This was the greatest strike Rovi had ever unleashed using Ea alone.
Without Gilgamesh's assistance, without Enkidu's cooperation, without even the support of all Uruk, this strike manifested solely by himself.
Naturally, its scale couldn't match that day he'd faced down the gods.
Yet, due to the special environment, the actual effect wasn't any weaker—in fact, precisely because Ea's power existed to split heaven and earth at their inception, it thrived here.
Thus, the scarlet tempest surged wildly amid flowing lava and yet-unhardened molten rock. With Rovi at its center, a crimson hurricane formed, isolating sky from earth, severing this place from the world.
Within this realm, only he and the massive Primordial Mother Goddess stood facing each other.
"Aaaaa…"
Confusion and incomprehension still filled Tiamat's gaze.
Yet she seemed to finally understand Rovi's resolve.
Do you, too, deeply love this world?
Are you another who cherishes this world as much as I do?
Those star-filled pink eyes seemed to quietly ask.
Rovi gave no answer.
But his actions had already proven everything.
Ea's spiral blade rotated violently. Amidst violent coughing, Rovi forcibly suppressed the heavy pressure in his chest, forced back the surging black mud within him, and raised the sword.
But he didn't aim it at Tiamat.
Instead, he aimed—at the world itself.
Borrowing from the inherent instability created by Tiamat's presence, he shattered the very fabric of the world, forcibly opening a massive breach in reality itself—
To cast Tiamat back into the Imaginary Number Sea beyond the world.
He couldn't hope to defeat the Primordial Mother Goddess outright in a rushed battle like this. With proper preparation, perhaps he could; but at this moment, this was already his absolute limit.
In the spreading cracks, Tiamat suddenly grew quiet.
She silently gazed at Rovi, as though imprinting his image deeply within her heart.
Until the dazzling radiance faded away.
Until everything returned to calm.
Rovi still stood on the beach, coughing softly.
His body had weakened further.
Yet he wasn't dead yet.
A bit regrettable, he thought. But still acceptable.
All around, the ground lay flat. Gone were the terrifying seas of lava, gone were the fierce ocean winds.
Everything stood still, leaving only the distant sunset casting lingering crimson hues, illuminating the slowly healing rift above, still shockingly evident in the evening sky.
"Rovi…!" En rushed over anxiously, bare feet leaving footprints across the sand.
"This king—forget it, I shall graciously overlook your insolence once more…" Gilgamesh approached, frowning deeply, though his voice was softer. "But still, this king must say, in this world, only one person can reign supreme—and that is this king!"
"This is the final warning!"
Clearly worried, yet stubbornly maintaining an air of severity.
"Stubborn duck," Rovi sighed. "Gilgamesh duck."
"You arrogant—"
"Cough cough cough!" Rovi's violent coughing instantly interrupted Gilgamesh's retort, clearly threatening that if he continued speaking, Rovi might genuinely cough himself to death on the spot.
Gilgamesh instantly choked on his words.
His throat was full of pent-up curses, stuck painfully in place, unable to come out. It was unbelievably frustrating!
Then he heard Rovi arrogantly mimic his own laughter:
"Bwahahaha…"
Indeed, a sick patient can do whatever he pleases.
Smirking smugly, Rovi even reached up and arrogantly patted Gilgamesh's head.
Gilgamesh's mouth twitched violently.
Yet he really didn't dare retaliate right now—afraid any action might push this fragile patient over the edge.
He knew he'd regret that forever.
Nearby, Ishtar-Rin finally breathed a sigh of relief, gently picking up the Bull of Heaven she'd flung away earlier.
"Moo…" The Bull of Heaven squirmed slightly, clearly disgruntled at being tossed aside at the first sign of danger by its irresponsible mistress.
But Ishtar-Rin forcefully suppressed its struggles.
"It's alright… no need to worry," she whispered quietly.
"Mm…" Another voice echoed within her.
It was Ereshkigal, the Netherworld's goddess.
The moment she'd witnessed Rovi's desperate strike, she'd instantly descended into Ishtar-Rin's body, though she'd been too late to intervene.
Thankfully, Rovi was safe.
Thus, she quietly withdrew back into the Netherworld.
Feeling her sister depart, Ishtar-Rin sighed again softly, her gaze returning to Rovi. Yet, she couldn't help recalling the warmth she'd felt when he'd stroked her hair earlier.
Her heartbeat quickened uncontrollably.
Oh no.
Am I really becoming just like Eresh?
Ishtar-Rin let out a faint, mournful whine.
But in any case, at least everyone was safe now…
"Aaaaaa!"
Suddenly, that crisp voice rang out again, and the dark rift above—which had nearly closed completely—was forcefully pried open once more.
In the last split second before it could vanish completely, Tiamat stuck her head out and forced her way through.
Her massive figure appeared once again.
Before anyone had time to react, she reached out her enormous, mountain-like hand—covered in shimmering blue scales—and firmly grabbed Rovi.
—Then immediately turned and ran.
Rovi: "???"
Are you even civilized!?
"Aaaaa!"
As she swiftly retreated over the sea without moving her legs, drifting smoothly toward the horizon, the Primordial Goddess let out excited cries, her ocean-like hair tumbling freely behind her like a cascading waterfall suspended in midair.
She gently cupped Rovi in both palms, pressing him lightly between her hands before her chest. A faint blush colored her delicate face.
Waves surged again, tides roaring white upon the sands.
Everyone left standing on the beach stared in stunned silence, completely dumbfounded, their hair messily blown by the sudden wind.
And no one was more stunned than Rovi himself, now helplessly cupped between giant hands.
Tiamat had turned back after leaving.
She'd deceived them. She'd launched a surprise attack.
Since when did Tiamat play so dirty!?
"Rovi!" Enkidu was the first to react, kicking off the sand instantly, chasing after them at top speed.
"Snatching this king's subject without permission—even if you're the Primordial Mother Goddess—is an unforgivable crime against this king!" Gilgamesh roared furiously.
In an instant, Vimana surged upward in pursuit!
Ishtar-Rin: "…"
What…what am I supposed to do?
Where am I? Who am I?
Undoubtedly, Ishtar-Rin had frozen up yet again.
Once more, dropping the ball at a critical moment.
Though Gilgamesh and Enkidu both moved quickly, another figure was even faster.
The Netherworld goddess who had just returned to her own domain—
—Instantly opened the gate of the Netherworld, appearing at the scene in the blink of an eye!