Evening.

A bright full moon silently climbed to the treetops, withered and yellow.

The dry night wind blew, seeming not to contain a trace of moisture.

Yet in Uruk City, decorations were bright, and citizens with unusually large eyes compared to the outside world stepped out of their homes.

They gathered around the mountain-like Heaven-Reaching Tower and the majestic Aerial Garden at its top.

Looking at this man-made building, rising from the ground like a miracle, an endless pride welled up in every eye that had seemingly endured countless hardships.

Though natural disasters of floods one year and droughts the next had persisted for two cycles, here still concentrated the majority of the nation’s taxes, offerings, and countless rare treasures.

The Aerial Garden was even more planted with the rarest and most beautiful flowers and plants, and in the drought, the most precious... water source.

All this had but one purpose.

Dong! Dong! Dong!...

Hundreds of strong men vigorously struck the massive oxhide drums.

Doo——!

Fifty priests, divided into two rows and crowned with golden crowns, blew their horns.

Wearing a solemn ceremonial robe, with a thorn "crown" on his head, Nebuchadnezzar, barefoot like a "sinner" pleading for redemption, stepped up the spiral staircase winding around the high tower to the Aerial Garden at the top.

Following him, thanks to the amazing "Magic Potion Technology" and bizarre witchcraft, the Crowned Wizard Paracelsus, who had been appointed as the kingdom’s "Wise Man."

Apart from them and a team of priests in white robes, there was no one else on the entire Heaven-Reaching Tower.

Gold and silver, precious stones, colorful clothing, treasures from mountains and deep seas, mature billy goats, lambs, musk, bountiful plants, white figs, beer, honey, butter...

All piled high, covering the entire massive circular altar.

In the Muriyan civilization’s human god system.

Gods, although of infinite power and greatness, have similar basic needs to mortals, including clothing, food, shelter, even marriage are necessary for them.

So besides faith, the finest offerings are also indispensable.

In this year of severe drought where not a drop of rain had fallen since the New Year, no one in the entire kingdom dared to be careless about this sacrificial ceremony.

When the sun and moon met, the sacrificial ceremony officially began.

The priests lit the finest incense, moving slowly around the altar, murmuring respectful titles, respectfully inviting every god worshipped by the Muriyans to cast their gaze upon this place.

Also on the altar, the holy names, holy statues, and holy emblems of each god were engraved on steles, numbering at least twenty-odd in various sizes.

Among them.

The most revered is the "God of the Sky", "Father of the Gods" Anu, whose image is a luxurious triple crown placed on a throne.

In all mythological tales, this Main God has never descended from the Celestial Kingdom to the mortal world; undoubtedly, He is a great True God!

Beneath Him are the most exalted Three Pillar Gods.

Enlil, "Master of the Wind," "King of the Air," is both the moist spring breeze nourishing all things and the god of hurricanes, with floods and strong winds as his weapons;

Though possessing dual natures of good and evil, most often, he displays a violent side.

Marduk, "King of Kings," "Lord of Life," embodies the powers of the gods;

He is the great god who brings rebirth to the gods, the caster who resurrects the dead, the wise man with piercing insight, the protector of justice and law, the creator of all things, King of Kings...

Inanna, "God of Love, Blood, and War," the most beautiful among the gods, possessing many admirers and followers.

There are also numerous Assistant Gods, the Fire God Kebir who rides a firebird, the Water God Adad who grips stone arrows in both hands with a bull, and offsprings of Marduk: the Mud God Raham and Laham....

Even the sacred fire used for sacrifice is a god named Nusku.

Teng!

The flames roared up, indicating the gods’ willingness to accept mortal offerings.

A group of priests in white robes, after purifying their hands, respectfully cast the sacrifices on the altar piece by piece into the sacred fire.

At the same time, they sang, "Divine Fire Nusku, without you, the temple cannot host feasts; without you, the great gods cannot smell the fragrance of offerings..."

The kinds of high-quality offerings even the king could not enjoy would immediately transform into a wisp of smoke upon touching the divine fire, soaring into the realm where the gods dwell.

However, the offerings were so abundant.

A group of priests worked together, from dusk until the full moon hung high in the sky, offering the final piece, a golden crafted exquisite wine vessel.

Compared to the parched world beneath the Heaven-Reaching Tower, it truly seemed ironic.

Teng—!

Immediately, the divine fire rose several meters high, reflecting the gods’ great satisfaction with the offerings.

Meanwhile.

The most noble king of the mortal realm looked at the dried riverbeds, the withered crops, and the expectant gazes of his subjects below the high tower, took a deep breath, and prostrated himself on the ground, caring little as thorns pierced his forehead.

He raised his hands high and urgently cried out:

"O gods of the heavens, everything about humanity is restrained and governed by the great gods. With utmost loyal faith, we built towering towers for you, created gardens, and offered you the finest sacrifices...

Yet countless hardships still surround the devout Muriyan people.

Between the two rivers, at times water overflows, at times drought strikes, sometimes winds rage, and sometimes torrential rains turn the earth into swamps.

I! Nebuchadnezzar! Representing all humanity, plead with you, gods, please open your eyes and reveal your merciful side to the humans on earth!"

Probably the gods in the heavens, who were enjoying the offerings, probably hadn’t expected a human king so bold, daring to negotiate with the gods.

The entire world went silent for a moment, even the air seemed to cease flowing.

Soon a thunderous grand voice echoed over the entirety of Uruk City.

"Mortals have no qualifications to negotiate with the gods.

Created by gods, humans are given their humble lives only to execute the will of the celestial gods in the mortal realm. You must worship the gods, believe in the gods, support the gods!

All disasters are to temper your will, test your piety, and shape your souls.

Whether blessing or disaster, it is a god’s gift, to be accepted with grace, followed by more devout worship of the gods, not to bargain with your fathers!!!"

Many citizens in the city were already terrified, falling to their knees and banging their heads against the ground, praying for forgiveness.

"However, considering the richness of these offerings, I—’Lord of Life’ Marduk, can temporarily forgive your presumptive words.

But! On the next full moon night, you must offer triple the sacrifices, else I will destroy Uruk and select a new, reverent human king worthy of the gods."

However.

Upon hearing the final ultimatum of this divine punishment, the bearded human king, Nebuchadnezzar, not only did not tremble in fear but instead stood up by himself from the ground.

Casually tossing away the blood-stained thorn "Crown" from his head, he lowered his gaze and murmured to himself:

"Perhaps... I should have never hoped for anything from you..."

This action, to the gods, was already an unpardonable sin.

It was the rebellion of mortals, the desecration of the gods’ authority by mere ants!

However, the gods observing this scene from the sky were not angered, they simply found it amusing.

It was as if an ant wanted to compete with humans to see who was stronger, in the face of an insurmountable chasm, it was like a belly-laughing joke.

A mere human overestimating themselves, any god could crush them effortlessly.

Yet, king Nebuchadnezzar’s "mad" actions did not stop there.

Crash...

Kicking over the stone tablet engraved with holy names on the altar, he proudly looked up to the sky, enunciating each word:

"Greedy gods, from today, the game changes! So-called gods must serve humans, if you don’t behave, as the king of all humans, I don’t mind..."

The king gazed at the sky and uttered two thunderous words:

"Wield the blade... Godslayer!"

As soon as the words fell.

The King of Muriya received a "black cross long halberd" hidden by the Crowned Wizard in the [Witchcraft Garden].

Buzz ——!

His muscles, as perfect as marble sculptures, swelled up high, and his boundless spiritual power burst forth.

Evidently, he too was a Tier 4 [Spiritualist] who relied on himself rather than the strength bestowed by gods.

"Heh, I say... This halberd will not miss!"

[Magic-like Technique: Word Spirit]

Whoosh!

A jet-black light shot out of his hand, like a venomous dragon about to devour, soaring into the sky, only to suddenly vanish into the void.

"Ah!"

With a painful cry from overhead.

Golden liquid sprinkled down like rain, where it landed springs burst forth, flowers bloomed, and fruits grew aplenty....

However, that was not rain, it was... Divine Blood!

Wailing...

In just an instant.

The sky suddenly filled with thick clouds stretching thousands of miles, as if threatening to collapse the heavens.

Centered around the Heaven-Reaching Tower, the clouds split into two, revealing a colossal figure formed of thunder and whirlwinds.

That was Enlil, the "King of the Air" among the Three Pillar Gods.

In His hand, He clutched a lightning spear several kilometers long, with burning rage, He hurled it down from the sky.

Boom ——!!!

For a moment, the winds and clouds were stunned, and all things lamented.

The human masterpiece, mighty as a mountain, the Heaven-Reaching Tower, was effortlessly split in two like straw, crashing down onto the city.

Then.

The wind and stones sang together:

"Uruk, the great city, has fallen! Fallen! It has become a dwelling place for demons, a prison for all unclean spirits, and a nest for all unclean and detestable birds."

This was clearly the might of "Marduk, the Lord of Life," also the unlucky one among the gods injured by mortals.

Soon after, all the residents in Uruk City heard a supremely sweet female voice speaking from deep within their hearts:

"O my faithful people, come out of that city, lest you share in her sins, and receive her plagues.

As Uruk glorified herself and lived in luxury, so give her like measure of torment and sorrow!

Therefore, in one day, her plagues will come upon her: death and mourning and famine. And she will be utterly burned with fire, for strong is the Main God who judges her!"

Evidently, King Nebuchadnezzar had long prepared before today’s ritual, and today’s sacrifice was his final attempt for peace.

The high-level [Spiritualists] had already safely teleported the citizens away.

Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!....

From the broken "Heaven-Reaching Tower," "Flagellated Worms" resembling locusts, each carrying a pitch-black cross long halberd, shot up into the sky.

...

Bang!

In the eastward strip-wide "Broken Star Islands" formed by tens of thousands of islands, on the East Island No. 2 named by Aiven, a group of four quietly disembarked from the [Sea Soul].

And with their gaze, they dissipated the war fog enshrouding this large island.

"According to the records verified in the [Witchcraft Garden: Uruk Great Temple], the Muriyan Civilization had a population of about thirty-five million people.

It is documented that the powers of the inheritors of this civilization come from nature, and their people have the ability to communicate with nature.

They revere gods and believe that all things have spirits, with gods overseeing their food, clothing, and housing—what we see in the Secret Realm must be some accident that occurred..."

Jelos, the most knowledgeable about their destination, was passionately explaining the overview of this civilization to his companions.

Suddenly.

Boom ——!

A gigantic figure nearly ten meters tall fell from the sky, crashing onto the ground before them, splattering blood all over the front-facing Jelos.

Immediately, a surging river, using it as the center, seemed to "grow" from the ground, a manifestation of the power emanating from a demigod.

Aiven and his companions looked up at the sky engulfed in fierce battle, their mouths slowly agape:

"Is this... starting with a War of the Gods?"