223. The Warlord and the Fairy
A mishap in the plan caused the three councilors to fall into a dispute.
Sophia Marlin's appearance pushed Leoz's surprise attack squad into the shadows. On the surface, the heroic soul army brought by this lake fairy was enough to block the Mechanical citizens, and Sophia Marlin herself possessed formidable combat power.
If the three councilors fused right now and focused on Sophia Marlin—what about Leoz hidden in the dark?
If they continued chasing Leoz's whereabouts, Sophia Marlin would flatten them.
Moreover, there were those unkillable colonized troopers… another hidden variable.
"We have to admit, Leoz has used a rather cheap tactic to toy with us."
Turing•Binary spoke in a muffled voice:
"Leoz's methods are crude and cheap, but regardless of his final move, Mashgegang's arrival is inevitable and cannot be stopped. I suggest we spread out our forces to firmly guard the Mechanical Council, using a war of attrition to weaken the enemy in waves."
"I object! Splitting our forces is a tactical blunder. We should stay in the central area and wipe out the attackers together."
"Then we'd all get wiped in one go and lose our chance for the descent. Our goal should be to buy time."
"If we fight like that, we'll only die a slow death."
"They'll be the ones dying a slow death, not us."
With the tide of battle shifting, Coulomb•Torque hastily finished its repairs and went out to fight again.
"Prepare to die!"
Coulomb•Torque revved its engine, thrusters spewing searing flames, unleashing attacks on multiple fronts with the mechanical forces.
In the sky, a massive swarm of aircraft bombarded the ground fiercely; plasma's azure fireballs submerged the land nonstop. Viewed from afar, it was like a luminous sea.
Sophia Marlin stood amid it all, her eyelids low, strolling calmly through the shining sea.
On the ground, countless automated mechs accurately fired tracking smart munitions; many four-legged robots charged in for close contact, self-destructing on impact.
Sophia Marlin's white gown swayed gently, her expression serene, making it unclear whether she was even fully conscious.
In the quantum realm, Coulomb•Torque launched repeated ambushes, closing in on its target from the micro level in an instant, a speed that rivaled light.
Then it was seized by a ghostly hand on its shoulder and beheaded under the pitiless gaze of [Death Declaration].
In terms of raw power, Sophia Marlin stood at the very pinnacle of Zeta-tier, especially since an [Eerie]-path ascendant's agility gave them a sizable advantage against purely mechanical equipment.
In reality, things were worse than Coulomb•Torque had imagined.
With the heroic soul army joining the fight, the hordes of [Mechanical Society] were held back, allowing ample time for the colonized troopers.
Soon, the same dilemma returned:
Split up? Or fuse?
If they fused, they could steamroll Sophia Marlin swiftly; but who knew what Leoz was plotting behind the scenes? Moreover, if they fused, nobody would keep the colonized troopers in check.
If they split up, Sophia Marlin would retain the upper hand, gradually strangling them. Still, splitting forces to handle the troopers would at least reduce pressure on the front line.
Upon another revival, Coulomb•Torque felt a wave of agitation.
As a mechanical being, such emotions shouldn't have arisen, but the creeping infiltration of spirit energy was affecting its personality subroutines at any moment.
Nor was it alone—other councilors and many low-level mech souls felt similarly.
"Coulomb•Torque! We can't wait any longer, we have to decide now."
Watt•Rivetsteel roared hoarsely. Its voice lacked electrical resonance, as though it had suddenly reverted to human form:
"Hurry up and make a choice!"
"Make the decision, Coulomb•Torque," Turing•Binary said, voice trembling with a mortal's fear: "Fuse… or split up?"
Overhead, the Mechanical Gate descended further, Mashgegang's call sweeping across the land like an ancient morning breeze, stirring the curiosity and fascination of civilized people for new wonders.
"The Mechanical… is summoning."
Coulomb•Torque clenched its fist, glaring at Sophia Marlin before it. Shadows covered its face, fear in its eyes:
"There are 25 minutes until Mashgegang arrives."
"No matter what Leoz has planned, he probably can't pull it off now. Once Mashgegang arrives, the Speaker will act."
"If that's the case—Mashgegang above!"
Cracks opened across its body, wrists and ankles twisting outward. The Saint Son core in its chest erupted in a deep blue glow:
"Transcendent physique, savage annihilation, [Holy Machinid] Councilor, Watt•Rivetsteel!"
The mountainous form of Watt•Rivetsteel instantly compressed, all mechanical modules unfolding and dispersing like a swarm, swiftly converging onto Coulomb•Torque.
"Peering into secrets, hacking the world, [Code-Speaker] Councilor, Turing•Binary!"
Turing•Binary transformed into a stream of light, carrying vast data torrents into the scene. Under its precise coordination, Watt•Rivetsteel's body compressed into modular components.
"Elusive, imaginary future, [Quantum Mechanid] Councilor, Coulomb•Torque!"
A powerful magnetic surge rippled outward, repelling Sophia Marlin, who'd attempted another ambush.
The three councilors' Saint Son cores aligned, and from afar, the Mechanical Council fired a beam upon the cores, unleashing a massive burst of energy that soared into the clouds.
Clang—clang—
The grand doors of the Mechanical Council slowly opened, revealing a precise gear-like core akin to a beating heart. Under its driving force, the bodies of the three councilors were reconfigured and assembled within a magnetic storm.
Alloy skeletons formed the framework, nano-muscles filled the gaps, and pitch-black magnetofluid coated the exterior. Hydraulic rods and spherical joints connected in synergy. Jet-black thrusters flared open, spewing violet flames like the spread wings of an angel.
Ultimately, they formed a streamlined mech-god with sturdy, intricate armor, standing only twenty meters tall.
「Mechanical Fusion • Magnetic Machina Deity—Umbra.」
A voice entirely unlike that of the three councilors resonated—impossible to identify gender or age, yet not the monotone of a mere machine.
Sophia Marlin lifted an eyebrow, coldly sizing up the being before her.
"…An embodiment of the Council's will."
She seemed neither anxious nor flustered, merely uttering this, then cryptically said:
"You—how much longer do you plan to wait?"
「Those who defy social order and disrupt the public good shall face the people's judgment.」
Umbra's twin wings propelled it forward in a flash. With a rocket-like elbow launch, it threw a punch at Sophia Marlin:
「Fist of Law and Order!」
In Sophia Marlin's eyes, that speeding punch loomed ever closer, the blast of air ruffling her bangs.
Boom—crash————!
Fire burst atop the distant mountains. A gigantic mechanical worm wailed, plummeting from the sky.
「—What's happening? Council!」
Umbra's frame stiffened, suddenly twisting around:
「The Council is under attack—could it be the colonized troopers?!」
"…I'm afraid not."
Sophia Marlin stated calmly.
At the center of the explosion, a towering figure advanced step by step, prowling like a hunting dog on all fours. His entire body was wrapped in bandages and broken armor.
Heavy brass chains clanged on his chest. He clutched a crimson blade in one hand, and his tattered body crawled with maggots and vipers.
"(Farlician) The Warlord… Lidevidens is here."
He slowly raised a wolf-shaped helm, six clear frost-blue eyes shining from the dark sockets:
"(Farlician)… a rare moment of clarity. I can't believe I have another chance to fight for you, my homeland."
As he spoke, he rose to stand upright, black blood oozing from beneath the bandages. Through the gaps, one could glimpse his decaying porcelain skin.
"(Farlician) Right now."
He lifted the crimson sword in his hand:
"(Farlician) You cancerous cells of [Society], get out of this world!"