"Ere, I hope you'll stand with humanity—share in the cheers of victory with me, and let flowers bloom across the Underworld!"
Samael extended his hand toward his former Master with a solemn expression, offering a heartfelt invitation.
But after all the emotional turmoil, this proud and pessimistic goddess had her own reservations.
Ereshkigal hesitated, her gaze flickering. A hint of unease crept onto her uplifted face.
"Humans can't defy fate. I'm worried…"
Gilgamesh, ever decisive, felt a wave of irritation and was about to make a snide remark—until he noticed Merlin silently raise a finger to his lips. The king's lips curled in amusement.
Oh? Not bad, you've actually won over even my elite.
Then his eyes fell on Ishtar—chained and stuffed into Ana's sleeve under the pretense of "protection"—and the smile in his eyes grew even more delighted.
A shepherd's sacrifice? Ha! That woman's really wrapped herself up in her own web. Well, I'll leave that mess to you.
Watching a farce like this was a fine way to pass the time.
Still… it could use a bit more fire.
The corners of Gilgamesh's eyes lifted as he plunged his right hand into the Gate of Babylon, rummaging through its contents with a gleam of mischief.
"Young man, you've earned great merit defending Uruk, and today you came to the Underworld to rescue this king in person. It's the perfect time to hand out your reward."
"What I'm giving you—you'll definitely need it."
A moment later, a large golden goblet, etched with intricate and arcane patterns, flew from Gilgamesh's hand and landed in Samael's.
The ancient serpent's eyes bulged. He immediately felt the weight of his Master's gaze pierce into his back like a dagger, and the cup in his hands suddenly felt scalding hot.
Gilgamesh was out of the picture now, and Ereshkigal was just a step away from tearing up Uruk's underground. The Holy Grail was right in front of them.
With just one more step, this goddess of the Underworld could become the true victor among the Three Goddess Alliance—and carry out her vision.
After all his efforts to set the mood, Samael now felt the tide shifting against him. The plan might unravel. He cursed inwardly.
Damn it! You thrill-seeking maniac, you really can't resist stirring the pot!
But Gilgamesh wasn't done yet—he kept fanning the flames.
"Well then, the Holy Grail is yours. Do whatever you want with it—I won't interfere."
"And since you're currently managing Uruk's affairs…"
"The dead have no say in the matters of the living. Whatever comes next—up to you."
You really think that highly of me? Wow, thanks a lot!
Samael glared in silent frustration, his teeth grinding audibly.
If it weren't for the need to calm Ereshkigal down, he'd have loved nothing more than to grab this smug bastard by the collar and toss him to Siduri. Let the high priestess "discuss" life's ideals with him for a while.
Ereshkigal shifted uneasily, her eyes fixed on the Holy Grail, voice brimming with hope.
"If you agree to hand over Uruk's Holy Grail to me, and we all retreat into the Underworld for a while, maybe we can wait out the disaster."
"Once a new era dawns, perhaps humanity will be able to survive on the surface again."
Samael tightened his grip on the Holy Grail and shook his head firmly.
"Ere, you know this—the Underworld is forbidden to the living. Without protective magecraft, only spirits can enter!"
"To abandon our homes, to extinguish the legacy of civilization, only to sit in the darkness and wait for our sanity to fade…"
"Is that even living?"
"Would such people still deserve to be called human?!"
Faced with his rising voice and unrelenting questions, Ereshkigal had no answer. But she still clung to her fears... and her pride.
"This is not humanity's future! And it's not the answer I sought for you!"
"The flowers of civilization may root themselves in the dark and rotting soil, but in the end, they must bloom proudly above ground, beneath the sun!"
"That is the kind of Sumerian civilization worthy of divine favor!"
"That is the kind of Sumerian people worthy of your protection!"
The ancient serpent seized her wrist with force, each word pounding away at her resolve.
"And besides, if I can't even protect the flowers on the surface..."
"Then what right do I have to defy fate and make flowers bloom in the Underworld? What right do I have to let you walk freely on the earth, basking in sunlight?"
The goddess froze, then lowered her head and murmured softly.
"I just… wanted to protect all of you in my own way…"
"Ere!"
Samael raised his voice, lifting his head to glare sharply down at his former Master.
"Kutha has become a dead land, the souls of its people trapped—but their hearts still beat! Their blood still flows!"
"Nippur and Babylon have fallen—go ask those who died within the Spear Cage. Did any of them regret it?!"
"Eridu and Ur are swallowed by dense forests, but when we arrived, the soldiers were still training. They hadn't given up!"
"Even if those places are gone, Uruk still stands—because I'm still here!"
Staring at his impassioned figure, Ereshkigal felt an unfamiliar shame, as though she were a child being scolded. She lowered her head in silence.
Samael struck his fist against his chest, his words like ringing steel.
"Ere, don't you get it yet?"
"Whether it's the forests, the Magical Beasts, or even death itself—none of the Three Goddesses have truly conquered us!"
"As long as the fire of Sumerian civilization still burns, humanity will endure with pride!"
...
A crisp metallic chime echoed through the silence. Ereshkigal raised her head slightly to see the Holy Grail, still filled with flower seeds, now pushed in front of her.
"Well then, Lady Goddess. I've made my choice—now it's your turn."
"Will you keep clinging to divine arrogance, slaughtering all of Uruk in the name of protection?"
"Or will you lower your head to the humans you love, stand with them under the sun, and fight to the very end?"
Pressed with no escape, Ereshkigal trembled inwardly. She bit her lip and remained silent for a long while before slowly reaching out toward the Grail.
The others sighed quietly and closed their eyes. Samael's heart sank.
But then, a soft clink broke the silence from within the Grail.
Colorful flower seeds trickled from between her fingers. The Grail remained untouched.
"Tell me... will the flowers that bloom in the Underworld be even more beautiful than those above?"
"They will. I promise."
Samael looked into her eyes, filled with hesitation and a trace of playfulness, and smiled.
She had given up the Grail and chosen the flowers. That meant his Master had chosen to fight—for the beauty of this world!
After all the struggle and tension, after putting himself on the line, he had finally convinced her. Samael collapsed to the ground in relief, completely drained.
Since the battle of the Absolute Demonic Front, he had been constantly on edge, wound tight like a spring. Not a single moment of rest.
Even for someone with an immortal body, this pace was impossible to sustain.
Now that things had settled, the ancient serpent weakly waved his hand, motioning for his onlooking companions to take over the rest—forming a pact with Ereshkigal and working out their next steps.
The gentle goddess, cheeks slightly flushed, was already moving to help Samael up, a strange emotion swirling in her heart.
Snake or man, all she longed for was a soul that could accept her.
The rest... didn't matter, not right now.
...
Then, a small figure suddenly wedged herself between them, rudely shoving Ereshkigal aside. She lifted Samael's left arm, revealing the crown-shaped seal, and shouted smugly.
"Hmph! So what if you got there first?! He's my shepherd priest!"
"What belongs to this goddess, you can look at—but you're not allowed to touch!"
The moment she finished, the relaxed smiles on Gilgamesh and Merlin's faces froze. They immediately slapped their hands to their foreheads, grabbed a confused Ana, and scrambled toward the edge of the area.
At the same time, Samael—now trapped between two goddesses—felt a chill run down his spine. In front of him, Ereshkigal's head dipped slightly, and a terrifying shadow spread out from around her.
Buzz...
In an instant, a dark red skull imbued with the [Seventeen Disasters] burst from the earth, a luminous spear radiating terrifying power sweeping outward with it.
Suspended midair, Ishtar was instantly locked in place by the ominous authority of death. Her face turned deathly pale.
Why—why did I provoke her again?! I'm doomed! Am I seriously going to die again?!