My Lands, My Soil, My Nation, My People 3/5
The pursuit of immortality is not a disgrace.
However, his Thousand-Mile Eye had foreseen that irreversible future, and death and life held little significance for Gilgamesh.
The answers we see are not yet determined by fate.
Therefore, it is certainly acceptable to use this immortal power to gain more opportunities for one's country and one's people.
"Bang!"
On Noah's Ark 1, the Green-Haired Beauty barely managed to summon the Heavenly Lock caught her best friend, and they rolled and tumbled on the deck to dissipate the force.
The moment Gilgamesh stood up, he was shocked to see that the cracks on Enkidu's body had worsened, and he was on the verge of shattering at any moment.
The ethereal dragon had already crossed the North Wall defenses and was slowly approaching the Royal Palace Divine Tower that exuded the aura of Tiamat.
The Heroic King' expression changed, and he wanted to take off to meet the attack, but he was held down by several people next to him.
The Immortal Herb is, after all, Magic Potion that grants humans extraordinary vitality. When facing the Creator God Apsu, its effectiveness is quite limited; limb regeneration is already the maximum it can achieve.
Moreover, this Father of All is also a god who controls the abyss and destruction.
If Kuang Apsu is deliberately targeting them, their invincibility won't withstand a direct attack.
Moreover, Gilgamesh has already reached his limit; if he pushes himself any further, it will only be suicide.
Meanwhile, at the Royal Palace Divine Tower.
As he watched the menacing silhouette approach, Samael's trembling hand slapped onto the sand table.
"Have all the survivors boarded the ship? Have they all boarded?"
"No, at least ten more minutes are needed! If we add the time it takes to leave the inner city of Uruk, we must hold out for 20 minutes!"
Merlin, who remained at the Royal Palace Divine Tower and was spreading the simulated aura of Tiamat, spoke with a dry voice.
"20 minutes? Enkidu, Gilgamesh, and Quetzalcoatl are all critically injured and on the verge of death. Ishtar the only one who can move. What am I supposed to use to hold them off?"
Samael felt his heart almost leap out of his chest; under immense pressure, his whole body trembled, and his voice grew increasingly irritable.
"There's no way around it. There are just too many Lahmu outside. The garrison has to cover the refugees boarding the boats and clear the river. They simply can't defend against them all."
"A forced evacuation would result in too many casualties."
Merlin's forehead veins bulged, and his eyes were filled with anxiety.
"Are there any other capable people?"
"Siduri! The Astrology Platform, the Shrine Maiden's Office, the temple, the armory, and the sacrificial site—give me all the forces you can muster and get them on board the ship as soon as possible!"
Samael clutched the scattered chess pieces on the sand table and called them out one by one.
"Siduri! Si..."
"No need to call anymore. Just ten minutes ago, the high priest took away the remaining manpower outside the Royal Palace Divine Tower to help in person, and we still haven't been able to contact him."
"Now, the entire palace is empty except for the two of us."
Merlin sighed, his brow furrowed in a deep frown.
The earth shook violently. Ishtar, piloting the Sky Ark Ma'anna, flew above Apsu and fired continuously, attempting to slow down the progress of this creator father, but to little avail.
After a brief silence, Samael took a deep breath and slammed his fist on the sand table.
"Then you go!"
"Within ten minutes, the waterway must be cleared so that everyone can board the ship!"
"And... find Siduri and protect her..."
The White Nightmare pointed to the Ether Dragon, which was only four or five hundred meters behind it, its expression blank.
"You should know that once the illusion barrier of the Royal Palace Divine Tower is removed, Apsu locks onto his target, even a sneeze can instantly vaporize you!"
"We have no other choice! Hurry! It'll be too late if we wait any longer!"
Samael slammed his fist on the table and roared, looking down at the Great Sage.
"Also, take this with you..."
Merlin caught the Royal Seal that was thrown to him, glanced at the figure with his back to him in front of the sand table, gritted his teeth, transformed into a stream of light, and flew towards the southern area.
Then, one after another, pink and white petals filled with dreamy colors grew from the water's surface, instantly covering the entire river channel.
Those Lahmu had cleared the surroundings and were encircling the Royal Palace Divine Tower fell into a strange dream, floating on the water as if asleep.
"Take advantage of the moment and board the ship quickly!"
Siduri, who had been cornered by several Lahmu, realized what was happening and immediately picked up a child to quickly organize the people trapped there to move to another location.
Meanwhile, the survivors who had gathered in the square, seeing that the danger around them had been suppressed, rushed hurriedly into the cabins of the three Noah's Ark.
In the empty and cold hall, Samael looked at the rapidly moving crowd in the distance, and for some reason, the tension in his heart calmed down.
To be honest, he was just an ordinary person and didn't like the tragic role of a hero.
At first, the ancient serpent also thought that he could have such a high level of awareness that he was willing to gamble his life to leave the Great Hall and attract Apsu's attention.
Humans are always so emotional, and they will do foolish things for all sorts of reasons.
After spending more than half a year together, Samael's sense of alienation from the world had vanished without a trace.
Here, it's no longer just a simple symbol from a history class; he remembers every scene in the streets and alleys, and every kind face that greets him.
This is also his country, his people.
If the people are willing to shed blood, then the Lord can naturally be sacrificed.
As He Himself said, God's power is given at birth; God's duty is from beginning to end.
The same applies to the king.
So, having ascended to this position, and with the goal of welcoming back the Mother Goddess Tiamat, he had to guide the people and also bear the corresponding responsibilities.
Besides, he is immortal, so his chances of surviving are high.
If we're lucky, it should be like this...
Samael sat before the sand table, his hands caressing the Holy Grail between his fingers. Under the divine might that seemed to descend from above, a chilling aura rose behind him as he forcefully suppressed the desire to use this thing to strengthen himself.
No, this is the hope for the future!
If the Holy Grail is consumed now, even if Noah's Ark leaves Uruk, it will absolutely be unable to reach the Persian Gulf.
"Bang!"
Just as Samael was barely managing to compose himself, a sharp explosion came from the side.
A disheveled figure, accompanied by a sharp, piercing sound, crashed through layers of Sorcery Array in the main hall, kicking up dust and debris. Before Samael could even react, he was engulfed by the rubble.
And that blood-stained, miserable face was none other than Ishtar's.
The goddess coughed up blood, her face pale as she looked at the rapidly darkening hole behind her.
In an instant, a scaled claw covered in a red and black eerie light smashed half of the hall and pressed down on the staggering War Goddess.
"Ma'anna!"
As soon as the piercing cries rang out, the gold and blue spaceship prepared to lower its altitude for the rescue.
However, the ether dragon's flapping wings instantly sent Ma'anna flying.
It's over!
As the scales and claws slammed down from the sky, Ishtar, helpless, felt despair.