After a few minutes, the smoke and dust finally cleared.
Ophis wiped the mud from her face and turned to Enkidu.
"Hahaha…"
An awkward smile appeared on her face.
Enkidu absorbed the remaining mud from his body and then cleared the mud off Ophis as well. He glanced toward the spot where Humbaba had been.
"That should solve the problem, right?"
His words carried a mix of sadness and relief. Perhaps, for her friend, returning to nature was the best outcome rather than being trapped by wild instincts.
However, when Enkidu had bound the opponent, he felt an aura of divinity emanating from Humbaba, something that shouldn't have been there.
"No, it's not over yet!"
Despite his confusion, Enkidu's sharp senses quickly detected a faint, lingering breath of life.
"Roar…"
A low roar emerged from the still-dusty center of the explosion, and the monster slowly emerged.
Though Humbaba had high energy resistance, the bombardment from Ophis's magic cannons had left it in a dire state. Its animal hide was charred, and the serpent's tail drooped weakly, unable to move.
Even so, Humbaba crouched and roared at the two of them.
───Enkidu, who could sense the remaining vitality, judged that the monster was weak and merely bluffing.
Ophis, who had been silent, looked at Enkidu, waiting for a decision.
"Go ahead… If Ophis attacks now, it should only take one strike, right?"
Enkidu bit his lip, finally speaking. She had decided to let the monster go but couldn't bring herself to attack her old friend, even in this state.
Ophis nodded, and five magic circles appeared behind her, blocking all directions around the monster.
It would be difficult for Humbaba to move now, but for safety's sake, Ophis planned to finish it off with this attack.
Concentrating the energy into a single, lethal strike, Ophis prepared to launch it, ready to complete the task in three seconds.
As the magic cannon drew closer, Humbaba seemed to give up. But then, with a sudden burst of strength, the monster leaped and blocked the farthest magic cannon.
With its energy-resistant fur burned away, Humbaba was ultimately consumed by the torrent of magic and reduced to ashes.
This magic cannon was different from the previous ones—it was fired in a straight line, parallel to the ground. The other four cannons, missing their target, had blasted deep into the forest, creating four massive trenches.
Enkidu stood with her head bowed while Ophis approached the area where Humbaba had been.
Humbaba had disappeared, but the seven rays of light from its body remained. As Ophis approached, they condensed into a complex, dagger-like shape, which she took into her hand.
"What is this?" Enkidu finally asked, coming to her senses.
Ophis shook her head and walked towards the direction where Humbaba's magic cannon had swept.
Enkidu, scratching her head, was about to follow when Ophis suddenly stopped and turned around.
"I don't understand it, but after studying magic, my intuition sometimes becomes very sharp."
"Well?" Enkidu paused.
"So, Enkidu, it's better if you don't go any further."
Ophis turned back and continued into the forest.
"I understand…"
Enkidu smiled bitterly.
"But some things have to be faced…"
With that, Enkidu followed.
They continued forward, traversing nearly a kilometer of wasteland before reaching a large flowerbed that stood out from the surrounding forest. It was filled with blue and white flowers, clearly well-tended.
Enkidu noted that some flowers didn't belong in this environment, indicating that this place had been specially prepared for them.
Ophis walked straight to the entrance of a cave without pausing.
Near the cave entrance, two braided wreaths were placed on a casually piled straw bed, as if to ensure they were noticed.
The flowers on the wreaths were still vibrant—whether recently made or preserved, Ophis couldn't tell.
She stared at the wreaths in silence.
Enkidu arrived, his face showing exhaustion—not physical, but the deep emotional toll of the battle.
He staggered to the wreaths, his legs giving way, and knelt to pick one up.
"Ha ha…"
Enkidu laughed suddenly.
"It's really strange, why are there two wreaths?"
He asked Ophis with a gentle smile.
Ophis remained silent.
The smile that once brought peace and security now, accompanied by tears, was heartbreakingly sad.
Why must she smile despite her sorrow?
Is it for her friend?
But such a smile would be better left unsaid…
Ophis clasped her hands together.
───Bang!
The sound of a heavy object falling drew Enkidu's attention.
Ophis pulled out a large stone slab, placed it on the ground, and began carving it with her magic power.
In Uruk script, the stone bore the inscription:
─── "Humbaba's Tomb"
"Enkidu, come here."
Ophis called to Enkidu, who was dazed and suddenly burst into laughter.
…Really, she's so clumsy and cute.
One wreath was placed on the stone slab, and the other was placed on Enkidu's head.
If this is done, the bond they created will surely continue, right?
It must…