As the check-up finished, Marduk was raised to the upper dock for final adjustments.
"Prioritize the multi-lock mechanism, mobility, thrust, and manipulator strength. We are going to be flying all over Mesopotamia. It should be powerful enough that the shockwaves alone scatter the rabble."
『Understood. —Then, Hero King.』
"Umu. —Siduri, Ereshkigal. From this moment, exert your full power. We shall bring down the 'Authority of Marduk' and achieve the 'Deification of Marduk.'"
They nodded and rushed to prepare. Simultaneously, Gilgamesh drew the clay tablet 'Tupsimati'—said to have been held by the god Marduk himself—from his treasury.
—"The Deification of Marduk... You mean you're going to imbue that battleship with the actual Authority of the god Marduk?!"
Gilgamesh nodded with a look of absolute certainty and delight.
"It is a secret technique possible only in the Age of Gods. —And we are in the heart of it: ancient Uruk. Our enemies are gods and goddesses. If they weren't, Uruk wouldn't be in danger. —An eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth, a god for a god, and an Authority for an Authority. We shall define Marduk as the 'Divine Body' and Chaldea itself as the 'City.' We will manifest that power into Marduk and wield the strength of a god who slays gods."
—"A god... who slays gods..."
"Relying on a god is slightly distasteful... but my personal feelings and the quality of the work are separate matters. To use every means and every treasure—that is the Gorgeous Strategy. There is no need for objections now. —The future of Uruk is on the line. Failure is not an option."
With grim resolve, Gilgamesh placed his right hand on the Tupsimati and began weaving his mana.
"Air, you chant as well. To bring down the power of a god, we need my power and the prayer of a human—yours."
Air's eyes widened. —"My prayer?"
"A god requires faith to reach them. Even if it is not the god himself, the principle remains. —Without people, a god cannot stand. —This method is a cheat code that is only possible because you are here."
Air nodded slowly. She moved closer and placed her hand over the King's.
"Chant. 'His hair, it is the tamarisk. His beard, it is the fan. His ankles, they are the apple tree. His phallus, it is the serpent. His belly, it is the Lilith-drum. His skull, it is silver. His life-force, it is gold.'"
—"His hair, it is the tamarisk. His beard, it is the fan. His ankles, they are the apple tree. His phallus, it is the serpent. His belly, it is the Lilith-drum. His skull, it is silver. His life-force, it is gold—"
The chanting of the King and the Princess echoed through the hangar. Simultaneously, Marduk was enveloped in scorching flames, raging floods, and howling storms.
『—As the legend says: 'That god shall crush the highest mountains and part the waves of the sea like a madman. With four eyes and ears, his mouth spews fire, wielding the seven evil winds and the flood as weapons. He possesses the strength of ten gods and twice their skill...' The Hero God who stands at the pinnacle...』
『—That wild god... is here to protect humanity...』
Siduri was overwhelmed by the sight; Tiamat watched with a complicated expression.
The ritual lasted from dawn until the end of the day. The time to manifest that result was almost here. The final battle between gods and men in Mesopotamia was fast approaching.
The Final Epiphany
『The Underworld beneath Uruk?!』
"It's a hypothetical. Is it possible? And how long would it take?"
『I-I suppose it's possible... but it would take ten years! Even Kuta would take six months! A city like Uruk...』
"Guh... If you say so, then it must be true. ...From Tiamat's perspective, she will surely aim for the heart of the land, Uruk. She won't even look at Kuta. —So the plan to drop her into the Underworld is unusable..."
『What happened to... Mother?』
"Nothing, don't worry about it. Just a 'what if' scenario."
『...?』
The Throne
（Servants often receive certain buffs. But I never imagined such a thing would be granted to Tiamat. —Who would have thought a goddess of the Earth would 'Reach for the Heavens?' —I suppose I should be grateful I learned of it early. ...However, if we expose her Divine Body to the punishments of the Underworld, the world will be covered in mud within a day. —...This is a difficult problem. We cannot drop her into the abyss, yet we cannot kill her on the land... What is there to do...）
—"King?"
"Hm. —Air. You must be exhausted from the ritual. I told you to go to sleep."
—"I can't sleep while you're troubled, King."
"...——"
—"I doubt I can find an answer to a problem you can't solve. But... please, at least let me stay by your side. I'd like to think... I can at least offer you some comfort."
"—Hmph. You truly are a devoted one. ...Very well. Let us take a breath."
—"Yes! I'll go make some butter cake!"
"...To let my worries show on my face. I've grown soft. —How much longer until our pact is fulfilled— ...!"
"Once we've restored the Human Order, someday—let's all leave the planet behind and set sail into the endless sky!"
"————"
—"The butter cake is ready! ...King?"
"—...H-Hahaha! Hahahaha! Buhahahaha!! Yes—so that was it!! There was a way after all! Hahaha! This would work even if she reaches the sky—no, it is because she reaches the sky that this works! A truly miraculous move!!"
—"?, ???"
"Well done, Air! You are—as expected—a soul worthy of being my one and only Princess!"
—"T-Thank you very much!"
"Good! Come closer! As a reward for finding the path through my dilemma—I shall personally feed you this butter cake!!"
—"Ehh?! I'm happy, but that's way too much honor—!"
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