A moment later, the ancient serpent happily coiled up the clay tablet contract its master had signed.
The document concerning the restrictions on opening the Spear Cage and granting human souls some freedom was carefully put away by him.
"Lady Ereshkigal, do you actually like humans very much?"
The sudden question on the clay tablet made the slightly distracted Ereshkigal nod instinctively.
But she immediately seemed to realize that such a response would undermine her dignity, and hastily shook her head in denial.
"Of course not! I have no interest in mere humans. Living things are utterly disgusting!"
"The only thing I cherish is the Land of the Dead. What happens to the humans aboveground is none of my concern!"
Then why did she go to Uruk every day to dig holes, painstakingly create Spear Cages, and intend to preserve human souls' sanity amid the great disaster?
Under the little fellow's half-smiling gaze, her stubborn denial finally crumbled.
Like a proud swan, Ereshkigal raised her fair neck and grudgingly relented a little.
"Well, if they are willing to accept death as a prerequisite, perhaps I may mercifully spare these souls another glance..."
"After all, once they die, they belong to me..."
According to the mythological system of the Mesopotamian world, all humans would enter the underworld and proceed toward their final death.
Those souls dwelling within their bodies would, in a sense, all become Ereshkigal's possessions.
"In other words, as the goddess entrusted with souls, you actually love humanity deeply."
The ancient serpent laid bare his master's disguise in a single sentence. His unguarded smile carried an indescribably sly air.
"Don't get it wrong! I only love dead humans!"
Ereshkigal slapped the ancient serpent on the forehead irritably, lifting her jade-like neck with a light snort.
"You love humans who will one day die..."
The ancient serpent flicked his tongue and raised his tail, displaying the clay tablet he had written to correct her.
When humans lived, she admired the miracle of their lives and pitied the hardships they suffered.
When humans died, she treasured their souls that retained their sense of self and created Spear Cages to help them preserve their sanity.
Therefore, whether in life or death, her love for them never changed.
"Hmph! That is not true!"
Having her thoughts exposed, the goddess turned her head aside. Her cherry lips pressed tightly together, her cheeks faintly flushed, and her raised hands covered her ears, fully revealing her tsundere nature.
The union, conception, growth, and harvest of life were all within that foolish little sister Ishtar's domain. Why should I worry about how these humans live aboveground for her?!
Whenever she thought of that irresponsible, spoiled, willful little sister, who enjoyed endless praise and affection while possessing the most prosperous city, Uruk, as her place of worship—
Ereshkigal grew indignant, squatted on the ground to draw circles, and filled her words with a thick sourness.
After creation, in order to maintain the order of the Mesopotamian world, the revelation of fate required a deity willing to sacrifice her freedom and forever guard this barren, cold land, taking responsibility for managing souls.
At that time, as one half of the Twin Goddesses, the elder sister Ereshkigal became fate's sacrifice.
Although she had obtained supreme authority in the underworld and was nearly invincible there, rot, death, and wailing were not what she wanted.
Since the Golden Age, she had diligently maintained order in the underworld, steadily preserving the balance between life and death.
Yet she was likewise trapped here. Even leaving this wasteland to see the sun above was an unattainable wish.
What angered her even more was that, most of the time, humans, out of ignorance, fawned desperately upon other gods of practical value to gain protection and peace of mind.
Yet at the same time, they blamed every unpleasant thing in their lives and their fear of approaching death upon the God of the Underworld, who represented "death" and "terror."
Why?!
Why could I only watch my other half soar freely through the skies, while I could only become a prisoner guarding the underworld?!
Why could she act cute and make trouble before the gods, while I had to bear this heavy responsibility?!
Why was the city under her protection the flourishing Uruk, while mine was merely Kutha?!
Wait, was this another important reason why you hollowed out Uruk?
These were the reasons Ereshkigal had always felt so resentful.
Thus, even though she harbored goodwill toward humanity, she was never willing to admit it.
The ancient serpent merely smiled to himself at her stubborn refusal to admit it.
After a moment, Lin Xian slithered out, lightly touched his mistress's hand to soothe her emotions, then raised a clay tablet whose writing was filled with deep confusion and bewilderment.
"Lady Ereshkigal, whether it is living humans or their souls after death, since you like them both, why did you join 'them' and bring terror to Mesopotamia?"
"I do not understand..."
"Clearly, I have always believed that Lady Ereshkigal is the kindest, cutest goddess! You would never take lives without reason!"
When Ereshkigal saw the trace of disappointment clouding the ancient serpent's face, she bit her lower lip tightly, the furrow between her brows appearing and fading.
After a difficult struggle, his master hesitated before slowly speaking.
"This is Mesopotamia's fate, and humanity's fate as well..."
"No one can change the outcome..."
She had considered resisting. She had considered standing with humanity. But because of some misgiving, she ultimately gave up.
Although the ancient serpent understood the hidden meaning behind his master's vague words, he put on a blank expression in order to draw out more secret information.
That wicked little actor's gaze toward his master grew increasingly dim.
Unable to face that disappointment, Ereshkigal gritted her teeth and immediately curled her fingers toward the temple in a distant grasp. A spear of light gradually condensed into shape.
As the spear's butt struck the ground, crimson-black ripples spread outward. One spear blank after another rose from the earth, while dense Wedge-shaped Divine Script danced and flickered.
His mistress's authority to alter the terrain and control the underworld transformed the nearby region into a sealed, utterly secret stronghold.
"Do you remember what I told you?"
"What?"
Lin Xian looked puzzled, unable for the moment to recall which point Ereshkigal meant.
"Humanity must pass through the four great ages of Gold, Silver, Bronze, and Black Iron before it can fully leave the cradle."
"And now, Uruk is at the end of the Silver Age..."
The Underworld Goddess lightly bit her lower lip, deliberately stressing the final two syllables.
The end... of the Silver Age?
The ancient serpent frowned as he considered the implication. Then a bolt of lightning flashed through his mind, and he suddenly realized.
What marked the end of an age?
A disaster vast enough to sweep across the entire world was taking shape and descending!
Civilization would be overturned! Inheritance would be severed!
Like burning the weeds in a field to make room and provide nourishment for the next season's rice.
And to achieve that goal, the most effective and brutal method was undoubtedly to exterminate Mesopotamian city-states such as Uruk, the carriers of Sumerian culture!
This was fate!
So even without Tiamat's return, even without the Three Goddesses Alliance, there would still be a new Third Storm!
The catastrophe was unavoidable!
It was as though the ancient serpent had inadvertently torn open a corner of the black curtain that covered the heavens. He shuddered without realizing it, then carefully leaned toward his master's ear, unable to believe it.
"But you are the God of the Underworld. Here, you are nearly invincible!"
The goddess fell silent for a moment. Recalling her fruitless longing for the world above, she gently stroked the ancient serpent's little head with her raised fingertips and murmured softly.
"Gods are not as free as you think. We are bound by many restrictions as well..."
"With authority granted by heaven comes a fate decreed by heaven..."
"Some things were destined long ago..."
The ancient serpent heard profound helplessness in her words. Flicking his tongue, he raised a clay tablet bearing messy writing carved deeply into its surface.
"Lady Ereshkigal, could it be that even you truly cannot defy this fate?"
"No!"
His master answered with closed eyes. Then the soft hand stroking the ancient serpent's head paused slightly, and a faint murmur, nearly soundless, reached Lin Xian's ears.
"But I am already doing it..."
With Sumerian culture exterminated, the surface of the Mesopotamian world would be almost completely washed away, human souls would be broken down, and their bodies would be used. That was the original fate!
Before you continue