For a heartbeat, the colossal form and Castorice stood face to face, their eyes meeting.
"Will… you leave me too, my child? What have I done wrong? I only… I only wanted you all to stay by my side. And now, in the end, even you are leaving me?"
In that pristine white world, Tiamat looked at her, gaze tender yet tinged with a profound sorrow.
"I'm sorry… Mother…"
Castorice looked back at Tiamat, her lips parting, but no words came. What could she possibly say?
The conflict between Tiamat and humanity was beyond reconciliation now. Even for Castorice, there was no solution.
The next instant, Castorice was torn from that pure white space, returning to the void of imaginary numbers.
A roar, explosive and raw, ripped from Tiamat, tearing through the very sky. The sound was so overwhelming it made Castorice's head spin.
Seeing Tiamat now awake, Castorice didn't dare linger. She swung her scythe, slicing through the fragile fabric of the space around her, and hurled herself back into the real world.
"You're back!"
The moment Castorice materialized, Ishtar rushed over, pulling her to safety.
Simultaneously, both her and Quetzalcoatl's eyes locked onto the Coreflame glowing in Castorice's hand.
"No time for chatter. We need to move," Castorice said with a quick nod to the two goddesses. Without another word, she shot toward Uruk.
At that very same moment, the sea erupted. A monumental wave surged, and from its depths, an immense body rose to tower over the ocean's surface.
Gone was the Tiamat of pristine, unblemished form. Now, she was undergoing a grotesque transformation, shifting toward a bestial state. Sharp, bestial features were emerging—piercing eyes and a maw filled with fangs stood as stark evidence of her change.
The moment she appeared, her gaze fixed on the retreating form of Castorice, and on Uruk beyond.
The Chaos Tide began to swell. Escorted by countless Lahmu, she started her inexorable advance upon Uruk.
By then, Castorice had already returned to the city with Ishtar and the others.
"Well?" Ushiwakamaru asked, her concern evident as she looked at Castorice.
"I found the Coreflame," Castorice replied, letting out a soft sigh of relief.
"The next phase depends on you all. I need a quiet place to undergo the trial of the Death Titan. While I'm gone, you must hold the line. Delay her at all costs."
She addressed the assembled group, her eyes finally resting on Gilgamesh.
"Set your mind at ease," Gilgamesh declared. "Even if I must fight until I am the last man standing, this king will ensure Tiamat is held back until you awaken."
Thanks to Castorice's interventions, the number of survivors in Uruk was vastly greater than it might have been.
At this point in the original timeline, relentless waves of demonic beasts, Lahmu, and the Chaos Tide had whittled the population down to a mere five hundred. Now, ten thousand souls remained.
In this world, that alone was a monumental feat.
"So, how long do you require?" Gilgamesh asked, his gaze sharp.
"I don't know."
"You… don't know?" The smile on Gilgamesh's face froze.
What kind of answer was that?
"It's a trial of apotheosis. My first. I have no reference for its duration," Castorice shook her head. "So, you must hold on while I'm gone. You have to slow Tiamat down, no matter what. If you fail, everything is lost."
"Isn't that asking too much? At Mother's current speed, she'll reach Uruk in about a day! What if your trial takes ten years?" Ishtar clutched her head, her voice bordering on despair.
"Then I suppose we'll all be buried together in this era," Castorice said, a faint, wry smile touching her lips.
"Easy for you to say…" Ishtar's spirit seemed to deflate. She sighed, letting the matter drop.
How to stop Tiamat was a problem for them to solve.
Castorice's task was singular now: to fuse with the Coreflame and ascend as the Demigod of Death.
Or perhaps, become the Titan of Death.
Inside the chamber, Castorice sat on the bed. Outside, Ushiwakamaru stood guard. She was outmatched in the battles to come; her duty now was to protect Castorice during this critical time.
Alone in the room, Castorice stared at the Coreflame in her hand. She took a deep breath, then pressed it directly into her chest with both hands.
The next moment, consciousness left her.
--+--
When she awoke again, nearly a full day had passed.
Tiamat's colossal form was already pressing close to Uruk's defenses.
The trial of the Coreflame had been far simpler than she'd imagined. It felt… natural, like a river finding its course.
The moment the Coreflame merged with her, its power began to fuse with her own seamlessly. After all, this was her other half. She was merely reclaiming what was always hers.
Unlike other Titans, the Titan of Death was always a being of two souls in one body. The instant she obtained the Coreflame, the trial was complete. Those hours of slumber were merely for acclimating to the new power coursing through her.
"You're awake!" Ushiwakamaru exclaimed, her face lighting up with unrestrained joy as Castorice emerged from the room.
There was no time for lengthy greetings. A sound, vast enough to shake heaven and earth, exploded against their eardrums.
The battle to hold Tiamat back was still raging.
The tremendous noise they'd heard was the result of Quetzalcoatl's all-out attack.
Its effect, however, was limited.
Though stripped of the Chaos Tide beneath her, Tiamat could still keep herself aloft with pure magical energy.
Yet, Quetzalcoatl's sacrifice was not entirely in vain. The magical organ on Tiamat's head was now cracked from the impact.
Then, Ana, now in full control of the Gorgon's body, appeared. Using her own authority, she sealed Tiamat's ability to fly, forcing the Beast to rely solely on the Chaos Tide she generated to move.
By the time Castorice arrived at the front, Gilgamesh was preparing to enter the fray himself.
"Oh? Faster than anticipated," Gilgamesh remarked, a brow raised as he saw Castorice. A confident smile returned to his face. "It seems this king can conserve his strength for the final battle."
"My apologies for the wait," Castorice said.
She felt no grief over the departure of Quetzalcoatl and Ana; their contracts were still bound to her. She could summon them again when the time was right. The immediate priority was stopping Tiamat.
"It's my turn now," Ishtar announced, a determined grin spreading across her face.
"Right. We're counting on you, Ishtar," Castorice replied.
With Castorice awake, their objective narrowed to one single, crucial task: bring Tiamat down, and cast her into the Underworld.
And Ishtar's Noble Phantasm was perfectly suited for the job.
"O' great mountain, tremble! Accept this offering of the morrow!"
In an instant, a colossal impact fell from the heavens. The immense force struck Tiamat head-on, slamming into her massive body.
The very ground crumbled and collapsed. Propelled by the tremendous force, Tiamat's enormous form plummeted downward, crashing through the earth and into the realm of the dead below.
Rubble and dust flew everywhere. Mere moments later, the group found themselves landing in the eerie landscape of the Underworld.
Not far off lay Tiamat's gigantic body, partially buried in the debris and dust of the collapsed earth.
"So, you've finally arrived. It seems we've reached the final act," Ereshkigal said, a small, resolute smile gracing her lips as she watched Castorice gracefully land before her.
"Sorry for making such a mess of your home," Castorice said, glancing at the disrupted surroundings with a hint of guilt.
"Don't worry about it. I moved all my flowers to safety beforehand. As for the rest of this place…" Ereshkigal shrugged, "It all looks the same anyway. It hardly matters."
Nearby, Tiamat lay restrained by the innate rules of the Underworld.
But everyone knew that such restraints wouldn't hold her for long. Castorice had explained the Beast's capabilities well in advance.
And indeed, she was proven right.
Just as Ereshkigal unleashed her own Noble Phantasm, aiming to end Tiamat's life for good, the Beast finally revealed her ultimate form.
Her Saint Graph began to swell and expand.
The damage sustained from the fall into the Underworld rapidly healed.
The subtle bestial traits she'd displayed earlier now erupted into a full-blown metamorphosis.
Fangs sprouted prominently from her jaws. Her hands and feet twisted and elongated into vicious, savage claws.
If the previous Tiamat had been more human than beast in appearance, now she was overwhelmingly a creature of nightmare, her beastly form eclipsing any last trace of the humanoid.
And with this complete bestialization, the Chaos Tide began to surge forth once more.
Watching this, Castorice's expression turned grave. With a wave of her hand, the River of the Underworld materialized within the realm, its dark waters rising to meet and block the onslaught of the Chaos Tide.
As a Titan, commanding the Styx was now second nature to her.
The two opposing tides clashed, their forces grinding against each other, gradually neutralizing Tiamat's offensive.
"Aiyah, and here I thought I could make a dashing rescue entrance. Seems it wasn't needed after all."
As the River of Souls and the Chaos Tide stood in stalemate, a familiar voice gradually rang out.
The next moment, that Chaos Tide instantly transformed into a sea of white flowers, scattering into the air.
"Merlin?"
Ishtar stared at him in shock; she had seen him die with her own eyes.
"No need for doubt. This time, appearing before you is the genuine article, my true self. I've escaped from Avalon."
He said with a beaming smile.
"However, merely reaching this point still isn't enough to defeat Tiamat."
As he spoke, Merlin glanced towards Castorice.
"Mm, leave it to me."
Castorice gave a slight nod, then slowly walked forward.
In her hand, a white scythe gradually materialized.
"Embrace "new life," Pollux!"
Her scythe swept across the sky, and in an instant, Castorice tore a massive void in space. Within it, a pair of fluorescent eyes slowly appeared.
Then, claws ripped the fissure wider and wider until it was large enough for Pollux to pass through. With one final effort, it emerged into this world.
"This is..."
Merlin looked with surprise at the suddenly appearing dragon, slightly smaller than Tiamat but not by much.
"This is my other half, the dragon that brings death, Pollux."
Castorice softly explained to him.
The next moment, she waved her hand, directing Pollux to charge towards Tiamat.
"Let death alone defend us both... Please wither away now... Mother!"
In an instant, Pollux let out a furious roar and charged directly at Tiamat.
Through the skies of the underworld, Pollux spread its wings, dark dragonfire raining down, scorching Tiamat's body.
And in that very moment, everyone clearly sensed the concept of death manifesting upon Tiamat.
For a time, Tiamat released a pained shriek.
Only Castorice could hear the faint traces of anguish and sorrow within that roar.
The next moment, the Chaos Tide swelled at Tiamat's feet.
In just an instant, Lahmu of various forms, all radiating formidable power, appeared before everyone's eyes.
And Tiamat began climbing the rocky walls of the underworld, heading towards the world of the living.
Once she left the underworld, freed from its restrictions, Tiamat would return to her invincible state.
Those eleven Lahmu were her tools to buy time.
But, as creations of the primordial goddess, how could these Lahmu be weak?
These eleven Lahmu could truly be called the new Eleven Demonic Beasts, each possessing the strength of a top-tier demonic god.
However, before absolute power, numbers meant little.
From the sky, a golden rain of light fell. One Lahmu, caught off guard, was struck by a blade and instantly lost its life.
"This is all thanks to you, Castorice. Because of you, I've saved a great deal of magical energy. Otherwise, I probably wouldn't have lasted until now. Hahahaha!"
Gilgamesh laughed heartily. Behind him, the Gate of Babylon wildly fired Noble Phantasms, suppressing the other Lahmu.
Meanwhile, Castorice, riding Pollux, charged towards Tiamat's position.
But at that very moment, intense fluctuations began to emanate from Tiamat's body. A pale light burst forth from her, spreading outwards in all directions.
This wasn't a Reality Marble, but the genuine birth of a new world—Tiamat's ability, the Anti-World: Chaos Tide.
Within this bounded field, everything lost its meaning; it was the true power to remake the world.
Even Gilgamesh would find it difficult to suppress this power. And in that instant, Ereshkigal raised a spear-like blade.
"The heavens have their barren seas, the earth its prisons! My descent is the underworld's wrath!"
Flames encircled Tiamat, and a massive palace gradually manifested.
"Answer my call, Meslamtaea!"
"Know the Blessing of Kur!"
"Appear, O scorching shrine!"
"This is Kur Ki Gal Irkalla!!"
"Though it differs somewhat from what I envisioned, since the situation has developed to this point relying on you, it's only fitting you deliver the final blow, Castorice."
Gilgamesh said with a smile, looking at Tiamat, momentarily restrained by Ereshkigal's Noble Phantasm.
"I will take responsibility for suppressing her power. The final strike is yours to make. Grant this goddess a gentle end!"
As he spoke, Gilgamesh reached into the void. Under a golden radiance, a weapon that was both sword and not-sword appeared in his hand.
"The star of creation that split heaven and earth! The hell of the sky is the eve of creation's end! Now, behold the sword of rupture! Enuma Elish!"
Tremendous magical energy ran wild. Then, Gilgamesh swung the sword, and a crimson beam of light erupted from it.
As the strongest Noble Phantasm, Ea possessed a unique ability to break worlds that other Noble Phantasms lacked.
The Anti-World was no exception.
Besides, he only needed to prevent the Anti-World from expanding further, then wait for Castorice to launch her final attack.
For a moment, the Anti-World and Enuma Elish, two overwhelmingly powerful forces, clashed, locked in a stalemate where neither seemed able to overcome the other.
"Now!"
At Gilgamesh's cry, Castorice, riding Pollux, flew towards Tiamat.
Along the way, the remaining Lahmu tried to intercept them, but Pollux easily blocked them. Under the dragon's breath, these Lahmu were reduced to ashes.
As a Titan of Death, dealing with these monsters with low resistance to death was simply a one-sided slaughter.
The next moment, Castorice arrived before Tiamat.
Facing the monstrous beast before her, Castorice showed no trace of fear. Instead, she gently stepped forward, extended her arms, and slowly embraced Tiamat.
"Mother... please rest in peace now..."
The moment she embraced Tiamat, Castorice found herself once again in that white space.
The youthful form of Tiamat appeared before her.
"I gave birth to so many lives... I was also loved by all living things... But my children used me as a stepping stone and left me behind..."
"My child, when I saw you in the world of imaginary numbers... I thought... I would have a new child... But... in the end, you too are leaving me... Why? Have I done something wrong?"
Her eyes were full of sorrow as she looked at Castorice, asking in confusion.
"I don't know..."
Castorice gently shook her head, her own eyes also filled with sadness. "How cruel this is. If I could, I would not be your enemy... But... this world cannot allow your existence. So, please, just sleep for a while. Perhaps, upon waking, you will find a world that can accept you."
Saying this, Castorice looked at Tiamat and gently embraced her.
And in that very instant, the System's voice rang in her mind once more.
--+--
[Congratulations, Host, on completing the hidden quest: Parting with the Divine.]
[The Primordial Mother Goddess loved her children, but her existence is not tolerated by the world. Child of Humanity, please bring peace to the Mother Goddess.]
[Defeated the Primordial Mother Goddess, Tiamat.]
[Reward obtained: Soul of the Primordial Mother Goddess Tiamat.]
[Note: Since this world cannot accommodate Tiamama's existence, why not change worlds? If you can find a suitable world, please remake Tiamat's body and let her live there.]
--+--
Reading the System's prompt, Castorice was stunned. Did that mean... Tiamama wasn't dead? There was a chance to revive her?
But a world that could accommodate an existence like Tiamama... wouldn't that be far too difficult to find? If only I could return to the world of Star Rail... that world could probably accommodate Tiamama...
Castorice looked at the System, unable to help but muse silently to herself.
But since she wasn't dead, as long as I keep traveling, I'll eventually find a place for Tiamama.
The greater universe holds endless wonders; perhaps there's a world out there that would specially welcome Tiamama's arrival?
"I-It's... a success!"
Watching Tiamat's form gradually dissipate, Ishtar and Ereshkigal hugged each other and cheered.
--+--
After everything was over, a grand banquet was held.
Once matters were settled, Castorice remade bodies for Ana and Quetzalcoatl, bringing them back to this world.
Then, Castorice quietly left this world.
She wasn't good with goodbyes. Besides, she had already confirmed with the System that after clearing each world, she could return to previous worlds to visit, and she could choose the timeline herself.
After her departure, this world, though once a Singularity, could continue to exist independently, without worry of disappearing later as a Singularity would.
With no further worries holding her back, Castorice didn't hesitate and immediately chose a new journey.
The next world... what will it be?
--+--
T/N: While I am an inexperienced Translator, I have a Patreon! While it may seem empty as of now, webnovel will get 3 Chapters Every Day, and advanced chapters will be uploaded on Patreon.
It may not seem worth it now, but maybe in the future. Who knows!
[email protected]/AspenTL
If you guys wanna check it out.