Chapter 563: The Question
Far from the crowded arena used earlier, the venue for the next demonstration was much smaller.
And yet, somehow, it felt even livelier.
Maybe it was because every single person present had the same gleam in their eyes—the kind that only came from discovering something new. Or maybe it was because every few seconds, someone shouted, gasped, or muttered "impossible" under their breath.
"Wait a minute," someone blurted. "You’re saying the whole thing can be disassembled and reassembled?"
"By itself?" another added, their voice nearly cracking from the pitch.
"Ideally, Master," Luca replied patiently. "But essentially, it’s designed so that the major parts can be replaced even in the field. Because how could it repair other mechas if it gets bogged down first?"
A wave of murmurs rippled through the crowd. A few heads turned. Some scoffed. Others leaned in.
In a way, Luca expected this kind of resistance after learning that not all the masters were associated with the military.
Initially, they were required by law, but ultimately, most opted for private practice. And so, to them, this sounded counterproductive and even bad for business, as D-29 pointed out before.
One older mechanic adjusted his glasses and frowned. "But why? Wouldn’t it be better if it were repaired by professionals?"
"Ah, definitely, Master," Luca nodded. "That would be ideal. But for soldiers in active duty, especially those stationed deep in hard-to-reach areas, that’s basically a luxury."
Even more murmurs followed, this time mixed with a few sharp inhales and one audible "oh."
Luca continued. "The support mecha was something I thought of after hearing stories from several soldiers."
He looked at the curious crowd.
"All those almost successful battles. The ones that could have been victories. The lives that could’ve been saved if they just had a way to escape, or prevent contamination in time."
That silenced the room.
Completely.
Then came his quiet, firm statement:
"That’s the goal of this build."
He looked back toward the utility mecha and raised his hand slightly, as if presenting it.
"On-site repair, replacement, and rescue."
The mechanics and military officials stared at the mecha as if it had just started glowing.
Luca smiled but didn’t let it distract him.
"For minor damages," he explained, "there would be no need to return to the battleship or a temporary base. The mecha itself can patch it up and stay on the field."
Another round of quiet awe followed.
"Because of how corruption works, battleships can’t land in contaminated zones without risking exposure. Bringing a corrupted mecha or component back to a safe planet could also compromise everything."
A young officer nodded seriously, while another tapped furiously at their tablet to take notes.
"And when a mecha isn’t flight-worthy anymore, returning becomes almost impossible. In especially contaminated zones, this means pilots can’t escape."
Someone sucked in a breath.
"But what if that wasn’t such a problem anymore?" Luca asked.
"What if the mecha could fix itself or its allies just enough to make it back?"
That earned several impressed nods. A few mechanics exchanged stunned glances.
"This would lessen the risk of contamination. And," Luca added, "provide real-time fixes before minor issues turn fatal."
One of the older instructors was already muttering to himself, "Why didn’t we think of this..."
"For replacements," Luca said, turning toward a storage module on the mecha’s back, "aside from the dedicated space button, this unit can also carry major parts manually. It can even recycle broken ones when necessary. That way, it’ll maximize what’s already available.
A disbelieving whistle came from the back.
"And for rescue operations," Luca said, voice dropping slightly, "I believe this type of mecha could be helpful, especially with how fast corruption spreads."
"I’ve heard stories. Horror stories. Of cockpits punctured in battle. Pilots staying behind because their teammates couldn’t get close without risking their own mechas."
It sounded like a noble sacrifice, but the reality was that their mechas—their partners—would serve as their cage and final coffin. They couldn’t be taken because the cockpits were contaminated, and the person couldn’t be taken because they’d be contaminated once exposed to the elements. It sounded like a ridiculous situation, but for many of those who perished, it was reality.
The silence that followed was heavier than before.
"That’s why I wanted this mecha to have the tools to breach, extract, and stabilize before it gets to such a point. To give people a chance."
A beat passed.
Then a voice cut through the silence.
"Cadet Kyros," the man said slowly, "those are certainly great features. But how do you plan on facing corruption with that? In the end, it’s still a combination mecha."
That question alone caused the atmosphere to jolt. Surprise swept across the room.
Of all the people to ask, it was him.
Master Allan.
The only one who had remained firm in his stance against manual mechas. The same man who once said he’d rather eat his toolbox than build a mecha that didn’t have the ability to use spiritual energy.
People turned to see Luca’s reaction.
And they waited.
Because now, it was time to explain the impossible.
Master Colton blinked. He honestly hadn’t expected Allan to show up to this event, much less raise his hand and ask a question.
But here they were.
And not only had Allan asked something—it was the question. The one that always shut people down whenever they brought up combination mechas. The same one that had haunted Allan for years.
So when the master mechanic said it—and said it genuinely, not to argue, not to tear something apart, but to actually hear an answer—Colton nearly dropped his tablet.
Something was up.
Sure enough. He’d been affected by someone’s words earlier.
Because as much as it made Master Allan feel ancient, he had to admit... maybe that fossil was right.
Maybe this kid really did have ideas worth listening to.
The room had gone quiet again. Not from tension this time, but from curiosity.
Because that question?
That one about spiritual energy leakage?
That was what had stumped them for years.
That was the wall.
And now everyone wanted to see if Luca had found a door.