What erged through the hole that opened above Rudger's head was a skinny chanical arm.
Rusty, showing only its skeletal fra, it looked as if it would crumble away if rely touched.
From a distance, it resembled a dry branch or a witch's arm, giving it an even more grotesque impression.
It might look a bit eerie, but not frightening enough to be terrified of—just about that level.
However, the reaction of the God of Machinery showed more.
It was now gripped with terror.
Fear. Disbelief. Horror. Shock.
The God of Machinery, being more sensitive to Teralon's power than anyone else, could feel it more clearly.
That thing is poison.
Poison that could kill even itself, who wore steel armor, wielded omnipotent arms, and reigned supre over all tals.
"Judging by your reaction, it seems they've sent the right item."
At first, Rudger felt disappointed seeing the skinny arm, but upon observing the God of Machinery's reaction, he realized that might not be the case.
This was the power Teralon had sent after Rudger released the 2nd-level seal.
Considering the power the goddess had shown when he released the 1st level, the power contained in this skinny arm obtained from releasing the 2nd level was unfathomable.
[───]
Teralon transmitted his consciousness to Rudger.
Only after hearing those words did Rudger learn the true identity of that skinny arm.
"You... did you send your own arm directly?"
The skinny arm was Teralon's own.
One might consider it just an arm.
According to ancient legends, Teralon could gather earth and rocks with a single gesture to create a mountain.
That would an he was enormous, but this arm didn't look like that at all.
This also ant that Teralon's power had weakened as he lost his divine status.
But that didn't an his authority itself had declined.
This was evident from how the God of Machinery was frozen in fear.
"Since you've sent it, I'll make good use of it."
[────]
Teralon sent his thoughts.
Rudger snorted at the sincere praise directed at this small human who kept speaking informally to him until the end.
"I don't worship beings like gods."
Teralon also conveyed that he liked that about him.
He created the world simply because he wanted everyone to be able to play together equally.
Whether they were monsters, gods, non-humans, or humans.
A world where everyone could live together.
"Kraaah!"
anwhile, the God of Machinery regained its senses.
It shook off its fear and instead emanated an even stronger fighting spirit.
Now trying to drive out its creator and beco a new god, it was furious at the fact that it had been frightened by that skinny chanical arm.
The arm of a god who had fallen so far as to be forgotten was surely useless before its own authority.
Thinking this, the God of Machinery retrieved its two chanical arms.
It clenched its fists and shot them out like rockets.
Two fists flying through the air, breaking the sound barrier and creating sonic booms.
They looked less like fists and more like steel pillars or siege weapons.
It wasn't just using the physical force of the fists.
The double halo above the God of Machinery's head emitted an intense light that seeped into the chanical arms.
The fists, enveloped in golden energy, were strongly intended to prevent Rudger from dodging or blocking with shadows.
After all, even Aether Nocturnus would be powerless and scatter before sacred power.
It was an attack that neither defense nor evasion could counter.
That intention worked well so Rudger did not try to consistently evade or defend.
"Since you wish for it, I'll give you treatnt to match. Power against power."
Teralon's arm floating above Rudger's head moved smoothly.
True to its thin, rusty appearance, the movent was even sluggish.
One might worry if it could withstand the massive chanical arms approaching right before it, or if it would disintegrate from just the air pressure.
But such concerns proved groundless, as what unfolded next was astonishing.
-Tuk.
Teralon's arm simply extended its index finger toward the oncoming chanical arm.
It was such a light and simple motion however the result was anything but that.
The approaching chanical arm abruptly stopped in midair.
Just as the chanical arm had blocked the steel sword Rudger had fired, the arm ca to a halt as if it transcended physical laws.
Then the chanical arm trembled before turning to ash and disappearing like dust.
The sa happened to the other chanical arm flying in.
As Teralon's arm lightly extended its hand, this ti the fist trembled without even being touched, then turned to powder and vanished.
"...!"
Witnessing this, the God of Machinery's golden eye-lights widened in astonishnt.
Two of its chanical arms, into which it had put its genuine effort, were neutralized by just a finger point and a hand gesture.
If they had rely been broken, it would have repaired them with its steel authority, but even that was impossible.
If they had turned to iron powder, it would have sohow regenerated them using its authority.
Yet it couldn't repair the arms because the fundantal elents themselves had changed.
"So this was the effect."
Rudger was also surprised.
He witnessed the chanical arms that touched Teralon's arm instantly turning into black powder and scattering.
Rudger didn't want to know how this worked, but he had no choice but to understand.
"To turn steel into carbon. Does this an you can modify the atomic number itself?"
Iron and carbon, the two elents located on the periodic table are distinctly different.
Iron was a transition tal, while carbon was a polyatomic non-tal.
The ultimate goal of alchemy—to turn iron into gold—was unfolding before his eyes.
That ant that with that arm, one could turn dirt and stones on the street into gold.
Now he understood how Teralon had created mountains, plains, and ore veins by simply collecting soil from the ground.
Because whatever he held in his hand, he could transform it into any substance he desired.
This was the authority of a god who once proudly occupied a place in the creation myths.
Even though that authority and divine status had mostly been lost, the power clearly remained.
Yet despite the advantageous situation, Rudger's expression couldn't relax.
Being the closest to examine Teralon's arm, Rudger could tell.
"It seems the durability won't last long."
Teralon's arm possessed extraordinary authority.
To the extent that one might wonder if it was permissible to use such power in this world.
But durability was the issue.
As evident from its skinny appearance, Teralon's arm was already showing misaligned screws and creaks after just using its authority twice.
It had been that way originally, but seeing that the condition had worsened, it appeared the number of tis the authority could be used was limited.
Part of it was because Teralon's own power had significantly diminished, but also because this was the limit of power that could be sent through the gap of the 2nd level door that Rudger had opened.
"Right. Things wouldn't be resolved this easily. Still, it's not bad. Having a definite weapon like this is better than being able to do nothing."
The reaction of the God of Machinery alone showed that.
It had lost its previous fighting spirit and once again looked terrified.
Fear, a primal emotion that any living being would possess.
Realizing this, the God of Machinery gritted its teeth.
It, aspiring to beco a god, was frightened by the authority of a re skinny arm?
A god is perfect.
What is perfection? To be flawless and without deficiencies.
And isn't fear the epito of such deficiency?
A god does not feel fear.
A god is perfect.
A god must be omnipotent.
"Who said that?"
Rudger's question clearly resonated in the chanical god's head.
"Who said gods are perfect?"
Though it hadn't spoken, Rudger was talking as if he had seen through its thoughts.
"That petty and narrow thinking will devour you."
"SHUT, UUUUP!!"
The chanical god roared and gathered steel clouds.
The black steel masses that had been sweeping the surrounding area were shot toward Rudger.
Even from a distance, his skin tingled and his eardrums felt like they would burst from the buzzing sound.
A sight like billions of insects rushing toward him.
Rudger considered using Teralon's arm but changed his mind.
He was reluctant to waste its authority when he didn't know how much durability remained.
'The problem is that I have to break through that with my own strength.'
Due to the sacred power subtly perating the steel fragnts, his typically favored Aether Nocturnus was virtually useless.
But Rudger still had the power of real magic left.
A brilliant light rose behind Rudger's back, transforming into nurous palm shapes that shot forward.
Pu-beo-beo-beong!
The golden hands colliding with the approaching black cloud exploded, creating round flas.
Rudger's body shot through that gap like a bullet.
In the black storm raging from all directions, Rudger's entire body flashed with powerful electricity.
A storm of lightning swept through the entire space, followed by a massive energy cannon possessed by the Sephiroth tree.
Pa-chut!
But there were too many fragnts.
He thought he had blown them all away with wide-area magic, but so fragnts still reached Rudger's body, grazing him as they passed.
His coat tails were split, a scratch ford on his cheek, and drops of blood flowed.
Rudger imdiately healed the wound with healing magic, and the damage to his clothes quickly nded due to the automatic repair magic he wore.
But there were still many steel fragnts flying in.
'There are too many. At this rate...'
Rudger pondered.
Should he use Teralon's arm now? But what if the durability runs out after using it?
What if he saves it but dies? Wouldn't that be even more foolish?
Rudger decided to use Teralon's arm and activated its authority again.
Teralon's arm slowly turned forward and spread its fingers wide.
Tu-woong!
A strange wave was emitted above the palm, and all the black steel fragnts that had been surging around turned to glass and scattered.
A rain of sparkling glass fragnts fell through the air but the God of Machinery still controlled many steel pieces.
Several tis more than what Teralon's arm had turned to glass.
To make matters worse, the number of tals forming the steel cloud was continuously increasing, being supplied from Isla Machina.
'Damn it.'
Even after using the arm once more, it hadn't produced a satisfactory result.
The God of Machinery was also tenaciously aiming to deplete the arm's use and trying to win with steel fragnts.
Teralon's arm had lost more durability from the recent use of its authority, now hanging limply.
Rudger sensed that there was only one use left.
He had to settle it here.
The steel cloud surrounding Rudger made threatening sounds as it tightened around him.
The wound had regenerated, but just as a drop of blood on Rudger's cheek ran down and fell from his chin—
───!!!
Sothing bright red, illuminating the darkness, cut through the sky and clouds, flying at high speed toward Isla Machina.
No one could react to what it was.
Just as the black light mass flew in from a distance and reached the island, an enormous explosion and a terrifying sound reverberated.
Kwa-reu-reu-reung!
It was red lightning.
The lightning, so red it was almost blood-colored, struck the tal cloud surrounding Rudger.
The mont the blood-red lightning conducted through one tal, it transferred to nearby tals, then to the next.
Any tal touched by the lightning turned to powder and disappeared as if oxidized.
Like a tree spreading countless branches, the red lightning streaks scattered across the world, resonating with tals and decomposing them with intense energy.
"Blood lightning?"
Rudger recognized the magic and widened his eyes.
"...Master?"
His master Grander should be in Leathervelk now.
And Leathervelk was...
At least 2,000 km away from here.
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