90. Tiamat Awakens
Night fell over Uruk. The spacious residence specially arranged by Gilgamesh was brightly lit, and a rare, relaxed atmosphere filled the air.
Everyone sat around the table laden with delicious food and wine, but almost everyone had a stifling smile on their face.
The reason is simple. Xiling has already described how the three underground engineering masters, Elaina, Luo Tianyi, and Houraiji Kyuushou, had dug up the shelter diligently and conscientiously all the way to the underworld.
No one has ever been able to dig a hole into the underworld.
But this also proves how hard the other party worked to be able to dig a hole into the underworld.
The three parties involved huddled in a corner, their faces turning red and white from embarrassment, wishing they could find a crack in the ground to crawl into.
Siduri bowed slightly to the three of them and said, "In any case, thank you three for everything you have done for Uruk!"
Houraiji Kyuushou quickly waved her hands, almost burying her face in her chest:
"No, no, no! We were just careless... It just happened... It was mainly because Xiling and the others were able to solve the big problem!"
"Snort!"
King Gilgamesh, sitting at the main seat, put down his wine glass.
"They indeed have done a great job! But your achievements are also as unquestionable as theirs! So I must reward you!"
Gilgamesh never thought that there was a passage to the underworld in his home, and he almost got killed by it.
With the death of the Demonic Beast Goddess, his work pressure dropped drastically, and because of that, he was able to appear here tonight. Right now, he was in a pretty good mood.
Even he didn't expect that things would go so smoothly, and the three goddesses' alliance would be cleared in just one day.
Gilgamesh glanced over and saw the two goddesses happily drinking in the corner - Ishtar was obviously drunk, with flushed cheeks, and Quetzalcoatl was smiling brightly.
In stark contrast to them is Ereshkigal, the goddess of the underworld, curled up in another dark corner, exuding an aura that keeps away strangers.
It was originally impossible for the other party to appear here, but Xiling was able to turn the impossible into possible, simply allowing a goddess to appear in the world.
Ereshkigal was clearly not used to the surroundings.
Especially since this house also has...
Ereshkigal secretly glanced in Ishtar's direction, then quickly lowered her head and drank her juice in silence.
She didn't expect it to be so lively here. It all stemmed from Xiling's casual question before leaving:
"Hey, Ereshkigal, we have a celebration party tonight. It's quite lively there. Do you want to come with us?"
For some unknown reason, before she could react, the word "yes" had already slipped out of her mouth.
The result of that is what happened right now.
Feeling her own body, although she was not used to it, was already good enough. She... liked it very much.
"Ano..."
Fujimaru Ritsuka raised her hand cautiously, with confusion and a hint of unease on her face.
"The Three Goddesses Alliance issue seems to have been resolved for now, but I have a feeling... It's not over yet. Um... can I ask what the real crisis is?"
Moreover, they have not yet found the Holy Grail of this singularity... If it is not in the hands of the three goddesses, then in whose hands is it?
Fujimaru Ritsuka felt that she should ask about this issue.
This question was like a pebble dropped into calm water, and the relaxed atmosphere in the room stagnated slightly.
Hearing this, Xiling raised his eyebrows in confusion and looked at Merlin, who responded to Xiling's gaze with a smile.
Xiling "..."
After a long time of gazing at each other, Xiling finally couldn't help but ask Merlin.
Xiling: "...You didn't say anything about it?"
Merlin blinked innocently: "She didn't ask."
"You didn't tell her until she asked! Then what's your role?"
"I'm doing something big! Something big!"
"Okay, you're right."
Xiling took a sip of water to moisten his throat and then looked at Fujimaru Ritsuka, who was waiting for him:
"Ritsuka, I want to tell you one thing, you must, must, not be afraid."
"Please tell me."
Fujimaru Ritsuka waited nervously for Xiling's next words.
"First of all, about the Holy Grail," Xiling said, trying to be as relaxed as possible, "It should be in Kingu's hands."
Fujimaru Ritsuka nodded. Merlin had mentioned this.
"But just now..." Xiling changed the subject, his expression serious again, and held up two fingers.
"That's not the point. Here comes the point. Are you... Ready?"
"You're just making me more and more nervous!" Ritsuka Fujimaru roared in her heart.
As if hearing her inner wailing, Xiling's speech speed suddenly accelerated, and he dropped the bombshell in an obvious voice:
"Our next opponent is the goddess of creation, Tiamat!"
"And there's a high probability that there will also be the Demon King, Goetia."
"That's all."
Time seems to freeze at this moment...
Bang!
The bottle of wine in Ishtar's hand fell, spilling the wine all over the floor. But she was unaware of it, her eyes widening as she sobered up instantly.
Aside from the chat group members and Gilgamesh, everyone else—Fujimaru Ritsuka, Mash, Da Vinci, Anna, Ushiwakamaru, Leonidas I… even Quetzalcoatl and Ereshkigal in the corner—all seemed to have paused their movement. Their expressions froze for a moment, then turned into extreme astonishment, as they all burst into unison, shouting in disbelief:
"What--?!"
Inside the Chaldea control room, Roman froze upon hearing the name Goetia. He suppressed his surging emotions and hurriedly explained to Fujimaru Ritsuka, "Tiamat... one of the mother goddesses of creation recorded in Mesopotamian mythology! She is the primordial sea itself, the one that gave birth to the gods and life! She is the true 'mother' of this land! Oh my God... why... why would we have to confront such an extraordinary being!"
Just as everyone was speechless from shock at the news, Xiling seemed to remember something and added, "Oh, by the way, I forgot to mention that she's also one of humanity's evils, the Beast of Original Sin (Beast II), who holds the principle of 'return'. Don't try to convince her with just words, it's useless."
Everyone was dumbfounded, but Merlin already knew about all this. What he wanted to know was, "What's going on with the other Demon King Goetia? Why did he appear in this singularity?"
Fujimaru Ritsuka also suddenly recovered from the shock and asked anxiously: "Yes! Why is Goetia here?!"
This time, Xiling waved his hand and said, "I don't know. That guy suddenly appeared and attacked me, and then I hit him back with a sword in return. I guess he's feeling bad now."
Xiling really didn't expect Goetia to intervene.
Xiling said it lightly, but it sounded different to others!
The Tarnished thought for a moment and then said, "I remember that your holy sword, Xiling, seemed to have the effect of restraining everything evil, right?"
"Yes," Xiling nodded as a matter of course.
Buzz—
Merlin and Gilgamesh's brains worked at high speed in an instant, and they figured out the key almost at the same time!
Gilgamesh pointed at Xiling's holy sword, his eyes gleaming with a sharp light: "Your sword... can it even restrain Beasts?!"
"Uh, this sword should be able to do it?"
Xiling was actually a little uncertain; after all, they were in different worlds.
Merlin stroked his chin and spoke seriously, "You once drew your sword on the northern front. I guess Goetia must have sensed that power! A power that can harm the Beast itself! That's why he went to this singularity in person to kill you."
Xiling: "...Fuck!"
It can end up like this! He really didn't expect this.
However, at this moment, Merlin seemed to see something incredible, followed by a violent cough. He covered his mouth, and a glaring red liquid seeped out from between his fingers!
"...Cough...you really can't hold your breath..."
Merlin's voice lost its usual composure and carried a kind of forced weakness.
"We just mentioned that guy's name...and you already...are taking action?"
Merlin's body began to dissipate into points of light.
Xiling and Gilgamesh immediately realized something.
Goetia has taken action!
Merlin looked at Xiling with a complaining look on his face and said, "This time we really have to go on a long run."
Xiling smiled wryly at this and said, "Then you have to run faster. If we are all done here and you haven't reached the finish line yet, it will be too embarrassing."
"Hahaha… cough cough cough…"
Merlin wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth and smiled:
"Then I'll leave this place to you."
After leaving these words, Merlin's body instantly disappeared.
"Oh. Leave it to us."
Looking at the disappearing Merlin, Xilin's voice became serious.
Buzz! Buzz! Buzz! Buzz! Buzz!
Almost immediately after Xiling finished speaking, an eardrum-piercing alarm blared like a death knell from Chaldea's communicator!
Da Vinci and Roman's terrified cries were drowned out by the alarm: "Massive Magic reaction... appeared... beyond scale... incalculable!!!"
"Abnormal spatial readings...towards the Persian Gulf...life reaction...exponential expansion!! Oh my god!!!"
On the Chaldea observation screen, the blue background that had once represented a peaceful world was instantly dyed a despairing blood-red! One, ten, hundred, thousand... countless terrifying points of red light, representing the reaction of extremely high concentrations of magical energy, erupted like boiling magma, densely covering the entire Persian Gulf region's nautical chart! Their scale and strength far exceeded all the demonic beasts previously observed combined!
That was no longer a simple magical reaction... it was an awakening, living, boundless... sea of life!
In the city of Uruk, although the Chaldea ear-piercing alarm sound could not be heard, all beings with powerful perception felt an indescribable throbbing of terror!
The goddess of creation, the Beast of Return, Tiamat, has awakened!
Just when most people are overwhelmed by the impending moment.
A clapping sound came, attracting everyone's attention.
Everyone turned their eyes to Xiling, and Xiling, as usual, showed a smile that shouldn't have appeared at this moment.
"Everyone, the war is about to begin. Don't just stand there and wait."
"Those who need to act should act now."
"As for the things you are afraid of, don't worry, we will take action!"
"Of course..." Xiling looked around at everyone.
"Your help is also indispensable. There is no time for you to think too much about what had happened. It's time for us to take action."