Era of Heroic Spirits: I Was Exposed by Alaya

"I-It's not that amazing... It... It can't possibly stop Tiamat!"

Ishtar's expression was somewhat evasive.

Beside her, Nameless sighed softly. "Not that it can't stop her, but you've already lost it, haven't you?"

When he and Mash had first arrived, they'd seen her frantically searching for something.

Nameless knew perfectly well.

What she'd been searching for was the Bull of Heaven!

That colossal divine beast had been lost by her from the very beginning.

That's why he'd only given her ten percent of the [Gate of Babylon]'s gems.

No, an Ishtar who'd lost the Bull of Heaven didn't even deserve ten percent.

Five percent at most!

Let's not forget - when they'd blasted away Tiamat's first form earlier, it was Nameless who'd used a Command Seal to replenish mana and enhance the attack's power!

Ishtar gave an awkward laugh. "Uh, you... you knew about that..."

"You fool! No wonder you weren't laughing triumphantly!"

Gilgamesh instantly flew into a rage. "You truly are useless! Go stand over there!"

He'd promised Chaldea thirty percent of the gems precisely to recruit the goddess and use the Bull of Heaven to stall Tiamat!

Now, the bull was gone!

"I really searched everywhere and couldn't find it..."

Ishtar held a clay tablet inscribed with [I Am a Useless Goddess] and stood to the side on the verge of tears, serving her punishment.

The barrage of comments instantly exploded—

-[Damn! Knew this idiot couldn't suddenly become useful. Just as Nameless and the King of Heroes said!]

-[This is truly absurd! A bull bigger than a mountain, and you lost it!]

-[The bull was who the King of Heroes wanted to invite - you were just the free gift!]

-[Where did you learn to fail at critical moments like this? From Rin Tohsaka?]

"Well this..."

Roya watched in amazement.

A proper goddess, why so unreliable?

Embarrassing!

So embarrassing!

"She is, after all, the universally acknowledged useless goddess."

Souma curled his lip.

Let's not forget - when Ishtar descended to the mortal world, she'd possessed the body of the future Rin.

Originally a capricious goddess, merging with Rin's personality had turned her into her current form.

In other words, she'd already been infected by Rin Tohsaka, becoming a goddess who fails at critical moments.

The Tohsaka family's ability to drop the ball is practically a law of causality.

Even mighty gods can't resist it!

Without the Bull of Heaven.

They had no choice but to stake their lives to hold back the Primordial Mother Goddess!

On the city walls in the screen.

Cannons had already been erected, aimed into the distance.

Gilgamesh was issuing orders: "All of you, rest first. Sleep for three hours. Leave everything to this king!"

The soldiers had been fighting desperately for too long, utterly exhausted.

At this moment.

Nameless came to the city walls.

"What? Come to exchange final words with this king?" Gilgamesh snorted.

Nameless smiled. "Don't worry, these won't be our last words. We've got this!"

"Hmph, I hope so. With insufficient manpower, this king has no choice but to act personally."

Gilgamesh rubbed his temples. "If Siduri were here... Well, she has perfectly fulfilled her destiny!"

"You do regret it after all," Nameless said softly.

"This king shall never regret! It is not the king who lives for the people, but the people who live for the king!"

Gilgamesh snorted coldly, his crimson eyes fixed on him, though his tone carried a hint of urgency. "This king rules Uruk solely to see the people worship their king—to entertain the king!"

"Tch, what a tsundere..."

Nameless curled his lip.

This remark echoed the thoughts of countless viewers, who immediately began spamming the sentiment.

It had to be said.

Even in the face of certain death, the King of Heroes showed not a trace of the fear or weakness an ordinary person might display.

As arrogant as ever,

Not even deigning to acknowledge the gods!

It was precisely this arrogance that made him all the more endearing!

Just then.

An unexpected guest arrived.

With beautiful green hair and violet eyes fixed intently on the two of them, she murmured, "Uruk... I must be a fool... Why would I come here in my final moments?"

"Having lost everything, abandoned by my creator... After all, I'm nothing but a counterfeit!"

This figure was none other than Kingu.

Earlier, a Lahmu had stabbed her in the back, stealing the Holy Grail from within her.

And the Holy Grail was the heart of her resurrected body—its loss meant her imminent demise.

Yet in her final moments, she had come to Uruk, where she now saw the two standing atop the city walls.

Thud—

She collapsed face-first onto the ground.

Nameless moved in a flash, rushing over to catch her in his arms.

"Hmph, this king was just about to rest. And now you, this spineless creature, come to disturb me!" the King of Heroes sneered from afar. "What, has the so-called gods' finest masterpiece, their divine weapon, grown so weak it needs another's support?"

"You... What are you... so smug about... Damn it, to think you'd... see me like this..." Kingu managed between labored breaths.

Even at death's door, they couldn't stop bickering.

Nameless sighed. "Enough, both of you. King of Heroes, what about that cup you were boasting about earlier?"

The once-mighty divine weapon was now at her weakest.

Her heart torn from her chest, she was on the brink of death.

This sight made even Nameless, who had once despised her, sigh involuntarily.

After all, it was the body of Enkidu—the one who had always clung to him—that made it hard for him to remain merciless.

Most importantly, Siduri's earlier sacrifice had instilled humanity within her, awakening the memories of Enkidu.

That was why she had come to Uruk in her final moments, wishing to see him and the King of Heroes!

"Hmph. This king happens to have a useless old cup lying around. It'd be a waste to throw it away, so take it, you fool!" Gilgamesh casually pulled out the Cup of Uruk and tossed it over.

Then he turned away, gazing into the endless darkness beyond.

Countless onlookers watched with mixed emotions—

-[This King of Heroes is such a tsundere!]

-[Tch. He clearly cares about his friend but puts on such a cold front!]

-[Blonde hair, red eyes, tsundere, a king… Ah, I'm done. He perfectly fits my type!]

-[So, King of Heroes, when are you getting a genderbend?]

…

Under the increasingly bizarre stares of the spectators,

Kingu—lying in Nameless' arms—couldn't help but ask, "Why are you saving me? I'm not Enkidu—just a puppet using her body!"

"Indeed, you are not Enkidu."

Gilgamesh's voice grew more agitated. "You fool! Even if your soul is different, your body remains the only Chains of Heaven in this world!"

"That fool back then insisted on sacrificing herself alongside Nameless to secure this king's bright future!"

It was the one thing he regretted most—the one thing he could never forgive.

Watching his two closest friends die before his eyes was unbearable.

Kingu tried to argue further, "But I really—"

"You're free now. The end of the world is coming—do whatever you wish." Nameless gently stroked her hair.

Kingu grew even more lost. "Free? I'm just a puppet. I don't even have true sentience!"

"That's your problem now. Do whatever you want."

Nameless placed the Cup of Uruk into the gaping hole in her chest.

Hum—

A surge of immense magical energy erupted, healing her completely.

Then, both he and the King of Heroes departed,

Leaving her alone where she stood.

Kingu watched their retreating figures, tears once again welling in her eyes. "Nameless… Gilgamesh…"

…

The scene abruptly shifted—

From the city walls to an endless sea of black mud.

Tiamat was accelerating toward Uruk!

Gilgamesh frowned. "To slow her down—even if it's impossible—we must destroy her legs! This king shall lead the army himself—"

"Leave it to me. You focus on operating the [King's Cannon]!" Quetzalcoatl stepped forward.

"Then, we'll leave it to you."

Nameless spoke with slight embarrassment.

This was a chief deity from South America.

Yet,

After crossing half the globe to reach Uruk, her power had been severely diminished.

A god could only unleash their full strength within the lands of their own legends and worship.

Suddenly, Quetzalcoatl lunged forward, pulling him into a tight embrace. "Haha, you adorable little thing! Once this battle is over, let's return to my homeland and get married, okay?"

Once again, the boy's face was smothered against her ample bosom, leaving him utterly breathless.

This scene sent countless onlookers into a frenzy of envy.

It was so enviable it could make one explode on the spot.

Mash immediately pounced forward: "No!!!"

She tried desperately to separate the two.

This damn goddess was taking advantage of her senpai again.

Nameless finally broke free, coughing: "Ahem, big sister, you're too passionate!"

"Haha, after all, I'm from passionate South America! Leave everything to your big sister!"

Quetzalcoatl laughed heartily.

She soared straight into the sky.

Arriving above Tiamat, she spoke with deep sorrow: "Goddess Tiamat, you are the primordial mother who created humanity. How could you deny them? This truly grieves me!"

"The gods of South America coexist with forests and beasts. The blessings of the sun are not for destruction, but for survival!"

"The past is here, the present is here! The future is here too. Come, winds! Come, thunder!"

Boom—

At Quetzalcoatl's summons, a brilliant golden light erupted, transforming into a rising sun.

The blazing radiance completely illuminated the heavens.

Thunder roared, dimming all else beneath her brilliance.

At this moment.

The cheerful, adorable big sister fully unleashed her divine might.

Only then did all witnesses understand the terrifying existence she truly was as a chief deity.

During her previous battles with Chaldea's forces, she hadn't been serious at all.

No—she'd been holding back tremendously!

Just then.

The corrupted Ushiwakamaru, previously slain by Nameless, suddenly charged forth again: "You won't succeed!"

She sought to strike decisively, eliminating Quetzalcoatl to protect Tiamat.

However.

Another figure abruptly intercepted, firmly grasping her leg.

It was Benkei—her ever-loyal retainer from her living days.

Blood gushed from his mouth, yet he showed no fear: "This humble monk will stay by your side until death this time!"

"You coward... why go this far?" The corrupted Ushiwakamaru sighed softly.

She suddenly ceased resisting, allowing him to pull her down into the black mud together.

The dazzling golden sun slowly descended from the heavens.

Quetzalcoatl completed her incantation: "This is when the morning star shines brightest! The sun illuminates from beyond!"

[Piedra Del Sol!]

BOOM!

Everything was scattered by the light.

Like a sun crashing onto earth, evaporating both sea and black mud alike!

***

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