Chapter 270: Ereshkigal Holding Back Completely
"Alright, that's enough of the casual chatting."
Ishtar directly draped an arm over Xia Yu's shoulders. "I'll leave Ereshkigal to you guys. That useless King over there is a dead man and won't be of any use. I have to keep an eye on this restless fellow."
"Do your best, Ereshkigal's palace is right ahead!"
She pointed toward a massive plaza ahead, where only two columns stood. "I have high hopes for you guys."
"Wait, why is it so cold?!" Fujimaru Ritsuka sneered and sneezed.
"This place is completely a wasteland," Mash said, looking at the desolate plaza before them. "Where is the palace?"
"This is the so-called Underworld," Gilgamesh spoke up upon hearing this. "In this place, there is nothing magnificent..."
He raised his head to look at the two tall stone pillars ahead. "Am I right?"
The moment his words fell, arcs of blue magical energy splattered from the stone pillars, and countless chills carrying a desolate white light diffused toward the surroundings.
Then, a dash of red rose abruptly from the ground, gathering toward the sky and forming a massive core.
"Gazing upon the dark sky, Queen of the Gallu Spirits," Gilgamesh continued, "reveal your true face!"
"Wait, this atmospheric pressure..." The Doctor over in Chaldea looked at the data in front of him and cried out in surprise, "It has already reached 500 hPa!"
"A drop in temperature caused by adiabatic cooling?" Da Vinci-chan furrowed her brows, worrying aloud, "The apparent temperature is probably only minus six degrees, and it's still continuously dropping!"
"It will soon approach the absolute limit of vital activity!" the Doctor said anxiously. "Ritsuka, leave that place immediately!"
The others didn't fear this, but Fujimaru Ritsuka was different.
But it was already too late. That massive Gallu Spirit had fully manifested itself—a white skeleton, a blood-red body, several massive skulls adorning the form, and a pure white veil draped over its shoulders. Evil and holiness combined together in absolute harmony.
"This chill..." Even Mash's shield began to freeze over.
This was bad...
"Fear, and pray!"
Ereshkigal spoke up. "Plunge into despair, humans!"
"I am the administrator of death, the Mistress of the Underworld! One who Embraces the Sacred Peak! Ereshkigal!"
Appearing before the Chaldea group using the form of a Gallu Spirit, Ereshkigal's emotions were highly complex.
On one hand, as a goddess who loved humans, she admired heroes who fought for the future of humanity, just like Quetzalcoatl did.
On the other hand, she was the enemy standing on the opposing side.
'Humans are foolish,' such were Ereshkigal's thoughts.
'Humans cannot escape the pain of living and the fear of death, but as long as it is within the Age of Gods, this kind of pain can be alleviated, because there exist things that humanity cannot understand here.'
'Blaming the many instances of unreasonableness and the cruelty of the world on the gods, allowing themselves to live open-mindedly... I have always believed this way of existence to be good.'
'A person like me... cannot treat humans gently...'
Her gaze bypassed the two individuals who had prepared for battle, looking toward the white-haired girl behind them.
As if perceiving her gaze, the girl named Kiana raised her hand and waved at her, but she was quickly pulled back down by the foolish Ishtar beside her.
"How is it? Are you in despair, human?" She lowered her head, looking down at the tiny Master below. Kiana had mentioned her many times before, and it was clear she highly admired this person named Fujimaru Ritsuka.
Of course, it was undeniable that as a savior, she had indeed overcome the hardships and obstacles along the way to arrive here... she was naturally incomparably dazzling!
"I won't despair!" Ritsuka took a deep breath, speaking to the massive Skeleton Goddess, "Ereshkigal, I hope you can release King Gilgamesh back to the surface!"
Speaking up to this point, she extended a hand toward the goddess. "Save Uruk together with us!"
Ever since discovering that Big Sister Kiana cared deeply about Ereshkigal, she had already made up her mind that she absolutely had to pull her over to their side as well, at the very least to increase their chances of victory.
As for how to accomplish it... she could only take things as they came.
"Big Sister Kiana said that you aren't an evil goddess. You are very gentle and kind, we can..."
The lance in the massive Skeleton Goddess's hand, which radiated a holy golden light, smashed into the ground.
"My choice will not change!"
"There are still two days before Gorgon attacks Uruk again. I will capture Uruk and seize the Great Cup before she does!"
As for how she knew, it was because Kingu had contacted her, wanting to join forces to launch an attack.
Then Ereshkigal decisively sold him out. After all, within the so-called Three Goddess Alliance, only Gorgon's faction was diligently executing the mission to destroy Uruk.
The other two were maintaining an outward show while secretly executing their own plans.
"I will kill all humans in Mesopotamia and gather their souls in the Underworld! I will make all humans my private property! This is the first decision that the goddess Ereshkigal has made purely of her own volition!"
Her gaze bypassed Fujimaru Ritsuka, looking toward the moon-white figure in the back.
'How about it? A person like me... how will you view me then?'
"I don't believe it," Xia Yu didn't speak, but Ritsuka directly voiced her rebuttal. "You wouldn't do such a thing at all!"
"This isn't out of trust in you—in fact, I don't understand you at all—but I trust Big Sister Kiana. Her judgment can never be wrong!"
Is that so? Is that your answer?
Hearing this, Ereshkigal thrust her lance into the ground once more. A simple magecraft triggered; along with the separation of several cracks, a massive piece of rock instantly thrust out directly in front of Fujimaru Ritsuka.
It was then smashed apart by a shield from the alert Mash.
Before they could even prepare themselves, the massive Skeleton Goddess raised her lance, and with a sweep of the weapon, two massive stones flew directly toward the pair.
Mash exerted herself to block in front of Fujimaru Ritsuka, shattering the stone pillars with her shield once more.
"Hey, I say... she's holding back, right?" Ishtar leaned close to Xia Yu's ear upon seeing this and whispered, "She is definitely holding back, right!"
Her tone carried a subtle annoyance. Why did you hold back an entire Pacific Ocean for others, but when I came to find you, you first used seven gates to strip away my Divine Authority, and after stripping me naked and dragging me before you, you stabbed me to death with a lance!
You fellow... are we even sisters?
Looking at her puffed-up cheeks, Xia Yu helplessly patted the back of her hand.
Was Ereshkigal holding back?
The answer was definitely yes. After all, looking at how she fought Tiamat later, under her full power she could even briefly seal Tiamat, creating an opportunity for Fujimaru Ritsuka to defeat the Beast.
Yet look at what she was doing now. As a goddess, her method of attack was literally picking up a lance to fling stone pillars at people... This wasn't just holding back; she was holding back an entire Pacific Ocean!
Seriously, Ereshkigal probably didn't feel good inside either.
The reason she joined the Three Goddess Alliance was entirely because she couldn't see any hope of saving Uruk. After all, she wasn't Ishtar; she couldn't walk freely upon the earth.
She could only stay forever in this dark, sunless Underworld, unable to save anyone. And even if she could go out, what of it? Who among Quetzalcoatl and Gorgon was a weakling? And the mother who called them here that they spoke of... who could defeat the hidden Tiamat?
Within the Underworld, she was the supreme Mistress, but once outside the Underworld, she was merely a goddess of medium divine power. At most, she could defeat Gorgon, but she couldn't even beat Ishtar. What could she possibly do?
But how could the kind Ereshkigal watch the humans of Uruk die out completely with her own eyes?
Therefore, out of necessity, she made a cruel decision in her despair: if she couldn't save the physical bodies of the people of Uruk, she would at least save their souls. Even if she was hated, even if she was cursed, at the very least, there would forever be a place for humanity within this Underworld.
But now, watching the final human Master come here to save the world, watching her unite various forces bit by bit—Ishtar, Kiana, and even the one from South America standing by her side—the hope of victory no longer seemed bleak...
Naturally, her heart wavered. If Uruk could truly be saved, she wouldn't have to force herself to cold-bloodedly kill so many people!
This attitude reflected in her combat power, resulting in a goddess who could only throw stones at people.
Gilgamesh raised an eyebrow at the sight, having already guessed her attitude.
Come to think of it, his impression of the Mistress of the Underworld was much better than his impression of Ishtar. After all, she was genuinely and diligently protecting human souls in the Underworld for thousands of years.
Thus, he directly summoned his large axe. Ripples surged behind him, and several weapons chopped the stone pillars flying toward Fujimaru Ritsuka into pieces.
'As expected, I wasn't sanctioned by the Underworld's Authority,' Gilgamesh's expression turned subtle.
At first, he had prepared himself to only be a bystander in the battle. After all, he was currently a dead man, completely countered by her, and on her territory. A single thought from Ereshkigal could prevent him from doing anything.
Yet now she still allowed him to participate in the battle... So was she looking for a reason to defect to Uruk's side?
True, it would be far too embarrassing for a dignified goddess to surrender after just a few words of persuasion. In any case, they had to have a bout first.
What? You're asking about Ishtar?
Heh, why compare anyone to the disgrace of goddesses?
"Watch me turn you all into kebabs!" Ereshkigal shouted fiercely, but even with Gilgamesh participating in the battle, she was still throwing stones...
"This idiot!" Ishtar covered her forehead. "Damn it, I can't even watch this anymore!"
"Can this acting be any faker? At least deploy a few grand magecrafts for real! Throwing stones... to think she came up with that! It's too embarrassing for a goddess!"
"Look at that lance!" Gilgamesh said loudly upon seeing this. "As long as we break that lance, we can approach her!"
In reality it was impossible, but he was certain Ereshkigal would cooperate.
"Ah! I really can't watch this anymore!" Ishtar completely couldn't sit still anymore. On the field, probably only Fujimaru Ritsuka and Mash were actually tense.
"You wait here, you aren't allowed to move!" She gave Xia Yu a look and instructed, "I'm going to meet her!"
"Don't go..." Xia Yu reached out her hand wanting to pull her back, but unfortunately Ishtar slipped away very quickly.
"You're going to be focused on..." Before she could finish her sentence, Ishtar had already rushed forward.
Then, Ereshkigal got energized the moment she saw her. Having been throwing stones all this time, she suddenly started opening with grand magecraft, and countless light bullets shot toward Ishtar.
Sigh, she didn't attack Ritsuka and Mash because they were weak; she didn't get serious against Gilgamesh because Uruk couldn't do without him; but you, who shared an old grudge with Ereshkigal... rushing up at this time, aren't you just serving as a target for her?
Ereshkigal didn't want to act so fake either, but looking at Mash and Ritsuka, she was truly afraid of accidentally killing them if she wasn't careful, and Gilgamesh was far too important. So, being wary of damaging the vessels, what else could she do?
She could only throw stones and put on a show.
But now, the durable and beat-resistant Ishtar had rushed up... didn't she just walk right into the line of fire?
'Just now when you and Kiana were stuck together, it wasn't easy for me to strike, fearing it would affect her. Now that you've come out by yourself, don't blame me for being ruthless!'
'How dare you constantly think about my person all day!'
These past few days, whenever she had time at night, she would go chat with Kiana, deeply afraid that this only person standing on her side would be abducted by Ishtar.
Now settling new and old scores together, her strikes were both ruthless and fast!
Then she swept Mash away with her lance on the fly, and Gilgamesh's attack slammed directly onto her body.
"The attacks of the dead won't work on me at all!" she said with some annoyance, meaning that putting on a show was enough, don't push your luck.
Meanwhile, Gilgamesh on the other side also casually fabricated a line, "Although This King is among the dead, I can also condemn a god based on kingship!"
It was just nonsense. After all, the fact that the attacks of the dead wouldn't work was something he had personally stated earlier.
"Ereshkigal," several golden lights lit up behind him, "why did you join the Goddess Alliance!"
On the surface it was a questioning, but in reality it was reminding Fujimaru Ritsuka to hurry up with the talk-no-jutsu! Don't drag it out any longer!
After all, don't forget, there was still the variable that was Kiana nearby. Who knew what she would do!
"As a god of Sumer, your duty is to protect Sumerian culture and civilization. Do you intend to deny this!"
This was reminding her that it was about enough, stop acting...
Hearing this, Ereshkigal also helplessly dispersed the light spear in her hand, putting on an appearance of having been defeated by them.
But her mouth remained stubborn, "I am Ereshkigal, the goddess entrusted with the Underworld. Bringing all humans and all souls into the Underworld is my mission!"
"I have fulfilled my duties with all my heart and soul! I have no regrets or complaints about this, much less self-reproach!"
These words were less about convincing them and more about convincing herself.
"Hey, you fellow!" Just then, Ishtar finally broke free from the attacks. Good grief, you show mercy to them, but unleash heavy punches on me, is that it?
Just now, if she hadn't paid attention for a second, she almost would have been elbowed into a crash!
"Just how long are you going to keep talking to yourself!"
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