In that exact instant, the dragonized Tiamat's scales multiplied rapidly, thickening like heavy armor preparing for war. Immense wings sprouted from her back, claws sharpening dangerously.
Yet, the hand holding Rovi remained soft and gentle.
No matter how violently her body shifted, that palm maintained perfect steadiness, shielding Rovi from even the slightest jolt.
Truly like protecting her child...
Across from her, "Zeus" also gradually revealed its power.
The giant statue-like head expanded an invisible force field, pressure radiating outward relentlessly. Its eyes flashed with lightning, scenes resembling the drifting sky floated within, starlight shimmering faintly like nebulae.
This was the divine authority of Zeus, ruler of the heavens.
Yet, mixed within was an unmistakably mechanical flavor.
Unlike Uruk's natural gods, Greece's pantheon was composed of alien mechanical beings—something Rovi had long understood clearly.
Though he was puzzled as to why the Greek gods' mechanical bodies hadn't been destroyed during the arrival of the White Titan, as he'd known from prior history.
Still, correct history was never singular, and the appearance of Zeus's mechanical form in the Imaginary Number Sea was now undeniable.
Confronting Tiamat head-on, battle seemed inevitable.
So—
"Nobody move!"
Rovi's sudden shout startled both gods who were fully poised to clash into a stunned halt.
"Aaaaaa?" Tiamat's still-beautiful face lowered, her moist, crimson lips slightly parted, gently questioning:
[Rovi, what's wrong?]
Zeus's immense eyes also rotated slightly, fixing upon Rovi.
Truth be told, had Rovi not spoken—his voice carrying the distinct presence of primordial planetary force—Zeus might never have noticed him at all.
The reason was simple: Rovi was far too minuscule.
Compared to Tiamat, though perhaps not as insignificant as an ant, he was barely more noticeable than a sparrow.
Yet, when he spoke, attention naturally followed.
Zeus's mechanical brain rapidly scanned and analyzed Rovi's existence specifications:
[PRIMORDIAL CONCEPT...HUMAN, ISLAND-CLASS LIFEFORM]—
"A mere speck of dust dares command us to stop?"
The clear electronic tone faded, replaced immediately by a low, majestic masculine voice.
The mechanical "Zeus" possessed the ability to simulate the thought patterns and speech of the other party.
For the purely instinctual Tiamat, that wasn't necessary.
But Rovi was a different matter entirely.
"Speck of dust my ass!" Rovi snapped back instantly.
Zeus: "..."
His circuits, designed specifically to mimic human logic, momentarily froze.
Was this guy… talking to him?
Aren't humans meant to cower before strength?
"Shut up. It's not your turn to speak!" Ignoring Zeus's bewildered expression, Rovi turned back toward Tiamat instead. "It's fine, leave this to me—"
"Aaaaa?" Tiamat tilted her head slightly, glancing from Zeus back to the tiny figure right before her. After a brief pause, she gently nodded.
[Alright, I'll leave it to you.]
So, Rovi leaped out from her palm, stepping directly into the Imaginary Number Sea itself.
After his rebirth in primordial origin, this was his greatest change.
He no longer needed to deliberately condense his internal energy to manifest the attributes stored within the Sword of Rupture—Ea. The power originally from the primordial deity Ea had completely fused with him, bone-deep yet ever-present.
Each step he took into the void became creation and evolution. Although his current strength could only momentarily open tiny footholds, it was still enough for him to move freely in this non-existent space.
Click—click—click!
Gears turned, machinery hummed. Zeus pondered briefly, then decided to ignore the insignificant pest altogether.
Better to focus on confronting Tiamat directly—
"I said nobody move!" Rovi yelled again.
"???"
Zeus's processing circuits briefly stalled again.
"Pathetic insect…" Zeus spoke, voice low, thunder rumbling threateningly.
Yet Rovi's intentions were incredibly simple.
He ordered Zeus not to move precisely so Zeus would remain within the world's domain—thus providing Rovi the opportunity he desperately needed.
Someone who challenged the King of Greek Gods and died gloriously—that deed would surely be recorded by the World.
Perfect qualification for the Throne of Heroes!
Even if he failed, he'd still find a way back into the world itself.
No loss either way.
"I already said don't move! Move again and I'll kill you—"
Who the fuck's killing who now?
Finally, Zeus couldn't help but snap, fury igniting instantly.
The Greek gods were no ordinary machines. As artificial lifeforms simulating true organisms, they possessed genuine emotions. Mimicking humanity's thought patterns naturally drew their feelings closer to humanity's own.
"I'll kill your mother—"
Clearly, Zeus had been infected by Rovi's logic.
Worse than any virus could manage.
But just as Zeus began to speak, he abruptly sensed something extremely wrong.
Because—
"Aaaaa?"
[Whose mother did you say you're killing?]
Tiamat appeared silently behind Zeus.
Her dragon wings instantly carried her across the nonexistent distance within the Imaginary Sea, her entire body now armored in thick scales, looking even more massive than before.
Her raised claw gleamed coldly—
Then abruptly slammed down upon Zeus's giant head.
They were originally beings of comparable scale. With Zeus's attention entirely absorbed, failing to detect Tiamat's sudden movement wasn't particularly surprising.
Not surprising, perhaps—but still—
What the actual fuck?!
Though Zeus's face was just a cold, steel mask, Rovi could clearly sense the utter anguish radiating from that metallic visage.
He empathized completely because at this moment, he felt exactly the same—
What the fuck?!
"Don't move—I mean, not you! I was telling her not to move!"
"Aaaaa!" But Tiamat merely glanced at Rovi, eyes shining with starry admiration. Her crimson lips parted joyfully, voicing sincere gratitude.
[Thank you for helping me.]
"I didn't help you at all!" Rovi's eyelid twitched violently.
Clearly, Tiamat misunderstood Rovi's earlier outburst as a deliberate distraction to help her catch Zeus unaware.
No wonder she'd agreed so easily just now.
Who the hell said the Primordial Goddess was simple-minded? Wait—pure-hearted didn't necessarily mean low intelligence. Perhaps due to the gods' previous betrayal, Tiamat's scheming could rival anyone's.
"You damn— You tricked me—no, wait, what nonsense am I even saying? Uninstall! Uninstall this man's thought patterns right now!"
Zeus shouted furiously.
[DIRECTIVE ACKNOWLEDGED... THOUGHT PATTERN UNINSTALL SUCCESFFUL.]
In an instant, Zeus's voice returned to its deep mechanical calmness, rumbling thunder blooming around him once more.
"Human, your crime—is blasphemy against the King of Gods!"
---
T/N: LMAOOOOOO NO WAY HE GOT INFECTED FOR A BIT
...
everyone is on vacation so no character notes this week
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