Episode 223: As Enkidu, how could I ever hurt you, Gil...

『 "To think you could defeat me like this, it’s simply too laughable!" Enkidu spoke, and a chain was seen stabbing towards the fallen Mash at an extremely high speed.

"BANG—!"

In that instant, Fujimaru Ritsuka lunged forward and hugged Mash, dodging this fatal blow.

However, as a Master, Fujimaru Ritsuka possessed no combat capabilities whatsoever and could only watch helplessly as the battle unfolded.

"If anyone uses the same combat style, it would be better to say that person is imitating me." Before his voice had even faded, Enkidu’s new round of attacks had already arrived again.

Just at this critical moment, a throwing axe intercepted Enkidu’s chain assault with unerring precision.

"Oh? Could it be that this King has remembered incorrectly?"....

"Back then, wasn’t the new tactic that appeared in this King’s mind criticized by you as wasteful to the extreme?" Gilgamesh’s words had not yet finished falling when Enkidu’s entire body was seen trembling, as if sensing some irresistible force.

"No!"

"That is because..." An expression of extreme pain covered Enkidu’s originally cold face; he covered his face with both hands, appearing exceptionally conflicted.

"You are... Gilgamesh..." 』

『 .....』

〜Dimensional livestream, Chat Room〜

[ Paimon (Genshin Impact): "She still remembers?" ]

[ March 7th (Honkai: Star Rail): "Does that mean there’s no need to fight anymore?" ]

[ .....]

『 "Who else could it be but me... truly a fool..."

As the voice landed, a magic tome floated into Gilgamesh’s hand.

He gazed at the Enkidu before him with a steady and calm attitude: "For a weapon famous throughout the world for its composure, to actually feel joy because of battle? That isn’t like your style at all, Enkidu."

As if a sore spot in his heart had been touched, Enkidu waved her arm in great anger, releasing a brilliant light as he charged towards Gilgamesh.

"RUMBLE—!"

Immediately following was a raging fire that suddenly surged from underground, successfully blocking that attack.

"King Gilgamesh! This is not the real Enkidu!" Seeing that both sides had formally engaged, Mash, who had just gained her footing and was preparing to rejoin the fray, immediately shouted a warning.

Gilgamesh was seen nimbly dodging Enkidu’s fierce attacks, while the corners of his mouth curled into a provocative smile, responding to Mash, who was looking at him with worry not far away.

"Oh... you’re doing quite a decent job of it!"

Subsequently, four halos shining with strange light appeared behind Gilgamesh. These halos were like some kind of ancient talismans, shooting out rays of light as dazzling as gold directly toward Enkidu’s position.

Enkidu, however, did not choose to confront this power head-on. Instead, she pressed her palm steadily and powerfully against the earth.

Then, as her low and firm voice fell, a massive ancient crest appeared beneath her palm. This complex totem seemed to contain an unknown magical energy.

Immediately after, an indestructible, thick stone wall rose rapidly between Enkidu and Gilgamesh, successfully blocking that fatal blow.

Then, accompanied by a sharp and threatening voice issuing from Enkidu’s mouth, as if emotions suppressed for a long time had suddenly found an outlet,

"SHUT UP!!"

This angry shout almost instantly filled the surrounding air with a tense atmosphere.

Immediately following, Enkidu stomped the ground violently with both feet, her entire person closing in on Gilgamesh rapidly like an arrow leaving the string.

In this process, wisps of lightning could be seen spiraling around her body, gradually converging into even more spectacular energy fluctuations.

Just like that, the two stood face to face. Enkidu clasped her hands tightly, transforming them into a pair of incomparably sharp, radiant blades of light. 』

『 .....』

〜Dimensional livestream, Chat Room〜

[ Paimon (Genshin Impact): "After watching that opening scene, and now seeing the two of them fighting." ]

[ Paimon (Genshin Impact): "Why do I have a very uncomfortable feeling in my heart?" ]

[ March 7th (Honkai: Star Rail): "I feel very uncomfortable too." ]

[ Kirigaya Kazuto (Sword Art Online): "Originally, the two should have had a friendly relationship, but now..." ]

[ Boothill (Honkai: Star Rail): "What the fudge, encountering a situation like this really makes one feel awful." ]

[ Boothill (Honkai: Star Rail): "Anyway, I would probably step in, because I’m a Galaxy Ranger." ]

[ .....]

『 On the other side, the golden-haired king slowly raised his battle axe inlaid with mysterious inscriptions, his pace steady yet revealing a hint of composure.

"BANG—!"

As the powerful shockwave generated by their frontal collision swept across every inch of the battlefield, it not only kicked up a massive amount of dust but also forced the two warriors within it to involuntarily retreat a few steps before barely stabilizing their figures.

"On this planet, only I am the strongest creation!" Enkidu’s voice sounded exceptionally clear at this moment, every word revealing her unquestionable confidence.

"An unqualified existence like you has absolutely no necessity to exist here!"

As soon as the words fell, her body was seen bending slightly in a posture ready to strike, and then she launched a new round of offensive against her opponent like a phantom. The sharp blades in her hands danced up and down, cutting through the air and leaving trails of silvery-white traces.

At the same time, her leg techniques were unusually fierce, kicking out one after another, intending to disrupt the opponent’s footing and find a flaw to deliver a fatal blow.

"CLANG—!"

"BANG—!"

"THUD—!"

After several muffled sounds, facing such a dense and rapid combination of attacks, even someone as strong as Gilgamesh had to choose to temporarily widen the distance to avoid the brunt of it, only stopping to readjust his strategy after confirming he was in a safe zone.

"Ignorant and foolish King of Uruk! To dare become Mother’s mortal enemy! I must personally take your life as an offering to the ancestors!"

Speaking to this point, angry emotions completely took control of Enkidu, causing her to make a shocking move in the next moment:

Placing both hands flat on the solid earth again, the small halos originally circling around began to expand rapidly.

Countless thick and elastic iron chains surged out from all directions, interweaving and winding in mid-air to form a metal forest, releasing dazzling electric currents and golden light.

The entire scene was extremely shocking, giving one the feeling that the sky was about to be torn apart and swallowed.

"RUMBLE—!"

"BUZZ—!"

Realizing the impending dangerous situation, Gilgamesh unhesitatingly opened the magic tome he carried. As the pages turned, it seemed to trigger some mechanism, causing numerous golden symbols to emerge before his eyes. 𝕗𝚛𝚎𝚎𝐰𝗲𝗯𝗻𝚘𝚟𝚎𝗹.𝕔𝐨𝕞

Then, the Heroic Spirit pointed his fingertip towards the high sky. Instantly, a rift opened in the firmament, from which descended a massive sphere of light.

Countless weapons of various forms emerged, suspended in the air, ready to deliver a devastating strike according to their master’s will.

"Today, I shall let you witness what a true apocalyptic scene is. When all this comes to a close, it will also be the terminal station of your life!"

Accompanied by another loud "Bang!", the two streams of extreme energy finally converged at a single point, producing an astonishing explosive effect. However, the battle was far from over; the outcome remained unpredictable, and for now, it could only be considered as entering a new phase.

But just when everyone thought the advantage lay with Gilgamesh, who had once thrashed his enemies, the situation changed suddenly. No one expected that the person originally in a disadvantageous position would seize the initiative.

Now, the metal chains that were originally lying quietly on the ground or floating in the air seemed to possess self-awareness and became unusually active, constantly pouncing towards Gilgamesh.

The latter relied on his own formidable strength and agile movements to block the incoming attacks time and again, fully demonstrating the demeanor a true warrior should have.

However, accidents always happen... Just as everyone’s attention was attracted by the fierce combat, a chain that had been hidden unbeknownst to anyone suddenly drilled out of the soil, accurately wrapping around the target’s legs, rendering him unable to move an inch.

At this moment, for the trapped one, it was undoubtedly the most vulnerable and dangerous time.

Just at this critical juncture, Enkidu, who had maintained a cold face all along, suddenly showed a fleeting look of confusion, as if affected by some external factor causing a momentary stagnation in action.

However, just as the crowd was still confused by this change, a series of even larger and sturdier shackles suddenly fell from the sky, smashing directly onto Gilgamesh.

"BOOM—!"

The violent impact brought not only visible destruction to the naked eye but also kicked up sky-filling dust that obscured most of the view of the scene.

After the smoke had gradually dispersed, everyone present could see the eyes of the two protagonists staring at each other for a long time, containing both unwillingness and incomprehension.

Shockingly, that powerful strike just now, which was enough to destroy everything, did not hit the target in the end but fell grazing the side.

This unexpected result caused the battle, which had fallen into a stalemate, to return to the starting point.

A brief silence replaced the previously chaotic situation, leaving only the sound of distant waves constantly beating against the shore, echoing in everyone’s ears with a gentle and rhythmic sound.

"Tsk!"

Enkidu’s sudden turn and departure exceeded the expectations of everyone in Chaldea, leaving them unable to recover their senses for a moment. 』

『 .....』

〜Dimensional livestream, Chat Room〜

[ Amber (Genshin Impact): "Just, left like that?" ]

[ Kiana (Honkai: Impact Third): "Not having to fight one’s own close friend is also pretty good." ]

[ Kiana (Honkai: Impact Third): "Although this close friend doesn’t seem to recognize him anymore." ]

[ Gilgamesh⦍Chūnibyō⦎ (Type-Moon): "..." ]

[ .....]

『 "Target disappeared. Although we don’t know why she suddenly retreated, at least we can finally relax a little now." Mash’s words revealed a hint of relief.

Hearing the news from Chaldea, Mash and Fujimaru Ritsuka immediately checked on each other’s condition.

"Senpai, are you injured?" Mash asked with concern, her eyes full of worry.

"I’m fine, what about you, Mash?" Fujimaru Ritsuka replied, also casting a concerned look.

Mash nodded gently to indicate she was unharmed, then she turned to Gilgamesh, who was still standing on the beach in a daze: "Thanks to King Gilgamesh’s help."

Not far away, Gilgamesh’s gaze tightly followed the receding figure until the other party was completely out of sight before he let out a long sigh, as if feeling relieved about the turn of events in the danger just now.

"Sigh... I originally thought he would arrive immediately. I didn’t expect it to end in such an unbelievable result." His tone was mixed with complex emotions.

Words of gratitude for this King were spoken by Mash: "Thank you very much!"

This caused Gilgamesh to temporarily withdraw his attention from the distance and offer the two some advice: "Remember, foolish ones, even my assistance cannot completely reverse the disparity in strength."

"The reason you survived this time is merely that the opponent had scruples or other schemes." His voice was calm and serious, as if reminding these two young heroes not to be too confident or careless.

Upon hearing this, Fujimaru Ritsuka couldn’t help but start reflecting on the shortcomings in the battle just now and the reason why the opponent would actively retreat despite holding an absolute advantage.

"If the opponent truly wanted to kill you, this King would have long since been buried here along with you." These words made the air instantly heavier, seeming to state some underlying facts. 』

『 .....』

〜Dimensional livestream, Chat Room〜

[ Qingque (Honkai: Star Rail): "Huh? So it was that dangerous just now?" ]

[ Qingque (Honkai: Star Rail): "Couldn’t tell at all." ]

[ Yanqing (Honkai: Star Rail): "Battles between experts are often resolved in an instant." ]

[ Qingque (Honkai: Star Rail): "So, is this like me playing tiles, a one-turn kill?" ]

[ Fu Xuan (Honkai: Star Rail): "...." ]

[ .....]

『 "How is that possible..." Although her heart was full of questions, Mash still couldn’t hide the surprise on her face.

However, Fujimaru Ritsuka was still somewhat puzzled, so he decided to ask: "Then... why did he appear to be in so much pain?"

Facing such an inquiry, Gilgamesh thought briefly and said:

"That is unknown... perhaps some functions malfunctioned... After all, judging by his condition, both his heart and respiratory system should be in a stopped state; therefore, showing abnormalities is also reasonable."

"Regardless... everything has ended. There is no need to be too entangled or concerned about this..." After saying these words, Gilgamesh stepped forward and walked in the direction they came from, his figure gradually disappearing into the night.

Seeing this, Mash hurriedly took a step forward and called out loudly, trying to make him stay: "Wait! Even if you say that, we can’t ignore the abnormal situation he displayed, no matter what!"

At this moment, everyone present could detect that behind the words of this former monarch, there was a state of seemingly intentionally concealing some important information.

"Return to Uruk... We have already investigated the places that needed to be investigated, and we have also seen with our own eyes the things we wanted to see."

"Moreover... there is one more matter lingering in my heart that will not go away." In the end, Gilgamesh chose to leave this place with the unsolved mystery.

Fujimaru Ritsuka was silent for a while, then said no more, but followed on the return journey—heading towards that ancient city full of historical charm. 』

『 .....』

〜Dimensional livestream, Chat Room〜

[ Rimuru Tempest (Tensura): "Going back just like that." ]

[ Paimon (Genshin Impact): "It seems like no useful information was investigated. Is it really okay to go back like this?" ]

[ Mash Kyrielight (Type-Moon): "Not necessarily. Since the King, who is a local, has said so, we should follow him back." ]

[ Eriri Spencer Sawamura (Saekano): "Plus, having just experienced a battle with a former friend, it’s better to go back and rest a bit." ]

[ Chika Fujiwara (Love Is War): "That’s right, go back and have a good rest, then just do it again." ]

[ Umaru Doma (Himouto): "This isn’t a video game, where does ’do it again’ come from?" ]

[ Chika Fujiwara (Love Is War): "Hehehehe." ]

[ Shinomiya Kaguya (Love Is War): "....." ]

[ .....]

『 On the other side. Inside a dim cave, a woman with hair like green moss in the deep night constantly clutched her head, her expression one of extreme pain.

"Ah....... Ah..... Aaaah......" She let out shrill screams one after another, her voice filled with indescribable torment and helplessness, as if her heart was undergoing some kind of extreme mental torture.

"I am stronger... compared to that King, clearly I am stronger." She gritted her teeth and spoke this self-affirming sentence, but the uncertainty and contradiction in her tone were undoubtedly revealed.

The power and conviction she once possessed seemed to become insignificant at this moment. 』

『 .....』

〜Dimensional livestream, Chat Room〜

[ Sigewinne (Genshin Impact): "A very uncomfortable feeling." ]

[ Paimon (Genshin Impact): "It, it looks like it’s suffering a lot." ]

[ Amber (Genshin Impact): "Although this person is an enemy, the one before didn’t seem like a very hateful person either." ]

[ Sigewinne (Genshin Impact): "Yes, indeed." ]

[ Umaru Doma (Himouto): "What does she mean by what she’s saying?" ]

[ Oyama Mahiro (Onimai): "Who knows." ]

[ .....]

『 "But....... why did I retreat?" The self-questioning words carried a trace of confusion and unwillingness.

She didn’t understand why she chose to shrink back at the critical moment instead of facing the difficulty head-on. This lack of understanding only increased the pain in her heart. 』

『 .....』