"Also, I just asked Kukulkan and Ishtar about the timing."
"They briefly scouted Mount Ebih and Eridu. Factoring in travel time, it'll take at least three days!"
Merlin, holding his staff, stepped up to the sand table and added,
"Uruk has just come out of a major battle. The inner and outer walls need time to be repaired."
"And besides, I've only just been revived..."
Gilgamesh frowned slightly. His pride wouldn't allow the King of Heroes to admit his current weakness. But everyone understood and tactfully moved past the topic.
After a brief discussion, Samael, as usual, summarized the plan.
"All right. Starting tomorrow, we'll set aside three days for preparation—get everything in order!"
"On the fourth day, all forces will gather in Uruk. Then we split into two groups. One will use the terrain to lure out the Magical Beasts from the Cedar Forest and engage them head-on."
"The elite troops will break straight into the Cedar Forest and launch a surprise attack on the Blood Fort!"
"Even if she really is laying eggs there, we can't let Gorgon get her way!"
You're the one laying eggs!
Ana, accidentally provoked, blushed and muttered with a pout, baring her tiny, gleaming fangs.
Everyone listening to the plan nodded naturally, instinctively brushing aside the awkward outburst. The ancient serpent quickly realized his slip and turned to Gilgamesh.
"My King, please issue the detailed orders."
But from the throne, Gilgamesh lifted his gaze and scoffed softly.
"Say what you need to say, and spare me the rambling!"
"Let me be clear—Merlin's Clairvoyance is currently out of commission due to some unknown reason."
"Right now, you know more about the situation and battlefield than I do."
"Besides, back in the Underworld, I already gave you the authority to act on behalf of Uruk. That permission still stands!"
Hearing such trust and openness from the wise king, Samael set aside his reservations and began outlining his strategy.
"First, about Uruk."
"I recommend that during the three days Kukulkan and Ishtar are away, Ana and Miss Jaguar Warrior remain stationed at the northern wall. They should stop advancing into the Cedar Forest."
"Merlin, guard the Divine Tower in the royal palace and wait until Your Majesty has recovered. No rash moves before then."
"Leonidas should make use of the Quetzalcoatlus in his control to accelerate troop transport from Ur, Kutha, Eridu, and other territories under our command. We need to drill them fast and turn them into effective forces!"
"Now that Kukulkan has made her stance clear and the Plague of Death has been cleansed from the land, it would be wasteful not to use the young and able-bodied men scattered across the region."
"Our forces are severely outmatched. Every bit of reinforcement increases our odds."
"This isn't some one-man show—it's a battle for the survival of all Sumerians!"
The ancient serpent spoke sincerely, trying to cover every key point.
Where he left off, Head Priestess Siduri stepped in to add,
"If we start conscripting young men from every region, it might spark panic. They may not be willing to risk their lives for Uruk."
Ana clenched her little fists and blinked her pure eyes before gathering her courage.
"If they don't want to be separated, why not gather everyone together? I'm sure they'll come to love Uruk!"
"That's the best option. The king already anticipated a drawn-out war and the need to shelter refugees. Uruk's had multiple expansions for exactly this reason."
Siduri gently stroked the head of the purple-haired girl and nodded with a warm smile. She then smoothly refined the child's idea.
"Let the Sacrificial Grounds and the priestesses reach out to the various city-states and ask for their input."
"For the women, elderly, and children willing to join Uruk, we'll quickly organize escorts to protect them on their way here."
"If some refuse to leave their homeland, we won't force them—but all we can do is wish them survival."
"However, the majority of young men, along with supplies and equipment, must be transferred to the front lines in Uruk as soon as possible!"
After days of governance, the Head Priestess retained her former kindness and gentleness, now tempered with the resolve born from confronting harsh realities.
Seeing her suggestion accepted, Ana's face flushed with excitement. Her eyes sparkled with a sense of pride and joy.
"I only have a little over a thousand Quetzalcoatlus at my disposal. Managing such a heavy transport load while also covering Uruk's aerial defense is, frankly, a bit difficult."
Leaning against a stone pillar, Kukulkan rubbed her chin thoughtfully, frowning after a moment of silence.
"Me, me, me! As long as I have enough materials, I can summon my jungle buddies to help! The great Jaguar Warrior is the best courier around!"
Excited by the heated discussion, Jaguar Warrior raised her paw like a pet spotting a teaser wand or a laser pointer, volunteering energetically to show off her usefulness.
Everyone suddenly recalled that this Divine Spirit, the Jaguar Warrior, could summon a large number of familiars based on Mayan beliefs about jaguar warriors. What's more, she had often taken on "corpse delivery" jobs while working under Kukulkan.
So really, being a courier was second nature for Jaguar Warrior and her summoned companions.
"Jaguar, sounds good!"
"The king has already approved. You'll be assigned ten additional dedicated priestesses and priests. If there's anything you want to eat, let your personal chef know as soon as possible. There's a whole stockpile of Magical Beast meat piling up at the Sacrificial Grounds with nowhere to go."
"If humanity actually survives the third storm crisis, maybe the grateful Sumerians will even build you your own temple."
"You know, even Kukulkan's Mayan pyramids were built by herself."
Samael, drawing on his experience with domestic cats, expertly played the carrot-and-stick routine. With a smile, he secured a few modest perks for the Divine Spirit, then painted a tempting picture of what might come—throwing out several grand, if clearly unrealistic, promises.
"Mission guaranteed!"
"No matter the danger or distance, Jaguar Warrior Express will deliver!"
Clearly influenced by her human host's mindset, Jaguar Warrior leapt up and gave a salute—her serious demeanor undercut by a cheerful, mischievous flair.
Everyone chuckled and continued the deeper strategic discussion.
"Next up—Kukulkan and Ishtar."
"Three days is our limit for preparation and waiting. If we delay any further, I fear complications will arise."
"So regardless of whether anything strange is found at Mount Ebih or Eridu, return immediately once the time is up!"
"Concentrate our forces and deal with the threats in front of us first!"
"As for the matter of the Underworld…"
Samael stepped aside and nodded toward his master.
The goddess took a deep breath. It was the first time she had voiced her will in front of so many faces—naturally, she felt a little uneasy.
Just as she fumbled to find the right words, unsure where to begin, a hand quietly reached out and held her own. That silent gesture gave Ere the support she needed. Her nervousness gradually faded, and she began to speak seriously.
"I've thought it over, and I believe that before Ishtar and Kukulkan return, we should use a ritual to seal the massive underground hollow beneath Uruk. There's no need to rush to fill it in just yet."
"If necessary, I can reshape the terrain at any time and try to trap the Goddess of Demonic Beasts should she strike."
"That way, even if Gilgamesh hasn't recovered yet, and Gorgon has been taken out, the rest of you can still hold off Kingu and buy time until reinforcements arrive!"