The next day.
The sky stretched vast and endless.
Western Uruk—just beyond the monster-infested border.
The fertile land rolled on, yellow sand sprawling as far as the eye could see.
From a distance, Rovi could already see the dense forest rising on the horizon, with guard towers and stone walls standing atop the hill in front of the trees.
He knew at once—that was the Monster Forest.
The journey here from the city-state of Uruk was uneventful, even with the gods' protection. After all, this was still the ancient age.
Human footprints had yet to cover the land.
All he saw underfoot, aside from dust, was more dust.
So Rovi had simply flown here using a flying Noble Phantasm from Gilgamesh's [Gate of Babylon].
Now, he finally set his feet on the ground.
His linen robe whipped wildly in the wind.
He approached the guards stationed around the Monster Forest and announced both his purpose and identity.
"Honored Vizier Rovi!"
Before long, the captain of these soldiers—a tall, broad-shouldered man—came out to greet him.
"You've all worked hard."
Rovi glanced over the group, taking in their weather-beaten faces, the battered armor covering only their vitals, the fresh blood seeping through vine-wrapped wounds.
It was obvious—they'd had a rough time of it.
But that was alright.
"I've come bearing the king's command," Rovi said. "From here on, leave it to me."
He waved his hand.
Golden ripples shimmered around him, gleaming weapons emerging from the air.
The soldiers stiffened, awed at once.
There was no longer any doubt about his identity.
"Take me to the front—I want to see the forest beyond the wall."
"Shouldn't you rest first?" the captain asked, unable to hold back. "Or at least hear a briefing—"
"The forest is about to erupt again, isn't it?" Rovi glanced at him, cutting straight to the point. The big man had nothing to say to that.
In truth, by the time the report reached Uruk, there had already been several monster outbreaks. The beasts of the forest seemed drawn by something, madly ramming the walls and defenses again and again.
For days now, the soldiers had fought almost without pause—there hadn't been a moment to rest.
Their weary faces and bloody wounds said as much.
Now, even if no one told him, Rovi could sense it: a fresh surge of monsters was coming soon.
After all, as a fully initiated priest of Uruk, he could at least read the signs.
Of course, there was no way he'd just stand by and watch—
"Sir, I still think you should hear the situation first," the captain tried again, seeing Rovi's eagerness to go straight to the front lines. "You're new here—you don't know how dangerous the Monster Forest is. Inside, even the strongest mortals find their power suppressed."
"And there are all sorts of… 'accidents' waiting in there. No matter how skilled you are, one slip and you could die—"
Now that sounds promising. Rovi's eyes lit up.
"…" The captain was silent.
Had the priest understood his warning—or not?
Rovi caught his odd expression and quickly recovered. "Ahem. I just mean—since I'm the king's envoy, it's only right for me to act. I can't just watch disaster unfold. That would disgrace the king—and none of you want that, do you?"
He invoked Gilgamesh's name—there was no further argument.
After all, to go against the king's orders would be a stain on the king's reputation.
Gilgamesh was a true tyrant, but his strength commanded immense respect among the guards.
In the army, no one dared—or even thought—to defy him.
"Let's go!"
Rovi gestured. "Open the gates. Pull everyone back."
"What…?"
The captain was stunned.
"I said, open the gates. Withdraw the troops," Rovi repeated, hands falling to his sides, smiling, but leaving no room for discussion.
"I'm enough on my own."
He was blunt, bordering on rude. "You all would only get in my way."
After several brushes with disaster, Rovi had learned his lesson.
He needed to eliminate every possible accident.
These guards, every one a battle-hardened warrior, could easily disrupt his plan.
After all… Rovi's goal was to die in an "accident."
History was full of stories like that.
Veteran heroes, facing an enemy they should have defeated, lost everything because of a twist of fate—and met a tragic, spectacular end.
That's exactly what he wanted.
To bloom like a summer flower, to die brilliantly, and leave nothing but regret behind for history to remember.
"I speak with the king's authority." Rovi ignored the captain now and raised his voice to address everyone present:
"Soldiers, you have already given everything—defending your homes, your nation behind you."
"You've done more than enough."
"But what I want you to know is this—you are not alone."
"You've fulfilled your duty."
"From here—"
"This is my battlefield."
With a deep rumble, the massive stone gate embedded in the great wall slowly rose, gears grinding.
Outside, the soldiers remained silent, still gripping swords and spears. Despite their wounds and exhaustion, they kept their eyes fixed on the forest, on the hundreds of scarlet eyes flickering in the shadows.
They had fought here countless times, wielding blades to protect their home. They had seen comrades fall, forced themselves to pick up dropped weapons and keep fighting through grief.
But now, as Rovi stepped out, as his words echoed over the ramparts—they all froze.
A soldier is one who defends the land.
But defense doesn't fall on you alone.
You have backup—us.
Rovi closed his eyes and walked forward. More golden ripples bloomed around him, sharp swords and treasures emerging, all pointing straight at the massing beasts in the forest beyond.
In that moment, morning sunlight painted the dense woods in rainbow hues.
The guards fixed their gaze on the young man in the linen robe, slender and tall.
Such brilliance.
And yet—not the radiance of the gods, but a light that shone for everyone.
Unflinching before death.
Resolute in the face of disaster.
"Roar—!"
The monsters, long lurking and restless, finally broke loose under the overwhelming pressure of the [Gate of Babylon]. They could not be held back.
Claws slashed, bodies crashed forward, countless trees toppling as dirt and leaves exploded into the air. The ground shook—a tidal wave of chaos that startled heaven and earth.
The monster horde surged.
This was an uprising.
And more violent, more intense than ever before!