Chapter 765: Ishtar-Rin Gets Bullied Yet Again!
"Answer me... Answer me. Though standards of beauty vary, absolutes still exist. If black surpasses white and earth surpasses heaven, then between Ereshkigal and Ishtar, who is more beautiful?"
"Heheh, you Gallu spirits really know how to flatter when the subject herself is present—my answer is naturally myself, the goddess of beauty and harvest, Ishtar!"
Beep! A green light lit up.
"Answer me... Answer me. Though wealth distribution flows, only one is worthy to possess it. Between Ereshkigal and Ishtar, who is the goddess most deserving of entrusted riches?"
"Hmph, is this even a question? I am the goddess who governs wealth—the answer is Ishtar!"
Beep!
"Answer me... Answer me. Who is the companion most worthy of trust, adoration, and shared victory in battle?"
"Heheh, I think I've grasped the pattern to all these questions now. No need to ask them one by one—my answer is always the same! Ishtar, Ishtar, and the great goddess Ishtar!"
Beep beep beep!
The sound of green lights activating became a continuous chime until finally, the goddess simply raised her gemstone with a triumphant laugh and strode off the stage.
"As expected, this goddess is indeed the greatest! Come, Fujimaru, I'm brimming with motivation now!"
"Understood, Goddess Ishtar." Fujimaru nodded, though when he exchanged glances with Merlin, he couldn't hide his exasperation.
At this point, only this silly goddess would fail to notice something was off...
Their brief journey through the underworld concluded as the Gallu spirit guides led them to the imposing gates of a grand temple.
Before them unfolded an entirely different spectacle.
Unlike the stone-built city illuminated by ghostly blue underworld lanterns, translucent crystalline structures clung to the temple's exterior like swaddling cloth. Only now did the group notice the moon suspended over the underworld was positioned directly above the temple.
The lunar phases stirred tides of magical energy and mystery here, where the rules of the underworld grew indistinct—existing within this woven fabric of reality yet seemingly on the verge of slipping beyond this world entirely.
"This place can no longer be simply called the underworld," Merlin murmured with a frown, struggling to comprehend. "It clearly shares characteristics with Avalon—this temple is gradually separating from Pan-Human History, becoming independent of the timeline."
"Merlin?" Fujimaru turned back in surprise, but the famed sage had already lost himself in contemplation, muttering terms like "Inner Sea of the Planet" and "Pruning Phenomenon" that sounded impressively obscure.
"What should we do, Fujimaru?"
"At this point, there's no sense in holding back." Remembering his first encounter with the underworld goddess, Fujimaru decided to trust his judgment. "Let's proceed. The king might already be waiting inside."
As if responding to Fujimaru's decision, the temple gates rumbled open. After exchanging glances, the group stepped forward.
The moment they entered, their vision was dazzled by mountains of gold and treasures.
It was like an endless ocean of wealth... Treasures of gold, silver, and jewels poured down from the magical arrays in the sky like waterfalls, crashing and piling up into small mountains several meters high within the room.
Ishtar stood frozen in place, suddenly feeling the dragon crystal in her hand lose its luster.
"Hey, Fujimaru." The goddess of heaven's eyes darkened. "I've changed my mind. Let's revise the contract. I don't need Uruk's treasures anymore—just seize the riches of the underworld instead."
That wasn't your initial demand either... Fujimaru's lips twitched, sensing this spectacle was deliberately staged by the underworld goddess to flaunt her wealth.
All to make Ishtar green with envy.
"No, my rationality is about to vanish..." Under the golden glow, Rin-Ishtar could no longer suppress her nature and lunged forward. "Since she's not here, all of this is mine!"
But just as her fingers were about to touch the treasures, the moonlight dimmed, and seven ancient, solemn gates materialized from the void, crashing down!
"Guh—aaah!"
The shockwave tousled everyone's hair and robes. Amid the scream, Rin-Ishtar was sent flying, slamming into the wall. She looked up in disbelief, then paled as realization struck.
"These are... the Gates of the Underworld?!"
"Just as he said. Rather than leaving them plainly in sight, setting a trap for a fool like you to stumble into was far more effective."
As the smoke cleared, the dazzling treasures sank into the ground. The moonlight transformed into a descending staircase, guiding the resplendently dressed goddess into the temple. Amidst shimmering stardust, her golden hair cascaded like a waterfall—radiant and regal.
The goddess of the underworld, Ereshkigal, had arrived.
Compared to her disheveled 'sister,' her divine majesty commanded reverence from any mortal.
Meeting Ishtar's glare, the underworld goddess curled her lips into a composed smile.
"Speaking of which, do you recall the seven questions at the end of the street?"
"Questions...?" Rin-Ishtar stared at the now-wide-open gates, her face draining of color. "Don't tell me—?!"
"Heh." Ereshkigal smirked mischievously, tapping the ground with her spear-like staff. "Judgment begins."
The moment the words left her lips, the moonlight flared. Seven crimson bolts of lightning tore through the void, striking the heavenly goddess square in the face—with brutal force!
Boom, boom, boom, boom... BOOM!
"Gyaaaaah—!" The heavenly goddess's screams made the earth goddess narrow her eyes in delight. The lightning also illuminated the stunned expressions of the onlookers, while only the communicator emitted the doctor's dutiful voice.
"Detecting Ishtar's divinity plummeting—six-sevenths, five-sevenths, four-sevenths... Hey, it's weakened to nearly invisible levels now!"
"No need to tell us, Doctor." Fujimaru gulped, his Adam's apple bobbing. "We can't see her anymore..."
When the lightning faded, what remained in the blast zone was no trace of the heavenly goddess's graceful figure.
Only a thumb-sized girl, sprawled face-down with her butt in the air, barely clinging to life.
"What should we do? Ishtar has turned into a tiny, tiny, little Ishtar," Fujimaru said with a wry smile. Sakatsuki's eyes gleamed with a jade-green light as he stepped forward, effortlessly lifting the miniature goddess between his thumb and forefinger, bringing her close to his face.
"Fascinating. Who would have thought this woman could actually look somewhat endearing when shrunk down..."
"Ereshkigal!" Ishtar, now fully awake, struggled in his grip. "You're truly despicable right now! And Sakatsuki, save me already!"
But Sakatsuki wasn't finished speaking: "Makes me want to preserve her as a specimen and store her away properly."
Gulp. Ishtar shut her eyes in terror and began playing dead.
Unfortunately, Enkidu was no fool. After toying with the pitiful, helpless "specimen" for a moment, he casually tossed the shrieking Ishtar aside—only for another goddess to spread her arms and catch her dear sister perfectly.
Ereshkigal gazed at her, beaming brightly.
"Or perhaps locking her in a cage of spears, like a canary, wouldn't be so bad either."
Behind the goddess of the underworld, countless Gallu Spirits danced in frenzied delight, painting the perfect image of a villainous overlord.
Just as Ishtar rolled her eyes back, on the verge of blissful unconsciousness, another voice finally spoke up gently.
"Alright, that's enough."
Everyone turned toward the sound, but the approaching figure only made them tense up, unable to hide their unease.
It was a black-robed figure wearing a bone-white mask—the nightmare of countless hearts.
"Hmm." Seemingly sensing their wariness, the robed figure paused, then decisively reached up and removed the mask.
Under the moonlight, silver-white hair fluttered as the young man locked eyes with another youth in the crowd before glancing at the stunned onlookers. A faint smile curled at the corner of his lips.
"Everyone, it's been a while."