[Age of Gods Legend. After living in the Underworld for some time, you learned about the current situation in Mesopotamia through Erel and the memories of some deceased souls.]
[First, the Gods. After ancient times, the official narrative among the gods was that the Primordial Mother Goddess Tiamat solidified the world by sacrificing herself, creating heaven, earth, and all her children, including the gods, humans, and various Phantasmal Species races.]
[The current King of the Gods is Marduk. The previous king, Anu, no longer involves himself in worldly affairs.]
[Besides them, the atmospheric god Enlil and his wife Ninlil, the moon god Nanna (also known as Nanna-Suen), the plant god Utu (or Shamash), the god of wisdom and water Ea (Enki) are among the first-generation gods like Anu.]
[Following these first-generation gods are the second-generation gods. For example, the sun god Utu (son of the moon god Nanna), the pastoral god Lahar, the agriculture god Ashnan, etc. Even Marduk, the current King of the Gods, is a second-generation god, being the son of the first-generation god Ea.]
[After the second-generation gods come the third-generation gods, which include nature gods who bestow blessings between heaven and earth. For instance, the goddess of nature and fertility Ishtar, the Underworld Goddess Ereshkigal, and some other deities.]
[Gods after the third generation lack sufficient authority or power to be considered true major gods, but they still possess divine attributes and belong to the pantheon.]
[The number of the original first, second, and third-generation gods is not large now, barely over a hundred. In contrast, the lesser affiliated gods are numerous, their descendants multiplying to even hundreds of thousands.]
[This is the collective known as the Gods… the Anunnaki.]
[Beyond the gods are the Humans.]
[On the land of Mesopotamia, humans are the darlings favored by the gods. This land hosts numerous powerful city-states and kings. Humans in various cities sometimes cooperate, sometimes oppose each other, reminiscent of feudal lords in a turbulent era.]
[Because the world was growing increasingly chaotic, the gods created one human to secure human faith.]
[He received blessings from various deities, serving as the 'Keystone of Heaven' created by the gods to unify humanity and subsequently offer their faith back to the gods. His name is Gilgamesh.]
[After his birth, Gilgamesh grew at an astonishing rate. He quickly came to rule many powerful human cities. However, his pride led him to gradually slow his pace and indulge in pleasures.]
[After humans, the last significant existence on this land are the Phantasmal Species.]
[In the most ancient Age of Gods, mystery saturates heaven and earth, a level unimaginable in later eras. Naturally, races long extinct in other times thrive on this land.]
[Fairies, Dragons, Elves, Demons, Beastmen, Gnomes, Vampires... Whether from fantasy or sci-fi, numerous Phantasmal Species reside here. While the population of a single race might not rival humanity's, there are over a hundred different races combined, their total numbers exceeding humanity's. These are the Hundred Races.]
[You usually paid close attention to the humans and Hundred Race's members who arrived in the Underworld, listening to their stories about their nations and races. You gradually gained a comprehensive understanding of the world's inhabitants.]
[On this day, after waking up and looking at Tiamat beside you, you prepared to tell her something.]
"Tia, I want to go to the human world."
"Okay."
Tiamat never doubted or opposed any of Ryuya's decisions. In her view, everything her beloved did was right.
However...
"Tia, you cannot come with me."
"No."
Following Ryuya, loving him, seeing only his figure in her vision, wanting only his presence… In Tiamat's perspective, she cared nothing for the rest of the world. She could agree to any of Ryuya's requests, except him leaving, except him not being there.
She didn't want to return to a world with only herself. She didn't want to see the emptiness of the Sea of Imaginary Numbers again. Losing Ryuya was worse than destroying the entire world.
This was Tiamat's current, obsessive and stubborn, singular thought.
"Tia, listen to me carefully."
Holding Tiamat, Ryuya's voice was gentle, "Tia, even though your Saint Graph has changed, appearing rashly in the human world would still be detected by the gods."
"After all these years, neither of us knows the current thoughts or power level of the gods. Moreover, you've left most of your Saint Graph in the Sea of Imaginary Numbers. I don't want you to face danger."
Feeling Tiamat's emotions stabilize slightly, Ryuya continued, "Tia, believe me. I will eradicate all threats to you in this world. Those gods will inevitably face due punishment."
Having genuinely fallen in love with the lonely Primordial Goddess during their time together, Ryuya would not tolerate the danger posed by the gods hanging over their heads.
Although he felt the true purpose of this Life Simulation scenario might be to strengthen Uruk, whether for Uruk or Tiamat, their enemy was essentially the same… the gods, wasn't it?
Finding the correct path within the simulated life, achieving a truly perfect ending, and ensuring everyone he cared about lived happily, that was Ryuya's original intention.
After hearing Ryuya's words, Tiamat's sorrowful heart found some relief. Knowing her beloved wasn't abandoning her, she wasn't as distraught as before.
But she was still reluctant to part.
"It's alright, Tia."
Holding the lovely, beautiful goddess, Ryuya's voice was soft.
"Going to the human world doesn't mean I won't return. Once I'm settled, I'll find a passage to the Underworld, and we can see each other again then."
After coaxing Tiamat patiently for a long time, Ryuya finally persuaded the Primordial Goddess.
She agreed to let Ryuya go to the human world, but Tiamat had a parting request.
That was...
"Ryu, want..."
Clinging tenderly and closely to Ryuya, Tiamat at this moment yearned for her lover's presence, for a taste that wouldn't fade even over a long time.