Perhaps it was at the moment when the great god had practically forced Gugalanna down from the clouds that Ishtar realized something.
Did all of this really have to go this far?
Gugalanna's descent to the ground could have an impact sufficient to destroy Mesopotamia. Human civilization would once again be wiped out beneath Gugalanna's influence, just as it had been when Gugalanna last descended upon Mesopotamia—back then, Gugalanna had not belonged to Ishtar. Its master had still been Enlil.
Thinking carefully, ever since she had fallen for Gilgamesh, she had remained in a state where she could not act according to her own will. Ishtar found it absurd. Am I not the goddess who symbolizes freedom?
Yet after giving it careful thought, Ishtar discovered in despair that this was not merely her imagination.
Then who had made her unable to act of her own will?
Annanu's descent into the Underworld was certainly something Ishtar had to be wary of, but he was not the true culprit. What he did was not because of her, and his goal was very clear: those who wanted to control the fates of others solely so they could enjoy themselves in peace—
The Anunnaki gods.
And the reason she had been passive at every turn during this time, even suffering a mental breakdown, was also this group of her own "kin."
It sent chills down Ishtar's spine.
For the sake of enjoying themselves in peace, they had actually intended to use even her, one of the seven main gods of fate?
The answer was—yes.
Awakening the great god was their goal. They wanted him to awaken, after which Ishtar would have no choice but to kill Annanu and Enkidu. That was their most fundamental plan.
Kill the Key of Heaven and the Chains of