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849 - The Test II
🕑 Added 2025-02-17 23:58:57 +0000 UTCYaloria’s gaze shifted to the battery status display. Despite the intensity of the fight so far, only about one percent of the mana battery’s energy had been expended—and even that was already nearly replenished.
It was a stark contrast to the mechas she once piloted.
The Yrall Coalition mechas were directly powered by their reactors, like plugging a device straight into a wall socket—efficient until something went wrong. If the reactor failed or was damaged, the mecha would instantly shut down, leaving its pilot stranded and vulnerable.
But these mechas were different.
Instead of drawing power directly from the fusion reactor, they ran on mana batteries—a buffer between the machine and its core power source. These batteries didn’t just store energy; they were constantly recharged by the reactor, keeping them at full capacity. More than that, they were embedded throughout the mecha’s frame, like blood flowing through a body, ensuring every part had immediate access to power.
Even if the reactor went offline mid-battle, the mana batteries alone could keep the mecha operational for more than a day—as long as the pilot stuck to basic attacks and maneuvers.
But the true brilliance of the system lies in its versatility.
With energy already stored and ready, these mechas could unleash high-powered attacks without waiting for the reactor to catch up. There was no need to reroute or gather energy for a single devastating move—the batteries provided the surge instantly.
It was clear these machines weren’t just designed for combat—they were built to control battlefields.
Whether to contain the chaos or dominate a fight without relying on ships or risking soldiers, they had every tool needed to thrive in the most hostile environments.
Yaloria was having the time of her life.
The sensation of piloting this mecha—the seamless control, the precision, the sheer responsiveness—was everything the Yrall Coalition had once dreamed of achieving. But their attempts had never come close to this level of refinement.
It wasn’t just the intuitive controls that made the Empire’s mechas superior. It was the perception acceleration.
Even on its own, this technology was a game-changer. It didn’t just heighten reaction speed—it stretched time itself within her mind, allowing her to perceive everything in slow motion. Every incoming attack became crystal clear, giving her ample time to analyze the most efficient response without relying purely on instinct or reflexes. No longer did she have to waste excess energy or risk unnecessary damage from surprises.
And when combined with the Empire’s unmatched sensors, the advantage became overwhelming. The mecha’s quantum supercomputer processed data from all available sensors—not just from the mecha itself but from every imperial asset in the vicinity.
Then, it translated that overwhelming flood of information into a single, clear, perfectly tailored visual feed for the pilot.
There was no clutter. No confusion. No blind spots. No hidden threats. No surprises.
This was more than just a machine—it was the ultimate extension of a pilot’s will.
And for a mecha pilot like her, it was as close to perfection as she could imagine what perfection was.
"Activate the antigravity drives."
The moment Yaloria gave the mental command, the mecha responded instantly. Energy from the idle reactor—no longer needed to charge the already full mana batteries—was redirected to power the drives.
Yet, from the outside, nothing changed. The mecha didn't lift off the ground, nor did it show any visible reaction.
Ten seconds had passed since their last exchange. The brief pause was enough for both pilots to reassess.
Then, Yaloria moved.
She brought the two sword handles together. They clicked seamlessly into place, merging as the shield rune activated.
The result? A spear. The shaft and blade were both constructed from a shield, extending from the hilt as a solid.
Without hesitation, she thrust forward, her entire mecha surging ahead. A perfect killing strike.
But the Blue Mecha was ready.
With a swift sidestep, it dodged the spear. Before Yaloria could recover, her opponent grabbed the weapon, using its momentum to yank her forward.
For a brief moment, it seemed to work. The Red Mecha stumbled, appearing to lose balance as it was pulled toward the Blue Mecha.
Then came the counter.
The Blue Mecha drew back its fist and launched a devastating punch aimed straight at Yaloria’s chest—right where the reactor was housed. If it landed, it would have ended the fight.
The punch closed in. Meters away. Inches.
And then—the impossible happened.
Just as the impact seemed inevitable, Yaloria let go of the spear mid-motion.
With unnatural agility, she flipped mid-air, her massive frame moving as if weightless.
Her hands clasped together—then locked onto the Blue Mecha’s neck.
Using her own momentum, she dragged him downward just as she landed, forcing him to the ground with a thunderous crash.
She caught the falling spear, spun it in her grip, and drove it down—aiming directly at the Blue Mecha’s chest, where the reactor was housed.
And then—
{Fight over. Winner: Yaloria.}
Athena’s voice echoed across the battlefield, signaling the end of the fight.
Yaloria immediately deactivated the spear, catching the two handles as they reverted into sword hilts. With practiced ease, she secured them on her hips before extending a hand toward the fallen Blue Mecha.
“{Fair game.}”
The Blue Mecha’s pilot accepted the gesture, gripping her hand as the massive machine rose from the ground.
“{Not bad,}” Yaloria remarked, patting the Blue Mecha’s back before releasing a controlled shockwave. A pulse of energy swept away the dust and sand clinging to the mech from the impact. “{I almost missed your neck when you tilted your head— even though I hid the move until the last second.}”
“{Even with perception acceleration, there’s still a limit to how fast we can move these machines.}” The Blue Mecha’s pilot responded, dusting off the last bits of debris. “{No matter how fast our minds process, the mecha can only react so quickly.}”
“{True,}” Yaloria agreed. “{But it would’ve been a meaningless fight if shields and other protection systems were allowed.}”
Both of them understood the purpose of the exercise. In a real battle, mechas would rely on their reactors to continuously recharge the mana batteries, powering their strongest defenses and weaponry. However, the moment a reactor was damaged, those energy-intensive systems would automatically shut down to preserve power—meaning pilots needed to be just as capable without them.
As they continued their conversation, they walked back toward the towering structure in the distance—their starting point.
It was an atomic printer, a facility designed to construct everything tested in this testing zone, including today’s centerpiece: the two massive mechas.
Now that the test was complete, the fate of the mechs would be decided. Would they be preserved in a museum? Or dismantled, broken back down into atoms to be reused for future projects?
Either way, today's battle had served its purpose.
Comments
Sol_Invictus
TYFTC!!
Jade
First? TYFTC!!!
