◈ Episode 621 Fulfillment of Promise (1)
What came out through the hole above Ludger’s head was a skinny mechanical arm.
An arm that looks nothing but rust and a skeleton, and looks like it will rot and fall apart if you just touch it.
From a distance, it looked like a dry tree branch or the arm of a witch, giving it an even more bizarre feel.
It looks a little spooky, but it’s not that scary.
However, the reaction of the God of Mechanical Devices was more than that.
It was now terrified.
fear. distrust. fear. Shock.
The God of Mechanical Devices was more sensitive to Terraron’s power than anyone else, so he could feel it more clearly.
That is poison.
A poison that kills itself, clad in steel armor and with almighty arms, reigning supreme over all metals.
“Judging by the reaction, it looks like they sent the right product.”
Ludger felt disappointed at first when he saw the skinny arms, but after seeing the reaction of the mechanical god, he realized that was not necessarily the case.
It was the power that Terraron finally sent while unlocking the 2nd stage sealing technique.
Considering the power that the goddess showed when unlocking the first stage, it would be impossible to estimate the power of this skinny arm that was given to her when unlocking the second stage.
[───]
Terraron conveyed his intentions to Ludger.
Only after hearing those words did Ludger realize the identity of those skinny arms.
“Did you send your own arm?”
The skinny arm belonged to Terraron himself.
It can be considered as just one arm.
According to an ancient legend, Terraron was said to have gathered dirt and rocks with a single gesture of his hand to create a mountain.
That means it’s very huge, but right now that arm doesn’t look like that at all.
It also meant that the power of Terraron, who had lost his divine status, was weakened.
However, this did not mean that there was a decline in the power itself.
You could tell just by looking at the God of Mechanical Devices that he was frozen in fear.
“I’ll make good use of what you sent me.”
[────]
Terraron sent his thoughts.
Ludger snorted at the sincere praise for this little human who spoke informally to him to the end.
“I don’t worship these guys called gods.”
Terraron also expressed his determination to do so.
The reason he created the world was simply because he wanted everyone to be able to play equally.
Monsters, gods, sub-races, humans, everything.
A world where everyone lives together.
“Kaaaa!”
Meanwhile, the god of machinery regained his senses.
The guy shook off his fear and instead exuded a stronger desire to win.
He was angry at the fact that he was scared by that skinny mechanical arm now that he was trying to overthrow his creator and become a new god.
Now, even the name of God, whose name has been forgotten and lost, is nothing but useless in front of his power.
With that thought in mind, the God of Mechanical Devices retrieved two mechanical arms.
He clenched his fist and fired it like a rocket.
Two fists flying with a roar, breaking the speed of sound.
It looked more like a pillar of steel or a siege weapon than a fist.
It wasn’t just about using the physical power of the fist.
The double halo floating above the head of the God of Mechanical Devices radiated intense light and permeated the mechanical arm.
The fist engulfed in golden energy had a strong intention to prevent Ludger from avoiding or blocking with the shadow.
If it were the power of divine power, even Ater Nocturnus would be powerless and scattered.
An attack that neither defense nor evasion works on.
The intention worked.
Therefore, Ludger did not consistently try to avoid or defend himself.
“Since you wish, I will treat you accordingly. “Strength against strength.”
Terraron’s arm, which was floating above Ludger’s head, moved quickly.
As expected of a thin and rusty arm, its movements were slow.
Will it be able to withstand the huge mechanical arm that is approaching so quickly, or will it collapse just from the wind pressure?
The scene that unfolded next was so surprising that those concerns were for naught.
Tuk.
Terraron’s arm stuck out its index finger toward the flying mechanical arm.
A very light and simple movement.
But the result was not like that.
The flying mechanical arm stopped high in the air.
Just as the mechanical arm blocked Ludger’s steel sword, the mechanical arm stopped in place as if it had transcended the laws of physics.
Soon the mechanical arm trembled, turned into a handful of ash, and disappeared like crumbs.
The same was true for another mechanical arm that flew in next.
Terraron’s arm lightly stretched out his hand, and this time, without even touching it, his fist trembled, turned into powder, and disappeared.
“…!”
The god of mechanical devices watched this, and his golden eyes widened as if he was astonished.
With just a single finger gesture, the two mechanical arms containing his true feelings were neutralized.
If it had just been broken, it would have been restored with the power of steel, but even that was impossible.
If it had been turned into iron powder, it would have been regenerated somehow using the power.
However, the reason the arm cannot be restored is because the constituent elements themselves have changed.
“Was this the effect?”
Ludger was equally surprised.
I witnessed the mechanical arm that touched Terraron’s arm instantly turn into black powder and disperse.
Ludger didn’t want to know how it worked, but he had no choice but to know.
“Change steel to carbon. Does this mean that the atomic number itself can be modified?”
iron and carbon.
The two elements located on the periodic table are significantly different.
Because iron was a transition metal and carbon was a polyatomic non-metal.
The ultimate meaning of alchemy, which is said to turn iron into gold, was unfolding before my eyes.
What he meant was that if he had those arms, he could turn the dirt and stones lying around on the streets into gold.
Now I felt like I could understand how Terraron created mountains, plains, and mineral veins by scraping up dirt from the ground.
This is because you can change whatever you hold in your hand into the material you want.
This is the power of God that once proudly occupied a part in the creation myth.
Although it has now lost most of its power and prestige, its power still remains.
However, even in a situation that should have been advantageous, Ludger’s expression could not be straightened.
I could tell because Ludger was the one who checked Terraron’s arm from the nearest location.
“It looks like its durability doesn’t last long.”
The Arm of Terraron possesses great power.
It made me wonder if something like this could be used in this world.
But durability was a problem.
As can be seen from its skinny appearance, Terraron’s arm had some of the screws misaligned and creaking after just using its powers twice.
It was like that originally, but seeing as the condition had become more serious, the number of times the power could be used in the future seemed to have been set.
Not only was Terraron’s original strength greatly reduced, but this was also the limit of the power that could be sent through the gap in the second-stage door opened by Ludger.
“okay. There’s no way things will work out this easily. Still not bad. “It’s better to have such a reliable weapon than to be unable to do anything.”
Just look at the reaction of the god of mechanical devices.
The guy looked scared again, wondering where the spirit from before had gone.
fear.
A primal emotion that we cannot help but have as living things.
The god of machinery realized this and gritted his teeth.
He who wanted to become a god was frightened by the power of just one thin arm?
God is perfect.
What is perfection? It must be flawless and have no shortcomings.
Isn’t fear the representative of that lack?
God does not feel fear.
God is perfect.
God.
Must be omnipotent.
“Who did that?”
Ludger’s question resonated clearly in Kishin’s head.
“Who said God is perfect?”
Although he himself didn’t say anything, Ludger spoke as if he could see through this person’s thoughts.
“Those small, narrow thoughts will eat you up.”
“Shut up!!”
The spirit roared and gathered a steel cloud.
The pitch-black steel crowd that swept the surrounding area shot towards Ludger.
Even though I was far away, my skin was trembling and the buzzing sound felt like my ears were going to explode.
A sight as if hundreds of millions of insects were rushing towards you.
Ludgar was thinking about using Terraron’s arm, but then changed his mind.
It was a shame to waste power without knowing how much durability was left.
‘The problem is that I have to break through it on my own.’
Because of the divine power hidden between the steel pieces, the Ater Nocturnus that was often used was virtually useless.
But Ludger still had real magical powers left.
A dazzling light appeared behind Ludger’s back, transformed into the shape of countless palms, and flew out to the front.
Burbububbung!
The golden hand collided with the flying black cloud and exploded, creating a round flame.
Ludger’s body flew through the gap like a bullet.
Ludger’s whole body sparkled with powerful electricity in the black storm swirling from all directions.
A storm of lightning swept through the entire space, followed by the huge energy cannon of the Tree of Sephiroth.
Patchoux!
However, the number of fragments was too large.
Even though it was thought that everything had been blown away by extensive magic, some fragments eventually reached Ludger’s body and passed by him.
The hem of his coat was torn, a scratch appeared on his cheek, and blood was flowing.
Ludger immediately healed the stab wound with healing magic, and the scars on his clothes healed quickly thanks to the self-repair magic.
But there were still many flying pieces of steel.
‘There are too many numbers. If things continue like this…’
Ludger was worried.
Should I use Terraron’s Arm here? But what if the durability runs out?
What if I save it without using it and die? Isn’t that even more foolish behavior?
Ludgar decided to use Terraron’s Arm and activated its power again.
Terraron’s arm slowly turned forward and spread its fingers.
Tooung!
A strange wave emanated from the top of the palm, and all the black steel pieces floating around turned into glass and scattered.
A rain of sparkling glass fragments falling in the air.
However, the number of steels handled by the God of Mechanical Devices was still large.
Several times more than Terraron’s arm turned into glass.
To make matters worse, the number of metals that made up the steel cloud was still being supplied from Isla Machina and was continuing to increase.
‘damn.’
I used my arm again, but it didn’t produce the right results.
The God of Mechanical Devices was also persistently trying to win with a piece of steel, aiming to wear out his arms.
Terraron’s arm seemed to have lost its durability due to the previous use of power, and now it was even limp.
Ludger had a hunch.
There is only one remaining use.
We had to see the outcome here.
Before he knew it, the steel cloud surrounding Ludger was making threatening noises and suffocating him.
The wound was regenerated, but at that moment, the blood on Ludger’s cheek flowed down his cheek and dripped down his chin.
───!!!
Something bright red brightening the darkness tore through the sky and tore through the clouds, flying towards Isla Machina at high speed.
No one could react to what it was.
This is because the moment a group of black lights flew in from afar and reached the island, a huge explosion and a terrifying explosion sound rang out in front of my eyes.
Gurgling!
It was red lightning.
Red, almost blood-red lightning struck the metal cloud surrounding Ludger.
The moment the blood-red lightning was transmitted to one metal, it moved to another nearby metal, and then to the next metal.
Once touched by lightning, the metal oxidized into powder and disappeared.
Like a tree spreading out countless branches, red lightning streaks scattered throughout the world, interacting with the metal and disintegrating it into intense energy.
“Blood clot?”
Ludger recognized the magic and opened his eyes wide.
“…Master?”
Master Grander should be in Lederbelk now.
And Leatherbelk.
The distance from here was at least 2000 km.
