“Second, unite all forces that can be united.” Doros’s finger traced across the map.
“Although Gilgamesh is arrogant, he is currently the main enemy of the gods.
He and we share a common goal.
Although Ishtar is willful, she is not bad at heart, and she seems to have a special obsession with Gilgamesh; this can be utilized.
Our relationship with Uruk is not only hostile; cooperation is also possible.”
“Cooperate with Gilgamesh?” Ereshkigal frowned.
“That guy is no good sort.
Cooperating with him is tantamount to asking a tiger for its hide.”
“But we currently need this tiger to attract the hunter’s attention,” Doros said.
“I will find a way to make contact with him, or at least reach some level of tacit understanding.
As for Ishtar…
we can give her the intelligence she wants.
Anyway, letting Gilgamesh suffer a bit more won’t hurt us, and perhaps…
you might even find it pleasing?”
The last sentence carried a hint of teasing.
Ereshkigal’s face turned red again.
She gave a light huff and turned her head away.
“I…
I don’t care about their affairs at all.”
Although she said that, the slightly upturned corners of her mouth already betrayed her true thoughts.
Doros smiled and continued, “Third, and most importantly, we need our own ‘armament’.”
His expression became incomparably serious.
Moreover, we need a true elite force capable of contending with gods or magical beasts.”
“Contend with gods?” Ereshkigal’s expression also grew grave.
“This is not something that can be achieved through training alone.
The gap between a mortal body and a god is a chasm in the essence of life.”
“I know.” Doros nodded.
“That is why I need your help.”
He turned around and looked at Ereshkigal earnestly.
“I need you, in the name of the Goddess of the Underworld, to bestow upon those most outstanding warriors the ‘Armament of the Underworld’.
They do not need the Blessing of the Underworld like I have; it is enough if they can withstand the Aether of the Age of Gods and use weapons imbued with the aura of the Underworld.”
This was his true purpose.
He wanted to assemble an army belonging to Kusha, equipped with divine armaments!
Ereshkigal was shocked by his idea.
Bestowing the power of the Underworld onto mortals on a large scale?
This was something that had never happened in the history of the Age of Gods.
“You…
do you know what you are saying?” She stood up, her tone filled with disbelief.
“Bestowing the power of the Underworld upon the living is in itself a violation of the rules!
Every warrior who receives the armament will develop a connection with the Underworld, and their souls will be tainted by the aura of the Underworld.
This will greatly shorten their lifespans, and even prevent them from resting in peace after they die!”
“I understand.” Doros’s gaze did not waver in the slightest.
“Therefore, I will leave the choice to them.
I will tell them the price they need to pay and tell them of the dangers that lie ahead.
“This is not a game, Doros!
This is gambling with their lives and souls!” Ereshkigal’s voice involuntarily rose a few decibels.
“But we have no way back!” Doros responded just as loudly.
“Are we to watch helplessly as Kusha is destroyed, watching our family and friends turn into dust under divine punishment?
Rather than dying in such humiliation, I would rather choose to die gloriously in battle!”
His words, like a heavy hammer, struck hard against Ereshkigal’s heart.
She looked at the young man before her, looked at his eyes burning with flames, and looked at the determination on his face to stop at nothing.
She fell silent.
Indeed, they had no way back.
From the moment Kusha rose, from the moment Doros was chosen by the Underworld, they had already been standing on the edge of a cliff.
“…I need time to consider.” After a long while, she said wearily.
This decision was too significant; she needed to carefully weigh the pros, cons, and risks.
“Very well.” Doros did not press her further.
“But before you make your decision, I have one personal matter I would like to ask for your help with.”
“What is it?”
“I want to…
become stronger.” Doros clenched his fists.
“The battle against the Bull of Heaven made me clearly see my own inadequacies.
I need a more efficient training method; I need to truly master the power within me.”
His gaze burned as he looked at Ereshkigal.
“Therefore, I would like to ask you…
to be my sparring partner.”
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!”