"..."
Staring at the scene before them, Rozen, Mash, and Altera all fell silent.
The trio had already entered a city and were now standing in its center.
However, the city before them had already become a ruin.
All the buildings had collapsed, reduced to shattered remnants.
The ground was scattered with clay pots, earthenware jars, and various other tools.
Bloodstains were visible all around, but they had already turned dark, likely baked and washed by the sun and rain over time.
This was the scene that unfolded before Rozen and the others — a landscape of utter destruction.
"Was all this caused by those magical beasts?"
Mash asked, her voice heavy with emotion.
"Probably,"
Rozen replied, his tone similarly subdued.
There was no helping it. Even if they had seen worse tragedies before, something about this one felt... off.
Altera's ruby-red eyes swept across the area, and she soon gave her conclusion.
"There are bloodstains, but no human bodies anywhere. Were they eaten by those beasts?"
Indeed.
Though the city had been reduced to ruins and blood was everywhere, for some reason, not a single human corpse could be found.
And that — was what made it so strange.
"Even if they were devoured, there should still be some bones or remains left behind. For nothing at all to remain… it's downright creepy."
Rozen muttered quietly.
Back during the First Singularity, Jeanne [Alter] had ordered her wyvern army to ravage all of France — razing cities and devouring humans.
But even then, some traces were left behind.
The situation now was similar to the First Singularity — but felt even more eerie.
"Where did those magical beasts come from?"
"Have all humans of this era been attacked by them?"
"Are there any survivors?"
"These... are the questions we now need to investigate."
Rozen didn't linger. He began walking forward as he spoke.
Mash and Altera silently followed.
"Are we still going to Uruk, Senpai?"
Mash asked quietly.
"Of course," Rozen responded without hesitation. "We must go to Uruk. If even that place has been reduced to ruins, then it would mean humanity of this era might truly be finished."
As the central city of this time period, Uruk's condition was crucial.
"Looks like we can't waste any more time. You two return to spirit form — I'll fly us there directly."
Rozen made his decision.
If possible, he would have used Space Manipulation Magic to teleport directly to Uruk. But since he had never been there before, and could only roughly estimate its direction and position from the map, he couldn't pinpoint the coordinates accurately. A forced teleport might result in a massive deviation.
In that case, flying there was more reliable.
"Yes!"
Mash agreed without hesitation, nodding firmly.
Once she and Altera dematerialized, they could accompany Rozen on his flight to Uruk.
But before that...
"You over there — come out."
Rozen suddenly stopped and turned, speaking toward a certain direction nearby.
"...!"
Mash and Altera stopped at once and turned to face where Rozen was looking.
Mash raised her shield, materializing it in her grip as she subtly guarded Rozen.
Altera also raised her Sword of Mars, staring coldly in the same direction.
The air instantly grew tense — like a drawn sword ready to strike.
Then—
"Please don't be alarmed. I'm not your enemy."
A calm and gentle voice echoed into their ears.
Moments later, a figure slowly stepped out from behind the ruins of a nearby structure.
It was someone with long, straight, light-green hair that shimmered faintly with a soft glow.
They wore a simple, classical white robe and walked barefoot.
Externally, they looked to be around sixteen or seventeen years old, with features so delicate and androgynous that they could have easily passed for either a handsome boy or a beautiful girl. There was an aura about them — a charm that transcended common sense and gender.
Mash blinked in surprise before speaking.
"Who are you?"
But it was not the mysterious figure who answered — it was Altera.
"You're mistaken, Shield Knight," Altera said coldly, eyes fixed on the figure. "That's not a human."
Not... human?
What did she mean?
Mash froze in confusion.
The meaning behind Altera's words, however, was simple.
"He's like me — a weapon created for battle, cast upon the earth."
Altera's icy words made the tense atmosphere grow even heavier.
Rozen narrowed his eyes, studying the figure.
Under the observation of his Mind's Eye, the figure's spiritual aura was clearly not human.
In fact, it wasn't even quite divine. Rather, it resembled nature itself — the earth, the world.
When this person appeared, it was as if they were completely one with the surrounding environment, seamlessly blending into nature itself.
Rozen was certain. This being was neither human, nor a Servant, nor a Phantasmal Species.
Altera's assessment was accurate.
They were a weapon.
And Rozen had a good idea of who they were.
There was only one legendary figure in Mesopotamian mythology that matched this description.
A divine weapon created by the gods to counter Gilgamesh, who later became his closest companion.
They were the Injunction Shackles meant to restrain the King of Heroes. Though created as an enemy, they became a friend.
They were the link between Heaven and Earth, regarded by Gilgamesh as one of the strongest beings. Crafted by the hands of the gods, a golem-like entity molded from clay, capable of freely altering its form depending on the situation — every part of its body serving as a weapon of the gods.
This was...
"Enkidu."
Rozen declared the name with firm conviction.
The figure raised an eyebrow — then smiled.
"As expected from the Master who's cleared six Singularities and reached even this Age of Gods — humanity's final hope to restore the Human Order. You saw through my identity at a glance."
Saying this, the figure respectfully bowed to Rozen.
"Please allow me to introduce myself properly."
"As you guessed, I am Enkidu — a divine weapon created by the gods. I am neither human, nor divine, nor a living being. I am nothing more than a humble clay doll."
"I look forward to working with you, Master of Chaldea."