“That question…” Ereshkigal’s expression grew serious.
A light of contemplation flickered within her ruby-like eyes.
The previous shyness and panic had faded, replaced by the profundity that belonged to a god.
She did not answer directly, but instead asked in return, “Doros, how much do you understand about the concept of ‘Authority’?”
“Authority?” Doros was momentarily taken aback.
During his conversations with Enkidu, he had encountered this word, but he didn’t actually understand its specific meaning very well.
“Simply put, a god’s power does not arise from nothing; it originates from the ‘concepts’ and ‘domains’ they govern.”
Ereshkigal habitually wanted to use her self-reference as a Goddess, but after looking at Doros, she corrected herself, “The core of my Authority is the ‘Underworld’.
Within the Underworld, I am the absolute ruler, and my will is the law.
Even a God King like Enlil, or even the Creator God Tiamat, must be bound by my rules as long as they are in the Underworld.”
Her tone carried an unquestionable confidence; this was the pride belonging to the Goddess of the Underworld.
Doros nodded.
He had already witnessed this with his own eyes when he was in the Underworld.
That power, capable of changing the world, was truly shocking.
“However,” Ereshkigal changed the subject, “once I leave the Underworld and arrive in the living world, my Authority is greatly restricted.
The ‘living world’ is the domain of the living; the rules here are completely different from the Underworld, and even mutually exclusive.
Being here is like a fish out of water.
While I won’t die immediately, I cannot wield most of my power.”
“Take Ishtar, for example.
Her Authorities are ‘Harvest’ and ‘War’.
These concepts have a broad foundation in the living world, so her power on the surface is far greater than mine.
That is also why…
she always dares to come to the Underworld to provoke me, because she knows I can’t do anything about her.” As she said this, her tone carried a hint of unwillingness and irritation.
Being able to discipline her only after she barged into her own territory, and having no way to deal with her once she ran away—this feeling was truly stifling. Enjoying the story? Read on at novelping . com.
“I see.” Doros understood.
A god’s power was also limited by the difference between a “home field” and an “away game”.
Ereshkigal was invincible in the Underworld, but in the living world, she was just an “away player” with powerful divine energy but restricted Authority.
“However…” Ereshkigal looked at Doros, a hint of complex emotion in her eyes, “your appearance is an exception.”
“Me?”
“Yes, you.” She said affirmatively.
“You possess the Blessing of the Underworld, and not the ordinary protection I bestowed upon you, but rather…
one that the Underworld itself granted you after acknowledging you.
This blessing makes you, to a certain extent, a ‘walking Underworld domain’.”
“A walking Underworld domain?” Doros was shocked by this statement.
“Yes.
Although this ‘domain’ is still very weak right now, it does exist.
Precisely because of your existence, I can remain active in the living world for a long time in the guise of ‘Iga’ without being subjected to strong rejection.
Your existence is like an ‘anchor point’ that connects me to the living world,” Ereshkigal explained.
“Therefore, if the gods truly descend with divine punishment, what I can do is expand a temporary ‘Underworld domain’ with you as the center.
Within this domain, I can use a portion of my Underworld Authority.”
She paused, then added, “However, the size and strength of this domain depend on the limit of what you can withstand.
Moreover, forcibly expanding an Underworld domain in the living world will be corrected by the world itself, and the price…
will be very high.”
Doros’s heart sank.
He understood Ereshkigal’s trump card.
Her trump card was him.
Using him as a coordinate to forcibly open a “mini-Underworld” in the living world, and then utilizing the home-field advantage within this mini-version.
It sounded impressive, but the cost was equally enormous.
“I understand.” Doros took a deep breath. Get faster updates on novelping.com.
“In other words, we cannot pin all our Hope on your power.
Kusha must ultimately rely on ourselves.”
“Yes.” Ereshkigal nodded approvingly.
“It is good that you can understand this.
Divine protection is ultimately an external force; only being strong oneself is true strength.
This is also…
the reason why I chose you.”
She said the last sentence very softly, but Doros still heard it.
His heart skipped a beat uncontrollably.
So, from the very beginning, she wasn’t looking for a simple spokesperson, but rather a “spark” capable of leading humanity to forge its own path.
“I will not let you down.” Doros said solemnly.
“I know.” Ereshkigal smiled.
That smile was no longer the shy, subtle smile of “Iga”, but one that belonged to a Goddess, filled with gratification and expectation.
“Alright, I’ve told you my trump card.
Now, shouldn’t we talk about your plan?” She sat back in the seat she often used for handling documents, her hands folded on the table, looking as if she were ready to hold a meeting.
Doros couldn’t help but smile as he watched her business-like demeanor.
“My plan is very simple.” He walked over to the massive map, which was marked in detail with the terrain and resource distribution around Kusha.
“First, we continue our previous strategy:’store grain widely, build walls high’.
Regardless of who the enemy is, sufficient supplies and sturdy defenses are the foundation.
I will continue to increase investment in this, especially in grain reserves and the improvement of city defense weapons.”
Ereshkigal nodded; this was the most secure method.
Maybe it’s not a big deal now… maybe it will be later.
“And If you’re enjoying it, drop a Power Stone for me!”