After Gilgamesh's final speech ended, everyone dispersed again.
However, only one person remained.
"It seems this is our last meeting, Gilgamesh."
Kingu looked at his not-so-familiar friend.
Gilgamesh was silent for a moment: "Hmm. After this, we won't meet again, Kingu."
Kingu's body belonged to Enkidu. Through the King's Magecraft Holy Grail, Enkidu's body buried in the Underworld was resurrected, giving birth to a new soul named Kingu.
And now, that soul had become Naoki's, along with the Chains of Heaven which also belonged to Naoki.
Previously, when discussing with Naoki about how to deal with Kingu, Gilgamesh had foreseen this situation. However, even though he could predict it, when actually meeting the real Kingu for the first time, his feelings were still unsettled.
"You stay behind; is there anything you want to say to this King?"
"No, just a subconscious reaction."
Kingu walked closer to Gilgamesh, and together, they looked down at Uruk.
He had no memories of Enkidu. He knew nothing about Gilgamesh and Enkidu's past experiences or their past feelings. Standing here was only due to his body's subconscious reaction.
Though his soul and body had become someone else's, deep within his body, instincts still held a part that belonged to Gilgamesh. That was the deepest trace left by two close friends in each other's hearts, unchangeable by any curse no matter how strong.
Seeing Kingu approaching, Gilgamesh recalled the past when Enkidu was still around. Long ago, after defeating the monster disturbing Uruk, the two also stood here side by side, watching Uruk celebrate victory below.
"AAAAAaaaaaaaaa—!"
Tiamat's cry echoed from afar.
Kingu gazed at his mother: "Truly extraordinary. Though I was born as Mother's child, humanity's enemy, now I must fight for humanity, against Mother."
"Feeling reluctant?"
"No, I don't have such thoughts now. After all, I am merely a weapon, a tool. Master's command is the principle and purpose of my actions."
Kingu's answer made Gilgamesh fall silent.
Again, an answer like this.
From Enkidu's birth until now, he always saw himself as just a tool, a weapon. The original Kingu might not have thought that way, but after being subdued by Naoki, his mindset must have been influenced.
Last time it was like this, this time too. The Chains of Heaven until the end never became human.
Ripples from the treasury shone beside Gilgamesh's hand. Taking a gem-shaped artifact from the treasury, Gilgamesh threw it to Kingu: "Though not comparable to the Holy Grail, this is also a fine core. Take it and use it. Consider it a farewell gift from this King to you."
This was their last meeting, and also Gilgamesh and Enkidu's last meeting. Therefore, he had to give a gift containing his feelings to the friend he was parting with.
[See you again]
[Safe travels]
—What is called feelings, perhaps something like that.
Looking at the gem in his hand, Kingu frowned: "I'm not your Enkidu. Is this okay?"
"Yes, this King certainly knows you're not him, but even if your inner self is different, your soul is different, your body remains the unique Chains of Heaven on this land."
Gilgamesh said seriously.
"If by your thinking, you are just a weapon, then you are the successor body to the weapon most trusted by this King. What's wrong with giving you one or two treasures? If this King's Holy Grail hadn't been given to the Holy Sword Bearer, this King would give it to you now too."
"I can't understand." Kingu shook his head. "But my body truly feels joy. So now, I will accept your kindness, Gilgamesh."
[King Gilgamesh! Tiamat has reached the designated location!]
Ritsuka's voice sounded in both their ears via Magecraft Rite.
"Then, farewell here, Gilgamesh. Goodbye."
Integrating the gem into his body, Kingu shot into the sky, flying at full speed toward Tiamat's direction.
Gazing at Kingu's figure far in the air, Gilgamesh let out a faint sigh.
"Saying foolish things, fool."
◆━⊰✧⊱━◆
Three kilometers south of Uruk.
Above the land already swallowed by the Chaos Tide.
Sitting on Vimana and staring at Tiamat who felt so close, Ritsuka, who could hardly breathe due to the pressure from the immense magical energy continuously emanating from Tiamat, finally truly felt what kind of enemy she would face.
Even though Tiamat did nothing but advance step by step, the Mana pressure already made his body stiff and hard to breathe.
(Department Head... fought against an enemy like this for two days?)
Ritsuka's hands and feet trembled uncontrollably. Her body instinctively felt fear.
The enemy in front was too strong; even she could see it. When imagining herself having to fight such an enemy, and being the key person to deliver the killing blow, Ritsuka couldn't hold back her nervous trembling.
[Take deep breaths. Though it won't reduce the fear, the muscles will relax]
The method once mentioned by Leonidas during the Northern Wall battle suddenly came to her mind.
"Huu... Haa..."
After taking deep breaths several times and calming her body, Ritsuka clenched both fists: "This is the final battle... Are you ready, Mash?"
"Yes. I will definitely exert all my abilities, Master."
Gripping her shield tightly, Mash answered firmly.
Beside them, Ishtar also flew closer: "My preparations are complete. Can start anytime, Fujimaru."
"Alright, then I entrust it to you, Ishtar!"
"OK—!"
Ishtar rode Maanna and flew high, pointing the golden spear in her hand to the sky.
"Fly, Maanna. Open the teleportation gate!"
*WUSSSH!*
As if a huge hole opened in the sky, a massive void suddenly appeared above Ishtar's head. A brilliant starry river scenery was projected from within, accompanied by unmatched golden radiance.
That was Venus, or more precisely, the concept of Venus.
"From the infinite sky! To the vast earth!"
The shining celestial body shrank, solidified, and compressed. The conceptual celestial body that dazzled finally turned into a light arrow, filling Maanna's ammunition space.
This was Ishtar's Full Power attack.
The Noble Phantasm manifesting the legend of Ishtar destroying the feared Mount Ebih peak, causing the entire mountain to die.
"Destroy the Underworld gate!"
Ishtar called the true name of her Noble Phantasm.
"—Angalta Kigalshe!"
The light arrow manifested from the conceptual celestial body directly fell like a meteor!
The Mana accumulated for nearly half a day poured out at this moment!
*BOOM!*
The attack from the sky shattered the earth!