Before Uruk's temple stretched a vast plaza, usually reserved for priests performing rituals and offering prayers to the gods. Today, however, it was overflowing—crowds spilling beyond the plaza into the surrounding streets, while countless soldiers stood in organized ranks, guarding both the temple and the gathered masses.
The reason for such an unprecedented scene was simple.
Their king had summoned them—all the people of Uruk.
Though Ophis had once waged great wars and continued expanding the army even after those conflicts—consuming immense manpower and resources—her rule over the city-state itself was nearly flawless.
Yet despite that near-perfection, Ophis rarely appeared before her people. Even when Enkidu had been alive, her public appearances were scarce; after his death, she had become almost completely reclusive.
In other words, before today, aside from a handful of high-ranking officials handling critical matters or soldiers accompanying her in battle, almost no one had ever seen Ophis in person.
Thus, though this sudden summons shocked many, curiosity about their mysterious monarch drove nearly all of Uruk's citizens to gather.
Gradually, the noisy crowd fell silent, prompted by murmurs to turn their eyes toward the temple's highest point.
There stood Ophis—expressionless, robed in black embroidered with crimson, a black circlet resting upon her head.
"People of Uruk—my subjects."
Amplified by Merlin's magic behind her, her voice carried clearly across the entire city. Even those far from the temple could hear her every word.
"I am Ophis, the one and only King of Uruk. Surely none among you doubt this truth."
She scanned the crowd below. The people remained still, unmoved by such formal words—an expected prelude every ruler seemed bound to recite. They simply waited for what came next.
"You must be wondering why I have recently acted in ways that seem irrational—why I've uprooted countless lives, forcing many to relocate."
Her gaze shifted toward the clusters of refugees from other city-states. By now, their resentment toward her had faded, though neither had it turned to loyalty.
"Perhaps, in your eyes, Uruk appears peaceful and prosperous, and my recent actions seem pointless. The growing number of demonic beast incursions might look like mere temporary disturbances, nothing capable of threatening our city. I don't blame you for thinking that way. Your vision has always been… too narrow."
As she continued, Ophis's tone rose in strength.
"People of Uruk—do you know how fragile, how false, your so-called peace truly is? Do you realize the wrath of the gods is nearly upon us? That Uruk will soon be destroyed beneath their tyranny?"
A wave of shock and panic swept through the crowd.
"Shock, fear, resentment… Yes, these must be your feelings now, correct? But no matter how you rage or despair, it changes nothing. Uruk will fall—this future is absolute, inevitable, inescapable."
Ophis raised her voice again, her commanding tone cutting through the growing uproar.
"Yes. No matter what happens, Uruk is fated to be destroyed, and you will all perish. How you face that end is none of my concern. Run, indulge yourselves, or sigh as you descend into the underworld—I will not interfere. But!"
She spread her arms wide, releasing a surge of spiritual energy that silenced the plaza, every eye fixed upon her.
"But tell me—are you truly willing to accept that? To live and die as slaves of the gods, puppets dancing to their whims, meeting meaningless ends at their senseless rage? Or will you take up your own weapons—rise in defiance, and in your final moments strike back with all the fury you've held inside?"
When she finished, her aura receded, and she swept her gaze once more over the silent crowd.
"No matter your choice, I promise you this—Uruk will stand as your final, safest refuge… until the end arrives."
With those last words, Ophis turned and entered the temple. Merlin and Medea followed behind, leaving the plaza to erupt into chaos once more.
...
"Wow, King Ophis, that was quite the performance. You truly looked the part of a king."
Merlin's teasing tone earned only silence at first.
"It seems those mirror rehearsals these past few days paid off~"
For a brief moment, Ophis seriously considered erasing him from existence.
A swift, decisive kick sent Merlin flying out of the temple. Only then did Ophis exhale softly.
"That should be enough… right?"
[Relax. You've fulfilled your duty to them. Whatever choices they make, the end result won't change.]
"Won't change… huh?"
Ophis murmured as she gazed through the window at Uruk's sprawling cityscape below.
"Inori… is there really no way?"
[…]
"Inori?"
[Honestly, you startled me just now. I never thought you'd say something like that. Usually, once a fate is decided, no matter how tragic, your will to resist never burns that strongly.]
"Perhaps… you're right."
Ophis fell silent, momentarily unsure. Even she didn't know why she'd asked that question.
[Feeling lost, are we?]
"Maybe… it's because this is the city Enkidu loved."
She shook her head slightly, coming to that quiet realization.
[Ah, Enkidu again. Really… I was the one who found you first, who taught you first. But I can't deny that person gave everything to guide you. Still, this question of yours—are you sure it's truly because of Enkidu?]
Ophis didn't answer right away. The silence lingered.
"I… don't know…"
In the end, her answer was the same as always.
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T/N: bonus chaps tomorrow
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