On Hiatus: God's Personal Reasons
Chapter 266: #Birth of the Ultimate Machine God (1)

Chapter 266: #Birth of the Ultimate Machine God (1)

Boom! Boom!

Like a beating heart, the alien spaceship’s entrance moved violently and opened.

-Kyaaaak!

Alien monsters poured out of it like a crimson waterfall. From scavenger beasts resembling praying mantises to ultra-elephants ten times their normal size, the aliens charged forward, obliterating everything in their path. The living nightmares were craving for human flesh.

-Do not let a single one approach!

-Laser!

Swoosh swoosh!

Soul Mechas, armed with laser guns and swords, poured out of the union’s fleets to intercept the attack. Those who sought to destroy, and those who sought to protect. The armies on both sides clashed fiercely, each fighting for their own purpose.

Ruuumble—Baaam!

With a flash, the monsters spewed blasts that shook the union base violently.

“Eeeek!”

“Don’t panic! Believe in the union and your seniors!” Uncle Instructor shouted at the terrified cadets.

“W-what are you doing, Il-Shin?! Let’s evacuate!” Eight pulled my arm as I watched the fight in a daze.

However, I didn’t budge. I was fixated on the horrific battle unfolding before my eyes.

Bang bang bang bang!

Countless brilliant sparks flickered across the universe, like festival night fireworks. They were the union pilots who had sacrificed their lives. Though a surprise attack, the start was a close call. And then, an abominable being shifted the tide of the battle in an unimaginable way.

It was nearly a hundred meters in size, with demonic wings sprouting on its back. Even the Soul Mechas’ beams couldn’t scratch its steel-hard skin.

-Krrrr!

It turned to the attacking Soul Mecha units, unleashing a red beam from its dragon-maw-like mouth—the so-called Energy Breath.

—Kyaaaaaa!

—T-that's the top breed of all aliens, the dragon! Request for back u—aaaargh!

The blood red beam destroyed hundreds of the Soul Mechas without a trace.

-Krrr!

The dragon’s eyes flashed menacingly as it searched for its next targets. I knew the union’s downfall was inevitable at this rate.

“Aaaargh! I don’t want to die! Save me!”

“Eeek! These damned monsters! Get lost!”

“Waaah! O’ all-powerful AI! President Zernard! Please save humanity!”

Though weak, I was still a god. I could see and hear all the desperate pleas of the fallen soldiers.

I must do something here.

Ding!

Just as I was about to take action, an unidentifiable message appeared.

-----

[Birth of the Machine God STAGE 1: Alien Army’s Surprise Attack]

The Human Union’s fate hangs in the balance as the alien army and the dragon launch a surprise attack! Go forth, young boy! It’s time for you—a young hero who inherited President Zenard’s genes, the savior of humanity—to step forward!

Your father’s legacy, Soul Mecha NT2512R-1004 awaits you!

Stage difficulty: Hardcore

Clear conditions: Use the Soul Mecha to stop the enemies until reinforcements arrive.

Boss: Alien Dragon (Demi-God) x1

-----

The blaring of sirens, mixed with a majestic tune as if announcing a battle, pierced my ears.

This feels like...

I was pretty sure it wasn’t my imagination. A red arrow flickered in front of me, seemingly to guide me along like a game quest. It was pointing directly toward the hangar where Lazenca was located.

“Ack! Il-Shin! Where are you going?!”

Ignoring Eight’s desperate cries, I instinctively sprinted toward the hangar.

Clang! Clang!

“Hurry!”

“Gorgon N6821 maintenance complete!”

“Alright! Pilots, connect immediately!”

The hangar was in chaos like a beehive that had been disturbed.

Swoosh swoosh!

Pilots were connecting with their top-ranked Soul Mechas, being deployed all at once to face the dragon, which was said to be the strongest alien monster. However, unlike the chaos, the area around me was eerily quiet. It was as if the whole world had frozen, like a noir silent film landscape devoid of light.

I could hear my heart pounding loudly in my ears. The arrow had come to a stop above the head of a Soul Mecha that had lost its master.

-Let me ask you, Young Pilot. Are you the one who inherited the genes of my master, President Zernard?

A dry, mechanical voice echoed in my head. I—no, No. 100101—born through the secret inherited genes of Zernard, nodded.

The mechanical voice rang out once more.

-Then use me to save the Human Union!

As if possessed, I reached out toward the strongest Soul Mecha in human history—the legacy of the savior of mankind.

Then, I said, “Soul Mecha, Connect.”

Dormant since its master's death, the Soul Mecha opened its hatch, and I merged with it.

[NT2512R-1004 has recognized Pilot No. 100101.]

[Current Soul Energy: 1%.]

[Estimated activation time: 180 seconds.]

[Pilot No. 100101, would you like to launch?]

“Launch.”

[Energy booster ON! Target: Annihilate the aliens!]

Kwaaaa!

A blinding glow poured out from the Soul Mecha, engulfing me. Then, it exploded, shattering the colorless world around me.

***

Gorgon N6821, nicknamed the Giant, was a massive Soul Mecha towering at thirty meters. It was the ultimate weapon created by the Human Union after a high-ranking monster’s image.

Craaack! Creaaaak!

However, it had been reduced to a pile of scrap metal.

Pwoosh!

A swarm of scavengers surrounded the machine, somehow managing to penetrate the cockpit with their blades.

Narrowly avoiding them, the pilot sent a distress call, screaming, “Eeek! Requesting reinforcements! Please! Requesting reinforcements!”

However, there wasn’t a single response. He already knew that no help would come.

“I-I don’t want to die... I haven’t even left my genetics behind...” The pilot fearfully looked at the emergency escape button.

Even if he escaped the machine, the aliens outside would make quick work of him. He saw his comrade’s head being chewed off by the alien on the monitor.

Claaaang!

Like a sea otter breaking open a seashell, the alien scavenger clawed the hatch open, thrusting its hideous head into the cockpit.

-Kieeeek!

It seemed to be looking forward to its main dish.

Clack clack!

Its grotesque mouth split into six parts, spewing out green saliva that soaked the pilot’s helmet.

“Eeeek!” He knew then—he’d meet the same end as the others. “Aaargh! Save me!”

His desperate pleas fell on deaf ears. As the monster’s jaws closed on his upper half, he succumbed to despair.

The most sacred of golden flashes erupted in all its brilliance. The alien’s torso vanished without a trace. The miracles happened elsewhere too.

Another golden light swept across the battlefield, saving the soldiers of the union from the clutches of the hideous monsters. Next to Gorgon, the two-meter-tall machine barely qualified as a Soul Mecha. Yet with each swing of the cutter in its hand, the terrifying monsters fell like leaves.

“Ah...”

Surrounded by the golden light, the Gorgon’s pilot recalled the man who’d once been hailed as the hero of mankind.

“Your Excellency.”

Meanwhile, seemingly having sensed the arrival of a powerful enemy, the dragon shifted its target to the new Soul Mecha. That anomaly had to be eliminated.

-Krrrr!

The dragon roared.

Tsss!

A powerful energy, capable of obliterating an entire planet, gathered at its mouth.

***

-Kieeek!

As it swung the cutter, slicing off a dozen heads at once, the Soul Mecha detected a strange energy coming its way.

[Warning! Warning! Top-tier dragon’s Energy Breath detected! It’s heading toward this machine!]

I saw it as well—a powerful ball of energy, resembling the sun, dying a side of the black, canvas-like universe bright red.

Tzzz!

-Kieeek!

By now, the energy sphere was dozens of times larger than the dragon itself—yet it kept expanding, like a massive, pulsing heart. The alien fleet screamed and resisted, only to be swallowed by it. I detected God of Destroyer’s power from the unprecedented energy.

The dragon’s eyes gleamed brightly as it fixed its gaze on me.

-Kiiieee!

With a sound like the heavens tearing apart, the dragon unleashed its Energy Breath.

Ruuumble!

The sun of destruction, nearly hundreds of kilometers wide, threatened to swallow the entire Human Union at one go. Despair and fear spread across everyone, except for one.

[Soul Mecha’s remaining active time: 10 seconds]

With only ten seconds left on the Soul Mecha, I closed my eyes.

I can do this.

The aliens I killed were offered as sacrifices, rapidly increasing my malevolent god’s power. At the same time, the people I’d saved reminisced about President Zenard. They sent their Faith to me, increasing my benevolent god’s power.

[Soul Mecha’s remaining active time: 9, 8, 7, 6, 5...]

My eyes flung open. I was bathed in a dazzling golden blow, as if merging with the Soul Mecha.

“Full power!” I poured all my divine power into the Soul Mecha armor.

Ding!

[Detected three types of transcendent divine energy: Karma (evil deeds), Subhūti (good deeds), and Vinaya (extinction)! Link established!!]

[Pilot has transcended from G-rank to SSS-rank!]

[Soul Sync On... Sync rate 999%!]

[Soul Armor NT2512R-1004 instantly upgrades to the ultimate rank of Machine God!]

I gathered energy in my hands, pointing them toward the approaching sun.

Clunk clunk!

It transformed into what seemed like a dragon’s head. It was Lazenca’s ultimate technique, which I’d used once in my previous life. Still, was there a seal on the armor in my past life? Or did I just grow stronger? The energy was at least ten times stronger than before...

I released the black, dragon-like energy that seemed about to burst at any moment. “Ugh! Fire, Soul Mecha Cannon—God Fist!”

-Laser!

Kwaaaa!

My hands transformed into the jaws of a dragon, roaring like one.

Ruuumble—baaam!

With the combined powers of benevolent god, malevolent god, and God of Destroyer, God Fist destroyed even the sun. No trace of the dragon remained.

That fateful day, the humans saw it: the birth of the hero who would save humanity, following President Zernard.

...

...

...

Ding!

[Birth of the Machine God STAGE 1: Alien Army’s Surprise Attack PERFECT CLEAR!]

[NEXT STAGE 2: Alien Queen's Revival will begin.]