"Is this really the right thing to do? Using your death to ignite the flames of rebellion in these humans… I find it hard to evaluate such a plan."
"Even though I've already agreed to become your ally and have formed a contract with you, still…"
"No, this is good, Quetzalcoatl. If we simply protect them without reason, the people of Ur will never understand the true cost and purpose of that protection."
"What I seek is not blind protection or indulgence. I want to see them pick up their weapons once more and continue to fight against their fate."
In response to Quetzalcoatl's confusion, Roy gently shook his head and spoke with unwavering seriousness. "They must understand that miracles only appear when humanity fights with everything they have."
"Miracles only appear when humanity fights with everything they have?"
Quetzalcoatl's eyes gleamed with admiration as she repeated Roy's words, savoring their meaning. Indeed, she loved humanity... but not the entirety of the species. What she truly admired were the warriors among them, those who possessed noble qualities and a golden spirit. It was these individuals who had drawn her in, compelling her to protect them and watch them grow.
And now, this young man before her shared the same ideals. Was their meeting truly a coincidence, or was it destiny?
A smile crept onto Quetzalcoatl's lips as she turned to Roy. "Then what should I do to rekindle the fighting spirit in these humans who have nearly given up?"
"Awakening the hearts of humans is both difficult and simple."
"Difficult? Simple?"
Quetzalcoatl tilted her head, puzzled by Roy's seemingly contradictory statement.
"Yes," Roy nodded, explaining his thoughts. "It's simple because applying enough pressure can provoke rebellion... what you might call hitting rock bottom and bouncing back. But it's difficult because truly igniting the flames of resistance in their hearts is no easy task."
"Humans are highly impressionable creatures. They can descend to the depths of depravity, yet they are also capable of rising to the heights of nobility."
"So, what should we do to witness this transformation?" Quetzalcoatl pressed.
"It's quite simple, actually. All we need is a trial… or death."
"…Death and trials?"
Though Quetzalcoatl agreed with Roy's reasoning, his mention of death and trials still left her with questions. Most of the humans in Ur had been brought here from other cities. When facing soldiers from different regions, she would judge their resolve and decide whether to grant them true death or spare them.
According to her unique trial criteria, if someone challenged her with a determination to die, she would fight them seriously. But if they lacked the resolve to face her, she would spare their life. In the moment she struck them down, she would grant them an equal chance at revival.
Yet, even after all this, she had yet to find a satisfactory answer. Could death and trials truly provide the solution she sought?
"No," Roy replied firmly, addressing her doubts. "The death required for this trial isn't someone else's... it's mine."
"You would use your own life to awaken them?" Quetzalcoatl's eyes widened in shock.
Sacrificing oneself to inspire humanity... such resolve was almost too much to comprehend.
"Of course, I'm not actually going to die," Roy quickly clarified, seeing the look of awe on Quetzalcoatl's face. "I just need to make them believe I died fighting for their cause."
"Ah…"
…
Boom!!
Boom!!!
Explosions and flashes of light erupted repeatedly above Ur. After hours of silence, the city was once again engulfed in chaos.
"Magical Energy Output Maximum - Annihilation Mode!!"
A figure falling from the sky raised his hand, pointing like a gun toward Quetzalcoatl above. A terrifying blast of energy shot forth.
Whoosh!!
As the magical circuits on his body surged, a colossal stream of energy tore through the clouds.
"What a fearsome attack~ But this level of power is still far from enough to defeat me~"
Quetzalcoatl couldn't help but praise the destructive beam Roy had unleashed. An attack of this magnitude was comparable to an A-rank Noble Phantasm, something even most Servants would struggle to achieve. Yet, her Master had unleashed it so effortlessly. He was truly exceptional... so much so that she found him increasingly enigmatic.
Instead of blocking the attack head-on, Quetzalcoatl raised her shield-covered arm, deflecting the torrent of energy. The massive stream was absorbed by the intricate patterns on her shield, and with a flick of her wrist, she redirected its trajectory.
With that exchange, the two resumed their battle.
A white streak of light clashed with a golden figure, their movements reducing much of the city to rubble. This time, they didn't hold back, deliberately amplifying the destruction to ensure the entire city would take notice.
Boom!!!
Explosions echoed throughout Ur, shattering streets and walls. The violent tremors forced those hiding in their homes to confront the reality that their fragile shelters could no longer protect them.
"What's happening? Are demonic beasts attacking?!"
"Has the day of reckoning finally come?!"
Trembling, they peeked out from their homes, their hearts filled with despair.
Crash!!
A heavy object fell from the sky, landing in the central square, sending debris flying in all directions. The two combatants finally came to a halt.
"That's…"
The citizens of Ur recognized the goddess who had brought them here, the living disaster who had terrorized them. But the young man in her grasp…
"He's the warrior sent by King Gilgamesh to save us!"
Some of the residents who had spoken with Roy earlier recognized him and cried out in disbelief. Roy had introduced himself as a messenger from the northern King Gilgamesh, sent to rescue them.
"The king sent a warrior to save us? So, Gilgamesh hasn't abandoned us after all…"
"He sent someone to risk their life for us."
Tears welled up in the eyes of the young men from Ur. Knowing that their king still remembered them, that he had sent a warrior into this perilous place to fight for their freedom, filled them with a renewed sense of purpose.
If their king hadn't given up on them, how could they give up on themselves?
Seeing this, the young men of Ur exchanged determined glances and stepped forward.
"Good, this is good…"
Quetzalcoatl smiled as she observed the change in their demeanor. The spark of defiance in their eyes was a welcome sight. But this level of courage was still insufficient. To overcome the impending catastrophe, they would need far more than this.
What she truly desired was to see humans who, even in the face of darkness and overwhelming odds, would never yield... humans who would fight with everything they had to overcome any obstacle.
And so, she decided to follow Roy's plan.
Looking down at the humans who had dared to step forward, she declared, "Behold, pitiful humans. Even the warrior sent by your king is no match for me."
"For his defiance, he will now pay the ultimate price. To think he believed he could save you with his life... how laughable. I am a god, the strongest of gods, an existence you weaklings could never hope to defeat."
"As punishment for his insolence, I will hang him above the Temple of the Sun and let the scorching flames drain the life from his body. He will perish in agony and despair."
Quetzalcoatl lifted Roy into the air and hurled him toward the temple. With a swift motion, she grabbed a stone spear and impaled him against the temple wall.
In an instant, the temperature in Ur soared, transforming the city into a blazing inferno.
"What are you trying to do?!"
Seeing Roy pinned to the temple, the young man who had spoken with him earlier could no longer remain silent. He rushed back to his home, grabbed his battered stone spear, and stood before Quetzalcoatl.
Though fear still gripped his heart, he stepped forward without hesitation.
This was his fault. The warrior must have been inspired by his words to challenge the goddess. And now, he had paid the ultimate price.
He was a sinner, a coward who had caused the warrior's downfall.
He could no longer stand by and watch.
If he allowed a young man to die for him while he did nothing, how could he call himself a citizen of Ur? How could he call himself a warrior?
For too long, he had been paralyzed by fear. But now, it was time to act.
And so, he stood before Quetzalcoatl, ready to sacrifice himself.
"Oh? Aren't you afraid I'll kill you?"
Quetzalcoatl's expression turned menacing as she addressed the young man.
"I am afraid."
The young man didn't lie. He admitted his fear openly. But even so, he didn't retreat.
"I fear death," he said, meeting Quetzalcoatl's gaze. "But I fear living with the guilt of cowardice even more."
"When I learned that King Gilgamesh hadn't abandoned us, I was moved beyond words. I felt that even death would be worth it. And now, this warrior has risked his life to challenge you for our sake. How can I do any less?"
"I cannot stand by and watch my savior, the warrior sent by my king, die before my eyes."
"So today, I challenge you, goddess! Release the warrior! If you seek punishment, direct it at me!"
No longer afraid of the scorching heat or the divine power before him, the young man raised his spear and let out a battle cry.
"I, a soldier of the Northern Demon Beast Front of Uruk, challenge you, goddess!"
"And I!"
"Count me in!"
"I won't be left behind!"
One by one, more young men stepped forward, brandishing their worn weapons. Their eyes burned with determination as they shouted the battle cries of Uruk.
"Uruk stands!"
"Uruk stands!"
"Uruk stands!"
These were the words King Gilgamesh had often used to inspire them, the words they had shouted countless times on the battlefield. Though they had been subdued here, the pride of Uruk and the fire in their hearts had never been extinguished.
Now, they had awakened. They would no longer cower before the power of a god.
Like the warrior who had dared to challenge the goddess, they too were fighters. They were the defenders of their homeland, the guardians of their people's happiness.
And so...
"Victory!"
"Victory!"
Their cries echoed throughout Ur as the soldiers formed ranks, their weapons raised high.
Then, as one, they charged toward the goddess.
___
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