Chapter 20: Half-Brothers from Different Fathers and Mothers
[3rd POV]
Shadow.
That was the name Kyouya had in this life.
He didn't have any particular thoughts about his name. After all, he was a creation of the gods, and since they had given him life, they naturally had the right to name him.
However, this name seemed to have another meaning.
"Wedge of Heaven?"
He muttered the word, but he had never encountered such a word, let alone its meaning.
"As the name suggests, it's something that connects Heaven and Earth, binding humans and gods together. This is the 'Wedge of Heaven'."
She looked at him. Although she had thought about it for a long time, she finally decided to tell him the truth.
"Now, we are in the Age of Gods, a time when gods have gathered. However, something happened, and now the Age of Gods is starting to decline."
'The decline of the Age of Gods again?'
He furrowed his brow.
'Could it be that the world he was in and the world where Lloyd was had some kind of connection in time?'
"The decline of the Age of Gods is inevitable, and although each pantheon has a way out, the sense of loss from losing the worship of humans is something that prideful gods cannot accept. Therefore, the plan known as 'Wedge of Heaven' was born."
The Wedge of Heaven is a plan to have demigods with divine blood rule over humanity, and the chain of heaven would connect gods and humans, ensuring the continuation of the Age of Gods.
The completion of this plan, the perfect creation of the gods, is none other than Gilgamesh.
"The more powerful a person is, the harder they are to control. The gods gave him enough power because only through power could he become the Wedge of Heaven. However, the gods cannot control his fate because of this power."
"So, that's why I exist? A backup or replacement?"
"That's right."
Although calling her own student a replacement made Ereshkigal quite displeased, it was an undeniable truth.
If she lied out of goodwill, the young boy in front of her might not be able to handle the truth in the future.
"The gods believe that if Gilgamesh doesn't obey, you'll take his place and fulfill the mission of the 'Wedge of Heaven.'"
"Then they'll be disappointed. Whether I'm against someone depends on whether that person has done something to make me an enemy. I don't know Gilgamesh, so I naturally won't be against him."
Although the gods created him, it was Ereshkigal who raised him. Unless Ereshkigal directly told him, Kyouya wouldn't go out of his way to provoke a powerful enemy.
"Leave. The power you can gain in the Underworld is limited. The gods have placed methods to control you that I cannot remove. Those methods can only control those weaker than the Gods, not those stronger. Go to the surface and grow stronger."
The gods were worried about Gilgamesh's power being uncontrollable, and they naturally had the necessary means to control this "shadow."
He knew that if he wanted to survive on his own strength, he would have to keep getting stronger, and the Underworld could no longer help him grow.
"Shadow, once you leave, you will be yourself. Live for yourself, fight for yourself. This is my only request of you. If you remember this care of mine, then never forget it."
Ereshkigal, as the Goddess of the Underworld, loved life.
She didn't want the boy she had raised to become a tool and be sacrificed by the gods for their own benefit.
"If that's your request, I'll remember it. However, what about you?"
He understood the meaning behind her words.
She wanted him to find his own path.
Even if she appeared in front of him in the future, he would have to make his own choices and not hesitate because of her kindness.
"Don't worry about me. I have the blessings of the Underworld. As long as I'm in the underworld, even my stubborn sister isn't a match for me."
As long as she's in the Underworld, Ereshkigal was invincible. This was her guarantee that she would never become a hostage.
However, those gods were also her family, and all she could do was give him a slight chance to control his own destiny and couldn't offer him much more.
"Thank you."
He left, leaving the eerie Underworld and stepping onto solid ground.
He couldn't help but lose himself for a moment when he first saw the starlight in the sky.
It was a sky belonging to the Age of Gods, completely different from the stars of later generations.
Name: Shadow
Gender: Male
Strength: B
Endurance: C
Agility: A
Mana: C
Luck: D
Noble Phantasm: N/A
Divinity: A
A backup for Wedge of Heaven, two-thirds god and one-third human, the half-brother of Gilgamesh by different fathers and mothers.
Eternal Arms Mastery: A
You possess unparalleled martial skills of being said to be unrivaled in one's era where mind, technique, and body are perfectly merged. You are able to use full fighting skills even when under the influence of any sort of mental hindrance.
Absolute Counter: A+
You are able to perceive the opponent's intentions and strike first while also being able to hide one's own attack intentions, making it impossible for the enemy to anticipate. It's absolute defense and absolute offense.
Benevolent Dark Emperor: (EX)
The destined moment has not yet arrived.
...
The stat panel wasn't as impressive as last time, but that doesn't mean "Shadow" is weaker than "Lloyd," who hasn't acquired the Holy Sword.
He doesn't think there are many who could defeat him, focusing only on hand-to-hand combat.
Moreover, "Divinity" makes even average stats improve to some degree. However, after leaving the underworld, the world had no place for him to fit in.
He has always considered himself a selfish person.
As Kyouya, he wanted to protect his family. As Lloyd, he wanted to protect the Age of God. As Shadow, he has nothing and nothing to protect.
Where should he go?
[You have left the Underworld.]
[You hunt magical beasts under the starry sky using their flesh to feed yourself and their pelts in exchange for money. Gradually, your name begins to spread.]
[You asked around about Gilgamesh, and people were surprised that you didn't know him since he's the most famous wise king right now.]
[You learned about the deeds of the young Gilgamesh. He was a wise, brave, and kind king, and there seemed no real reason to be his enemy.]
[You understand that he is fulfilling the duties of the Wedge of Heaven perfectly. It seems there is no need for you to make an appearance and that it might not be bad to live as an ordinary person in this world.]
...
[You heard the news that Gilgamesh was going to build a palace.]
[You heard the news that Gilgamesh was raising taxes.]
[You heard the news that Gilgamesh has been forcefully taking women from the people.]
...
"What's going on?"
Kyouya was puzzled.
To be continued...
...
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