[Bingo! If you want to play 'Giant Kaiju Battle,' I'm your guy! —But, don't go planning around it too much. No matter the reason, an Evil of Humanity showing its face isn't exactly a healthy environment. I'll leave the timing to you... just don't faint when you see yourself in the mirror, okay?]
Rikka laughed at the devil's sincere teasing. (A bit late for that, don't you think?)
[True! You really are a gutsy girl! Well, do your best! I'll be rooting for ya!]
Satisfied, Angra Mainyu's voice faded. Mash, noticing the change in her expression, asked if something was wrong.
"Are you alright, Senpai? Did something bother you?"
Looking at the junior who was always looking out for her, Rikka gently patted Mash's head. "No. We were just talking about how we've got each other's backs."
"—Yes! Senpai, leave the rear to me!"
Rikka and Mash shared a smile, their bond firmer than ever.
"Now then, are the Coffins ready?! This is a battle we cannot lose—but it is your struggle that creates tomorrow, and your bravery that builds the future! Do not fear; your journey and your battles are an epic saga worthy of the people of Uruk's wide-eyed wonder!"
The King's voice shook the control room.
"Do not fear the unknown! Stare back at the gods! You do not have the protection of the divine; you have My Brilliance at your side! There is nothing to worry about! Simply enjoy it! The whims of the gods, the location of death, the unsightly behavior of useless goddesses—let it all color your journey!"
—"Ah, that reminds me! Since this is the era of the King's reign, that means...!"
(He'll be there. The 'living' version of this guy. ...Is that really okay? Can a tyrant like you actually protect your people?)
Fou added to Air's realization. At the interrogation, the King simply gave a cool, dismissive reply.
"As long as I am not a fool, there will be no issue. If I have seen the day of destruction, I would surely have taken a form that gathers all of Uruk's strength rather than relying on individual power. ...You may laugh, Air. That version of me will likely look quite petty and stingy compared to my current self! I hear even his right hand is the only thing made of gold! Buhahahaha!!"
—"I'm half-excited and half-terrified..."
"~♪" Enkidu hummed while packing his gear.
"And what do you think you are doing, Enkidu?"
"Hm? Obviously, I'm going to be the cameraman. Opportunities to capture every corner of Uruk and Mesopotamia don't come around often. I'm going to enjoy this as your guide."
Leave it to me, he signaled with a thumbs-up and a brilliant smile. He then shared a high-five with Fou.
(You're going to help with the Uruk Sightseeing Map! I'm counting on your specs, Enkidu!)
"Count on me. Sorry in advance if the photos are blurry. I'll take payment in belly-fluff rubs."
(Uwaah~)
—"I'm so glad. Beside the King and me, he's found another friend..."
Air felt a deep sense of relief and gratitude. Seeing Fou find someone he could communicate with made her heart swell.
"—This may be the perfect opportunity to let Air out of her shell. However, it is too early to reveal her true identity. ...I suppose I'll have to discuss that with the other 'Me'..."
—"King?"
"No, nothing. I was merely talking to myself. —Let us see what results the 'club members' I sent ahead have achieved! And enjoy yourself, Air! We are finally setting foot upon our familiar homeland!"
—"Yes! I will savor this honor! Uruk...! I can't wait!"
With no anxiety and no hesitation, the group moved to the Rayshift. No matter what trials or hardships awaited... they would not lose. They would overcome, and they would reach the future.
"Rayshift, start! Everyone, be careful!"
"BUHAHAHAHA!! It's the enemy who needs to be careful! The moment our Rayshift succeeds, our victory is assured—!!!"
Now, the final and greatest Singularity conquest begins!
Elevation: 200 Meters
"We're falling, Master."
"We sure are, Gil."
—"Waaaaah—?! This is not a peaceful Rayshift—!!"
(Wait, where did Enkidu go?!)
"He couldn't have gone far. For now, let's focus on landing."
—"Deploying Vimana!"
"—So, they're interfering with the Rayshift? Setting up a wall around Uruk... how petty."
"GOOOOLLLLLLLLDDDDDDDDIIIIIIIIIIEEEEEEEEEEE!!!!"
"Hm—?"
Instantly, a barrage of light-arrows resembling a meteor shower rained down in a carpet-bombing. Every inch of the area—save for what the Hero King defended—was gouged into craters.
"That grating voice, like a swarm of locusts, a storm, and a child's tantrum all rolled into one... To think you would be the one to greet us, Ishtar."
"What?! Ishtar?!"
"Don't you dare call my name so casually! Do you have any idea how much bitterness and humiliation you and your friends have forced me to swallow?! I'm going to kill you! I'll kill you without mercy! I'll absolutely kill you!! I've crushed the curse you put on me and came here with every ounce of power this body can muster! You are SO DEAD!!"
"Buhaha! I didn't ask, and I truly couldn't care less about your status report. —So, you forcibly crushed the curse? Talk about bad fuel efficiency."
"WHOSE FAULT DO YOU THINK THAT I—!!!?"
In that instant, a barrage of 'Top-Tier Noble Phantasms' rained down from a different direction.
"..."
—"This attack pattern... could it be?!"
"—Hmph. I intended to skewer your repulsive face along with that nuisance of a goddess. It's unlike me to miss."
The figure that appeared was...
—"E-Enkidu...?!"
"Hello, Old Humanity. The last Master and the shadow of the foolish King who follows her. This is sudden, but would you mind dying along with that goddess? Ah, don't bother answering. It'll be over soon—"
"So, Tiamat has laid her hands on you. To use the corpse of my friend... quite the elaborate piece of casting. Well? You, who nests in a hollow shell—what could you possibly rely on to stand before me, you Void?"
"—You..."
"Gil, Mash! Intercep—Whoa?!"
Rikka sensed 'something' flying toward them and dodged a flying kick just in time.
"A bridge-evade! Impressive! But ambush tactics are only for the first strike! Who are you?!"
"Ya! Such wonderful movement! You have a body built for Lucha, don't you!"
A tall woman dressed in sun-drenched attire laughed cheerfully.
"I am Quetzalcoatl! The evil goddess who joined the Three Goddess Alliance to destroy Uruk! Nice to meet ya!"
—"Destroy? Evil? You?"
"Senpai, intercep—!"
The earth suddenly began to shake. A massive tremor, a roar from the depths—a violent surge of life and movement erupted from beneath them.
『—It's underground... something is underground!! It's coming out! Everyone, get bac—!』
Then, It appeared.
[My child rushed me here, only for me to find... something utterly boring. Even if you bring the King of Uruk, you are nothing but insects. Ah—it looks like it will be a chore even to crush you.]
The main body was ten meters tall. The tail exceeded a hundred. An ultra-colossal goddess had manifested before them.
"No way... this scale..."
『Impossible... the goddesses standing there... they're the real deal! I can't believe it! How can this be happening...!』
"They've likely been summoned by the Holy Grail. —A composite divinity, a foreign god attached to a meteor, a hollow shell using my friend's remains as a core, and a useless goddess. ...As a welcoming party, it's not bad."
—"The gods have gathered... This is the Age of Myths. This is... Uruk!"
"Buhaha! This is what they call..."
"TOTALLY BAD!!"
"—A 'massive crisis,' isn't it? Honestly. I wonder where my friend is loitering at a time like this..."
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