"Eh?!!"
The sudden warmth on her arm and the firm, unique touch made Ereshkigal turn, her face flushing crimson as Roy's face drew close.
"T-too close…"
Like a steaming engine, she puffed out white vapor, stammering incoherently, at a loss for words.
"N-now's not the time for this!!"
"???"
Roy's face darkened with exasperation, realizing this fool hadn't heard a word he said.
"Ugh, you lovesick idiot, Ereshkigal, retract those reckless Underworld blessings now!!"
Not just Roy, but Ishtar, her fellow Mesopotamian goddess and sister, understood how absurd Ereshkigal's actions were.
As the Underworld Goddess, allowing living beings into her domain and wielding power to punish the Beast of Calamity had already pushed her body to its limits. Diverting so much energy and mana to bless everyone was utterly reckless.
Her fragile, manifested body couldn't withstand it.
"But…"
Ereshkigal tried to protest, but the others reacted swiftly.
"Hmph, I don't need such reckless Underworld blessings."
Tezcatlipoca, a fellow Underworld god, raised an eyebrow upon sensing the blessings and promptly severed them.
"Oh my~ Onee-san doesn't need blessings either. I'm already the strongest~"
Quetzalcoatl likewise rejected the blessings.
"Strongest? You've got some nerve saying that."
"What? Want to fight me here, dead jaguar?"
"Ha, haven't learned your lesson from Mictlan?"
Ignoring the bickering Aztec rivals, Roy placed his hand gently on Ereshkigal's shoulder, gazing into her golden divine eyes with utmost seriousness. "Promise me, Ereshkigal, retract the Underworld blessings. Don't sacrifice yourself, and don't be reckless."
"Trust me. Even without the blessings, I'll defeat Tiamat."
"I… I understand!!"
Blushing even deeper under Roy's earnest plea, Ereshkigal raised Meslamtaea, recalling the blessings, instantly halving her strain.
"That's better… Thank you for your help and sacrifice, Ereshkigal."
"No need to thank me, my understanding one."
They shared a warm smile.
"Such youth" Merlin grinned mischievously nearby. "Big brother's reminded of those carefree days in Britain"
Ishtar: "…"
She was seething with jealousy!!
But her survival instincts warned that stirring trouble now would bring the Underworld's thunder down on her.
With restraint, Ishtar held back, avoiding a fatal mistake.
Sizzle sizzle sizzle!!
After the brief exchange, the Underworld's dim sky churned with relentless judgment thunder.
Countless blazing thunder spears, glowing red, spiraled in the air, accompanied by a resounding "Boom!!" from the darkness.
This was Ereshkigal, Mistress of the Underworld, delivering her final judgment on the Beast of Calamity, a terrifying strike凝聚 the Underworld's might.
"Go!!"
With her soft cry, immense mana erupted. More golden judgment spears pierced from the soil, stabbing Tiamat's massive dragon form, while the overhead thunder grew fiercer, pouring from the clouds. The searing heat and destructive force drew a pained wail from the Mother of Genesis,
"Aaaaaaaaaaaaa!!!"
"How's that? In my Underworld, no enemy is unbeatable, not even Tiamat, Enki, or Enlil. In my domain, they're mere gods. Under my and the Gallu Spirits' combined assault, they're just… just…"
Ereshkigal, brimming with confidence and seeking Roy's praise, suddenly faltered. Nearby, Tezcatlipoca, Quetzalcoatl, and Merlin's expressions shifted.
"What's this?"
No need for questions; their keen senses perceived the horror unfolding.
Ishtar and Ritsuka stared in disbelief at the impossible scene below.
"How?! After enduring the Underworld's punishment, she's still standing?!!"
Ishtar's incredulous shout echoed.
Ritsuka and Mash were equally shocked that Tiamat's dragon form could rise after Ereshkigal's full judgment.
Dr. Roman's hologram appeared.
"This…?! Tiamat's dragon form withstood the Underworld Goddess's full judgment, but it's not enough!!"
"Her Saint Graph is undergoing drastic changes. Without the Goddess of Fate, as long as her Mother of Genesis concept persists, she can't be killed in Mesopotamia! And this Underworld is part of Mesopotamia!"
"What?!"
Ritsuka and Mash's hearts sank to the Underworld's depths at Dr. Roman's words.
After such effort and sacrifice, their goal was to defeat Tiamat in this lifeless Underworld. Yet, despite losing so many allies, Tiamat rose, invading and assimilating the Underworld, an unacceptable outcome!
Without Roy's suppression, Tiamat summoned the Sea of Chaos, surging from the surrounding soil. The terrifying Primordial Sea manifested again in the Underworld.
"How?! The Sea of Chaos is eroding the Underworld… like it flooded Uruk and consumed the Ascenders, she's trying to devour the Underworld and seize the Underworld Goddess's authority!!"
"Aaaaaaaaaa!!!"
As if affirming Dr. Roman's despair, the piercing Song of Creation echoed through the Underworld, bringing real despair.
Tiamat's dragon form, battered by Roy, Ishtar, and Ereshkigal, erupted with mana. Blood from her wounds turned into surging black seawater, roaring to engulf the Underworld.
But that wasn't all…
Chaldea's instruments showed Tiamat's Saint Graph devouring the Underworld's divine power and authority, expanding and transforming her core further.
Her Beast-class dragon form wasn't her limit; her power and body were growing stronger!!
Ancient creation hymns recorded that the heavens, earth, and Underworld were forged from Tiamat's body.
The Underworld, closest to her essence, bore her lingering presence. By consuming it, she could perfect herself, nearing the ideal Mother of Genesis.
"It's… still growing!!"
Dr. Roman, barely believing his eyes, shouted in near-collapse.
"She's devouring the Underworld, usurping the Underworld Lord's power. What kind of mana reaction is this? Beast II's Saint Graph is inflating further!!"
"Her core surpasses the Age of Gods, reaching Jurassic, no, even beyond!! This isn't just divinity, it's undeniably a god's body!! She's returning to completeness, becoming this world's true Mother of Genesis!!!"
"What kind of monster is this?!!"
"She can evolve beyond her dragon form?!"
Tiamat's transformation stunned Roy.
He'd thought Beast II's form was her limit, but she could evolve further? Was this her primal regression state?
In moments, the Underworld was corroded by Tiamat's mana and black mud. Her dragon form shifted toward an older, more primal state to reach greater heights.
"Ugh… this feeling! She's reclaiming her power! Roy, we must stop her!!"
As the Underworld's linked goddess, Ereshkigal felt visceral pain as Tiamat tainted her domain.
It was as if her divine power and essence were being forcibly extracted.
After enduring briefly, she collapsed into Roy's arms, urging earnestly, "Stop the Mother of Genesis!! The heavens, earth, and Underworld were forged from her body. She's reclaiming her authority by tainting the Underworld. You must stop her."
"I understand. Rest now."
Roy nodded, channeling mana into Ereshkigal's body to ease her pain.
He gently lifted her, passing her to Ishtar.
"Take care of your sister. Leave the rest to me."
"Can you handle it alone?"
Ishtar asked worriedly, unable to see how he could defeat this monster.
"If not, I can take you and Ereshkigal to the Reverse Side of the World…"
Cutting off Ishtar's escape plan, Roy shook his head. "Nah. I'd win."
"I'll secure victory no matter what. That's my promise, and I'll keep it."
"Roy…"
Below, Tiamat advanced toward a more terrifying stage.
Her massive dragon form grew more grotesque. If Tezcatlipoca and Roy's theft of the Goddess of Fate forced her "Beast" form, she now reclaimed even greater, more primal power.
Her black dragon limbs morphed into sturdy beast legs, supporting her near-infinite weight, standing firm on the Underworld's earth. The Sea of Chaos accelerated its erosion, the abyss's mana growing more terrifying. Her shattered dragon wings regrew, symbolizing her restored flight.
Beast II, the Beast of Calamity, had reached a new stage, infinitely close to the Mother of Genesis's terrifying form.
All Tiamat's dragon form lacked was the Goddess of Fate's concept. Consuming Tiamat Lily would complete her, making her the perfect Mother of Genesis.
"AAAAAA, AAAAAAAA, LALALAAAA!!!"
With her body and concept's shift, her voice grew more horrifying, a mere roar unleashing devastating shockwaves, cracking the trembling Underworld earth.
Worse, Lahmu born from Tiamat's black mud spread, occupying the Underworld. Without Ereshkigal's Gallu Spirits, they were unstoppable, annihilating resistance in minutes. Ereshkigal, eroded by the Underworld's authority loss, could no longer fight.
Though she tried to rally in Ishtar's arms, Roy firmly refused.
The situation had surpassed Ereshkigal's control. Forcing her to fight wouldn't help, and Roy couldn't bear to let her in this state.
"Oh my~ Roy, you were quite dashing, but isn't it time to figure out how to handle this Beast of Calamity?"
"Tiamat's Saint Graph and mana reactions are over five times stronger. Without the Underworld Goddess's protection, I feel I could be torn apart any moment~"
Merlin approached, his flippant tone belying the dire situation.
And…
"She's clearly eager to devour the Goddess of Fate!!"
Regaining part of her power, Tiamat's dragon form targeted her final missing concept, the Goddess of Fate.
With her will, the Sea of Chaos surged into towering waves, intent on swallowing them all.
As the waves loomed, Roy shouted to Merlin, "Merlin, it's on you!"
"Got it."
Gripping his staff, Merlin's smile turned serious. He looked at Roy confidently, "Leave it to me, my friend. This level of Sea of Chaos is nothing-"
Before he could transform the black mud into petals, a piercing hum rang out.
Buzz buzz buzz!!
The black tidal wave was blocked by sudden golden portals. Countless golden shields shot out, halting the dark ocean before them.
"Hmph!! I leave for a moment, and you cause this mess. Without this king, the battlefield's hopeless!"
"King Gilgamesh?!!"
Ritsuka and Mash gaped at Gilgamesh above them.
"You're alive?!"
"Hahahahahaha!! How could this king fall? A mere self-destruction can't stop me!"
Gilgamesh laughed heartily, basking in Ritsuka's shock, relishing the effect.
"He did die~ This Gilgamesh isn't flesh and blood but a Heroic Spirit, a Servant's body."
Merlin casually revealed the truth, a petty jab at Gilgamesh for stealing his spotlight.
"Merlin…"
Gilgamesh's face soured, as if he'd swallowed a fly.
"Are you challenging this king's dignity?" He growled.
"No way, I'm not so rude~ Just filling in for Romani as commentator~" Merlin grinned, waving off the accusation.
"Damn you, I'll-"
As Gilgamesh snarled, ready to retort, Tiamat's dragon form roared again, drawing their attention.
"Aaaaaaaaaaaaa!!!"
Countless crimson beams shot forth.
"Dodge!!"
Facing rays that could disintegrate life, even Gilgamesh didn't dare tank them. They scattered, boosting their speed.
Seeing Tiamat's second phase, Gilgamesh pulled a golden microphone from his treasury, shouting at Roy, "Hey, you must've anticipated this, right? Pull out all your trump cards!"
Trump cards?
Roy raised an eyebrow at Gilgamesh's urging. He did have one final ace up his sleeve.
But that card was nowhere in sight, and he wasn't sure if it was even nearby.
Confirming Tiamat's dragon form had reached its limit and revealed her true face, Roy stopped stalling.
Leaping midair, he snatched the golden microphone from Gilgamesh, took a deep breath, and roared toward a corner of the Underworld, "Stop hiding, King Hassan! Come out and strike!!"
His voice, amplified by special mana and Noble Phantasm enhancement, echoed across the Underworld.
The legendary Old Man of the Mountain didn't respond.
But…
In an empty valley, mist suddenly spread.
Within the fog, a pair of pale blue flames flickered to life.
Dong dong dong!!
The toll of the evening bell resounded solemnly.
___
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