Back in the classroom.
Sanjiro saw that everyone had taken out their phones, staring intently at their screens.
Ding-ling-ling~
The bell rang for class.
The aging single woman, Hiratsuka-sensei, walked up to the podium, her face expressionless as she looked at the students below.
"Hey, hey, class is starting. What, are you all planning a rebellion?"
She instantly stiffened up.
Her fists clenched!
It was clearly class time, yet every single one of them was on their phones!
Were they tired of living?
Julian reminded her with a deadpan tone, "Sensei, the uploader [Alaya] just posted a new video."
"Hah? That's your excuse for playing on your phones in class? All of you, put them away!"
Hiratsuka-sensei smacked the desk without mercy.
Everyone reluctantly put away their phones with indignant expressions on their faces.
Then—
Hiratsuka-sensei turned on the projector.
"Watching on your phones during class? That's nothing. Let's just watch it together on the big screen—doesn't that sound better?"
"Long live Hiratsuka-sensei! You're the best!"
The whole class erupted in cheers and declarations of love.
It went to show just how popular uploader [Alaya] had become after revealing one explosive secret after another.
Sanjiro wept silently in his heart:
"The problem is—this damn uploader keeps exposing my dark past!"
Making profit off someone else's history—truly a black-hearted capitalist, forcing him to work 24/7!
On the large screen, the video began playing.
Faced with the judgment of the gods in the sky, Nameless—just like the great hero Arash—sacrificed himself to unleash the full might of the Sword of Rupture.
A single strike severed the link between humans and gods—Absolute Severance between Heaven and Earth!
The apocalyptic deluge vanished in an instant.
It transformed into torrential rain that engulfed the entire world.
Gilgamesh stood in the rain, watching his dear friend slowly collapse and vanish.
The battle against the gods had ended. Humanity would be free from the chains of the gods and regain a future of light.
Sadly, this future was one without them.
Loneliness, sorrow, helplessness…
The once-proud King of Heroes who looked down on all, for the first time, displayed these emotions for all to see—making him seem all the more real.
"He looks... so lonely."
Whispers spread throughout the classroom.
Just watching the footage conveyed a deep, undeniable loneliness.
Suddenly, the scene shifted.
From a vibrant world to one filled with eerie stillness and death. There was no longer a single living creature on screen.
Animals, plants, insects—all gone.
Only a suffocating silence remained.
[The Underworld]
The pale subtitle gave everyone chills, as if a terrifying ghost might leap out at any moment.
Nameless, whose body had previously crumbled and disappeared, reappeared on the screen once more.
He walked through a strange passage, golden light flickering in his hand.
Looking closely, the golden light was a shining, golden chain.
It was none other than the chain that bound Heaven and Earth, gods and men, the wedge of the sky—
[Chains of Heaven]
The chain had returned to its original form after the gods reclaimed its power and the Sword of Rupture severed its source.
Holding the golden chain, Nameless walked toward a large door that blocked his path.
"Ere, I'm here to make a deal with you."
Deep within the Underworld, there were seven gates.
Back then, when Ishtar sought to see Ereshkigal, she had each of her divine authorities stripped away by the seven gates—
Even her clothing was stripped layer by layer.
When she finally stood before the mistress of the Underworld, she was effortlessly killed.
If the god-king Anu hadn't personally resurrected her, Ishtar would've been lost forever.
But now, as Nameless approached, a faint light flickered on the fearsome stone gate, and a soft, tender voice was heard—
"First, answer my question. Though a thousand eyes may see a thousand kinds of beauty, there is one absolute most beautiful thing. Between Ereshkigal and Ishtar, who is more beautiful?"
The voice, which should have been mechanical and cold, was now filled with nervous anticipation.
Just hearing it, you could imagine a shy little girl hiding behind the door, anxiously awaiting his answer.
Everyone watching the video was stunned—
"This... is way too cute!"
"Damn it, my favorite goddess is acting like this in front of someone else?!"
"Nameless, you scoundrel! What a sinful man!"
"Ereshkigal's surrender speed rivals her sister's uselessness!"
"Hey!! Ishtar is not that bad!"
"Right! You just have a leg fetish that's why your defending her!"
The mistress of the Underworld, who should have inspired fear—ended up completely surrendering at first sight.
When Nameless approached her, she outright fled.
During their second meeting, she put on such a cute act that everyone couldn't help but smile.
Hearing the question, Nameless smiled and answered,
"Of course, the most beautiful is the gentle, virtuous, caring, and understanding little cutie Ere!"
Straightforward declaration!
Ereshkigal's heart: instant kill!
Rumble—
The door opened, but instead of the expected seven gates—only the first gate opened, and they could see the goddess of the Underworld directly.
==================
Uruk.
Watching the video, Gilgamesh laughed heartily.
"Nameless, you really are a menace."
Not long ago, King Artoria had announced her departure for Japan, just to search for this man.
Now that [Alaya] had exposed Nameless and Ereshkigal's story—was this adding fuel to the fire?
How interesting!
Truly fascinating!
Gilgamesh was getting more and more excited about what kind of trouble that bastard would run into.
Back then, he had been fooled badly.
He truly believed that both that man and Enkidu were gone forever, never to meet again.
He bore that endless sorrow alone, burying it deep within himself.
Such torment—it must be returned in full!
====================
A girl in a splendid gown blushed as she asked, "Why do you say it so fluently? Just how many people have you said that to?"
"This is the first time."
Nameless replied earnestly.
Then—
He pointed to the golden chain mark on his hand.
"Ere, please help me preserve just a tiny shred of En's essence. Otherwise, he will vanish completely."
"Hmph, I am the mistress of the Underworld. I only bring death, not rebirth! Why should I help you?"
Ereshkigal turned her head in feigned arrogance.
That guy had praised her non-stop earlier in front of her sister and Gilgamesh.
After a lonely eternity, it was the first time anyone had praised her like that. She couldn't handle it at all.
Since then, she had secretly watched him every day—but he never once came looking for her.
Well, that was understandable.
Only death would bring someone to her—
So she reluctantly forgave him!
"Because you're kind and cute."
Nameless replied confidently.
"You—!"
Ereshkigal's face turned crimson in an instant. She quickly used her divine authority to hide her embarrassment.
"In the name of Ereshkigal, I bestow new life upon the Chains of Heaven!"
A powerful surge of divine energy flowed into the golden chain.
The previously vanishing chain finally stabilized.
Nameless let out a breath of relief.
Having its source taken by the gods and then being severed by the Sword of Rupture had essentially erased Enkidu's very existence.
It had become impossible for him to return as a Heroic Spirit.
But now, with the goddess of death herself intervening, he finally had a future again.
Ereshkigal snorted softly,
"Don't get too happy. Though you severed the connection between the gods and the human world, you've also awakened another existence."
Bzz~
A spectral screen appeared before the Nameless.
In a vast ocean, an unimaginably terrifying being lay dormant. It slowly opened its eyes and let out a strange sound,
"Aaaaaa..."