Tiny traces of corrosion appeared across her hard Mechanical Body, as though countless microscopic machines were gnawing at her. The vast gulf in their strength became painfully clear at that moment. Whether in power, speed, or processing capacity, the Seven Gods stood far above her.
Even her upgraded, modified body proved useless against such overwhelmingly superior strength.
Fine cracks appeared in her pupils under the violent impact. Blood-red numbers streamed through them, revealing how rapidly the virus was breaking down her internal data.
Whoosh-
The air seemed to tear apart.
The enormous hand formed from countless microscopic machines hurled her away. Her body struck the ground and tumbled repeatedly before slamming into a massive steel wall, leaving a huge dent in its surface.
Sparks crackled and spat from her body.
She slid down the wall and opened her digital eyes. There was not the slightest emotion or flicker in them as she stared fixedly at the two Machine Gods in the distance.
"Return-"
Extinction's faintly pitying synthesized voice sounded in her ears.
"This is the last time we will face one another-The damage you have caused will serve as a lesson to us in the future-After this-we must convene the Purification Council's highest assembly-and make a final reckoning of our civilization's attachment to those unrealistic pastoral fantasies of the past, still lurking deep within our hearts-"
"Because from the moment we ascended-we severed all ties with that former civilization-What we are now-"
"Is Machine Intelligence-"
Bzz-
The entire space warped into fragmented light and shadow within that vast mechanical tide. Like shattered fragments of space refracted through a kaleidoscope, they gathered into a sharp claw resembling that of a great demon. Amid a piercing whine and cold gazes, it surged toward her.
It was as though this blow would tear