Chapter 57 Just Partners 02
Ren Yi was aware of the surveillance cameras nearby, but the situation was urgent and saving lives was paramount; he didn't care whether he was being filmed or not. Besides, in such a remote place, surveillance cameras were more decorative than practical, and it was almost impossible for anyone to access them. Even Ren Yi didn't expect that not only was he filmed, but his footage was also deliberately edited and uploaded to the StarNet.
The majority of netizens, unaware of the person in question's mindset, continued to watch the perilous scenes in the video with bated breath.
After a long pause, someone finally pointed out something was amiss: "[Am I just imagining things? Are there more and more vines on this strange creature?]"
The others didn't seem to care about such a small matter. One person replied, "[This is quite normal. That alien's tail is so long, and it was sweeping around on the ground. It's not surprising that it got tangled up with your tail.]"
After witnessing firsthand how this strange creature swept a giant tree in half with its tail, no one would take these tiny vines seriously.
That other species probably had the same mentality, and didn't care about the vines entangled on its body.
This continued until more and more vines became obstructing its movement. Finally, the alien species lost its patience and tried to cut the vines with the sickles on its forelimbs... but it failed to do so.
[？？？]
After a brief silence, the screen was suddenly filled with question marks.
What's going on? Is this strange scythe not sharp enough? Is it all show and no substance?
No, that's impossible. The big shot was only grazed, and he almost ruined his entire arm. If that's "useless," then nothing is useful at all.
However, it's impossible to say that these vines are particularly resilient; they had already seen the boss clear them away several times, each time simply tearing them off casually.
Wait! It's been cleaned several times?
Finally, someone realized something was wrong. It seemed like the boss had been cleaning the vines that were sticking to his body the whole time.
Logically speaking, when you're running for your life, it's normal to be in a sorry state, so why would you care about such trivial matters?
The boss rolled around on the ground several times, his body covered in mud, but he was particularly concerned about these vines, cleaning them off immediately whenever they touched him.
Even the most oblivious person would notice something was wrong now.
Immediately, someone asked, "[What kind of vine is this? Does anyone recognize it?]"
Below are various speculations, but none of them seem reliable at the moment. Most people are waiting for the answer to the same question.
The same expert who previously explained the solar gun offered a somewhat uncertain guess: [Spider vine?]
But he quickly added, "[Sorry, I'm not a botany major, this is just a guess.]"
Specialization is key, especially in the interstellar era where various industries are highly specialized. However, the opinions of experts carry more weight. Even though Aika emphasized that it was just a guess, it still stirred up some discussion. Someone in the live chat immediately asked what "spider vine" was.
The StarNet network has a wide coverage and a broad audience. There are always unexpected talents hidden among the general public. Aika's guess was confirmed by a comment shortly after it was posted.
[Ahhh! Yes, yes!! It's spider silk vine!!]
Even through the screen, you could feel the speaker's excitement. [I can't believe I didn't recognize him!]
[That thing is rated A for danger! Even within A, it's extremely dangerous. Honestly, if it weren't for its very obvious weaknesses, it would be rated S!! If you encounter it, run as far away as possible. Once you get entangled with this thing, there's no way to escape!!]
Those watching the video felt that the person commenting was exaggerating, since they had just seen how the expert had handled the vines one by one with ease, and apart from suddenly showing extraordinary resilience, he hadn't displayed any other danger.
Several comments immediately appeared on the screen, such as, "[It's not that exaggerated, is it?]"
[It doesn't look dangerous to me.]
...
Some people even felt a sense of goodwill towards the vines that held the alien species back; [look closely, these little things are actually quite cute].
[To be honest, if we really encountered a mutant, wouldn't it be great to have a vine like this to save our lives?]
The second half of the sentence was not finished because the scene in the video had completely changed.
The mutant didn't sever the vines, but it quickly swung its forelimbs again. This time, however, the blades didn't strike the vines. The mutant seemed to suddenly suffer immense pain, violently rolling on the spot. But its massive body was wrapped in the vines, and its rolling became smaller and slower. Conversely, the vines wrapped around it seemed to absorb some kind of nourishment, growing at a visible rate.
The netizens in front of the computer quickly discovered that just because something "looks" like it has absorbed nutrients doesn't mean it actually has.
As the alien creature writhed, it tore off several slender white tentacles, revealing even more tentacles that had taken root inside its body. These were the roots of the vine, which was growing rapidly at the cost of the alien creature's flesh and blood. Before long, the vine completely enveloped the alien creature, forming a huge cocoon, with even faint wriggling movements visible, as if it were digesting its prey.
The screen paused briefly; the person who had started to speak couldn't continue. After a long while, he pressed his trembling hands and typed back the last two words of his sentence—
[Help! ]
That's not cute at all!
It's incredibly terrifying!
The netizen who seemed to be a botany major seemed to have finally calmed down and gave a brief introduction to the characteristics of the spider vine.
[A single spider vine is very fragile and poses little danger. However, it secretes a special factor that allows two or more vines on the same prey to sense each other, multiplying the vine's resilience.]
[The power of the index needs no further explanation, right? For the average person, having seven or more of these on them is enough to make them lie down and wait to die.]
[Furthermore, spider vines have another characteristic: if you don't completely sever them, even a small connection will be mistaken for prey, and they will begin to take root inside the prey and grow rapidly. Therefore, generally speaking, having three spider vines attached to you is already very dangerous.]
Looking at the enormous cocoon being digested, everyone swallowed hard in unison; it was indeed dangerous.
At the top of the screen, a lone comment floated by: "[Was the pro deliberately walking this way?]"
No one answered immediately.
Therefore, it's hard to say whether it was intentional or not, but given their cautious attitude, it's clear that the other party knew the characteristics of the spider vine.
Those in front of the personal computers asked themselves honestly; after witnessing such a horrific scene, even watching it on a screen was enough to cause psychological trauma. They would absolutely avoid spider vines or similar tendrils whenever they encountered them.
The mutants are certainly terrifying, but the way the spider silk vines hunt is even more horrifying; anyone who watches themselves being digested would go insane. The level of pain is simply unbearable for ordinary people, as evidenced by the mutant's reaction.
In the end, everyone could only sigh, "The boss is indeed a boss."
The spiderweb vine digested the cocoon very quickly; it soon opened, leaving only a mess, and the vines scattered everywhere, harmlessly decorating the surroundings. But no matter how one looked at it, the lush green scene had a somewhat eerie feel to it.
Just as everyone was marveling at this harrowing escape, a comment slowly floated across the screen: "[That's it? Just good luck?]"
StarNet?
Where did this idiot come from?
The live chat exploded instantly—
[Get your eyes treated]
I'll send you Dr. Pang's contact information via private message. Please don't show your face until you're cured.
[I'm speechless. Why are there so many people who are insensitive to others' opinions?]
[Good luck? You try being lucky with me!]
[Forget about alien spider silk vines, just take a stroll in a dangerous area without any tools or equipment, and if you come back unscathed, I'll kneel down and call you daddy.]
...
Because of that provocative comment, the video was almost over when it triggered a huge surge in comments.
But for the audience, this is anything but pleasant. It's like finally enjoying a delicious meal, and just when you're about to take the last bite, a dead fly falls from the ceiling – isn't that just pure disgust?!
However, in the comments section, the most upvoted comment wasn't about the last disgusting, provocative post, but rather a link to an analysis post by a well-known expert on the spiral structure of comments. Everyone should check it out! [Link here]
[Wow, what a day it is today! First, the comments section lured out the legendary Aika, and now Luo Da is personally doing an analysis!]
[As expected, big shots all befriend other big shots.]
[I have to say I'm jealous, but I don't even know which side to be jealous of first? Is this some kind of beaver?]
The comments below covered the tall building, but when people excitedly clicked on the links, they began to suspect that they had stumbled upon some third-rate clickbait marketing account.
Exit and check again.
Yes, it's definitely Luo Da!
But this title...
"A Rational Discussion: Is the Mysterious Teenager Who Uses a Light Energy Gun to Fight Aliens Only at Gene Development Level B?"
StarNet?
[Hey, if you've been kidnapped, blink twice.]
[Was your account hacked?]
[I've already reported this to the cyber police. I'll see which little punk is so arrogant as to dare steal my account.]
Ren Yi, far away on the other side of the stars, was completely unaware that his secrets had been exposed. He was currently on a fourth-magnitude star. The lowest level of habitable planets for Alliance citizens is a third-magnitude star. Planets of fourth magnitude and below are called extra-civilian stars. They are often located in the outermost star systems of the Alliance, and the Alliance has very little control over them. These are also the favorite hiding places for Alliance wanted criminals.
Of course, Ren Yi's current appearance is not because there is anything wrong with his identity in this world. In fact, his current identity is very ordinary, just an unremarkable military academy student who was expelled.
The phrase "expelled from school" is enough to evoke negative associations, let alone when it's a military academy.
However, Ren Yi's situation wasn't so bad. He wasn't expelled from school for making a mistake, but rather because of his physical condition—he dropped out due to injury.
Because of this, he received a considerable subsidy.
Ren Yi didn't have any particular feelings about this. To him, it was simply time for the tool to step down.
This is a world of interstellar mechs, where the most common configuration is a two-person mech. The main characters, the top and the bottom, are naturally partners in a two-person mech. The plot of this book can be simply summarized as the main characters going from disliking each other to becoming the best partners, gradually trusting each other as they grow together.
However, none of this has anything to do with Ren Yi. His role as a tool in this world is insignificant. Not to mention his secondary account, even his main account, which has a greater role in the plot, is just a background character—the former partner of the main character.
It was precisely because of his injury and subsequent withdrawal from school that the protagonist (the bottom) had the opportunity to partner with the main character (the top). He had already completed his mission and gracefully retired, so whatever happened between the two of them afterward was no longer Ren Yi's concern. Furthermore, because of the thrilling developments at the end of the world, Ren Yi was now maintaining an absolutely respectful distance from the main characters, avoiding contact whenever possible.
After finding the system fragment, Ren Yi left as soon as possible, hoping to avoid any further involvement.
However, on the other side of the alliance, at the alliance's top military academy, which is separated by most of the alliance.
The person Ren Yi was trying to avoid actually remembered him at this moment.
Unlike the military academy on the capital planet, where every inch of land is precious, the Alliance's First Military Academy lavishly occupies an entire planet. Of course, given the unique context of this world where humanity has to fight against alien species, both the military and military academies are well-funded, but those as extravagant as the Alliance's First Military Academy are ultimately in the minority.
The vast area means ample training grounds. The application requirements for training grounds at the Joint First Military Academy are much easier than those of other military academies. This is a point that the Joint First Military Academy has touted in its recruitment process over the years to attract new students.
On the training field, Duan Rui and his new partner finished their simulation training and began their adaptive practical training.
Two-person mechs require the most teamwork, since one person acts as the "limbs" and the other as the "eyes and ears." If the coordination is poor, let alone exerting power, even moving forward on flat ground will be difficult. Duan Rui knew this principle, but he had never felt it before. His partner always delivered the most appropriate data at the most appropriate time.
...former partner.
The cockpit environment didn't allow him much time to think. Sweat streamed down his forehead, stinging his eyes. Duan Rui blinked hard and said in a hoarse voice, "Prepare to accelerate..."
The environment surrounding the mecha appeared on the screen he could see in the form of data. Several parameters changed rapidly. Duan Rui made a decision to act in an instant, but he noticed the abnormality after the mecha's right foot landed. Sure enough, the next moment the entire mecha lost its balance and tilted backward.
Duan Rui has lost count of how many times he has fallen in the past few days.
The sudden shift from a nimble stride to a toddler's unsteady steps was incredibly frustrating, and Duan Rui slammed his arm heavily on the dashboard. He realized he wasn't calm, but despite taking several deep breaths, he couldn't get back into training mode.
He simply opened the inner door and temporarily stepped out of the mech.
His high, sharp brow bones and low-set eyes made him appear unapproachable. The irritated expression on his face as he emerged only added to his aura of intimidation.
Although he seems intimidating, he's not someone who throws tantrums easily.
Xia Yanshen had also come out, and he calmly said, "I'm sorry, it was my mistake just now."
Duan Rui grunted in response, neither angry nor offering any words of comfort.
Xia Yanshen did not need the latter.
He stared at Duan Rui for a while, and before Duan Rui could speak, he suddenly asked, "Senior Duan, you've never partnered with anyone before, right? With anyone other than Senior Ren?"
The sudden mention of the second person in those words made Duan Rui's expression tense for a moment, his lips pressed into a straight line.
After a long pause, he finally spoke, "Yes."
He paused, then added, "But once you form a fixed partnership, that's it." Seemingly having adjusted his mood, the second sentence flowed much more smoothly.
It's difficult to determine fixed partners. Not to mention military academy students, even many people in the military are paired up temporarily. But correspondingly, once a pairing is formed, it won't be changed casually.
Xia Yanshen seemed unsurprised by the answer. He simply said "Oh" and remained silent.
Duan Rui didn't know why he suddenly asked that, but he wasn't in the mood to investigate at the moment. After asking "That's all for today" (although the tone didn't sound like a question, Xia Yanshen could still tell from the time they had been getting to know each other) and receiving an affirmative answer, he strode away.
Xia Yanshen stared at Duan Rui's back for a while before slowly turning his gaze away.
—Spoiled.
Xia Yanshen knew that it was inappropriate to make such a comment about a senior student's top scorer, but he still silently said it to himself.
It's likely that even Duan Rui himself didn't realize that his default requirement for his deputy was "no mistakes."
But this is impossible. For the co-pilots, who act as the "eyes" and "ears," they have to transform the complex environment around them into data and present it to the mech pilots inside the cockpit. They need to make judgments, infer, and input the data. This series of processes must be completed almost instantly. This requires a lot of experience, heavy calculations, and sometimes even a bit of intuition.
Xia Yanshen's error rate is already extremely low. Not to mention among his peers, even compared with those in higher grades, he is definitely in the excellent category. Otherwise, he wouldn't have been called over to try partnering with Duan Rui. But even so, his average accuracy rate in the simulation training throughout the academic year is only 70%.
But what Senior Ren said...
Xia Yanshen pursed his lips. He hadn't had time to review the opponent's simulated battle recaps time and time again, but based on Duan Rui's cooperation over the past few days, he estimated that the score was probably above 95%. Even if there were mistakes or errors, the margin of error would definitely be within the D-level deviation range.
While the accuracy rate of fixed partners is indeed higher than that of temporary combinations, this is still at the level of a top-notch observer.
—This does not apply to military academy students, but to the entire alliance.
Xia Yanshen knew that if he made this point clear, the two of them would cooperate much better.
However, this almost blatant admission of "I can't do it" kept him from speaking.
Xia Yanshen turned his gaze back to the screen in front of him and squeezed his eyes shut.
...He wanted to try again.
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