[Currently, at the center of the Persian Gulf, Natsukawa continues to unleash heat equivalent to the Holy Sword's release, suppressing the formation of the Chaos Waves]
[At the same time, Arcueid is also exerting her full power to halt Tiamat's movements. The Lahmu that have landed are continuously intercepted by Kingu and Sajyou]
In Uruk's Ziggurat.
Through the magic formula attached to Ritsuka's wrist, Gilgamesh was listening to a direct report from Chaldea.
[The ice mountain's damage level is eight percent, and it has now stopped decreasing—theoretically, it's estimated they can buy at most fifty hours]
Fifty hours.
Roughly aligning with the two days Naoki had mentioned earlier.
Gilgamesh glanced at the mirror standing beside him: "Considering the distance to the Persian Gulf, the actual arrival should be in four days. With this time, is it enough for you to move the Underworld? Ereshkigal."
"Hmm, it's... a bit tight."
In the mirror, Ereshkigal in the Underworld nodded.
To complete preparations against Tiamat while Naoki held her back, everyone who could act in Uruk had mobilized, carrying out their tasks as quickly as possible.
This included requests for cooperation from the three goddesses.
Ishtar, Quetzalcoatl, Ereshkigal.
According to Merry, the three goddesses currently in Mesopotamia could play a sufficiently strong role in the battle against Tiamat.
Especially Ereshkigal.
Tiamat is the goddess of all life, born without the concept of death. As long as there is life on earth, Tiamat cannot be defeated.
However, in the Underworld, it's different. The Underworld has no life. If the Underworld is moved to the path Tiamat must take, and a hole is made in the ground to drop her into the Underworld, Tiamat will become the only life in the Underworld, and her immortality will be lost.
Even if operating personnel need to enter, as long as they pass through Ereshkigal's Authority, they won't be considered living beings.
(That said, according to information from the Holy Sword Bearer, even in the Underworld, Tiamat won't have the concept of death. At that point, we can at best only cause damage to her. To truly kill her... Grand Assassin?)
The Grand Class Servant, the only Grand Assassin, the Old Man of the Mountain.
Without him releasing his Grand Class to bestow the concept of Death upon Tiamat, it's impossible to truly defeat her. But now, his whereabouts are completely unknown.
[King Gilgamesh!]
Ritsuka's voice came through the magic formula.
[Negotiations with Quetzalcoatl are complete. Marduk's Axe is also ready for transport, estimated to arrive in Uruk tomorrow]
Marduk's Axe—that was the weapon used by the god Marduk, who in myth slit Tiamat's throat. With this weapon, Tiamat's power would surely weaken further.
Therefore, to retrieve this weapon stored in Eridu, Gilgamesh sent the Chaldea group led by Ritsuka to Eridu, while also hoping to use the opportunity to gain assistance from the Forest Goddess.
After Naoki and Tomoe visited the wilderness forest earlier, Quetzalcoatl temporarily halted her intent to attack Uruk. After all, her original intent wasn't to destroy humanity. And now that Tiamat has manifested, as the pinnacle of Good Gods and the Chief God who loves humanity, she absolutely cannot sit idly by.
Ereshkigal's agreement to move the Underworld was based on similar reasons.
(At least assistance from two Goddesses has been secured. What remains is....)
Ishtar.
Honestly, this was the Goddess Gilgamesh was most reluctant to deal with. Though the Servant serving as her vessel this time was better than the original, at her core, she was still the foolish Goddess whose brain was filled with jewels and who loved causing trouble.
If not for considering her firepower output, Gilgamesh wouldn't want to bring her along. Moreover, according to information from the Holy Sword Bearer, Ishtar had even lost the Heavenly Bull, and Merry and Merlin's Clairvoyance substantially confirmed this.
Then what use was she?!
Only after Merry's explanation did Gilgamesh accept the proposal to recruit her as well.
*BANG!*
At that very moment, accompanied by a loud noise, the ceiling above Gilgamesh's head, who had just finished his conversation with Ritsuka, instantly exploded.
Tomoe and Merry immediately fell from the gap, and Ishtar also arrived at the Ziggurat riding Maanna: "Good, this way is much faster. Mother is almost attacking; if we walked, Uruk might be gone by now."
"Good grief..."
Brushing dust off her body, Merry slightly bowed to Gilgamesh: "We're back, King Gilgamesh. Goddess Ishtar has also agreed to help us against Goddess Tiamat."
"The way you returned truly surprised this King." Gilgamesh looked at Ishtar with an insincere smile. "It's surprising to this King that a troublesome Goddess like you would comply so easily. How does it feel to be this King's subordinate?"
"Hah? I'm not here to help you! Don't get cocky, you arrogant bastard!"
Ishtar glared at Gilgamesh irritably: "It's only because Merry begged me, plus this body has always been well-maintained by them, and even this child's consciousness pleaded with me, that I reluctantly came to be your savior!"
"King Gilgamesh, actually I told her: If you help, I can waive half of your old debt and forgive the interest for a year."
"Hey! Merry!!"
Seeing Merry mercilessly expose her facade, Ishtar immediately flushed with embarrassment and anger, about to unleash a wild attack on Merry with Maanna— what could she do, ever since hearing that half her debt could be canceled, the vessel body's consciousness became extremely active, and as the possessing Servant, she truly couldn't ignore it.
"Good work, Flower Mage. This King has also just finished negotiations with Ereshkigal, and good news has come from Fujimaru."
"That means, the agreements with the three Goddesses are all settled?"
"Correct. Next, we just wait for Ereshkigal to move the Underworld to the path Tiamat must take, drop her into the Underworld, and the first stage of the battle will be complete." Gilgamesh said, "The problem is the second stage."
Grand Assassin, the Old Man of the Mountain.
Even with Merry and Merlin's Clairvoyance, they couldn't locate his presence in this Singularity. Thus, the conclusion is that the Counter Force hasn't summoned him to manifest.
Without him, the strongest reinforcement who can bestow the concept of death, Tiamat cannot be killed, and the second stage of the battle cannot begin.
"Leave this one to me."
Merry smiled: "I know someone who can do something similar. Though under normal circumstances he wouldn't act, this time, I might be able to make him act once."
"A respectable someone... Huh?"
Gilgamesh frowned.
A respectable someone who could do what only Grand Assassin could....
"This King understands. Then, entrust this matter to you, Merry."
"Four days remain before Tiamat arrives at Uruk. Ensure all preparations are complete before then!"