Sister stealing her little sister’s husband? Is it really that explosive?
Gilgamesh, who accidentally overheard the juicy gossip, looked shocked.
However, before he could inquire further, the form created by his consciousness was slapped apart by Aile, and his soul uncontrollably drifted back to the Mortal World.
Soon after, the Netherworld Goddess’s cheeks flushed slightly as she stammered:
"It seems like a mouse broke into the Netherworld. You rest here for a bit, I’ll go handle it."
After speaking, as the shaking and roaring of the entire Netherworld grew more intense, she hurriedly rushed to the Temple.
Meanwhile, in front of the entrance to the Underworld.
Countless golden Light Arrows pierced through the pervasive dead air like a rain of falling stars, blasting hundreds of Garura spirits into scattered Spirit Light.
Ishtar hovered in midair, gritting her teeth and threatening:
"Hey! If you don’t want to die again, behave and let the road clear. Otherwise, I’ll smash the barriers of the Netherworld and release all the Evil Spirits from the depths! If things get chaotic afterward, that woman can wait for the gods to condemn her!"
A few of the Garura spirits that survived the bombardment paused momentarily, then roared and charged towards Ishtar more fiercely.
They were merely Underworld Guards transformed from departed souls, possessing strong combat Instincts but low intelligence. Clearing external threats was their primary behavior protocol.
Fools who don’t know life from death!
Ishtar flared up, and the Heavenly Bow Mana suspended behind her automatically drew its string, as Divine Power surged into a massive Light Arrow the size of a Javelin.
Just as she was about to destroy these Garura spirits, the road ahead trembled violently, and seven towering doors formed from natural blue-black boulders rose from the ground.
The doors were inscribed with dense patterns and cuneiform script, exuding a mysterious, majestic, and eerie aura.
"If you wish to enter, then do so. Cross these seven Doors, and I shall wait for you at the Temple at the end!"
The doors slowly opened, and a cold, sullen voice came from the Grey mist.
At the end of the Doorway, Ishtar vaguely saw the temple, shaped like a spire, faintly glowing red.
Finally willing to come out!
Ishtar laughed coldly, stopped tormenting the Garura spirits, and charged directly through the door leading to the Temple.
However, just as she passed through the first Door, a muffled roar came from behind.
Ishtar instinctively turned around, only to see the originally open door behind her had shut tightly, leaving not a single crevice.
Meanwhile, a Red Thunder as thick as a barrel struck from the churning mist above, hitting her right on the head.
With a fit of intense coughing, Ishtar climbed out of the deep pit, trailing black smoke, angrily looking towards the Temple at the end of the Doorway:
"Ereshkigal, what’s the meaning of this?"
"These are the rules of the Netherworld: only those who pass the trials of the seven Doors and shed the burdens of life have the right to meet me."
A cold voice replied from the end, with a hint of mockery,
"Of course, if you’re not brave enough, you can sneak in like a mouse; or simply tuck your tail and scurry back to your own territory."
"I’m not brave enough? Fine, fine! Ereshkigal, you just wait for me!"
Provoked, Ishtar jumped in anger and charged into the second Door without thinking.
Joking aside, I’m the Goddess who masters the heavens. What thunder haven’t I seen?
If I’m fast enough, how can this thing possibly strike me...
The familiar rumble and familiar black smoke appeared within the second Door.
Ishtar shakily climbed out of the pit, her eyes full of anger and confusion.
This doesn’t make sense. That thing isn’t fast. How can I not dodge it?
"This is not an actual thunder strike, but a form of inescapable barrier."
A faint voice echoed in her mind, as Ishtar looked down at the amber gemstone necklace on her chest.
In the shimmering starlight, the Babylonian Female Wine God Siduri was hiding within.
Ishtar’s journey from the Mortal World to the Netherworld was naturally thanks to her efforts.
Unable to bear seeing her sister find true love, constantly entangled in each other’s affections, the sinister God of Hell Ereshkigal was filled with envy. Taking advantage of her sister Ishtar’s absence, she lured the Shepherd God Dumuzi into the Netherworld, forcibly tearing the couple apart...
Above was the "truth" that Siduri conveyed to Ishtar through various hints.
Originally, they should have proceeded straight to the point and teamed up to seek mischief in Aile.
However, Siduri overestimated Ishtar’s intelligence in dealing with common problems and had to tug back and forth for several months before she finally got the correct information into her head.
To be safe, she secretly hid in the jewelry Ishtar wore with her to accompany her.
The reason: for friendship, true love is undefeated.
But as soon as the journey to the Netherworld to search for someone began, they encountered trouble.
Within the Netherworld’s seven Doors leading to the Temple, there seemed to be a certain powerful force of restriction.
Upon entering the Netherworld from the Mortal World, each trial and each Door gradually weakened one’s Divinity, and the subsequent loss of one’s personal Authority followed.
After passing through these seven Doors and entering the Temple where the Goddess Ereshkigal resided, the visitor’s power would be suppressed to an extremely low level, rendering them powerless against the Queen of the Underworld, who would be in full form and have the home-field advantage.
Listening to her friend’s explanation, the belatedly aware Ishtar couldn’t help but curse: