

Desperate, it squirmed, slamming its free pincer at her.

“Take this!” Her glowing gunblade shrieked against the pincer’s shell, sending red sparks flying.

It staggered back as the heat from the blade burned through its armour, the aroma of roasted crab meat filling the air.

“Do not underestimate me!” she charged, sliding under a swipe and severing one of its antennae.

It shot a water jet in retaliation, but Marionette was swift on her feet, dodging to the side.

Adrenaline surged through her, overriding the pain. Her heart hammered against her ribs. “DIE!” she screamed and lunged, driving the blade’s tip through its faceplate. It shook violently, trying to dislodge her.

Her finger struggled to reach the trigger, but its free pincer swung around before she could fire. She pushed her boots against its face and kicked off, dislodging the blade just as the snapping claw could have crushed her.

Knee bending in adsorption, she landed on her feet. The sharp pain rose.

While Marionette gasped for air, the King Treecrab had severed its own limb to escape the trap.

Now free, the monster lunged. Marionette reloaded and fired, severing another leg. Purple blood painted the sand.

“Die already!” Marionette reloaded and aimed again.

Simultaneously, it shot another water beam at her.

She returned fire and rolled. But a sharp pain erupted from her shoulder. She cried out as red blood splashed onto the white sand, warm liquid dripping from the wound. “Nnnng… it was deep.” She groaned, her expression distorted.

Slowly, strugglingly, Marionette raised her gunblade. It felt impossibly heavy. Using her other hand to support it, she aimed.

BOOM!

The shot deflected off its hardened shell, leaving only a white graze on the surface.

“I shall enjoy your corpse very, very much,” the monster spoke for the first time, its voice crackling through her Zoionphones. “Your nutrients shall be used to regrow my claws to their former glories. I am but an inevitable force of nature!”

Just then, a rock struck the creature’s eye with a sickening squelch. It staggered, its legs buckling. “HOW DARE YOU?” the crab shrieked.

“YOU UGLY BASTARD!” Kaku roared, hurling rocks from the pouch under his arm, distracting the monster. His aim was true. Marionette regretted ever condescending to him.

Her vision swam, the edges blurring into darkness. The metallic scent of her own blood filled her nostrils. Her shoulder burned with excruciating pain.

Mustering her remaining strength, she gathered the rest of her bullets and clasped them in her palms. A desperate time, indeed.

She took a deep breath, aiming her clasped hands at the thrashing crustacean. Kaku leapt left and right, evading the heavy attack. Now, her eyes sharpened, locking onto the cracked faceplate as the flow of mana surged through her. The incantation left her lips. “Empyrion~Fire!”

The bullets in her palms dissolved into raw energy, erupting from her hands as a concentrated beam of infernal light.

BOOOOOM!

It shot directly into the crab’s face. The armour bubbled and melted, and the firebeam exited from the back of its head. Its massive pincer quivered mid-strike before falling lifelessly. Its colossal body crumbled.

Kaku threw a fist in the air in triumph. “That’s what I’m talking about!” He glanced at Marionette, his expression changing as she collapsed onto the sand, her blood pooling around her.

“Mari!” he scrambled to her side, his voice tight with panic. Her eyes were unfocused. “No, no, no!”

“It’s beautiful…” she drawled, pointing at the starry sky with her bloody hand. A coldness crept up her legs. I’m losing too much blood.

“Heal! You’re a magi, right? Just heal yourself!” Kaku shouted. Galah landed on her chest, looking at her with concern.

She looked at Kaku, then at Galah, a motherly smile on her lips — the same gentle smile she’d had for her son. “I’m not a healer,” she rasped, her words breathless. She chuckled at the thought. She regretted not learning Iasis now.

But perhaps… Perhaps she would get to be with her son soon.

“What do you mean?” Kaku’s shouts began to fade. “What about the Sol Bow…”

Her eyes felt heavy, but she forced them open one last time. A convulsion wracked her body. She could no longer feel her limbs. This must be what nothingness feels like.

The stars themselves seemed to move, slithering through the air like massive serpents. Their skin was translucent, filled with galaxies and nebulae — cosmic entities, mesmerising and otherworldly.

“I must be… hallucinating,” Marionette murmured as a strange warmth soothed her body.

“Oh, great Typhon,” Kaku’s prayer rang out in her ears.

Typhon? She paused at the thought, but the world didn't wait. Her body went light, floating as her surroundings dissolved into a hazy sky. She shot forward at an inconceivable speed and then fell, plunging into the water. The sensation was one of pure weightlessness, like being suspended in a dark sea. Strangely, she could breathe just fine.

She looked down at her body, which was now glowing with a green, healing light. It felt like Iasis. “What’s going on?” Her very thoughts resonated as if spoken aloud. “The underworld?” She cupped her lips, feeling that the pain had subsided.

“Do not be afraid.” The deep rumble echoed, the dark sea moved as the stars glittered, illuminating a cosmic leviathan that coiled and slithered before her. Its scales had a translucent, holographic glow, ever-changing and mesmerising. Four massive tentacles drifted in the cosmic current.

Two pairs of eyes focused on her from a long, protruding mouth filled with sharp teeth.

“I am the last remaining head of Typhon, the Primordial Beast, the all-father of all legendary beasts,” the creature revealed, its voice calm and authoritative.

“So you… You were real!” she gasped. “Kaku was right.”

“Indeed. Your heroism is commendable, mortal,” Typhon’s voice resonated like a deep hum. “There is hope for your mortal race after all.”

“Was this a test?” Marionette burst out. This telepathic communication was new to her.

“Perhaps… perhaps not,” Typhon replied, his tone vague and fleeting. “I am the last guardian of Apollo. You have indeed proven yourself on this journey. After amassing all your thoughts and actions, I believe I shall grant you an audience with his majesty.”

“The Sol Bow!” she choked out.

“Correct. It is his divine weapon, hidden within this private realm. It will be up to his majesty to decide what to do with you, mortal. I have fulfilled my end.” Typhon opened his mouth. A glowing orb, hundreds of metres in diameter, floated towards her.

“Thank you,” Marionette said, just before a flash of white consumed her.

Water gushed from her lungs as Marionette choked and coughed profusely. She found herself on her hands and knees in an ornate chamber with gold and obsidian tiles. Her gasps echoed through the grand hall.

It looked like a treasure room, grander than the one in her own palace. The sheer extravagance was breathtaking.

Panicked, Marionette scanned the room. Both sides were lined with incredible wealth, piles and piles of artefacts she had never seen before. But the most valuable of all was displayed on an isolated altar directly in front of her.

“The Sol Bow… I’ve found it!” Marionette murmured. She quickly walked over, water dripping from her body and soaking her tattered clothes.

A golden plate on the ceiling, fashioned with radial plates like sunrays, shone a single beam of light onto the bow, which floated statically in the air.

Marionette reached out, her fingers brushing softly against the intricate, glittering gold metal. The arch was perfectly symmetrical; even the string was a shimmering shade of gold.

A loud, resonating chime rang out as she took hold of the relic. It was perfection. Its balance was immaculate, even the master arc smith couldn’t replicate.

With grace, she parted her legs, shoulder squared up and raised the bow, her left hand on the grip and two fingers of her right touching the string.

“Ah, ah, ah!” a voice rang out.

She spun, aiming the bow at the source. A man’s figure casually redirected the weapon’s aim with his palm. A divine aroma wafted from his body like an aura of the summer sun itself.

“Marionette, is it?” his velvety voice spoke.

She sidestepped, lowering the bow. “Who are you?” Her cautious eyes scanned the dazzling man, draped in an ornate white robe with a golden laurel wreath on his blonde hair. His seductive eyes toyed with her, staring down from head to toe.

“How dare you question me, mortal? Half-naked and terribly moist,” the charmer spoke, his slender frame poised with divine grace.

Biting her lip, Marionette pulled her tattered clothes to cover her ample chest, only for the ruined fabric to slip back down. “So, you are the owner of this Sol Bow. You’re Apollo.”

“A good guess. You have been searching for me, have you not?” Apollo spoke, his tone all-knowing.

“Yes. We are facing the sixth apocalypse. We need your help!”

Apollo chuckled, resting both hands on his hips. “Mortals, mortals. Always asking for things. We usually smite the faithless, especially those as demanding as you.” His voice lilted in melody.

Her body stiffened, ready to shoot him if she had to. But in a blink, Apollo reappeared behind her. “Well, I’m not that kind of god anymore.”

“Huh?” She abruptly turned around. He’s too fast for me.

Apollo didn’t even look at her; he was busy inspecting a pile of treasures. “And Typhon did whisper something in my ear. About your… proof of heroism? A beautiful heroine.” He licked his lips and dragged over a treasure chest with a long, squeaking sound. It opened, revealing ornate attire inside.

“Dismiss the bow, would you?” he said, rummaging through the contents.

“Okay.” She did so, then summoned it again for good measure. “So this works just like any arc weapon.”

“Of course.”

“Amazing,” she mumbled and dismissed the bow for now.

“How does this look?” He picked up a flowing sheath dress and showed it to her. The fabric was a shimmering white and gold, but it was almost transparent. She’d feel even barer wearing the preposterous thing.

Embarrassed, Marionette declined sharply. “No. I’m not wearing that.”

“Suit yourself,” he shrugged, already giving up. “Does any of this work? You look absurd and barbaric… and hot.”

She ignored his magnetic remarks, but something else caught her eye. “Wait… Maybe there are more sensible options.” She browsed through the container. And there she found them: a cream-white chiton, an ornamented chest plate, and matching armour pieces. She laid them out, finding the right size for her large bust.

“Ah, a pteruges skirt,” he commented after she found the leather-strip skirt. It still exposed her thighs a bit, but it was the least vulgar item in Apollo’s collection.

“This will have to do,” she muttered.

“Finding your style, I see. A fierce gladiator, a sexy kind always flavoured by the gods,” he mocked with a raised fist. “Anyway, stay still. You’re still wet and you smell horrid,” he instructed, extending four fingers at her.

Suddenly, a soothing light beamed from above. The warmth of the summer sun, accompanied by the scent of dryness, surged over her. After a minute, she gasped in awe. Her body was completely dry, and her fair skin became smooth, no longer carrying a fishy odour. Instead, her skin carried a divine fragrance. It smelled of sparkling bergamot and sweet neroli blossom, which settled into the warm, elegant depth of cedarwood and a whisper of white musk.

“That’s nice of you. Thank you,” Marionette said, brushing out her hair. She undid her ponytail, and a wavy lock cascaded down her mid-back. She suddenly felt civilised.

“Finally, something I can work with. A grateful one,” he quipped, pretending to look at his treasures, picking up a golden goblet and fidgeting with it.

“Don’t look, okay?” she warned. Apollo simply waved a hand without looking back. He’s not a pervert, right? A thought crossed her mind.

“You’re probably thinking that I am, but I’m a very honourable god,” he spoke up, almost to himself, his divine voice echoing slightly.

“Fine.” She quickly stripped off her ravaged clothes, starting with her arc boots, then the ragged leather armour, and finally the inner tunic, leaving her bare. Her skin had become slightly tanned. She slid her arms through the chiton and pulled the two sides of the cloth to cover her chest. Next, she put on the skirt, struggling to pull it up over her hips. She huffed after a few tries. “This is too tight!” she groaned softly.

“That was Aphrodite’s. It seems yours are rivalling even the goddess’s own.”

Startled by his stare, she pulled hard, and the cloth stretched and slid right into place. Marionette exhaled softly, feeling ashamed for doing that in the presence of a god.

“You said you wouldn’t look!” she chided, pulling her hair out from the neckline.

“Well, I thought you were having difficulty breathing, so… My bad,” he smiled innocently.

“Artful,” she muttered and finished with the armour plate and other pieces.

While she was thoroughly inspecting her new attire, making sure all the parts were locked in place, Apollo watched her with his shimmering golden gaze. “The gods would be jealous, mortal. You look…” He paused dramatically. “Cute.”

“I’m not cute,” she argued, frowning. He was nothing like the histories said. She dismissed the thought; there were more pressing matters.

Wearing a serious expression, she began. “During the Divine Finale, the gods couldn’t destroy the Mad Titan. Instead, they sealed him away.”

“Your grasp of history is astounding, yes. That sounds about right,” he drawled, approaching her.

“Now, with the sixth apocalypse looming, his return is assured. We need to stop him,” she said, her voice taut with urgency.

“Really? We’re going to talk about all this boring stuff?” He hung his head, then his golden eyes locked onto hers with a big, alluring smirk.

It had no effect; she just froze in place.

“That usually works. You should be charmed,” Apollo mumbled, cupping his chin.

“You’re not my type,” Marionette said bluntly. “I’m married, with kids.” This wasn’t the first time she had rejected a man, and a deity would be no different.

“Very well.” Apollo cleared his throat. “So… I shall grant your request then. But first, tell me your name.” He closed one eye, and she had to look away from his sheer corniness.

“Marionette… Marionette Zel Celerius,” she announced, her voice echoing.

“Marionette. Like a beautiful, dancing puppet,” he nodded twice, pleased. “So… to counter the sixth apocalypse, we’re after the Champion of Gaia, aren’t we?” he surmised with his divine wit.

Her eyes nearly bulged at the mention. “What did you just say?” Marionette stepped forward. “The Champion of Gaia… he~he is dead,” she spoke, her voice trembling. My son is dead.

"Nah, don’t worry about that. She isn’t dead. She’s pretty much alive, yet…” He circled his finger at his temple, as if to say ‘mentally impaired.’

“A she? What are you even talking about?” Marionette frowned. The more she talked, the more confused she became.

Suddenly, Apollo lifted her into a bridal carry. His perfect white teeth flashed in a smile. “Spare me the wordplay. Hang on tight, I’ll get you to her!”

“Wait—” But before Marionette could utter another word, they both teleported away, leaving only a gentle air disturbance in the treasure chamber of the sun.