Comments flew.
[That Bull is something humans can fight?!]
[I heard Gil and Enkidu beat it together, but this is insane.]
[Historically it ravaged Uruk for seven years and they only repelled it.]
[Still, the two of them look so badass against that huge bull.]
[Mom, I fell in love again…]
Onscreen, Gilgamesh raised Ea.
"Speak of the origin. Heaven and earth divide. Let creation open.
This is my Sword of Rupture that rends the world.
Grinding the stars' millstone, the heaven's hell is the end of pre-creation night.
By death, be brought low—!"
With each word, the sword's light grew.
Sensing danger, the Bull charged.
Every step shook the earth, the walls trembling.
"Then I'll stop your advance!"
Enkidu stepped off the wall and fell freely.
"Life's concept flows. Fire is woven to conquer primal terror.
The past returns to tomorrow; tomorrow to eternity.
Earth and sea bind to the sky.
This is the fruit of life, the inscription of fear.
Thus mankind forges paradise, even devouring the origin itself.
Even if I go to hell with man, for my friend's joy,
I will still sing of paradise!"
Chains erupted, wrapping the Bull.
"People of the world—bind the gods with chains! (Enuma Elish)"
Countless chains formed a massive spear, piercing the Bull's left leg and nailing it to the ground.
The Bull cried out, hatred turning to terror as it saw Ea.
It knew it would die if hit.
Gilgamesh showed no mercy.
" mongrel, this is your end!"
Ea's segments spun against each other, a golden storm compressing at the tip.
"Heaven and Earth Split Apart—Star of Creation (Enuma Elish)!"
He thrust the sword forward—
BOOM!
All color drained from the world.
A colossal beam of mana swallowed the Bull.
Sound within a kilometer vanished, sucked into the strike.
Only Ea's ringing hum remained as citizens clutched their ears.
When the beam faded, a rich scent of beef drifted across Uruk.
The comments went wild.
[Holy—this is the Hero King's true power?! I've never seen him use that sword.]
[He collected every technological prototype of his era into the treasury—that's why normal weapons didn't work.]
[I thought he was just bragging, but he really has the capital.]
[Who in this world could even judge him?]
[I want to taste Bull of Heaven meat. It must be amazing.]
Ishtar arrived mid-scene, staring at the dead Bull.
"You killed it?! I just borrowed it from Father!"
She cursed from the wall:
"Hero King, Enkidu, you're finished! You killed the Bull—Father God will punish you!"
"Enkidu, show her some color."
Gilgamesh tore off a chunk of thigh meat to taste, found it decent, then got annoyed with her voice.
Enkidu ripped off the Bull's right thigh and hurled it at Ishtar.
She took it square in the face.
Furious, she shouted:
"Fine! You two— I'll curse you with the most vicious curse!"
Tears in her eyes, Ishtar bit into the thigh.
…It was surprisingly good.
But revenge mattered more.
She summoned Maanna and flew toward heaven, still glaring at Gilgamesh.
"Hahaha, Enkidu. Didn't you just make us lose money?"
Gilgamesh laughed, brushing dust from his golden leg and arm guards.
"One leg is nothing. Did you see her face when she left? Worth it."
Enkidu smiled and waved to Siduri on the wall.
Siduri smiled at the Bull's remains, but seeing Ishtar's retreating back, her expression clouded.
"Siduri! What are you doing? My victory must be celebrated!"
Gilgamesh shouted.
"Ah—sorry, my king."
She relayed orders to the soldiers.
The city gates opened.
People surged out chanting:
"King Gilgamesh! King Gilgamesh! King Gilgamesh!"
Faces filled with joy.
"Hahaha! This is your king's grace!"
Gilgamesh had the meat carried in while he returned triumphantly to the palace.
"My king, you shouldn't have killed it. Driving it away would have been enough."
Siduri looked worried.
"Hahaha. Killed it, so what? It's only a beast."
Gilgamesh set down his tablet.
30. This Battle — Godslaying!
Comments scrolled.
[Historically, they only drove it off, yet the gods still punished them.]
[So killing it means an even harsher sin…]
[Relax. It's just a video.]
[Yeah, just watch for fun.]
[Wait, isn't this all real—just another worldline?]
Seems Arthur's conference hadn't fully spread yet. The papers were probably already fanning the flames.
In real Uruk's palace, Gilgamesh laughed loudly.
"Hahaha! That 'him' is savage enough to kill the Bull, so that useless goddess lost her Noble Phantasm, didn't she?"
He laughed until his stomach cramped.
Then he stared at the screen again.
"Now… how will they face those disgusting gods?"
Even in his own history, merely repelling the Bull earned him and Enkidu a brutal curse.
Onscreen, he'd killed it outright.
The punishment would be worse.
But… that's me.
How could I lose?
I trust myself!
He watched on.
Onscreen.
At the gods' gathering place—an isolated realm only deities could reach.
A wail drew the gods together.
"Father, Uruk's king and your weapon have killed the Bull of Heaven!"
Ishtar hugged the leg of beef, took a bite, then shoved it toward the gods.
Anu, her father, snapped his beard in fury.
"Impossible! No mortal can kill the Bull. Ishtar, did you just want meat and make up an excuse to butcher it?!"
"Father, I only brought one leg. The rest was probably eaten by Uruk already. Check if you don't believe me!"
She flung the leg aside, terrified.
Anu saw her sincerity and nodded.
"I believe you, my daughter. I'll investigate."
The gods investigated.
The result: Gilgamesh and the weapon they forged had indeed killed the Bull.
Enraged, Anu summoned the gods to decide punishment for the "Chains of Heaven" and "Wedge of Heaven."
"Since Gilgamesh has done something so brutal, destroy him along with the Chains of Heaven. We'll create a new pair."
No god objected.
"Good. Then—"
"Wait, Father! Can you spare the 'Wedge of Heaven'? It's my only wish."
Ishtar put on a pitiful, gentle voice.
"Give the Wedge to me. I will never let him appear in Uruk again, okay?"
The gods still said nothing. It was a family matter.
"Fine. I will create a perfect guide."
Anu agreed, and ordered Ishtar to announce Enkidu's death.
Ishtar accepted and descended.
Comments wept.
[So this is Enkidu's calamity… my Enkidu…]
[Ishtar really likes the Hero King, huh.]
[The gods are so cold, deciding human death casually.]
[I feel like this won't end badly.]
A subtitle appeared.
[Time rewinds to one week earlier.]
[The gods spent seven days investigating and deliberating the Bull's death.]
[In those seven days, the Hero King did not sit idle. Instead, he made a move that shocked everyone.]
Uruk's palace was empty.
Only three people remained.
"My king, are you really going to do this? If you step forward, it's the abyss of no return!"
Siduri looked at Gilgamesh, frantic.
"Of course." Gilgamesh laughed arrogantly.
"My decisions never fail. If I fall, then the successor I chose will take the throne. He has potential, but he'll never match me!"
He turned to Enkidu.
"My friend—will you join me in overthrowing this rule? And if you retreat, I won't blame you. After all, our enemies are the gods!"
Enkidu answered without hesitation, eyes firm.
"We are accomplices. If you cannot escape, how could I? And for the people's happiness, what does my sacrifice matter?"
"Hahaha! Good." Gilgamesh nodded.
"Siduri, I leave everything to you. If I don't return in a month… declare my death."
Golden armor materialized on him. Two swords hung at his back.
Prepared, they waited quietly in the palace for the gods to descend.
This battle—godslaying.