The Angel of Death / Lahmu

Meanwhile, after seeing them leave, Rovey and Merlin didn't sit idle either. With Merlin giving directions, they began to rush towards the direction Gilgamesh had indicated as quickly as possible.

Chapter 282 The Azrael

When I opened my eyes again, all I could see was a pale yellow world.

Then the pale blue candlelight illuminated my face like fireflies.

It wasn't glaring, nor was it cold; on the contrary, it had a strange warmth to it.

Is this the afterlife?

No, I'm already dead. Shouldn't this be called the Throne of Heroes?

But--

A vague, novel feeling made Anna realize that something was wrong. She opened her eyes and found herself lying in a flowerbed full of yellow flowers. The sky above her was pitch black, with no sun in sight, and the surrounding environment was unusually Serenity, without a single breeze. This made her wonder where she was.

"Lost souls..."

However, an empty voice began to echo in Anna's ears the next moment. Following the direction of the voice, Anna saw a huge figure with a dog's head, or rather, a jackal holding a scepter.

It spoke softly, "Child who has fallen to the earth, Mother Earth who has fallen to the mortal realm, though fallen into the form of Demonic Beast, still retains her pure heart. What is it that you have come here seeking? Have your sins been cleansed? Has your soul found peace? As the God of the Underworld, I will punish and judge your sins. Are you ready to accept it? -- Hey! What are you doing, boss?"

The colossal god Anubis, holding scales, strode up to Anna, exuding divine majesty and great style. However, his words were abruptly interrupted by a pit that suddenly appeared beneath his feet.

"Are you Miss Nitocris? Or the goddess Ereshkigal?"

The atmosphere was instantly ruined, and Anna immediately remembered the two goddesses of the Underworld that Rovey had introduced her to.

"Ah? So you've heard of us after all?"

When Anna called out her real name, Nitocris looked helpless. She dispelled the illusion of Anubis and appeared before Anna, holding the Scales of God.

Below, Ereshkigal, who was still diligently tending to the flowerbed like a gopher, was also helplessly pulled out by Nitocris and lifted into the air, looking rather cute.

Seeing the goddess who looked exactly like Ishtar except for her long golden hair, Anna knew that she must be Ishtar's sister, Ereshkigal, the goddess of the Underworld here. Without any hesitation, she hurriedly asked about the situation behind her.

"Lord Hades, what's going on?!"

Anna immediately asked the question she most wanted to know--

Why am I still alive?

She couldn't possibly be alive; she shouldn't be alive.

"Eh? Hades, Lord Hades? Hmm, this is the first time I've heard someone call me that..."

Being addressed so respectfully by Anna, Ereshkigal, who had been pondering how to introduce himself without being impolite upon seeing her arrive in the Underworld, was immediately overjoyed.

This was a rare way for her to be addressed, and it felt quite peculiar.

"Hey-hey..."

She gave a strange smile, then realized that both of them were looking at her. She coughed a few times to bring her thoughts back to the present.

"Okay, to put it simply, the two of us saved you."

"They're saved?"

"That's right. Just as you destroyed Gorgon and plunged her body into the pit, falling in yourself as well, I had Nitocris intervene. She used her authority as the gatekeeper of the Underworld to open the gate as you fell, protecting your soul and allowing it to be absorbed into the Underworld before completely dissipating, bringing it to us and thus saving your life."

Ereshkigal touched her long hair and explained with a proud expression, her demeanor clearly saying—

How about that? Pretty impressive, right? Go ahead and praise me!

"You mean he anticipated that I would fall with Gorgon, so it was something he arranged on purpose?"

"Yes, just as he predicted. Although he's a human madman who deceived and bullied God, I have to admit he's really capable."

"When he left me, he pulled me and Nitocris aside and whispered some things I couldn't understand at all, telling me to carve a separate path from Gorgon directly to the Underworld. Fortunately, the result was pretty much what he expected, and..."

Ereshkigal stepped forward and gently pulled Anna up from the flowerbed.

"How is it? It looks great, doesn't it?"

She asked with a smile.

"What?"

Anna was slightly taken aback, but considering where she was and seeing the grapevines and many flowers around her, she immediately understood and asked in surprise, "Is this the Underworld? But why are there so many flowers growing here?"

"Yes, it's all thanks to Lord Rovey."

This time, it was Nitocris's turn to answer the question. She said, "To apologize for his rudeness last time, Rovey Lovi gave Ereshkigal a seed, saying that it was made by two Magus of Flowers and could grow into the plant that the planter most desires. He then helped Ereshkigal plant it in the Underworld and irrigated it with divine blood, so the previously desolate Underworld has become what it is today."

As she spoke, she pointed to the endless expanse of pale yellow flowers and the wildly growing grapevines in front of her, and said to Ereshkigal with a somewhat helpless expression, "Before long, most of the Underworld will be covered by flowers and plants, but is that really a good thing? Won't it make the Underworld lose the dignity it should have?"

"No way, isn't this great? Ghosts sleeping in this environment is much more beautiful than the old Underworld."

Clearly, this goddess of the Underworld didn't think there was anything wrong with her Underworld becoming Avalon. That's why she kept digging holes underground, trying to create more living space for so many flowers.

"This is truly wonderful..."

Watching the two goddesses of the Underworld interact, Anna nodded silently. However, she quickly realized something and said somewhat flusteredly.

"But...! If I'm still alive, doesn't that mean Gorgon is still alive too?!"

She and Gorgon are one, their lives completely intertwined. Therefore, only by burning her Spirit Origin and life force can she successfully kill Gorgon. She has thus come to this realization. But since she is still alive, doesn't that mean Gorgon is also...?

Upon realizing this, Anna's eyes immediately filled with panic.

"You don't need to worry about that... Lord Rovey Wei told us that he will find a way to handle everything properly, and I believe he can do it."

"You really believe him?"

Ereshkigal said with a hint of envy.

"Of course, after all, he gave me a second reason to live, and you, Boss Ereshkigal, trust him a lot, don't you? I remember when he helped you plant flowers all over the Underworld, your eyes were just..."

"Don't say that! I'm just too excited. I didn't cry because this is the only thing that has made me happy in thousands of years... um."

"Puff--!"

Seeing these two goddesses of the Underworld bickering and exposing each other's shortcomings without any restraint in front of her, especially Ereshkigal's flustered appearance, Anna couldn't help but laugh.

Yes, now all I can do is trust him.

"Then, may I go back, you two goddesses? I'd like to continue helping them."

Anna stretched her limbs to make sure she was alright, and then tried to return, but the two of them shook their heads in unison.

"Not yet. The reason your body seems normal is because it has been stabilized by my power in the Underworld. Once you go out, you will still be in a soul state, which won't be able to work. So you'll have to wait a while."

Somewhat puzzled, Anna was led by Ereshkigal to the very center of the courtyard, which was shrouded in a cloud of black mist. Inside were tens of thousands of humans who had been brought there for refuge.

"Because we need to build a shelter here, we can't leave at will. As for you, although your Spirit Origin has disappeared, you can still find a vessel to possess, just like Ishtar and I did."

"Keep up the good work, Anna."

--

"Wait for me here."

After seeing Gudako and Mash off, Rovey didn't rush to find Gilgamesh with Merlin, but instead sneaked back into the ruins of the Blood Shrine.

Each with a shovel, they groped their way down the ruins of the Blood Shrine, reaching the lowest level beneath the structure. Hateful roars, like the howls of wild beasts, echoed continuously, and terrifying resentment coalesced into a crimson substance.

"Oh dear, oh dear, I really didn't expect it to still be alive. This is really troublesome--"

Sensing the immense resentment and individual presence below, even Merlin couldn't help but click his tongue in astonishment.

When he saw Ritsuka off, he sensed something was wrong, so he came back with Rovey to check on the situation, only to encounter this unexpected incident.

At this moment, Gorgon, who should have been sealed by the Pandemonium, lay sprawled among flesh and blood. Although her body had been ravaged by the Noble Phantasm released by Anna, due to her immortality, the gaps in her flesh and blood were still healing rapidly.

Upon seeing this, even Merlin, who was known for his laziness, became extremely serious. As he spoke, he drew his holy sword, preparing to find a way to kill Gorgon here.

As long as Anna is alive, Gorgon's regeneration and immortality are too strong. She can withstand several Holy Lance releases and still be full of energy. It is really not an easy thing to kill her completely.

However, just as he was about to dismember Gorgon, Rovey raised his arm to stop him, which surprised Merlin. He asked, "What's wrong?"

"You can't kill her, and neither can I. To kill her, we need the right person."

"Rovey replied."

"The right person?"

Upon hearing this, Merlin paused, then asked with some confusion, "But Anna isn't..."

The only suitable person Merlin could think of was Anna, who had died not long ago. But Anna wasn't here, so who could kill Gorgon?

Although Rovey didn't provide an answer, Merlin soon found out.

--Ta-da!!

A dark shadow swayed in the darkness, and a deep, resonant chime echoed in my ears.

"This is?!"

Upon hearing this sound, Merlin's eyes narrowed, and he immediately understood what was happening.

"It was him? If it was that person who ended it all, then it certainly would be..."

However, Rovey did not answer Merlin. He simply strode up to Gorgon and looked into her eyes, which were still filled with bloody tears and resentment.

"I am not a savior, and your sins are not worth my efforts to save you."

His words fell softly, and then a jet-black death knight wielding a greatsword appeared before Gorgon at some unknown time.

"But please remember, Kingu has always regarded you as a mother figure. Even at the very last moment, she begged me to save you. She has never betrayed you, and I can guarantee that."

As Rovey finished speaking, King Hassan beside him silently raised his sword, aiming it at Gorgon's head.

"Your life has been full of tragedy, and after this final madness, it's time for things to calm down, Gorgon. Now, your anger and hatred will vanish completely."

I hope you have a good next life.

"I--I know--"

At the last moment, the answer was no longer malice or resentment. A calm appeared in Gorgon's eyes, and his mind, which had been twisted by hatred, gradually calmed down because of the previous battle with Anna.

To this, Rovey gave a calm smile, gently touching Gorgon's forehead with his palm, as if bidding a final farewell to this earth goddess whose life was filled with tragedy.

"Then, I'll leave the rest to you, King Hassan."

He turned around and spoke to the Death Knight behind him.

"I know now, my sword shall sever his obsession."

When the Death Knight saw that Gorgon had finally submitted to his destiny, he nodded in satisfaction and then prepared to swing the sword of death in his hand.

King Hassan: "Earth Mother Goddess, whose eyes are blinded by the fire of hatred, you exhaust all your efforts, burning the earth, but what will you ultimately gain?"

"Is it foolish to give up on oneself and then annihilate oneself?"

"However, at the end of the game, he was still able to let go of his past grievances and resolve his issues. This sudden enlightenment is truly commendable."

Now I will draw my sword and grant you liberation!

"--Azrael, the Azrael!"

Death's words fell softly, and then a ghostly blue light illuminated the dark cave.

With the fall of the blade, even Anna, far away in the Underworld, could feel that a part of herself, or rather Medusa, had been severed.

Rest in peace.

Watching the Gorgon perish, Rovey nodded slightly to King Hassan before him, expressing his gratitude.

After completing all this, the dark Death Knight nodded to Rovey behind him, and then his figure once again turned into a wisp of black mist and vanished in the wind.

Chapter 283 Lahmu

"So where exactly is it? The location Gilgamesh mentioned?"

"Go to the coast, follow the direction of the waves, and you'll be right on the way to Tiamat."

"So that means we're going to go straight for Tiamat?"

"Okay, let's go straight to the lane."

"Can I not go? I don't think I'd be of much help in this kind of thing, would I?"

Merlin said with an awkward laugh.

What do you think?

In response, Rovey gave him a look that you can guess.