Chapter 41, Chapter 44: The Note and the Chap...
The faint scent of oranges lingered in the air, fading day by day, almost completely overwhelmed by the greedy and increasingly intense scent of glaciers.
Vison had tried to control his pheromones, trying to make the orange scent last longer, but it was all in vain.
I can only personally experience how the orange flavor is getting weaker and weaker.
My mood, like the lingering scent of glaciers, grew increasingly heavy.
Sleep has gradually become a problem. Not only do I sleep lightly and easily, but I also often stay awake for most of the night until dawn.
During his sleepless nights, even though he tried his best to control himself and resist looking at the box in the corner of the table, he would still find himself staring at it.
But he still didn't open it, as if he was holding his breath.
During the day, this energy would fuel his even more relentless research into new machinery.
I don't know how long I've lived in this daze, feeling like my soul has drifted away.
Until he finally figured out something new.
A small converter, yet it overturns the previous conversion path and will bring a brand new upgrade to the mechs.
From now on, the energy consumption and maintenance time of mechs will be redefined, bringing a comprehensive optimization to all mechs.
When Visabain saw the finished product of the converter, he was even moved to tears.
The idea for this new approach was initially proposed by several great mechanics in the past, but it never came to fruition.
By his generation, he had tried many things, but all of them failed.
When he first told Vison about the idea and asked him to try it, he just wanted to distract him.
Even though he had been concerned about and guiding Vison's design all along, he never imagined that this student, who could be considered a freshman, would have enough ability, patience and talent to make this thing and pass the experiment.
This achievement is enough to allow Visen to shed his previous titles such as SS-class and Lord Male Insect, and become a true pure mechanical master.
He felt proud and honored, and gratified that the Empire's mechanics were no longer getting weaker with each generation.
"Test it first. If the error rate is less than one in a thousand..." Visa stared at the parts with a fanatical gaze, muttering about the follow-up, but Vincent's mind was already elsewhere.
After the successful development, he was preoccupied with whether he could use this part to try and qualify for the battlefield.
But seeing that the teacher was completely captivated by the device, even to the point of tears, Vison wisely refrained from mentioning it at that moment.
He had something on his mind and on a whim decided to go back, but he happened to be caught in a heavy rain.
The splashing water droplets soaked his trouser legs.
Even with an umbrella, the rain, falling from a tricky angle, soaked half of his shoulder.
It's so annoying.
Suddenly, his gaze was drawn to the news report on the large screen on the street.
It's news of war.
Vison heard the host speak with perfect enunciation, proudly recounting how General Fepos's army had arrived on the battlefield and, in a short time, defeated countless monsters, achieving a crucial victory...
He heard many insects cheering, but he felt empty inside.
It was then that he realized they had already set off.
Nothing he does will make a difference.
The moment he found out, he couldn't help but call his teacher.
It turns out that the selection of mechanics has been completed, and the list has been finalized. The senior who was "on leave" a few days ago has gone to the battlefield.
Visabath was afraid of hurting his feelings, so she kept it from him.
Upon hearing the news, Vison remained unusually calm, as if he were not the one who had previously exerted all his strength, been so persistent as to be considered obsessive, and disregarded everything to join the army.
He hung up the phone calmly.
I got home and closed the door.
When he realized that the faint orange scent had become almost undetectable, something in Vison's heart seemed to be severely stimulated.
He couldn't help but reveal the dark side of his heart, and his face became somewhat distorted.
Damn it, Phibes.
Vicente stared at the box on the table countless times, his eyes blazing with a destructive urge like a volcanic eruption, annihilating all other emotions around him.
The box lay obediently in his hand, but its true owner had gone somewhere he couldn't reach.
The red velvet box made his hands appear even paler and thinner.
He looked down, his eyes filled with a deep, dark emotion.
He was too arrogant, he thought.
He thought he could find him and put the box back in his hands, but in reality, things didn't go as he wished.
Just as everything had indeed gone as Fipos had wished.
He couldn't find Feibos, he couldn't see Feibos.
As long as Fipos doesn't want to be found and seen by him.
Fipose was always the one who could come and go freely.
He had clearly shown his dislike this time, and it was clearly Fei Bosi who approached him first.
But it was no use; it was still Feibosi who left first.
He was naive and arrogant.
He always thought he could follow him, watch over him, and tame him.
But they forgot that Fipos's identity destined him to be an eagle that could come and go as it pleased.
He suddenly remembered the day he met the red-haired female soldier after he met Lesder.
The red-haired female soldier said to him, "The general doesn't need you."
The words that wounded him then have become a boomerang, delivering an even deeper blow to him now.
Don't you need me, Fipos?
Do you think so too?
but.
He needs him.
He couldn't help but think, even if you don't need me, even if you are like a free-flying eagle, won't you eventually land?
What if the threat comes from the highest-ranking male insect in the empire?
Once the beast within breaks free of its cage, it can never be put back in. Vison allowed those base thoughts, mixed with love and hate, to spread.
He wanted to catch him and tame him.
"despair."
The lock opened, and the gemstone, which had been locked away for so long, finally saw the light of day again.
It is an extremely dazzling ruby.
Vison immediately recognized it as a gem from Amiya's Star.
Last time, Fabers promised him an apology gift.
An apology gift for the last argument.
Vincent's fingers traced the surface of the gemstone, his memories transporting him back to that time.
He naively believed that they would never be separated again.
Even without promises or mutual expressions of affection, even if there are times when he feels wronged as if he's being treated like a mistress, he's still willing to stay together in that state.
He assumed that Fipose was willing as well.
Even during their kisses, in the most intimate moments, he could occasionally glimpse love in those beautiful ruby eyes.
But Fipos showed him the truth: he was unwilling.
Not only was he unwilling, he also wanted to find other male insects.
The thought of this made Vincent feel a sharp, stabbing pain in his heart.
If that's what Fipos really thinks, then he'll make him pay with his life.
As he rubbed the protrusions of the gemstone with his fingers, Vison thought with a mixture of pleasure and malice.
He picked up the gem and examined it closely.
Legend has it that this gemstone can enhance the spiritual power of male insects, and it is priceless.
This piece is so big that it could even buy a small planet.
Is it the agreed-upon apology gift, or a "breakup fee"?
Are you really so willing to abandon those you want to discard, General?
If he accepts this "breakup fee," wouldn't he be grateful and voluntarily stop bothering him afterward?
Vincent thought for a moment and chuckled softly.
What a dream, Phipps.
Vison casually handled the gem, which was worth a small planet.
A guy as awful as him can't be appeased with a breakup fee.
Once he's hooked up with you, how can you possibly shake him off?
And since Feppos is a well-known trustworthy insect, he promised to stay with him, so shouldn't he keep his promise?
He was simply helping Philippe fulfill his promise.
Convinced by his own logic, he finally smiled with satisfaction.
The beautiful ruby in his hand resembled the eyes that had captivated him at first sight.
As Vison watched, he gradually became engrossed.
He couldn't help but reach out and put the ruby into his mouth.
Let's become one, just like this.
He thought.
When you hold it in your hand, it looks just like any other hard gemstone, but when you eat it, the outer layer tastes like a hard biscuit, while the inside tastes like some kind of gelatinous substance.
It doesn't have much of a taste.
They shouldn't get poisoned.
Vincent licked his bright red lips, a strange sense of satisfaction welling up inside him.
A blush crept onto his face, making him look like a seductive ghost who had swallowed his lover whole.
The rumor that eating a little bit of Amiya Star Gem powder can enhance the male insect's mental strength seems to be true.
Vincent patted his mental tentacles, which he could easily project and which had become much thicker, and felt his mood finally warm up a bit.
His mental strength has been significantly enhanced.
He had just reached SSS level before, but after consuming Amiya's Time Gem, he clearly felt that his mental strength had now surpassed SSS level.
This gave him more leverage to threaten Faber.
Moreover, after eating a gemstone similar to those eyes, his emotions finally stabilized somewhat.
He even hummed a song with obvious pleasure as he casually unfolded the paper that had been pressed under the gemstone.
In an era where everyone has a personal computer, handwriting has become extremely rare.
But Vison still maintains the habit of drawing design sketches and writing notes by hand.
After discovering his little habit, Fipos gradually started writing him little notes.
He specially chose beautiful paper with gold lace and good quality, and left him a note with some words of concern before he left.
But the paper in my hand now seems particularly rough in comparison.
It's made of the same material as the previous little note, but I don't know what happened to it; even the corners are wrinkled.
When unfolded, it contained only two short sentences.
The matchmaking pool matched me with a male king, so I have to leave.
May His Excellency Vison always be safe and happy.
Vison's smile vanished instantly.
hehe.
happy?
The sudden burst of mental power revealed the owner's furious mood, and the already crumpled paper instantly shattered into powder.
The still-exposed spiritual tentacles slammed forcefully onto the table, instantly splitting it into several pieces.
A powerful ruler?
Who else does he want to recognize as his overlord?
Vison thought ominously, his usually beautiful and dignified face now looking somewhat distorted.
This time, Feibosi was really too mischievous.
He changed his mind.
If he catches him, he'll teach him a lesson first.
He was going to tie him up.
But before that, he must remain patient.
Getting angry now will do no good.
Fipos is on the battlefield now, so he can't catch him.
Right now, all he can do is pace around the room like a powerless, furious lion, his uncontrollable tentacles smashing everything in their path.
After venting all the excess anger and energy, you have to pretend to go to class normally the next day.
*
To the other insects, the esteemed Lord Vison seemed to return to normal the moment the matter was settled.
They failed to detect even a trace of the dangerous thoughts in Vison's heart.
Everyone thought it was normal.
Even Admiral Feppos was, in the end, just a female insect.
Lord Vison is currently the youngest SS-class male insect in the Empire. With a wave of his hand, wouldn't a bunch of female insects who are more perceptive than the seemingly dull-witted Admiral Fepos rush to him?
Visabain finally breathed a sigh of relief when he saw Visen's appearance.
But he always felt that something was wrong, though he couldn't quite put his finger on it.
Vison worked even harder on the machines, returning to the time when Visabain had just met him.
He's a complete machine fanatic; it seems like he can't see anything else but machines.
Visabai sighed. He didn't want Vison to be like this, without the feeling of "being alive".
But at present, this seems to be the best outcome.
I won't make myself look so pathetic over a bug anymore.
*
Although only a few days had passed, Vincent felt he was becoming increasingly out of control.
His desire to see, touch, and lock up Phibos grew stronger and stronger.
But even in the news, the number of times Fepois is mentioned has decreased.
It's another night.
After venting his excess mental energy, which could potentially cause unnecessary unrest, Vison was exhausted and collapsed onto the messy bed, quickly falling asleep, a rare occurrence for him.
It might be because he swallowed that similar eye not long ago.
That night, Vison dreamed of Fipos for the first time in a long time.
Or perhaps his obsession was too strong, and he dreamt of the battlefield.
The surrounding area was filled with strange beasts as tall as a building, their bodies covered in sharp spikes, with dangerous liquid clinging to them.
The shells kept falling, the dust swirled, and the flesh and blood scattered everywhere.
A real and brutal battlefield.
Vison's consciousness floated in the air, ignoring everything around him, only wanting to find the insect he wanted to see.
I saw it.
Even though the mecha completely enveloped him, and even though the mecha's shape was obscured from a distance, he knew it was Feibosi the moment he saw it.
He piloted his all-silver-white mech, nimbly weaving through the surrounding monsters and reaping their corpses.
Finally, he got entangled and fought with a strange beast whose shell color was different from the others.
That must be the king of these strange beasts.
As he drifted closer, he recognized the mecha; it was his teacher's most prized creation.
On the eve of the war, he personally repaired and adjusted this mech.
Now piloted by Feibos, he saw the mech like a butterfly in flight, small and agile, yet capable of delivering devastating blows to the alien beast with every strike.
Seeing this scene, Vison had a feeling that was hard to describe.
It was as if I had suddenly touched Phibos, fought alongside him, and witnessed his brilliance.
What he took on and what he protected seemed to suddenly become tangible.
He witnessed firsthand how he gave his all to live up to the name of the Empire's Greatsword.
This feeling calmed Vison down, unlike during the day when he couldn't help but want to lock up Phibos and do terrible things to him whenever he thought of him.
He floated in the air, watching and analyzing the fierce battle below.
It appears that the empire has the advantage.
But then, something unexpected happened.
Vison's pupils contracted.
A new, massive black hole suddenly appeared.
One after another, strange beasts crawled out of it.
After Vison came to the Mechanical Engineering Department of the First Military Academy, he took a course specifically on the creatures called alien beasts.
In fact, scholars still haven't reached a definitive conclusion about the origin of these strange beasts.
What everyone can agree on now is that the strange beasts crawl out of the black hole. It is still unknown how many strange beasts can crawl out of a single black hole, but it is not unlimited.
The bad news is that there is currently no weapon that can seal off a black hole when it opens.
The good news is that most black holes can be detected and warned of before they appear by energy traps. These energy traps can predict the location and number of black holes, as well as the number of alien beasts that may be generated.
The empire could then dispatch troops accordingly.
However, due to the limited size of the Imperial army and the high accuracy of the energy capture devices, the number of insects dispatched to the army is usually calculated precisely and will not be much more than necessary.
That is precisely why.
In war, the sudden appearance of a large black hole without prior warning can drastically alter the course of the battle.
Vincent's heart jumped in his throat.
Sure enough, in the blink of an eye, the situation below, which had initially favored the Empire, was reversed.
Originally, they were helping Feibos to eliminate the other insects of the Beast King, but they had to go to the outer perimeter to distract and attack other newly emerged Beasts.
Only a few mechs remained on the perimeter to assist Fepos with suppressive fire, while also providing support to other units.
Therefore, the only one left fighting the Beast King in the inner circle was the insect, Fepous.
But that's far from enough.
The Beast King is far more powerful than the other Beasts.
Even a tiny bit of the Beast King's saliva will corrode the surface of the mech; if it gets on the entire thing, the whole insect and the mech may be completely corroded.
The Beast King's shell is too thick; current weapons simply cannot break it in one hit.
The entire team's encirclement and suppression had only gained a slight advantage. Now that the other insects had lost their restraint and support, how could the single insect, Feppus, be enough?
He is very strong, but ultimately his abilities are limited.
The fight between Phibos and the Beast King clearly became intense.
The beast swung its weapon forcefully, and while Phibos dodged several tentacles, it was struck by one of the hidden tentacles and flung away violently.
"Bang."
Like a bird falling from the sky, he was slammed against a wall with great force. The thick wall shattered into huge boulders, burying Phibos who had fallen to the ground.
Come on, help him out!
Vison shouted out unconsciously.
But it was to no avail.
He could only watch helplessly and anxiously, his heart clenching, unable to offer any help.
The thick tentacles swept fiercely towards the pile of boulders.
A dazzling flame erupted, and Phibes used his cannon to strike his tentacles, using the force to leap into the air.
They were once again locked in close combat with the strange beast.
Vincent's brow remained furrowed in the slightest.
Impacts such as tentacles, near-violent explosions, and liquid corrosion are inevitable for Feibos, even though he tries his best to avoid them. His mech's wear and tear is decreasing at an extremely rapid rate.
Vison's long-trained mechanical intuition told him that the wear and tear on the mech was probably already close to 40%.
Fipos needs to act quickly.
Otherwise, if this continues, it could be dangerous.
That is indeed the case.
Fipos's attacks became faster and more frequent.
Finally, through a gap in the barrier of the many tentacles, Phipps saw the eyes of the strange beast.
A brilliant opportunity.
Vison saw him decisively maneuver the mech, disregarding the risk of being hit by the tentacles, and fire a laser.
The new laser is powerful enough to penetrate the eyes of the alien beasts and end their lives.
At that moment, Vison seemed to share a similar feeling with him.
Anticipation mixed with weariness.
The long fight had exhausted him, and this was perhaps the last blow he had delivered with all his might.
Vincent's heart also jumped.
"Bang."
It's empty.
How is that possible?
Vison stared in astonishment at the laser that had touched his groin.
The laser on the arm of the Fepos mech was developed by him and finally adjusted by him and his teacher Visaba. He can guarantee that the laser will be foolproof.
He had also seen Fipos's simulation test.
The gap was indeed very small; other insects would most likely have missed it, but Feibos wouldn't.
His mental strength was extremely high, his combat experience was rich, and his youthful body even allowed him to surpass his father, Marshal Devi, to become the Empire's number one mech pilot.
He couldn't possibly be crooked.
Something must have happened to him.
Something so significant it affected his operations.
The moment that possibility entered his mind, Vincent couldn't help but panic.
At that moment, he completely forgot that he had just received Fipos's "breakup letter" and that for a brief moment he had wished Fipos had died on the battlefield.
Now that he sees that he has really been killed on the battlefield, he can only follow his body's instincts and desperately try to rush over, only to pass through Phibos's body in vain countless times.
He could only watch helplessly as Phibos narrowly dodged the slapping tentacles and faced the Beast King once more.
But this time, Faber's movements were noticeably less fluid than before.
Fipos was slapped several times by the Beast King's tentacles, and once, one of the tentacles almost pierced through his mech's core.
Opportunities are hard to come by.
The long fight resumed, but Feppos couldn't find the same opportunity as before.
Vison floated there helplessly, watching him get beaten and watching his movements begin to falter.
Tap, tap.
No tears fell, but Vison could clearly sense that he was crying.
He was selected more and more often, and even cracks appeared on his mecha.
He'll die if this continues!
Vison looked around anxiously, but saw no support. Even the other insects were struggling against the remaining alien beasts.
"Bang!"
The loud noise drew everyone's attention.
The intense red light illuminated half the sky.
It was a mech that self-destructed.
Vison was completely stunned as he watched as Fipos's mech exploded amidst a cluster of tentacles.
The firelight blocked all visibility.
"Feibos! Feibos!"
Even knowing he couldn't make a sound, Vison couldn't help but shout.
You promised you'd come back safely!
-----------------------
Author's note: The mechanical parts were just something I made up; it came from this blind spot. (Slides to my knees)
After much thought, I feel it's better to add more chapters here, so that the slightly angsty parts will pass quickly.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
