If one were to describe the abilities of "Enkidu's" current vessel, there was only one phrase:
Overwhelmingly powerful.
The Bull of Heaven, crafted by the gods, could annihilate all of Mesopotamia in a single night if it unleashed its full power without interference from Ophis and the others.
Yet Enkidu, likewise a divine weapon forged by the gods—though not built for pure destruction—possessed strength that surpassed even that divine beast.
Her most powerful strike might not look spectacular—no mountains shattering or earth splitting—but spectacle and true power are two different things.
One thrust from Enkidu in spear form had such penetration that it could punch straight through the Abif mountain range—already half-ruined by Ishtar—from end to end. Given enough time, she could even turn the moon into a honeycomb. The threat spoke for itself.
An attack of that caliber, of course, didn't slow for an instant—it pierced straight through Ophis.
"I am untouchable… That's who I was before meeting Enkidu."
Without blocking or dodging, Ophis smiled, almost nostalgic.
The Ouroboros carried the concept of independent untouchability. With a bit of manipulation, Ophis could make an opponent's attack intangible, or allow it to pass harmlessly through her. Isolation cut both ways, of course—she couldn't strike others either.
For Ophis, it was less about isolating others than about ignoring their very existence. She chose to demonstrate it through intangibility.
Even an absolute killing blow against the concepts of Dragons, recreated by "Enkidu," failed to leave a single mark on her.
"Now, while I'm still the 'King,' it's only toward you, Enkidu…"
Turning, Ophis smiled softly at the golden light that stopped against all inertia, gradually reshaping into a human form.
"…That I'll choose to block."
"Untouchable, huh… So you can't attack me now, can you? Is the mighty King planning to settle this by a staring contest?"
Back in human form, "Enkidu" mocked her, irritated.
Ordinarily, her emotions wouldn't swing so wildly—but right now, she couldn't hold them back.
Ophis gave a small shake of her head.
As for staring contests… they'd had plenty of those in the past—or rather, that had been their norm.
But the past was the past; the present was the present.
"First, two hundred."
While isolated from the world, Ophis couldn't touch anything outside herself—but preparations made before entering that state were another matter entirely.
"What!?"
"Enkidu" jolted as two hundred magic circles bloomed from thin air around her, and a purple tide of mana swallowed her whole.
"I never intended to fight Enkidu seriously."
A golden key appeared in Ophis's hand, red circuit-like lines firing from it into the sky.
In the next instant, purple magic detonated outward. "Enkidu," green hair whipping, summoned nearly a hundred weapons so sharp even the gods would avoid their edge, arrayed behind her.
"Enkidu, Enkidu… that's enough…"
"Next, five hundred."
Another chain of explosions. Purple radiance consumed Enkidu again.
"I'm not Enkidu… I'm not Enkidu… Die, die, die!!!"
Golden beams burst from the magical blast, aimed straight at Ophis's petite frame.
Ophis didn't move. Golden ripples released the same number of Noble Phantasms of equal rank, intercepting the weapons "Enkidu" had created.
Nearly a hundred more explosions.
Just as the red circuitry converged into a sphere and a golden handle began to surface, "Enkidu" burst through the blasts and struck with her palm.
Ophis hesitated, chose not to seize the handle, and let it sink back. She parried "Enkidu's" strike and kicked her skyward.
But from beneath Ophis's feet, several silver chains glowing gold shot upward. Forced to leap, she narrowly avoided the Chains of Heaven.
"Hah… so your ability does have a flaw?"
"Enkidu" looked a bit calmer—perhaps only because she was panting in midair from exhaustion.
Ophis answered with silence.
Indeed, compared to her already absurd "Infinity," her other innate Ouroboros traits were slightly suppressed. Using them properly demanded practice and familiarity.
For example, her "Untouchability" had a slight delay of a few seconds. If she were fighting seriously, she could compensate with precise, high-speed calculations—but now, part of her attention stayed fixed on Uruk.
After all, sneaking out like this and then getting dragged into a fight by Merlin was reckless enough.
Ophis mocked herself inwardly.
"Enkidu's" vessel seemed influenced by her in some ways—but hadn't she fallen prey to something similar?
At the sight of "Enkidu," she'd leapt straight into battle on impulse.
Still, since she'd started this fight, she would see it through.
"Again—one thousand."
Countless magic circles filled the sky, pouring merciless fire on "Enkidu," trapped at their center.
"No matter how many times you try this, it's meaningless!"
"Enkidu" threw her arms wide. Two golden beams pierced through the barrage toward Ophis, while countless chains spiraled from her palms to intercept the magical storm.
Ophis let the two Noble Phantasms pass through her—but "Enkidu" was already upon her, hand turning to a blade that slashed straight at Ophis.
Under Ophis's startled gaze, her supposedly intangible body was… cut clean in two.
"Enkidu," who had clearly expected this, didn't even blink. She swung again, intent on quartering Ophis.
Frowning, Ophis drew a golden longsword from her treasury and caught the next blow.
Seeing "Enkidu's" blank face, Ophis suddenly laughed.
"So that's it…"
Indeed, if anyone alive could bypass her "Untouchability," Enkidu would be one of them.
Just as dragon-blooded weapons harm dragons.
And yet… in your current state…
"You still insist you're not Enkidu? It's not exactly a lie, but under these circumstances, it's not convincing at all."
In the next instant, sword and palm collided, mana erupting.
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