The Phantom Queen’s Champion - Part 1

Galen's head was in a whirlwind. Avatar? Champion? What does that even mean? He had always thought that death was followed by a whole lot of nothing. Will this be his punishment? To fight for eternity?

Looking up, he observed the woman more closely. She was standing at the window confidently, her raven-black hair in perpetual motion. But her face told a different story. She looked worried. She must have truly needed him. Her piercing emerald eyes revealed just the slightest hint of vulnerability.

"I don't know what's going on," Galen said as he rose from his seat and looked the woman directly in the eyes. "But if you need me to fight, I'll do it. That's the only thing I'm good at." Not that it had worked out too well for him the last time.

The woman nodded, and her composed, noble expression returned. She opened her mouth to reply, but Galen raised a hand, cutting her off.

"I've got one condition."

Her eyes flared, and for a moment. "This is not the time nor place for your mortal whims," she said, gesturing toward the murky landscape outside the cockpit window. Two colossal forms loomed closer. "Our enemies approach. We have little time."

The fear in his gut was overcome by a defiance that had served him well in countless battles. "If you want my help, then tell me who you are. No cryptic nonsense, no dodging. Who. Are. You?"

Am I not dead already? Why should I care about the dangers of this place?

"I thought you would recognize me." She tilted her head, her expression was a blend of confusion and irritation "It must have been too long." She turned to look at the enemy, then, with a sigh of acceptance, she turned to face him fully, spreading her arms wide.

The faint emerald light in the cockpit flared, the carvings on the walls glowing brighter as a fog coiled around her feet like smoke. It rose quickly, swirling with an otherworldly energy that seemed to vibrate in the very air.

"Witness me, mortal," she said, her voice full of power. It had a force that resonated in Galen's bones. "I am the Queen of Crows, goddess of war, companion of the brave."

The fog thickened, spiraling upward and pooling around her outstretched hands. Her tattoos flared with a green fire, glowing like molten metal beneath her pale skin.

"My name is Morrigan, the Phantom Queen."

Morrigan? Like the Celtic goddess? Galen knew of a figure of myth called Morrigan, but his knowledge stopped there. Could she really be a god?

"How is that possible?" he asked, unwilling to believe her.

"I have fulfilled your conditions. Now, you'll fulfill mine!"

She stepped forward, her presence dominating over him despite her slight frame. "Swear fealty to me, mortal. Become my champion. Protect me, fight for me. That is why I brought you here." She held out her hand.

Galen wondered what that could mean. Yet beneath the pressure, there was a flicker of something else... curiosity. Despite the absurdity of it all, a small part of him wanted to know what would happen next. What this strange, impossible path might hold.

"I accept your offer," he said.

He reached out, placing his hand in hers. Her fingers were cold, yet the moment they touched, the emerald glow from her tattoos came alive, snaking up his arm like living fire. The light moved swiftly, encasing him.

When the light finally dimmed, Morrigan stood before him, her expression unreadable. "Rise," she said. "You are now the avatar of Morrigan."

Her body began fading away, dissolving into the same swirling mist that had summoned her. Galen could only hear her voice in his mind.

"Now, defeat my enemies, Chulainn!"

Chulainn? Who is that?

"I'm not..."

He had no time to answer, as the cockpit around him roared to life. Symbols that had been faint before now burned, their green light flooding the space. The hum deepened, vibrating in his chest, and the carvings along the console began to shift and move, as if the machine were waking from a deep slumber.

Green energy from the console crawled towards his fingers, giving a tingling sensation. Then it moved up his arms, until it encompassed his entire body. His sight was replaced by flashes of visions, battlefields, ancient warriors, and crows circling in the air. He heard Morrigan's voice in his mind.

"I shall lend you my strength, mortal. We are now bound, as master and avatar."

Galen lifted his hands, and the massive arms of the mech shifted slightly. He raised his right arm, and the mech followed; they curled their hands into a fist in unison. A surge of adrenaline coursed through him. For the first time, he didn't feel like he was piloting the mech. The realization sent a chill down his spine, he wasn't just controlling the machine; he had become part of it. Galen now saw through both his own eyes and the senses of his living armor.

[The Effigy called Abyssal Warden has awoken.]

The Abyssal Warden slowly rose from the murky water. It was a blend of elegance and menace. Its bone-white armor was segmented in a way that allowed fluidity, yet also suggested strength. Emerald green symbols, the color of Morrigan, ran along its plating, pulsing faintly. Its limbs were long, with fingers that ended in claws. The world came alive in ways Galen had never experienced. He could feel the cold water clinging to the Warden's legs, the low grumble of its damaged systems. It was as though the machine wasn't separate from him anymore. It was him, and he was it.

[Integrity: 34%]

[Arcyn Reserve: 11%^]

Galen flexed his hands experimentally, watching the Warden mimic his movements with a fluidity. He lifted an arm and the Warden's massive clawed hand moved with it.

The enemies halted their advance, maybe expecting the machine to be dormant. The Abyssal Warden turned its head towards the two mechs who were now waiting, weapons ready. The Abyssal Warden's piercing, glowing emerald eyes analyzed them.

<[Vassal Tier Effigies detected.]

[Effigy #1]

Tier: Vassal

Class: Sentinel

[Effigy #2]

Tier: Vassal

Class: Striker>

Galen didn't understand most of these words. Are they stronger? He focused his mind on getting a grasp on the controls.

Status report.

<[Effigy - Abyssal Warden]

Tier: Champion

Class: Vanguard

Integrity: 34%

Arcyn: 13%^

Weapons: None

Abilities: Night Shroud lvl 1, Emerald Veil lvl 1, Wings of Oblivion lvl 1

Passive abilities: Arcyn Reconstitution lvl 1>

No weapons, just abilities. I'll have to make them count. Let's see what I can do.

The bog was quiet, only the faint sound of nearby creatures could be heard. The Abyssal Warden stood in the middle of the clearing, motionless, feet emerged in water, keeping an eye on the two other mechs.

The two effigies took a second to contemplate, then broke formation and began moving to each side of the Abyssal Warden. The Sentinel Effigy attacked first, the one with the great-sword, its heavy steps sending ripples through the murky water. It was moving faster than it looked. Its armor was obviously made to look like a medieval knight. On its shoulder was a golden lion head insignia. The Sentinel raised its weapon high, swinging it downward in an arc. The Abyssal Warden sidestepped effortlessly. Galen was surprised by the smoothness of its motion. The sword smashed into the bog with a thunderous splash, spraying the Warden's armor with mud.

Before it had a chance to recover, the Abyssal Warden slashed at it with its clawed hand. The Sentinel lifted its sword to block the strike, but it was just a moment too late. The claws ripped into its arm with a fluid motion, breaking away armor pieces. The damage exposed the frame under the armor; it seemed to be made from a similar material to what the Warden was made of.

Rapid footsteps came from behind; the Striker closed in with his poleaxe. It was much faster than the Sentinel. It jumped into the air, and slashed at the Abyssal Warden with a wide arc.

[Emerald Veil]

The Warden raised its arms, and formed a shimmering barrier. The poleaxe struck the shield, sending sparks of energy flying through the air. The barrier held, staggering the attacker.

Lets see what else I can do.

[Wings of Oblivion]

[Wings of Oblivion could not be activated due to insufficient Arcyn.]

[Arcyn Reserve: 6%^]

It seems that I need this Arcyn thing to use my abilities. Without it, I'm as good as dead. Galen was in full combat trance, his hand-to-hand training kicking in. He quickly analyzed the posture of the Striker, and moved in to attack.

The Striker began a thrust towards the Abyssal Warden; Galen, however, anticipated it, and with swift movement lunged by the extended poleaxe. If these Effigies were anything like the mechs he had fought before, then their cores should have been in their torsos. The Abyssal Warden extended its arm, shaping its claws into a spear and pierced the Striker's chest in one clean motion..

The Striker's lights went out, and it stayed motionless in the position it was struck in. Galen retrieved the Warden's arm. He noticed that it had red patches on it. Blood. So there are pilots in those too. Just like me.

"Chulainn, why aren't you using the Spear of Mortal Death?" Morrigan's Morrigan's voice echoed in his head.

The what? Is that something I'm supposed to have? He didn't have time to answer as the Sentinel was already on him. With a guttural, mechanical roar coming from the Effigy, it began a brutal swing at the Warden. Galen sidestepped once again. Their attacks were too predictable, almost sluggish.

However, the Sentinel now saw him do it twice, and it was ready. In the middle of his weapon's arc, it changed the grip of its sword, and with the pommel, struck at the Abyssal Warden. Galen was too slow to react, and the hit connected with his head. The blow sent a sharp jolt through Galen's skull, blurring his vision for a split second.

"Why isn't it destroyed yet?"

You can come and try to do it yourself. Galen was frustrated. He was thrown into a fight minutes after dying, and some random woman was even questioning him on his performance.

"Maybe because I'm not this Chulainn you keep calling me?" His voice cracked with anger. He wasn't a hero or a warrior, just someone trying to survive in this nightmare.

Silence fell on the cockpit. Outside, the clash of the Effigies echoed across the bog, filling the silence inside the cockpit.

Morrigan bellowed in his head.

"Then who the hell are you?"