In that moment, there was no more need to think. Ereshkigal took his hand and the deal was struck. The plan to "kill" a deity had been set in stone. Tianzun grinned as he left her a bouquet of flowers that didn't seem to wither in the underworld.
In an aspect, as he returned from the underworld, one could say he had cheated death. That night Tianzun returned back to the city as he saw mass mourning. In that moment he had seen it, Enkidu's death and the king's tears of grief.
As he walked through the city, the grieving king noticed his existence almost immediately. "You... You knew about this didn't you? Are you a puppet of the gods?" He glared at Tianzun with distrust. Siduri looked ashamed as she had failed to stop the events from happening despite foreknowledge.
Tianzun's smile didn't falter as he explained calmly, "My king, I assure you. I had told you before about the end of this story. And I am not a puppet of the gods..."
Gilgamesh continued to tremble as a single golden portal opened behind Tianzun's head. "Explain yourself clown... Or do you go by a magician now? Speak before your head falls. That sickening smile disgusts me."
Tianzun simply tapped his lips as he apologised, "Sorry, this is just a habit from my days as a clown. A seer can only revere fate, a clown despite knowing fate can do little but to don a smile when teased by fate, and now my dear king. I believe you'll enjoy this show that a magician is about to perform."
"A god killing performance."
Gilgamesh narrowed his eyes, "I see, you aren't a human. No... You are human, however your essence is not that of a human. You are less human than you were when I first met you. These titles of yours and that strange scent of the divine..."
The king soon burst into laughter as he let out his realisation to the crying skies.
"I see... You're a fool! A fool who walks a path of madness. Very well! This king shall be your audience for this play. Entertain me with surprise!"
~~~~~
Very soon Tianzun's scheme had begun. He had spread rumors about the king's mental state and the reason for Enkidu's death. Many had come to love Enkidu, the one who befriended the king and in turn made their lives much better.
Yet faced with such overwhelming decision between reproaching a deity or supporting the deity had them stuck. Many secretly were dissatisfied with what Ishtar had done. They themselves had been through the storms and weather that the Bull of Heaven had brought about.
All this simply because Ishtar was rejected by the king.
Even if they were passive in nature, they all had one thought, "The gods do not understand or care about mankind."
It was at this moment that the people heard the most ridiculous statement from that crazy madman, Tianzun.
Many had realised and put together the pieces, Tianzun had once been a seer, then a clown, and now he was a magician. Yet this madman had openly challenged a deity.
"In five days time... I shall perform the greatest act of punishing the gods. In five days, I shall slay a god for her transgressions against Uruk. Such a goddess can not be allowed to exist. If she can kill anyone for simply annoying her... How can you be sure you won't be next?"
Frankly Tianzun was spouting bullshit. He didn't care because all he wanted was the reaction from the crowd. In that moment his declaration spread as he vanished in a flash of flame just before thunder struck his previous spot.
Gilgamesh simply watched from the ziggurat as Siduri looked worried. "My king, should we be worried about Tianzun?" She asked.
Gilgamesh simply snorted, "Siduri, the one thing you should never worry about a fool is his ability to escape death. Fools are those who defy fate with nothing but themselves. He is not an idiot. I wish to see the conclusion of his performance."
Siduri looked worried, "My king it is not just you as his audience, he has dragged the entire city of Uruk into this mess. Spreading rumors and slandering the gods."
Gilgamesh grinned, "There is no need, I suspect he is a god himself. Not a god like the ones we know, a reawakening god. A primordial force."
Siduri looked confused as Gilgamesh continued, "Why do you think he has not been struck down already by the heavens? Knowing that bitch's personality, she would have ideally had him killed before she could even descend."
Siduri thought about it before shaking her head speechless.
Gilgamesh grinned, "That grey fog protects him, that curtain itself cloaks his existence as well. Yet it is not a treasure, it can only be called something that does not belong to this world..."
The king's grin grew wider, "The show begins."
~~~~
The clouds descended as Ishtar appeared in a bath of warm golden light. Her eyes filled with fury, she looked very similar to Ereshkigal but lacked all of her grace. Tianzun snorted as he thought to himself, "Looks similar, but lacks a brain and all the grace her sister had."
"People of Uruk! Your deity is here! Do you believe her to be a deity worthy of worship?"
Subtly he had prepared back up plans in case the citizens did not share a sentiment but luckily the illusions he placed were not necessary. Many of the Uruk citizens yelled out cursing her name.
The days of rumor spreading and mental manipulation had taken it's toll on the people. Tianzun had been using illusions to let people see their loved ones dying at the hands of Ishtar simply because of petty grudges.
And it only worked because the idiot goddess had set a precedent for this situation, Enkidu. The people now knew that she was capable of such actions. And a flock of sheep would never allow a beast that had bitten once, back into the fold.
Tianzun had used Ishtar's own actions to crush her faith. Apart from her temples and priestesses. No one would ever completely trust Ishtar again. They now saw Ishtar as a dangerous factor, a beast that had appeared in their midsts.
After all they had never seen a beast they were sure wouldn't bite. "People of Uruk, today I shall give you the greatest performance known to man! I shall use my life to punish Ishtar as a mortal and I shall cheat death itself."
In that instant a blast of magical energy had come in front of him. The people gasped as dust rose from the top of the building only for Tianzun to emerge from the crowd.
Tianzun felt bad for some old man who had been lighting a fire to smoke tobacco. "Lady Ishtar, it seems you have taken on my challenge?"
Ishtar's teeth ground together in a rage as her facial features looked nothing like a goddess of love. "Cheat death you say? By the time I'm done with you, my sister will have nothing left to even bury!"
Tons of magical energy crashed down onto the city square as the people soon fled further away.
"Watch out for the citizens Ishtar~" Tianzun appeared once again on another rooftop as he raised his hand and pointed at her.
"Bang"
In an instant Ishtar dodge realising an invisible air bullet had passed her head. "You dare?" Many pieces of paper flew out in that instant as they were all broken by Ishtar's Mana.
Soon began a dance of life and death. The people were further away but that did not stop them from watching this performance. Tianzun was surviving against a god. Such dreams of man had never blossomed before.
Yet here was someone doing the impossible. And that drew their hearts and attention.
Ishtar's patience was running out. She was clearly superior in battle. His air bullet spells and paper daggers were nothing. But if there was something she detested it was a cockroach, and here was a man resembling one.
Slippery like an eel and deceptive. Tianzun watched as Ishtar's patience soon ran out as he grinned. It was time...
"It seems lady Ishtar is getting impatient everyone!"
Ishtar snapped at him, "Seize your muttering mortal! You can do nothing but run! But how long can you run for?"
Tianzun stood still for a moment and contemplated, "Yes you are right. I should end my performance soon."
Ishtar sneered, "And how should you "kill" me to end the performance?" She asked.
Tianzun bowed, "Lady Ishtar, allow me to make a pact. If you indulge in one request of mine, I'll stop running." Ishtar glared before snorting "Very well, I'll enjoy my time with you. Swear it on mana itself, a geis."
Tianzun nodded, "Very well I swear I will not run if Ishtar grants me my humble request."
Ishtar nodded in semi satisfaction. "Very well, speak your last request before death." Tianzun grinned as a hint of grey fog appeared for a split second.
"I heard that you were famed for being good at wrestling and close combat. Face me just once with all our strength in one exchange. I will die to a god's hands in mortal combat."
Tianzun at this moment banked on his illusion working. Someone in the crowd suddenly let out a cry, "Don't do it!" Another cried out as well.
In that moment Ishtar's pettiness took over, so what if the people didn't want him dead. The geis only activates if she agrees. And agreeing meant he wouldn't be able to run, something the people disagreed with.
But if it was the same people that turned from her... A sickening grin emerged from the "beautiful" face.
"Very well."
Tianzun's clown role was indeed very useful, because otherwise he would be laughing sick to his stomach right now. Such a god was stupid and prideful in every way. But he wouldn't complain, more vulnerabilities to exploit.
"May the curtain fall."
The two descended to the square as Ishtar burst out with magical energy. In that single moment, no mortal could keep up with her speed.
They could only see a hand burst out through Tianzun's chest. And Ishtar herself had been pierced by a single air bullet. Soon they both collapsed with Ishtar and Tianzun slowly fading away.
Yet only a single singed piece of paper could be seen on the ground.
//Next Chapter: The Trick That Killed a Goddess//