"No! I won't allow it!"
Samael sprang forward, landing in front of the small figure with a low growl.
But the little purple-haired girl lifted her face, her expression glowing with nostalgia and joy.
"Hey, Samael, a city like Uruk... it used to be my dream."
"My sisters and I wouldn't have to keep running. We wouldn't be cursed anymore. We wouldn't have to live in fear of heroes coming to kill us."
"We could be treated kindly by humans—and return that kindness. We could just live like that, forever…"
"That's why I want to protect this city. Protect everyone!"
The ancient serpent averted his gaze from Ana's pleading face and shook his head firmly.
"Then start by protecting yourself!"
"Gorgon's divinity hasn't weakened. She's devoured so many lives and been strengthened so much—she may not be the real Goddess of Beginning, but she's at least on par with a major deity!"
"If you go, it'll be suicide!"
Ana rose on her tiptoes and gently stroked the mane on the Lion-Headed Storm Demon's neck.
"Samael, I know you're worried about me…"
"But everyone's done everything they can. There's no other way left…"
The young goddess turned back to look at the shattered Babylonia front line, her eyes passing over faces filled with fear and despair before landing on the faint silhouette of Uruk beyond the crack.
"I'm sorry, Samael. I'm the only one who can stop her…"
"If we wait for her next mana surge, the old lady at the flower shop, Sister Siduri, the uncle who gave me those wheat cakes… you, Merlin—everyone will die."
As she whispered, her purple hair fell forward, her smooth forehead resting against Samael's.
Ana hugged the ancient serpent's neck, closed her eyes, and murmured softly.
"Don't worry, this isn't about guilt or resentment."
"I just want to protect Uruk. Protect everyone…"
"Let me go. If I wait any longer, it'll be too late…"
When the small body slowly stood upright, the clarity and resolve in her purple eyes made even the mature-minded Samael unable to meet her gaze.
"Merlin, if I draw her away, can you hold Uruk?"
Just as Samael's thoughts were in turmoil, Ana turned to the nearly translucent white-haired Incubus behind her.
"Uh, well… I can try…"
Merlin glanced at the swarm of Magical Beasts steadily emerging from the darkness, his scalp tingling, eyes darting.
But in a flash, a pair of cold, serpent-like eyes raked across the plump parts of his body.
"Yes! Absolutely!"
"As long as the Goddess of Demonic Beasts is held off, defending the Babylonia front line won't be a problem!"
The white-haired Incubus nodded frantically, making a firm vow.
Only then did the ominous gaze behind Ana finally fade.
"All right then. I'll draw Gorgon away. I'm leaving this to you!"
Relieved, the young goddess clenched her pink fists and gave a small pump in the air. Then she pulled up her hood, turned toward the oncoming wave of Magical Beasts in the darkness, and spread her senses to search for Gorgon.
"Good thing you're not completely useless, you old liar. Gave me a straight answer for once—otherwise, heh…"
Samael circled Merlin with slow steps, letting out a faint hum.
"Don't forget your promise—protect Uruk! Even if it costs your life!"
"Do you have to make it sound so grim?"
Merlin's face stiffened, a bitter smile tugging at his lips.
"You think you're the only one risking everything? Old snake…"
The ancient serpent took a deep breath, then strode forward, leaving a low mutter behind.
"You stay here and hold the Babylonia front. Ana and I are going together."
The young goddess turned back in shock, biting her lip, about to protest.
But the mighty Lion-Headed Storm Demon reached out with a claw, lifted her by the shoulders, and placed her small frame on his back.
"Use that riding talent of yours. Together, we can hold out longer."
"Besides, how else are you going to slip through that horde of Magical Beasts without me?"
Samael cast a deep gaze into the darkness, grinned, and spoke with unshakable resolve. Then he carefully separated from the human forces and slipped into the shadows, waiting for the right moment.
At that moment, rustling sounds closed in—the swarm of Uridimmu, Mušḫuššu, the Three-Horned Lion-Dragon, the Soul-Eater Beast, and more came flooding toward them...
"The Magical Beasts are coming! The Magical Beasts are coming! Everyone, stay alert!"
"Form the hedgehog formation! Goddess of Demonic Beasts—heh, come and get us if you dare!"
Despite his heavy injuries, Leonidas still stood tall atop the wall. Even just standing caused his muscles to tremble under the strain, but he remained like an unyielding banner, reigniting the soldiers' fighting spirit.
"Sparta! Sparta! Sparta!"
Their frenzied cries drowned out the fear. The sense of unity, of relying on one another, gave the panicked people of Uruk an unexpected calm.
Even more astonishing, poetic chanting echoed around them as pale pink petals drifted through the air.
When the petals touched human skin, they transformed into warm currents that seeped in, drawing forth surging Mana and tempering their strength.
Beneath Leonidas, clusters of flowers bloomed inexplicably. The changes in him were even more dramatic—his wounds healed rapidly, and his divine power and blood seemed to boil with renewed vigor.
"Dreamlike Charisma!"
"Hero Creation!"
The nearly transparent Incubus sat cross-legged in a corner, leaning on his staff. As he looked up at the oncoming wave of Magical Beasts, he gave a wry smile and muttered,
"I really did all I could…"
"The rest is up to you."
...
At that moment, hidden in the shadows, the Lion-Headed Storm Demon saw that the battle between humans and Magical Beasts had begun, with chaos spreading fast. He tensed his limbs and burst forth from the rubble with explosive power.
Under the cover of darkness, a certain infiltrator slipped through gaps in the ranks, hobbling unevenly as he darted back into the wasteland.
As the battle blazed, the dull-witted Magical Beasts failed to notice that one of their high-ranking members was slipping away in reverse.
Steady… stay steady… just keep calm…
The infiltrator moved cautiously, avoiding contact with high-ranking Magical Beasts. Relying on his bloodline's scent, he navigated the swarm of lesser fodder with ease.
Finally, after a full quarter hour of trekking, the figure looming atop a low hill came into clear view.
So… huge!
Samael gazed in awe at the towering Goddess of Demonic Beasts, who stood over ten meters tall. His eyes lingered instinctively on a particular spot.
But just as the distance between them closed to less than ten meters, a pair of purple-red vertical pupils suddenly snapped open, sweeping the ancient serpent's position with a chilling glare.
"What is that?! Get out of my way!"
They were exposed!
Hundreds of serpents, transformed from her flowing purple-red hair, hissed and struck from all directions. Cold sweat ran down Samael's back.
With a mass of Magical Beasts behind him, there was no retreat. Gritting his teeth, the ancient serpent charged forward.
Boom! Boom! Boom!
One after another, the massive serpents controlled by the Goddess of Demonic Beasts lunged at Samael, tearing through earth and stone, raising clouds of dust.
The agile serpent twisted and dodged, weaving through the gaps between dozens of gaping snake jaws.
"You think you alone can stop my revenge?!"
Enraged, the Goddess of Demonic Beasts summoned a barrage of purple-red magecraft circles at the tips of the dozens of raised serpent heads behind her.
This is bad—she's about to unleash a map-wide blast!
Samael panicked. His four limbs moved so fast they seemed to blur.
But the closer he got, the sharper the serpents' senses became. Surrounded and cornered, the strange Magical Beast found himself in grave danger.
"Hiss!"
Just as a serpent circling behind prepared to strike, her abdomen stirred.
The young goddess, concealed below and relying on her exceptional riding skills, flipped upward onto Samael's back and cleaved through the twisting giant snake.
Blood rained down as the girl flung back her hood, revealing her true face. She glared at the Goddess of Demonic Beasts and shouted at the top of her lungs,
"Gorgon! Can't you even see your true form anymore?!"
...
(40 Chapters Ahead)
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