Chapter 9: Chapter 9

CHAPTER 9

What makes us incomprehensible

Hurrah.

I know – They were inside the Mothachadh of Misneachd , sitting on the grass. The Hunter needed that fresh air that ran through the pine needles and the softness of the short grass under his feet – We had contact with him for a few seconds, and... he resurrected someone.

I don't know how he has such power - Says the Hunter - Just -

It is Crìoch – A stoic-looking man, with long red hair and a short beard that covered his face; appears amidst the pine trees.

This is Brosnachadh , my chosen one – Said Misneachd .

A pleasure, Ìsleachadh .

Idem.

Who is Crìoch ? – Urras asks.

The leader of the Sgùrr , a clan of people submissive to the Feìn-Gràdh .

One of us gave powers to a human?! – Urras raises his wings, flying towards the edge of the sky that Mothachadh guarded.

There, he passes through the protection as if it did not exist. The chosen ones and the owners of the Mothachadhs did not need to worry about the protection, as they were welcomed by the gatekeeper himself.

What's wrong with giving powers to a human? - Asks the Hunter - He gave them to me.

What he gave you – Misneachd summons an Aimhreit from the ground – Is the gift of controlling an ant like that, he would never give you one of our strongest gifts, like resurrection.

And where did Urras go?

Possibly confront Fèin-Gràdh , Urras is the strongest among us, but Fèin-Gràdh is the most ambitious, and that is a danger.

The conversation is interrupted by the long mirage of cars following the incessant road. The harsh red sun that poured out boiling rays of blood, not even the countless dunes that increasingly took over the road, could even get their attention.

Dìoghaltas – Misneachd was agitated, his Mothachadh began to move away while a gale from inside took leaves from the pine tree.

Hey, calm down – Brosnachadh makes himself heard – Leave them alone, you need time to raise another army, don't you?

And he doesn't seem to care about this Síth – the Hunter observes.

Exactly, a few more hours and you can launch another attack.

In a few hours they will reach our mother – Urras says, mentally, while also observing the vehicles.

We have time, they will go far to die – Says the Hunter.

...

Sure.

...

{{ Ghaltas !}}

What it was?

{{We found a village a few miles away! It's appearing on the horizon to the right}}

Rising with its immense tent-like peaks and light wooden buildings, beneath low dunes and green lawns. Surrounded by a stream that cut the cluster of cloth and wood dwellings in half... It was pure water. Greenery spread through the village. Half-naked men and women walked around with handmade buckets and piles of fruit, taking turns entering a myriad of fruit trees in a vast space behind the village.

What the hell? Dìoghaltas was in disbelief.

At the entrance, a rocky shape of a Mothachadh 's head with its mouth open, forming a tunnel that led into the village. Flags spread like branches from the tents, a symbol of a white figure and the name SGÚRR on each of them.

It's a dead turtle – says Ghaoil .

But shouldn't there be so much life in the trees, and they're using wood and cloth? In great condition? - Neo asks .

Urras, what are we seeing? – Misneachd and the Hunter watched through the eyes of Urras , who was flying over the village.

He... is keeping Mothachadh alive

As?

He killed him himself, and uses his own energy to keep him alive, look, the entire village are his chosen ones.

What is that?! – Neo sees Urras cutting through the clouds towards the village.

He... – Dìoghaltas recognizes the figure, presses one of the scars on his chest that brought back memories – Give me the radio.

{{Listen up everyone, we have found the Sgúrr , we are fewer in number than before, but we have enough for one last battle, get ready! The Sin will win this war!}}

...

Our Lord – Crìoch , the amalgamation of human prayers in the name of the gods. As dark as night, age was useless to that being.

This story has been taken without authorization. Report any sightings.

His face showed no visible features, only clear eyes and a dry mouth with yellowish lips. His limbs stretched inhumanly to twice the size of a normal person. Hovering over the sacred floor of the temple built for his god – Urras approaches.

A quadruped, with a humanoid torso and limbs, including two extra arms. Huge in size, not as large as Urras . His face and body were covered in darkened plates, an armor from the past, used against human forces in the Great War – Finally.

Hurras lands.

Sand quickly covers the landing site, before dissipating and showing Fèin-Gràdh face to face with his brother and leader.

Hurrah, it's been a long time – He said in a booming voice.

What do you think you're doing?

Nothing worth a visit from you

You killed your Mothachadh .

No, they killed her – He opens his arms in a way that points to the entire village – and between the options of letting her die and keeping her alive, I could not fail as a guardian.

And why didn't you avenge your Mothachadh ?

For they fear me, they kill each other to satisfy a need I do not demand, one of them is bringing ruin to his own race.

Under your command.

Yes.

Urras looks around, crowds being made, all whispering divine things about him – Everyone here will die.

And why?

You heard it yourself

I cut my ways with you, or I wouldn't be able to build my cult.

And what – Urras steps forward, Fèin-Ghràd recognizes his brother's strength – would be the reason for his worship?

Simple. Humans believe in gods, fairy tales, they read about some entity in a book, they hear tales, they inherit stories from their ancestors and become obsessed with it, while at the same time, they kill the true god of this world, our mother, without knowing of her existence.

You know that such entities are not fairy tales.

But they can easily be forgotten, and this – He opens his four arms, looking at his creation that surrounds him – will be the beginning of our mother's religion, the only one that will be passed on to the world she will create. When they learn about it, they will never cut down another tree again, for every religion brings consequences to those who disobey. They fear only Uìne , but they must fear her too.

But the god of this religion is not our mother, it is you.

Because I have proven my existence, I have sacrificed my connection with our Mother to create something that will make the future civilization respect her, I have given gifts to mortals so that they will love me, then I deserve to be the image of this religion.

Fèin-Ghràd takes a step closer to Urras – You may question my methods, brother, but not my goal.

While the one your servant resurrected?

Gràin Dall, the woman who crossed paths with her champion and survived, seeks revenge. Her attempt is a waste, but she will destroy anyone who stands in her way, including the man who hunts my servants. Our nemesis.

Dioghaltas .

The conversation is interrupted by Díoghaltas ' enormous vehicle , crashing through the fragile wooden construction and shredding whoever was under its wheels into a pile of flesh and sand.

More cars appear, running over men and women. The rest of the Sin jump out of the cars, heavily armed and thirsty for blood. Their first attacks are unavoidable for the cultists who have no tools or weapons around them.

Help me, brother – Fèin-Ghràd runs towards one of the vehicles, throwing it into the air until it falls in the middle of the horizon where the eyes can no longer see. Dìoghaltas recognizes him instantly, his strength, appearance, and smell of Aimhreit .

You...

Gràin ... – A distant voice reaches Gràin .

What? – Gràin was accelerating under the tracks that the Sin vehicles left, when he looked in the rearview mirror and Crìoch was sitting on the seat, covering him in blood.

Our God is bleeding. Run. Our future is darkening, and so is yours.

Drug...

Urras and Fèin-Ghràd fought savagely against Dìoghaltas . Their combined strength barely matched the man's enormous strength. Their blows were batted away, and a stronger counterblow struck them.

They don't stand a chance – Brosnachadh watched in horror through the eyes of the other two Aimhreit at the overwhelming strength of that other monster.

I need to join them – Misneachd disappears into the grass. His location was only revealed by a shockwave seen moving quickly across the ground, resembling a torpedo.

What will we do? – Asks Brosnachadh .

I will go too – Eagallach responds to his master's wishes, opening his hatch as he prepares to depart.

I'll go along.

No – Says the Hunter.

I am strong, I am the chosen one of Misneachd , I can help.

I have a use for you.

...

When the sun was shining its darkest shade of blood, coming to rest beneath the sand hills on the horizon, it still illuminated what remained of a bloody battle.

The Sgúrr were no more. Uìne lavished her harvest upon them, illuminating the heavens with so many souls that they alone had already reaped thousands of their own race.

Amidst the blood, sand and destruction, only Dìoghaltas , Ghaoil , Imcheist and Neo were left standing.

On the other side, Fèin-Ghràd and Urras remained standing.

His wounds were quickly healed by Crìoch , hidden among the rubble of the church. Dìoghaltas was wounded, tired and weak.

You are the strongest human this world has ever seen – Fèin-Ghràd takes a step forward, smashing his fists together, causing a rumble to echo around. It had been long enough, the rumble had called a myriad of Aimhreits , who were watching from all directions – A shame that you turned against what I built, your death will be forgotten by humans and taken by the Uíne .

Ghaoil ... – Neo was terrified, she runs towards Ghaoil 's arms .

It's okay, we're going to get out of here, and we're going to find a good place to sleep.

As the rebuilt army arrives, the cries of hunger from several Aimhreits are interrupted by two engines arriving from different corners. One is Gràin , who nearly runs over Ghaoil and Neo , had they not swerved in time.

Another was the Hunter, who loads his cannon and fires...

In Urras.

The shot is quick as lightning, and Urras can do nothing but take the blow. Burning his chest and shattering it into pieces and embers. Crìoch screams in pain as he tries to heal Aimhreit after such a shot, a scream that attracts Imcheist .

hm – says Imcheist as he goes to check the noise.

You... traitor – Urras still had the strength to stand, but his wound was severe, a shot with the energy of his own race. When trying to turn off the Hunter's cannon, he was faced with another shot, destroying his arm and left wing, scattering them into the sky lit like fireflies.

I made some changes to it on the way here, it no longer responds to Aimhreits .

But he will answer that – Gràin climbs into the tank, wielding his crystal sword.

Is that... – Urras looks at Fèin-Ghràd – The heart of your Mothachadh ?!

I had no idea she had something like that – Fèin-Ghràd looked at the weapon, disbelieving of its existence – Unless... Crìoch .

Humans are good at one thing Fèin-Ghràd – Crìoch says - ... doing whatever it takes to stay on top of their religion.

She runs her sword through the tank, which begins to glow and soon explodes in a wave that travels across Eagallach . The cannon has gone out, the engine has gone silent.

Eagallach was defeated.

If I won't have it, no one will!

It's not possible – Ghaoil looks at Gràin 's image . Shocked to see her standing again.

Gràin ... – Dìoghaltas was furious, his wounds burning as he tightened his grip on the hammer.

You thought you could- AAAAH – Gràin falls to the ground, vomiting blood and screaming in incessant pain.

Imcheist comes back, covered in blood - Hhm Grmm – He shows Crìoch 's head and smiles.

Not bad – Dìoghaltas tightens his grip on his hammer – Now they can die.

A sand explosion erupts from beneath Imcheist , Misneachd has arrived.

Imcheist flies everywhere, as if he had stepped on a landmine.

The Aimhreits had the advantage.

The three leaders, surrounded by thousands of lesser ones. The last three human survivors gathered. The Hunter waited in his disabled tank. Gràin lay on the ground, still incapacitated by her injuries, slowly coming back to life.