Type-Moon/Fate World, Chaldea.
"So… is that Kingu or Enkidu?" Fujimaru Ritsuka stared at the two identical 'Enkidus' on the screen, lost.
"The one in the video should be Kingu."
Da Vinci strolled over. There was no need to keep watching Romani; taking the chance, she meant to pour herself a coffee, only to overhear Fujimaru's question.
As the universal genius, she naturally had to answer.
Da Vinci smiled at Fujimaru. "Enkidu passed away while Gilgamesh was searching for the herb of immortality, a casualty of the gods' schemes."
"According to intel Romani got from Merlin, the one now occupying Enkidu's body is Tiamat's child—Kingu."
"Then why is she helping us?"
Fujimaru was puzzled; why would Tiamat's child help them wipe out the Lahmu?
"That… you'd have to ask His Majesty King Gilgamesh." Even a universal genius didn't know everything.
'Universal' applied to making things, after all.
"All right." Fujimaru asked no more; something had already clicked. The earlier shot of Wise King Gilgamesh suggested that, at some point, he and Kingu had talked, and his charisma had won her over.
Inside the video.
As the BGM swelled, Tiamat stepped into Uruk. Countless cannonades slammed into her, trying to halt her advance.
Kingu's voice rang out again.
"My… Kingu's wish will not change."
"I was given life to preserve the world of humanity."
"Aaaaaaaa—!!" Tiamat let out another wordless cry.
The camera shifted to Kingu. Pale-blue light shimmered over her as she gazed tenderly at Tiamat. "Farewell, Mother; you chose the wrong vessel—your child."
"This body remembers what it must do."
"Not good—she's about to enter the city!" Fujimaru exclaimed.
"At this rate—!" Mash was frantic too.
"Huh?! That's—?!" Fujimaru spotted something and looked skyward: a white-robed, green-haired figure diving toward Tiamat.
Wise King Gilgamesh also saw it. He silently stopped the onslaught of his divine seals.
Kingu flew before Tiamat, meeting her mother's eyes, resolve hardening on her face.
"Child of Tiamat—Kingu—shall now display the name of the Chains of Heaven!"
A cross of golden light burst from Kingu, blazing across the sky.
"Vmmm—!!!!"
"Boom—!!!!"
A blinding golden array blazed on the ground, rays encasing Tiamat.
From afar, Mash and Fujimaru watched, bewildered.
Countless golden rings appeared; chains poured out of each one.
"Mother's rage is already mist on the wind."
Wise King Gilgamesh watched calmly.
"What is awakened now is the Breath of the Stars!!!"
Kingu soared skyward, countless chains rising with her, until she herself became a 'chain.'
At that instant memories flooded forth—
The days Enkidu and Gilgamesh had shared.
"O mankind, bind the gods with chains! —ENUMA ELISH!!!"
Kingu transformed into an unimaginable golden chain, striking Goddess Tiamat, while innumerable chains rained from the heavens onto her.
"What was that…?"
Mash and Fujimaru, still trying to grasp what was happening, looked puzzled.
"Watch closely," said Wise King Gilgamesh.
They turned—and saw Tiamat before them.
She was now bound tight by golden chains, unable to move; even a single step had become impossible.
Just a few more steps and this divine tower will turn to ash.
Wise King Gilgamesh chuckled at that point, smiling as he said, "She must be filled with reluctance. Each step forward feels unbearably heavy. Though the binding lasts only an hour, it stretches into an eternity."
"Kingu." Fujimaru Ritsuka's expression turned complicated; evidently she hadn't expected the one who ultimately restrained Tiamat to be her.
With pride in his voice, Wise King Gilgamesh declared, "The Chains of Heaven can now suppress even the power of the creator goddess."
"Twice have I watched my dearest friend depart. The first time was amid sorrow, but this time is different. That proud, heroic figure is forever etched in my sight."
After saying this, Wise King Gilgamesh closed the stone tablet. Turning to Fujimaru Ritsuka and Mash, he smiled. "I must thank you, Fujimaru."
"Even if everything in this era were mobilized, this is likely as far as we could go."
"You are a foreigner, an anomaly of this age—something superfluous."
"Yet it is precisely because you are superfluous that you can deliver the final counterattack against this doom we cannot avert."
As Wise King Gilgamesh spoke, the golden chains that Kingu had become began to petrify and crumble, as though they could not hold much longer.
Wise King Gilgamesh looked at Fujimaru Ritsuka and Mash. "The time is ripe; victory or defeat now rests in your hands."
"Yes!" ×2
Fujimaru Ritsuka and Mash nodded without hesitation.
"Fujimaru!!!" From beneath the earth, Ereshkigal brandished her weapon. Gasping, she shouted upward, "The phase shift between Uruk's underworld and the Netherworld is complete!"
"All that's left is to dig a hole!!!" With those words, Ereshkigal smiled proudly.
"Master!" Mash called formally.
Understanding at once, Fujimaru Ritsuka looked toward Ishtar in the distance. "Ishtar!!! Knock Tiamat down into the Netherworld!!!"
"I've been waiting!!" Ishtar naturally agreed; she had waited far too long for this moment!!!
"Alright, Fujimaru Ritsuka, just as you asked, I'll ruthlessly open a huge hole beneath her feet!!"
"Open the gate! From the mighty heavens! To the mighty earth!"
The starry sky appeared above Ishtar once more; her pupils turned golden as she said solemnly, "After this, I can't guarantee anything!!!"
"Mountain Range-Shaking Star of Splendor——!
The blast of light struck Tiamat squarely.
"Mash!!"
"Yes, Master!!"
Under the powerful impact, Fujimaru Ritsuka and Mash crouched, clasping each other's hands.
Wise King Gilgamesh stood motionless in front of them.
At that moment Fujimaru Ritsuka seemed to think of something and reached out to grab Wise King Gilgamesh.
But the earth split apart; all Fujimaru Ritsuka could see was the exceedingly gentle smile on Wise King Gilgamesh's face
.....
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