Riddle-Mongers, Get Out of Uruk! 4.5k

The Astrology Platform, with its pointed roof.

Samael, now the Shepherd King, stood atop the highest point of the city's buildings, gazing into the distance, his Cross Star Pupils taking in the entire scene.

At the edge of the fortress, layered arrays formed by large-scale Magecraft artifacts construct an inverted, colorful dome that envelops the city, dividing the world into two distinctly different scenes.

Inside Uruk, under the protection of the Solar Calendar Stone, the sun shines brightly, and simulated stars twinkle and rise and fall in the sky.

In the gentle breeze, residents went about their daily lives in an orderly manner, soldiers held their ground on both the northern and southern fronts, shops were bustling with business, and smoke rose from the chimneys of houses.

It seems that everything is as plain and beautiful as it once was.

Even a simple glimpse through the protective membrane of Uruk's exterior is enough to fill one with dread and despair.

The intense blackness swallowed all light, and humanity could no longer see the faint glow of the sun, moon, and stars from the earth's surface.

Rumble!

Thousands of purple lightning bolts exploded from one cloud after another, wandering and roaming in the boundless night sky, like angry dragons descending from the heavens.

Through the faint light of lightning, one could vaguely see that the heavy rain was still pouring down.

The surging, turbid current had completely submerged the land, and the water level reached nearly a meter, almost level with the ever-growing and sturdier city walls on all sides.

One hurricane after another swept across the undulating waves, crisscrossing and raging, piercing the heavens and the earth, and reflecting the dense lightning.

In just six days, people witnessed the complete fall of the outside world.

On the first day, dark clouds covered the entire Mesopotamian world, and torrential rain poured down, blurring the lines between light and darkness, and day and night.

On the first day, the storm raged, and the dense ethereal turbulence made it difficult for ordinary people outside the Uruk protective barrier to breathe.

On the third day, the earth cracked open, and deep abyssal waters gushed forth. Torrential rain poured down from the sky, and the Euphrates River and Tigris rivers breached their banks one after another.

Edessa, Kusa, Ur, and Nippur all fell, and the land except Uruk was completely submerged.

On the fourth day, the stars disappeared, the sun and moon sank, and only the fierce thunder roared and roamed.

On the fifth day, all things withered and died, beasts were long gone, fish were no longer present, and no birds could be seen anywhere else.

On the sixth day, even the naturally conceived divine blood beasts and the Dragon Kind that had fled were forced out of their nests and fell under Lahmu's siege, becoming puppets devoured and transformed by the Black Tide.

Thus, Uruk became an isolated island floating in turbulent waves, a sanctuary for humans, animals, plants, and even natural monsters.

Apart from the remaining 20,000 people and various animals and natural monsters that managed to escape into the city, the outer area was in complete chaos.

Stripped of the ravages of wind, rain, and thunder, and far from the clamor and noise of living things, the outside world is utterly silent.

Inside the city, the simulated celestial bodies on the light-shaped dome gradually emitted a faint glow. As evening approached, the figures standing on the Astrology Platform were gradually elongated, like a shadowy serpent coiled in the sky.

Phew, still not working...

Samael opened his eyes slightly, exhaled a breath of stale air, and sighed helplessly.

Even though the whole of Mesopotamia is undergoing earth-shattering changes, the protective membrane known as the Boundary Wall has not been broken.

The Mother Goddess Tiamat was unable to enter normally, and the mental string in her mind was not enough to serve as the anchor for Rasu's Ark of Life to break through the barrier.

Does humanity truly have hope?

The ancient serpent twirled the Holy Grail in its hand, its sense of powerlessness and bewilderment growing ever stronger.

The mere act of slumbering in the abyss, the process of constantly seizing power, has caused earth-shattering changes in the world.

How terrifying is the complete form of a Creation-level deity!

He had a premonition that as long as Apsu woke up tomorrow, Uruk, the last isolated island protected by the five goddesses, would also face annihilation.

Hold out for another day? If it's just that Abyss God, they might be able to fight back after they've rested and recuperated.

But now, in the northern Fir Forest area, the Fir Beast Humbaba has spread its roots beyond the Babylonia defenses.

The Dawn God Arm, which grew underwater, had been dismantled and torn apart by Nabisthin's Tooth.

Along the Mount Epiph, the Bull of Heaven Gugalanna continuously fueled the floods, launching attacks on the city walls. Ishtar, responsible for intercepting the giant waves, was suffering heavy losses.

Similarly, the situation on both the east and west sides is not optimistic either, with overwhelming Lahmu and countless corrupted evil spirits repeatedly exerting pressure.

Merlin, the Jaguar Man, Anna, Leonidas were almost running around trying to plug the gaps.

Samael's greatest hope, Feathered Serpent God Kukulkan, has not had much rest in order to keep the Solar Calendar Stone running, and is currently in a weakened state.

To be honest, the longer it dragged on, the weaker his hopes of winning became.

If we cannot find a way to bring Mother Goddess Tiamat who can rival Apsu, into the Mesopotamian realm, then all hope will be lost.

These goddesses, none of whom were at their peak, had to intercept the Bull of Heaven Gugalanna, defend against the Fir Beast Humbaba, and also take care of the Creator Father Apsu.

The thought of this scene is enough to make one despair.

To think that Queen of Heaven of perseverance, one could board Noah's Ark and lead Apsu to the Persian Gulf is simply a pipe dream!

In addition, he had many doubts in his mind.

To seize the Holy Grail, one must first repair oneself and activate one's powers...

Altering the Earth's surface environment, forming the water cycle, and rapidly awakening itself...

Commanding high-level deities and deploying a massive army of miscellaneous creatures, they launched an attack on Uruk...

Considering these methods, Apsu doesn't seem like the monster I remember who used his ferocious nature to savagely clear the surface of the earth.

It seems that humanity's adversary is a cunning, cruel, intelligent, and incredibly patient hunter.

If this conjecture is true, then the thought is terrifying; the demise of Sumer is almost a foregone conclusion.

Tiamat... Tiamat... Can you give me a hint?

Now, I really don't know what to do.

Samael's mind was in turmoil, and his temples throbbed with pain.

However, the string within my consciousness could only transmit a faint, ambiguous tremor, containing a sense of despondency and lamentation.

Let's try a different approach and consider Ziusudra's prophecy.

"Authority is not the exclusive domain of the gods; the hearts of the people can also unite the will of Heaven!"

If it's related to the first sentence, then what exactly does the third prophecy refer to?

I've already become the Shepherd King, and I've been secretly spreading the harmless image of the Mother Goddess Tiamat, but it still hasn't had much of an effect.

Destiny... destiny...

Samael's brow gradually relaxed, his expression seemed to have gained some insight, and finally a smile appeared on his lips.

In an instant, the ancient serpent's face contorted, and its fist slammed into the stone slab beside it, leaving a clearly visible dent.

God the hell!

Riddler, get out of Gotham City!

Uh, no, I'm so angry I'm confused. It should be: Riddler, get out of Uruk!

Samael's face was as black as the bottom of a pot; he wished he could drag out that West Asian hero who had survived the Great Flood of Enlil and beat him to a pulp.

The premise is that you can beat them.

You mean, what kind of riddle is this?

Moreover, when asked, Mr. Ziusudra said he didn't know either. All he could convey were vague omens.

What's more, this mystery is entirely a revelation I saw within myself, so only I can solve it.

Damn it! I hate riddle tellers the most!

After racking his brains for a while, Samael became more and more confused and came up with nothing.

As one looks up, the sky, constructed from the Sorcery Array and the Solar Calendar Stone, gradually dims.

Night fell.

The seventh day is approaching.

Oh well, let's just enjoy the present moment while we have the time.

Perhaps this is Uruk's last night.

Helpless, Samael cast aside his chaotic thoughts, jumped off the Astrology Platform, and wandered aimlessly down the rather empty street.

The six-day siege resulted in a further reduction of nearly five thousand people, leaving Uruk shrouded in an indescribable silence after nightfall.

However, wisps of smoke still rose from the chimneys, the forging in the armory continued with clanging and banging, soldiers polished their armor and weapons, and priests and shamans were either preaching or performing their final prayers.

Despite the constant tearing of its wounds, this city maintains an unbreakable, indestructible, and resilient spirit under immense pressure.

This is probably the quality that will allow humanity to rival the divine in the future.

For the people of Uruk, who are accustomed to death and disaster, even if the end of the world were to come, they could face it with equanimity.

Hmm? The embassy?

After walking for a while without realizing it, Samael stopped and looked up at the brightly lit attic, which had an old yet cozy feel to it, and was slightly surprised.

"Eeya..."

Just then, the door was pushed open by a pair of small hands, and Anna, wearing an apron and with flour on her face, rushed out.

The moment she saw the figure in front of her, the little girl's eyes lit up as if she had seen a savior, and she grabbed the ancient snake and dragged it into the kitchen.

"Samael, Samael, why is all the dough for this butter cake stuck to the oven? Come and take a look!"

"Uh, it seems you didn't apply enough oil. And why did you add so much honey to the filling? Kids shouldn't eat so much sugar..."

"I'm not a child!"

"Okay, okay, let's try again."

"Uh-huh!"

In the kitchen, two figures, one large and one small, intertwined, reminiscing about their past interactions.

"Wait a minute, what else did you stew up there?"

Why is the barbecue grill still preheating?

"I bought a lot of things today and I'd like to treat everyone to a meal."

"Besides the butter cake, there's date porridge, wheat cakes, pork rib soup, lamb chops, and beef!"

The young girl, ready to show off her skills as head chef, slightly raised her chin, full of confidence, and proudly announced the name of the dish.

Samael, who was in charge of assisting, asked casually.

Who did you invite?

"Sister Ishtar, Sister Quetzalcoatl, Miss Leopard Person, Sister Siduri, and Merlin."

"Uncle Leonidas is guarding the city and doesn't have time to come. But I've prepared his share and will have someone take it with them."

"You even invited Merlin, why didn't you invite me?"

The ancient snake's face darkened, and it looked depressed.

"Huh? Didn't you receive a message from Sister Siduri at the Royal Palace Divine Tower and come here specifically to help?"

The little girl was stunned for a moment, her expression one of surprise.

"Uh, I came down from the Astrology Platform and was just passing by when you dragged me here."

"Is Sister Siduri still waiting for us at the Royal Palace Divine Tower?"

"Notification! Notification! Go outside and notify everyone again."

The newly arrived kitchen helper was immediately pushed into the living room by the flustered little girl to handle the contact and invitations.

Half an hour later, familiar smiling faces arrived one after another, and the atmosphere gradually became lively.

Quetzalcoatl and Siduri, two reliable older sisters, volunteered to come into the house to help with the cooking, which also enriched the menu.

The Jaguar Man generously brought three or four bottles of ale to the banquet.

Merlin, the old drunkard, licked his lips and joined them. The two like-minded guys, after a few words, began to exchange drinks, and when they got excited, they even stood on stools and chugged straight from the bottle.

But after drinking for a while, Merlin smacked his lips and looked at the wine glass with a hint of regret.

"What a pity, King Gilgamesh is not here..."

"You want to buy him a drink?"

The Jaguar Man, who was very friendly, put his arm around Merlin's shoulder and asked a question while slightly tipsy.

"He is greedy for the fine wines of Gilgamesh's treasury."

Samael, munching on a rambunctioca, responded irritably, instantly revealing the White-Haired Succubus's thoughts.

"Tsk, Wang's liquor, once you drink that stuff, it's truly unforgettable. After that, no matter what kind of liquor you drink, it just feels like it's missing a certain charm."

Merlin chuckled awkwardly and began promoting his old vintage to his new drinking buddies.

Lost in thought, the Jaguar Man licked his cherry lips and nudged Merlin in the ribs with his elbow.

"Let's just summon King Gilgamesh and empty his wine cellars together!"

"Call him a ghost!"

Merlin drank alone in a huff, grumbling to himself.

"I heard that the Heavenly Lock completely merged the two memories in his body, that is, both Kingu and Enkidu."

"Now, the Heavenly Lock and the Heavenly Wedge have rekindled their relationship, and they're inseparable."

"For the sake of peace, Gilgamesh even passed the throne of Uruk to this Samael."

"We don't have the ability to separate them..."

Well, Da Xian has gone back to work. His longtime partner, whom he'd been working for half a year, ran off with someone else. It's understandable that he's a little jealous.

"Go then, but leave the wine behind, let me have one last sip..."

Samael's lips twitched slightly as he heard the nightmare's complaining mutter.

What a load of rubbish about friendship! This heartless nightmare is just after Gilgamesh's good wine.

After giving the two drunkards who continued to party and chug drinks, the ancient snake, having nothing else to do, noticed the bright gold at the top of the stairs on the second floor, chuckled, and got up to go upstairs.

In the cool night, Samael quietly approached, wrapped his arm around Ereshkigal's slender waist from behind, and rested his chin against his owner's cheek.

Ereshkigal's delicate body trembled slightly, but gradually adapted to the intimate caresses. Her body became warm and weak, and she could even see the luscious color of her earlobes.

"So beautiful..."

"Wh... what..."

The warm breath blowing into her ear made the usually shy Ereshkigal blush, her pink tongue twitch, and her proud body begin to resist this level of intimacy.

"I said Uruk ..."

"I wonder how long this beauty can last..."

Samael sighed softly, looking down at the fortress Du'i beneath the Solar Calendar Stone, his gaze deep and distant, like a wise Lord guarding Sumer civilization.

No, that's who he always was.

The goddess in his arms stopped trembling, and the two figures pressed closer together in the darkness, as if warming each other. Her soft hand slid down gently and grasped the ancient serpent's fingers.

"Samael ..."

"Um..."

"Can you take your hand away now?"

At this moment, the air temperature suddenly dropped, and the fingers of the man who was wandering over the goddess's pert buttocks were pried open one by one.

The sickening cracking of bones came from upstairs, signaling that it was time for dinner to start downstairs.

The Jaguar Man and Quetzalcoatl danced the wild and dynamic Aztec sacrificial War Dance, raising their cups in joyful toasts, forgetting all the past troubles.

However, when a certain drunken cat, emboldened by its arrogance, placed its paw on Quetzalcoatl's chest and, oblivious to the danger, pinched his nipple...

The atmosphere froze instantly, the tables and chairs clattered, and a landmark with a head stuck in the floor was added to the room.

Siduri placed the food prepared for Leonidas into the food box before finally sitting down.

Anna, both excited and nervous, invited the elder priestess to taste each dish.

After receiving a rating that satisfied her, the little girl happily picked up the hot milk and drank it.

However, the one who pushed the milk cup over was a slightly drunk, White-Haired Succubus with a wicked grin on his face.

Looking from afar, the wine glass in his hand, which had just been full, was now nearly half empty.

Alcohol tolerance needs to be developed from a young age...

That's how he taught Artoria when he was a child.