Amber was still lost in thought, completely unaware that Ritsuka and Mashu nearby had quietly let out a sigh of relief.
Just moments before, for some unknown reason, even though the Celestial's attitude and appearance hadn't changed, she somehow felt... distant, almost like when they had first met.
Though the Celestial had always been a woman of few words, Ritsuka knew well that the look in her eyes had always held a certain warmth.
But after they defeated Ereshkigal in the underworld, the Celestial had acted as though Ereshkigal's condition didn't matter at all.
No, not 'as though'—it genuinely hadn't mattered to her.
Ishtar and Ereshkigal, even Gilgamesh, had been captivated by that suddenly-appearing old man, but Ritsuka had kept her attention on what felt off.
That Celestial from before... it was like she had become a different person.
But now, she seemed to be deep in thought, probably preoccupied with something, given her unusually troubled expression.
"So, you're back."
As they entered the ziggurat, Gilgamesh was already seated upon his throne. His face showed no joy of resurrection, instead, it was clouded with gloom.
"Did something happen, King Gilgamesh?" Ritsuka glanced around, noticing the absence of the three from the Chaldea group and Ana. "Where are Ana and Merlin?"
"That is precisely what I was about to address."
Gilgamesh's voice was steady and clear.
"Uruk's final hour is upon us. The true Tiamat has broken free from the bounds of the imaginary number space and descended into reality! Quetzalcoatl has already taken the Axe of Marduk and headed there, while the Herrscher of Sentience and the three heroes from the Northern Wall are holding the front line."
"Tiamat!?" Ritsuka gasped in shock.
"You mean Mother is out!?" Ishtar stared, dumbfounded. "Hey, hey! This is no joke! If our opponent is Mother, don't we stand zero chance!?"
"Though I am aware your personality has undergone changes, such a defeatist remark is something I cannot ignore!"
Gilgamesh roared, "Correct! The enemy is indeed a foe beyond our strength to confront head-on, much like Quetzalcoatl and Ereshkigal! However, if the Phoenix Celestial joins the fray, I believe our chances of victory are not insignificant!"
Gilgamesh turned his gaze to Amber.
"The blow you used to defeat Ereshkigal not only severed her attack but her consciousness as well. Though the protection of the underworld allowed her to recover swiftly, its effectiveness was undeniable."
"..." Thinking of that blue-haired figure, Amber shook her head.
"It might work on ordinary life, but Tiamat is a deity who has existed within imaginary number space for who knows how long. If she has already fully adapted to that environment, my attack may not have any effect on her."
Gilgamesh frowned, not having expected such a reply, but he quickly shook his head.
"No matter. Expecting an easy victory was nothing but a delusion... It would be just as well for you to go with the goal of gathering intelligence. The Persian Gulf is far from Uruk; there is no need to decide the outcome in a single engagement. While you search for Tiamat's weakness, assist Leonidas in the interception efforts."
"Understood!" Ritsuka nodded firmly.
Seeing this, Gilgamesh's mood improved considerably. With a grand wave of his hand, he declared, "Then set out at once! The battle plan has been explained! The next time we meet in combat, it shall be Uruk's final battle!"
His voice brimmed with vigor and confidence, not only because he had been restored to peak condition by the elixir upon his revival, but also because the current situation far exceeded his initial expectations.
In his original predictions, Leonidas, that strongest shield, would fall. Ushiwakamaru would fall. The Axe of Marduk would be destroyed after its use. Yet now, the reality was entirely different.
Not only had none of the Servants under his command been lost since Chaldea's arrival, but Quetzalcoatl remained in perfect condition, the Axe of Marduk was intact, and they had gained two incredibly powerful allies—the Phoenix Celestial and the Herrscher of Sentience.
With such an illustrious lineup, he could scarcely imagine defeat.
The group quickly departed the ziggurat. Ishtar could carry one person using Maanna, whose unique properties allowed it to completely nullify wind pressure, so she took Ritsuka with her.
Amber's method of carrying someone while flying was more straightforward and brute-forced, relying entirely on her spiritual energy to lift the person along.
Without Merlin here to cast spells and reduce the wind pressure, it wasn't suitable for carrying Ritsuka, with her ordinary human constitution, so she took Mashu instead.
All four of them knew the situation was critical, leaving no room for delay. They flew at their absolute top speed.
Both women were top-tier in terms of ability. While Amber was, on paper, the more powerful of the two, Ishtar was, after all, the Goddess of Heaven. Riding in her wind-pressure-ignoring celestial boat, she managed to keep pace with Amber without falling behind.
Pushing themselves to the limit, they covered the distance from Uruk to the Persian Gulf at the edge of the continent in just one hour.
The Persian Gulf was no longer a sight of clear blue waters. Instead, their eyes met a chaotic sea of interwoven black and red.
One black monster after another leaped from the surface, cackling maniacally as they assaulted the Servants on the shore.
At the very front line on land was the Herrscher of Sentience, who appeared to be handling things with ease, yet couldn't quite conceal the irritation on her face. The monsters were no match for her, being pulverized into bloody mists with just a punch or a kick.
And Amber knew exactly why she was so annoyed.
While these black monsters were mere cannon fodder for the Herrscher, the same couldn't be said for the other Servants.
Quetzalcoatl was fine, of course—any monster that came at her met a swift end. But the three Servants from the Northern Wall were clearly struggling against the horde.
It wasn't that they were weak. Individually, these monsters were foes they could dispatch in two or three moves. But... there were just too many.
The moment one was dealt with, three or four more swarmed in. Trying to attack one meant leaving an opening for another. Under such circumstances, simply protecting themselves was a strenuous task, let alone fighting back. Both Ushiwakamaru and Benkei were visibly overwhelmed. Leonidas should have been able to handle it more easily, but...
Innumerable gold-and-crimson shields formed a continuous, unbroken wall, preventing any black monster from breaking through. This was Leonidas's Noble Phantasm. By deploying it, he was holding back the entire monster army from making landfall, but at a great cost.
The Herrscher of Sentience wanted to go after Tiamat herself, but she was forced to rush back and forth, aiding her hard-pressed allies. Even with Quetzalcoatl assisting Leonidas, she still had to cover the other two. It was no wonder her mood had soured.
"Let's get down there and help too."
Ishtar spoke up, two shining gemstones appearing in her hands, greatly amplifying her magical energy.
"Maanna!"
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T/N: While I am an inexperienced Translator, I have a Patreon! While it may seem empty as of now, webnovel will get 3 Chapters Every Day, and advanced chapters will be uploaded on Patreon.
It may not seem worth it now, but maybe in the future. Who knows!
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If you guys wanna check it out.