97. The Final Operation! Begin!
The brief darkness vanished.
The sun rose again from the horizon.
The world seemed to return to tranquility with Tiamat's disappearance.
The black waves that should have engulfed everything seemed to have been washed away by yesterday's rain.
The sky cleared.
The soldiers on the city walls and the people below smiled with joy, for the overwhelming waves had disappeared.
But atop the walls, those who knew the details remained serious.
"It's been a whole night," Elaina said, her gaze fixed in one direction, her eyes filled with worry.
"Kevin hasn't been streaming or sending any messages. I wonder how he's doing," Houraiji Kyuushou said with equal concern.
Just then, the Tarnished passed by them carrying some materials.
"Don't worry, that guy'll be fine."
Although the Tarnished said this, his gaze involuntarily drifted into the distance, to the spot where Tiamat had disappeared the previous night.
The Tarnished shook his head.
He should hurry and finish his work; after all, another attack was very likely coming soon. He needed to quickly repair the shattered barrier.
Dan Heng had already returned to his original form and was resting with his eyes closed. After Tiamat disappeared yesterday, the Sea of Life had stopped giving birth to Rahmu. Upon discovering this, he didn't hesitate and rushed into the battlefield to eliminate the remaining Rahmu.
After a night of chasing and fighting, he was truly exhausted.
After all, he wasn't particularly familiar with this power yet.
On the city wall, most of the soldiers and Servants were slumped in place or leaning against the wall, their eyes tightly closed.
The intense fighting spirit of the past, like a bowstring stretched to its limit, suddenly dissipated, and a profound hunger and overwhelming weariness surged forth, instantly engulfing everyone.
Just as this weary silence was about to completely engulf the city walls, a vibrant female voice rang out like a dawning horn:
"Dinner's ready—!"
Followed by shouts from more men and women:
"You've worked hard! Come and eat something!"
"Children, bring food to the warriors!"
The citizens of Uruk surged onto the city walls, carrying baskets, pottery jars, and wooden buckets of all sizes, filled with steaming hot food.
In the food distribution line, an elderly man with white hair, his hands trembling, handed a piece of bread to a young soldier, tears welling in his eyes; wives found their husbands, families embraced their exhausted sons, offering gentle comfort; and many more citizens, filled with pure gratitude, sincerely said, "Thank you, you've worked hard, eat more."
Laughter, concerned voices, words of encouragement, and the crisp clinking of dishes instantly shattered the deathly silence on the city wall, dispelling the lingering stench of blood and gunpowder, and injecting vibrant life.
Dan Heng slowly opened his eyes, looking at the scene before him, a faint sense of relief appearing on his usually calm face.
Just then, a small figure came running up to him. It was a little girl, her cheeks rosy, slightly out of breath from running. She carefully held a piece of bread, larger than her hands, and offered it to Dan Heng, her voice clear yet slightly shy:
"Big brother, please! Here, have some!"
Dan Heng was slightly taken aback; he hadn't expected anyone to offer him food.
Just as he was about to refuse,
Gilgamesh's voice rang out, "Take it."
Gilgamesh's words made Dan Heng swallow his refusal. After a moment of silence, under the little girl's expectant gaze, he reached out and took the food, saying, "Thank you!"
"Hehe, you're welcome, big brother. There's juice over there, I'll get it for you!" After saying this, the little girl turned and walked away.
Dan Heng silently watched the little girl's departing figure. Just then, Gilgamesh walked to Dan Heng's side, holding a flatbread in his hand, munching on it as he spoke.
"This is one of the few things they could do for you guardians after much deliberation."
Gilgamesh took a bite of the flatbread, something he rarely ate.
"If you refuse..."
"It would be too pitiful for those who offer you their heartfelt kindness."
Just then, the little girl who had brought the flatbread ran back a moment later. This time, she held a flat earthenware pot in each hand and ran straight to Gilgamesh.
"Your Majesty! Juice! Here you go!"
"Hahaha! Well done!"
Gilgamesh laughed heartily, taking the pots quite naturally.
"I'm thirsty!" Gilgamesh tilted his head back and took a large gulp.
The little girl then walked happily to Dan Heng.
"Big brother, this is for you."
"...Thank you."
"You're welcome, and big brother, you were so cool last night! Thank you for protecting everyone!"
After saying this heartfelt, childish remark, the little girl waved vigorously at Dan Heng and Gilgamesh, then turned and skipped back to her parents.
After the little girl left, Dan Heng silently ate the food in his hand.
Gilgamesh had already left, standing on the other side of the city wall, watching the rising sun and listening to the loud laughter beside him.
A slow smile appeared on Gilgamesh's lips.
The death of a close friend.
The journey to find the elixir of immortality.
What he once believed was fate's inevitability, he now clearly felt—a shift in destiny.
Destiny can be changed.
...
"Thank you for reminding me!"
Several Uruk citizens bowed, their voices filled with sincere gratitude, as they greeted Lemuen.
Lemuen smiled gently and waved her hand lightly.
"Even without my reminder, with the hearts of the people of Uruk, you would surely have thought of it and acted on it soon enough."
She glanced around at the gradually returning atmosphere of the camp, her tone light.
"Well then, the rest is up to you. We have some matters to attend to, so we'll take our leave."
Lemuen, Fujimaru Ritsuka, Mash, and the silent Anna waved to the citizens and turned to leave the noisy camp.
"Miss Lemuen is truly...so thoughtful!"
Mash followed beside Lemuen, her voice filled with genuine admiration.
As dawn broke and the battlefield was deserted, those who hadn't fought breathed a sigh of relief. Lemuen approached them, smiling, and invited them to help prepare breakfast.
How could they refuse such an offer? So, under Lemuen's guidance, they quickly contacted the citizens, lit bonfires, and created the vibrant scene on the city walls.
Hearing Mash's praise, Lemuen simply smiled, the morning breeze ruffling her hair:
"We can't let the Guardians feel ignored, not even for a moment. Even if the King is watching everything, the warmth from one's own people is different."
"Ritsuka, Mash, Anna, thank you so much for helping me all day."
"Ah, no, no!"
Fujimaru Ritsuka quickly waved her hand, a slight blush on her face.
"It's what we should do! Being able to help everyone and seeing everyone's happy faces when they eat makes me feel especially fulfilled and happy!"
Just as they passed the entrance to a relatively quiet alley, Fou, who had been quietly sitting on Fujimaru Ritsuka's shoulder, suddenly made a peculiar sound.
"Hmm? What's wrong, Fou?" Fujimaru Ritsuka stopped in confusion, turning her head to look at the little one on her shoulder.
As she followed Fou's gaze, her eyes caught sight of a figure sitting against the wall deep within the alley.
It was an old man shrouded in a worn black robe, his head bowed low, his face obscured. He sat silently, curled up in the shadows, completely out of place with the bustling activity and vitality of the city walls not far away, exuding loneliness and sorrow.
Almost out of an instinctive impulse without asking any questions, or even consulting her companions, Fujimaru Ritsuka strode into the dark alley. Mash and Anna instinctively wanted to follow, but Lemuen silently stopped them with a slight gesture, watching Fujimaru Ritsuka's retreating figure.
Fujimaru Ritsuka approached the old man, crouched down to bring her gaze to the level of his bowed head, and offered a slightly embarrassed but warm smile.
"Um… I'm sorry, perhaps I'm being nosy. But," she carefully offered him her still-warm breakfast with both hands, "if it's alright, could you please accept this?"
The instant she finished speaking, an extremely untimely "gurgling" sound rang out clearly from her stomach, jarringly jarring in the quiet alley.
Fujimaru Ritsuka's cheeks instantly flushed red, her inner scream screaming, "Wh-why did it have to come at this time! How embarrassing!" She was so embarrassed she wanted to disappear into the ground, forcing a smile:
"Ahaha...don't mind it! Um...I...my stomach might be a little upset...yes, it's not quite right..."
The old man in the black robe was silent for two seconds. From the shadow beneath his lowered hood, two invisible gazes seemed to scrutinize the clumsy yet sincere girl before him. A hoarse, weathered voice slowly spoke:
"Barehearted pity is an evil."
These words made Fujimaru Ritsuka pause slightly.
But the old man's words didn't stop; a subtle shift appeared in his voice:
"However, even at the cost of one's own hardship and hunger, the act of extending blessings to others...you deserve a reward."
His hand emerged from beneath his wide black robe, steadily taking the food Fujimaru Ritsuka offered. His movements carried a composure that didn't match his appearance.
Fujimaru Ritsuka breathed a sigh of relief, a smile returning to her face. She scratched the back of her head sheepishly:
"Rewards are really unnecessary!"
"Please eat it while it's hot..."
However, before she could finish speaking, the old man stood up. His cane, which had been on the ground, was now firmly placed in front of him with both hands, as if he were holding a sword about to be drawn.
An invisible atmosphere suddenly filled the air, instantly replacing the previous loneliness; the air in the alley seemed to grow heavy.
The ease on Fujimaru Ritsuka's face vanished instantly, and she involuntarily straightened her back.
The old man didn't immediately look at Fujimaru Ritsuka; his gaze first fell on Lemuen at the alley entrance.
Lemuen stood there quietly, meeting his invisible gaze, and calmly nodded.
The old man's gaze then refocused on Fujimaru Ritsuka, and his hoarse voice rang out again:
"The Descendants... your arrival is like a stone thrown into a river, already altering the original, flowing trajectory of everyone's destiny."
"I shouldn't have lingered here; this world is no longer my domain… But my destiny tells me that I must come here!"
"Good-doer! Listen carefully! Remember this choice!"
"In the final moment when the final decision arrives, when the string of fate is stretched to its limit—I will offer you the reward you deserve!"
The instant the words fell, a sudden, violent gust of wind swept through the narrow alley! The swirling dust made Fujimaru Ritsuka instinctively close her eyes and raise her arm to shield them.
The wind came quickly and went quickly.
When Fujimaru Ritsuka and Mash, who had rushed in, lowered their arms and looked around, the alley was empty.
"...Gone?" Fujimaru Ritsuka rubbed her eyes, exchanging a look of astonishment with Mash.
Fujimaru Ritsuka asked, somewhat puzzled, "Who was that just now?"
"And what did he mean by that?"
She seemed to understand, yet also somewhat confused. Could this enigmatic figure just leave the singularity?
Lemuen stared at the spot where the old man had stood, recalling his words.
"The Descendants... It should be about us. It seems we have indeed changed many destinies, but whether for better or worse, we haven't reached the final stage yet; we still don't know."
Lemuen smiled and then reached out to push Mash, Fujimaru Ritsuka, and Anna out of the alley.
"Alright, stop overthinking!"
Lemuen's voice carried a light laugh, cleverly dispelling the heaviness they felt.
"Just think of it as being lucky enough to encounter a mysterious, reclusive master in Uruk!"
Lemuen blinked, mimicking the old man's solemn tone, "Didn't he say... At the final moment, when the string of fate is stretched to its limit—yes, the most crucial moment—he will bestow upon you kind and impulsive girls the reward you deserve!"
Lemuen gently patted Fujimaru Ritsuka and Mashu's shoulders.
"So, don't overthink it, just look forward to that moment! Maybe it'll be a big surprise!"
Fujimaru Ritsuka smiled, a hint of amusement in her voice, "Can I make a wish? I hope that surprise will help us defeat Tiamat."
Lemuen's lips curved into a smile. Her voice was soft, but resolute:
"We will win."
Warm moments always fly by, especially in these crucial moments.
...
Ereshkigal caught the collapsing figure firmly in her arms.
Luo Tianyi's face was pale, her breathing so weak it was almost imperceptible. Even before her consciousness sank completely into the abyss of darkness, her cracked lips moved unconsciously, uttering broken murmurs:
"Quick...just...a little bit...don't...fall..."
The mistress of the underworld lowered her head, her eyes fixed on the exhausted girl in her arms, a tender, doting light appearing deep within her gaze.
Ereshkigal clearly saw the others' efforts, her perseverance, her recklessness.
This pure and powerful will moved even the goddess who wielded death.
She raised her hand and gently brushed away the sweat-dampened strands of hair from Luo Tianyi's forehead, her movements as careful as brushing dust from a precious jewel.
"Well done, Tianyi." Ereshkigal's voice echoed in the vast Underworld.
"Your mission is perfectly accomplished. You have done your utmost to open the passage to the Underworld."
Ereshkigal gazed at the expansive Underwold before her.
"The rest, leave it to us."
Uruk—
Ereshkigal gently placed Luo Tianyi on the soft bed. After doing so, she went outside the room and looked at the waiting Servants and the people in the chat group.
Ereshkigal took a deep breath, met everyone's gaze, and solemnly nodded.
"The opening of the Underwold is complete!"
Everyone present nodded solemnly.
Within the Reality Marble.
Kevin didn't know how much time had passed, nor did he have time to think about it. Even after pulling Tiamat into the Reality Marble, he couldn't cause her any harm.
What should have been a clear sunny day seemed to be covered by some kind of black substance.
The vast grasslands that once symbolized life beneath their feet had now been reduced to a desolate, black, scorched wasteland.
Tiamat, the goddess of creation, stood majestically at the center of the barrier, her colossal form writhing in black mud that spread and eroded like a plague.
Over ninety percent of the entire Realized Boundary was covered and assimilated by this chaotic black mud, emitting a chilling gurgling sound.
But!
As long as that sun hasn't set!
The Goddess of Creation cannot advance an inch!
But when Kevin saw an urgent message pop up in the chat group, his taut nerves suddenly relaxed.
An indescribable weariness instantly swept over his limbs, so heavy he almost felt like he was falling from the sky.
"Hah...hah..." A laugh escaped his throat, carrying a sense of relief.
"One day...time..."
He did it.
He, with a mortal body, fought against the Mother Goddess of Creation, securing that crucial...final day!
—
On the walls of Uruk.
The brief respite and moments of warmth receded like the tide. After saying goodbye to their loved ones and eating food filled with heartfelt sentiment, the soldiers gripped their weapons once more and stepped onto their battlefield.
All those who would be fighting tonight were on the walls.
Lemuen sent an urgent message and awaited a reply.
Seconds after she sent the message, a message pop-up appeared in the chat window.
[Fire Moth Warrior]: The rest is up to you.
The message was concise to the extreme, yet carried an immense weight.
Lemuen looked up, meeting Gilgamesh's gaze. Without a word, she nodded solemnly.
Gilgamesh stepped forward, and then, his voice, infused with magic and the will of a king, resounded like a great bell:
"All, heed my command!"
"The final battle..."
"Begin now!"
As his roar, announcing a turning point in destiny, fell—
Rumble!!!
On the distant horizon, space twisted violently as if torn apart by a tremendous force! A colossal figure, carrying a primal pressure that made all things tremble, slowly emerged from the spatial rift!
The goddess of creation—Tiamat!
After being delayed by Kevin for a day… She returned!
The moment she appeared, it was as if a volcano, its pent-up energy finally finding its outlet! The black mud that had accumulated beside her, like a raging torrent, transformed into towering black waves, roaring with destructive force, and erupted forth, crashing mercilessly against the walls of Uruk!
The entire earth groaned in agony, the sky howled in despair! The final battle—at this moment—began its blood-stained curtain!
...