Ereshkigal

"I thought you were already imprisoned by Ereshkigal?"

Upon seeing Gilgamesh appear, Arkhan raised his eyebrows slightly as he asked.

"Although I was a bit careless this time, the underworld is just like my backyard, sneaking through that woman is a piece of cake."

While approaching, Gilgamesh stated with a smile.

"Before those gallu spirits came, I hid in the shadows, holding my breath, entering meditation, and concealing my presence. In this way, they couldn't detect me at all."

'So, it was basically hiding in a corner, trembling with fear, and making it sound like you killed all those gallu spirits? And why would a Caster need to hide their presence? Isn't that Assassin's thing…' Arkhan silently scoffed in his mind.

"Originally, I was planning to continue hiding and seize the opportunity, but..."

As Gilgamesh spoke, Ishtar inexplicably felt a sense of unease, but before she could react, he had already lifted her body up, emitting his characteristic sinister laughter.

"Guhahaha! This development is just too ridiculous! I couldn't take it anymore, and before I knew it, I burst onto the scene laughing like crazy! Hahaha!"

"Damn it, let go of me, you bastard!"

Ishtar, furious and embarrassed, broke free from Gilgamesh's grip, flew into the air, and gave him a fierce glare.

"I shouldn't have risked my neck to save scum like you!"

"Hah! You, coming to rescue me? Could it be that overworking has made me hallucinate?" Gilgamesh scoffed as if he had heard the dumbest joke.

"I wish you had! This way, I could feel justified in letting you die. How about falling into the abyss right now?" Ishtar grumbled irritably.

"Hmph, who would bother with such a stupid idea? Besides, there's a heap of mess waiting for me to clean up." Gilgamesh scoffed, then turned to Arkhan. "So, ready to go meet Ereshkigal?"

"Didn't you say the underworld is just like your backyard? So why not just go straight back to the surface?" 

"You just had to rain on my parade, didn't you?" Gilgamesh looked at him with a hint of resignation. "No matter what, I'm dead now. Without that woman's permission, I can't leave this place."

Shaking his head, Arkhan chuckled and followed Gilgamesh toward Ereshkigal's palace.

"Speaking of which, with Ishtar in this state, the battle with Ereshkigal might get tougher." Gilgamesh remarked on the way.

"I told you, I'm useless here." Ishtar rolled her eyes.

"It seems like you're not confident in facing Ereshkigal?" Arkhan casually remarked.

"Under normal circumstances, it's manageable, but this is the underworld." Gilgamesh looked up at the dark ceiling. "When the underworld was built, Ereshkigal was sacrificed as its cornerstone. As a result, she's invincible here. Any Heroic Spirit or Divine Spirit who enters this place will be severely weakened."

"Although that sounded amazing, it was actually quite sad and pitiful." Arkhan glanced around at the cages holding souls. "Born only to be trapped like this, with no freedom to make a choice, spending millennia confined in a place like this, unable to experience new worlds or meet new people."

Upon hearing that, Ishtar's eyes couldn't help but reveal a complex expression.

"That's why, you're our only hope now." Gilgamesh said matter-of-factly. "The rules of the underworld don't apply to the living, and only you can stand against Ereshkigal. Ishtar and I can't do much here."

"I don't think we necessarily have to fight that goddess though." Arkhan shrugged casually. "Maybe she's more reasonable than we think?"

"Don't daydream. It's not going to happen." Ishtar rolled her eyes. "Who do you think Ereshkigal is? She's the mistress of the underworld, the ruler of the realm of death. Just look at how she cursed the city of Uruk without hesitation. Do you think she's someone who can be easily persuaded?"

Upon hearing that, Arkhan merely smiled and didn't respond.

After what seemed like an eternity, Arkhan and the other two finally reached the deepest part of the underworld, Ereshkigal's palace.

It was called a palace, but it was actually just an open field, with only a few tall pillars standing.

Compared to the magnificent temple built by Ishtar on Mount Ebih, this place was completely the opposite extreme. If not seen with one own eyes, it would be hard to believe that this was the abode of a goddess.

"Hmph, this is what they call the underworld? Truly devoid of any splendor." Gilgamesh glanced ahead. "You there, Ereshkigal?"

Shortly after Gilgamesh spoke, the temperature around them dropped sharply, and visible magical lightning danced among the stone pillars.

Accompanied by immense magical energy reactions, a towering figure gradually manifested.

It was a giant skeleton over ten meters tall, with a long white cloth and veil swaying behind its head, exuding an intimidating aura from its entire body.

"Cower before me, revere me, and know despair, humans..."

As the giant skeleton spoke with a booming voice, the ground rumbled.

"I am the one who oversees death, mistress of the underworld, the one who embraces souls—Ereshkigal!"

At last, the Goddess of the Underworld made her appearance!

Although Ereshkigal's appearance seemed terrifying, Arkhan knew this was not her true form at all. Despite the intentional pressure she released, it did not affect him whatsoever.

"I already know why you're here, foreigner, but my decision won't change." Ereshkigal stated, staring at Arkhan with her hollow, skeletal eyes. "I won't let you take Gilgamesh away, nor any other humans here, not a single one."

"Can I know why?" Arkhan raised an eyebrow.

"Since Mother is about to awaken, I must kill all humans who live in the land of Mesopotamia, gather their souls in the underworld, and make all of them my property before that happens."

After saying that, Ereskigal in her giant skeleton form summoned a huge light spear and plunged it into the ground.

*BOOM!*

"This is Ereshkigal's very first choice by her own will!"

"Is this out of hatred for humans?" Arkhan inquired.

"That's right!" Ereshkigal replied without hesitation. "This is the fate of humans who betray the gods, they must pay the price for their ignorance!"

"I see..."

Arkhan nodded calmly before summoning Abyss Flower upon hearing her answer.

"See? I told you it wasn't going to be that simple..." Ishtar muttered. "After all that talking, it all comes down to a fight in the end."

Gilgamesh remained silent as countless golden ripples appeared behind him.