The Ex-Machina reacted far faster than Schwi had expected.
Amid howling winds and the thunderous vibration of the air, figures flew toward Roland of their own accord. Most were shrouded in pale white vapor, blurred afterimages produced only by movement at extreme speeds.
While the faint black line in the distance was still breaking through the clouds, sending billowing white waves of air churning, an icy warning had already resounded across the sky.
"[Warning] Assessment: normal cognition. The Ex-Machina remain neutral in this war. Any decision to advance further will be regarded as a hostile incursion against the Ex-Machina, and this unit will take corresponding countermeasures."
The moment the voice fell silent, Roland felt himself firmly locked onto.
A strange power was scanning his surface. Its source was the Ex-Machina, each resembling a human but with cables swaying behind them.
Although their appearances differed, the mechanical wings on their backs-composed of high-hardness alloy shells, or perhaps better described as jet boosters-showed that they had entered a fully armed combat state.
But remaining neutral in a war with only two sides left?
Although the words sounded absurd, paired with the Ex-Machina's inorganic expressions, they carried an involuntary sense of credibility.
The Ex-Machina were a race that continually grew stronger through learning. After killing the Dragon of Calamity King along with his Dragon Minions, they had become universally recognized as an extreme danger.
Even the Dwarves, who aimed to forge the world and dared to provoke the Dragonia, regarded the Ex-Machina as a race that must not be approached. The bounty on their heads among the Flügel had also been raised to the highest tier, second only to the Old Deus.
Even Okan and Cairneas would not lightly provoke this dangerous race. After all, judging by their performance, the prospect of the