The New Humanity

...Nobody's at the gate. All the lights in the city have gone out...

Uruk was so lively, but now...

...That's right. So much was lost in a single day, yes. But look at that road, Mash.

All the fires that light the night are strewn together to look like a river. The survivors are forming caravans and heading for the Northern Wall.

And the soldiers are still at the walls, carrying those artillery platforms. Just as the king ordered.

Uruk isn't finished yet. Everybody's doing what they can.

Yes. I'm glad you're willing to mourn, but now's not the time yet.

It's okay. Uruk will survive this, too.

After all, they've gotten through floods and famines just fine!

Meowahaha! That means a lot, coming from the goddess who plunged Uruk into seven years of famine!

Are you trying to say, "I'm the only one who's allowed to destroy Uruk!" What do you call that again?

I think I meow it... I think it's a phrase you hear in the 21st century!

Shuddup, tiger! I don't want to hear you say anything starting with "self..."

We've arrived at Ur, Master. I don't see anyone...

(A Servant's presence...? Do I smell a lingering scent? If I don't see them, did they leave, or were they killed?)

(No, look at this disaster... I can't let Fujimaru see it...)

？！

No, I was just being silly, yes! I'm sorry, Master, Mash.

I was going to tell you not to look in the houses. But that's making light of everything you've been through so far.

None of the people of Ur survived. Everyone was killed in their homes.

...What!?

...This isn't how beasts kill. They've been ripped apart, but nothing's missing.

The people of Ur were killed for no reason.

Not from hunger, anger, or over territory.

They were killed simply because someone wanted to try killing them. This never happens in nature...

I...I guess it's what humans would call murdering for the pleasure of it.

Why...? Why would they do this?

The people of Ur chose not to resist. There was no reason to kill...

There was no reason for them to be treated like this!

...That's right. The Laḫmu don't even have digestive organs. They have no reason to attack other creatures.

They have all they need to survive within them. And yet they attack others. Which means

...We can talk later. The Laḫmu are here.

...

？！

Ki. Kiki, ki Gikikikikiki!

？！

Roger, Master! Engaging enemy Laḫmu!

Gyashi Gyakikikikikiki!

...I got more serious than I intended to. But no repentance means no forgiveness. No mercy for those evil diablos.

Not bad for a jaguar. Was that your true nature?

Meow! I guess so! I can't stay a tiger in a situation like thi

Okay! I'm back to normal! But now's not the time for that, so feel free to ignore me.

Of course, we're heading straight to Eridu.

They're transforming so quickly. We need to save the kidnapped people fast!

We've arrived at Eridu! I sense people What's all this commotion?

I'm picking up signs of life! Five hundred, no, six hundred people! They're the ones who were kidnapped!

They're being gathered in the plaza! What about the Laḫmu?

They're there too, of course! Over two hundred of them! It's a fraction of their forces, but we're still hopelessly outgunned!

I know how you all feel, but proceed with caution!

But there's no time to waste! If they're being gathered up we have to assume the worst!

Calm down. I'm not saying not to fight, Mash. You need to act decisively, understand the situation,

and attack from the best possible position. The most we can take at a time is four.

We need to find a weak point or something before we can face them head on...!

...! There's a Laḫmu in front of us! It's spotted us!

Just one? Then engage! Neutralize it before it calls the others!

...!

That Laḫmu was strange, huh? It ran away without doing anything.

Yes. It was different than the other Laḫmu... Maybe there's a difference in their personalities...

？！

But even if it doesn't put up a fight, they're dangerous other ways. They're a colony. They might be trading information using their super senses.

You'll all be in danger if you can't stay hidden. Follow it and finish it off.

...Don't. Never mind that Laḫmu. Let's hurry to the plaza.

Ishtar? Um... What is it?

Just do it! We don't have time to spare, right? Sorry to be so difficult, but we can't just idly watch anymore!

We're going into the plaza! Before it's too late...!

(Panting)

I did it... I did it... I'm sorry... I'm sorry...! Ugh... I did it... I did it!

This is what you wanted, right? Once I'm the only one left, you'll let me go, right?

...!

So they kill you even if you kill the others!? What do they want from us? How do we survive?

Ugh... Uggh... Dammit! Dammit! Uwaahh! Die! Please!

...!

...This is bad. They're making humans kill each other.

They make them kill each other in groups of ten, and then laugh as they kill the last survivor

Master, your orders!

？！

I agree! I was naïve to say we should wait and see! Quetzalcoatl, I'll annihilate the ones outside the plaza!

I was saving my Divinity, but now I'll blow those things away at full power!

You back up Fujimaru!

Claro. I've reached my boiling point, too! This time, I'm really going to rip out their hearts!

Everyone, please run toward the jungle! We'll draw those monsters away!

O-okay...! Thank you, Thank...Ack!?

Wh-why? I'm the one who's a threat to you!

Gi. Giki, kihahahahahahahahahahahahaha!

What's going on? Do the Laḫmu care more about killing their prisoners than their own lives!?

There's no point, it's a tangle of contradictions! The Laḫmu are perfected beings as an organism!

There is absolutely no reason for them to fight for survival or attack other living things.

These little...!

...What are you doing? I'm asking you, what are you doing gathering those old humans!?

... ... ...

Yes...! Everyone, this way! Ishtar will support us from above!

...Seems so. That saved us, too...

But their behavior has obviously changed for the worse... I sense a storm brewing, Fujimaru.

？！

Answer me, why do you do such pointless things!? And you call yourselves the children of the Primordial Mother, Tiamat!?

It's all right to attack Uruk. It's all right to kill the enemy. But why kill without purpose?

Those humans would never become a threat to us. Eventually Tiamat would have killed them herself. They didn't matter!

I will not allow such pointless behavior from the new humans! Your behavior is completely foolish!

...I don't want to admit it, but Mother must have slipped up after awakening so suddenly.

You are all just defects. Even lower than Gorgon's Demonic Beasts...!

...

...Fine. If you understand, then fall back. None of you is a match for Quetzalcoatl.

You may be no better than trash, but you are Mother's children, my brothers. I can't stand by and let you die.

...Brothers...? You and the Laḫmu?

...That is correct, as much as I hate to admit it. They are just soldiers that were simplified and mass produced based on me.

And I am the one and only child of Tiamat that was created as a commander. So it's only natural I'm different from them.

...Master. This person is, um...

？！

Kingu. You are not one of Tiamat's children.

Tiamat may have created you, but you were not born from her.

You said your body was made using Enkidu as a template.

...But that is not the case. Your body is Enkidu's actual deceased body.

You are probably...a synthetic Demonic Beast made from Enkidu's corpse.

What did you say?

You are not a "new human"... You were probably created just to awaken Tiamat...

Nonsense. Even if that were true, what's wrong with that!?

Even if I weren't born from Mother, she still gave me life. I am her son.

This body... I don't know a thing about Enkidu. They're nothing to me. I don't even have a record of their past!

And what's wrong with that? All I need to exist is my purpose in serving Mother.

Any other notions or extraneous sentiments are useless. I'm just a puppet who works for Tiamat.

That is me. Kingu is just a puppet made for that purpose.

Shi.

...? What, do you have something to

ki, shi.

Shishi, shi

Shahahahahahahahahahahahahaha!

I told you all to stop! What is so funny...!?

...It. Obvious.

Because. Watching. You. Funny. Because. This. Is. Fun.

Fun. Fun. Fun. Fun. Killing. Humans. Really. Fun!

You can speak...!?

Mother. Order. Us. Go. Learn. As. New. Humans.

How. To. Be. Human. Concept. Of. Humans.

Become. More. Like. Humans. This. Is. The. Result.

To. Act. Like. Humans. Amazing. Fun. Fun. Fun. Fun!

Killing. Humans. Very. Fun!

You all are

And.

You. Are. Very. Boring.

Arg, ugh... Why, you... What are you...

I am... the same... Mother's... child

The Holy Grail...! I'm detecting the Holy Grail's signal inside Kingu!

So Kingu was the one storing the Holy Grail! Gorgon was receiving the power of the Grail through him!

But why would the Laḫmu steal that!? And by ambushing Kingu!?

Jaguar!

Got it!

You're not going anywhere!

You. No. Need. Anymore. We. Will. Take. This.

It. Is our. Job. To wake. Mother. Kingu, you are obsolete. Now die here.

The Laḫmu has swallowed the Holy Grail and transformed! Those are wings... It's no use, Senpai!

That thing is specialized in flying! It'll escape!

I won't let it! We'll leave the small fry to you, Coatl! We'll go and take that thing down!

Be careful! That thing has a Magical Reactor Core within its body! The amount of magical energy is incredible!

Urg...!

No. Use! No. Use! No. Holy. Grail. No. more. Mother's. Voice. Can't hear!

You. Useless! Kingu useless! Kingu pitiful. Very pitiful! Pitiful!

GiKiki, kikikiki, pitiful. Is amusing! Pitiful is amusing! Ludicrous and amusing!

Kingu. Fun! Not. Realize. You are. The. Obsolete one.

Wh...y...! You mass-produced little...!

Urg... This wasn't how...it was supposed to be...! I am the ultimate weapon of this era...!

He. Ran! He. Ran! Gyahaha! Gyahahahahahahahahahaha!

Hunt! Hunt! Let's break. Old type. To little. Bits. Pieces!

Fun, fun! Seeing you. Struggle is fun!

The transformed Laḫmu has fled into the sky...! They're going to get away!

Are you trying to outrace me!? Bring it on, I'll take you on... Ugh!?

Hey, get off me, you!! Sorry, Coatl, go on with Fujimaru!

Come, my Quetzalcoatlus! Fujimaru, get on! Mash too!

Okay, we're going after it!

Jaguar! Evacuate and protect the civilians, and report to the king!

Roguar, gotcha!

Wait, Kingu is still there! With that injury, he won't be able to escape the Laḫmu!

It's too late. Forget him. We're at max capacity. This is all we can do.

Kingu's life is in his own hands now.

We have to go after that Laḫmu! Its destination is probably the ocean and if we lose it, everything ends!