The machine that had first appeared in the Interstellar Metropolis—the one that attacked Shiomi and his two companions—stood before them once more.
Shiomi had assumed it had been reduced to dust along with the western district of the Interstellar Metropolis during his clash with Demeter's Noble Phantasm.
Now it was clear that the bronze giant Talos had not been destroyed in that battle. Instead, it had been recovered and brought back to the Orbital Grand Temple.
And its identity was clearly far from ordinary.
"Europa. Here, eliminate those who defy Olympus."
Zeus's voice rang out, calm yet filled with unquestionable authority.
Europa's expression turned sharp in an instant.
"Since the oracle has been delivered, I shall obey the will of the Great God. All life gathered here—offer yourselves to the Almighty God."
A killing chill flooded the Grand Altar. Europa slowly lifted off the ground, drifting toward Talos's shoulder.
Orion, who had been watching her without blinking, immediately understood the danger. He aimed at her vital point and drew his bow.
The arrow split the air—yet just before it could pierce Europa's throat, Talos's enormous palm intercepted it.
"Tch—"
Orion drew again, but with Talos shielding her, he couldn't get a clear shot.
"Don't let your guard down! Even if the divine consort Europa has fused with Hera's divine core, Talos was a gift Zeus himself gave her!"
"Carry out their execution, Europa," Zeus said, his gaze settling on Shiomi. "Leave no survivors—except for that demigod."
He wasn't sparing Shiomi out of mercy.
Zeus knew perfectly well that the defeats of Artemis, Poseidon, Demeter, and Aphrodite had all stemmed from this man.
And the only one who could deal with him was Zeus himself.
"Unknown demigod, remember this well. I am not a merciful god, though I may be magnanimous. I am the god who wields thunder and subjugates mankind. True Form—manifest."
[—Great Electrified, confirmed.
—Great Main God, acknowledged.
—Synchronization with divine artifact Kronos Crown, complete.
—Spatial camouflage of True Form authorized for release.
—Spatial expansion set directly above the Great Altar.
—Divine True Form name: Zeus.
—Designated Spirit Origin: Ancient God/Ruler.
—Deploying. Deploying. Deploying.
—All nearby sentient entities, withdraw immediately.]
As the altar's broadcast echoed through the air, thunder tore across the heavens. A blinding white flash forced everyone to shut their eyes.
When their vision returned, Zeus was no longer before them.
Beyond the altar, within the sea of stars, a colossal divine face had appeared.
High above—far beyond the reach of mortals—loomed an immense construct of divine steel, the very shape of a god.
The sovereign of Olympus, enthroned among the mountains of the Interstellar Metropolis. The flagship of the fleet that had crossed the starry seas.
The True Form that governed the skies and thunder.
Its divine name: Zeus, the almighty Main God.
The meaning of that name was "radiance"—the great deity who ruled all natural phenomena of the heavens.
A supermassive fortress, guiding humanity through countless Authorities and abilities.
Though revered as a god who protected mankind, its true nature was that of a star-faring annihilation-class mobile fortress—the flagship Zeus.
This was Zeus's true identity: the flagship of the Twelve Olympian Machine Gods.
By controlling the divine artifact Kronos Crown, he wielded the full Authorities of all twelve gods.
"Kneel. Worship. I am Zeus, the almighty god."
"We've already heard that. If you want us to kneel and submit, then show us everything you've got!"
Shiomi's eyes burned as he drove his Mana to its absolute limit, ready to face Zeus head-on.
"Bro! Stick to the plan. I'll deal with Europa and Talos!"
Orion's shout was a clear reminder.
Shiomi glanced back at him, then signaled to Artoria with his eyes.
Europa, fused with Hera's divine core and under Zeus's mental control, could no longer be treated as a mere Servant. If Orion had to face both her and Talos alone, even victory would come at a terrible cost.
So Shiomi had Artoria support him—end Europa and Talos as quickly as possible, then come reinforce his fight.
In a battle against the great god Zeus, only a goddess like her could intervene more easily.
Morgan and Scáthach, after all, had something else to accomplish.
Kirschtaria had yet to appear. He was likely waiting deeper within the inner palace beyond the Great Altar, closest to the Fantasy Tree.
"Storm."
Zeus spoke softly, yet his voice boomed like thunder itself. The Great Altar trembled violently. The terrifying vibrations ran through every body present, as if their organs and Magic Circuits might shatter under the strain.
And that was only the beginning.
Lightning flashed endlessly across the star-filled sky. Above Zeus's warship, an immense concentration of Mana gathered, ready to descend at any moment.
At the same time, Talos brought his fist crashing down. His massive body blocked most of the opening above the Great Altar.
Unnoticed, the entrance through which they had entered quietly sealed shut.
The intention was obvious: trap them inside before Zeus's strike fell, cutting off any easy escape.
That was, of course, if the force holding them back proved strong enough.
A golden meteor shot upward from within the altar and slammed into Talos's fist. The bronze giant's entire right arm was forced high into the air.
The opposing forces clashed, and Talos's joints let out a dull, grinding malfunction.
Shoving the fist aside, Shiomi glanced toward the altar. Orion had already leapt clear. Artoria followed, summoning her warhorse, Dun Stallion, and charging through the sky.
An explosion tore through one side of the altar wall—Morgan and Scáthach were already pushing onward toward the Fantasy Tree.
With nothing left tying him down, Shiomi abruptly withdrew his resisting force, slipped out of Talos's attack range, and shot straight toward Zeus.
Unlike his encounter with Aphrodite, he hadn't been caught off guard. Zeus's lightning fell like torrential rain, impossible to dodge—but Shiomi endured it head-on, defending against the strikes and pressing forward without injury.
Just as he was about to reach Zeus's main body, Zeus reacted instantly.
A sudden graviton barrage descended, sharply slowing Shiomi's flight and exposing him to an even denser storm of lightning.
There were no thunderclouds in the sky.
And yet lightning answered his call.
What gathered in this highest heaven were only dense masses of Mana—purer than any thundercloud.
But Zeus was not the only one who commanded thunder.
Without warning, a bolt of lightning struck Zeus himself.
It left nothing behind but a burst of sparks—not even a mark—but Zeus felt it.
"So this is the extent of it. No more than a tickle."
"Very well. I shall reveal the divine name granted to me by my mother."
Shiomi hovered a hundred meters directly before him.
"I am the god who fights for humanity. My name is… Tehom!"