The Goddess of Demonic Beasts had actually learned of the king's death.
Could it be that this attack was aimed at destroying the king's body, severing any hope of Gilgamesh's resurrection?
This was serious.
Siduri's fingers clenched tightly around the clay tablet, her knuckles pale as her thoughts raced and her heart sank.
She exhaled slowly, steadied herself against the desk, then rose to face the commander of the Magical Beast army, her lips pressed into a faint line.
"You've razed several Sumerian city-states, using Enkidu's name… wearing his face."
"And you still expect me to believe such lies?"
Kingu chuckled softly, unconcerned, and offered her a calm assurance.
"Relax. I'm not like my mother—I don't harbor any deep hatred for humanity."
"As long as you know your place, I won't kill you."
As he spoke, the commander of the Magical Beasts strode leisurely into the royal court, studying the Sumerian-style sculptures and decorations with curiosity. An odd sense of familiarity kept surfacing in his mind.
Siduri lowered her gaze, absentmindedly wiping a lantern on the table. Her brows drew together, then loosened again, as if deep in inner conflict, weighing the truth of Kingu's words.
Unaware of how far he had wandered into enemy territory, Kingu walked right up to the throne. His fingertips brushed the carvings on the chair's backrest, and for a moment, his mind drifted.
He seemed to glimpse two figures—strange yet familiar—leaning against the throne, poring over clay tablets together, discussing how best to govern the land.
The sharp glint in his eyes gradually softened.
An illusion? How absurd.
Despite the disdain that flickered across his face, Kingu instinctively turned away, shifting his gaze elsewhere. He walked over to the balcony and looked out at the war-torn city.
But the view before him rippled like a disturbed reflection in water, and the figures walking side by side gradually came into focus.
Gentle laughter drifted to his ears as the two stood at the railing, cups in hand, gazing down at the flourishing kingdom they had built.
The green-haired beauty, his features slightly blurred, opened his arms wide, his eyes brimming with pride and fulfillment.
"Gil, look—this is our Uruk!"
"Human life may be fleeting, but it's magnificent, full of creativity. Even the ancient gods lacked such brilliance!"
"As long as you continue to rule with wisdom, humanity will someday stand shoulder to shoulder with the gods!"
At the railing, Gilgamesh paused mid-toast, then turned to the green-haired beauty at his side and gave a slight shake of his head.
"My friend, how could their feeble creations ever compare to the great deeds of the gods?"
"Humans are still too fragile, too short-lived."
But the green-haired beauty didn't agree.
"The gods… they have no heart. In my eyes, humans surpass them."
"Mystery will fade. Relying too much on divinely granted power, acting without restraint—sooner or later, it leads to ruin."
"Besides, the gods' glory is just a dying ember. Humanity's future is only beginning."
In the next moment, that sunlit figure eagerly picked up a clay tablet engraved with a map and pointed to the outer edges of human territory.
"Gil, tomorrow let's hunt the sea monster in the Persian Gulf and clear out the remaining magical beasts in the Cedar Forest."
"Together, let's give humanity a broader stage. Let's see what kind of beautiful world they'll create!"
A shadow crossed Gilgamesh's eyes. He swirled the wine in his cup, murmuring in a near whisper.
"My friend… do you think your creators haven't considered everything you just said?"
"Masters will never tolerate their slaves rising to stand as equals."
"Even a mere offense… is unacceptable."
Yet the Hero King turned to his green-haired friend and nodded sincerely, fully supporting the plan to expand their borders and subdue the Magical Beasts.
...
Scenes flickered one after another—two dear friends journeying across the land, pacifying all corners of the world, crafting a brilliant vision for a future human realm as they forged their path together.
But all that promise vanished when divine punishment fell.
In the pouring rain, King Gilgamesh cradled the friend who had withered away under the gods' curse. Regret gripped him as he bowed his head, his face hidden.
The once-proud king now stood hunched, his vigor dimmed.
"Gil…"
The green-haired beauty stared blankly at the vision before him, his expression distant and unfocused. He reached out instinctively, hoping to touch that trembling shoulder and offer comfort.
But the moment his fingertips stirred the illusion, a flash of alarm lit his emerald eyes.
At the same time, golden whirlpools flared around Kingu, and the Chains of Heaven coiled into view, buzzing with power.
"Whoosh!"
A surge of Ether erupted through the royal court, blasting with fierce wind as the illusions shattered like crumbling sand sculptures!
"Mental interference? I underestimated you."
"But you think you can sway me with the memories of this body? Ridiculous!"
Kingu's gaze sharpened as he stared coldly at Siduri standing behind the desk, his expression growing increasingly rigid.
"I've lost all patience. One last time—where is Gilgamesh's body?"
Siduri clutched the lantern tighter to her chest. The regret in her eyes faded as she stood firm, meeting the writhing Chains of Heaven encircling her. Calmly, she stared back at the green-haired beauty.
"I won't betray my people. And I won't let you disturb the king's rest. Give it up."
"You brought this on yourself!"
Kingu, already in turmoil, snapped. With a furious motion, he lashed the Chains of Heaven forward—its sharp, drill-like head aimed straight for Siduri's heart.
"Buzz!"
At the very last moment, the cage-shaped lantern in the Head Priestess's arms erupted with a cold blue light.
Instantly, a spectral figure with waist-length green hair and shrine maiden robes appeared before Siduri—it was clearly Shamhat.
As the sacred prostitute chanted divine words, the lacquer coating on the floor and stone pillars peeled away. Suppression spells layered throughout the palace ignited in rapid succession.
"Bang! Bang! Bang!"
But faced with a terrifying Divine Construct, this defense was far too weak. The drill tip pierced through seven layers of protective spells in mere seconds.
As the Chains of Heaven surged forward, the floor, pillars, and murals—everything bearing cuneiform runes—shattered and disintegrated like dust.
"Enkidu! Look at this face and tell me—why do you exist?"
"A lingering grudge that should have vanished long ago can't taint a heart as pure as yours!"
"I believe in you! I've always believed in you!"
Shamhat's ghostly form trembled and flickered, her composure completely gone. Facing the green-haired beauty who wore her same face, she screamed, voice cracking with desperation.
"Shut up!"
Kingu's sea of memories was suddenly engulfed by a storm. Pain surged through him like his soul was being torn apart, and he clutched his head, letting out a choked, guttural roar.
Yet even so, fragments of images continued to surface—merging, piecing themselves back together.
"The creator goddess Aruru!"
"Huwawa, the beast of the cedar forest who nurtured you!"
"Your dearest friend, the King of Heroes, Gilgamesh!"
"And me—Shamhat, the sacred prostitute!"
"The hunters who guided you outside Babylon, the girls you saved, Siduri, and the people of Uruk who still remember you!"
"This is your past!"
"You have to remember! Remember it!"
Shamhat, struggling to maintain the suppression spell, kept retreating until she was cornered in the last remaining part of the throne room.
Even with Siduri's support, the overwhelming gap in strength meant the Chains of Heaven's drill tip was now less than a foot away.
"You were created by the gods, shaped by human hands, and you will return to the earth."
"You are the Chains of Heaven who guided Gilgamesh! The breath of the stars that walks beside humanity!"
"The child I raised would never fall to such rootless hatred!"
"Shut up!"
With that hysterical scream, the tip of the drill shattered the final barrier.
"Pfft!"
A muffled sound echoed—like a bubble bursting.
And the frantic cries stopped. Instantly.
...
(40 Chapters Ahead)
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