Chapter 3: Clone Body, Weak Divine Power
Not giving the Nightmare God a chance to recover, the middle-aged man moved swiftly, his hand carving through the air in a sharp gesture.
Instantly, chains made up of white flames materialized from the divine power, and ensnared the massive void creature's body.
The creature thrashed violently, its tentacles writhing in panic as the flames licked at its flesh, burning with a searing intensity.
Though the Void beast had nearly reached the threshold of a True God, it was no match for the might of a Mid-Level God, even if the middle-aged man was just a fraction of his full strength.
Although this incarnation was but a fraction of his true might, even as a clone, he a clone of Mid-Level God, has the ability to contend with weaker deities, like the Nightmare God in front of him who seemed to have reached True God Level recently can be considered as weak god.
Above the weak god is the low-level god and above is mid-level, the onslaught of flames and chains proved overwhelming for the Void creature.
The Nightmare God remained indifferent to the fate of the void creature and swiftly retaliated against the middle-aged man's assault.
With a sudden swiftness, his form blurred as he surged forward, his body changed from swirling smoke into a real entity with strong muscles and a powerful physical body with a height of more than 3 meters tall, a humanoid monster.
Without warning, he surged forward, crossing the distance between himself and the middle-aged man in an instant.
His fist, propelled by the force of his strong body, shot through the void, aimed directly at the War God's chest.
Time seemed to slow, the Nightmare God's punch crackling with destructive energy, capable of shattering anything in its path.
Among the talents inherent to Nightmares is the ability to transition seamlessly between states of illusion and reality.
This unique trait allows them to shift their bodies from a tangible, corporeal form to an ethereal, illusionary state, and vice versa, at will.
In their illusionary form, they possess a remarkable resilience against physical attacks, able to offset even the most powerful blows with ease.
Yet, in the face of this onslaught, the middle-aged man remained resolute. Reacting swiftly, the middle-aged man evaded the attack with a deft maneuver, narrowly dodging the oncoming strike.
With a fluid motion, he countered, unleashing a barrage of Fire energy blasts made up of white flames aimed at the Nightmare God.
The blasts streaked through the vacuum of space, illuminating the darkness with their fierce glow as they homed in on their target.
The Nightmare God, undeterred, summoned a shield of swirling nightmare energy to deflect the incoming onslaught.
The energy blasts collided with the shield, causing it to ripple and warp under the pressure but holding firm against the assault.
Sensing an opportunity, the middle-aged man pressed his advantage, launching into a rapid series of maneuvers.
He closed the distance between himself and the Nightmare God, delivering a flurry of strikes with precision and speed.
Even though he was very good at using Fire, as the body of a Mid-level god, even if it is a clone, the physical body condensed by the divine power of a mid-level god is stronger than general weak gods.
Their battle raged on, each exchange of fists and energy causing shockwaves that rippled through the void.
Though the War God's clone held his own, the Nightmare God's relentless ferocity was undeniable, his movements a blur of motion as he parried each blow with uncanny skill.
Back on the Redeemer, Captain Rhea's focus was split between monitoring the epic clash outside and dealing with the tide of hundreds of remaining Frigates.
The battleship's energy shield had failed, leaving it vulnerable to each incoming attack.
Explosions rattled the ship as Frigates circled like vultures, their pulse lasers carving deep gouges into the ship's armor.
The hull groaned under the pressure, and with each passing moment, Rhea knew her ship's chances of survival dwindled.
Despite the best efforts of the crew, casualties mounted steadily as they fought back against the relentless assault.
The enemy Frigates, with their remarkable agility and flexibility, proved difficult to counter, inflicting damage with each passing minute.
The crew—comprised mostly of alchemy-created beings with limited intelligence—fought valiantly, but they were little more than cannon fodder.
Yet, Rhea felt no remorse for their loss, she only cared about saving the crew that are inside the control cabin.
Her true concern lay with the battle unfolding outside, between the Nightmare God and the War God's clone.
Thousands of blows had been exchanged in mere seconds, and from her perspective, the Nightmare God was gaining the upper hand.
With a heavy heart, Rhea knew that if they couldn't find a way to turn the tide of battle soon, they would be facing certain defeat.
She wracked her brain for any possible strategy that could give them an edge against the formidable foe they faced.
With time running out, Captain Rhea knew that they needed to find a solution—and fast—before it was too late.
It was then she heard a voice directly sounded in her mind. Startled, Captain Rhea's attention snapped to the unexpected intrusion in her mind.
It was a woman's voice, clear and resonant, cutting through the chaos of battle with startling clarity.
"Captain Rhea, I'm the personal guard of Miss Lena" the voice spoke, its tone urgent yet composed, "you must act swiftly if you wish to turn the tide of this battle. I can guide you, but you must trust me."
Intrigued and somewhat relieved by the unexpected assistance, Captain Rhea hesitated for only a moment before steeling herself and acknowledging the mysterious voice's offer.
She knew that in the midst of this desperate struggle, she had little choice but to place her faith in this sudden voice.
"Guide me," she replied, her mental voice projecting a sense of resolve. "We need all the help we can get to overcome the enemy and ensure the safety of our crew."
As Captain Rhea awaited the next communication from the mysterious voice, she remained vigilant, her senses attuned to the unfolding chaos both within and outside the ship.
With each passing moment, the urgency of the situation weighed heavily upon her shoulders, driving her to seek any advantage that could turn the tide of battle in their favor.
Suddenly, the voice returned, with a resolute and commanding tone. "Captain Rhea, prepare your ship to enter the space drive at any moment," the voice instructed, with words echoing within her mind with clarity.
"We must seize this opportunity while the enemy is distracted. Follow my instructions closely: activate the Fusion-Powered Plasma Cannon at maximum output and leave the rest to me."
Fusion-Powered Plasma Cannon? Rhea's mind raced. It was their most powerful weapon, capable of delivering devastating energy blasts, but using it at maximum output would drain the ship's remaining power reserves.
She steeled herself. It was risky, but with the enemy closing in and the battle outside teetering toward defeat, she had no other choice.
"Helm, prepare for an emergency space jump," she commanded, her voice sharp and steady. "Weapons control, charge the Plasma Cannon—maximum output!"