The cause of this incident might simply be Ishtar's interference. As for why she caused trouble, Enkidu didn't have the energy to investigate further.
However, Anu, the king of the gods, who had endorsed this situation, also wanted to test the intention behind Ophis's "wedge."
The choice was presented to Ophis: summon priests and witches to pray, hoping to appease the gods and restore harmony, or use their own strength to defeat the gods and declare that humanity had taken its first step toward breaking away from divine control.
This was a gamble made by the gods—a choice given to Ophis.
"Are you planning to defy the gods?"
Enkidu's serious question made Ophis pause.
Despite her usual demeanor, Ophis understood the gravity of Enkidu's question. She wasn't ignorant of the responsibility associated with the 'Wedge,' but she had previously dismissed it as insignificant noise.
Now, though, she had to make a real choice. Ignoring or simplifying the decision was no longer an option.
But Ophis's thinking was straightforward...
"Enkidu, I want..."
"Ophis!"
Before she could finish, Enkidu interrupted her.
"This choice is not about my will. It's something you must decide on your own!"
"…"
For the first time, Enkidu spoke with such seriousness, causing Ophis to fall silent. She realized she had to make her own decision.
However, this choice was relatively simple for Ophis. Though she valued silence, she didn't reject fighting. In fact, she welcomed any training that could help her grow stronger for her battle against the Great Red.
Enkidu, on the other hand, wouldn't be pleased with a god who toyed with people like this.
But just as Ophis was about to answer...
A flicker of light in her right eye revealed a series of images, showing the defeat of the Bull of Heaven and, with it, Enkidu's death.
"Woo…"
"Ophis?"
Ophis suddenly took a few steps back, breaking free from Enkidu's grip.
"Let me think about it first."
Enkidu was surprised by the hesitation he saw in Ophis's usually resolute eyes. He nodded reflexively and watched as Ophis walked slowly out of the hall, scratching his head in confusion.
"Was I too hasty?"
───────────────────────────────
On a hill outside Uruk, Ophis used her magical power to propel herself but ended up crashing into the hill instead.
Subconsciously, she had come here...
After calming down, Ophis looked around in confusion and pressed her chest.
────My heart aches.
This was her reaction after seeing those images.
It's not that Ophis doesn't feel pain, but she had always considered it an 'unnecessary factor' that might affect her thinking and combat.
This time, however, it was impossible to ignore...
Is this what emotions feel like?
It seemed like a burdensome factor that would not aid in defeating the Great Red. In fact, it might impair her judgment and performance. It was something she felt she should discard...
Ophis realized she could seal away most of her emotions—or even completely destroy them.
And it was quite easy to do so.
Ophis didn't know why it was so easy, or why it was only 'mostly' emotions she could suppress, but she knew that doing so would solve her troubles easily.
Yet, the blood in her body resisted this action.
Ouroboros is perfect, but losing her emotions meant losing her own completeness.
Most importantly, she felt that doing so would cost her something far more valuable than emotions.
In the end, Ophis couldn't bring herself to do it.
With her clairvoyance awakened, Ophis had become quite confident in her intuition.
"Did you make it through…?"
In Ophis's sea of consciousness, Qi wiped cold sweat from his forehead.
NMB, do you know how long it took to nurture this tiny bit of love?
"Really... I was frightened awake... But I can't hold on for much longer..."
After confirming that Ophis wouldn't do anything drastic, Qi fell back into a deep sleep.
Even though Ophis had decided on the emotional matter, she still couldn't make a direct decision regarding Enkidu's choice.
Whether Enkidu cared for her because he replaced the original Trill, it was fate, or simply because he was too endearing, Ophis could no longer ignore his existence.
Enkidu's death was hard for Ophis to accept.
However, after receiving the images of the future, Ophis felt a growing disdain for the gods.
Obeying their wishes was increasingly unappealing.
But Ophis knew there was only one choice left.
She couldn't let Enkidu die.
Currently, Ophis lacked the power to overthrow the entire Babylonian pantheon. Even some god-king-level entities were very active in this era, and the ancient creation-level gods had not entirely disappeared.
Ophis's strongest attack method was Ea, but its power wasn't extraordinary. Ea was known as an 'anti-world' weapon not because it could destroy the world, but because it could directly attack the world itself.
In terms of raw power, Ea could be stronger than the curry stick in its sealed state, but it wasn't a massive difference.
Overall, Ophis's output couldn't match that of the gods, and while the gods probably couldn't kill her, she wondered if they had the ability to seal her away.
Some gods might not even have a concept of death.
Even if Ophis could use her infinite strength to destroy the gods, it would mean the destruction of Uruk and possibly Mesopotamia. The time required would allow the gods to kill Enkidu.
In short, waging war with the gods was unwise.
So, was surrender the only option?
Ophis sighed inwardly, but for Enkidu, this wasn't an unacceptable outcome.
"Is it my concern that you are thinking of, Lord of Uruk?"
At that moment, Enkidu's voice suddenly came from behind Ophis.