Episode 227: Uruk in its Final Despair; Humanity’s Last Stand of Faith

『 Although the fierce battle remained in a stalemate, relying on her outstanding physical condition and superb, agile evasion techniques, Ushiwakamaru managed to dodge the violent offensives unleashed by the terrifying snake heads under the Demonic Beast Goddess’s command, narrowly escaping danger time and again.

"BANG—!"

The snake’s hair smashed down toward Ushiwakamaru with full force. For a moment, dust and dirt splattered in all directions, and the air was filled with the smell of earth.

When the dust gradually settled and the Demonic Beast Goddess regained her focus, she was stunned to find that Ushiwakamaru had disappeared.

"Too slow, too slow. You can’t even kill a fly like this," a mocking voice suddenly came from a corner, sounding relaxed with a hint of provocation.

A cold glint flashed in the Demonic Beast Goddess’s eyes. Almost instinctively, she fired a scorching beam in the direction of the voice, attempting to reduce the creature who dared to mock her to ashes.

"BOOM—!"

"BOOM—!"

But shockingly, Ushiwakamaru once again successfully dodged these seemingly impeccable attacks, avoiding the fatal blow at the very last moment, displaying extraordinary reaction speed and flexibility.

"A familiar summoned by a mere human..." the Demonic Beast Goddess whispered through gritted teeth, her words full of disdain for her opponent’s identity.

Just then, Ushiwakamaru leaped up violently, cutting through the sky like a meteor. In an instant, she moved to a high point in the air, positioning herself to launch an offensive.

"I’ll show you exactly what a Heroic Spirit, whom you call a mere familiar, can do! Evil God!" Ushiwakamaru’s words were firm and powerful, echoing in the silent night sky, as if declaring the beginning of the impending battle. 』

『 .....』

〜Dimensional livestream, Chat Room〜

[ Paimon (Genshin Impact): "I was curious before, but what exactly is this... Heroic Spirit?" ]

[ Paimon (Genshin Impact): "Are they just summoned?" ]

[ Mash Kyrielight (Type-Moon): "Heroic Spirits represent heroes from ancient legends. They are existences that descend into the present world through a special summoning method." ]

[ Mash Kyrielight (Type-Moon): "The summoner is also referred to as a Master." ]

[ Paimon (Genshin Impact): "So that’s how it is. It’s amazing." ]

[ Keqing (Genshin Impact): "Summoning ancient Heroic Spirits? I wonder if such miraculous existences could exist in our Liyue’s history as well?" ]

[ Oyama Mahiro (Onimai): "Is Miss Mash a Heroic Spirit too?" ]

[ Mash Kyrielight (Type-Moon): "Me? In my case, I inherited the power of a certain Heroic Spirit. I am just an ordinary person myself." ]

[ Fujimaru Ritsuka (Type-Moon): "That’s not true. Mash is very amazing." ]

[ Mash Kyrielight (Type-Moon): "Senpai~" ]

[ .....]

『 Meanwhile, Fujimaru Ritsuka, after a long trek, finally arrived near the incredibly sturdy walls of Nippur. He immediately conveyed the latest frontline situation to Leonidas I, allowing the King to understand the situation and make corresponding adjustments quickly.

While all the warriors were ready for battle, on another battlefield, Ushiwakamaru was still engaged in a fierce contest with the insufferably arrogant Demonic Beast Goddess.

Relying on absolute speed superiority, despite her massive size and powerful attack, Goddess Tiamat failed to notice for a time that she had been run in circles.

It was precisely under these circumstances, cleverly exploiting the opponent’s weakness, that the series of precise attacks Ushiwakamaru was about to launch became a foregone conclusion.

She suddenly dove down rapidly from the air, her movements unbelievably agile, and landed steadily on Goddess Tiamat’s long tail.

Completely caught off guard by the sudden raid, Goddess Tiamat didn’t even have time to turn around and respond before she was hit heavily twice in vital areas. Her massive body couldn’t help but sway, losing its original imposing aura.

A blade, sharp beyond match, carved a glaringly obvious bloody streak upon contact with Goddess Tiamat’s incredibly hard skin.

"Look, it’s precisely because of that massive body of yours that you’ve become this helpless!" Ushiwakamaru said with a bit of triumph, clearly quite satisfied with the damage she had just caused.

"You wretch! How dare you be so insolent!" An angry voice resonated through the entire space like deafening thunder.

Immediately, Goddess Tiamat began to gather powerful energy fluctuations, continuously firing blinding beams of light toward the general location where she sensed the enemy.

However...

Given the extreme disparity in speed between the two sides, such long-range attacks were simply not worth mentioning to the keen-witted and wind-swift Ushiwakamaru.

In fact, it could be said that they provided her with a perfect opportunity to counterattack!

"This is the second technique of the Wandering Tales of Shana-oh!"

"USUMIDORI—! "

"Activate, Heavenly Blade Step!"

In a split second, what was originally made of ordinary metal transformed into an energy form shining with red brilliance. It sprinted toward the opponent at a speed beyond the limit of human visual tracking. The power was so great that the entire battlefield was instantly illuminated as bright as day.

"I’m taking your life now—I’m aiming right for the center of your forehead!!" The shout was filled with the conviction of certain victory and infinite determination, followed by the shocking sound of a massive explosion that completely drowned out all other noises...

"BOOM—!"

After the violent tremors subsided, the perspective naturally shifted to the scene on Fujimaru Ritsuka’s side.

As for the final result of that duel, it remained in an unknown and deadlocked state.

However...

What happened next was something no one expected:

Violent tremors shook the entire land and even the distant mountains. Immediately after, the powerful existence that was once thought to have been defeated—that terrifying Demonic Beast Goddess—actually slowly revealed her figure, sluggishly approaching the edge of Nippur’s sturdy walls and lingering there...

This also meant...

Ushiwakamaru, the Heroic Spirit initially seen as possessing great potential and performing brilliantly, had not actually managed to secure the fruits of victory in this vicious battle, but had ultimately lost to the opponent.

"All soldiers, enter Level 1 combat readiness!" Watching helplessly as the threat gradually approached their area, King Leonidas of Nippur ordered all personnel to maintain the highest level of alertness without hesitation, forcefully waving the spear in his hand to point at a specific target in the air.

Before his voice had even faded, over a dozen heavy cannons mounted on the city walls had completed their aiming and locking procedures in the shortest possible time. The dark muzzles pointed directly at the terrifying giant figure standing not far below.

"RUMBLE—!"

Low roars came from deep within the ground, and the intense vibrations caused the earth to tremble slightly, accompanied by bursts of flying sand and dust covering the entire field of vision.

"Did it work?"...

Mash looked expectantly at the Demonic Beast Goddess shrouded in dust, silently praying for a good outcome.

But...

Suddenly, nine purple beams of light shot out from the smoke like sharp arrows. They quickly cut through the surrounding space and struck a section of the wall not far away.

"WHOOSH—!"

"BANG—!"

With a loud bang, the intense shockwave caused everyone present to instinctively close their eyes.

Immediately after, they heard the sound of masonry hitting the ground—that tall wall had been destroyed within just a few seconds. 』

『 .....』

〜Dimensional livestream, Chat Room〜

[ Chika Fujiwara (Love Is War): "Such a big wall, just gone directly?" ]

[ Mikasa Ackerman (Attack on Titan): "It’s simply divine punishment." ]

[ Levi Ackerman (Attack on Titan): "..." ]

[ Paimon (Genshin Impact): "Like this, what new methods are there to stop that Goddess?" ]

[ .....]

『 Seeing this scene before her, a look of shock immediately appeared on Mash’s face, and she stood there dazed, at a loss for what to do.

Everything around... had completely fallen into ruins.

And just then, everyone noticed that the giant snake was opening its bloody maw, and in its mouth, it seemed to be holding a human figure—it was Ushiwakamaru!

This girl... clearly had fought the enemy with all her might just now, but in the end, she was no match for the overwhelming power and was defeated.

The snake head slowly opened its mouth, dropping the powerless Ushiwakamaru vertically toward the ground, discarding her casually as if treating a piece of useless trash.

Witnessing all this, the hearts of all onlookers, just like Fujimaru Ritsuka observing the situation through the video feed, felt incredibly cold. A sense of despair welled up from the bottom of their hearts.

"You foolish humans must all die. Not even a single infant shall be left!"

The Demonic Beast Goddess declared in a cold voice filled with hatred. Her words echoed over the ruins like a sentence, making everyone shudder.

"No matter how you struggle and resist, before absolute power, it is all futile, meaningless behavior."

The massive body covered the sky above Fujimaru Ritsuka and his few companions. Facing such an overwhelming size difference, it was difficult for anyone to avoid feeling fear.

"That is not so! It is absolutely not useless!"

Suddenly, a firm and powerful voice came from behind a pile of rubble.

Everyone was surprised to see a figure slowly walk out through a crack, gradually bathing in the sunlight, the golden rays illuminating the lines of his silhouette.

"Leonidas!"

"Thump! Thump! Thump!"

With every steady step landing on the ground creating a deafening sound, the phantoms of tens of thousands of soldiers began to appear in the void behind Leonidas.

"Those warriors are...?"

Merlin stared dumbfounded as the projections of countless giant-like armies appeared on the battlefield. For a moment, he couldn’t believe his eyes...

At this moment, Leonidas stood tall in the center of the battlefield, holding a spear in his right hand and gripping a shield in his left, the cloak on his back flapping in the wind.

"Lord Ushiwakamaru’s sacrifice and the life of every fallen warrior are absolutely not things wasted in vain."

"From now on, let us shoulder the responsibility of moving forward."

As soon as he finished speaking, he slammed his long spear heavily onto the solid ground. The crisp impact sound instantly pierced through the air and spread in all directions.

"Molon Labe."

"Molon Labe."

(Spartan dialect, meaning ’Come and take them’)

As his impassioned words fell, the densely packed, neatly arranged soldier projections behind him also began to mimic his movements, waving their weapons and shouting in unison:

"Molon Labe"

"Molon Labe"

Every roar, every movement, echoed with a thunderous response under Leonidas’s guidance.

Soon, the originally empty and quiet ground expanded rapidly as if invaded by a plague. three hundres of virtual soldiers summoned by Leonidas quickly filled every inch of available space. 』

『 .....』

〜Dimensional livestream, Chat Room〜

[ Shinomiya Kaguya (Love Is War): "Suddenly, so many Spartan soldiers popped up?" ]

[ Keqing (Genshin Impact): "What a majestic military formation..." ]

[ Tohsaka Rin (Type-Moon): "Is this the legendary Reality Marble?" ]

[ Umaru Doma (Himouto): "Reality, Marble?" ]

[ Mash Kyrielight (Type-Moon): "It’s a legendary existence, a method of materializing something from within one’s own heart." ]

[ Paimon (Genshin Impact): "Although I don’t understand, it feels very amazing." ]

[ Oyama Mahiro (Onimai): "+ 1+ 1+ 1..." ]

[ Oyama Mihari (Onimai): "+ 10086..." ]

[ .....]

『 Leonidas waved the spear in his hand, his momentum aggressive, like a tiger coming out of the mountain.

Behind him, the soldiers gripped their weapons one by one, their nerves taut, standing in full battle array, posing ready to charge at any moment.

"Kill!"

At this moment, with the order given, countless spears were thrown in unison from Leonidas and his men. Like meteors filling the sky and cutting through the night, they all surged toward the direction of the Demonic Beast Goddess, Tiamat.

But...

"Ding ding ding ding ding..."

Several incredibly flexible giant snake tails suddenly extended from around Goddess Tiamat’s massive body. They were like a solid barrier, blocking all the incoming spears and producing a series of crisp metal collision sounds.

At the same time, those projection spears originally materialized from the warriors’ will vanished completely the moment they touched Goddess Tiamat’s body, as if they had never existed.

Seeing this, the Demonic Beast Goddess revealed an even more ferocious and cold smile. The corners of her mouth turned up, her eyes filled with disdain for the attacks of these tiny humans before her; she looked contemptuously at this wave of offense that posed almost no threat to her, feeling increasingly invincible and confident inside.

"What can mere minions do!" Goddess Tiamat uttered a low voice filled with provocation, obviously not worried about the current battle situation.

At this time, the many soldiers gathered behind Leonidas seemed to have prepared for the worst. One by one, they raised their round shields as cover without hesitation and charged straight at this terrifying enemy regardless of everything, displaying extremely high courage and determination.

Leonidas slammed his gripped spear heavily against his hard bronze shield. The continuous beating produced a deafening echo, attempting to boost morale and strengthen his companions’ fighting will.

"Charge! Companions! Burn your lives right here!" His voice was sonorous and powerful, surging across the battlefield, inspiring everyone to charge forward with all their might.

"THERMOPYLAE ENOMOTIA—!"

⦍Guardian of the Hot Gates⦎

At that very instant, the round bronze shield in Leonidas’s hand suddenly underwent a strange change—the entire surface seemed to be injected with some mysterious power, shining with dazzling red light.

Immediately after, a ball of blazing fire gradually spread to its edges, finally enveloping the entire shield completely, as if this ancient piece of equipment had been endowed with a true soul, shining brightly.

And those thousands upon thousands of shields were also assimilated by King Leonidas at this moment, all turning into red shields in an instant.

"Turn to stone!"

The Demonic Beast Goddess showed no hesitation on her side either. Her two eyes and nine snake heads simultaneously burst forth with scorching red light, as if to melt everything they touched.

In this moment, the endless red shields and the scorching red light collided violently. The forces of both sides were deadlocked, indistinguishable from one another. In this violent collision, Ushiwakamaru, Fujimaru Ritsuka, and the others nearby were blown dozens of meters away.

Seeing the battle still in a stalemate, the Demonic Beast Goddess widened her eyes again. At this moment, the beams of red light became even more piercing and dazzling. Within just a few seconds, obvious cracks appeared on many shields.

"Ah!"

She continued to output power. Under Goddess Tiamat’s control, those red lights converged into a massive shockwave sweeping forward.

Finally, with the arrival of this strong attack, most of the shields shattered one after another, collapsing under the burden. 』

『 .....』

〜Dimensional livestream, Chat Room〜

[ Keqing (Genshin Impact): This is bad, this won’t hold much longer. ]

[ Paimon (Genshin Impact): "If it can’t hold, will this...?" ]

[ Oyama Mahiro (Onimai): "Things are about to get troublesome very quickly." ]

[ Neuvillette (Genshin Impact): "To be able to persist for so long against such a powerful existence is already very difficult." ]

[ Umaru Doma (Himouto): "Suddenly I’m a bit scared to keep watching." ]

[ March 7th (Honkai: Star Rail): "Me too." ]

[ Chika Fujiwara (Love Is War): "What do we do now?" ]

[ .....]