"Lady Shamhat!"
Siduri's eyes reddened as she cried out in grief, staring at the spectral figure before her, pierced through the abdomen by the Chains of Heaven.
Before becoming Head Priestess and advisor to King Gilgamesh, Shamhat had been someone she deeply admired—an idol she aspired to emulate.
Back when Uruk was mired in darkness, it was Shamhat, with her exceptional knowledge and wisdom, who earned the trust of the tyrannical Hero King.
Even after receiving her appointment, she never abandoned the people. Through six days and seven nights of tireless effort, Shamhat had tamed Enkidu, the Chains of Heaven, and guided that beautiful being to restrain the king, ushering in Uruk's golden age.
In many ways, the relationship between Shamhat, Enkidu, and the once-tyrannical Gilgamesh mirrored that of Siduri, Merlin, and the wise king of today.
That's why Siduri had always strived to follow in her idol's footsteps, and the longer she served in court, the more her admiration for Shamhat grew.
Lately, with Samael and the others journeying to the underworld to retrieve the king's soul, the burden of managing all of Uruk fell to her—and it nearly broke her.
Yet the lantern left behind by the Shepherd Priest to purify the city's lingering deathly aura had brought an unexpected blessing.
From it, Shamhat had appeared, and with her wealth of knowledge and administrative wisdom, she helped Siduri survive the two most grueling days.
To receive her idol's approval—and sleep peacefully in her presence—had felt like a dream.
But now, with today's sudden turn, everything had collapsed.
For the first time, she understood the helplessness and sorrow King Gilgamesh must have felt watching Enkidu die.
"Why are you crying? I've been dead a long time!"
"You're more useful alive than I am!"
Shamhat shoved Siduri—still clutching the Soul Lantern—aside and snapped coldly.
Then, gripping the tip of the Chain that skewered her gut, she pulled at the links and forced herself forward.
Her ghostly form, riddled with spreading cracks, flickered unsteadily, on the verge of disintegration.
Kingu stood dazed, his hands trembling violently around the Chains of Heaven as he staggered back.
His emerald eyes filled with turmoil. Conflicting memories—naïve, content, sorrowful, joyful—surged through his mind, drowning the revenge he once held so tightly.
"Woman… you want to die? Stay back!"
Backed into the rubble with nowhere left to run, Kingu clutched his head with one hand, veins bulging at his temple, and roared like a wounded beast.
Is… this body worried about me?
You really are that same adorable little fool.
My child… let me walk with you to the end.
Murmuring softly, a faint smile curled on Shamhat's lips as she spread her arms, reaching toward the flinching green figure, as if to embrace him.
The now-empty Soul Lantern in Siduri's hands brought back the words Samael had inscribed on the clay tablet when he left it with her.
"Let's hope you never have to use this…"
The Head Priestess bit down hard, drawing blood from her lower lip.
I can't let Lady Shamhat's sacrifice be in vain!
I have to activate the royal chamber's defense spells—now!
I must protect the king's body until everyone returns!
Seeing Kingu unravel beneath the flood of emotion and memory, Siduri took a deep breath, then scrambled out from the last intact corner of the Divine Tower, staggering toward the royal bedchamber—the only place left she could still defend.
But the moment she moved, a glint of icy clarity returned to Kingu's eyes.
His expression hardened. Forcing his uncooperative body to obey, he commanded the Chains of Heaven once more.
A golden halo erupted.
The reformed drill-tipped chains exploded forward with a shriek, tearing through the air toward Siduri's limbs.
"Clang! Clang!"
At the last moment, a surge of Ether exploded from the royal bedchamber, and two bullet-like projectiles shot out, blasting away the Chains of Heaven just before they could strike.
"Who gave you permission to set foot on my land with that face?"
"Who allowed you to lay a hand on my priestess?"
"Mongrel!"
The voice rang out like a thunderstorm rolling across the plains, flattening grass, sending beasts fleeing in every direction.
Gilgamesh had awakened!
Damn it!
And Kutha's forces were back too! What the hell was Ereshkigal doing?!
Kingu's expression shifted drastically as he sensed the succession of powerful presences. He cursed inwardly, but didn't hesitate—immediately pulling back, transforming into a stream of golden light, and fleeing past the northern wall.
Out on the wasteland, the tide-like horde of Magical Beasts heard a piercing whistle. One after another, they turned and retreated toward the Cedar Forest.
"Hmph! Consider yourselves lucky this time!"
Gorgon, who had been using her serpent hair to entrap both herself and Quetzalcoatl, cast a resentful glance at Uruk before letting out a low growl and vanishing into the ground.
Finally... we held out.
Quetzalcoatl, seated cross-legged on the ground, rose with a relieved breath—but the shadow in her eyes hadn't cleared.
This time? That means... they still have a trump card we don't know about.
But what could it be?
"Bang!"
Just as Kukulkan was rubbing her chin in thought, a heavy thud came from behind her. A feline silhouette crept closer, sly and silent.
"Well, Kuku, your divinity's dropped below half now, hasn't it?"
"What? You want to test it?"
The goddess collected herself and turned gracefully, a warm smile spreading across her face. She laced her fingers together, cracking each joint with a crisp snap that made one's spine tingle.
The Jaguar Warrior, clad in her absurd puppet outfit and full of sketchy intentions, felt her hair stand on end under that gentle gaze.
She instantly shivered, dropped her grappling claws, and scampered over with an obsequious grin, helping the Mayan goddess to her feet while shaking her head frantically.
"Of course not! I was just worried about you, Kuku!"
Seeing those emerald eyes narrowing with scrutiny, the Jaguar Warrior swore on the spot.
"What evil could a cat possibly be thinking? You've got to believe me!"
"I believe you…"
Quetzalcoatl gave a soft smile and laid her palm atop the Jaguar Warrior's head, gently patting it.
Thinking she was in the clear, the Jaguar Warrior started to relax—until a low, devilish whisper crept into her ear.
"…Because if you dare try anything, even if I don't lift a finger, someone else will kill you."
...
While the two bickered on the battlefield, four figures descended upon the ruins of the royal palace's Divine Tower.
"Hurry! Look at Lady Shamhat!"
No sooner had Samael leapt down from the Quetzalcoatlus than the tearful Head Priestess Siduri dragged him toward the nearly extinguished flame of blue soul-light.
Teacher!
The ancient serpent's heart clenched. He rushed to snatch the Soul Lantern from her arms, chanting sacred words to activate the runes and gather the soul's flickering light. Then he looked up at Merlin, who had just arrived.
But after a few moments of observation, the Grand Magus shook his head silently, powerless to help.
The fragile glow pulsed faintly—on the verge of fading forever.
Without hesitation, Samael sprang onto the back of the Quetzalcoatlus.
"To the underworld! Find Ere!"
"Merlin, get me there!"
The white-haired Incubus gave a firm nod. With a sweep of his staff, waves of pink ripples spread outward—Samael and the winged beast vanishing among the fluttering petals.