Episode 246: Toward his former 'Mother,' launching a magnificent revenge!
『 Kingu's heart felt as though it had shattered in that very instant. A profound, crushing sense of helplessness washed over her.
Had I never truly lived for myself, from the very beginning?
She could not help but ask herself, tears shimmering in her eyes, a sharp, aching bitterness welling up within her chest.
What a… truly pathetic creature.
She couldn't help but think this of herself, as if the answer had been buried deep within the recesses of her soul for an eternity.
With that thought, Kingu let her head hang low, allowing her tears to fall, one by one, into the palm of her hand.
By now, her vision was completely blurred by the brine of her weeping; the scenery before her had become a hazy, indistinct mess.
"But… when I really think about it, there is only one thing…"
Her lips trembled, her voice choked with sobs, yet it remained piercingly clear.
"I want to see you… I want to talk to you… Of all the countless memories held within this heart… of my thoughts on those memories… as a friend… I want to convey them to you."
Kingu's voice grew fainter, and her body began to tremble uncontrollably.
In that moment, Kingu's tears merged with the raindrops, ceaselessly falling upon the soil of Uruk, each drop heavy with boundless emotion.
As if infected by this intense sorrow, the beautiful, verdant figure stood alone against the pitch-black horizon, like a solitary sentinel.
He was named Kingu, yet she wore the skin of Enkidu.
Hovering between heaven and earth, existing upon the ancient Mesopotamian plains, the figure known as the Green One seemed to finish pouring out the longings of her heart. She wiped the tears from the corners of her eyes, her gaze regaining a flicker of resolve and composure.
She looked upon the city of Uruk in this era, watching as it marched, step by step, toward oblivion. 』
『 .....』
〜Dimensional livestream, Chat Room〜
[ Oyama Mahiro (Onimai): "What a massive fire." ]
[ Oyama Mahiro (Onimai): "If we don't put it out… no, I suppose there's no point. There aren't many people left anyway." ]
[ Utahime Iori (Jujutsu Kaisen): "While that is logically sound, it feels… strange, somehow." ]
[ Haibara Ai (Detective Conan): "That isn't the point right now. What is this person trying to do?" ]
[ Kiryu Sento (Kamen Rider): "Is he trying to use…" ]
[ .....]
『 The raging flames appeared blindingly harsh against the night, a light that seemed incapable of fading; and where these infernos burned, the unceasing, abyssal black mud encroached, transforming the vast, boundless earth into a sea of dark crimson.
This was a hell where despair and terror coexisted, a witness to the final moments of humanity's extinction.
Uruk, the formidable kingdom that King Gilgamesh had spent years building with his very lifeblood, had been thought capable of repelling any invader.
Yet, under the ravaging evil forces led by that ancient, ferocious beast, Tiamat, all those efforts had come to naught in an instant. Everything that was once glorious and brilliant crumbled and disintegrated into piles of shattered rubble and ruins.
Countless unforgettable images of Enkidu flooded into Kingu's mind—a mind that appeared cold and numb, yet was teeming with complex emotional turbulence.
The familiarity and distance of it all stirred an indescribable anguish within her heart.
This city, this land—once, it had been the warmest, most peaceful sanctuary for her soul.
But now, much like the ravaged city itself, it had lost all vitality, becoming desolate, silent, and devoid of life.
In her current state, to everyone's eyes, she was at best a makeshift tool or a secondary substitute for some precious artifact.
She was as lonely and forlorn as an orphan, completely forgotten and forsaken by the world.
But… but still.
Even so, whenever Kingu witnessed the city of Uruk slowly falling and vanishing in the face of disaster, an irrepressible sorrow would inevitably rise within the depths of her heart.
In that moment, many long-buried names resurfaced from the depths of her memory:
The dearest friend with whom she had fought and grown, the heroic King of Heroes, Gilgamesh, and that wise, empathetic, and loyal Sister Siduri.
The unbreakable, iron-clad bond of friendship between the three of them had been deeply etched into the core of her being, only to slowly fade and blur as time slipped away.
Admittedly, there were significant differences between the two, yet in terms of physical construction, they were not so dissimilar.
It was precisely because of this unique connection that Kingu had always harbored a distinct, profound affection for Gilgamesh.
Though she knew full well that the reason the other held her particular attitude toward her was solely that she bore the same physical form as that fellow named Enkidu, not because of any genuine, heartfelt acceptance or acknowledgment.
Even so…
Even so.
As a "living being" longing to be understood and accepted, she still yearned, more than anything, for a single chance to have a sincere conversation with the King she had long revered, to pour out the injustices and helplessness in her heart, or to recount the stories and feelings hidden behind the difficult path she had walked alone all these years.
If… if not for the existence of that formidable enemy, Tiamat; if not for being forced into such a cruel and heartless struggle;
Would it have meant that they could have built a bridge of pure, beautiful, and selfless friendship that transcended the trials of life and death?
Ultimately, however, this was perhaps merely a beautiful wish projected onto Enkidu.
Realizing this truth, Kingu's voice grew choked, her eyes slightly moist, and she could barely speak.
"But… that is not me…" Her words were fraught with struggle and pain, each syllable seemingly draining the last of her strength.
"That is… that is the wish of the vessel, Enkidu. My wish… the wish of Kingu, will not change…" Her voice was low and resolute, revealing her insistence and faith in herself.
Atop the walls of Uruk, Ritsuka Fujimaru watched Tiamat's relentless advance. The sight of her colossal form made him clench his fists involuntarily, a sudden, sharp tension gripping him.
He knew he and his companions were facing a battle of life and death.
If Tiamat truly breached their defenses, the outcome would be all too clear: the city would be destroyed, and countless innocent lives would lose their homes.
The mere possibility sent waves of terror crashing through him.
For a moment, they were all at their wits' end, not knowing how to halt this overwhelming enemy.
The air was thick with a suffocating atmosphere, as if even breathing had become a heavy burden.
And Kingu, rising slowly in the distance, felt her expression gradually turn resolute.
In this moment, she finally understood the responsibility she bore.
"I was born to sustain the human world… this is the meaning of my existence, even up until now." Her voice carried a profound determination, as if she were declaring the purpose of her entire life to herself.
As she spoke, cyan lightning began to flicker across Kingu's body, accompanied by the faint crackle of electricity, her figure becoming increasingly brilliant and dazzling.
"This is… my wish…" It was the truest voice from the depths of her heart, her final declaration.
"Goodbye… Mother…" She whispered, a flash of complex emotion crossing her eyes.
Despite the agony in her heart, she knew this was a choice that had to be made.
As she said this, Kingu's long green hair caught the wind, each strand tracing a graceful arc in the air.
In this final moment of her life, a faint look of serenity slowly dawned upon Kingu's face.
She knew that in this moment, she had no regrets.
"Mother… you chose the wrong child." This sentence was heavy with helplessness and sorrow, yet it carried a touch of liberation.
Having said this, she no longer lingered on anything, flying resolutely toward Tiamat.
"At this rate!" Watching as Tiamat smashed through the perimeter wall and entered the urban district of Uruk, the group could not help but worry, their hearts leaping into their throats.
"Wait… who is that…" A verdant figure descended from the sky, rapidly entering everyone's field of vision.
A familiar name escaped their lips: "Kin…gu…"
Seeing this, Ritsuka Fujimaru couldn't help but gasp, his heart filled with disbelief.
Even having experienced so many incredible things, he had never imagined that Kingu would choose to betray his mother for the sake of the world, sacrificing her own life to halt Tiamat's assault.
Beside Ritsuka Fujimaru, Gilgamesh stood with his arms crossed, his gaze burning like a torch as he stared intently at everything unfolding, his expression exceptionally solemn.
Yet, upon closer inspection, one could see that beneath that severity, a hint of something else was hidden.
However, his expression betrayed no sorrow; on the contrary, a trace of pride quietly emerged.
This pride stemmed from the shock of seeing his brave and fearless friend.
That expression was a high commendation of Kingu's actions, an acknowledgment and respect for her courage.
He simply watched silently as his friend flew toward her goal, offering no words. 』
『 .....』
〜Dimensional livestream, Chat Room〜
[ Keqing (Genshin Impact): "She's going to join the battle, too." ]
[ Black Swan (Honkai: Star Rail): "Heh, congratulations. You've found your true self." ]
[ Shoichi Tsugami (Kamen Rider): "Found it… her true self." ]
[ Shoichi Tsugami (Kamen Rider): "Is this… really the outcome?" ]
[ Mana Kazaya (Kamen Rider): "Shoichi?" ]
[ Shoichi Tsugami (Kamen Rider): "No, it's nothing." ]
[ Umaru Doma (Himouto): "Isn't this kind of tactic just a suicide mission?" ]
[ Umaru Doma (Himouto): "Plus, didn't she have that specific name for that big thing earlier…" ]
[ Chika Fujiwara (Love Is War): "It's not a big deal. There's a saying, right? 'Weak when redeemed, strong when corrupted' or something like that." ]
[ Keqing (Genshin Impact): "So, is she redeemed or corrupted now?" ]
[ Chika Fujiwara (Love Is War): "That is…" ]
[ .....]
『 After circling Tiamat's colossal form several times, a look never before seen appeared on Kingu's face.
It was a… warm smile.
This body still remembers what it must do, she told himself silently, a hint of solace showing in her eyes.
After that brief smile, Kingu's gaze rapidly turned fiercely determined. "Kingu, daughter of Tiamat, will show you the power of the Chain of the Heavens!"
Accompanying this vow that resonated through the heavens, she thrust one hand forward, and golden and green lightning intertwined behind her.
In a mere instant, one of the golden lightning bolts transformed, morphing into a massive cross that pointed toward Tiamat's position.
At that moment, the space around Tiamat began to warp and distort, gradually forming an impenetrable wall of gold.
Subsequently, under Kingu's sustained urging, this defensive work transformed into a massive vortex, firmly sealing the monster within.
That terrifying power seemed capable of freezing all life; even Tiamat was unable to move for a moment.
Beneath the apocalyptic storm vortex, countless golden magical runes suddenly materialized out of thin air, radiating a blinding brilliance.
"Mother's fury is a thing of the past. Now I will awaken the breath of the planet—"
In the sky, as countless golden Chains of Heaven manifested from the void, they were as magnificent and glorious as a river of stars flowing in reverse.
Surprisingly, Kingu's own body began to mutate at the same moment, gradually turning into Chains of Heaven that emitted the same golden light. She rapidly merged into the army of chains, eventually condensing into a single, pure golden chain, charging toward the immobilized Tiamat below.
At the critical moment when the giant chain of golden light was about to touch the enemy's body, fragments of memories of the time spent with Gilgamesh and Siduri, along with all the beautiful impressions left by the city that held so many stories—Uruk—involuntarily surfaced in Kingu's mind.
Familiar scenes flashed by like a slideshow at this juncture between life and death, replaying every segment of her life worth cherishing.
In this decisive final moment, even knowing this might be the end of her existence, Kingu felt not a shred of fear or sorrow. Instead, a warm, satisfied smile graced her lips.
"People of the world, witness this moment—I use my wings as the key, and my chains to bind the gods!"
"ENUMA ELISH—!"
⦍O' Humans, Let Us Restrain the Gods⦎
Her voice, filled with unprecedented resolve and courage, resonated through the heavens at that moment, echoing passionately and tragically across the entire sky of Uruk, refusing to fade for a long time.
A thunderous boom shattered the surrounding stillness and oppressive atmosphere. 』
『 .....』
〜Dimensional livestream, Chat Room〜
[ Paimon (Genshin Impact): "She really… I'm crying. Even like this, she was willing to go this far." ]
[ Tokiwa Sougo (Kamen Rider): "Perhaps this is the bond of friendship." ]
[ Kiryu Sento (Kamen Rider): "The bond… of friendship?" ]
[ Mirai Hibino (Ultraman): "Is there really such a thing? That even between friends, there exists a bond?" ]
[ Kaminaga Shinji (Ultraman): "The bond of friendship?" ]
[ Lipiah (Ultraman???): "Perhaps this is also something worth learning." ]
[ Hiroko Asami (Ultraman): "…." ]
[ Hikari (Ultraman): "As Ultra Warriors, the power of bonds is also very important." ]
[ Mirai Hibino (Ultraman): "Yes! I understand." ]
[ .....]
〜Demon Slayer World〜
"He really…"
Tanjiro was weeping uncontrollably. Looking at the green figure before him, his heart couldn't help but tremble.
—
『 Then, Gilgamesh announced loudly to everyone around him: "Everyone, pay attention and watch!"
Gilgamesh's voice was firm and powerful, piercing through the night, shrouded in darkness, clearly audible in every corner of the ancient city.
Like a true hero, even while heavily injured and even while watching his friend depart, his figure stood unyielding atop the city walls, as if nothing in the world could make him fall.
As those words fell, the gazes of the two companions standing beside him were also drawn to Tiamat, who was currently locked in a bitter struggle ahead.
"…!"
The scene unfolding before them left everyone utterly stunned.
The once arrogant and peerless divine beast, Tiamat, had actually lost all freedom of movement; her colossal body was firmly bound by circle after circle of dense Chains of Heaven!
Was Tiamat actually restrained?
What on earth was going on?
Ritsuka Fujimaru and Mash's faces were written with expressions of disbelief.
However, compared to their stunned expressions, Gilgamesh, who stood beside them maintaining a calm and composed demeanor, appeared entirely confident. He curled his lips slightly, revealing a subtle, yet deeply meaningful smile that spoke volumes.
"If she takes even one more step forward, I fear the entire temple will instantly turn to ash," Gilgamesh said with a light chuckle.
He then added, "Of course, I imagine the one suffering the most right now is Tiamat, whom we have completely suppressed. Even moving an inch is a struggle for her."
Hearing these words, both Mash and Ritsuka shuddered in unison, once again looking up at the giant figure not far away—a figure that had once filled them with dread, but was now reduced to such a state. 』
『 .....』