The moment his eyes met those of the Primordial Mother Goddess lasted merely an instant—so fleeting that Rovi almost believed it an illusion.
Yet he was certain—it absolutely wasn't a hallucination.
Tiamat…
Was staring solely at him.
Is it because I "killed" the gods? Because the curse of the gods clings to me?
Only these possibilities came to mind.
But regardless of why Tiamat appeared, nothing could alter the catastrophic impact she would have upon entering reality.
The power of a primordial deity could warp reality itself on a planetary scale, transforming the world into an environment fit solely for herself.
In other words, wherever Tiamat stood was a world from the planet's infancy—before anything had truly formed, utterly hostile to all life.
In that instant, the vast ocean beneath her rapidly transformed into rolling lava.
Black mud surged forth, chaos erupting endlessly.
The patch of sky where Tiamat stood twisted into black and crimson wherever she moved.
Overwhelming pressure bore down instantly.
Even Gilgamesh, for all his arrogance, instantly turned gravely serious.
The others needed no mention.
Thus, Gilgamesh could only say—
"Arrogant mongrel, can you still bare your fangs?"
Gilgamesh glanced at Rovi. He knew well this question was rhetorical; since they'd come this far, Rovi naturally wouldn't retreat.
And he, as King, absolutely couldn't fail to uphold his subject's "loyalty." After all, wasn't the role of a king precisely to draw out the full potential of his subjects?
"No problem… cough, cough." Rovi coughed softly a few times.
"Then—bite her!" The young King of Uruk crossed his arms and coldly ordered.
Close the gates! Release the Rovi!
Rovi flipped a middle finger toward his so-called "King."
Even at a time like this, still stubbornly talking trash… Though, harsh as the words were, they weren't wrong. Right now, at this scene, Rovi was probably the only one capable of repelling Tiamat.
If he could draw forth the power of the Key of Heaven.
Turn it into the Sword of Rupture—Ea.
If everyone rallied around Rovi as before, fully unleashing that world-cleaving strength, re-manifesting the brilliance that annihilated the gods—even if they couldn't truly defeat Tiamat, they'd certainly force her back into Imaginary Number Space!
At least, that's what Gilgamesh thought—and the young King clearly declared he himself would bear most of the pressure.
"Do not forget, this king is the one and only sovereign over heaven and earth!"
Gilgamesh, arms crossed, golden armor glittering, stood gravely resolute. "A mere mongrel has repeatedly overstepped its bounds—this king has been gracious enough to overlook your crimes thus far."
"This time, you will not be permitted to rampage freely in the world ruled by this king!"
"Bwahaha… Fine, have it your way," Rovi laughed. "But only if you can lift the sword."
"Either way, you probably don't have much time to prepare."
"The Primordial Mother, Tiamat—if she sets foot upon land, the earth will become lava, the skies will descend into chaos, and everyone in Uruk—aside from us here—will perish!" Facing winds thick with chaotic aura, Rovi's robes whipped around him as he raised his hand toward the distance.
He spoke the critical truth.
Right now, he no longer sought death urgently, so he didn't particularly care who took the lead—but this truth was something no one could deny or evade.
Their goal was to intercept Tiamat.
To never let her set foot on land.
Without that condition—if Tiamat truly touched ground, the earth would instantly become a sea of lava.
All except those present here would die.
How could Gilgamesh, who viewed Uruk as his sole possession, permit anyone else to steal the lives of his people?
"Why overcomplicate it?" Ishtar-Rin interjected suddenly. "Can't I just use this?"
She held up the Bull of Heaven, now shrunk to miniature size, ignoring how it shivered violently at the mere sight of Rovi.
"This goddess can see clearly—Tiamat hasn't completely released her power yet. That's why she hasn't contained her aura properly. So, if we use this—it'll be enough to block her!"
Rovi's mind sharpened, realization dawning quickly.
The Bull of Heaven, with its massive original form, indeed could delay even a partially-sealed Tiamat.
"Rovi…" Just then, Enkidu gently tugged at his sleeve.
Turning his head, he saw her uneasy expression: "Don't you think…it's suddenly become a bit too quiet?"
Quiet?
Now that she mentioned it… wasn't it unnaturally silent?
Tiamat's singing had ceased.
Even the roaring winds and waves had stilled… an eerie unease gripped them all.
Rovi instinctively looked upward.
He immediately met an enormous pair of bright pink eyes, radiant pupils reflecting starry brilliance. Her lips parted slightly, revealing small fangs.
Tiamat—
Stood right there on the shore, leaning down slightly, silently observing their discussion.
"Arrrr!"
A soft, clear sound emerged from lips only Rovi could clearly see.
"???"
Who said Tiamat was still in a self-sealed state?
Could a self-sealed state possibly move this fast? Could it fully suppress every trace of power leakage?
Could it appear this silently!?
"Mon…mongrel! Fucking—!" Gilgamesh instantly exploded, so furious he unconsciously cursed aloud.
"Children of Man…" Enkidu remained calm despite the sudden threat, robes billowing as countless silver chains burst forth beneath, shimmering brilliantly in the air.
Ishtar-Rin's hand shook in panic, and she directly hurled the Bull of Heaven forward.
Bull of Heaven: "Moo!" (You motherf—...)
Only Rovi stood perfectly still.
Because, just like before—
He alone, able to directly face Tiamat's form, saw clearly that her enormous, luminous pink eyes remained locked on him alone.
Unmoving, unblinking, fixated solely upon him.
"Aaaaaaa!"
Her clear voice resonated gently on the wind, like a quiet melody.
The ocean churned furiously beneath her hovering feet, gradually shifting to shades of black and crimson.
Flowing rock and flame spread outward, radiating a bone-chilling pressure.
The Primordial Mother Goddess was unleashing her power—
Yet her own body remained motionless.
I see.
A sudden realization struck Rovi. Tiamat's self-imposed seal, from start to finish, had always been about suppressing her own desire to destroy the world—a desire brought about by betrayal from the other gods. It was something she placed upon herself.
Self-sealed.
Though betrayed, the Primordial Mother still loved this world, unwilling to destroy it.
But—what if Tiamat's goal in coming here wasn't destruction at all?
What if…
No, there was no "what if."
"I… finally found… you—" A soft, gentle voice resonated clearly within Rovi's heart.
Upon the face visible only to Rovi, Tiamat's lips curled upward.
She smiled directly at him.
She'd come just for him.
This was a view belonging solely to Rovi.
No one else could see Tiamat's true appearance—and certainly not this mysterious smile she showed only to him.
Yet none of the others were ordinary either—
After momentary panic, everyone quickly sprang into action.
Yet just as Rovi raised his hand, he suddenly paused, glancing sideways at the trembling figure tugging desperately at his sleeve.
"I'm scared… I'm so scared—" Ishtar-Rin whispered, trembling uncontrollably.
"N-no, don't leave me!" Ishtar-Rin desperately clung to Rovi's sleeve, her face uncharacteristically vulnerable, completely unlike her usual arrogant self.
Rovi paused, startled by this rare side of her.
Rovi shook his head wryly, gently slapping away the goddess's hands, which were quietly creeping upward along his thighs.
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T/N: LMAOOOOOO GIL CURSING AND ISHTAR HURLING THE BULL LIKE ITTOS BULL