In Type-Moon, it all starts with adopting Sakura.

When the girl was mentioned, a rare hint of sadness appeared in Mary's eyes, but it quickly disappeared.

Noticing this, Scáthach said nothing, only nodded, and then after giving Meryl some instructions, turned her gaze toward the Arabian Sea.

Seeing the black mist surging in from that direction, she could guess what kind of situation it was.

-

At the same time.

Uruk.

Everyone who remained in the city looked up at the black fog slowly drifting in from the Arabian Sea. Their faces were solemn, and their hearts were heavy.

More than half a year ago, when the Warcraft Front and Uruk Fortress were first established, Gilgamesh did not hide anything and directly told everyone in the city about the prophecy that Uruk would be destroyed.

"When the Primordial Mother awakens, the deepest darkness will descend, and the surging black mist will devour all light. The earth will be swallowed by tides and fury, the flames of civilization will be extinguished, and everything will be reduced to its end, followed by a complete overthrow and rebirth."

These are the words of Gilgamesh.

However, the people of Uruk were not afraid after hearing this prophecy. Instead, they all tried their best to change the future. Everyone was optimistic and did their best to avoid it.

Just when everything was steadily improving, and the terrible situation was gradually being repaired thanks to the continuous efforts of the King, the Goddess, and the Heroic Spirits, and the rebirth of Uruk and Mesopotamia was clearly visible, this nightmarish prophecy once again shrouded everyone's hearts.

Similarly, what they recalled was not only this terrible prophecy, but also another of the king's words, or rather, another encouragement from the king, which echoed before their eyes.

Gilgamesh said, "Although Uruk and we will eventually perish, it is precisely because of this that we need to struggle, to keep struggling, to struggle tenaciously. Our city will be destroyed, and our lives will perish, but our will and the flame of civilization will not. Whether we die or not, our descendants will surely sing the story of our struggle and pass on this will. This is the meaning of civilization's existence!"

The people of Uruk had long known that such an end would come, yet they still chose to stand with the king and fight against destruction.

Even now, with the sky swallowed by dark clouds, the earth dyed black, the pitch-black waves surging, and charred monsters constantly appearing, nothing can sway their will. All beings in Uruk have vowed to uphold their resolve and protect the flame of civilization.

"Aaaaaa——!!"

Along the coastline, gentle voices and melodious tunes resounded once again across the land after countless years.

That was the horn of destruction.

That was the melody of the end.

That was a mother's call.

Similarly, that was the calamity the king spoke of.

The people of Uruk wore solemn expressions. They gripped their prepared weapons tightly and spontaneously came out of their houses to stand guard on the streets or the city walls.

We are prepared to fight to the end as warriors, and together we will meet the end that the king foretold.

Meanwhile, in the underworld.

The humans placed in the Ereshkigal garden also heard Tiamat's voice. As the men gripped their weapons and strengthened their resolve, the women held back their grief. Mothers held their children tightly, recounting their fathers' bravery, while the elderly silently prayed for their children, gripping their canes and preparing to fight the ravages of destruction to the bitter end.

Ritsuka, who had just rushed back to the city, saw this scene and looked up at the darkness of the sky. She asked, "Mash, did you hear that just now?"

"What did you hear? Senior... are you referring to Tiamat's voice?"

"Hmm, I feel like her voice sounds a little...sad? It's such a sad crying sound..."

"senior……"

Just as Mashu was pondering Ritsuka's voice and was about to reply, suddenly, a blue shooting star streaked across the sky before her eyes.

Immediately afterward, Ishtar, who had just finished dealing with the south and had used up a lot of magic and gems, jumped down and came to the two of them, anxiously asking.

"Why are there only you guys? Where is everyone else? Where are those two annoying Holy Lance goddesses, Gilgamesh, and that guy who bullied me?!"

After searching the city for a long time and finally finding the temple deserted, Ishtar asked the two acquaintances in front of her.

"Are you referring to Mr. Lovi, and Senior Artoria and the others?"

"Hmm, who else could it be but them? Look at the situation now, not only are there disgusting monsters everywhere, but I can also feel the pressure from the goddess Tiamat even across a world. So, what's the plan? Let's get it out of there."

Ishtar looked at them and said, "Now that you're back, you must know what he's planning, right? Stop hiding it and tell me. I don't have time to waste right now."

"Plan?"

Ritsuka and Mashu froze.

The two men didn't hide anything and spoke very frankly to Ishtar: "We don't know. Master Merlin and Mr. Rowe only told us to come back. They didn't make any other plans... Miss Ishtar, what exactly happened?"

"Huh? No plan?!"

Upon hearing their words, Ishtar was first taken aback, then her eyes filled with disbelief.

Although she still had many questions to ask, seeing that the two people in front of her also looked like outsiders, she chose to keep quiet and went straight to the point, revealing her true purpose for coming here to find someone.

"Never mind that, I have something very important to say right now."

"what?"

Upon hearing this, their expressions gradually became serious.

“Siduli, she—!”

As she spoke, Ishtar's expression gradually turned grim.

"They suddenly disappeared just now!"

※※※※※※※

-

-

Star Iron, I, Winter Griffin, am not a beast.

Winter Griffin is a legend in the strategic investment department. He possesses a genius-level intellect, captivating charm, outstanding looks, extensive literary knowledge, and...

That's enough to carve out a separate path for oneself, becoming a "beast" comparable to a star god.

Aha: "Please, you absolutely must join my team! Please!"

Huang Quan: "His soul... is like IX, indescribable..."

Toppa: "Winter!! When you're negotiating the contract, can you please not give the other party vomiting drugs?!"

Oswaldo Schneider: "I thought I was already pretty awful, but I never imagined there could be even worse things. But... why do you guys still keep insulting me every day?!"

"Bang!" (Oswaldo is shot down)

Winter Griffin: "Waiter, I need a refund. There's a dead person here that's interfering with my meal."

Chapter 285 Jingu and Xiduli

—In a crumbling city on the Mesopotamian plain.

This was originally Lagash, one of the more prosperous city-states of this era. It was a wealthy city-state with thriving agriculture, abundant food, and a large population. However, under the impact of disaster, its past glory was long ago buried along with the bones of its people, turning to dust.

At this moment, in the ruins of such a city, a group of people have been gathered here.

"Where am I? You monsters!"

"—What exactly do you want us to do?!"

In the very center of the ruined square, two Uruk warriors were thrown onto the ruins. Their bodies were covered in wounds of all sizes, and blood was constantly oozing from their arms and torsos. Even so, they received no medical treatment. Or rather, their current predicament was more worrying than the physical pain they were enduring.

Two sharp spears were thrown down from above in front of them, and they were surrounded by many hideous Rahmu, monsters that twisted and howled, seemingly urging something on.

"@@@！￥￥￥！！＆＆＆——！！"

These newly born monsters did not rush to kill the humans. Instead, they chose to capture them and then use their sharp claws and bone spikes to create new wounds on their bodies, slowly toying with them like children playing with dolls.

Whenever the humans before them show fear or reveal a desire to flee, they inflict new wounds, causing these humans to wail in agony. Only in this way can their twisted souls be satisfied. If one does not wish to be harmed, then one must fulfill their demands, constantly using weapons to injure the beings before them, becoming their toys, much like the animal fights that humans enjoy.

The intentions of these Rahmu are quite clear. The city ruins, transformed into an arena, easily illustrate this, and their eerie cries and the ongoing carnage further support this conclusion.

These creatures intend to force humans to kill each other through torture. Only by killing their companions and witnessing their pained expressions can they survive. They have turned human cities into bloody slaughterhouses, watching their suffering and revelry to gain more pleasure.

"￥￥！@＆@￥￥——！！"

Seemingly annoyed by the slow pace of these humans, the extended sharp claws once again slashed a wound on their bodies. With the continuous gushing of blood, one of the human soldiers finally couldn't help but scream.

"Okay, stop! I know, I know! All we need to do is kill them—I'll do it! I'll do it right now!!"

"@@！￥@＃＃＃！！"

Upon hearing this statement, Rahmu, who had been urging them on, suddenly let out a terrifying yet joyful cry. They stopped harming the animals and instead watched the upcoming show with excitement.

The soldier, his hands trembling, grasped the spear lying on the ground—a spear whose hand he didn't know, its surface wet and stained with someone's blood—and then picked it up with unsteady steps.

Upon seeing this, the soldier opposite him widened his eyes and then shouted, "Hey! You're not really going to—!"

"Shut up!"

The soldier gripping the spear roared, "It's all because of you that I got captured! I went back to save you, and that's why I've ended up like this! No matter how you look at it, it's your fault!"

"It's all because you're so useless, it's all because you've dragged me down, that's why things have turned out like this! You bastard, it's only natural that you should just die!"

"Huh? You're talking nonsense! You were the one who got bogged down by the monsters, and that's why I got surrounded while trying to help you. Besides, didn't I already tell you? You're so weak, you should have just gone and taken refuge with the Goddess. It's all because you insisted on getting involved. What kind of hero are you playing?!"

Seeing two soldiers who were once inseparable and in perfect sync, able to rely on each other even on the battlefield, now blaming each other and even cursing each other for their own lives, the onlookers, Rahmu, let out even more sarcastic laughter, as if they were enjoying the ugliness of humanity.

"I don't care! You might as well just die here! I have family waiting for me to come back! Pick up your weapon and let me kill you!!"

The soldier gripping the spear roared wildly, his voice so intense it startled the soldier opposite him. He glanced at his opponent's expression, especially his eyes, which were bloodshot and filled with intense rage. But—

He noticed that the eyes were not actually fixed on him, but on Rahmu behind him. The anger was directed at the monster, not him, and he immediately understood the other party's intention.

"You're the one who should die! You useless bastard!"

The soldiers, who had been empty-handed, obediently picked up their spears at this moment, then cursed a string of angry words before rushing forward.

Just as their figures intersected, and their spears were about to pierce each other's hearts, their spears shifted slightly to the left and right in perfect unison, and then, under their watchful eyes, pierced Rahmu directly behind each other with a cunning trajectory.

"##!#&&&@&#-!!"

puff!

The spear thrust out, and one Rahmu, caught off guard, was pierced through the head and died instantly. The other, due to the angle, was only pierced through the body, but still had a tenacious will to live. Seeing this, especially realizing that it had been tricked by humans, it let out an extremely angry roar, and then used its sharp claws to cut the soldier who ambushed it in half.

"Damn it! You beast—!!"

Upon witnessing this scene, the soldier cursed loudly, but there was no time to mourn the death of his comrade. He turned and ran towards the edge of the square, where more people were imprisoned in cages. They were more important than him, and he had to free his comrades.

Before the Rahmu could react, he arrived in front of the huge cage and saw the one inside, the gentle, strong, and great priestess he remembered, Siduri.

"Thank goodness, you're alright!"

He said excitedly.