"The atmosphere hasn't changed, but the perceived temperature is dropping. Is this a change in physical laws—?"
As these words fell, Alaric also noticed the changes around him.
Although he wasn't affected by the cold, there was indeed a tangible change in the perceived temperature.
Meanwhile, the conversation between Roman and Mash reached Alaric's ears:
["Based on the measurements here, the air pressure on your side—it's already down to 500 hectopascals!? That's equivalent to the atmospheric pressure at an altitude of over 5,000 meters! What you're experiencing isn't just cold—it's altitude! This is the low temperature caused by adiabatic cooling, and it's already nearing the limit of what life can endure. If this continues, you won't just suffer from decompression sickness—your alveoli might even rupture!"]
Roman's nervous voice echoed among the group, even prompting Ereshkigal in the distance to speak: "How boring. I've only just shown myself, and you're already flustered. I didn't expect the commander of Chaldea to be such a coward. What's the point of a confrontation like this?"
"Hah? Acting all high and mighty—doesn't suit you at all! Besides, is there anyone in this world who isn't afraid of someone like you?"
Floating in the air, Ishtar, resembling a true butterfly, spoke with an irritated expression: "Death, decay, filth, and corruption. A woman whose very presence is like the air inside a coffin—Ereshkigal, this is your true self. All living beings would naturally fear a personification of death like you!"
"Hmm? I thought I heard some fluttering noise—turns out it's just the pitiful goddess. Let me crush that tiny body of yours, which is even smaller than my claws."
Ereshkigal said this matter-of-factly.
"Hah, how rude! That's your true nature, isn't it?"
Ishtar retorted decisively: "Because you're so ugly, you want to defile everything beautiful. Because no one wants to see you, you've gone and set up your throne on the peak of a sacred mountain, blaming everyone else for your tantrums!
The fact that you're considered a part of me is utterly disgraceful!"
"Hah? As usual, you're just a goddess who talks big. Even though you have some divine power, being willing to endure humiliation without resistance is a disgrace to goddesses. Prepare to be surprised—I'll show you my true nature as a goddess—"
Provoked by Ishtar, Ereshkigal began to radiate a brilliant light. The enormous form of her Garula Spirit rapidly shrank until it took on a human shape.
Radiant golden hair, fair and delicate skin full of life, and goddess-like attire more noble than Ishtar's adorned this blossom of the underworld.
The pseudo-servant, Ereshkigal, fully revealed herself before Alaric, Ritsuka Fujimaru, and the others.
Everyone except Alaric was stunned by the goddess's beauty, letting out cries of amazement. Ishtar, on the other hand, wore a look of disgust.
It was as if she was looking at herself.
Seeing everyone's astonishment, Ereshkigal proudly declared: "Hmph, I've scared you all, haven't I? Yes, you're all shocked, aren't you? My Garula Spirit form was, of course, fake. Be properly amazed by this appearance, which even the gods of Sumer haven't seen!"
"Ereshkigal is just as beautiful as Ishtar!" Mash exclaimed in awe, while even Ritsuka Fujimaru couldn't help but glance back and forth between Ishtar and Ereshkigal.
Even Gilgamesh looked surprised.
But Alaric simply smiled gently. "Impressive, Ereshkigal. Now, shall we get to the main topic?"
"You really can see my true form, huh? Those eyes of yours, capable of seeing death, naturally allow you to see the true appearance of me, the goddess of death—"
Seeing that Alaric wasn't surprised, Ereshkigal didn't seem disappointed. After all, during their multiple encounters, Alaric had never hidden the existence of his Mystic Eyes of Death Perception.
The power to perceive death had not escaped Ereshkigal's notice.
"The plan to shock everyone with my true form is a complete failure! No, wait—none of that matters!"
Calming herself, Ereshkigal's eyes flashed with divine brilliance, and her voice turned solemn and godlike: "Here, I shall kill you all. Before Gorgon claims Uruk, I will take control of it, imprisoning the souls of all surface humans in the underworld to make them my possessions!
This is my choice—the first decision I've made of my own will as a goddess!"
"Alaric, if you plan to interfere, I won't spare you either. Even if that distant god from the magical realm intervenes, I'll forcefully keep you here, kill you, and make you mine!"
"I look forward to it," Alaric replied, his smile unchanged. This made Ereshkigal's cheeks flush slightly as she instinctively looked away, avoiding his gaze. "In any case, prepare yourselves! You've already entered the underworld, and everything here is under my control—"
"Forgive me for interrupting, but as someone who doesn't know when to stay silent, I must interject, Ereshkigal," Gilgamesh suddenly spoke, cutting off Ereshkigal's monologue.
"What is it, you weakling who could be dragged into the underworld by the Garula Spirit with a single pull? I only wanted to give you a small lesson, but I didn't expect you, a dead man, to show up."
Ereshkigal cast a glance at Gilgamesh and said indifferently, "I can't be bothered with you. Even if you come to the underworld, you're just a nuisance. You might as well let Gorgon kill you quietly."
"Ereshkigal," Gilgamesh began, his tone severe, "as the city goddess of Kutha, you've sided with the Three Goddess Alliance. If Alaric hadn't stopped you, you would have dragged the entire city of Kutha into the underworld.
This crime is far greater than that of any other goddess. Even though I am now a dead man, I can still use my kingly authority to judge you. An invader can be repelled by force, but the betrayal of a compatriot must be judged by the world. Such is the nature of kingship, and you should understand this well."
Gilgamesh's expression was solemn. Even in death, the golden king could still challenge a goddess.
"Hmph, a king with divine authority could indeed punish a god by sacrificing everything. Such is the rule of our world. But so what? Are you planning to sacrifice everything to kill me?"
Ereshkigal's expression didn't change, as she didn't believe Gilgamesh would sacrifice everything to defeat her.
"That depends on your answer, Ereshkigal!" Gilgamesh's voice suddenly rose. "I ask you, Goddess Ereshkigal—why did you side with the Three Goddess Alliance? Have you abandoned your duty to protect Sumerian civilization and its people?"
"Hmph, I thought you were going to ask something worthwhile. How disappointing, King of Uruk!"
Ereshkigal's divine energy surged, her presence no weaker than that of the golden king. "My responsibilities and duties have not changed in the slightest. I am Ereshkigal, the goddess entrusted with the underworld!
Gathering all humans and souls into the underworld is the meaning of my existence—my destiny!
I have no regret or remorse for fully committing to this task. On the contrary, it is you who stand in my way that should be destroyed under divine authority!"
"How bold of you to say so. In that case, there's no need to question you further. I'll take your head and use your defeat as your admission of guilt!"
Gilgamesh's body began to radiate magical light. Faced with the strongest being of the underworld, the golden king could not afford to hold back and prepared to go all out.
"I welcome it! I'll pierce every one of you with my lance!"
Ereshkigal, at the peak of her divine power, suddenly froze and turned her gaze to Alaric, who stood beside Ritsuka Fujimaru. "You too… do you deny me?
For so long, I've managed the souls of the dead, without joy, without sorrow, without friends, or any happiness of my own—
I could only watch my other half soar freely in the sky. Even now, you intend to condemn me for this?
After all this time, do you still claim that collecting souls is wrong?
Will no one praise—
The effort I've put into tirelessly fulfilling this duty alone?"
"It doesn't matter. This is your duty, and belittling yourself for carrying it out without complaint is an insult to yourself—a painful insult."
Alaric's gaze was calm as he looked directly at Ereshkigal. "I will not praise you, Ereshkigal."
"… Very well! Alaric, you shall pay the price for your arrogance!"
With Alaric's piercing words, Ereshkigal's divine power finally erupted, sweeping across the entire underworld.
"I am Ereshkigal, the goddess who guards the silence of death, a goddess treated as a living sacrifice by the gods! I will teach you a lesson, to show that this pain, this hatred—means nothing to you!"
The enormous Garula Spirit reappeared, showcasing the full power of Ereshkigal, the goddess of death, before everyone.
Opposing this aura of death was—
An even deeper darkness.
Crack!
A black aurora burst forth, instantly spreading across the palace, causing the dark sky of the underworld to light up with brilliant constellations.
Even in the depths of the underworld, the world remained one. The underworld and the surface were part of the same fabric, and thus, Alaric could still draw upon the leyline mana from the peak of Mount Ebih.
Facing the enraged Ereshkigal, Alaric unleashed his full power. The sheer overflow of his magical energy caused such an extraordinary phenomenon! The dazzling black aurora left deep marks in this land of death, even drawing Ereshkigal's gaze to the starry clouds of darkness in the sky.
As Gilgamesh had said, the underworld was a world devoid of beauty—a land of death. Even this dark aurora had never existed here before.
As Alaric unleashed his magical power, the atmosphere, which had been dropping due to Ereshkigal, suddenly began to rise.
The world began to descend.
Not only Alaric, but Gilgamesh and the others also assumed battle stances. Hundreds of golden portals appeared, with countless staves extending from them, radiating divine energy.
"Senpai, it's time to fight!" Mash shouted, standing protectively in front of Ritsuka Fujimaru, who also called out: "Summon!"
Faced with the goddess of death, no one dared to hold back—they all gave it their all!