Rovi knew Gilgamesh was only trying to help him—
Even though that foul mouth of his was incurable, it wasn't hard for Gilgamesh to recognize that the descending black mud was a divine curse, a terrifying fate awaiting anyone who touched it.
Gilgamesh was acting out of his own will, determined to save Rovi.
After all, he was the true King of Uruk, the sole ruler of all above heaven and below it.
If a king couldn't even protect his own subjects, what right did he have to call himself king?
Yet, at this very moment, Rovi couldn't help but curse Gilgamesh aloud.
Because this kind of "help" wasn't what he needed at all!
Rovi's defiance of the gods had never been just about resenting their meddling in his fate; more than anything, he had fought precisely for this moment—for this very curse that would utterly doom him!
But right now, exhausted from the fierce battle and utterly drained after unleashing [Ea], Rovi had no way of catching Gilgamesh, whose [Vimana] was speeding toward the black mud faster than lightning.
He could only watch helplessly as Gilgamesh approached the slowly descending curse—
Reaching out to touch it…
"As if!"
Before the royal palace, Rovi swiftly raised both hands, robes whipping around him as he spread them wide—
And Gilgamesh, smugly charging upward toward the black mud of divine curses, slammed headfirst into a shimmering golden gate that had suddenly appeared before him.
He flew straight inside—
And vanished.
"Bwahahaha… Go play in your treasury!" Rovi burst into laughter.
He might be too drained to fight.
But he could still open doors.
The [Gate of Babylon] could open anywhere near its user, and coincidentally, Gilgamesh was precisely that—its undisputed master.
Thus, Rovi simply opened the [Gate] right in front of him.
And sealed Gilgamesh within.
Yet a mere second later, another golden ripple appeared elsewhere in the sky—and Gilgamesh's furious voice rang out from within:
"You insolent mongrel! How dare you use this king's possessions against him?!"
The King of Uruk burst out again upon his shining emerald [Vimana].
His face twisted with rage—
But the very next instant, another golden ripple emerged directly before him. From it shot out a fist, landing two solid punches straight into Gilgamesh's arrogant face.
"Fuck you!"
Gilgamesh flew backward violently, tumbling through the air. [Vimana] spun chaotically across the sky, weaving drunkenly against the azure heavens like some bizarre abstract painting.
Grinning smugly, Rovi calmly withdrew his fist from the gate at his side.
He mockingly raised an eyebrow: "That's all you've got? And you dare to try cursing like me?"
"Looks like you don't value your life enough, mongrel!"
Gilgamesh shook his head fiercely, desperately clearing away the dizziness. His crimson eyes blazed with barely suppressed rage—
Then suddenly—
He drove [Vimana] sharply upward once more.
"Whatever this insolent mongrel tries to prevent, this king shall surely do—Bwahahaha!"
This time, Gilgamesh had grown clever.
When Rovi tried opening another gate beside him, he found he couldn't.
Blocked out completely.
"Now, let this king savor your helpless, teeth-grinding expression—!"
Crash!
Before he could even finish his gloating, Gilgamesh slammed headfirst into another invisible, sealed "door."
He collided stiffly, face-first—
Then fell stiffly down.
Crashing into the earth, he kicked up a massive cloud of dust, thoroughly dazed.
Smiling wickedly, Rovi released his praying hands.
"...Did you forget your own treasury contains potions that instantly restore stamina?"
Gilgamesh: "..."
Enkidu, who had just arrived before Uruk's royal palace: "..."
Ishtar-Rin, who had also rushed over: "..."
Everyone else: "..."
Despite the terrifying black mud slowly descending, why—why did everyone suddenly feel the urge to laugh?
If the black mud could speak, it probably would have started cursing them on the spot.
Show some respect, dammit! This is a curse from the gods!
Must you treat it like some joke?!
Yet at this point, Gilgamesh could no longer stop Rovi.
The black mud was already falling.
Only inches from Rovi himself.
"Rovi…" Enkidu whispered softly, her delicate face filled with worry.
But Rovi simply smiled at her gently.
"It's okay," he said softly. "No matter what happens… nothing can truly harm me."
That's right—how could he possibly lose when fate itself delivered exactly what he wanted?
A proper death flag had to be set clearly.
"You—are you insane?"
Floating anxiously overhead, Ishtar-Rin looked utterly bewildered.
She couldn't understand why these people were scrambling toward something capable of killing even gods instantly.
She couldn't grasp their complete lack of fear.
Not at all…
"Without madness, there is no living," Rovi gently shook his head, no longer looking at them.
"Gil, thank you for your concern—but I must bear responsibility for my own deeds."
Gilgamesh slowly sat up, expression grave.
Leaving aside Rovi's true intentions—
Someone indeed had to bear the gods' curse.
Someone had to contain it.
Otherwise, if left unchecked, another apocalyptic crisis—one immediately following the last—would erupt again.
Yet, was he truly supposed to watch helplessly as his friend perished?
Gilgamesh… could never accept that!
"Rovi—" Enkidu softly called his name again.
Rovi turned toward her.
Then froze in surprise.
The divine clay doll, previously standing at a short distance, was suddenly incredibly close.
Her gentle fragrance brushed past him; white robes softly fluttered. Beneath them, her snow-white arms slowly extended, embracing him gently. Her slender legs lifted slightly, intertwining gracefully, highlighting delicate curves—hips rounded and firm beneath flowing fabric, even the faint shadow of her triangular silhouette pressing lightly against him. Her slim waist and softly rising chest nestled perfectly against Rovi's body.
Enkidu held him gently.
"You must survive," she whispered, her delicate face near his, emerald eyes glistening softly. Moist, crimson lips brushed tenderly across Rovi's cheek—
A brief, gentle touch.
She then drew back slightly, smiling gently.
Slowly retreating—this girl, who had accompanied Rovi since the moment of her birth, had chosen to believe in him completely.
Trusting fully in her only one… Rovi.
Rovi slowly regained himself, quietly gazing at her.
Something in his eyes subtly shifted.
He suddenly thought of Eresh and felt as if he'd inadvertently set foot onto some strange new path…?
But now wasn't the time for such thoughts.
He simply nodded firmly at Enkidu.
Then lifted his eyes, looking straight up at the descending black mud.
At this moment—
The sage rejected the king's order.
Determined alone to bear all the sins and evils of the world.
Yet, the tides stirred anew—
For from the salty seas of chaos, another beast would soon slowly crawl ashore.
At that very instant—
Beyond the void no one noticed, a pair of eyes slowly opened, emitting a clear yet chaotic cry.
"Arrrr—"
The voice carried unmistakable delight—
An existence banished beyond the world stirred joyfully, as if a female beast had caught scent of a "kindred" at last.
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T/N: TIMAT NOW WAYYYYYYYYYY