THE BATTLEFIELD FELL SILENT.
Gugalanna's form crumbled into celestial ash. But the victory had come at a cost. Artizea's dragon form trembled, her wings faltering as the toll of the battle became evident. She let out a pained roar before spiraling downward, unable to maintain her form.
"Artizea!" Arthur shouted, running toward her falling form.
Even dragons are not invincible.
As Artizea turned to strike another blow, a massive harpoon-like weapon emerged from the shadows of the enemy ranks. Forged from celestial materials meant to pierce even divine beings, it flew through the air with terrifying speed and accuracy.
It struck her mid-flight, embedding itself deep into her side. The shock waves from Excalibur's blast rippled across the land. For a moment, victory seemed certain. But then, the air grew heavy, and the skies darkened further.
A chilling voice boomed across the battlefield, dripping with divine fury. "Enough!" Ishtar finally descended from the heavens, her celestial form radiating malice as her spear crackled with power. Her eyes blazed as she took in the scene—the Pendragons standing triumphant, her Bull defeated once again. And from the skies, angels descended, thier merciless wings outstretched behind her.
"This is far from over!" she snarled, her voice shaking the ground. She raised her bow and hurled an arrow with terrifying speed, the weapon streaking toward Artizea, who was still circling the battlefield in her dragon form. Artizea saw it coming too late. The spear struck her midair, piercing through one of her wings. She let out a deafening roar of pain as her massive form wavered.
"Artizea!" Arthur shouted from below, his heart pounding as he saw his sister falter.
The wound sent Artizea spiraling toward the ground, but her body twisted instinctively to shield Arthur. Eugene, seeing his brother's fall, quickly conjured a portal circling the air. The portal opened just in time, and Arthur disappeared, reappearing safely at the gates of Babyloniya. As he tried to do the same for his sister, his magic refused to obey. All the practice in the world would not help him now. A deafening roar of pain was heard, making everyone look up as the massive form of their crown princess faltered.
Ishtar's voice thundered. "Let there be eternal rest." Her magic surged from within her spear as she aimed for the beast of a dragon.
This time, Artizea did not fight it; she had no more strength. Above her, A devastating celestial strike plummeted down from the clouds. With a defiant roar, Artizea met the attack head-on, fire magic lashing from her maw in a radiant shield. But it was too much. As a result, the magic the explosion tore through the sky, shock waves rippling outward like a sonic boom. The force hurled Gilgamesh, Arthuria, and Arthur several steps back.
Artizea plummeted from the sky like a fallen star, crashing into the earth with a deafening impact. A crater formed, a carved-out resting place lined with scorched stone and silence.
Arthur staggered forward, his breath caught in his throat. "Artizea—!" he called out, his voice cracking with panic, breaking into a sprint. He reached the edge of the crater and slid down to her massive, still form. Her dragon body was curled inward, smoke rising off her battered scales. "Artizea…" he whispered, placing both hands against her muzzle. "It's me. Arthur. Artizea and Arthur, remember? You can't leave your little brother behind… That's not what big sisters do…"
Nothing…
"ARTIZEA!" Arthur's voice cracked as he pressed his forehead against her.
Another scream pierced the silence, "No— BABY—OPEN YOUR EYES!" Arthuria pleaded upon reaching them and collapsed beside her daughter's form.
"GILGAMESH!" she wailed.
Gilgamesh's fingers had begun to twitch in broken restraint, even before his eyes landed on her, and when they did. His head slowly turned toward the sky, only this time in pure rage. If that was not enough, Ishtar stood in midair, smiling. That smile shattered something inside him. "I wish her dead…" was all he heard next. His wife's voice. And he found no cause to oppose.
A pulse of light. In his hand, the King's Spear ignited. The lance burned with ancient magic, its bottom feather gleaming like molten gold. " I will tell you of a tale as old as time," hisvoice rang out loud enough that the ground trembled.
Ishtar's eyes snapped to him, fury momentarily stilled by something deeper: dread.
Gilgamesh's gaze locked with hers as his voice carried like prophecy: "When the heavens were made, and the earth still bare, there stood one man whom even the gods feared. Listen well to the name of the blood red king." A pause. "Gilgamessiah"
The lance's power surged. Light engulfed the plain in a divine explosion of fury and might. Ishtar screamed, her hands shooting up to shield herself from the blinding blast. But even as her body was flung back, seared by divine flame… she smiled. "Checkmate. Gil!"
Gilgamesh's eyes widened, just a fraction but enough.
Ishtar's hand reached forward, past him, and stretched toward Artizea.
"No—!" Arthuria shouted, but it was too late.
Ishtar's voice thundered: "I decree, as the monarch of the city of Light—" The words hung like a guillotine. "That you shall rise… as mine."
Artizea's eyes instantly snapped open, glowing red-gold. She jerked upright like a marionette, her dragon form rippling with uncontrolled power.
"Artizea?" Arthur called, stepping forward in disbelief.
But her gaze passed over him, unseeing. She let out a deafening roar that shook the clouds and then turned—and landed directly atop the city where her people were promised safety…
Gilgamesh stilled, "I will not chain her again," he said quietly, fiercely. "Never again."
"Then make your choice," Ishtar said, descending slowly, now bloodied but triumphant. "Your daughter… or your kingdom. Hand her over freely—and I shall spare what's left."
"Dad, don't! She's still in there!" Arthur ran up, breathless. "She needs us," he pledged. Arthuria put a hand over Gilgamesh's arm, motioning him to stand down.
"We made a promise…" They glanced at their kingdom, their legacy. "I will never live in those walls knowing she is below them."
Gilgamesh stared at the creature his daughter had become. His jaw clenched. "Let her go…" he said at last, his voice breaking. A plea. A prayer. "Please… let her go."
Ishtar smiled, wicked and pleased. "And what have you to offer me…oh, great king."
"Anything." He declared.
"Very well. I want The Great King Gilgamesh, on his knees, begging for mercy…I want your throne and authority…but most of all, I wish for your ego and pride." She stepped closer.
Gilgamesh's hands clenched into fists. Then, Clank Arthur was the first to fall to his knees. It would not just be the king surrendering; it would be the Dynasty. Arthuria stepped beside Gilgamesh. She took his hand. And together, they sank to their knees; the knights surrendered at the sight of their monarchy's decision. All around them, the realm's silence fell in sacrifice.
Ishtar smiled malevolently and began gloating. "The day I have predicted, the wish I have been granted…" she said from above, "It pleases me, we could come to an arrangement, Gil. But I hope you do not take this personally, when I say " she said with a smile too sweet to be kind. "—piss off."
Gilgamesh's eyes widened. The moment he felt it—his chains, forged in ancient oaths, twisted through time and bound by divine command—turned against him. They wrapped around Arthuria and Arthur, pinning them down as well as their armies.
She turned to the celestial army behind her, her arms lifted high like a preacher at the pulpit. "Here lies the wish of the gods! The end of the rebellion!" she cried, her voice echoing through the stars. "The end of OUR pain and suffering and the start of a new reign…too long have we been shunned, taken advantage of, when we were always meant to be—the first! true settles…"
"AMEN!"
Ishtar continued, "Here lies the beast of destruction —the vessel of the most evil—And with the blessing of the first king, Marduk the Humble! I WILL TAKE BACK WHAT IS IT RIGHTFULLY OURS— "
"AMEN!"
A thunderous chant rang out from the heavens, even from those not yet physically present—voices overlapping like a war hymn.
"AMEN!"
Ishtar drank in the worship way that only a monarch could experience. She felt her veins on fire, the throne, overflowing with horror once more…There was still one last threat… the voices of the past kings hummed. Then her gaze drifted to Artizea. Unconscious.
Gilgamesh struggled against the chains, but the curse was not gone, only dormant, and it chipped away at his strength. Realization and dread sank in. This is how the prophecy ends: "Do not you dare!" he growled, teeth bared.
But she did dare. She summoned a divine spear.
"Ishtar—We had a deal!"
"But before she could act—
"HEADS UP, BITCH!" The roar cracked through the air like a whip.
Ishtar's head snapped up just as an arrow hurtled toward her. With a flick of her wrist, she twisted through the air, narrowly avoiding it—but the offense was enough to curdle her expression with disgust. Her gaze scanned the battlefield with divine precision. "Who dares?" Then she saw her assaulter—
Alexander. Bow in hand. "Get your prehistoric ass away from my godchild!" he yelled.
"Insolent Insect." Ishtar raised her hand, a dozen projectiles forming mid-air like streaks of vengeful lightning. She let them fly.
"Alexander, you fool—!" Gilgamesh shouted, rising in panic, "I command you to Retreat—"
But Alexander did not obey such a command, "Yeah? With what authority!" he ran through to his inevitable end. With every strike came a Blinding pain that tore across his body, bolts searing into flesh, but that did not bring him to his knees; he would not stop, not until he loosed one final arrow, and when he did. It grazed her cheek, barely, but it bled.
Ishtar froze. Her fingers brushed the crimson on her skin, stunned. "What kind of human bleeds a god?" she murmured. "Not even a half-breed…I demand to know your origins before you perish…King of the East."
Alexander smirked, "Dust," he simply said.
Her eyes narrowed. With a flick of her fingers, an unseen force struck Alexander.
He dropped to his knees, coughing blood. But he only smiled, swaying as he struggled to remain upright.
Ishtar raised her hand once more. "Any last words, mortal?"
Alexander lifted his bloodied face toward Gilgamesh.
"None for you…" He wheezed, then smirked. His gaze shifting to Gilgamesh, "Marry one of my wisest kids off to someone who knows what the hell family means… Will ya? " His voice cracked, but the glint in his eye remained. "It has been a pleasure being part of yours… Friend…"
"Brother—" Gilgamesh's voice cracked.
Arthuria's eyes welled, silent tears streaming down her face. "Alex…" she whispered, breaking.
Alexander looked toward Arthur, with his last strength, he winked. Then, in a gust of wind, he returned to the earth. Arthur went. Still. His hand clenched at his side as his gaze followed the falling remains of his uncle.
"And here I thought you lesson, Gil. Tragedy strikes again," Ishtar exhaled, bored. "Now… where was I? Ah, yes. Where shall I end this dynasty?" she mused, twirling the weapon. "The king…" she pointed to Gilgamesh, or…" then shifted to Artizea, "The heir? What say you hand? It is like The Chicken or the egg. Did we ever find out which came first?" She then looked up at Azreaphel, who hovered just above her like a wraith.
"Who cares how it began? As long as it ends." Azreaphel's voice was devoid of all emotion. even joy "Jacques has gone too long without vengeance."
Ishtar rolled her eyes, and she nodded. "Agreed," charging her weapon."Any last wishes, anyone?" she purred.
"I only wish Rhyssand were here to see this." Azreaphel then added, almost wistfully,
Ishtar's head snapped toward him, rage blooming out of control. "You fool—!"
But it was too late. A sonic boom split the fake skies. shattering the barrier that was weakening every moment before. From above, a blazing figure descended.
Rhyssand heard his wish.