Black Humor of Death or Life 1/4

Rainy night, on Northern High Ground, in an abandoned watchtower.

Kingu leaned against the corner of the wall, his face pale and his hands trembling. His chest, which had healed, was aching slightly after several intense battles.

"Na ga..."

In the darkness, a golden cup was handed over. The amber-colored wine and the glow of the Golden Armor instantly illuminated the surroundings.

Kingu frowned slightly, but when he caught a glimpse of the still-healing penetrating wound on the newcomer's abdomen, his expression softened. He casually took the wine glass and drank it all in one gulp.

"Haha, that's great!"

Gilgamesh let out a hearty laugh, raised his hand and drank deeply; he hadn't enjoyed this pleasure in a long time.

After drinking a cup of wine, a warm feeling spread through his limbs and bones, and his body's functions gradually began to recover. Kingu couldn't help but look at the wine glass, his expression complicated.

It contained herbs for healing injuries, as well as some magic crystal powder.

The Green-Haired Beauty slowly stepped forward, stood at the window, and looked out at the world under the vast rainy night.

The desolate landscape ravaged by the black tide was utterly ravaged, filled with mud and stagnant water. The sky was filled with thunder and storms, devoid of any glimmer of light; everything resembled an apocalyptic scene.

"You have about six days left..."

"So, if the world is going to end, then live however you want."

Gilgamesh summoned his throne, leaned against it, gently swirled his wine cup, and murmured softly.

"Don't care about mission or background. Just like the former Queen and her, do what you really want to do and find the meaning of your life."

As the cup was emptied, the golden cup in the Heroic King's hand fell away. The softness that had been inadvertently revealed hardened again, and his figure transformed into a stream of light, disappearing into the rainy night.

Kingu instinctively tried to catch up with Cang, but suddenly felt weak and could only lean against the corner of the wall, curling up with his knees bent. Cang's fingers and palms slammed weakly into the ground.

The [Food of Mana] embedded in her body, though precious, can only sustain this body in low-intensity combat, and cannot form a perfect Mana Furnace like the Holy Grail.

The war that follows is one that I cannot participate in in my current state.

Therefore, the Northern High Ground was the place Gilgamesh left for her to recuperate.

After all, neither the human side nor Apsu had a place for her to stay.

Only by staying here, away from the conflict between the two sides, can she perhaps live a little longer.

This was probably the selfish motive of that Heroic King.

In the darkness and silence, the Green-Haired Beauty in the corner, with her long-accumulated anger, confusion, and chaos, couldn't help but let it all out with her slightly tearful murmur.

"I am your enemy! Not Enkidu! I have no value whatsoever now, so why are you still protecting me..."

"Because you are the one and only Chain of Heaven in this world!"

"Even if you are just living a simple life, that would be enough for that guy."

A soft murmur came from the corridor, and Kingu looked up in surprise, his embarrassment mixed with a hint of delight.

However, the moment that face came into view, the Green-Haired Beauty's expression turned icy cold, her eyes filled with mockery, and she stubbornly struggled to get up.

"Ishtar? No, you should be called Ereshkigal ..."

"Forget it, you sisters are no different!"

"If you want to take advantage of me while I'm weak, then go ahead!"

The Underworld Goddess, holding Soul Cage, walked gracefully over. After glancing at her, she bluntly exposed the predicament that Kingu was facing.

"Although I know what Gilgamesh is thinking, to be honest, you are not worthy of the title of Chain of Heaven."

"Not only does it rely too much on the Holy Grail as a Mana Furnace, but after losing it, it can no longer effectively absorb the ether in the world, making it difficult to maintain its operation and unable to unleash the true power of the Chain of Heaven."

"Even if you truly consider yourself a weapon, you are still far Enkidu."

Kingu refuted, his face turning pale, his heart filled with humiliation.

"Shut up! Did you come here specifically to humiliate me?!"

However, Ereshkigal shook her head and casually placed a small ceramic bottle in front of the Green-Haired Beauty. After uncorking it, she found it contained a rich life force.

"To fully restore the body's functions, the [Food of Mana] and the [Water of Life] need to be used together. That's how Ishtar was resurrected."

Immediately, to Kingu's astonishment, the Underworld Goddess picked up the Soul Cage and released the flickering, eerie blue light within.

As the light patterns gradually approached Kingu, they pulsated violently, and countless rustling sounds came from within. Familiar yet blurry images also surfaced in Kingu's mind.

"Of course, to become a true Chain of Heaven and perfectly fit this body, your remnant soul alone is not enough."

Ereshkigal looked at the ball of light that floated in front of Kingu, sometimes gathering and sometimes dispersing, with a somewhat mocking expression.

"Absorb these memories belonging to Enkidu, and perhaps you can eliminate those hidden dangers and walk freely in the land of Mesopotamia even without relying on the Holy Grail."

"If the disaster in Uruk is truly unavoidable, perhaps you will become the only new human on the flood-ravaged land."

The Green-Haired Beauty sensed the chaotic memories surging up, and a warm feeling spread through her body. She couldn't help but purse her lips and bury her head.

She could sense that Shamhat, Siduri, and even many elderly Uruk people were suffering soul-wrenching pain because of these things.

Kingu's eyes were glazed over, and his tone was low and subdued.

"Why..."

Ereshkigal crossed her arms and gave a light, annoyed snort.

"Someone wants you to live, that's all."

"As for me, just consider it helping to pay off a debt..."

Paying off debts? For Ishtar?

Ah, the former Ishtar indirectly caused the death of the previous generation of women in this body.

The current Ereshkigal has actually provided the conditions for the complete recovery of the body's functions for the second generation of the Chain of Heaven.

The two sides of this Twin Goddesses bring "death" by giving birth to life, and "life" by reaping life...

Unwittingly, they wove a fateful cycle filled with dark humor.

For some reason, Kingu felt a mix of emotions.

Having said that, the Underworld Goddess, who was incompatible with this Green-Haired Beauty, did not wish to linger any longer and turned to walk into the rainy night.

However, just as she was about to step out the door, Ereshkigal suddenly remembered something, turned around abruptly, glanced at the fragment of memory, and couldn't help but snort softly.

"Hey, they can accept it without complaint, but there are some things I can't keep quiet about!"

"When I said you weren't worthy of the title 'Chain of Heaven,' it wasn't because of your ability, but because of your behavior!"

"You have never been abandoned by the world; you have always been the most treated!"

"Gilgamesh, Shamhat, Siduri, and those Uruk people who should be the victims, they have consistently shown goodwill, protected you, and believed in you!"

"And what have you done?"

"Now, how much change are you willing to make for them? How much sacrifice are you willing to make?"

Ereshkigal, whose heart was most tender, couldn't help but ask a series of questions, then added a reminder before turning away into the rainy night.

"The fragments of memory will dissipate in two hours. Before then, think it over carefully!"

Outside the window, wind and rain raged. Inside the dimly lit room, the Green-Haired Beauty stared at the two objects before her, like a lifeless clay figurine.