The sudden appearance of the wolves caused a small ripple across the battlefield.

"Wolves? Am I seeing things wrong?"

"Did animals even live on this island?"

Isla Machina was an island made of machines, but that didn't mean no beasts lived there.

However, at most, there were only crows, birds, cats, and rats.

Wolves over 3m tall had never been spotted on this island and weren't suitable for living here either.

"No, more than that, I've never seen or heard of wolves like that."

Ordinary wolves don't fly through the sky in the first place.

Their fur isn't a clear color mixed with sky blue, nor do they emit a strange aura from their entire body.

And above all, there surely wouldn't be 50 identical wolves in existence.

-Awoooo.

As the wolf's howl rang out, the sea fog that had been pushed far away flew in with the wind and surrounded the area.

The bluish wolves running through the empty space through the hazy view was a sight one might expect to see in a cemetery on a midsummer night.

"Spirit Wolf?"

Andras, who could observe the wolves up close, realized that the wolf that saved him was a Spirit Wolf.

That's why he couldn't understand.

'Why is a Spirit Wolf at Isla Machina?'

Weren't they known to inhabit only places where nature thrives and human hands rarely reach?

So how could a Spirit Wolf, which has no notable contact with humans, save him in a moment of crisis?

'I don't know how this happened, but it's clear that the Spirit Wolf is on our side.'

Andras decided to do what he could.

He used even the mouths on both his palms to continue spreading language commands widely across the battlefield.

[Everyone, calm down]

The terrified magicians regained their senses one by one.

Prayers stopped, and faith disappeared.

The 3rd halo that had appeared above the head of the God of Machinery became blurry and vanished without a trace.

Just as Andras was delighted at having landed a proper hit on the monster, the God of Machinery stared at him.

Immediately afterward, a tremendous force was unleashed.

Though partially obscured by the fog, the creature aimed at Andras as if unaffected by this level of attack.

-Awoo!

Another wolf howled from a distance.

The Spirit Wolf carrying Andras in its mouth kicked off the empty space and dashed through the sea fog like the wind.

-Kuwaaang!

An invisible, massive repulsive force struck the sea fog, creating a hole like a huge tunnel.

The power was enough to not only pierce through the sea fog but even tear apart some of the clouds in the sky.

However, it couldn't catch the wolf that had run away with Andras.

The wolves surrounded the God of Machinery deceptively, moving brilliantly here and there.

The God of Machinery intensified the golden glow inside its helmet as it watched the blue will-o'-the-wisp-like wolves.

Rudger was equally surprised by the sudden appearance of the Spirit Wolf.

What was even more surprising was that the person who brought the Spirit Wolf was a familiar face.

"Freuden Ulburg."

Rudger gazed at the Spirit Wolf that appeared walking on empty air and Freuden who sat on its back.

Their gazes collided in midair.

They both had many questions for each other, but neither asked first.

Still, since his side had received help, Rudger spoke first.

"You've made a good friend."

"You seem to have made a new friend here as well."

"We became close while fighting."

"Do we need to defeat that thing?"

"If possible."

"Then I should do what I can."

"Be careful."

"I was planning to."

"Oh, and before you go, ask your friend for one tooth."

A tooth? Why?

Freuden looked with a puzzled expression, but the question couldn't continue because the God of Machinery, irritated by the interruption, generated an intense energy wave displaying its annoyed emotions.

The steel fragments swarming like dark storm clouds moved faster with storm-like momentum.

-Kwajik!

It was then that a Spirit Wolf bit the God of Machinery's nape.

"...?"

The wolf's teeth couldn't penetrate the armor worn by the God of Machinery, but it was enough to create confusion.

The God of Machinery tried to grab the wolf that had bitten its nape by extending its arm.

The wolf scattered like a mirage and disappeared as if mocking the God of Machinery.

‘What? How?’

As the God of Machinery wondered, another wolf attacked from behind.

But this time, it reacted properly.

The God of Machinery rotated its body and swung the main body's arm to cut the approaching wolf in half.

But the Spirit Wolf merely scattered like a mirage and disappeared again.

A wind brushed past the body as if teasing.

Only then did the God of Machinery realize that these creatures could appear anywhere air existed.

No matter how densely it scattered steel fragments around, it was impossible to cover an entire plane with points.

Steel, no matter how numerous or sharp, cannot cut the wind.

It was a battle with an unfavorable match-up from the start.

Perhaps knowing this, the Spirit Wolf persistently harassed the God of Machinery, repeatedly hitting and retreating.

The pack hunting method of taking turns with one prey.

-Flash!

The God of Machinery shot a beam from its eyes, but the wolf pack easily avoided it as if mocking.

"Kraaaah!"

The God of Machinery, letting out a furious roar, gathered metals to form a shape.

It was something commonly called an Airscrew, with four blades.

The difference was that each blade alone was over 20m long.

-Woong. Woong.

The airscrew began to rotate.

As the rotation speed accelerated instantly, the blades became invisible.

A vortex formed around the massive airscrew with 20m-long blades rotating at an invisible speed.

In the center of the vortex, the God of Machinery used steel to target the Spirit Wolf.

The Spirit Wolf, trying to disappear by turning into wind, couldn't withstand the power of the vortex and its wind transformation was canceled.

-Pupupuk!

Immediately afterward, sharp steel spears pierced the Spirit Wolf's body one after another.

-Kyaeng!

In the raging storm, the Spirit Wolf lost its advantage.

Having neutralized the most annoying Spirit Wolf, the God of Machinery turned its attention back to its original target and stared at Rudger.

Rudger calmly gazed at the golden eyes burning with hostility.

The creature didn't say anything, but its will was clearly conveyed to the other side's skin.

Hatred and rage but at the same time, even a feeling of joy could be sensed.

"You think you can break free from the creator and become a new creator yourself."

Rudger's words hit the God of Machinery's weak spot.

He mockingly laughed at the God of Machinery, which flinched.

"What a pathetic goal."

"You, bastard!"

The God of Machinery glared at Rudger with intense anger.

The god who created it and ultimately abandoned it.

How great was the sense of betrayal when it realized that he, who it thought had completely disappeared, was attached to Rudger.

That was the anger of a child abandoned by its father.

Eight arms gathered around the God of Machinery.

Not stopping there, each of the eight arms was trying to create another arm.

Seeing this, Rudger responded with a cold gaze.

"While hating the father who abandoned you, you're ultimately trying to resemble that father."

"...!"

Rudger's words were correct.

The giant arms created by the God of Machinery were very similar to the giant god Teralon, who shaped the world.

The giant god Teralon was known to have created the world by caressing it with a total of 16 arms.

"This makes you no different from a twisted youngster who didn't receive affection from his father."

"Shut up!"

The God of Machinery immediately gave up creating new arms.

Instead, it moved the eight mechanical arms to target Rudger from eight directions.

Rudger didn't just take it quietly either.

Behind his back, the Sephiroth tree pattern appeared, emitting a powerful light to intercept the mechanical arms.

Light and shockwaves flashed in midair.

Those who saw this were captivated but didn't forget their tasks.

"What are you all doing! Keep attacking!"

"If we don't stop that monster, this island is finished!"

Magic bombardment flew in from outside, Spirit Wolves endlessly prowled around, and support continued from the magic tower.

However, despite attacks from all directions, the God of Machinery didn't budge.

‘Annoying ones.’

Several arms spread in all directions, deflecting incoming attacks and causing tremendous destruction by sweeping the surrounding area.

Many lives were extinguished with a single gesture.

With a single gesture, the magic tower's shield shattered like glass.

Part of the magic tower collapsed, sweeping away the magicians inside.

While the mechanical arms ransacked the surroundings, the God of Machinery's main body confronted Rudger.

"You're coming to me with that precious main body? I'm almost moved to tears."

Whether Rudger mocked him or not, the God of Machinery's gaze was fixed on the small black hole above Rudger's head.

'This won't be easy.'

If the opponent had been an ordinary life form, he might have borrowed the goddess' power, bearing some burden.

But this creature was literally a machine, and its main body was a relic created by Teralon.

It was the antithesis of the goddess, who exerts power and authority over living beings, so Rudger had to consider his options.

[----.]

It was then that a voice was heard from above Rudger's head.

Teralon told Rudger that there was a method.

Of course, that method was to use Teralon’s own power.

"Was that the real purpose?"

Rudger frowned at Teralon’s action.

But rationally thinking, it made sense to borrow Teralon’s power.

Teralon created the relic, and naturally, Teralon would know how to stop it.

Teralon had no particular ulterior motive or malice.

Even when other gods showed interest in Rudger, Teralon had simply watched quietly.

He sincerely wished for Rudger to stop the relic and made this proposal.

Rudger wasn't unaware of this.

Nevertheless, his hesitation was due to another reason.

"Your power doesn't have good cost-effectiveness. To borrow your power, I'd have to widen the door more than now."

Rudger always released only the first level of the sealing formula when borrowing a god's power.

That was exactly the level Rudger could handle.

Releasing the first level of the seal only created a small hole above his head, as it is now.

That alone was enough to exert sufficient power.

But Teralon was different.

Gods each have different forms and qualities of power.

Among them, Teralon, true to his epithet as the giant god, had power of too vast a scale.

Despite releasing the first level of the seal, merely exchanging conversations was all that could be done, which was the reason.

To properly borrow Teralon’s power, Rudger had to take a risk and release up to the second level.

In Rudger's sight, he could see people fighting their best against the mechanical arms.

He could see Freuden appearing on a Spirit Wolf, Rotheron and Whiron moving diligently to save people.

He could also see Verom fighting with the Living Armor he so disliked and Andras revealing all his cards to protect the magic tower.

There were many others fighting too.

The defense forces were evacuating people and conducting rescue operations, and the magic tower's magicians were firing magic to the best of their abilities.

Cravat was also visible.

Accompanied by a crow, he was properly restraining one mechanical arm by melting or corroding metals with the power of black curses.

Facing the end of Isla Machina, organizations that had been checking each other were now fighting as one.

And even Gabriel Cosmo, who must be fighting somewhere unseen from here.

"......"

Everyone is fighting their best with their own determination and resolution.

In this situation, there was no way Rudger could save his strength alone.

The moment of deliberation was brief.

"No choice, I guess."

-Ziiing.

Above Rudger's head, a faint halo formed around the black hole.

"Second sealing formula release."

-Tuwoong!

The halo emitted an intense light, creating ripples around it.

The God of Machinery could only watch the scene as if suppressed by something.

"Knockin' on Heaven's Door."

The voices and gazes directed toward this side through the black hole increased.

-With this, you have become even more omnipotent.

Simultaneously, various powers seeped into Rudger's body, filling him with exhilaration.

The power of a god was like a potent drug.

Like a sweet candy so irresistible that once tasted, one could never escape again.

That's why Rudger didn't like this.

"I'm not borrowing your power. You're using power thanks to me."

After briefly rebuking the gods with idle thoughts, Rudger spoke to Teralon.

"Now that we've come this far, show me the key to stop that troublemaker child."

As if responding to Rudger's words, something suddenly protruded through the gap of the black hole.

It was a small arm made of machinery.

Unlike the mechanical arms wielded by the God of Machinery, this arm was extremely thin, rusted all over, with only the internal frame remaining.

The arm, which looked like it would break at the slightest touch, showed more than the difference between a robust adult male and an elderly person compared to what the God of Machinery possessed.

"...!"

The God of Machinery, which had only shown emotions of anger, gaped in disbelief.

The emotion displayed by the creature, who unconsciously backed away from Rudger, was clearly fear.