Chapter 753: The Sloth and Arrogance of Uruk
The little donkey cart creaked and groaned, traversing mountains and seas.
"This king is not joking! What you saw earlier was merely a momentary lapse! This king's true epic has long been recorded on clay tablets, passed down through the ages alongside civilization!"
"Damn it, where did this king put those tablets... Hey hey, don't stop me! This king must show you how magnificent the nation under my rule truly is, how prosperous and vibrant my people's lives are!"
"No need to search, Gil." The green-haired beauty lazily leaned against the carriage wall, tapping their temple. "Everything will be recorded upon the earth itself—what the true Uruk was like, how you spent your remaining years in such absurd fashion... I remember it all."
"Tch, onore Holy Grail (muttered)."
"Hmm? Did you say something, Gil?"
"Nothing. We've arrived." The returning king lifted the curtain. "Though I've been enduring much, modern technology does have its merits. Today's Uruk has its own unique charm... Hmm?"
His tone paused abruptly as Gilgamesh's serpentine pupils flashed, keenly detecting discord within the city walls.
The priests who should have remained in the ziggurat were now hurrying toward the same destination in unison.
Even for reinforcements, this seemed excessively ceremonious.
"What's wrong?"
The curtain fell back into place as Gilgamesh turned around, expression calm. "Nothing. I thought there'd be leisure time before reclaiming the throne, but it seems that was overly optimistic."
He raised his gaze to meet his waist-length green-haired companion. "Recall that chef. We'll likely have our hands full soon."
"Don't forget to take care of yourself, Gil." Enkidu, having also heard the commotion outside, smiled faintly before their entire form became enveloped in hazy light. When it cleared, a white-clad youth maintained their window-leaning posture with an amused grin.
"Our private time is over?"
"I'll punish your insolence when there's time, mongrel." Gilgamesh shot Sakatsuki a fierce glare, utterly unamused. "Now, take me to the palace immediately."
"Sure, sure." Sakatsuki shrugged indifferently and snapped his fingers.
Magical light flared as they traversed thousands of miles in an instant, arriving with their carriage in the spacious palace hall.
"Ah!"
A small gasp sounded, quickly drowned by booming laughter.
"What's this, Siduri? Such fluster doesn't suit you." The curtain whipped aside as Uruk's king strode past the stunned high priestess, planting himself imperiously upon the throne with chin propped on hand. "It's been too long. Have you any reports for your king?"
"..." Collecting herself from Gilgamesh's sudden appearance, Siduri clenched her jaw and knelt as if long prepared for this moment.
"Your Majesty, please punish me for my crimes."
"Oh?" The king's eyes gleamed. "Siduri, my dearest high priestess, Uruk's wisest woman—what fault have you committed?"
"I..."
Filled with guilt over dereliction of duty and the remorse of irreversible regret, the High Priestess began recounting the story that had recently unfolded.
————
"Stay alert and keep your wits about you! Though the beast horde has retreated, stragglers might still emerge!"
On the ravaged battlefield, a small scouting party crouched low, cautiously searching their surroundings.
"Magical reaction detected in Sector B, southeast quadrant."
"Remnants of demon bones in Sector G."
"Whoa, major haul here! Sector E has a large chunk of Serpent's Jewel!"
Moving through this forest of corpses, the patrol continued reaping the spoils of war. Unnoticed, they strayed farther from the city walls and closer to the shadowy woods.
"That's far enough," the centurion called out, signaling the end of their expedition. "We're already at the safety perimeter—what are you doing? Don't move!"
Suppressing his anger, he barked at the soldier drifting away from formation: "What's wrong with you? Stay within the magical barrier!"
"But over there—" The soldier turned back reluctantly, "I spotted several intact Dragon's Reverse Scales!"
After a brief silence, the scouts' eyes widened instinctively. When they exchanged glances, they could see the gleam of excitement reflected in each other's eyes.
Had they not been in such perilous territory, cheers would have shaken the heavens.
Resources!
Present-day Uruk desperately needed resources!
Whether for forging weapons, constructing facilities, or powering magical arrays and divine rituals—everything demanded vast quantities of resources!
And Dragon's Reverse Scales were undoubtedly among the most precious!
Ordinary steel couldn't pierce demon beast hides, but when mixed with powdered dragon scales, it could slice through metal like mud. Even the finest armor couldn't withstand a demon beast's claws, yet when fused with scales from the highest-tier phantasmal species, it became impenetrable and indestructible!
Not to mention the tremendous enhancements potions brewed from scale fragments could provide soldiers!
In essence, dragon scales didn't merely represent valuable resources—they directly translated to countless warriors' lives. Acquiring even a single scale could empower dozens, even hundreds of soldiers, potentially saving them from the blood-soaked battlefields.
However—
"No, we have to abandon it." The centurion tore his longing gaze away, shaking his head with difficulty. "That's beyond our search perimeter. The magical array radiating from the city walls has limits—if we step outside, demon beasts will detect our presence instantly!"
"I'm fast! And the scales are right there! Just one step and I can grab them!" The soldier widened his eyes urgently. "Sir, I swear it'll take less than a second—no, not even a full second—to retrieve them!"
"Idiot! Are you deaf? If you still call me 'sir,' then follow my orders—no backtalk!" The centurion's glare was fierce and unyielding. "Would you really gamble our entire squad's lives for one dragon scale?"
"No need to be so harsh, Captain."
"What did you—" The furious centurion spun around to see his lieutenant gripping his shoulder with an encouraging expression.
"There's no need to be so tense. It's just a fleeting moment. With this fine lad's speed, we might retrieve the dragon scales before the demonic beast even senses us."
The centurion furrowed his brow tightly. "No, the risk is still too great. I can't gamble with the lives of our entire squad."
"It's alright, Captain."
"Yeah, we don't mind either."
"Those are dragon scales. If we can bring them back to Uruk, even if we all die, it's worth it... Haha, just kidding."
The scouts spoke up one after another, almost unanimously supporting the soldier. Some even voiced the thoughts buried in everyone's hearts without hesitation.
"Besides, isn't there Miss Tiamat with us?"
"If we fall into danger, she'll definitely come to our rescue."
The maiden whose beautiful voice resounded atop the high walls.
This was the reason everyone agreed to take the risk and the source of their confidence.
"So, Captain, there's no need to be so stubborn," the adjutant chuckled. "The battlefront isn't as perilous as when you fought back in the day... Oh, he's already made his move."
As if worried the obstinate centurion might object again, the soldier, under the expectant gazes of the others, dashed forward in a flash. He crouched down and scooped up several scales with a specially crafted silver cloth.
"Success!"
Feeling the dense magic power flowing in his palm, the soldier broke into a delighted smile. He turned back, excitedly showing off the treasure he'd obtained. But before the scouts could mirror his joy, a shadow fell over the eyes of every person present.
So vast, so... terrifying.
Crunch!
"Kid—!" The centurion's pupils contracted, his eyes instantly bloodshot. He wanted to intervene, but it was already too late.
Behind the soldier, the Babylonian dragon Mushussu opened its maw wide. With a merciless snap of its jaws, it crushed the fragile human skull into fragments!
Brains and blood splattered everywhere. The soldier's radiant smile hadn't even faded, yet his body had already collapsed to its knees. His tightly clenched hand loosened, scattering the dragon scales across the ground.
Glistening like teardrops.
But no one cared about the priceless treasure now tainted with dust—while the magic circle could indeed conceal their presence, it couldn't hide their physical forms.
As Mushussu swallowed the bone fragments and let out a deafening roar, this squad of scouts, guilty of the sin of arrogance, finally remembered the terror of being dominated by demonic beasts.
"Everyone, grab the supplies and run!" The centurion gritted his teeth. After issuing his final command, he gripped his spear and charged at Mushussu with a furious roar.
Clang—Thud!!!
A scorpion-like stinger pierced through his chest, effortlessly lifting him high into the air.
Blood trickled down the tail like a small stream. Mushussu paid no attention to the others scrambling away in panic. Instead, it fixed its gaze on the rapidly dimming eyes of the centurion, its own eyes brimming with undisguised cruelty and mockery.
Did he think sacrificing himself would save the others?
The sound of countless stampeding feet merged into one, shaking the earth with thunderous tremors. A soldier mustered the courage to glance back, and the sight shattered his soul.
It was—a beast tide!
For days without tasting blood, the beasts' eyes burned crimson. Spurred by the scent of gore, they charged at the soldiers like a calamitous storm, pouncing forward to tear open chests with claws, pierce veins and flesh with sharp beaks, and devour their organs!
The screams were agonizing and desperate. Though Uruk's walls stood merely hundreds of meters away, how could frail human legs outrun the pursuit of these savage monsters?
Are we... going to die?
"La—"
The song arrived belatedly. The blood-stained beasts froze abruptly, their eyes a mix of ferocity and fear. Their frenzied bestial nature actually resisted their Mother's will.
"—Aaaa!!!"
The song swelled with unconcealed fury. In the end, the beasts cowered. Growling low, their drool mingled with crimson as they retreated step by step into the forest, leaving behind only pairs of cruel, murderous eyes.
As if the moment the song ceased, they would pounce and claim the survivors' lives.
But the song would not cease. Upon the city walls, the maiden clasped her hands to her chest, singing like a nightingale, pouring her entire being into the melody.
At last, the survivors reached the high walls. The gates shut, barring the enemy outside, and the song gradually faded.
"Th-thank you... we're eternally grateful, Lady Tiamat..." Supported roughly by guards, the surviving scout wept as he thanked the maiden. Pale as paper, she managed a faint smile, reaching out as if to wipe the blood and tears from his face.
But the next moment, her slender hand fell—along with her body.
"Lady Tiamat!!!"
————
"—Fools!!!"
A roar exploded through the palace. Uruk's king slammed his armrest, his hair standing on end.
He was already seething with rage.
"To recklessly provoke the beasts and even cause unnecessary sacrifices among bystanders—you deserve death ten thousand times over!"
"Casualties number twenty-three... only two survivors..." The trembling soldiers knelt beside the prostrated high priestess. "This is all due to my negligence, my King. Please allow me to personally atone to the families of the deceased before returning to accept punishment."
"No, this isn't your fault, High Priestess! It was our carelessness that caused this!" Though his entire body shook, the surviving soldier mustered his courage and kowtowed deeply before the enraged ruler. "We took it for granted that Lady Tiamat could aid us... that with her presence, we could withstand any danger..."
The moment he finished speaking, Gilgamesh's gaze turned icy. Golden ripples shimmered behind him as a Noble Phantasm emerged—blocking the blade that came from the right of the throne!
"Cook, my subjects are not yours to judge... Wait, how dare you—?!"
"You're not the only one who possesses Mother's gifts, Gil." The usually gentle green light in the white-clad youth's eyes had turned cold. "To let Mother's soul wither to this extent... Even if this body is but a weapon, it still has the right to rage—"
"Calm yourself this instant!"
This time, it was the King who stopped his friend's violent actions with a chop to the forehead. "Hey, cook, you're there, aren't you? Stop playing dead and get out here!"
"..."
After a moment of silence, the young man raised his head again, his expression unchanged save for a slight curl at the corner of his lips.
"What do you want? Just so you know, I'm in a pretty foul mood myself right now."
"Enough nonsense. Do you think I'm in any better state?" Gilgamesh retorted irritably. "In the first place, it was your fault for leaving her unprotected there—"
"As a guardian, I cannot defy His will," Sakatsuki replied calmly. "Moreover, the fact that He has become like this is entirely due to the sins of your negligence and arrogance, is it not?"
For once, the King averted his gaze.
"This is no time for such talk. Come, I shall accompany you to visit Him personally."
"Report—this is bad, Your Majesty!"
"Damn it, what now?!"
Gilgamesh looked up, but this time, the one who arrived was not a soldier from the front lines but a guard clad in the uniform of the city gatekeepers.
"Someone is attempting to break through the city gates! We—we can't stop her!"
"Her? Who dares defy my decree?"
"Her name..." The gate guard swallowed hard before solemnly declaring, "Her name is Gogh."
"She's the woman with long purple hair who entered Uruk alongside Lord Fujimaru."