[Heaven's Strike]
The Flügel's most potent offensive ability, unleashing all their magic power in a single burst, capable of obliterating a city in one strike. The drawback is complete magical exhaustion after use, potentially even reverting their body to an infantile state due to the depletion of power.
Azriel appeared furious, yet her mind rapidly made a judgment. The strength of that scrap iron opposite her exceeded her expectations, and she couldn't tell what it was plotting.
Facing such an opponent, there was no need to continue probing. Either crush it with absolute power, or accept her own defeat.
Going all-in? No, it was merely her pride as a Flügel. She didn't believe mere scrap iron could survive a Heaven's Strike, but after regressing to an infantile state, she would have no combat capability; at best, it would be a draw.
'The rest is up to you, Jibril.'
She glanced sideways at Jibril, who was startled by the violent magic reaction. The strongest among the Flügel was no mere boast.
Dark purple magic formed an enormous magic circle, causing the heavens and earth to change color. The surrounding spirits were almost completely drained, and even space itself was sealed, leaving Schwarzer no chance to escape.
'[Report] Flügel's strongest attack, Heaven's Strike, analysis complete.'
Schwarzer seemed to be startled, standing still and looking up, awaiting the fall of her attack.
In reality, this was one of her goals. During the period when "Core Burst" and "Blessing of the Void-Zero" hadn't been fully developed, the strongest armaments she could acquire were Vanishing Dragon's Roar and Heaven's Strike. She wouldn't pass up such a good opportunity.
All Machine Ex Machina simultaneously analyzed, and she observed Azriel's release process the entire time, so Heaven's Strike was immediately analyzed and completed.
As the opponent charged Heaven's Strike, Schwarzer's already prepared muzzle began to emit a faint glow, perfectly timed for the moment Heaven's Strike was completed—
[Code Open]——[False Canon]——[Vanishing Dragon's Roar]
The best timing she waited for was now. The only flaw was that she had originally planned to interrupt the opponent the instant Heaven's Strike was released,
But it seemed she had failed. She couldn't seize the exact moment to interrupt Heaven's Strike. Azriel, you are too powerful.
The tiny muzzle roared, and a red firelight tore through the dark sky. Neither Jibril nor Azriel, both Flügel, could react, or rather, even if they saw it, their bodies couldn't respond.
That terrifying firelight instantly engulfed it, piercing straight through the sky.
"Azriel!"
"Boom—"
Jibril cried out, her shouts drowned by Heaven's Strike and Vanishing Dragon's Roar, able only to watch as the violent energy and explosion engulfed everything.
...
...
The prolonged magical turbulence gradually subsided after a few seconds. Jibril rushed towards the pit ahead; the scene there was beyond her expectations.
A faint blue light shone, the glow emanating from the Machine Ex Machina's body. Schwarzer, extensively damaged, appeared before her, holding the shrunken angel in her arms.
'[Notification] I limited the output of the final strike, sparing her life.'
Jibril watched the expressionless machine walk towards her step by step. The damage on its body visibly repaired itself, and by the time it stopped before her, it was completely restored.
Schwarzer extended a hand, offering the now-helpless Azriel. Jibril instinctively took her, realizing that while Azriel was unconscious, she was indeed not in mortal danger.
"What exactly do you want?"
With things having come to this, she could no longer condescendingly look down on her opponent. Jibril now recognized her as a powerful entity.
'[Explanation] I bear no ill will towards the Flügel. My target is the War God Artosh.'
"What audacity! Even if you can defeat Azriel, you'd never be a match for my master."
Jibril's mouth twitched slightly, once again sensing the other's boldness.
Following Azriel's defeat and the commotion caused by Heaven's Strike, numerous Flügel appeared around them, a dozen or so at first glance, glaring hostilely at Schwarzer.
Schwarzer met their gaze unflinchingly, though she did not make another move.
'Are you certain your judgment is sound, System?'
'Rest assured, Artosh's personality is very easy to analyze; there will be no errors.'
'He will surely notice your presence. In the original work, he even knew Riku's plan; it's impossible for him to overlook you.'
The System declared its analysis to be infallible, stating that Schwarzer's actions would definitely attract his attention.
Jibril watched Schwarzer, who remained still. Holding the unconscious Azriel in her arms, she found it difficult to initiate an attack.
Schwarzer looked up at the sky, ignoring Jibril and the surrounding watchful Flügel, instead gazing towards Avant Heim.
Seated on his throne, the burly strongman, propping his head with one hand, cast an interested gaze. Even across Avant Heim's dimensional rift, all present sensed his watch.
This was the being known as the Strongest. All Flügel present knelt on one knee, bowing their heads, followed by the War God's deep voice.
"Machine, who has obtained power from beyond this world, why have you come to see me?"
Schwarzer was expressionless, literally deadpan, but her heart was far from calm. Had her identity as someone from another world just been exposed?
However, this was also part of the plan; she hadn't intended to conceal anything in the first place.
'[Answer] With the power of the War God Artosh, I will open the world's barrier and travel to other worlds.'
Schwarzer's words clearly proved the existence of other worlds, and she indeed possessed power from beyond this world.
"I know what you seek."
Artosh was concise. Originally, Schwarzer had only barely caught his attention, and he wasn't particularly interested, but now it seemed he had misjudged.
Able to traverse between worlds, and possessing a power within her that he could not see through—in due time, Schwarzer might truly become a worthy opponent. Of course, this was just a possibility.
Then, let's stretch a bit—
Vast amounts of spirits were forcibly drained from the sky, land, sea, and everything around. Everything in sight turned ash-grey, and all Flügel looked up at him.
"This is..."
Sensing her master's call, even the unconscious Azriel awoke.
Also sensing the anomaly was the entire Disboard! All races capable of perceiving magic!
"Wh-what is that?!"
Everyone felt a deep dread for this power; it was ultimate violence, completely beyond imagination.
Without warning, a scene like the end of the world announced his intervention to everyone.
A hurricane of magic connected beyond the sky. Observed from space, it would be seen to envelop almost half the planet.
It was both his reward to Schwarzer for defeating a Flügel, and a punishment for defying divine majesty.
His intervention was the greatest gift, but if one couldn't withstand it... then they were merely ants.
[God's Strike]
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