What emerged through the hole that opened above Rudger's head was a skinny mechanical arm.

Rusty, showing only its skeletal frame, it looked as if it would crumble away if merely 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 supreme over all metals.

"Judging by your reaction, it seems they've sent me 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 mean he was enormous, but this arm didn't look like that at all.

This also meant that Teralon's power had weakened as he lost his divine status.

But that didn't mean 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!"

Meanwhile, 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 become a new god, it was furious at the fact that it had been frightened by that skinny mechanical 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 mechanical 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 mechanical 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 treatment to match. Power against power."

Teralon's arm floating above Rudger's head moved smoothly.

True to its thin, rusty appearance, the movement was even sluggish.

One might worry if it could withstand the massive mechanical 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 mechanical arm.

It was such a light and simple motion however the result was anything but that.

The approaching mechanical arm abruptly stopped in midair.

Just as the mechanical arm had blocked the steel sword Rudger had fired, the arm came to a halt as if it transcended physical laws.

Then the mechanical arm trembled before turning to ash and disappearing like dust.

The same happened to the other mechanical arm flying in.

As Teralon's arm lightly extended its hand, this time 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 astonishment.

Two of its mechanical arms, into which it had put its genuine effort, were neutralized by just a finger point and a hand gesture.

If they had merely 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 somehow regenerated them using its authority.

Yet it couldn't repair the arms because the fundamental elements themselves had changed.

"So this was the effect."

Rudger was also surprised.

He witnessed the mechanical 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 mean you can modify the atomic number itself?"

Iron and carbon, the two elements located on the periodic table are distinctly different.

Iron was a transition metal, while carbon was a polyatomic non-metal.

The ultimate goal of alchemy—to turn iron into gold—was unfolding before his eyes.

That meant 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 times 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 become a god, was frightened by the authority of a mere skinny arm?

A god is perfect.

What is perfection? To be flawless and without deficiencies.

And isn't fear the epitome 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 mechanical 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 mechanical 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 permeating the steel fragments, 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 numerous palm shapes that shot forward.

Pu-beo-beo-beong!

The golden hands colliding with the approaching black cloud exploded, creating round flames.

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 fragments.

He thought he had blown them all away with wide-area magic, but some fragments still reached Rudger's body, grazing him as they passed.

His coat tails were split, a scratch formed on his cheek, and drops of blood flowed.

Rudger immediately healed the wound with healing magic, and the damage to his clothes quickly mended due to the automatic repair magic he wore.

But there were still many steel fragments 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 fragments that had been surging around turned to glass and scattered.

A rain of sparkling glass fragments fell through the air but the God of Machinery still controlled many steel pieces.

Several times more than what Teralon's arm had turned to glass.

To make matters worse, the number of metals 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 fragments.

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—

───!!!

Something 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 metal cloud surrounding Rudger.

The moment the blood-red lightning conducted through one metal, it transferred to nearby metals, then to the next.

Any metal 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 metals 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.