Kingu's expression froze for a moment, but before he could even contemplate how Alaric managed such a feat, a spear strike, swift as lightning, suddenly came at him.
Alaric's already exceptional martial prowess was now bolstered by a solid foundation, and the sheer force he displayed at this moment was something even Kingu could neither ignore nor underestimate!
Caught off guard, Kingu was forced into a defensive stance!
As the two clashed in close combat, the silver chains behind them clashed against the pitch-black light, canceling each other out with explosive collisions that echoed with deafening roars!
After just a few exchanges, the two seemed evenly matched, unable to determine a winner!
However, Kingu quickly abandoned the aerial battle with Alaric, decisively turning and charging toward the ground. Just as Alaric prepared to pursue him relentlessly—
A light rose from the ground.
The rapidly extending magical hair of the serpent goddess unleashed beams of light, all aimed directly at Alaric!
The source of the attack? None other than the monstrous goddess Gorgon in the pit below—the very reason Kingu had abandoned his fight with Alaric!
"Gorgon, huh!"
Alaric's thoughts raced as countless holy chains shot out to intercept the beams of light, canceling and exploding upon contact!
At this moment, Alaric was only 300 to 400 meters from the ground, well within Gorgon's attack range. This meant he now faced the combined assault of both Gorgon and Kingu!
Yet Alaric showed no signs of retreat. Instead, he laughed: "Kingu, is this all you've got?"
Alaric was supremely confident in his ability to overpower Kingu in terms of maximum firepower, despite the long charge time required. With that, victory was within reach!
As for Gorgon, Alaric viewed her as nothing more than a minor obstacle.
This was Alaric's first time facing Gorgon directly, but his impression of her was underwhelming—
If Kingu weren't present, Alaric felt he could end Gorgon with a single strike.
Though gods were beings connected to the Root and wielded supreme authority, as long as Alaric Ye could endure—
Even a god could be slain!
Zzzzt!
Scarlet magical energy replaced the pitch-black light, flowing around Alaric's body.
Upon seeing Gorgon, the draconic aspect within Alaric began to awaken and rise.
When apex beasts collide, only the victor earns the right to survive.
Even as his desire surged within, Alaric maintained composure, gazing down at Gorgon and Kingu below. He called out in a commanding voice:
"Beast Goddess, Gorgon, what is your purpose here?"
Though Alaric harbored thoughts of devouring Gorgon, his first instinct was to attempt communication.
His intellect and civility, which upheld his sense of decorum, distinguished him from a mere beast.
As Gorgon made her appearance, Fujimaru, far away in Nippur, also received a warning from Romani.
["A divine-class spiritual response is detected. Judging by the reaction, the class is Avenger!
Alaric has already engaged the goddess Gorgon and Kingu!"]
Through an exchange of information with Alaric, Romani and the others had become aware of Kingu's existence.
This meant Alaric was now fighting two divine-level entities simultaneously!
Realizing this, Fujimaru and Mash's expressions grew tense, yet they resisted the urge to rush to the Black Cedar Forest to assist Alaric. A more urgent matter demanded their attention.
However, as Ritsuka and Mash led the citizens of Nippur away toward the northern defense line—
Amid Romani's startled cry, a goddess descended.
["An exceptionally powerful magical energy is approaching—without a doubt, a divine-class Servant!"]
"Hey, you there! Do you know what's happening over there?"
From the sky descended a tall, black-haired goddess with a commanding presence. Her long legs strode through the heavens as a massive bow floated beside her—a weapon Fujimaru and Mash instantly recognized.
It was an artifact akin to the heavenly vessel accompanying Alaric.
"Goddess Ishtar, that is the aftermath of Lord Alaric's battle with the monstrous goddess."
Ushiwakamaru, who accompanied Fujimaru, immediately recognized the goddess before them—Ishtar, the Mistress of Heaven in Mesopotamia and beloved of the gods.
Having recently awakened, Ishtar experienced the pain of her temple's disappearance once again. After regaining her composure, she resumed her journey to recover her greatest Noble Phantasm, intent on teaching Alaric a harsh lesson.
But the result was predictable—Ishtar's efforts bore no fruit. Instead, she witnessed the descent of a pitch-black star from the heavens.
Chasing after it, Ishtar naturally encountered Fujimaru and the others, who were preparing to leave Nippur.
"That guy?"
Upon receiving an answer, Ishtar paused momentarily, instinctively turning her gaze toward the wilderness. The magical energy shining like a beacon in the night was reflected in her eyes.
Alaric was fighting Gorgon?
And by Gorgon's side… that guy must be there too—
As a goddess, Ishtar had met every deity in Mesopotamia within a single day, save for a certain goddess of the underworld.
Though she hadn't joined the Alliance of Three Goddesses, she had a verbal agreement to compete fairly for Uruk.
Ishtar had some understanding of her competitors.
With this realization, a grin spread across Ishtar's face. She wasted no time arguing with Fujimaru and the others, swiftly piloting her heavenly vessel, Maanna, and departing!
But as she left, Ishtar noticed a wisp of purple hair floating in the air and locked gazes with a pair of mesmerizing mystic eyes.
...
"Hmm?"
While Ishtar encountered Fujimaru, Alaric was directly confronting Gorgon.
In response to Alaric's question, Gorgon suppressed her inner desires, her demonic visage devoid of any smile:
"Human, you are far too noisy. And you should address me as—
The Enemy of Humanity, the culprit behind the Alliance of Three Goddesses, the Mother of Beasts, Tiamat."
"Tia…mat?"
Hearing this, Alaric's brow furrowed slightly.
The divine servant standing on the earth was undoubtedly Gorgon, yet her claim to be Tiamat introduced a significant discrepancy with Alaric's understanding.
Was this a case of altered perception, or some kind of positional substitution?
Could this be Kingu's doing?
Alaric glanced at Kingu, now standing on the ground, and locked eyes with his violet gaze.
Had Tiamat's son, Kingu, created a Gorgon that claimed to be Tiamat?
What was the purpose?
To replace Tiamat and occupy the land, only to later release the real Tiamat?
Unable to discern Gorgon's true intentions, Alaric opted for the simplest solution—
Kill!
As long as he defeated Gorgon and retrieved the Holy Grail from Kingu, this would all be over.
But before that—
"Tiamat, huh? Kingu, looks like you've been up to something!"
Alaric smirked as he looked down at Kingu:
"Did you get yourself a new mommy?"
PS: I want a mommy like Gorgon to pamper me.