"Ereshkigal, I hope you can free Gilgamesh's soul and save Uruk with me," Ritsuka Fujimaru said, extending his hand.
"Was I... wrong? Without my own happiness, joy, sorrow, or friends, through these long years, I possessed nothing. I have only ever managed the souls of the dead here, only able to gaze at my other half soaring freely in the sky."
"I have always been fulfilling my responsibilities here. Why are you unwilling to praise me? Why do you force me?"
Ritsuka Fujimaru thoughtfully considered Ereshkigal's words, then spoke, refuting her, "I cannot agree with you, nor can I praise you. You and Li Xing are friends, aren't you? Would you deny this friend? I cannot praise you because I do not wish to tarnish your pride."
Ereshkigal suddenly lifted her head, looking at Ritsuka Fujimaru with a sorrowful expression. Even like this, she couldn't be praised?
"As expected, this isn't our first meeting, is it? Every night, you come to talk with me. So, I am also your friend, aren't I?" Ritsuka Fujimaru smiled and extended his hand.
However, Ereshkigal did not reach out to take Ritsuka Fujimaru's hand. Instead, she stood up, stepped back, and a gun appeared in her hand.
"Join the Three Goddess Alliance, to create a death realm that surpasses any world! This is my choice!"
"Ereshkigal, stop lying. The flower you wear on your head is the best proof. That's the paper flower I folded for you, a flower of friendship that never withers! You bring human souls to the underworld only because you wish to protect humanity, and you confine souls in cages only because you wish to give them warmth! Do you deny these things?" Li Xing pointed at the flower on Ereshkigal's head and shouted.
"Mash, I command you with my Command Seals: protect the goddess, Ereshkigal's dignity, choices, and will! Protect it for her!" Ritsuka Fujimaru used a Command Seal without hesitation.
"The distant city of ideals, already realized!"
A short cape appeared behind Mash, and she drew her shield, holding it before her. A city appeared behind Mash: Camelot of Britain, and her shield was precisely its city gate.
Ereshkigal then gathered her power into her spear and forcefully thrust it at Mash's shield. However, since it was for protection, Mash's resolve would only grow firmer, and the firmer Mash's resolve, the harder the shield would become.
As Ereshkigal's attack landed, the paper flower on her head began to wither. Ereshkigal's heart faltered. Her spear instantly shattered. Without paying attention to anything else, Ereshkigal quickly squatted down and picked up the paper-folded flower, wanting to fold it again.
"No... no... no..." Ereshkigal couldn't help but shed tears. This was the only flower Ereshkigal possessed, and she didn't want to lose it like this.
Li Xing slowly walked in front of Ereshkigal. "Are you still going to keep deceiving people? When you want to deny my existence, it will wither. If that were truly the case, why are you crying now?"
"Li Xing..." Ereshkigal looked up at Li Xing with tear-filled eyes, but could not speak. She had ruined the flower herself, and now she wanted Li Xing to help her fold it again.
"This flower is for you. It represents our friendship and your love for humanity." Li Xing refolded a flower and gave it to Ereshkigal. The one on the ground had already dissipated.
"Thank you... I will cherish it... Ritsuka, I'm sorry... I will free the souls of Uruk's people." Ereshkigal turned her head and apologized to Ritsuka Fujimaru. Ritsuka Fujimaru simply smiled.
Gilgamesh watched clearly from the side. Devaluing the duty he had never shied away from was also a form of evil. Praising such suffering was nothing short of an insult, which was why Ritsuka Fujimaru hadn't praised Ereshkigal. Those who suffer should not be praised.
However, at this moment, Ziusudra suddenly appeared and swung his blade at Ereshkigal. Li Xing did not intervene.
"What I just cut was not her body, but her alliance contract. Mistress of the Underworld, as a goddess, you deeply love humanity, who are destined for death. You do not belittle death as a loathsome fear, but instead, you revere it, seeking to protect the souls after death."
After saying this, Ziusudra vanished. Li Xing's brow furrowed slightly because Li Xing could no longer sense the Grand Order, meaning Ziusudra had fled. The situation was somewhat dire.
"Li Yun, go and sense the world for me. See if the Grand Order has disappeared."
Li Yun suddenly flew out of Li Xing's body, transforming into the Counter Force, sensing the entire world. Li Yun possessed all of Li Xing's authority and abilities, and could temporarily manage the responsibility of the Counter Force for Li Xing.
...
Without the contract of the Three Goddess Alliance, Ereshkigal could do what she wished: save Uruk with Ritsuka Fujimaru, and subsequently release the souls taken from Uruk, including, of course, Gilgamesh.
Gilgamesh's soul ascended directly and departed, but Li Xing and the others had to walk back slowly. Li Xing couldn't wait that long and, leaving behind a message that they would be waiting in Uruk, flew towards the ground.
...
In the skies above the Mesopotamian plain, Li Xing was waiting for Li Yun. He didn't have to wait long before Li Yun returned.
"How was it? Is the Grand Order still here?"
"It's gone, completely vanished. It's no longer in this Singularity." Li Yun shook his head.
Just then, Li Xing sensed the power of the Counter Force. A surge of power entered his body.
"So that's how it is! I understand now. The responsibility of defeating the Beast has now fallen upon me. The Counter Force has made me replace Ziusudra and bestowed upon me the title of Grand Order." Li Xing gave an awkward smile.
"So, the duty of Grand Order Assassin has been assigned to you?"
"It seems to be the case. I'll switch my Class!"
Li Xing was quite helpless. His pleasant journey had turned into work. What was this all about? After switching his Class, Li Xing flew towards Uruk, now with two tasks.
...
When Ritsuka Fujimaru and the others returned, it was already evening. Seeing that everyone was present, Gilgamesh immediately convened the Gorgon Annihilation Plan.
The Temple of Blood possessed an Innate Territory, which could only be destroyed by Marduk's Axe. However, to transport it there, they would inevitably be targeted by demonic beasts and shot down. Thus, it could only be thrown. This task could only be entrusted to Quetzalcoatl. Of course, Li Xing could also throw it, but Li Xing had to go to the Temple of Blood himself.
However, bound by the contract of the Three Goddess Alliance, Quetzalcoatl could not directly attack the Temple of Blood. This was where Merlin's wicked scheme came into play.
Merlin tore a handkerchief from his staff and handed it to Quetzalcoatl, saying that he could lift and throw Marduk's Axe. As long as Quetzalcoatl threw it when he approached the Temple of Blood, he would then break the Innate Territory and enter the Temple of Blood to defeat Gorgon.
It was a good plan, but whether Merlin could truly lift Marduk's Axe was a question. However, Li Xing didn't intend to say much. Li Xing would not harm Medusa. He would leave this matter to Quetzalcoatl and Merlin, as Merlin would be the one to take the blame anyway.