Victory Is the Only Path
The star cluster of the Machine Empire in the Spirit Realm underwent a massive upheaval. The sudden appearance of the Dimensional Lord had granted him ownership over the entire cluster as his domain, and he had ordered a struggle with ninety planets inhabited by sentient beings at stake. The fate of the nine hundred million machine humans who survived the cataclysmic meteor shower was decided by the one-on-one matches between the Machine Empire’s proud planetary suppression weapons and the Magic Machine Idols bestowed upon the candidate deities.
“Defying the Dimensional Lord is pointless—the gap in power is too vast to resist or even refuse.”
“The original bodies of all machine humans are permanently frozen inside Machine Pandemonium, now in the Dimensional Lord’s hands, and regeneration of their brains has been forbidden. These mechanical bodies have become their only remaining vessels.”
“We watched as they prepared to hand over every original body to a goddess they once worshipped but later denied, treating them as worthless objects.”
“They knew full well that once transferred, total annihilation would follow.”
Having witnessed how merciless the Dimensional Lord was toward those who challenged him, and realizing his will could not be stopped, the only remaining path was to win and reclaim dominion over each planet.
“Fortunately, all machine humans scattered across the cluster were relocated to the homeworld, along with every fleet and weapon. Resources are now overflowing through recycling.”
“The completion of new planetary suppression weapons, originally designed for expansion into other clusters and warfare, happened in an instant.”
“They possess far greater power than the old models once inhabited by past gods, and are clearly superior to the Magic Machine Idols granted by the god.”
Only ten units were completed in two weeks, yet even that was a miraculous speed and achievement compared to the past.
“Hahahaha! This is the true might of the Machine Empire!”
The Machine Emperor allowed himself a rare smile at the potential of the machine humans, who had united completely in their will to survive. If they could seize ten planets through victory, he was certain they could accelerate the development of these planetary suppression weapons and overwhelm the Magic Machine Idols.
The exceedingly fair Dimensional Lord had provided all basic performance data on the Magic Machine Idols, and simulations confirmed victory. Yet the thought of the first great battle being moved forward by a full month made his blood boil once more.
“Just in case, some personnel should escape the cluster and prepare for the future of machine humanity.”
When those making such claims were still present, and they were space-transferred aboard an ultra-large immigrant ship, the truth became painfully clear—how foolish they had been, and how cruel the Dimensional Lord truly was.
Gu-gu-gu-gu-gung! Hwaaaaaah!
Every immigrant ship melted away inside a suddenly manifested sun, the scene projected across the skies of the homeworld for all to see.
“I have fixed the arrival coordinates for all spatial transfers within this cluster to a single point. Any attempt at spatial movement will redirect you into the core of my Creator God-class Machine God, Antares—its massive sun—upon crossing the star system boundary. Only the coordinates of planets you win through victory will allow escape from this fixed point. Escape before battle will not be tolerated. Remember: only victory offers survival. Because of this incident, the first great battle has been moved forward to two weeks from now. Should you lose the initial match, the entire machine human race will be processed immediately.”
Having lost every possible escape route, the machine humans gritted their teeth in desperation to survive. Within two weeks they performed the miracle of producing ten planetary suppression weapons, relaxed the rule that once restricted boarding to only the highest-ranking individuals, and selected the finest pilots for training. Any hint of corruption or favoritism during this process was branded as treason by imperial decree—betrayal that would bring about the extinction of machine humanity—and the offenders were publicly and brutally disassembled.
Only after hundreds of high-ranking officials who had attempted to secure piloting rights for their children through the old customs of nepotism were disassembled down to the last screw before the eyes of the entire populace did the machine nobility finally grasp the changed reality.
“Even with such horrific punishment, no one outside our own class dares to object.”
Now the entire machine human race was staking its life on the fight, and anything that interfered would be eliminated. With annihilation finally feeling real, they poured all their wealth and technology into the effort. The result was planetary suppression weapons of unprecedented strength, paired with the greatest pilots.
“They even incorporated transformation forms designed for close combat with the giant Magic Machine Idols.”
“They have clearly surpassed an entire generation.”
Woo-woong! Woo-woong!
Planetary suppression weapons, each a hundred meters tall and shaped like various combat-adapted lifeforms, waited in space for their opponents. The thunderous heartbeat of miniature fusion reactors echoed like the pulse of colossal beasts.
Ku-woong—! Ku-woong—!
Amid that resonance, the Machine Emperor, his face flushed with emotion, broadcast his speech to every city.
“You are the pride of the Machine Empire and machine humanity, the gathered might of all our territories, the strongest among us. Defeat the Magic Machine Idols, prove our worth to the god, and restore this cluster to our rule! Victory will bring every glory to you.”
“We shall surely triumph and reclaim the Empire’s glory—for new glory to the Machine Empire!”
Now the sole national imperative, the cry of “victory” rang out as encouragement. At last, spatial transfers began from the sky, and the metal giants started to appear.
Paaah! Hwoooooong!
The pair of shining light wings on their backs proclaimed that they were no mere machines, but Magic Machine Idols forged by divine power. Ten of them materialized, yet they could not hide their bewilderment.
“These are far stronger than the old planetary suppression weapons!”
They had dismissed the data at first, but their senses—now approaching superhuman—screamed danger. The artificial intelligences that had become the egos of the Machine Gods all raised alarms in unison.
“What the hell? Those are supposed to be planetary suppression weapons?”
“Estimated combat power is more than twice ours? And their pilots are all professional soldiers or famous martial arts masters?”
“Not the usual idiotic nobles?”
“The machine humans really prepared thoroughly.”
Though the pilots had reached superhuman status and manifested authorities, they were still ordinary people at heart. Their opponents were all battle-hardened experts. A premonition of defeat and the terrifying possibility of losing their hard-won authorities and superhuman bodies crashed over them.
“We needed more training time.”
Yet regardless, Antares, the Creator God-class Machine God, used its authority to dominate the entire cluster’s space, supplying information and faithfully executing the Dimensional Lord’s will. With the partial release of its title, the restrictions on the Main God’s body control had been lifted, and it now fully submitted to his computational power and authority.
Moreover, the original bodies of the machine humans were all stored inside it, making extraction of information trivial. Having also received complete data on the Magic Machine Idols from the Dimensional Lord, it had analyzed them thoroughly. Thus, in accordance with the Dimensional Lord’s will, it transmitted each side’s information to the other, accelerating the competition.
Gu-gu-gu-gu-gu-gu-gung! Deu-deu-deu-deu-deuk!
The clash between the Machine Empire’s planetary suppression weapons—modified into beast-like or half-beast, half-human forms to grow stronger—and the Magic Machine Idols stepping onto the path of divinity was about to begin. The stakes were dominion over planets granted by the god they themselves had acknowledged, so neither side would yield an inch, their killing intent surging. Antares, granted the authority of a Creator God-class Machine God, manifested magic across the battlefield.
The magical patterns engraved across the entire surface of the star-sized body glowed, establishing an authority domain over the distant battlefield above the Machine Empire’s homeworld.
Looking Back at Oneself, Past and Present Are the Same.
It was the pinnacle of tenth-circle magic, restoring any damage or injury and nullifying even death. Within this space, neither the Machine God nor the Magic Machine Idols would suffer destruction or injury. The pilots’ deaths were likewise excluded.
Go-go-go-go-go-go-go—!
Before the temporarily granted authority of immortality and indestructibility, fierce fighting spirit erupted, and both sides charged into battle without waiting for the other.
Urrrrrung! Kwa-ga-ga-ga-ga-gak!
Countless optical and physical weapons rained down from the colossal metal frames of the planetary suppression weapons, while strikes of divine authority that partially manipulated reality sliced through the atmosphere. One side fought for past glory and the survival of their race; the other fought for their newly attained superhuman realm and personal lives. The weight of the battle was incomparable.
Antares broadcast the scene across the skies of the entire cluster, heightening the fervor.
Ooooooh! Uuuuuuuh!
Awe rose before the terrifying power radiating from the massive metal bodies, stirring longing for transcendent beings in their hearts and strengthening their vitality and spirits. That power now gathered as divine energy for the four goddesses who had fully recovered their status as Main Gods and transformed their former planetary suppression weapons into beautiful mechanical goddesses.
Meanwhile, the Dimensional Lord had no interest in battles between beings below Main God level. Receiving a communication from the Main God Star, he was now utterly dumbfounded.
“A total mobilization order has been issued to all Main Gods of intermediate rank and above to deploy to the Spirit Realm? Who? Why?”
“It is a command from the Highest Main Gods for you, Preliminary Creator God Almighty Hwi, to participate in the battlefield. The reason is to formulate countermeasures following the gathering of Highest Creator Gods from other main universes at the Defense Divine Realm of the Spirit Realm.”
“A command from the Highest Main Gods? I am also a Highest Main God, so this is not a command but a simple relay, is it not? And why a full-scale war instead of a localized conflict? The alliance between main universes is still valid!”
“It is not a full-scale war, but a light localized conflict. It is a minor personal dispute unrelated to the alliance.”
Watching the senior Main God from the administrative department of the Main God Star desperately insist it was merely a localized conflict and a trivial personal fight, the Dimensional Lord sensed trouble. Some high-ranking figure had caused a massive incident.
“What exactly happened? Who caused what that brought Highest Creator Gods from other main universes rushing over? And I am the Main God of an independent divine realm that has never received a Main God Star from a Creator God—why is this order being relayed to me? Are you planning to ignore even the independent divine realms’ right to choose participation?”
“Absolutely not. It is merely a request for participation. Should the Highest Main God, the Dimensional Lord, participate, the reward will be exceedingly generous. And who caused what, you ask? Our Main God Star has always prioritized peaceful, progressive, and stable operations, striving to assist all Main Gods in the pleasant management of their divine realms.”
Kwa-rururururung—!
Behind the extremely promotional words, a thunderous roar echoed from beyond the screen of the Main God Star. The senior Main God’s face turned ashen. Urgent voices poured out from behind him.
“Another Highest Creator God is appearing—!”
“Stop Almighty Hwi somehow! No matter how weak or untalented, you cannot treat the direct descendant of an external main universe’s Creator like that—!”
“Protests and demands for accountability are already flooding in from the opposing main universe! If that side is annihilated, it will become a full-scale war!”
“We reported to the Creation Realm, but the answer was to handle Creator Gods from other main universes ourselves!”
“They say the Creators are all busy training and to report again if a Creator personally invades!”
“Aaaah! At this rate everyone will come rushing over. Please, tell them to stop the beatings—!”
“Even the Highest Main Gods aren’t answering communications—how are we supposed to stop this?!”