"Ah..."
Eresh nestled into Setsuna's arms and rubbed against him.
Ever since she had come to the underworld and taken up the responsibilities of its goddess, she had long since forgotten this kind of warmth and tranquility.
As if she didn't need to think about anything, didn't need to do anything—there was a broad, steadfast figure shielding her from all storms.
Ordinary people feared her. Worshippers revered her. The people of Uruk and the King of Heroes regarded her as an enemy.
After thousands—tens of thousands—of years managing the realm of the dead alone, this was the first time she had felt human warmth.
"How... how did you do this?"
"A small application of the Herrscher of Reason's authority. I can create most things you desire."
Setsuna reached out and grasped at the void.
Whoosh—
A beautiful bouquet appeared in his hand—red, orange, yellow, and green blossoms accented with sprigs of winter holly. It was stunning.
"Here."
"Ah..."
Eresh hurriedly took the bouquet, lifting it to her nose. A faint, unique fragrance drifted into her senses.
"These flowers... can they keep blooming here forever?"
She cradled them carefully, as if holding a priceless treasure.
"Of course not. The underworld carries the aura of the dead. By nature, it suppresses anything with life—plants, animals, even Heroic Spirits."
"These were created with Honkai energy. They're sturdier than ordinary varieties and can resist the deathly aura here for a while. But given the environment, they can't exist for long."
Setsuna answered.
"Ah..."
Eresh looked a little disappointed, then smiled in relief.
"Still... being able to see flowers bloom in the underworld makes it worth it."
"You've managed the underworld alone for so many years. You've worked hard."
Setsuna patted her head.
"To rebuild Human Order and allow history to move correctly into the future, this Singularity must be corrected."
"The age of humans will replace the age of gods. But you haven't been abandoned. Come with me. In the Starsea Empire, I'll reserve a place for you."
"Gods and humans can live together."
The Age of Gods in Mesopotamia was nearing its end. Beginning with the King of Heroes, humanity had declared its succession over the gods as rulers of the world.
Under normal circumstances, humanity would eventually part ways with the gods completely, casting off their influence. The underworld would sink into void and darkness, no longer connected to the physical plane.
But now, someone from another world had extended an invitation to the gods.
"Go to another world? But... I can't leave the underworld. My authority is tied to it..."
Eresh scratched her head anxiously.
"Then I'll rebuild an underworld for you in the Starsea Empire."
Setsuna tapped her forehead.
"You can decorate it however you like. Flowers, sunlight, beaches—anything you want."
"No one says the underworld has to be gloomy and cold, right? Even if you want to play games, I can bring you a console."
"Ah..."
Eresh felt as though she were listening to mythology.
Rebuilding an underworld.
That was a miracle beyond the Age of Gods. Even the combined power of the Three Goddess Alliance might not accomplish it. Perhaps only the Great Holy Grail of Uruk could.
And yet, she felt that the man before her could truly do it. She found herself wanting to believe him.
"Oh, though most natives of the Starsea Empire are shipgirls, Heroic Spirits, Outer Gods, Spirits, or people who've undergone super-evolution surgery. The underworld there probably won't get much business."
Setsuna suddenly recalled a minor issue.
"Huh?"
Eresh didn't quite follow.
"Wouldn't it be more troublesome if people flooded into the underworld all at once? Building prisons to confine souls is exhausting. Having nothing to do is better!"
She puffed her cheeks, acting cute.
"So you agree?"
"Mm..."
Eresh looked up at him and extended her hand, revealing a gentle, beautiful smile.
"For the sake of the flowers blooming across the underworld... I accept."
Hum—
Their contract was completed in an instant. A surge of magical energy flowed from Setsuna's hand into her body.
"Servant, Lancer. Ereshkigal, Goddess of the Underworld, answers your call. Master, please take care of me."
"Mm... but only you can call me Eresh, okay?"
...
"The Commander's ability to deceive girls is reaching new heights. Truly perfected."
Half an hour later, Eresh was finishing the final cleanup in the underworld, releasing the souls she had previously slain and imprisoned one by one.
Gudako and Ishtar huddled together, whispering.
Ishtar felt relieved that she could leave the underworld alive—but she was also a little envious of Eresh.
Creating a vast sea of flowers out of thin air, shaping a bouquet by hand, promising to create an entire world for her.
Who wouldn't be dazzled by that? What goddess could resist?
"Wuu... when we passed through the Gate of the Underworld earlier, Master said he liked Eresh and even gave her so many things..."
Ishtar felt inexplicably dejected.
Even though they were two halves of the same being, she felt like she had been left to fend for herself.
"Here. If you want something, I'll give you a share too."
Setsuna conjured a sack of gemstones and tossed it to Ishtar.
"Waaah!!!"
Faced with such an ultimate benefactor who could casually hand out money anytime, anywhere, Ishtar could only call him a god.
She hugged the heavy bag of gems, rubbing her cheeks against it.
"Ah... Master is the best!!!"
"..."
Gudako was speechless.
"Come on. I've had enough dog food. Finish up the underworld business already so we can head back to the surface."
...
Meanwhile, in Uruk.
Gilgamesh sat upon his throne, reviewing reports delivered by his subordinates.
After the previous battle against Strelizia, most of the grand temple had been destroyed. He had only managed to hastily erect a crude structure to continue working.
"This is the report from the northern front."
"This is a petition from the eastern market."
"These are preparations for the shrine maiden's ritual..."
Below the throne, the crowd buzzed noisily.
Smack—
He struck the armrest and barked an order.
"Form a line! We'll handle them one by one!"
"Yes..."
Soon, he began processing the overwhelming tide of affairs one after another.
"Report!!!—"
Suddenly.
A soldier stumbled and rolled into the hall.
"A monster has appeared outside Uruk!!!"
"A serpent-bodied, human-faced monster has emerged from the earth! She's leading Demonic Beasts and attacking the western wall of Uruk!!!"
"What?!"
The King of Heroes sprang to his feet. In the distance, smoke rose from the far side of the city.
"Serpent body, human face?... I know who that is!"
"Speaking of which, where are those foreigners who came to see me earlier? How are they faring?"
"..."
From the scouts, he learned that Setsuna had already resolved the threat of the Feathered Serpent. Only then did he relax slightly.
"Very well. Even if they are not here, I can personally deal with these monsters."
He swayed slightly as he prepared to head into battle.
"Your Majesty, you've been working continuously for days. If you go to battle again, I'm afraid..."
A guard asked worriedly.
"We can hold them off for a while. Perhaps you should first—"
"No!"
The wise king waved his hand.
"Gather the troops. I will follow shortly."
"Yes—"
The subordinates withdrew.
After arranging everything, he felt utterly exhausted in both body and mind.
Taking a deep breath, he rested his head against his hand and leaned back against the throne, closing his eyes to take a brief nap.
"This king's remaining work..."
"Zzz... Zzz..."
"...Hah..."
"Gasp!!—"
Suddenly, a chill wind blew past. He jolted upright.
"No!"
"My work isn't finished! I must protect Uruk!"
He snapped his eyes open.
Yet the scene before him had completely changed.
Stretching before him was a sea of flowers. The air carried a faint fragrance. Warm sunlight bathed the land in golden radiance.
"Where is this?"
For a moment, he failed to recognize it as the underworld, glancing around in confusion.
Then he saw Setsuna and the others.
"?"
Eresh tilted her head, a question mark practically appearing above it.
"Um... King of Uruk, the underworld is relocating. Why are you here?"
"Relocating? The underworld? It can relocate? Relocate where?!"
"No—this is the underworld? What are you talking about?!"
Gilgamesh only grew more bewildered.
This birds-and-flowers paradise was nothing like the underworld in his memory.
"Well, well. We meet again?"
Setsuna grinned when he saw him.
"Did you work yourself to death again? As expected of the wise king... Wait, why did I say 'again'?"
"???"
"Hah?"
Only then did the wise king realize that he had likely overworked himself into death, his soul falling into the underworld.
"Send this king back immediately!!! The Demonic Beast Goddess Gorgon is coming!!! And this king's work for today isn't finished yet!!"
...
Within Uruk.
Inside the temple, the wailing of the people shook the heavens.
"O King!!!! Your death is so tragic—"
Gilgamesh's body lay in the center of the temple, placed within an ornate coffin carved with golden patterns.
Guards and officials of Uruk cried their hearts out below.
The wise king who ruled Uruk had died just like that—worked to death upon his throne.
He had given his all until his final breath.
"O King!! Without your leadership, how are we to withstand the Demonic Beasts?!"
Outside the walls of Uruk, smoke and flames filled the sky.
The Demonic Beasts surged like a tidal wave against the Absolute Demonic Front.
Though the walls could hold for a time, without the pillar of Uruk, no one knew what to do.
Tap, tap, tap—
"Huff—"
Hurried footsteps echoed from outside the hall.
"Gilgamesh!!!—"
A man in a white cloak with long white hair, dressed as a mage, burst into the temple.
Beside him followed a petite purple-haired girl draped in a black cloak.
"The Demonic Beast Goddess Gorgon has arrived!! We must immediately—"
Before Merlin could finish, he saw Gilgamesh lying stiff and cold.
"???"
"Gilgamesh?"
For a moment, Merlin couldn't process it.
"Wh-what is going on?!"
"His Majesty had been handling state affairs for days. He was just about to mobilize the army to confront the Demonic Beasts attacking Uruk."
"I saw him resting briefly upon the throne. But when we returned... he had already..."
A maid beside them answered through tears.
"How is that possible?!"
Merlin stepped forward, agitated.
"He's a man who saw through the future and chose to become a magus. To avoid dying on the battlefield, he always remained on the throne to command."
"That was our agreement! How could he die? And in such a ridiculous way?!"
Summoned by Gilgamesh as a Caster, Merlin had been searching for the Tablets of Destiny to fulfill the king's command.
And now, upon returning to the city, he found the king dead.
His mindset nearly shattered.
He paced anxiously around the hall before leaning in to examine the body.
Gilgamesh's expression was peaceful. No signs of being slain. In his hand, he still gripped a clay tablet used for administrative orders.
"Has there been any unusual disturbance in Uruk recently? What about the king's security measures? Any trace of an Assassin infiltration?"
Though he knew it was likely futile, Merlin insisted on investigating.
"Uh..."
"There have been a few recent cases of people dying from sudden weakness—mostly frail civilians. It shouldn't be related to the king..."
Most of those around the King of Heroes were ordinary people, aside from a few Heroic Spirits he had summoned.
They exchanged glances, unable to reach any conclusion.
"More importantly, the Demonic Beast army is attacking Uruk. We must act immediately to defend the city."
Another Heroic Spirit, dressed as a warrior with a long blade at her waist and black hair tied back, spoke firmly.
"Ushiwakamaru? Mm, you were summoned by the King of Heroes as well?"
Merlin pondered briefly, then nodded.
"Even without the King of Heroes, we cannot simply await our doom."
"Let us go."
...
Outside the walls of Uruk.
Tens of thousands of Demonic Beasts slammed against the ramparts, clashing with the soldiers.
Not far from the city—
A colossal creature with the body of a serpent and the upper form of a woman burst from the earth and slithered forward.
Her lower half was an enormous python, a single scale larger than a human being.
Her upper body was that of a bewitching woman with long purple hair and four wings spread behind her. At the ends of her hair, black-red serpents hissed and flicked their tongues.
Just like the Gorgon of myth.
"Th-that is—fire!!!"
Bang bang bang bang—
The soldiers trembled as they fired ballistae and magical artillery from the walls. Smoke billowed across the ground—yet not a scratch marked her.
Bzzzt—
Purple rays erupted from the serpents' mouths, carving trenches into the city walls.
"Humans... die."
The serpent-bodied goddess looked down coldly upon them, directing wave after wave of Demonic Beasts against Uruk.
"That is... the youngest of the Gorgon sisters—Medusa!"
Merlin recognized her instantly.
This was Gorgon at the stage where she had transformed from goddess into monster.
Judging by her size, the magical energy she emitted, and her command over countless Demonic Beasts, she was undeniably the Demonic Beast Goddess.
"We must stop her outside the city."
Clang!—
The city gates opened.
A Heroic Spirit clad in bronze armor, draped in a crimson cloak and wielding shield and spear, stepped forward to face her.
Behind him stood three hundred Spartan warriors in spectral blue forms.
"Gather your souls here..."
"Thermopylae Enomotia!"
The Spartan warriors transformed into crimson shields, forming an iron wall before Uruk.
"Turn to stone!!—"
From Gorgon's eyes and the serpents at her sides erupted countless crimson-violet beams.
Crack—crack—
The shields shattered one after another beneath the rays.
Leonidas did not retreat a single step. Instead, he pressed forward against the intensifying assault.
"I am Leonidas, King of Sparta!!!"
"We have seen through your true nature, avenger—Gorgon, the goddess persecuted and turned into a monster!"
"The people of Greece will not forget your name!"
"...Die!!!"
Gorgon's petrifying beams intensified.
BOOM!!!—
"Now! We move!"
Ushiwakamaru drew her blade and leapt from the city wall, launching a surprise assault.
"The Wandering Tales of Shana-oh."
"Dan-No-Ura Eight-Boat Leap—"
Bang bang bang—
Several identical afterimages appeared beside her as she bounded across the attacking serpents, charging toward Gorgon.
Boom!!—Crash!!!—
Gorgon fought one against two without losing ground.
The shockwaves of their clashes alone left the walls of Uruk riddled with holes.
Through the breaches poured endless Demonic Beasts. Without the protection of the terrain, Uruk's soldiers began to fall back steadily.
"She is a goddess. Without the King of Heroes, ordinary humans cannot handle her."
Merlin deflected Demonic Beasts while frowning in thought.
"If we could reach the Blood Fort and weaken her divinity, we might stand a chance. But now..."
"Not good!!!—"
BOOM!!—
Another section of the wall collapsed. Demonic Beasts flooded into Uruk like a raging torrent.
Cries and screams filled the air.
"The northern wall is under siege as well!!"
"There are too many Demonic Beasts!!!—"
Just as the entire defensive line teetered on collapse—
Suddenly.
"Haaah!!!—"
In the center of Uruk, within the coffin enshrined upon the altar—
The wise king inhaled sharply and snapped his eyes open, staring up in confusion at the coffin lid.
He sat upright.
BANG—
The lid blasted into the air, embedding itself in the ceiling.
"Hahahahaha— This king has returned!!!"
"You mongrels!!! I wasn't dead for long—why was I already stuffed into a coffin?!"
"Wha—?!"
The priests below were stunned.
"Ahhhhh—"
At the sight of the resurrected Gilgamesh, they huddled together, trembling.
"Fools. Fortunately, you did not bury or cremate this king."
Gilgamesh stretched his limbs and climbed out of the coffin.
"Your Majesty, what is this...?"
A priest asked shakily.
"In the underworld, I happened to encounter a few acquaintances. They kindly returned my soul."
"In any case, such a method of death does not suit this king."
He coughed lightly. Had he gone alone to see the underworld goddess, it might have been troublesome—no one wishes to fight her in her domain.
Fortunately, Setsuna had settled matters with Eresh. A few words, and he had been released.
"This king's work is not yet finished. How could I simply die? What a joke."
"What were we discussing earlier? The market order in the south? Or the water supply of the northern wall? Where is this king's tablet? ..."
He sat back upon the throne, entering work mode in an instant.
"The Demonic Beast Goddess is attacking the city!! Your Majesty, Gorgon is assaulting Uruk!!!"
The subordinates cried urgently.
"Oh?"
Gilgamesh tilted his head to gaze toward the distant sky.
From the horizon, a silver starship was approaching.
"It matters not. This king has struck a bargain with the foreigner."
"He will not break his word. Let me see what their strength truly amounts to."