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ExE World, Evie Empire Headquarters—
In the satellite orbit above the planet, massive mechanical rings wrapped around the world like chains.
Countless space battleships, glittering like stars, moved in and out of those colossal ring-like docks, carrying mechanical lifeforms to and fro.
This was the Evie Empire's orbital port. The front-line base for invading other worlds.
In this universe, the Evie Empire had already conquered multiple major star systems, extending its reach even into alternate dimensions.
Compared to invading and ruling distant star systems within their own universe, which required absurd amounts of energy and came with massive upkeep costs, invading other worlds through dimensional travel was far cheaper.
They could strike anytime, anywhere.
That was why the empire had shifted its strategic focus to other worlds long ago.
And it was also why the Etouldes had survived.
Their race had been nearly wiped out, leaving behind only a handful of surviving gods. Their one remaining obsession was simple: Destroy the Evie Empire. Avenge themselves against the Three Evil Gods.
But that goal still felt impossibly far away.
Disguised as a two-meter-tall female mechanical lifeform, the Holy Mother Goddess sat silently in the spaceport control room, working as a receptionist.
Under the commander's orders, she and the other staff were handling fleet traffic.
'Indra hasn't sent any contact signals for three hours now.'
Her hands kept moving while her thoughts drifted.
'So he failed in the end. The situation in the DxD world is still unclear, but it's likely already fallen. Melvazoa's forces have probably started suppressing the lifeforms there.'
'Should I check on the FxF world? I heard there are quite a few strong fighters there. Maybe I could try contacting them...'
She paused.
'No. A world currently under invasion is too dangerous. Better to investigate worlds that haven't been invaded yet and see if any of them might hold the hope of defeating the Evies.'
Just as she was thinking that, sharp warning beeps rang through the entire station.
A mechanical commander at the rear immediately stood and issued orders over the comm channel, "All personnel, assemble at Dock Z! Prepare to welcome Lord Regalzeva!"
The eyes of every mechanical lifeform in the room flickered.
Without hesitation, they rose from their stations and rushed through the fast-access corridors toward Dock Z.
'Huh?' The Holy Mother Goddess followed the crowd, inwardly puzzled. 'Wasn't Regalzeva about to invade the FXF world personally? Why is he back already?'
Outside the port, two blue beams shot out from the docking station, locking onto the bow and stern of the Devastator Order Warfleet's flagship and guiding it slowly into position.
Inside the ship, Ryo sat in Regalzeva's seven-meter mechanical armor, one leg crossed over the other, chin propped on one hand.
Honestly, he felt like he was filming some giant mecha TV show.
"So this is the Evie Empire's headquarters?"
"Yes, Your Majesty Ryo." One of Regalzeva's subordinates, already under Ryo's control, knelt and answered.
Ryo looked out at the endless orbital ring surrounding the planet, then at the lush green world below.
"Not bad. For mechanical lifeforms, you guys sure care about the environment more than organic ones do."
...
Three hours earlier, after hijacking Regalzeva's body and flagship, Ryo had sent a request to return to the Empire disguised as the Devastator Order Warfleet.
The empire approved it almost immediately.
Apparently Regalzeva's habit of acting on his own was so normal that nobody even questioned why he'd abandoned the invasion of the FxF world.
They'd even guided him all the way back, afraid of offending "Regalzeva."
The whole trip had been absurdly comfortable. Like a luxury cruise.
Honestly, he almost didn't want it to end.
The only downside? The company.
Nothing but giant Gundam-looking robots everywhere.
If they'd had cute Angeloids like Ikaros, he might've been willing to enjoy himself a little more.
Sadly, the Evies' aesthetic was nowhere near his standards.
Clang!
With a heavy clang, over a dozen massive docking arms extended and locked onto the ship.
Once secured, Ryo rose, controlling Regalzeva's body.
"You, He looked to his subordinate. "Contact little brother Melvazoa and little sister Seraselbes."
He grinned, "Tell them their big brother has a surprise for them."
"Yes, sir!"
Led by his subordinates, Ryo crossed through the boarding tunnel connecting the ship to the port.
The moment he stepped onto solid ground, rows upon rows of mechanical lifeforms dropped to one knee along both sides of the red carpet and shouted in unison, "Dock Z welcomes the return of Lord Regalzeva!"
Ryo gave a restrained nod.
A subordinate draped a luxurious victory cape over his shoulders.
"..."
Ryo resisted the urge to complain. Then he stepped onto the red carpet.
He walked forward for a while.
Then suddenly stopped.
Kneeling in the front row near the carpet, showing humility to one of the three evil gods of the Evie Empire, the Holy Mother Goddess saw a giant foot stop right in front of her.
Before she could react, a voice rang out above her, amused, "Well now. How does a mechanical lifeform end up with a soul?"
The Holy Mother Goddess's mechanical eyes flickered violently.
Before she could speak, dozens of nearby mechanical lifeforms instantly deployed their weapon ports.
Blue energy glowed in every cannon.
'I've been exposed?!'
Her heart lurched.
'But how? This isn't my first time coming here to greet them!'
Before she could process it, a giant mechanical hand closed around her "small" two-meter-tall frame.
Ryo, speaking in Regalzeva's rough booming voice, laughed, "Well, well. The Holy Mother Goddess of the Etouldes hiding in my spaceport? Looks like little brother Melvazoa missed something right under his nose."
Then he grinned and declared, "In that case, you're staying behind to have my babies!"
'Babies? With him?'
That ridiculous thought was the last thing to cross her mind.
Before she could even react, her consciousness suddenly froze. And then everything went dark.
Ryo smirked.
Without another word, he picked her up and strode through the spaceport, heading straight for the imperial transit corridor.
.
.
.