Chapter 26: Unite and Resist

Disgusted by certain gods in Mesopotamia, Gilgamesh saw a kindred spirit in the demigod before him.

"My king, I have exerted my utmost efforts to enslave workers and slaves, driving them to build a city wall for Uruk—an impenetrable fortification. Gradually, I aim to conquer all the cities in southern Mesopotamia and unify the region," Qiye proclaimed.

"Ultimately, once I have established dominion over all my subjects, I shall sever the connection between humans and gods, completely separating them," expressed a drunken Gilgamesh, revealing his deepest desire.

"...Gilgamesh, as the 'Wedge of Heaven' that connects gods and humans, you wish to completely sever that connection. It seems you truly require the chains of heaven to discipline you," Qiye smiled, mirroring Gilgamesh's sentiments. "Since your thoughts are so audacious, I shall assist you and witness the realization of your ambitions with my own eyes."

"Hmph, then come, assist me with all your might," Gilgamesh declared.

The Wedge of Heaven, bridging the gap between gods and humans, and the last child of Tiamat, they united. The gods remained unaware of their intentions, ignorant of the situation they would face once those intentions were realized.

Now, Qiye truly desired... to banish the gods of Mesopotamia to the heavens, forever barring their return to the mortal realm.

For it was the gods who had banished the created gods—expelling them into the realm of the ethereal and unreal.

Now, if Qiye aided Gilgamesh in realizing his ideas, then...

The gods who had created humans would be expelled from the mortal realm by humans!

Forever cut off from the world!

They would suffer the same fate as Tiamat.

Thus, Qiye resolved to assist Gilgamesh, desiring to make the gods experience the betrayal felt by their own creations.

"For the sake of Mother, I shall aid you," Qiye declared, raising a glass of fine wine. Gilgamesh, who was laughing boisterously, simultaneously raised his glass, and they both drank from each other's cups.

This act symbolized the formalization of their alliance.

"Now, my ally, go and find the weapon created by the gods. The weapon that warned me is too dangerous, and it must be dealt with," Gilgamesh instructed.

"It is impossible to deal with it," Qiye shook his head. "After we deal with one chain, the 'Wedge of Heaven,' the gods will create a second, third, and fourth."

"The subsequent chains will only grow stronger, so we cannot eliminate the 'Sky Lock.' However, we can possess it and use it to incapacitate the gods."

"An intriguing idea. What do you plan to do?" Gilgamesh asked, genuinely interested.

"The Mud Demon that walks with the beasts may not possess intelligence yet. We can help it awaken its intelligence. By doing so, it will lose its natural power, and the weapons created by the gods with intelligence will be able to think. We can intentionally or unintentionally influence it, making it a member of our fight against the gods."

"Using the gods' weapons to fight against the gods. Is such a plan feasible?" Gilgamesh raised an eyebrow in surprise. Qiye glanced at him and replied, "Why not? Consider your own existence."

"Huh? Hahahaha! You are right! Hahahahaha!" The soldiers outside the door couldn't help but be perplexed by Gilgamesh's joyous laughter, as it was the most carefree laughter the king had ever displayed.

Even though he had inherited the throne of Uruk, he had never laughed so freely before.

How could the gods' weapons not betray them? After all, Gilgamesh was the 'Wedge of Heaven,' the wedge that maintained the relationship between gods and humans.

This arrogant wedge of his, considering opposing the will of the gods, would naturally not hesitate to betray them.

"Since I have decided to assist you, then..." Qiye began speaking slowly to the laughing Gilgamesh.

"I shall grant you the technology of wine brewing, enabling you to generate wealth and fill Uruk's treasury."

"I shall teach you the techniques of farming, allowing you to produce food and satisfy Uruk's granaries."

"I shall impart to you the methods of clay baking, which will strengthen Uruk's city walls and enable the production of sturdy pottery."

...

Gilgamesh's boisterous laughter gradually subsided. He stared at Qiye, who was speaking these words, his eyes filled with astonishment. Suddenly, he felt as if he had stumbled upon a great treasure and desperately yearned to possess it.

Only with greater wealth to fill the treasury and an abundance of food to nourish the people could the kingdom flourish and rapidly develop.

Although Uruk already knew the method of making bricks, their process was extremely crude. They simply took silt from the river, bound it with reeds, and left it to dry in the sun. Once dry, the bricks were fired in a kiln.

Consequently, their method of baking clay was rudimentary, lacking durability and strength.

On the other hand, Qiye, by eating clay...

Well, he would place soil in his mouth, taste it, and thereby obtain various information through the soil. The soil had already taught him how to make stronger clay products.

And Qiye had already planned to share this method of baking clay with Gilgamesh, the tyrant who aspired to banish the gods to the heavens.

Gilgamesh, overwhelmed by the information Qiye provided, stared at Qiye intently. "You possess so many innovative technologies, and yet you have concealed them from me."

"What concealment? I am but an ordinary priest tasked with building a temple. I am not responsible for crop cultivation, wine brewing, or brickmaking," Qiye shrugged and replied.

"Do you mean to say you have no intention of exchanging this knowledge for status and treasures?" Gilgamesh questioned.

"Tsk, as an ordinary individual who despises the gods, how could I impart such knowledge to the 'Wedge of Heaven' that bridges gods and humans?" Qiye clicked his tongue, provoking another burst of laughter from Gilgamesh.

Indeed, how could someone who loathed the gods share such knowledge with their servants?

Yet, Qiye would assist the tyrant who sought to sever the connection between gods and humans, and he would do so without seeking anything in return.

"If this king had encountered a defiant individual like you during his childhood, he would have immediately ordered his soldiers to arrest you and deliver you to the temple, allowing the gods to judge your rebellion," Gilgamesh remarked, sporting a pleasant smile. "But this king has matured and is no longer an ignorant child."

"Huh." Qiye snorted softly, neither confirming nor denying the statement. After a moment of contemplation, he addressed Gilgamesh with a serious tone, "Gilgamesh, if other cities have set their sights on Uruk, I hope you can help me gather certain materials. I can forge a weapon of great significance for the upcoming war."

Thus, he requested assistance...