It wasn't difficult to defeat the Bull of Heaven.
With the right weapons to breach its defenses and the opponent's lackluster skills and intelligence, the Bull of Heaven was no match. Even with its power, if one knew how to exploit its weaknesses, victory was assured—especially with the Heavenly Chain to restrain it.
For Ophis and Enkidu, the divine bull was never a real challenge. The real issue lay in the aftermath.
After defeating the bull, Ophis and Enkidu returned to the hilltop.
"Ha... I didn't expect you actually managed to kill that beast."
There, Ishtar awaited them, her hands behind her back and a charming smile on her face. However, her presence elicited no reaction from either Ophis or Enkidu. Ophis continued to ignore her, while Enkidu wore a rare expression of hostility.
"Why?" Ophis asked, pulling on Enkidu's sleeve to calm him.
"Can you tell me why?"
Ishtar touched her lips with her finger, giving Ophis a flirtatious wink. "Because it's fun?"
"Fun? You, a god, risked causing great harm to yourself just for fun?"
Ishtar sneered at Enkidu's confrontational tone. "Don't be absurd. The Age of Gods is ending, and the Age of Humans is beginning. Everyone knows this—the old gods, the so-called prologue, and even you. The old gods are just trying to delay their demise. As for me, I'd rather enjoy myself in these final moments."
"Are you seriously causing such destruction to Uruk just for amusement?" Enkidu continued, frowning.
Ophis observed Enkidu with curiosity. It seemed Ishtar had managed to unsettle him.
In Ophis's view, Ishtar's actions weren't purely for fun—at least not entirely.
"Well, isn't that the nature of gods? We're unpredictable by nature, after all," Ishtar said with a self-satisfied grin. Some gods, like her, act on whim and pleasure, even if it accelerates their own downfall.
"You... um..."
Enkidu suddenly collapsed, clutching his chest in agony.
"It seems the curse of the gods has taken effect," Ishtar said with a wicked smile. She quickly jumped behind Ophis, resting her head on his shoulder and caressing his cheek with her hand.
"It's not a spell cast after Enkidu's rebellion but one set from the start. If you disobey your duties, the curse activates. So, is the person you care about going to die because of my 'fun'? Will he resent me?"
Despite Ishtar's teasing, Ophis remained unmoved, his face as cold as ever.
"Tsk... how boring," Ishtar finally said, showing her frustration. She stopped her teasing to avoid provoking Enkidu further, knowing well that he might retaliate.
Ishtar was taken aback when Ophis suddenly turned to her and asked, "Ishtar, do you love humans?"
Ophis had come to this conclusion from observing Ishtar's actions and Enkidu's reaction. It seemed Ishtar might have a genuine fondness for humanity, albeit as a whole rather than for individual humans. The gods, even as they faced their end, might still harbor complex feelings toward the beings they once ruled.
"What? This is completely incomprehensible!" Ishtar exclaimed, jumping back in surprise. "I just want to see how long these foolish humans can survive without divine protection. Don't misunderstand me!"
After boasting for a moment, she sighed and gazed towards Uruk. "But, indeed, humans who merely follow divine will are too boring. Witnessing their struggle to advance on their own is far more interesting. When the Age of Gods ends, their affairs will no longer concern us. To me, that is the most thrilling drama."
With a final look at Enkidu, who was struggling to recover from the curse, Ishtar turned and waved her hand. "You will be the star now. The king's prologue is over. Whether the next act will be an epic or a farce depends on how you perform. Don't disappoint me."
As she spoke, Ishtar's form began to fade, becoming a golden point of light before vanishing completely.
Enkidu, holding his breath in frustration, could only collapse weakly once more.
"Ophis."
Ignoring Ishtar's final words, Ophis crouched beside Enkidu. Though his face remained expressionless, concern was evident in his eyes.
"Ah... just as expected," Enkidu said with a gentle smile, despite his pain. "I must look quite pathetic now. But, in a way, it mirrors the gods' situation. Facing humanity's betrayal, they resort to such futile and meaningless methods to resist."
Enkidu shook his head. "Perhaps they have given up."
The gods, though proud, are not oblivious to reality. Some trends cannot be reversed. Ophis's decision had become the final straw, leading the gods to surrender. The powerful among them would remain, though under house arrest, while the weaker gods would be disregarded.
In the near future, the gods might unleash their wrath, posing new challenges for Ophis. But their capacity to intervene in the world had waned. The Age of Gods was undeniably in decline.