A Mouthful of Lemon, A Mouthful of Vinegar

A moment later, the ancient serpent coiled itself contentedly, rolling up the clay tablet contract signed by its master.

This document, concerning the relaxation of the spear cage's restrictions and the granting of some freedom to human souls, was carefully put away by him.

"Lady Ereshkigal, you actually like humans quite a bit, don't you?"

The sudden question on the clay tablet caught Ereshkigal, who was a little lost in thought, off guard. She subconsciously nodded.

But immediately, as if realizing this response undermined her dignity, the master hastily shook her head and denied it.

"Of course not! I have no interest in mere humans. Living things are disgusting!"

"My only love is the Underworld; I don't care what happens to humans on the surface!"

Then why did she dig holes in Uruk every day, painstakingly create spear cages, and intend to preserve the rationality of human souls during the great catastrophe?

This stubborn denial, under the gaze of the little one's knowing smile, finally broke.

Ereshkigal, like a proud swan, raised her fair neck and grudgingly conceded a little in a muffled voice.

"Well, if they are willing to accept death as a premise, perhaps I might show great mercy and glance at these souls..."

"After all, if they are dead, they belong to me..."

According to the mythological system of the Mesopotamian world, all humans would enter the Underworld and head towards their ultimate demise.

The souls residing within their bodies, in a sense, would all become Ereshkigal's possessions.

"In other words, as a goddess entrusted with souls, you actually deeply love humans."

The ancient serpent saw through its master's pretense with a single statement. Its unvarnished smile held a distinctly sly quality.

"Don't get me wrong! I only love those who are already dead!"

Ereshkigal retorted, playfully smacking the ancient serpent's forehead. She tilted her neck proudly and huffed.

"I love humans who will die someday..."

The ancient serpent flicked its tongue and raised its tail, presenting the completed clay tablet as a correction.

When humans are alive, you admire the miracle of their lives and pity the hardships they endure.

When humans die, you cherish their preserved souls and create spear cages to help them maintain their rationality.

Therefore, whether alive or dead, your love for them remains unchanged.

"Hmph! That's not true!"

The goddess, whose point had been hit, turned her head away, her lips pursed, her cheeks flushing slightly. She covered her ears with her raised hands, fully displaying her tsundere nature.

The union of life, the process of birth, growth, and harvest—these are all within the authority of that foolish sister, Ishtar. Why should I concern myself with the lives of these humans on the surface for her?!

Whenever she thought of that irresponsible, spoiled, yet beloved sister who received all the praise and occupied the most prosperous city of Uruk as her place of worship, Ereshkigal felt a surge of indignation and began drawing circles on the ground, her words filled with a palpable bitterness.

After creation, to maintain the order and operation of the Mesopotamian world, according to the revelations of fate, a deity was needed who was willing to sacrifice their own freedom to forever guard this desolate and chilling land, responsible for managing souls.

At that time, as twin goddesses, two sides of the same coin, the elder sister Ereshkigal became fate's sacrifice.

Although she gained supreme authority in the Underworld, making her almost invincible, decay, death, and wailing were not what she desired.

Since the Golden Age, she had diligently maintained order in the Underworld, steadily balancing life and death.

But she, too, was trapped here; even stepping out into the desolate land to gaze upon the sun was an unattainable luxury.

What was even more infuriating was that, for the most part, humans, out of ignorance, fawned over other deities with tangible benefits to gain protection and peace of mind.

However, at the same time, they attributed all the severe unpleasantness in their lives and their fear of approaching death to the Lord of the Underworld, who represented "death" and "terror."

Why?!

Why must I watch my own counterpart soar freely in the heavens while I am reduced to a prisoner guarding the Underworld!

Why can she act spoiled and petulant towards the other gods, while I must bear this heavy responsibility!

Why is her protected city the most prosperous Uruk, while mine is merely Kusa!

(Wait, is this another important reason why you hollowed out Uruk?)

These were the reasons for Ereshkigal's constant resentment.

Therefore, even though she harbored good intentions towards humans, she stubbornly refused to admit it.

The ancient serpent chuckled in the darkness at this stubborn refusal.

A moment later, Lin Xian swam out, gently touched the woman's hand, soothed her emotions, and then lifted the clay tablet, his writing filled with deep confusion and bewilderment.

"So, Lady Ereshkigal, whether it's living humans or their souls after death, since you like both, why did you join 'them' and bring terror to Mesopotamia?"

"I don't understand..."

"I've always believed that Lady Ereshkigal is the kindest and most lovable goddess! You would never take a life without reason!"

Ereshkigal's gaze fell upon the hint of disappointment on the ancient serpent's face. She bit her lower lip, her brows furrowing and smoothing.

After a difficult internal struggle, the master hesitated and slowly began to speak.

"This is the destiny of Mesopotamia, and it is also the destiny of humanity..."

"No one can change the outcome..."

She had considered rebelling, considered standing with humanity, but due to some apprehension, she ultimately gave up.

Although the ancient serpent understood the hidden meaning in its master's vague words, it feigned ignorance to elicit more hidden information.

The actor's gaze towards his master grew dimmer.

Ereshkigal found it difficult to face that disappointment, gritted her teeth, and instantly curled her fingers, reaching towards the divine palace, as a spear of light gradually condensed.

As the spear's tail struck the ground, crimson and black ripples surged, and spearheads rose from the earth, with densely packed cuneiform divine script fluttering and flashing.

The woman's authority to alter the terrain and control the underworld created a secluded, impenetrable barrier in the surrounding area.

"Do you remember what I told you?"

"What?"

Lin Xian looked confused, unable to recall what Ereshkigal had said.

"Humanity needs to experience the four eras of Gold, Silver, Bronze, and Black Iron to fully emerge from the cradle."

"And now, Uruk is at the end of the Silver Age..."

The Underworld Goddess bit her lower lip, deliberately emphasizing the last two syllables.

The end of the Silver Age?

The ancient serpent frowned, chewing on the meaning, and then a flash of lightning struck its mind, and it suddenly realized.

What does the end of an era signify?

A disaster capable of engulfing the entire world was taking shape and descending!

Civilization would be overthrown! Heritage would be severed!

It was like burning weeds in a field to make space and provide fertility for the next season's grain.

And the most effective and brutal way to achieve this goal was undoubtedly to annihilate the Mesopotamian city-states like Uruk, which were the carriers of Sumerian culture!

This was destiny!

So, even without Tiamat's return, without the alliance of the Three Goddesses, there would still be a new, third storm!

Catastrophe was unavoidable!

The ancient serpent seemed to have inadvertently torn a corner of the sky-shrouding black curtain, unconsciously shivered, turned, and carefully approached its master's ear, disbelief evident.

"But you are the Goddess of the Underworld! You are almost invincible here!"

The goddess was silent for a moment, recalling her fruitless longing for the surface. She gently stroked the ancient serpent's head with her fingertips and whispered faintly.

"Gods are not as free as you think; they are also quite restricted..."

"With divinely granted authority comes divinely ordained fate..."

"Some things are already decided..."

The ancient serpent heard a deep sense of powerlessness from this, flicking its tongue to raise messy tracks etched three inches into the mud.

"Lady Ereshkigal, can you truly not defy this destiny?"

"No!"

The master closed her eyes in response, then the hand stroking the ancient serpent's head paused slightly, a subtle, almost silent murmur reaching Lin Xian's ears.

"But I am already doing it..."

The extinction of Sumerian culture, the surface of the Mesopotamian world, was basically washed clean, human souls were decomposed, and bodies were utilized; this was the original destiny!