Chapter 768: Sudden Change, The Clash of Monsters!
Whoosh—pastry crumbs were tossed into the air as a small snake flapped its chubby wings, leaping up to catch them in its mouth before landing on the ground, shaking its head in delight.
The man leaning against the pillar smiled, watching with childlike enthusiasm. Once the little snake had swallowed its treat, he pinched off another piece of pastry and tossed it again.
Back and forth, the scene was oddly harmonious.
Unfortunately, the man on the throne had no appreciation for such charm. Slamming the armrest, he said coldly:
"Cook, I didn't summon you here to provide toys. Can you actually locate Gorgon's whereabouts or not?"
"Hmph, who can understand the heart of that goddess?" Sakatsuki lazily teased the winged serpent, his tone pointed. "If only everyone could be as straightforward as this little snake."
"Fine, then you're useless. Get out." Gilgamesh was nothing if not straightforward.
"Hey, don't be so hasty." The young man finally stopped his game. The winged serpent, seeing no more treats, flicked its tail in disappointment before slithering over to Anna, who wore an exasperated expression. Under the king's piercing gaze, Sakatsuki tapped his forehead with a grin.
"Don't forget, the plan to destroy Uruk was mine."
To be precise, it was devised by him while under the influence of Tiamat's Authority, fighting for the sake of the Demonic Beasts.
"But whether it's that version of me or this one, the thought process wouldn't differ much. I just need to switch my mindset back to that time and simulate it from scratch."
Before anyone could react, Sakatsuki donned a bone-white mask. A dark, oppressive aura instantly spread, making everyone narrow their eyes uneasily. The winged serpent tensed, baring its gleaming fangs.
The performance began.
Why capture Gorgon... No, even before that... Would that version of me have anticipated Gorgon's betrayal?
Of course.
Then, building everything on that premise—how could I minimize our losses? In other words, what value does Gorgon hold? Divine-level combat power? Don't make me laugh. Mother would never lack such things... Yes, it's the Authority.
The Authority known as "Pandemonium Cetus"—this, above all else, must never fall into Uruk's hands.
And since the exact timing of Gorgon's betrayal couldn't be predicted, the only option was to ensure she would obediently return. The method would be... No, no need to think about that. It's already happened. The goal has already been achieved.
So what comes next?
"Tiamat herself would appear, seize Gorgon's Pandemonium Cetus, and kill her. Considering Kingu's involvement, there's a chance she'd be imprisoned instead, used as bait to lure Uruk's forces into a rescue attempt... Performance complete."
Removing the mask, Sakatsuki delivered his conclusion: "Deep in the Persian Gulf, where the Lahmu reside. She was likely lured there by some means."
"Not even considering other possibilities, just straight-up blaming the enemy, huh?" Gilgamesh smirked in satisfaction. "Good. It seems I have nothing to add. Begin assembling the rescue team immediately."
"You've got this all wrong," Anna suddenly spoke up, cutting through the group's actions. "Gorgon doesn't want us to rescue her. Before leaving, she eradicated all the demon beast nests within a hundred miles of Uruk and left behind nearly half of her divinity."
"Bringing her back would be meaningless—if anything, it would only risk unnecessary losses."
Anna's words were indisputable; in fact, they were the most rational choice. Yet no one in the palace showed agreement. Instead, they all wore strange, knowing smiles.
"Just as I said," Sakatsuki extended a finger and tapped the little snake's snout, grinning. "If only everyone could be as straightforward as this little one."
"Anna, do you really not want Gorgon back? Don't you want to punch that smug look off her face when she acts all high and mighty?"
"This…" Anna hesitated. Seeing this, Gilgamesh clenched his fist and coughed lightly, hiding the smirk at the corner of his lips.
"Enough. No need for further discussion. Sakatsuki, Fujimaru—the two of you are responsible for bringing Gorgon back."
"As you command."
"Eh? But I wanted to stay in the underworld with Ereshkigal..."
"Oh? It seems I must have a little chat with the Goddess of the Underworld about your past romantic entanglements."
"Nonsense," Sakatsuki suddenly straightened up with righteous fervor. "I am but a brick of Uruk, to be placed wherever needed. Someone, fetch my Fire Qilin AK!"
————
The serpentine figure slithered across the gloomy southern lands of the Persian Gulf, where storm clouds loomed ominously. Countless demon beasts lay prostrate on the ground, welcoming the Mother Goddess's return. Gorgon, expressionless, walked along the path cleared by the beasts, her eyes fixed on this land that had disgusted her countless times yet drawn her back just as often.
"Welcome back," sneered the two Baal Lahmu, looking down at her from above. Sandwiched between them, the Sun Goddess hung her head low, only mustering a bitter smile when she sensed the familiar divine presence.
"You shouldn't have come back."
"None of your concern," Gorgon retorted, her face pale and her entire being radiating weakness, yet her attitude remained unchanged. She ignored Quetzalcoatl and glared straight at the Baal Lahmu—those grotesque monstrosities.
"Now that I'm back, release her."
The Baal Lahmu merely laughed coldly, offering no response. Gorgon had expected as much.
"Very well..." She closed her eyes in disgust as her soul, like kindling, was ignited by the flickering flames of her divinity.
But before Gorgon could make her desperate move, a golden meteor pierced the gloomy sky, landing at the center of the scene. The clay homunculus with violet eyes turned to his "mother," a flicker of joy unconsciously flashing in his gaze. But when he turned to the Baal Lahmu, his expression turned icy.
"What are you doing?"
Caught off guard by Kingu's unexpected return, the Baal Lahmu tilted their heads and spat out merciless words: "Kill the goddess. Eliminate all unfavorable factors."
"This is how you act? Even killing your own allies?"
"Enough, Kingu." Baal Lahmu sneered. "Who are you putting on this pitiful act for now? This world is about to perish—no one cares about your pretentious posturing."
"Don't lump me together with your wretched kind." Kingu silenced the Baal Lahmu with a glare, his white robes fluttering as he turned with genuine concern. "Mother, it's been too long. How have you been?"
"As you can see, nearly dead." Gorgon showed no appreciation for his concern. "If you still consider me your mother, release Quetzalcoatl at once."
"That's impossible, Mother." Kingu shook his head with unwavering resolve. "We must fulfill His will. On this matter, I will not yield an inch."
"If that's how it is..." Gorgon trembled slightly before turning away without hesitation, heading back toward the temple. "I'm leaving."
"Wait." The Baal Lahmu spoke up. "We never said you could go."
"Follow me if you wish to die." By now, Gorgon had no patience left for restraint. "Though weakened, I can still drag one of you down to hell with me."
The Baal Lahmu fell into brief silence, not just because of Gorgon's resolve, but also because Kingu had turned back toward them, barely containing his fury.
"Stop this foolishness! Even if Mother's malice has influenced you, you must consider the bigger picture! Your actions serve no purpose other than turning the goddesses against us!"
He couldn't understand why the Baal Lahmu remained so obstinately foolish. Did they truly intend to drive every goddess to rebellion?
They were invaluable combatants! Had the Baal Lahmu not pushed them so far, none would have betrayed them!
"Hmph, we're doing this for your own good, Kingu..."
"What did you say?"
"Tch, Kingu!!!" Gorgon's pupils contracted sharply as her serpentine hair lashed out in an instant, swatting the unprepared clay doll aside!
"Gorgon!!!" The Baal Lahmu's razor-sharp pincers missed their mark as it roared in fury, its deadly beam piercing through the Monster Goddess's shoulder!
"Mother?! And you—!" Kingu was still reeling from the sudden turn of events when another dark flash materialized behind him, radiating killing intent.
"That one's calculations were correct, Kingu. You've fallen after all—to think you'd show sympathy for mere gods..."
The pincers transformed into the sharpest of spears, impaling Kingu through the chest as he turned in shock!
"Guh—!" Blood sprayed uncontrollably from his mouth as Kingu distinctly felt something slipping away from him.
A brilliant golden light slowly emerged from the ghastly wound.
"What... are you... trying to do...?"
"His plan foretold your betrayal." The Baal Lahmu leaned close to its sibling, whispering. "Rather than let you betray Mother, we decided to execute you ourselves before the war begins."
With a cold laugh, the Baal Lahmu wrenched out the Holy Grail sustaining this Singularity, ignoring Kingu's cries of pain.
"As your elder sibling, we've finally done something for you. Aren't you happy? We're overjoyed—Kingu!"
These were the last words Kingu heard before darkness claimed his consciousness.
Ah...
What a pitifully absurd ending.
Is my own brother truly such a twisted existence?
Mother... what exactly are you thinking?
Why... can I no longer... hear... your voice...
As his body rapidly crumbled, Baal Lahmu cradled the Holy Grail, coldly watching Kingu fall from the sky like a bird with broken wings. Then, his gaze shifted to Gorgon, whose eyes were bloodshot.
He grinned, revealing rows of gleaming white teeth.
"As for you—a dying goddess barely clinging to life, what can you do besides uttering a few last words and shedding a few tears?"
"...I'll kill you all." Gorgon could no longer process any words. Consumed by overwhelming fury, she only wanted to tear these two hideous creatures apart!
"Hah... hahaha... HAHAHA! Did you hear that?" Baal Lahmu roared with laughter. "She actually said she'd kill us! A mere goddess, mere dregs of the old era!"
As if sensing something, the monster's expression grew even more mocking. "A pitiful wretch like you, destined to be trampled upon even in death—just obediently accept your fate—"
Baal Lahmu turned his head, his voice dripping with malicious glee as he loudly called out the name of the one who had just appeared.
"Perfect timing, you bastard!"
Cloaked in flowing black robes and wearing a cold bone mask, the black-clad figure wielding the Sword of Damnation emerged silently amidst the chaos.
Killing intent, unsurprisingly, locked onto the Beast Goddess Gorgon. The sheer pressure alone forced a pained groan from her, reopening her barely healed wounds as fresh blood spilled forth.
"Let humanity's strongest hero execute you," Baal Lahmu sneered. "Yes, just like on the Island of Shadows, just like the miserable end you met in life!"
A hero capable of slaying gods—could such a being, now fallen, kill a gravely wounded goddess?
The answer was undoubtedly yes.
And it would be done without hesitation. The executioner would use that sword and his all-seeing Mystic Eyes to cleanly sever her head.
Gorgon's gaze dimmed. No matter how much hatred burned in her heart, it all ultimately dissolved into a sigh of despair.
So this is how it all ends... she thought dazedly. In the end, why had she even come here?
A moment of kindness? A flicker of pity? A brief pang of guilt?
Or... was it precisely for this moment?
Upon sensing death's approach, she had followed like a ravenous night crow, no longer caring who else might be dragged into the abyss with her.
She had been... eagerly awaiting it.
"Come on..." A calm murmur escaped her crimson lips as Gorgon closed her eyes, surrendering to the chilling embrace of death.
Yet the executioner remained still.
"What are you doing?" Baal Lahmu frowned and kicked the black-clad figure hard in the back, sending him stumbling forward. "Hurry up and finish off these goddesses! Don't tell me you're disobeying Mother's orders now, you mad dog!"
Finally, the silent executioner moved. He raised his rusted greatsword—and swung horizontally.
BOOM!
"Wha—" The other Baal Lahmu gaped in disbelief, while the bound Sun Goddess widened her eyes, utterly baffled by the scene before her.
Before everyone's eyes, the black-robed figure slammed Baal Lahmu to the ground with a heavy sword, then raised his leg high and stomped his combat boot mercilessly onto that hideous face!
Black blood splattered as Baal Lahmu roared in fury. The black-robed figure leaned down, twisting his boot to inflict both physical and psychological humiliation upon the monster. Despite its desperate struggles to break free, it remained immobilized under the executioner's ruthless suppression.
"What the hell are you doing, bastard?!" Another Baal Lahmu, finally reacting, flew into a rage. With a flap of its wings, it closed the distance in an instant, thrusting its claw toward the black-robed figure's heart. "DIE!!!"
The response was the razor-sharp tip of a blade. The claw clashed against it, producing a grating, agonizing screech. The resulting shockwave tore away the black robe, and as the bone mask dissipated, the two Baal Lahmu found themselves face-to-face with a strikingly handsome young man—white-haired, golden-eyed, and all too familiar, like a nightmare come to life.
Gazing down at the horrified monsters, he curled his lips into a cold smirk, his eyes filled with disdain.
"I've had enough of you—trash."