Balder rose to his feet, taking a single step forward—crossing the void instantly to stand before his illusionary duplicate.
The Fear God's consciousness fragment had already sensed the change.
It could feel Balder's new divinity radiating through the air like a tidal wave. The moment Balder advanced to the Sub-Skyfather tier, the outcome was sealed.
The fragment stopped struggling. Even a god knew when to accept defeat.
"You win," said the Fear God's consciousness in a calm tone. Despite its ruin, it still carried the pride of an ancient Asgardian God-King.
"Boy… I have to admit, you're one of the most remarkable Asgardians I've ever seen—your talent and wisdom both surpass most of your kin."
Balder met the praise with quiet composure. His expression didn't waver.
"As the former God-King of Asgard," the Fear God continued, "I won't be stingy in acknowledging a worthy successor. Consider this… my blessing. Two warnings."
"First—do not return to the Nine Realms. Never return!"
"Second—never inherit an existing Asgardian godhood!"
Before Balder could even respond, the fragmentary consciousness disintegrated into dust and light.
Even in death, the old god clung to his dignity. Falling to a fellow Asgardian was insult enough—he would not linger to be pitied.
Balder didn't pursue the vanishing presence. Instead, he stood silently, deep in thought.
Don't return to the Nine Realms… I know why.
Those ancient, unseen beings—the Elder Gods that dwell beyond the veil of reality. They were the reason.
But the second warning—godhood? That was something new.
Asgardians actually have godhoods?
Balder had always believed Asgardians were simply a race of powerful extraterrestrials worshiped as gods by mortals—not true deities.
But this… this changed everything.
If true godhood exists among Asgardians, he mused, then they're not just aliens with power. They're real gods.
Yet I myself have none—even after reaching Sub-Skyfather. There's no sign of a godhood forming within me. Maybe... godhood is connected to advancing to the full Skyfather tier?
He shook his head. Those mysteries were far beyond his current reach.
For now, the path ahead was clear—master the Sub-Skyfather realm first.
Although the Fear God's consciousness was gone, traces of its pure fear energy still lingered within the illusionary body.
Balder turned his gaze toward the nearby T-800 Terminator.
The secondary fragment of the Fear God within the machine had also dissipated, leaving behind a condensed pool of fear power.
"How interesting," Balder murmured. "Because its systems interacted with divine fear energy, and because of its inherent adaptability… this T-800 has begun to resonate with fear itself."
A glint flashed in his eyes.
"In that case…"
He waved his hand—the illusionary body shattered, releasing a surge of condensed fear energy that shot into the T-800's frame.
Then Balder raised his other hand, summoning a blazing flame of divine light—the holy fire of the God of Light himself—and sent it surging into the machine as well.
The Terminator was made of steel—yet steel was a kind of metal, a material.
And what was Asgard most renowned for? Forging artifacts.
If Asgardian forging methods can create divine weapons, Balder thought, then why not forge divine soldiers?
He began to refine the machine, melding fear and light together in a crucible of godly fire.
Minutes passed. The divine flames dimmed—and a new being stood where the old machine had been.
It still looked human-shaped, but its metallic body now glimmered with a cold, abyssal sheen. The frame was unchanged, yet its presence—that oppressive aura—was leagues stronger.
Even a glance into its black, soulless eyes could make lesser beings tremble with instinctive terror.
Balder studied his creation. His divine sight pierced through its layers, revealing the intricate web of power within.
"Fascinating… it truly possesses traces of divine fear. That pressure—it suppresses the will of its opponents. Once fear takes root in their hearts, their power will falter."
That was a lesser manifestation of Fear Power—a low-tier application of what the Fear God once wielded.
Even more intriguing, the new T-800 seemed to grow stronger by absorbing fear itself.
It was evolving—a being that could feed on fear.
It reminded Balder of the ancient "Divine Children" born with special blessings in Asgardian myth.
He didn't know how far it could grow—maybe not all the way to Skyfather, but reaching the High One-Tier limit was certainly possible.
The reborn T-800 looked at Balder, then knelt on one knee.
Its mechanical voice had gained a strange, resonant tone.
"My lord."
Balder regarded it silently. Indeed, he was its creator now—the being that had reforged it with divine power.
"You are no longer what you once were," Balder said calmly. "You've transcended your kind. From this moment forward, you'll bear a new name."
He paused, then smiled faintly.
"I name you the Governor."
"You shall command the Fear Warrior Legion under my banner."
The Governor placed a hand across his chest in solemn pledge.
"I shall be the sharpest sword in my lord's hand—and will never fail the name you have bestowed."
His voice was no longer cold metal. It carried depth, weight—life. He was no longer just a machine.
"Go," said Balder softly. "Sarah Connor has waited long enough. Go see her."
"Yes, my lord."
Balder watched as the Governor's figure disappeared into the distance, his movements steady and powerful.
A flicker of light passed through Balder's eyes.
The Terminator models truly are fascinating, he thought.
The classics were always the best—the T-800, the T-1000 of liquid metal and shapeshifting power, and the T-X, hybrid of both, able to control the others.
"A legion of Fear Warriors led by the Governor, the T-1000 as the Assassin Corps, and the T-X as their commander…" Balder smiled.
"Now that… would be something worth watching."