Chapter 118: The Wrath of the Daimyos

In the grand palaces scattered across the lands of the Great Nations, five rulers sat upon their gilded thrones, seething with rage. Gilgamesh's arrogant speech echoed across the world, reaching the ears of the powerful Daimyos—rulers of Fire, Water, Earth, Lightning, and Wind. Each reacted in their own way, but the common thread among them was fury—boiling, uncontainable fury at the audacity of this "so-called" King of Heroes who dared proclaim himself emperor of the world.

The Fire Daimyo – Hot Flames of Fury

In the Land of Fire, the Fire Daimyo's opulent court buzzed with an uneasy tension. The Daimyo himself, a man of regal bearing and an appetite for power, slammed his fist onto the ornate table in front of him, the sound reverberating through the hall. His robes of crimson silk fluttered slightly with the force of his motion, and his usually composed face was now twisted into a deep scowl.

"Emperor of the world? Who does this upstart think he is?" the Fire Daimyo growled, his voice sharp with incredulity.

His ministers, standing at attention on either side of the throne, nodded eagerly, adding fuel to the fire.

"My lord," one of the more ambitious ministers piped up, bowing slightly as he spoke. "This Gilgamesh is nothing more than a pretender. A fool who's drunk on his own delusions of grandeur. Surely, no one would take his words seriously."

The Fire Daimyo snorted in disdain but didn't respond immediately. He was too busy imagining all the ways he could crush this insolent newcomer beneath his heel. Gilgamesh had proclaimed the world his own, including the Fire Daimyo's lands—his lands. The sheer arrogance of it was enough to make his blood boil.

Another minister, a more calculating man with sharp eyes and a serpent's smile, stepped forward. "Perhaps we could spread rumors, my lord. Undermine his authority in the eyes of his own people. A man like Gilgamesh surely has enemies—those who are jealous of his rise to power. We could use that to our advantage."

The Fire Daimyo's eyes gleamed with dark intent. "Yes… yes, that could work. I'll not allow some upstart to threaten my rule. Let's see how long his empire lasts when his own people turn against him."

The Water Daimyo – Cold and Calculating

In the Land of Water, the Water Daimyo sat in his frigid palace, his expression one of icy contempt. His breath misted in the air as he sat upon his throne, the room chilled to match his cold demeanor. Unlike the Fire Daimyo, who roared and raged, the Water Daimyo's fury was quiet, cold, and calculating.

"Gilgamesh," he murmured, his voice as frigid as the sea. "A name I will not soon forget."

The ministers in the Water Daimyo's court were equally as cold, their expressions carefully controlled. One of them, a tall, thin man with a perpetually frosty smile, stepped forward and bowed deeply.

"My lord," he began, his voice smooth and placating. "This Gilgamesh is no different from the other fools who have tried to challenge the authority of the Great Nations. He may have the power to create a kingdom, but maintaining one is an entirely different matter. His arrogance will be his undoing."

The Water Daimyo regarded his minister with a slow blink, his expression unreadable. "Indeed," he said softly. "But arrogance alone is not enough to destroy a kingdom. We will need to be more… subtle."

Another minister, with a more sinister gleam in his eye, leaned in slightly. "Perhaps we could send agents into his lands, sow discord among his people. Rumors of dissent, whispers of rebellion. If we strike the right chords, Gilgamesh's empire will crumble from within."

The Water Daimyo's lips curled into a cold smile. "Yes. Let the world see that Gilgamesh is not infallible. And when his empire falls… we will be there to seize what remains."

The Earth Daimyo – A Mountain of Rage

In the Land of Earth, the Earth Daimyo, a stocky man with a temper as volatile as the mountains that surrounded his lands, paced back and forth in his grand hall. His face was red with fury, his fists clenched at his sides.

"Emperor? Emperor of the world? Bah!" he spat, his voice booming through the hall. "Gilgamesh may have built a kingdom, but he forgets that the Great Nations have stood for centuries. We are the true power in this world, not some upstart with delusions of grandeur."

His ministers, standing stiffly at attention, exchanged uneasy glances. The Earth Daimyo was not known for his subtlety, and his anger could sometimes lead to rash decisions. One of the more cautious ministers, an older man with a wrinkled brow and a long white beard, stepped forward cautiously.

"My lord, Gilgamesh's proclamation is certainly an affront, but it would be unwise to act in haste. We must consider our next steps carefully. If we attack now, we may play directly into his hands."

The Earth Daimyo rounded on the old man, his eyes blazing with anger. "Carefully? There's nothing to consider! We should march our armies into Uruk and crush this fool before he grows any stronger!"

Another minister, a younger man with a mischievous smile, seized the moment to fan the flames. "Perhaps, my lord, we could start by undermining his reputation. Spread word that Gilgamesh's kingdom is built on lies, that his people are already dissatisfied with his rule. We could send agents to spread rumors in the villages, weaken his support before we strike."

The Earth Daimyo's anger abated slightly, his eyes narrowing as he considered the suggestion. "Yes… that could work. Let the people of Uruk see that their emperor is not as invincible as he claims to be. And when the time is right, we'll crush him."

The Lightning Daimyo – Thunderous Outrage

In the Land of Lightning, the Lightning Daimyo's palace echoed with the sound of thunder. The Daimyo himself, a tall, imposing figure with a sharp gaze and an even sharper temper, slammed his hand onto the armrest of his throne, sending a shockwave through the room.

"This Gilgamesh dares to call himself emperor?" he growled, his voice like the rumble of a distant storm. "He will learn that the Land of Lightning bows to no one."

His ministers flinched at the sound of his voice, but quickly recovered, eager to stoke the fires of his rage.

"My lord," one of the ministers, a weaselly man with a perpetual grin, began, "Gilgamesh may be powerful, but his arrogance will be his downfall. He's overreached by declaring himself emperor of the world. We could use this to turn the other nations against him."

Another minister, a more aggressive man with a muscular build and a scar running down his face, added, "We should strike now, my lord. Before Gilgamesh has a chance to consolidate his power. The Land of Lightning's army is unmatched—we could crush Uruk in a matter of days."

The Lightning Daimyo's eyes gleamed with fierce determination. "Yes. Let the world see the might of the Land of Lightning. We will show this 'emperor' that he is nothing more than a pretender."

He paused, a smirk playing at the corners of his lips. "And when we're finished with him, the other nations will think twice before challenging us."

The Wind Daimyo – A Whirlwind of Vengeance

In the Land of Wind, the Wind Daimyo sat in his palace, his robes billowing around him like a whirlwind. His expression was one of barely contained fury, his hands clenched into fists as he glared at the report in front of him.

"Gilgamesh… emperor of the world," he muttered, his voice a low hiss. "How dare he?"

His ministers, sensing his anger, moved quickly to stoke the flames.

"My lord," one of the ministers, a wiry man with a sly grin, began, "this Gilgamesh is a fool. He's overestimated his power and underestimated the might of the Great Nations. We should spread rumors of rebellion within his kingdom—turn his own people against him."

Another minister, a woman with sharp eyes and a calculating smile, added, "And when the time is right, we can send our agents to destabilize his rule. Let the world see that Gilgamesh's empire is nothing more than a house of cards, ready to collapse at the slightest breeze."

The Wind Daimyo's eyes narrowed as he considered their words. "Yes… let him think he's invincible. Let him believe that his empire is unshakable. And when the time is right, we'll tear it all down."

He leaned back in his chair, a cold smile spreading across his face. "Gilgamesh may believe he's the emperor of the world, but he'll soon learn that the winds of fate are not so easily controlled."

Across the lands of the Great Nations, the Daimyos plotted and schemed, their anger at Gilgamesh's declaration fueling their desire for revenge. But Gilgamesh, sitting upon his golden throne in Uruk, was unconcerned. He knew that the world would react to his proclamation with fear and anger. It was exactly what he wanted.

The game had only just begun, and Gilgamesh was confident that no matter how many forces arrayed themselves against him, he would emerge victorious.

After all, he was the King of Heroes—the one true ruler of the world.

And the world would bow before him.