"Blitz!"
With a sound like an electric discharge, the tricolor Sword of the War God in Altera's hand suddenly swept up, pointing toward Ereshkigal.
At the same time, waves of Destruction began to radiate from Altera's body, making the entire Underworld tremble repeatedly as if it were quaking in fear.
This scene made Ereshkigal, who had narrowly evaded the previous strike, feel her heart tighten sharply, and caused Ishtar—hiding in Rozen's clothes—to mutter monster under her breath.
Because the waves of Destruction spilling out from Altera's body were already affecting the very existence of the Underworld itself.
The so-called Destruction was not some arbitrary energy, but rather Altera's innate Anti-Civilization, Anti-World special-attack capability—nothing else.
With such an ability, Altera's very power was designed for the sole purpose of annihilating civilizations and destroying worlds.
And the Underworld was not merely a realm of the dead—it was also a kingdom constructed by a god, a civilization belonging exclusively to the spirits of the dead.
In this context, Altera's Destruction was the perfect counter to the Underworld. If her power were as strong as it had been in the past, then even that single blow just now could have been enough to wipe out the entire Underworld.
Under such circumstances, how could goddesses as orthodox as Ishtar and Ereshkigal not tremble?
Especially Ereshkigal, whose expression had never been so grave.
"Are you going to strike down us gods again, Sefar!?"
Ereshkigal shouted the challenge loudly.
Sefar.
Apart from Gilgamesh, she was now the second person to call Altera by that name.
Only this time, Altera did not waver as she had before—or rather, she had already steeled herself.
She had no choice.
"No matter what, from the moment I forged a contract with this human, I had already decided—this avatar would be his to command."
Altera spoke in her usual cold tone, yet it carried an undetectable undercurrent of sorrow.
"So, whatever happens—in this dream, his enemies are my enemies."
With that, Altera raised the Sword of the War God high, and the bands of destructive light erupted again, rushing toward the sky with a deafening roar.
Under these destructive lights, the Underworld trembled even more violently.
Seeing this, Ereshkigal's shock and fury grew.
"Underworld! Lend me your power!"
In her furious cry, the ground of the Underworld flared with red light.
In that instant, Ereshkigal's aura swelled to astonishing levels, and scarlet lightning bolts surged up around her body.
As the pillar supporting the Underworld and its ruler, this was Ereshkigal's divine authority.
Destined to rule the Underworld until the very end, Ereshkigal was essentially the Underworld itself, and thus its protected queen.
Therefore, she could easily use the laws of the Underworld to punish spirits, Heroic Spirits, and even gods—rendering them powerless—and could also draw on the Underworld's power to strengthen herself and her allies.
Now, faced with the most terrifying of enemies, Ereshkigal could no longer hold back.
In response, Altera made the simplest of moves—
She swung her sword.
Boom!
With a downward sweep, the bands of destructive light condensed into a single blade-like beam, the Anti-Civilization and Anti-World special attack slashing toward Ereshkigal.
Where the blade passed, not only was the atmosphere obliterated, but even the cold winter and miasma emanating from Ereshkigal's divine death authority were erased completely—as though they had never existed.
Under the slice of that blade, the entire Underworld shook more violently, as if wailing in pain.
If this strike were allowed to rampage unchecked, the Underworld might truly be reduced to a ruined cavern.
"Don't think you can destroy this realm of the dead, Sefar!"
Ereshkigal shouted, raising her spear of light to meet the oncoming beam. She neither dodged nor retreated—she chose to resist.
Thud!
The beam struck hard against her raised spear, producing a resounding crash.
"Haaaaaaahhhhhhh…!"
Ereshkigal roared with all her might as she withstood the destructive light.
Splurt!
Energy splashed from the beam, tearing apart the skull and shoulder bones of the giant skeletal warrior beside her.
Crack!
Shattering sounds rang out from her spear of light.
"That idiot!"
Ishtar couldn't help but burst out from Rozen's clothing.
Even Rozen's face tightened, his heart sinking.
There was no denying it—Ereshkigal's choice to take the destructive beam head-on was utterly foolish.
Even if Altera's strength was far less than it had been in the past, she was still a Servant with a Grand-level Saint Graph.
When wielding her Anti-Civilization and Anti-World abilities, neither in terms of sheer power nor compatibility could Ereshkigal hope to match her.
After all, Ereshkigal's own divinity and authority were only of the middle tier. Against this force that could slice even the Underworld itself, how could she hope to block it?
And yet—Ereshkigal chose to do so.
Because she could not stand by while the Underworld was harmed.
Because she had to show her resolve.
Born as the goddess of the Underworld, Ereshkigal had no choice but to take this blow.
Otherwise—
"How else could I protect this world!?"
Ereshkigal roared, and all the red lightning around her body surged into the shattered spear of light. The weapon flashed, swelled, and transformed into a crimson spear of lightning, brimming with overwhelming power.
"Nammu Abzu Gugalanna!"
At her cry, the crimson spear exploded with lightning, striking forward with unstoppable might.
That thrust shattered the beam of destruction.
"Haaaaahhhhhh!"
Before everyone's astonished eyes, Ereshkigal—her entire body cracked and breaking apart—charged with red lightning toward Altera.
This sight changed Altera's expression. Rozen's too.
In this moment, Rozen felt only admiration for Ereshkigal.
To uphold her mission and duty, this goddess had broken through a power that even the gods feared, displaying such unshakable resolve.
In that case—
"Then meet this goddess with your full strength, Altera!"
Rozen stretched out his hand, gathering all of his mana and pouring it into Altera.
Magnificent mana erupted from Altera's body.
Clang!
In her hands, the tricolor Sword of the War God shone with rainbow light.
"Rest assured, I will not take your life—but I will destroy your civilization."
Altera raised the blazing Sword of the War God, aiming it at Ereshkigal.
Rainbow-like mana spiraled along the blade.
"Photon Ray!"
Altera invoked her Noble Phantasm, transforming into a rainbow-colored spiral that shot toward Ereshkigal.
The rainbow spiral and crimson lightning met head-on.
——!
In the Underworld, with a soundless tremor, the entire world was swallowed in white light.