Absolute Demonic Front Mesopotamia (I)

It's dawn! Did everyone get enough rest? Then I shall brief you all on last night's survey results! Look here!

Oh. This is a diagram of Tiamat's true form? This is made really well. How'd you do it?

Hehe, it's a collaboration between me and Uruk's priests! Based on their information, I polished it up!

Yes. Good work on that front. But now, take a look at her legs.

From last night til dawn, we received several reports from the surviving academic facilities near the coast.

"Tiamat is walking on the water's surface." "It doesn't look like she can control her own weight."

"We hypothesize that those legs may be too thin to support that giant body. We should assume Tiamat can only walk on water."

That was the final report. Both myself and Chaldea believe this theory is dead-on.

If it wasn't, there's little reason to encroach on the land like that.

Its purpose is to engulf the land, but at the same time it creates a pathway for Tiamat

Right. Like rails for trains. We think it's a path made for her to travel.

Even if we can't kill Tiamat on land, if we get rid of the ocean around her, we can stop her movement.

Therefore, our combat objective shifts from Tiamat to that black mud. We will remove it entirely!

Chaldea has named that black mud, "Encroaching Ocean: Chaos Tide." They're feverishly analyzing a way to revert it to normal seawater.

If they make it in time, we can delay Tiamat's arrival at Uruk...

King Gilgamesh! A report from the south observation post! Tiamat has resumed her advance!

Three hours till she reaches the ruins of Girsu City! We estimate eight more hours until she reaches Uruk City!

That's half a day earlier than expected! Even if we analyze in time, we won't have time to get rid of the Chaos Tide!

Ugh, she is an early riser for such a massive creature. If so, we must destroy those legs, even if it seems impossible!

General, take fifty elites from the wall! We will ride to battle!

No, there's no need for that, Gilgamesh.

The warriors have the job of intercepting Tiamat at the city wall, right?

I will be the one to remove that black mud... No, the Chaos Tide.

I can't do an entire ocean's worth, but my Noble Phantasm is enough to clear a perimeter around Tiamat once she gets ashore.

I will use my Sun's Pilgrimage: Piedra del Sol to vaporize the mud right out from under her, yes!

Oh, you had that! We're finally going to see the paw-some scorching lady Quetzalcoatl getting serious!

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Yes! My Noble Phantasm that was at the altar in Eridu!

If Fujimaru had shattered the sunstone back then, we wouldn't have been able to use it now, no!

Yup. Truly the devil's luck. In Fujimaru's case, you never know what strange thing they do will end up being fortuitous!

Yes! The results of "Operation: Plancha, Not Destruction" have worked out in our favor!

Can you do it, Quetzalcoatl? Can I trust you with this?

Si. But it's still dangerous. Piedra del Sol uses a lot of stamina.

So, I need to have Fujimaru take me right up to Tiamat...

...and continuously supply me with magical energy while I use my Noble Phantasm.

Sooo, you're saying we need to somehow deal with the Laḫmu flying around, get right under Mother's legs...

...and then, stay there the entire time Quetzalcoatl is deploying her Noble Phantasm!?

Right on all counts! It's terribly dangerous, yes!

？！

Fine. Since Fujimaru agrees as well, we shall now commence our operation to intercept Tiamat!

All soldiers, to your posts!

From now on, the only one left in the ziggurat will be the king! No matter what, you WILL NOT depart from the wall!

Yes, my king! Fortune be with you, King Gilgamesh!

We wish to show the greatest gratitude and respect for your leadership and achievements, Your Majesty!

You too. Fight for me until the very end.

Now go, Master of Chaldea.

When you've completed the mission, return to me here.

I'll listen to your report of victory to kill some time. Don't make me wait too long!

？！

Fou, fooou!

We've left Uruk!

Doctor, we will now guard Quetzalcoatl as she heads towards Tiamat.

Is that correct?

Yeah. Right now, we're in a hurry calculating Tiamat's speed and field of vision.

It's dangerous to position yourself right in front of Tiamat. We don't know what she'll do to enemies once she sees them.

A large number of Laḫmu are circling around Tiamat as well. Battling them will be inevitable.

We're verifying a route that won't be in Tiamat's line of sight with relatively few Laḫmu.

Can you wait for about two more minutes What's that?

I declare to all remaining citizens of Uruk.

I commend you for surviving to this day. First and foremost, I am overjoyed at our success!

Over six months ago, when the Demonic Front was set up, I told all of you:

No matter what we do, Uruk will fall. I will not determine for you how you should meet that end.

You can flee. You can drown in pleasures. You can throw yourselves down to the Underworld in despair.

However, you all said you would fight. Despite knowing the end was coming, you were determined to resist.

Truly...Uruk was a fortunate city. Its history, its life, its people Myself included.

King Gilgamesh...

The protection of gods is no longer needed in the world of man. As proof, I built a fortress, and you all answered to my call.

I know now, with certainty, that it was no mistake! And now this final trial will test it, and us, to the utmost.

Now is the time to deny the primordial god, and begin the age of man! Mind yourselves, my elite warriors!

This is the battle for true separation from the gods! Give your lives to me, the king!

Pass on the glory that is Uruk to generations to come, to the last man!

...Unbelievable. I didn't think he was that thoroughly prepared.

I saw that he built a lookout at the top of his ziggurat, but it was made just for this speech. How stupid.

Yes. The King of Heroes has returned.

Yeah, I have to admit it as well. That troublesome king is most definitely one of the greatest pioneers.

And we're done! We have the fastest route to Tiamat!

Fujimaru, Mash,

Ishtar, Quetzalcoatl, and Jaguar Warrior!

We're at the point of no return for this battle. You'll all be pushed to your absolute limits. Are you prepared?

？！

Good. Then, as commander of Chaldea, I order you to commence the operation.

Your objective is to approach TiamatBeast II, and bar its advance using Noble Phantasms!

This operation will end with the burning of the Chaos Tide! All of you, proceed to it with full strength!

Master, we've entered Tiamat's field of vision! Laḫmu incoming!

It's been two hours since we departed Uruk. I'm tired of waiting! I'll take the vanguard. You okay with that, Quetzalcoatl?

Sí, of course. I can fight too, but if possible, let me save up my strength, yes!

I think you're already aware, but you're in Tiamat's territory!

No matter what you do, the Chaos Tide will also be eating away at you! Be careful!

Yes...! Commencing battle, Master!

Increase in the number of Laḫmu and transformed Laḫmu! The potency of the Chaos Tide is also rising!

It seems the closer we get to Tiamat, the stronger the corruption gets!

If it's this bad so far away, it's going to be much worse by her feet!

Yeah, and the Laḫmu are getting stronger, meow! They've gotta be stronger than me-eow!

It's not just their forms, but their magical circuits have been strengthened... Did they evolve even more overnight...!?

Fujimaru, what's going on with Tiamat? Has she noticed you!?

？！

Human

Human, human, human, human, human, human, human, human, human, human, human, human, human, human!

There's too many to deal with! Fujimaru, run!

Master!

?! Was that

The javelin unit from Girsu! Some must have survived!

But there aren't even thirty of them! If they try to go after the Laḫmu like that...!

There! There! Fun, fun! Weak beings! Fun!

No good! We can't make it back

Jaguar! Run interference! It looks like there are other humans fighting out there!

Show me your speed! We're going to try to save as many of them as possible!

Okay, leave it to me! As the beautiful beast of the wasteland, Jaguar Warrior, I'd run thousands of miles to help you, Kuku!

This is going to hurt quite a bit, but I'm going to go crazy, and get the attention of those Laḫmu!

Fujimaru, take care of Kuku! She gets really angry and scary when things get bad!

？！

Meohaha! Good! All right! The way of the Jaguar is found in death!

Jaguar has pulled away from the main group...! All that's left is

For us to push forward on our own! I'm getting excited!

Come, Laḫmu. I'm going to feather you all with my arrows! No matter how many of you come at me, I won't let you lay a finger on Fujimaru!

Tiamat's still speeding up! This is bad! She's going to reach the Fangs of Napishtim soon!

If it's destroyed, the Chaos Tide will flood into Uruk!

If that happens, Uruk will be reduced to nothingness before Tiamat even reaches it...!

？！

Master! Seven hundred meters until we reach Tiamat!

At our current speed, we'll catch up in two minutes!

Mash, be careful! Don't rush too much!

It's not just the potency of the mud. Tiamat is causing shock waves with every step!

You'll go flying if you don't pay attention! Make sure you lower your center of gravity and hang on!

Right...! Master, watch out for the rearguard! From this point onward, anything can happen!

We did it! We've caught up to Tiamat! Our plan is a go, Master!

Yeah, we did it, Fujimaru!

The chaos whatsit was getting stronger. Thank goodness we don't have to get any closer!

(Even keeping this far away from Beast II, all this Spirit Origin corruption... If they end up having to fight head-on...)

No, things couldn't possibly get that bad! Quetzalcoatl, are you ready?!

Yes, leave it to me. I can go at any time. I'm getting enough magical energy from Fujimaru, too.

We've come this far Get down, Mash!

That's unfortunate. I wanted to get rid of your unsightly guardians first. I was a bit rash, again.

Ushiwakamaru...! I see. I couldn't detect her through the Chaos Tide's interference!

Ushiwakamaru, are you planning on getting in our way again!? Have you truly become a slave to Tiamat...!?

I believe I told you already. Mother's control is pleasant. I don't have to think.

I can focus on ridding myself of my hate. The greatest and only delectable pleasure I have is the thought of killing you all.

There aren't many humans left in the world. I have killed so many of them. I've had enough sensation of the flesh.

All that's left for me is to destroy Uruk with Mother. There is no greater ecstasy than killing a country, killing the land.

I won't let you get in the way! If Mother's mud doesn't absorb you, then you need to die here.

...Or maybe you would choose to become my retainers instead of Mother's? That would be pleasurable too.

In just a few days, I will become one with Mother. Since we're friends, I could turn you into familiars fit to be Demon God Pillars.

I'll torment and treat you like insects. The same way my brother once treated me!

This is bad, Master. Ushiwakamaru is

...Yes. I know you know each other, but it's too late for her. She's all twisted up inside.

Fusion from self-replication. A melting of hundreds of selves together, and she's ready to burst from within.

...I don't even want to imagine what type of monster would come out if that happened.

It's obvious. Only hatred towards humans would flow from my entrails. A tower of flesh made from hundreds and thousands of corpses.

I'll become a blood-crazed warrior, stronger than Gorgon, and kill all of you!

Gorgon, you say! Looks like you're aware that you're going to be defeated, vengeful one!

Fujimaru, let's do this! As long as she's there, I won't be able to use my Noble Phantasm!

I'm going to UTTERLY destroy that Darkened Servant!

Just try it! Your plan won't go anywhere as long as I'm around!

It doesn't make any difference how many of me you kill. Haven't you learned?

Ushiwakamaru has reappeared from the Chaos Tide! ...Damn, how do we defeat this thing!?

Ushiwakamaru's Spirit Origin is completely different now... But why

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Why, you ask...?

What about all of you! Why do you fight so hard to protect humans!?

You say that the Laḫmus are horrendous? That these monsters are ugly?

But there is no difference. Humans or Laḫmus, there's no difference. They are the same!

Let's say there was a heroic deed done amidst a mass of tragedies. A miracle that happened among many sacrifices.

Out of all the people who only worked for profit, there was one who went around and helped the suffering and asked for nothing.

Such an achievement would only be taken advantage of, and then dishonored by those who failed to live up to that standard!

You humans are always like that! You all crowd around a miracle and then insult and laugh about it amongst each other!

Why would I want to fight for such creatures!? Why did we have to be killed!?

At this point I won't even try to correct your actions. Just die. Die, all of you!

Dying and starting from scratch is the only way left for this world.

It's still multiplying!? Has this monster divided even its soul...!?

Hahahahahahaha! I'll show you no quarter 'til the very end!

As long as I am here, you will never touch Mother!

I will tear you to bloody pieces! You can't stop all of my copies!

That is impossible. Your number is meaningless in front of the last ray of hope.

It is true the masses are ugly, however...

How could you be the one to deny the only heroic deed?

...! Who's there!?

Lord Fujimaru! I apologize for my lateness!

？！

Nay, my limbs are still attached Actually, I am now at my very best!

I am ashamed of my cowardice! But still, allow me to take responsibility for the crimes of my lord!

You, you were still alive...! I should have roasted you instead of showing you mercy!

Hey, let go! Let me go, you third-rate actor! There's no stage left for you at this point!

No, I will not! This Musashibou will never let go! Not this time! Even death shall not separate us!

...Fine. Then you shall die with me.

The surrounding Ushiwakamarus have run them both through!

Humph. What were you going to do just taking one of me along with you?

You alone cannot do anything for me anymore. I told you that.

...You somehow hung onto that life. You should have just cowered in your corner until the end.

Such foolhardy courage is unlike you, Hitachibou.

...Indeed. I'm terrified.

...I thought I had made my peace, but it could never be enough. So this is the horror of a lone dash towards death...

Why, you! You're still...!

However, what pushed me forward was not resolve. Anger. It was anger that pushed me forward.

...Lord Ushiwakamaru. That hatred of yours does not come from Tiamat.

It was something that was always buried within you, pointed towards all humans.

...That was something I could not bear.

No matter how much the others thought you strange, you lived free.

...Truly, there is nothing lonelier than genius. I never imagined you were alone till the very end.

Even if he could not save your heart, Benkei must not have wanted to leave you alone.

For you to be consumed with such angerI could not bear it.

Silence...! Argh, what are you doing, Ushiwakamaru!? Come! Slice his limbs off along with me! Chop his head off!

There's no use in listening to a monk's lecture now!

Hahaha. You mustn't speak lightly of lectures. After all, even something such as this can be done if mastered.

Impossible! This isHow!? Y-you're peeling Tiamat's Authority off of me

N-no, you're tearing me out of it...! Benkei, what have you...!?

I am just doing as Benkei does! This time, my lord, I shall be with you till the end!

If our opponent is the Primordial Sea, then may this existence be of some small help!

Now, let us burn all of our sins in the Western Paradise! Pilgrimage of the Five Hundred Arhat Lord Yoshitsune.

Please forgive me for my long absence

...You fool. You always worried about such silly, petty things...

There's no joy in taking the life of a coward like you...

To think you were even called a sage... A fool will always be a fool...

...Confirming the disappearance of both Benkei and Ushiwakamaru's Spirit Origins. Tiamat's guardians are gone...

...Yes. But there's no time to grieve. Quetzalcoatl, you ready?

Of course. Ready to goooo!

Everyone, after I fly off, move away from Tiamat. If you stay too close, you'll burn up along with everything.

？！

Don't give me that look, no! Just leave it to your big sis, yes!

All right then, I'm gonna go burn off the face of the Earth...just a little!

...

...Tiamat. The Primordial Sea that wove the base for all life.

To see that you, of all beings, seek to destroy mankind and create a new world... My heart breaks for you, Tiamat...

However... This world belongs to the humans! Without reason, without will, without soul...

...You elect to consume and destroy your own children in blind hatred! This, I cannot allow.

South America's goddess lives with the forest and beasts! The sun blesses with life and creation, not destruction!

The past is here!

The present is here. The future is here! Come winds, come lightning!

When the morning star shines, let all know the sun's light reaches every corner of the Earth!

Piedra Del Sol!

Aaaaaa, aaaaa

Quetzalcoatl is flying! She's one hundred meters above Tiamat's head!

There's a...a massive heat source above her! It's the solar winds! The Chaos Tide is evaporating!

Hothothot...! Mash, please block it! Come on Fujimaru, get behind Mash too!

Eep! She really is the principal deity of South America! That's one heck of a trump card she's got!

If she'd used this on Uruk, it would've burned to cinders in a

Quetzalcoatl!

Ugh! The flying Laḫmu...! I knew it. They're not going to make this easy on me, no!

But you acted a little too late, yes!

I've done what I needed to do already! Now I'll just be on my way back to Master

...! The Chaos Tide has returned! No, this is

Tiamat! The Chaos Tide is flowing out from under Tiamat's feet!

Quetzalcoatl's Noble Phantasm has reappeared! She's deploying it again!

Quetzalcoatl...! Are you gonna burn yourself up...!?

Urg...!

Stretching into needles and pulling an aerial move... What are you, missiles!?

They went through my shoulders, stomach, and thighs so easily...!

Ouch... I can almost hear the ten second countdown...

Ugh... I may be tough, but it's just a matter of time at this point...

But still, I won't stop! No matter the cost, I'll keep...this...burning!!!

Come on, Ereshkigal, hurry! I'm in this until you're done or they tear me to pieces!

Hee...it's a mud wrestling match! I'll...draw this out...all day if I What the!?

...Ahhhh. ...Aaaahhh. Aaaaaaahhh.

(She's lifting her horns?)

(She's gathering the magical energy that held her body up above the mud into her horns...almost like wings...）

(...Oh no. This thing's gonna fly!)

The solar winds have stopped! Quetzalcoatl is returning!

Hi, I'm back! Tiamat... No, who cares what it's called now!

That thing is stupid tough and a cheater! Baaaad! If we fight it head-on, we'll get dropped to the mat muy rapido!

Yes, it looks like our plan was for nothing.

We've burned away the mud from the sea, but if the black mud comes from Mother, that doesn't matter.

Let's get back to Uruk right away. We need to come up with a new plan.

No, Ishtar. We can't do that.

You should know that already. There's no point in going back now.

If we don't stop Tiamat, all the work being done in Uruk as we speak will be for nothing.

Then what do you propose we do!? Watch you blast away with your sun until you die!?

If we're down to you killing yourself, let's at least try MY last resort first...

That won't work either, Ishtar. ...That thing can fly.

!

？！

Yes, just vaporizing the mud beneath her is not enough. If she can fly, then she won't fall.

That can't be! Tiamat is the goddess of Ki, the Earth. She would never go near An, the heavens!

Who would have thought she could fly

Yes. So, Fujimaru? Excuse me a bit one last time.

Wait, what are you doing!?

？！

Okay, I've got some energy back, yes! I'll go hit it again!

What...? Quetzalcoatl, what are you going to do!? You're hurt! You can't fight properly in that state!

No. I still have my limbs attached. I am the bird of fire. As long as I have wings, I will fly!

Ishtar.

...What?

I'm going first. I leave the rest to you.

See you. I'll be expecting a spectacular lucha move.

Of course! Master, please watch too, yes!

I'll give it my best aerial technique to knock it out!

...The weapons of Mesopotamia cannot hurt it... I was the one who said that.

However! I am not a weapon of this world, but a Divinity of a distant mystic land!

The primordial god of Mesopotamia, you are nothing to me!

Witness the power of our underworld, Xibalba, and the cataclysmic impact that annihilated countless lives!

I shall burn everything away and become the comet that killed the Earth!

Here I go...Ultimo Tope Patada! Burning fighting spirit, Xiuhcoatl!

Quetzal...coatl... Her flame's extinguished and has fallen into...the black sea...

Beast II has pulled back a bit... But her main body shows no signs of damage...

Quetzalcoatl's final Noble Phantasm did nothing to put Tiamat back in her place...

Aaaaaahhh AaaaaaaaaaaaaaAAAAAAAAAAAAHHH!

She's discharging more Chaos Tide! Beast II is fighting back...!

This is bad! The Fangs of Napishtim...!

The Chaos Tide is coming this way! A large number of Laḫmu are approaching, as well!

Senpai, your orders, please! I can't allow us to run away after all of this!

The Fangs of Napishtim have fallen! The Chaos Tide is flowing towards Uruk!

Detecting a magical energy surge emanating from Beast II's back! A massive expansion of the dorsal skeletal structure... She's going to fly!

Ishtar, can't you do something!? Weren't the Mesopotamian skies your domain?!

If there was, I would've done it already...! But my bow is useless against an original Divinity...!

Tiamat is flying...! She's going to head towards UrukNo, something is wrong!

There's something coming from the Chaos Tide... That's...!

Aaaaahhh AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHH!

A black snake...? Several large snakes have appeared, and have coiled around Tiamat!

She's falling! That's

Wow... They're beating Mother with sheer strength...!? What's going on!? Where did they come from!?

Let go... Let go! Let go! Let go! You dirty fakes...!

Master!

...Pah. You're the dirty ones. You're mindless hunks of mud, and you're laughing like humans.

Gorgon! I don't believe it! This Spirit Origin signature belongs to Gorgon!

Fujimaru, watch out! Gorgon might be there with you!

？！

...

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...I do not care about you. I will have my vengeance against Tiamat for myself, not for you.

Do not interfere, Fujimaru.

!!!

...Aaaahhh.

...A mere avatar will not serve... I suppose I need to be in my own true body...

...Gorgon. Are you going to help us?

...I said you were an eyesore. You all are in the way.

If I have to see you for another second, you'll only anger me that much more. Hurry and run back to Uruk.

I will smash Tiamat's wings. I shall teach her that it is SHE who slithers across the ground.

Th-then we will help! We can fight together aga

You mock me. You, who could hardly handle the Laḫmu, and have lost Quetzalcoatl. You have nothing left.

Look at your Master's fingertips. They are on the verge of necrosis from the drain of magical energy.

You cannot even lift your shield.

How exactly will you help me? The weak should scurry back home.

But...

Good. You should know your limits.

I told you, I am not here for you. Now leave. Immediately.

？！

The fourth wave is coming! The Chaos Tide is going to swallow you up if you stay there!

Mash, Fujimaru, withdraw immediately! Gorgon is right. You have to run!

Let's go, Mash. We don't have Quetzalcoatl's winged serpents anymore.

You'll have to run while carrying Fujimaru. Or would you rather have me do the honors?

But once aboard my boat, Maanna, your Master is mine. Even if the Singularity gets repaired, I'm not returning them to Chaldea.

？！

But... But Senpai...! Gorgon is A

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...! I-I...!

Leave. Farewells are unnecessary. I don't care about any of you.

？！

...Now that I think on it, I didn't say a proper goodbye.

But...I did get the flowers. That's enough for me.

Tiamat. I didn't send Fujimaru back to Uruk just to get him away from you.

I didn't want

I didn't want him to see me as a monster. I think...that would just hurt him, and after everything... He doesn't deserve that.

But you... I will rend you to the bone! This is what we both deserve!

I will be the Great Snake and bring the Earth Dragon down! Composite Deity, united threshold...!

Melt everything! Pandemonium Cetus!

...Aaaaaahhh AAAAaaaaahhh.

...Tiamat's right horn has been destroyed. I canI have visual confirmation that Gorgon is dead...

But... Tiamat is... She's still going...

I know it's tough, but you have to hurry and get out of there!

A fifth wave of Chaos Tide! There's nothing blocking its way! More black mud coming in fast!

Get to Uruk before the Chaos Tide swallows you up! Hurry!

...Right! Master, excuse me!

We have to use the time Gorgon and Quetzalcoatl bought us!

We can't waste another second!

Kiki! Kikikikikikikikikikikikikikikikikiki!

Fun! Stupid! Two goddesses. Look at outcome!

Ten minutes! Ten minutes! Just ten minutes! Just a little! Only little! Stopped us a second!

Scum. No matter how they try to imitate language, they're still half-wits.

So that was the best we could do. ...I suppose there are some good goddesses out there, after all.

No one could have predicted Tiamat could fly. It's a miracle they stopped it.

If those two hadn't given their lives, Uruk would have fallen.

But we still don't have enough time! How's it going, not-so-great goddess?

Now there's a path for the Chaos Tide! Tiamat will be here in two hours!

How's work on the gate of the underworld going!?

Don't ask for the impossible! I'm pouring in magical energy, but it's just too big!

Even working ourselves to death all over again, we're just barely able to keep this pace up!

I can't get started on opening the gate!

Gah...! I thought that might be the case... Is there nothing we can do?

...No, such questions are pointless. That's why they're running back there right now.

Very well. Come forth, Tiamat! The entirety of Uruk will drive you back into the World of the Void!

Hurry and make your return, Master of Chaldea!

I will show you my final move, putting all Uruk on the line!