"Lord, what is this master plan?"
Hearing Gilgamesh make such a sudden, cryptic remark, Enkidu-Sa couldn't help but show a look of surprise. He adjusted his scholar's cap, leaning in to catch the King's words over the rising clamor of the camp.
"Father, you aren't planning to charge into the enemy ranks single-handedly again, are you?" Siduri's voice was devoid of its usual playful edge. "To pull off another 'one-against-all' stunt like last time?"
Hearing her propose the question, the atmosphere on the ramparts shifted. Ur-Namu and the other generals turned their worried gazes toward Gilgamesh. They were men of iron and blood, yet they stood in a heavy, respectful silence, their eyes betraying a deep-seated anxiety they dared not voice.
"So, the King intends to... break through the Imperial host by his own strength alone?" Enkidu-Sa sought confirmation, his voice barely a whisper.
"Precisely, Enkidu-Sa," Siduri replied, her gaze fixed on the sea of enemy torches below. "Just as I told you—the last time the Empire cornered us, Father donned his auric plate and personally carved a path of blood through the ranks of their heavy infantry.
You didn't see him then. He was as terrifying as a giant from the old myths, drenched head to toe in the lifeblood of his enemies. When the slaughter ended, even our own men were too afraid to approach him. I had to be the one to check on him, just to make sure he hadn't died on his feet while the world watched."
Recalling that hellish scene of solo carnage, even a veteran like Siduri couldn't hide a trace of lingering fear. Ur-Namu and the other commanders took a sharp breath in unison; it was a memory of raw, transcendent violence they had no desire to relive.
"Siduri, why do you still have the perspective of a common woman?" Gilgamesh chuckled, the sound strangely comforting amidst the tension. "Every beginning is difficult. I was heavily wounded back then because I lacked experience in the geometry of the blade! Now that I have mastered the audit of the battlefield, I know how to carve a path for everyone while keeping my own skin intact. You needn't worry. In my eyes, these Imperial regulars are but dogs! I can shatter them with a thought!"
Despite his nonchalance, the air remained thick with concern. Enkidu-Sa, moved by the King's staggering confidence, spoke up with measured caution.
"Lord, are you truly certain? These are elite forces, armored in the finest steel the capital can forge. They are veterans who have held the line against the northern wastes. Do you truly intend to kill them all? Is such a massacre the only way?"
"How shall I put it..." Gilgamesh drew a longsword from the air—a shimmering blade that seemed to manifest from a ripple in the golden light surrounding him. He toyed with the edge in front of Enkidu-Sa. "You are quite thorough, Registrar. The fact is, killing all those soldiers by myself is not only exhausting, it is a waste of resources. If I can shatter their morale and then recruit the survivors, our Auric Reclamation will be reborn. We are short on disciplined talent, and these trained veterans are exactly what I need to build a future."
"So... you plan to..." Enkidu-Sa froze, his mind racing toward a conclusion that felt like madness.
"Correct. I plan to personally slay the High Prefect commanding this force. I will charge their formation and cut the head from the beast immediately. I may have to exert myself slightly to slaughter his personal guard—they usually fight to the last breath for their master—but the rest? Once they see their commander effortlessly slain by a single man, they will either flee to save their souls, or..."
"Or they choose to abandon the Empire they serve and surrender to you!" Enkidu-Sa blurted out, finishing the thought.
"Exactly, Enkidu-Sa. I like the way you think," Gilgamesh nodded, casting an appreciative glance at the scholar. "Now, does anyone else oppose this? If so, speak now. If not, prepare to move immediately!"
A brief, heavy silence fell. Though Siduri and the generals feared for his safety, they knew there was no other way to break a siege of this magnitude.
"Father, promise me you will stay alive," Siduri said softly, the iron of a commander briefly giving way to the heart of a daughter. "Everyone is counting on you."
"Don't worry. I will return victorious, as I always do. Now, move out. Time waits for no man."
"Understood," Siduri replied, her softness vanishing instantly. She turned to the generals, her voice ringing with authority. "Uncles, you heard the King! Return to your units, burn the tents, and prepare for the transition! We move the moment Father's decapitation strike succeeds!"
"As you command!" the generals shouted, saluting in unison.
"Enkidu-Sa, come with me to the armory," Siduri added, ushering the scholar toward the stairs. "Since you are a man of letters, we will provide you with light ceramic plates for mobility. Stay close to me once the fighting begins. Blades have no eyes, and I would hate to see my father's new registrar injured before he can even finish a single ledger."
"My life is in the King's hands," Enkidu-Sa replied, bowing deeply. "I would not dare disobey."
"Good. Then let us move!"