Clatter, clatter—
The crisp sound of chains grinding rang out without end. Reflected in Annanu and Enkidu's eyes was not themselves, but Humbaba's massive body.
A huge, razor-sharp block of ice crashed toward Annanu with enough force to seemingly pierce straight through him. Fragments of the Key gathered around Annanu, forming a shield that blocked the blow. At the same time, it swiftly drifted aside, opened its mouth, and blasted a bolt of lightning toward Humbaba.
Chains shot out from every direction as Enkidu entangled Humbaba's movements. All kinds of weapons also burst from the surrounding ground, charging in to slaughter Humbaba.
Gilgamesh controlled the various weapons within the Gate of Babylon, continuously using Ea to fend off Humbaba's attacks while searching for an opening to strike back.
Buzz—
Humbaba raised its two forelimbs high.
Black holes appeared across its body, and amid a terrifying roar that nearly shattered everyone's bones, a mutation occurred.
Annanu and Enkidu were both sent spinning backward by the shockwave. Gilgamesh rolled across the ground several times. He seemed to want to get up, but the intense pain wracking his body made it impossible.
Blood poured from his mouth and nose. His expression was dazed, and he was already on the verge of losing consciousness.
But this was not Humbaba's final assault.
Water surged from the black holes in its body.
Humanity had lived upon this land for untold years and encountered all manner of natural disasters—earthquakes, plagues, hail, lightning, and more.
Yet there was one disaster that humanity feared above all others—a disaster etched into humanity's bloodline, forever reminding them that it had nearly wiped them out.
The Great Flood.
Enlil, whose sleep had been disturbed and who had flown into a rage, had used drought, famine, and plague in succession to exterminate these