Chapter 267: #Birth of the Ultimate Machine God (2)

Clink clink—

Every step the woman took, a dreamlike melody echoed from her beautiful crystal dress. Her entire being was sparkling clear, as if carved out of crystal. Within a form more beautiful than any living creature dwelled the consciousness of the all-powerful AI, Mother.

She, who managed and controlled all of the Human Union’s system, began to speak.

-Look up, No. 100101.

The pale-faced blond kneeling before her looked up.

-No. 100101. In recognition of your heroic actions for defending the Human Union’s shelter against the brutal alien army’s surprise attack, I hereby grant you a name and the rank of Colonel by the authority of the all-powerful AI, Mother.

Sss—

The all-powerful AI handed the boy a crystal sword.

-As per your request, your name is now Zernard Il-Shin. Gifted with the genes of the Human Union’s late President Zernard, may you become a steadfast shield for the Human Union.

“I oblige.”

No. 100101—now known as Zernard Il-Shin—respectfully received the crystal sword with both hands.

This entire scene was broadcast in real-time to the hundreds of billions of citizens of the Human Union. They cheered, welcoming the birth of their new hero.

“

Wooooo!

Long live Zernard Il-Shin!”

“Human Union’s new hope!

“Return of the great President Zernard!”

Ding!

[You currently have 100,231 followers.]

[You currently have 111,356 followers.]

[You currently have 130,231 followers.]

...

The enthusiastic cheers and belief of the citizens became Faith, transforming into Zernard Il-Shin’s divine power.

***

My status changed completely after single-handedly repelling the aliens’ surprise attack. The difference in treatment was akin to an unknown artist in Korea suddenly topping the U.S. Billboard charts.

“As expected of my disciple!” Uncle Instructor exclaimed.

“You inherited President Zernard’s genes? As expected of the man who defeated me...” 52444 looked at me with respect.

I even received many confessions from others.

“Do you want to mix genes with me? 1001... No, Mr. Zernard?” A glamorous blonde pushed her G-cup breasts with an excited face. “If you like, we can even do it using the previous century’s method.

Haa... haa...!

Please put your genes in me...”

In this dystopian world devoid of dreams and hope, I finally saw a ray of light. It was a writer’s obligation to find out what the “previous century’s method” meant.

“

Eek!”

“Get away from him this instance, you thieving bitch!” A beautiful redhead yanked the glamorous lady’s hair. “I’m the one who’s going to mix genes with the Colonel!”

Besides his head, his hands were also engulfed in crimson flames.

“I-I was wrong!” the glamorous lady screamed and fled after having a fistful of hair pulled out from her head.

“

Hmph!

How dare that unsightly thing act so brazenly!” He glared at me, clearly furious. His eyes were captivating, but I mustn’t be fooled.

Pow!

I smacked Eight’s head.

He clutched the bump on his head, tearing up as he looked at me. “

Ouch!

It hurts, Colonel!”

Even the tears of a beauty who could captivate countless men failed to move me.

I pinched his cheek, muttering, “No shit, I

wanted

it to hurt. Why are you getting in my way? Who are you? My wife?”

“

Huhu...

Aren’t we brothers who inherited President Zenard’s genes.”

“Which makes it even creepier.”

As it turned out, Eight carried President Zenard’s genes, as well as those of others. However, I was the only one who could synchronize with Soul Armor NT2512R-1004. I felt like a cliche protagonist of an anime or a game.

“Anyway, what’s wrong?”

“Oh, I totally forgot!” Eight saluted me.

As a side note, Eight was assigned as my assistant after that day.

“Colonel Zernard Il-Shin, you are summoned to a meeting at the headquarters.”

“...Again?”

Sure, I love the promotion, but these higher-ups are summoning me way too often.

The meetings were a waste of time, with incomprehensible jargon pouring out nonstop. I’d rather invest all that time into something else.

I put my arm around Eight and whispered to him, “You can speak casually to me when it’s just the two of us. We’re friends and brothers anyway, so just call me Il-Shin.”

“Okay, Il-Shin.”

Why was he blushing?

Ugh.

Anyway, I stamped my thumb on my forehead.

“Proliferating Thumb of God.”

There was a flash. I’d done this in front of Eight enough times that he was used to it by now. He’d give a face that said,

Here we go again.

Ssss—

Sam-Shin appeared, looking up at me with dark circles under his eyes. “Des...troy.”

“You know what the situation is, right? Go attend the meeting in my stead.”

“Des...troy!” Sam-Shin puffed his cheeks and stomped the ground, expressing his displeasure and refusal to comply.

Even Eight let out a sigh. “Il-Shin, even if your clone has the same genetic information as your own, how many times has this been? You’ll be held accountable when you’re caught.”

How dare my subordinates refuse orders from their superior?

“Sam-Shin, I’ll give you a ride on the robot when you come back. Don’t you want to do it again?”

“Des...troy! Des...troy!”

“Eight. If you follow my orders without question, I’ll consider mixing genes with yours.”

“R-really...?”

Huge emphasis on the word

consider

. I wasn’t actually going to do it.

Hoho,

they were so easy to manipulate. After sending Sam-Shin and Eight away, I headed toward the hangar.

“

Huh?!

Colonel Zernard Il-Shin! Salute!”

I didn’t need to sneak in like before. Upon recognizing me, the soldiers looked at me with fanatical eyes.

“You’ve worked hard. I want to be alone with my Soul Mecha for a while, so don’t let anyone else in, alright?”

“Understood!”

Clunk!

I then approached the soul armor in the hangar.

-----

[Human Union Zernard Il-Shin’s Soul Mecha NT2512R-1004]

Around for 17 years.

Special note: All of the Human Alliance’s technologies are condensed in it, with potential for transcendence. Insufficient soul energy to boot up the armor.

-----

The golden armor that emitted obvious divine power. Although the owner had changed to me, it still lacked Soul Energy to be activated.

I’m sure I need the armor to clear this trial.

The alien dragon that I fought against before was slightly stronger than the average Mid-tier gods. If they were to attack in large numbers, I doubted I could defeat them without my soul armor.

I must find a way to activate it no matter what!

I had no idea how the time flowed in the Tower of Gods, but I couldn’t afford to delay any further. I had to save Earth from Despair’s clutches. I activated Blind Eyes of God on my soul armor, examining it in detail. I focused on the components related to Soul Energy.

Ding!

[A new energy invented by the all-powerful AI, Mother, to achieve transcendence. Imitates the malevolent god’s sacrificial system...(omitted)... Absorbs the souls of organic life forms sacrificed within a certain radius of the Soul Mecha, using them as the energy to activate the NT2512R-1004.

Simulations predict that if all the soul energy of the Human Union’s citizens is absorbed, it will temporarily reach the power of a malevolent god, just enough to save a world on the brink of destruction...]

What?

The infodump was a headache, but a certain phrase caught my eye.

𝙛𝒓𝓮𝙚𝔀𝒆𝒃𝓷𝒐𝓿𝙚𝓵.𝙘𝒐𝒎

It imitates the malevolent god’s sacrificial system?

Ding!

[Blind Eyes of God is seeking the truth.]

[Birth of the Machine God STAGE 2: Alien Queen's Revival.]

The strange message that appeared during the aliens’ surprise attack returned. Unlike before, the stage number had increased.

Ding!

-----

[Birth of the Machine God STAGE 2: Alien Queen's Revival]

The alien army’s surprise attack was successfully repelled by the heroic efforts of Zernard Il-Shin, the awakened divine being of the Human Union. However, the alien army’s true motive wasn’t to annihilate the Human Union. An intruder had secretly infiltrated the base during the surprise attack. Once the hero of the Human Union, his purpose now was to obtain a suitable candidate to implant the late queen’s genes...

Stage difficulty: Unbreakable

Clear conditions: Survive.

Boss: Alien Transcendent Fusion (High-tier God) x1

-----

Ruuuumble—baaaam!

Along with an unknown bang, a familiar red arrow appeared, guiding me toward the explosion.

Again?

This direction... it's toward the commanders’ meeting room where Sam-Shin and Eight went!

A foreboding premonition washed over me, and I sprinted toward the location with all my might.

There, near the pile of rubble, I saw what were once humans, now torn to shreds beyond recognition. Standing in the middle of it all was a figure emanating an overwhelming aura.

Was that how a human would look like if they were turned into aliens? Half of his form was human, while the other assumed the head of the dragon I’d defeated. Crimson tentacles sprouted all over him.

“Il-Shin...”

“D-des...troy.”

The grotesque monster had wrapped its tentacles around Eight and Sam-Shin like a kraken. It seemed like the two were the only survivors.

Ding!

Blind Eyes of God activated itself.

-----

[Corrupted President Zernard]

An alien transcendent fusion entity. Around for 17 years.

Special note: Invaded the Human Union to select the alien queen’s vessel.

-----

“...President Zernard?”

The hero of the Human Union and the father of this body—someone who should have died long ago. Yet, he appeared in such horrific form...

Shaaaa!

Just then, the eye on Zernard’s half-dragon face turned to me.

-So both of you are mixed. You’re unfit to bear the queen’s offspring.

His voice was the harsh scrape of rusted iron.

Crunch!

His tentacles tightened around Sam-Shin.

-Disposing.

Along with the sound of bones crushing, Sam-Shin began to crumble.

“You bastard! Stop right now! Crushing Forefinger of G—”

Just as I was about to stop Zernard, red sparks scattered from Sam-Shin’s eyes.

Tzzz!

“Des...troy!”

Ruuumble—

With a flash, beams of destruction poured out at close range, completely engulfing Zernard’s upper body.