Hong Mo and Xie Po clashed, their mechanical parts whirring to life. Hong Mo's mechanical dual swords thrust towards Xie Po, who transformed his hands into mechanical shields to parry the attack. Missiles launched from Xie Po's right arm. Faced with close-range missiles, Hong Mo unfurled mechanical wings from his back, projecting a shield.
Explosions erupted, pushing Hong Mo back. Xie Po pressed his advantage, his arms reconfiguring into mechanical dual blades, which he swung in a rapid series of attacks. Hong Mo deployed wrist blades on his arms, parrying the onslaught.
Temporarily at a disadvantage, Hong Mo's eyes flickered with numbers, calculations flashing in his mind. With a spin, he angled his wrist blades to meet Xie Po's, deflecting the attack with a gentle upward flick. From then on, Hong Mo seemed to anticipate Xie Po's every move, intercepting his attacks before they landed.
Xie Po retreated, his legs deploying numerous mechanical vents that fired lasers at Hong Mo. Hong Mo's chest plates opened, launching mechanical missiles. The collision of missiles and lasers created a spectacular, explosive display.
Both combatants ceased their attacks. Hong Mo's left hand transformed into a mechanical energy whip, which he swung towards Xie Po. Xie Po's arm morphed into mechanical shears, slicing the whip in two. However, the whip regenerated, and under Hong Mo's control, it continued to lash out at Xie Po.
A shield materialized on Xie Po's arm, absorbing the whip's impact. Hong Mo's attacks proved futile against Xie Po's defenses, as if Xie Po knew precisely where each strike would land.
Xie Po's left arm then reconfigured into a mechanical cannon. As energy gathered within the barrel, Hong Mo retracted his whip and a glowing circle appeared on his chest, accumulating energy.
Both unleashed beams of azure energy. Their beams collided, and Hong Mo, standing in the air, amplified his output, his beam overpowering Xie Po's. Xie Po responded by creating numerous small openings on his cannon, firing smaller, rotating beams that intertwined with his main blast. This maneuver reversed the tide, and Xie Po's beam began to crush Hong Mo's, heading straight for his face.
Hong Mo abruptly halted his beam and formed half-shields on his arms, which then joined to create a complete mechanical shield. Xie Po's beam struck the shield, sending Hong Mo recoiling. As the beam ceased, the shield bore scorch marks from the intense heat.
Xie Po spoke, "Not bad. You've learned my move and even upgraded the materials. You truly are worthy of being the next Mechanical God."
"I will not be. The Mechanical God has always been you. Our differing ideologies have led us to this."
"Silence, human! You are nothing but selfish and lazy beings. I will personally dismantle the kingdom I created and build anew a city ruled by machines."
"Humans only resort to technology to wage war. In reality, they are inferior to machines, which operate flawlessly according to their programming."
Hong Mo did not refute Xie Po's words but countered, "Perhaps humans are indeed selfish, but some are driven by the pursuit of technological advancement, constantly striving forward. Surely you've witnessed this."
"And what of it? In the end, whether the research fails or succeeds, it leads to war machines. You and I know that rapid technological development inevitably leads to self-destruction."
Xie Po asserted forcefully, but Hong Mo remained steadfast in his beliefs. "It seems we cannot understand each other. It's time to end this, Mechanical God!"
"Indeed, it is time to end this, Mechanical God!"
Control consoles appeared on their bodies. Hong Mo's hands transformed into massive bronze cannons, while sword-like wings unfurled from his back. Missiles were embedded in his legs, and his body grew to colossal proportions.
Five cannons protruded from his shoulders, and a lotus-shaped cannon emerged from his chest, his eyes covered by red bar-shaped glasses. Spikes grew all over his mechanical body, making him resemble a mobile weapon.
Xie Po's stature and build were nearly identical to Hong Mo's, but his entire mechanical form was black. His weapons were also black, with massive cannons connecting his arms, their edges lined with rotating blades. A cylindrical cannon was mounted on his chest, and a square lens appeared over his left eye. Small cannons connected to his ears. Square cannons, loaded with missiles, were mounted on each shoulder, pointing upwards. Black mechanical wings extended from his back.
Both Hong Mo and Xie Po had activated their ultimate forms. Mechanical God versus Mechanical God! Their bodies were now entirely composed of weaponry, and the battle would determine whose arsenal was superior.
Hong Mo positioned himself at his control console, raising his arms. Countless cannons on his back aimed at Xie Po. A targeting reticle appeared on the console, and Hong Mo unleashed a barrage of red energy beams in all directions.
Xie Po dodged, and the cylindrical cannon on his chest extended, gathering purple energy. He fired purple beams that rent the space they traversed, creating spatial rifts that met Hong Mo's attack.
An explosion ensued, but Xie Po's purple beams continued their advance. Hong Mo crossed his arms, his cannon-equipped body facing forward, and retreated. His mechanical cannon arms began to melt under the strain. As the beams ceased, Xie Po observed Hong Mo and said, "Give up! As the original Mechanical God, my configuration is far superior to anything you can create. Furthermore, I draw energy from the essence of the Evil Spirit race, so I never need to worry about energy depletion. Your energy is finite."
"Give up? I don't understand. I don't understand 'giving up.' Remember, humans grow and change. While some may falter in the face of setbacks, most will choose to press forward and confront adversity."
"Mechanical God, Mechanical Disassembly!"
Knowing he couldn't win in his current state, Hong Mo initiated his second form. He detached himself from the control console, his colossal Mechanical God form deconstructing. The parts then reassembled onto his original human body, shrinking in scale. Hong Mo was now encased in mechanical armor, but unlike Xie Po's Mechanical God, his was a human-piloted mecha.
Hong Mo's hands became bronze cannons, and mechanical sword-wings spread from his back like the wings of a war god. His body was clad in mechanical armor, and jets of blue air propelled him, granting him flight at a height exceeding Xie Po's.
Xie Po stared, incredulous. "Impossible! The Mechanical God cannot have such a form. Absolutely impossible!"
"It is true that this form does not exist, but human curiosity drives progress. When I obtained the data for the Mechanical God, other ideas emerged, leading to the creation of this form. If you had still retained your passion for technology and mechanics, perhaps you would have developed this form before me." Hong Mo spoke with a hint of sorrow, reflecting on humanity's constant drive to improve.
"Even in this state, what does it matter? As the original Mechanical God, my configuration and system are superior to yours. You are still no match for me." Xie Po sneered. Hong Mo replied, "The first generation is not necessarily the best, but it is not necessarily the strongest either. Each generation has its own god. Perhaps humanity has already created beings that surpass you."