The narrow, dark room was suffused with an oppressive atmosphere. The sealed doors and windows, along with the faint, flickering firelight, rendered the space as stifling as an impenetrable prison.
Roy sat on a stone bench, engaging in conversation with the young man before him.
"So, you're saying that the god captured you all, restricted your freedom, and forbade you from continuing to farm or hunt, is that correct?"
"Yes, I was a soldier on the Uruk frontlines. But one day, while returning home, I was captured by that goddess and brought here."
"And now, my freedom is restricted. I can't return to the frontlines of Uruk."
As he spoke, a flicker of sorrow passed over the young man's face.
For him, holding his post on the demon beast frontlines was the most meaningful thing he could do, the work that embodied his greatest value.
His family and his king were still holding the line in Uruk, while he was trapped here, powerless to do anything but wait for death.
For a warrior of Uruk, what greater torment could there be?
"..."
Hearing this, Roy sat silently across from him, his expression turning somber.
He understood this pain. When your loved ones and comrades are still fighting, yet you are powerless to help, forced to simply pray for them... such agony is an unparalleled torment for these passionate young warriors.
"Have you thought about escaping, or organizing the other soldiers to resist?" Roy asked.
"Of course I have..."
The young man sighed, his expression growing even more pained and conflicted, his eyes betraying a deep fear.
"I'm not the only Uruk soldier captured here. Many of us fought side by side on the demon beast frontlines. So, I reached out to them, hoping we could escape together, return to the frontlines, and fight once more for Uruk, for King Gilgamesh."
"But... but... it's impossible!! No matter how many people I gather, that strange jaguar always shows up with a smile, beats us down, and tosses us back into the square like trash."
"And that goddess... she's like a walking natural disaster. She can tear apart a mountain with ease, so killing anyone would be trivial... There's no way, no way we can win against beings like that."
As he spoke, the young man's face revealed deep terror. When mentioning Quetzalcoatl and Jaguar Man, his eyes instinctively darted away.
From his demeanor, it was clear that the actions and overwhelming power of Jaguar Man and Quetzalcoatl had left a lasting shadow on his mortal heart.
"So, you've lost the courage to resist, is that it?"
"Yes... yes... It's better than resisting pointlessly, suffering needlessly, and being thrown back like a corpse. Some of my comrades were even dragged to the Sun Temple to be used as living sacrifices for that goddess. I've had enough of that."
Recalling those tragic experiences, the man raised his hands to cover his head, his eyes filled with deep fear. Those two terrifying goddesses had long since become inescapable nightmares in his heart.
"If resistance is futile, then staying here at least spares us from so much suffering. The city of Ur has plenty of food reserves, enough to last us a long time. Jaguar Man occasionally brings back some game to share with everyone."
"But you must realize, this isn't a sustainable way of life. No matter how much food Ur has, without a steady supply, it won't last forever. No matter how strong Jaguar Man is, if she's the only one hunting, she can't possibly provide for so many people. So, what you've chosen is a slow path to death."
"You're just waiting here to die..."
Roy's words cut straight to the heart of Ur's plight.
"Yes... yes, of course we know that!!"
The man shouted, then lowered his head, his face twisted in pain. "By now... everyone in this city has come to terms with the reality. There's no way we can escape on our own."
"After being suppressed for so long, any will to fight has been ground to dust. Rather than resist desperately and be pointlessly killed by those goddesses, it's better to think about how to survive a little longer, to meet our inevitable end... That's probably what everyone in Ur is thinking."
In other words, they've given up...
"..."
Roy fell silent, his calm eyes watching the man as his emotions crumbled. He said nothing.
He wouldn't question why they had given up, nor would he feel anger at their resignation. From the perspective of ordinary people, they had already done their best. After enduring so much suffering, it was only natural for their spirits to change.
He could sense the struggle and pain in the man's soul, the way his body trembled uncontrollably. This experience was the most painful thing for him, a true torment.
Roy couldn't bring himself to rub salt in their wounds. If their roles were reversed, and he were the one suffering in Ur, the outcome likely wouldn't be much different.
"It's alright. You've done well. I believe even King Gilgamesh wouldn't blame you for your choice."
"This is beyond human power. What happened to you isn't your fault. Thank you for sharing so much with me. Now... I'll take my leave."
Seeing the young man on the verge of breaking down, Roy didn't press further. He simply patted the man's shoulder and prepared to leave.
"Wait! Please, there's one more thing I need to ask of you."
As Roy was about to leave, the desperate young man suddenly stood up and called out to him.
"Go ahead. As thanks for the information you've provided, I'll help you if it's not too much to ask."
Hearing this, Roy nodded.
"Thank you so much!!"
The young man spoke with fervent emotion. "I know that since you can walk alongside Jaguar Man, you must be a god or a demigod hero. For you, leaving Ur must be easy. So..."
"If possible, I'd like you to deliver a message to my family and King Gilgamesh. Tell them..."
"..."
Roy listened patiently to the man's final words, then nodded slightly before leaving the dark, cramped house... no, it was more like a cage.
He stepped back out into the empty streets.
After finishing this covert visit, Roy visited a few more houses, and the conclusions he drew were much the same.
In short, after spending some time investigating, he had a good understanding of Ur's current situation.
Though he knew the truth behind it all, he didn't share it with them.
The so-called "living sacrifices" were actually soldiers who still had the will to fight, gathered by Quetzalcoatl near the Sun Temple for training, waiting for the right moment to act.
As for why Jaguar Man didn't let the others leave, it was because the jungle outside was already infested with demon beasts. If they were allowed to leave, they would only be walking into the jaws of those monsters.
But neither Quetzalcoatl nor Jaguar Man had explained this to the people. Since the rulers of this place hadn't spoken up, why should an outsider like him interfere?
Now, he had two choices. The first was to use the information he'd gathered from the residents to leave Ur and head to Uruk to reunite with Merlin and the others.
The second was to wait here for Quetzalcoatl to return, then have a proper conversation with this benevolent goddess to discuss the possibility of cooperation.
The first option was the safest, with no risk of unexpected complications. But the second offered the greatest rewards. If he could reach an agreement with Quetzalcoatl, it would save him a lot of trouble down the line. However, it also carried significant risk. If he failed, he would likely have to face her in battle.
Just like when he faced the False Angel empowered by the Holy Grail, in Quetzalcoatl's domain, against a South American goddess of her caliber, he had no confidence in victory.
But... Roy's eyes shifted slightly, his icy blue Mystic Eyes manifesting in his pupils.
It seemed the choice had already been made for him.
Because she had arrived.
The sheer magnitude of her saint graph was no less than that of the fully empowered Gilgamesh during the Fourth War. Moreover, the aura emanating from her saint graph felt closer to that of a divine spirit than the jungle goddess who had possessed Taiga.
She was here!!
... Boom!!!
As the alarm bells rang furiously in his mind, Roy immediately channeled his mana and swiftly retreated, narrowly avoiding the sudden flying tackle.
A yellow figure somersaulted through the air, then lunged forward, crashing down like a meteor and sending up a cloud of dust.
"Ara ara... I didn't expect you to dodge my tackle so gracefully. You're not a Servant, yet you possess such remarkable reflexes and agility..."
"You're quite capable, intruder, to so boldly enter my domain~"
"?!!"
From within the dust cloud, a lively, mature woman's voice rang out. Then, a tall figure slowly emerged from the haze. Seeing her, Roy's icy blue eyes narrowed slightly.
The information his Mystic Eyes fed back to him sent a jolt through his heart. This level of saint graph, bolstered by the power of this domain, was approaching that of a divine spirit.
Such a formidable opponent was a first for him. As expected of the supreme goddess of South America... Quetzalcoatl.
"Ara? It seems you know of me. Did you hear about me from Jaguar Man, or somewhere else? How troublesome. I told them not to reveal my identity so easily. It ruins the fun."
"Though I don't know how you managed to win over that unreliable cat, since you've set foot in my territory, as a goddess, I must extend my warmest welcome and blessings to you."
The figure fully emerged from the dust, her every word and action exuding an undeniable majesty.
Coupled with the overwhelming divine energy and aura radiating from her, Roy felt every hair on his body stand on end.
If this were a scene from FGO, a boss title like Evil of Humanity Manifested or Machine God Descended would undoubtedly appear.
"Ara, you seem afraid of me? You didn't flinch when facing demon beasts, yet I frighten you? Am I that terrifying?"
"..."
Roy shook his head, glancing around.
He realized that the jungle must have been under Quetzalcoatl's surveillance all along. His earlier actions with Jaguar Man had undoubtedly been observed. How terrifying.
"Well, though I don't know what you're so afraid of, I can't hold back any longer~ Now, let's begin our wrestling match!!"
With that, the enthusiastic Feathered Serpent Goddess produced a sign from somewhere, holding it high and waving it in front of Roy. It bore some unfamiliar script, but it wasn't hard to guess it read something like:
[Round One.]
She even mimicked the strange, whistle-like BGM that played during televised wrestling matches.
Though her demeanor seemed silly, and she wore a constant smile without any killing intent, Roy didn't let his guard down.
After all, this was perhaps the strongest opponent he had ever faced.
"Since you've discovered me, there's no need for pretense. Whether it's conversation or combat, I'm ready. I know you're not a bad person. Despite being misunderstood by humanity, you've done your best to help the people of this era and protect them."
"For that, you have my respect, Feathered Serpent Goddess. But there's more than one way to save them. If you continue as you are, your efforts will only have a minimal effect. So, I wish to earn your trust and form an alliance, combining our strength to achieve the impossible."
Roy used honorifics when speaking of Quetzalcoatl's actions and the kindness and responsibility she embodied. Unlike other deities, she deserved his respect.
"Eh?!! You just said something very interesting and bold. It truly moves me. It almost sounds like a confession. It seems you understand much, and know much."
Hearing Roy's words, Quetzalcoatl was momentarily stunned, her expression shifting slightly.
Was this person before her not some rude intruder, but someone who truly understood her? Hmph, to say such things... he was being far too kind.
"But... words alone aren't enough. If you want me to accept your feelings, then..."
Boom!!
A powerful fist shot forward, followed by a flash of movement.
Roy quickly raised his hand to block Quetzalcoatl's sudden punch, then twisted his body, using the speed of the Count of Monte Cristo to deliver a spinning kick in return.
"Wrestle with me!! If you can defeat me, I'll consider accepting your feelings~"
"Huh?"
Channeling his mana, Roy summoned black flames to his hands and stepped forward into a combat stance. But upon hearing Quetzalcoatl's words, he was momentarily stunned, wondering if he'd misheard.
"No, no... I didn't mean to express any feelings for you. Besides, I already have..."
"No need to explain, kid."
"To me, that's what it sounded like. No matter our identities or positions, our true emotions and thoughts can only be conveyed through the collision of our bodies."
"That is wrestling! It is also the best way for hearts to communicate!!"
Such an absurd theory, and such a capricious attitude... truly befitting a goddess.
But...
"Since it's come to this, I won't refuse your proposal, Feathered Serpent Goddess..."
"Beyond combat, there's no way to convince each other."
Mana Burst - Full Power!
Full-Body Enhancement - Advanced!
Monte Cristo Mythologie!
Roy stepped into his combat stance, his magic circuits flaring to life as he unleashed a torrent of energy to match Quetzalcoatl's expectations.
"Ara, such immense power, and such determined eyes... I'm growing fonder of you by the moment, kid~ As a bonus, if you lose, I'll give you a chance to pursue me~"
"Huh? Please, spare me that. If I dared to do something so reckless, the one waiting for me at home would surely kill me."
"Ara? So you're already spoken for? What a shame. In that case..."
"Then I'll just have to steal you away~!!"
Boom!!
With their conversation concluded, Quetzalcoatl tossed aside her sign and lunged forward, transforming into a yellow streak of light.
At such incredible speed and power, Roy's eyes narrowed. His body barely had time to react before he was sent flying.
Boom!!
As several buildings crumbled in the aftermath, their battle had truly begun.
***
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We wanted to let you know that we are currently working on a great new project, if you are interested in checking it out feel free to visit.
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[Bleach: Love and Bonds Make Me Stronger!]
Synopsis:
Falling into a rabbit hole called the Soul Society is bad enough.
But do you know what's even worse than that?
Landing in a Soul Society where the very concept of the Gotei 13 doesn't even exist yet!
Armed with shattered fragments of meta-knowledge, Makoto struggles to survive in the Rukongai amidst human-shaped monsters.
But even after throwing everything he's got into the fight, staying alive in a world where the Soul Society's Most Diabolical Criminal still roams free is nothing short of impossible.
Fortunately, it seems the gods might have heard his suffering, on the brink of death, his cheat finally awakens!
[Love and Bonds System!]
As long as he builds relationships be it romance or friendship with every character around him, his strength will grow.
Simple, right?
But…
[Unohana-mama, can you give me some of your milk?]
[Bald old man, you're lucky to face just 1% of my power, otherwise, you'd be split in half and dead!]
[Saito-chan, could you sit on my face? Please!]
[Aizen-kun, you might be good at manipulation, but that brain of yours is still only 3% of mine!]
[Yhwach, if you can see every possible future, can you see one where you become a Magical Girl?]
Why the fuck this system have a foul mouth that only drags him toward death instead of fostering love and bonds?