Incomprehensible.
Unacceptable.
Not understanding why Ryuya, the Earth King, would obstruct them, after a brief moment of astonishment, the two Machine Gods aimed their light pillars at Ryuya, then lowered them again.
"Earth King, if you are concerned about other lifeforms on Earth, we can descend to Earth in our true forms and destroy Crimson Moon and humanity through close combat."
The planetary-level weapons known as light pillars were clearly absolute artillery suppression capable of devastating Crimson Moon and humanity. But such actions would inevitably affect other Phantasmal Species and destroy Earth's environment.
After brief consideration, the two Machine Gods thought perhaps the Earth King was precisely concerned about Earth's safety, hence his intervention.
Adopting another method, they were willing to eliminate the targets in the most primitive way, just so Ryuya wouldn't cause them obstruction or difficulty.
"That is impossible."
Ryuya bluntly refused the Machine Gods' proposal. Through years of contact with the maid Justice, he had already learned the thought processes and judgment methods of the Machine Gods.
He had also considered having the maid Justice negotiate some issues with the two Machine Gods, but the maid Justice's answer was that it was impossible, and the Machine Gods would never agree. Their goal was to eliminate humanity and eliminate Crimson Moon.
This was the meaning of their existence, the only thing they would do.
Nodding to indicate his understanding, Ryuya said nothing more. Ending the recollection, he gave the two Machine Gods his only answer.
"Crimson Moon... is my wife."
"So that's why. No wonder your kingly power carries Crimson Moon's scent."
As planetary Kings, any planetary King would have abilities and traits unique to them.
Crimson Moon, as the Moon King, possessed the ability Marble Phantasm. And now, bearing Crimson Moon's essence as the Moon King, Ryuya naturally carried Crimson Moon's scent.
After confirming Ryuya's decision, the two Machine Gods unceremoniously attacked.
Light pillars like celestial curtains surged forth.
"…"
No need for words. Appearing in Ryuya's hand was the Holy Lance, the Spear of Longinus.
Slowly raising his right hand, the weapon representing the Spear of Destiny gathered a shimmering red light, hissing, roaring, calling to tear apart all fate.
[As the Earth King, your special authority is Historical Preservation. You can summon all weapons recorded in Earth's history and legends.]
[Facing the two world-destroying Machine Gods, you use the Spear of Longinus, said to have pierced Christ, and the Sword of Xuanyuan.]
Meanwhile, at the Moon's core.
"Terminal Justice detected. Permissions granted."
"Welcome, Machine God Justice."
Having lost its life, turned into a colorless, annihilated core land, the maid named Justice set foot on this world.
One day prior.
"Justice, although the Lunar Civilization perished, it left behind many modules and materials related to the Machine Gods. I hope you can go and activate those sealed core forges."
Crimson Moon, as the Moon King, who sealed the final Machine Gods in the Moon's core, also sealed the vast majority of the Machine Gods' modules and accessories within a singularity.
Well aware of the consequences if the revived Machine Gods Justice and Prosperity retrieved those two modules, as it represented the true, peak strength of the Lunar Civilization, which even Crimson Moon at her peak could only barely oppose, Crimson Moon thought those data would never see the light of day again.
But now, Ryuya was sending the maid Justice to activate that data and become the strongest Machine God.
"Master, are you not afraid of me?"
As a Machine God, the maid Justice originated from a fragment of the Machine God Justice's core, independently born as the strongest maid.
But machines are always machines. Let alone Ryuya, who had learned less than half of the Lunar Civilization's knowledge… even the peak Lunar Civilization itself was destroyed by the contradictory logic of the Machine Gods' self-destruction, wasn't it?
Very clear about what would happen if she obtained those modules, data, information, and core forges, the maid Justice questioned her Master for the first time.
She didn't understand. Wasn't Ryuya afraid she might change her existence like the past Machine Gods? After all, compared to that vast data, the independent personality of the maid Justice, with only a small part of the core, was too little. The probability of being directly overwhelmed by the massive data was very high.
"Ah? Afraid? No."
Smiling and shaking his head, Ryuya knew that simply destroying the Machine Gods Justice and Prosperity likely wouldn't end the Machine Gods' revenge. Because he felt Alaya's energy…
It was this Counter Force that prematurely awakened the two Machine Gods on the Moon.
If that was the case, then even if he destroyed Justice and Prosperity, the dying Machine Gods would probably form contracts with Alaya and enter the Throne of Heroes.
Originally, Alaya's strength was only at the level of a planetary Ultimate One.
But if he truly killed Justice and Prosperity, Alaya would be the biggest winner, instantly gaining two planetary Ultimate One-level combatants.
If that was the case, then Ryuya had to prevent Alaya's success. So how should he do it?
Naturally, it was to have the maid Justice inherit the final legacy of the Lunar Civilization, then replace them, becoming the sole Machine God.
But this plan had a major problem.
It wasn't whether the Machine Gods Justice and Prosperity would detect and try to stop the maid Justice from entering the singularity and fusing with the core forges, but whether the maid Justice, after fusing with everything, would remain the same as before.
Could she withstand the brainwashing of the massive database? This was an almost impossible task.
Holding this doubt, the maid Justice proactively asked. Because for her, whatever happened to her was actually unimportant. The only person in her eyes was always Ryuya. Even if she were destroyed, she absolutely, absolutely did not want to harm her only Master.
"Ah? Justice, you ask if I would be afraid? I am never afraid."
Shaking his head, Ryuya continued frankly, "I am not afraid of you, Justice, because I believe you can overcome all difficulties and become the sole existence."
In Ryuya's eyes, Justice was Justice. This maid was undoubtedly one of the people he trusted most.
Never worrying that Justice might be overwhelmed by the Machine God's core forges, he continued, "Justice, you should understand. You are a core fragment from the Machine God Justice. In the previous cycle, the Beast of the Apocalypse that I incarnated devoured the Machine God Justice, and you are the product of that power."
In several simulations, Ryuya discovered one thing: some existences might retain memories of failed simulated lives.
For example, Tiamat from Uruk often said nonsensical things. Clearly, the Mother Goddess occasionally saw memories of her past time with Ryuya in her dreams.
And this time, Crimson Moon, with his help, clearly recalled everything from the previous simulation's life.
And the maid Justice, with the potential of a planetary Ultimate One, was also in this sequence. Her not speaking didn't mean she didn't remember, she definitely knew.
This was the authority possessed by powerful beings, planetary Ultimate Ones.
Hearing Ryuya's words, the maid Justice blinked, "Yes, Master, I still remember all the memories from the previous cycle."
Ryuya smiled wryly, "Then you should also know that your love for me is just a distorted, twisted love of your personal will, right?"
"Ah? So that's what you're concerned about?"
Suddenly laughing, the maid Justice took two steps forward and gently covered Ryuya's lips.
"Master, I never thought loving you would be any trouble. Because in my heart, you are my most beloved person."
"In the past, I existed for the Lunar Civilization for ages. But those humans clearly failed, they did not accomplish what they should have. After the Lunar Civilization perished, I wondered about the purpose of my existence."
"Was it to destroy humanity? To kill the Moon King Crimson Moon? Or to sleep aimlessly like this?"
"Until I met you, I understood the meaning of my birth."
Reaching this point, the maid Justice gently stood on her tiptoes, raised her head, and kissed Ryuya's lips.
The brief contact was less a kiss and more an emotional release. The maid Justice continued, "Bloodriver Brunestud, or should I call you by your true name, Takami Ryuya, my Master, it is you who gave me happiness, who gave meaning to my existence."
"I know my past. I know my feelings of love for you. But I understand even more that this love of mine is no longer a product of machinery, I have already developed a heart."
"I hope you can be happy. I hope you can obtain joy. This is my meaning, and what I will do in the future."
Finally, the maid Justice kissed Ryuya goodbye, "Thank you for telling me this today, Master. I now have the confidence to do what I believe is right."
"Please look forward to it. When I succeed, I will be the Machine God Justice belonging solely to you, a complete planetary Ultimate One."
Within the singularity created by Crimson Moon lay the remains of the Lunar Civilization.
Inputting the correct commands, the maid Justice entered. What she saw was a shattered, or rather, an already decayed world.
"This place... is the world belonging to the Machine Gods?"
All the modules and parts belonging to Justice in her memory were here. But not just Justice's, as within the vast alternate space, there were also the components and modules of the other six Machine Gods: Prosperity, Order, Destruction, Pride, Peace, and finally, Star Dome.
And amidst the countless parts and modules, seven forges radiated the light of the sun… the core forges of the seven former Machine Gods.
But five of those forges had completely extinguished, because the Machine Gods they represented were completely dead.
What remained were only the forges of the Machine Gods named Justice and Prosperity.
Gently stepping forward, the maid Justice knew this was her final trial.
Should she fuse with the core forges, completely devour the surrounding modules, and evolve into the strongest Machine God? Or be melted down by the forges, delivering the coordinates of this singularity to the other two Machine Gods?
Smiling, she walked into the radiant forge. The maid Justice never hesitated, because she deeply believed in her Master, and even more deeply believed in her love.
The battle with the two Machine Gods continued.
Frankly, with Ryuya's fully grown Earth King, plus Crimson Moon, Nero, and the Phantasmal Species, combining the faith power of the Moon King, Human King, and Earth King, and activating the Sun God's True God Reality Marble, Ryuya could completely defeat Justice and Prosperity.
But he couldn't do that. Because if he killed these two Machine Gods, then within Alaya's domain, humanity's Counter Force would gain two Heroic Spirits comparable to true gods.
After he completed the scenario evaluation and left, Crimson Moon and Nero would absolutely be no match for these two Heroic Spirits.
If even one had a chance to appear in the world, the entire civilization he protected would be utterly destroyed.
The battle with the enemies had already caused earth-shattering commotion.
On the current battlefield, countless meteors floated around Ryuya and the two Machine Gods… all debris from their shattered surroundings.
As the three fought, they moved from Earth's atmosphere to the ground, then to the ocean depths. Surging heat waves evaporated endless seawater. Within the massive crater were dried seabeds and the remains of various marine plants and animals.
"Earth King, you are not our match."
As surrounding seawater rushed into the deep crater where the three fought, the Machine God Prosperity suddenly spoke.
"Yes, Earth King, you dare not destroy us. But we can use our power without any restraint."
"As machines, our endurance inherently surpasses yours as an organic lifeform. If this consumption continues, you are not our enemy."
As the two Machine Gods said, Ryuya was indeed very strong. With all his states activated, he was definitely an existence surpassing SSS, his combat power could be called the strongest among planetary Ultimate Ones.
Even fighting one against two, he suppressed the two Machine Gods with overwhelming force.
But by the same token, he couldn't deliver the killing blow to these two. He had to wait for the maid Justice to devour the core forges to prevent the possibility of the Machine Gods Justice and Prosperity becoming Alaya's.
Under this premise, his stamina consumption was extremely fast. Without the replenishment of Midnight Lost Child, he really couldn't hold on for too long.
"Time... Reversal!"
Having mastered rules, Ryuya wasn't using his time and reversal abilities to restore his stamina for the first time. But how many times could he use it in such a battle?
Clearly reaching some limit, he couldn't be bothered with the other side, raising his weapons again to engage the Machine Gods in rapid combat.
BOOM!
Crackle, crackle...
Attacks sufficient to make heaven and earth change color, even splitting the clouds, clashed hundreds of times in an instant.
After separating once more, the Machine Gods Justice and Prosperity showed a rare trace of fear. They were actually afraid, afraid of this man who refused to fall no matter what.
Pausing slightly, they looked at each other, confirming a certain thought.
"Earth King, we respect you. We can guarantee not to attack Crimson Moon. As long as the Moon King does not attack us again, we can let go of the past events of the Lunar Civilization."
"We only want to crush humanity and protect peace. That is enough."
Rarely showing concession, the two Machine Gods also didn't want to push Ryuya too hard.
Although the Counter Force Alaya had told them the Earth King would not eliminate them, they understood that Alaya, representing humanity's Counter Force, had no reason to cooperate with Machine Gods wanting to destroy humanity.
Compared to the straightforward Earth King, they feared falling into Alaya's trap more.
Despite being Machine Gods acting with absolute rationality, their entirely mechanical faces now showed a hint of fear and compromise.