As the first warrior stepped forward, the cacophony of panic, fear, and despair that had filled the air fell silent. All eyes turned to the soldier from Uruk as he marched toward Quetzalcoatl, his spear pointed squarely at the goddess. Behind him, more and more soldiers emerged, forming ranks and raising their weapons in defiance of the divine being towering above them.
Some among the crowd, still gripped by fear, tried to dissuade them from what seemed like a futile act of suicide. But the soldiers only offered them a calm, resolute smile before continuing their advance. Their eyes, clear and unwavering, held no trace of hesitation or doubt. The determination in their gaze silenced them, leaving them to clench their fists and watch in stunned silence as the brave souls marched to their potential doom.
They knew, deep down, that their own cowardice and weakness rendered them unworthy of standing in the way of such courage.
The number of those stepping forward grew rapidly, forming a long, unbroken line. No longer paralyzed by the oppressive heat or the overwhelming presence of the goddess, these men and women picked up their weapons and stood shoulder to shoulder, ready to charge toward the blazing sun that was Quetzalcoatl.
"For Uruk!"
"For Uruk!!"
The thunderous war cries reverberated through the city, shaking the very air and stirring something deep within Quetzalcoatl's heart.
"You…"
Quetzalcoatl gazed down at the mortal soldiers charging toward her. Though fear still flickered in their eyes, they pressed on, undeterred by the scorching heat that made even standing a torment. Not a single one of them retreated. Instead, they summoned their courage, embraced the certainty of death, and charged forward with unwavering resolve.
Their eyes, once dull and lifeless, now burned with a spark... a spark of rebellion. It was small, fragile even, but it was undeniably there.
Just as Roy had said.
Humans were neither inherently noble nor base. They could become anything, depending on the guidance they received and the leaders who inspired them. Once they found their direction, they could rise from the depths of despair and strive toward their ideals.
Yes, a single spark was feeble, barely enough to pierce the darkness. But countless sparks, gathered together, could form a bonfire... a fire so bright it could rival the sun itself. Quetzalcoatl believed this with all her heart.
And it wasn't just the soldiers of Uruk. The people of Ur, long imprisoned and broken, were also ignited by this fiery resolve. They picked up whatever weapons they could find... sticks, stones, anything... and joined the charge. Their eyes, too, burned with the same fierce determination, as they threw themselves into the growing inferno of rebellion.
Two streams of humanity converged, forming an unbreakable wall. Though they came from different cities and had no prior connection, they now stood together, united in their fight against the goddess who symbolized oppression and calamity.
"Victory!"
"Victory!!"
"Victory!!!"
The chants grew louder, the light at their feet brighter and more dazzling. It was so radiant that Quetzalcoatl had to shield her eyes, momentarily unsure whether it was the sun or the humans themselves that shone so brilliantly.
"…How beautiful."
…
"Oooohhh!!!"
As the people of Ur ignited the flames of rebellion and rallied against their fate, a towering figure on the distant frontlines of Uruk's war against the demonic beasts seemed to sense something. The giant, bound in iron chains, raised his head and turned his gaze toward Uruk, his eyes alight with an indescribable excitement.
"Rebellion! Oppression!!" He roared, his voice shaking the earth. "For freedom, hurrah!!"
The sudden outburst startled the soldiers around him. They turned to look at the giant, confused by his sudden fervor. But the giant paid them no mind, continuing to shout and gesture wildly.
"Berserker, what's going on?"
Noticing the commotion, a white-clad Archer who had been commanding the frontlines flew back to investigate. He landed near the giant, his expression one of concern.
Though Berserkers were known for their lack of rationality, this particular Berserker had been relatively stable since his summoning. Aside from his initial outburst against Gilgamesh, which had led to his subjugation, he had been a reliable ally, fighting valiantly alongside Uruk's soldiers and even sharing his thoughts on freedom and oppression during quieter moments.
But now, something had clearly set him off.
"Oooh! Rebellion! I feel it! The spark of rebellion!!" The giant bellowed, his eyes fixed on the distant horizon. "No matter the land, oppressors exist, but the flames of freedom and rebellion cannot be extinguished! The fire has been lit!!"
With that, Berserker leaped from the high walls of the city and began sprinting toward the horizon, his massive form barreling through the battlefield.
"Berserker, where are you going?!" Archer shouted after him.
"Oooh! To seek freedom! To guide it! To spread the spark of rebellion!!"
"Has he completely lost his mind…?"
Seeing Berserker's reckless charge toward the demonic horde, Archer knew he had to act. Allowing the giant to breach their defenses would spell disaster for the entire front and, by extension, Uruk itself. As the commander of this front, it was his duty to stop this madness.
After quickly issuing orders for the soldiers to hold the line in his absence, Archer leaped into the air, soaring over Berserker's head. He landed in front of the charging giant, his white bow drawn and aimed squarely at him.
Whoosh!!
Several arrows, glowing with blue magical energy, shot past Berserker, cutting off his path. Archer's voice was firm as he addressed the giant.
"Return to the frontlines, Berserker! I won't ask twice."
His bowstring was taut, his aim unwavering. The message was clear: any further defiance would be met with force.
___
If you're interested in reading more, feel free to visit my pat reon,
https , // www .pat reon. com /XElenea