C30 Woodpecker
The Eon Training Camp was eerily quiet, as if it too sensed the approach of something out of the ordinary.
Gu Xian closed his eyes, and the little ghost laid a hand upon his forehead. The little ghost's breaths shifted, his body lighting up in a cascade of brilliance, like stars igniting one by one. From his throat to his chest, his abdomen to his head, and extending to his limbs, each part shimmered like a starlit nebula.
Gu Xian experienced the same phenomenon, though the once-bright starry points were now merely faint star traces.
When he opened his eyes moments later, the little ghost greeted him with an unfamiliar smile and a warm embrace. "Welcome, Gu Xian. You are member number 35,382 of the Eon Corps, the sole survivor of the Eon Civilization. You are the newly appointed captain of the Eon Corps, the Dream Weaver of the Eon Empire, the singular beacon of the Eon Civilization."
Releasing his embrace, the little ghost stepped back, placed a hand over his heart, and bowed deeply. "Little captain, henceforth, all of the Eon Civilization is at your disposal, unconditionally. I entrust the Eon Civilization into your hands."
Bewildered, Gu Xian asked, "Wasn't it just a change in breathing technique?"
"It was, it was," the little ghost reassured him half-heartedly.
"Then how did I suddenly become a member?"
"Well, about that..." the little ghost scrambled for an explanation, chuckling awkwardly. "You're an honorary member, haha. The ceremony was just for show, not to be taken seriously, haha."
"Really?" Gu Xian was doubtful, feeling as though he might have been duped.
The little ghost nodded emphatically. "Absolutely true. The so-called 'trashy' breathing technique you've learned is commonplace in the Eon Civilization. At best, it qualifies you as an auxiliary member. If the Eon Civilization weren't so depleted, you wouldn't even be considered."
"I see," Gu Xian said, reassured. He was easily placated by those he trusted.
The little ghost wiped away a bead of sweat, relieved at the narrow escape.
Above in the Nine Heavens, the restless spirits of the fallen Eon Corps mechas bristled at the little ghost's description of the breathing technique as "trash," deeming it a slight against the honor of the Eon Corps.
The little imp curled his lip in disdain, utterly ignoring them.
A bunch of relics, stuck in the past. Didn't they realize the importance of adaptability in this day and age?
He was just about to remind Gu Xian to diligently practice the breathing technique when he noticed Gu Xian was already deep in a focused state of cultivation, undistracted.
The little imp watched Gu Xian with an ineffable sense of pride swelling in his chest.
He was convinced his approach was spot-on. Even though the kid was oblivious to the destiny he shouldered, his trust in him was unwavering.
But where did this infernal trust come from?
Flashing a pair of small but sharp canines, the imp grinned with delight.
His attention shifted to the "Gold Falcon." It looked like it was time to put this Mech through some fresh training.
Despite its lowly position in the mecha rankings, the Gold Falcon's inclusion in the Eon Training Camp was a testament to its exceptional nature.
Within the Eon Civilization, the Gold Falcon was a widely used mecha, renowned for its specialized "Woodpecker Mecha Battle Skill," which was listed among the top-tier techniques.
The Gold Falcon boasted incredible speed, a trait that came at the cost of its defensive and offensive capabilities.
But with such velocity, defense was an afterthought.
"If I'm fast enough, you can't touch me, and that makes my defense unbeatable," was the philosophy.
However, the mecha's offensive power was a headache for its pilots.
Imagine being as slippery as an eel, untouchable by the enemy, undetectable by any radar.
You could have been a force to be reckoned with, but when you brandished your sword or drew the lightweight laser rifle designed for speed, you'd find it as effective as a little girl's playful poke after a long chase—enticing, sure, but utterly harmless. What's the point if there's no punch behind it?
Faced with this dilemma, the mechanists of the Eon Corps developed the "Woodpecker."
In essence, it was a move towards speed, forsaking bulky, cumbersome long-range weapons ill-suited for flight in favor of close-combat arms. Utilizing an ultra-high attack frequency, they aimed to penetrate the enemy's armor layer.
Since there were neither laser nor thermal weapons, there was no need to consider the defense capabilities of an energy barrier.
The term "woodpecker" is derived from the bird itself, which, according to legend, can peck at wood up to twenty times per second at its peak.
The woodpecker's frequency was even higher in the annals of Eon. The record-holder in the Eon Hall of Fame could strike fifty times per second.
The little ghost could reach a maximum of thirty-seven times per second.
At such an ultra-high frequency, the thickest defenses were as good as paper.
While many could pilot the Gold Falcon, only a select few could master the woodpecker technique.
The greater the frequency, the greater the difficulty.
Only after meticulous study of the angle, force, and the inevitable recoil could a mechanist harness and perfectly control it.
In this context, a pilot's natural talent, insight, and dedication were all crucial.
Thus, pilots with innate talent, like the little ghost, opted for different mechas.
The Gold Falcon, being a mass-produced model rather than a custom one, had its limitations. If not for this, he believed there was still room for improvement with the woodpecker.
Of course, the woodpecker could be used without the Gold Falcon, but it wouldn't handle as seamlessly.
The little ghost was confident that with Gu Xian's talent, mastering the woodpecker would be no challenge.
He eagerly anticipated the level of enhancement Gu Xian would achieve once he began practicing the breathing technique.
...
Upon waking the next morning, Gu Xian's eyes sparkled with delight.
He had been relentlessly practicing the breathing technique at the Eon Training Camp. Originating from the Eon Corps, this technique was notoriously difficult, yet immensely powerful, with six distinct levels.
Considering the complexity of this widespread technique, one could only wonder at the potency of more advanced methods.
Gu Xian marveled at the thought.
Yet, having faced death countless times, he was well-acquainted with the perilous nature of greed and had no intention of seeking a stronger technique from the little ghost.
Contentment was his philosophy; if something was sufficient, it was enough.
The practice of this breathing technique was quite peculiar, being both unified and divided into parts.
It segmented the human body into six sections: the head, torso, legs, and feet.
Following the advice of the little ghost, Gu Xian began his training with the head.
As one of the body's most vital organs, the delicate brain was the first area the little ghost recommended safeguarding.
Time at the Eon Training Camp didn't align with that of the real world. Nevertheless, after a night's worth of training, Gu Xian still hadn't fully mastered the first layer of the head.
The brain's complexity is profound, especially when it comes to controlling a Mech. It requires not just the ability to process intricate combat data but also quick reflexes.
For the swift Gold Falcon, proficiency in these areas was essential.
Otherwise, it would be akin to a blind sparrow, fast but aimlessly crashing about.
Yet, Gu Xian remained elated.
The little ghost assured him that once he had the first layer down, he could attempt to pilot the Gold Falcon and train with the "woodpecker."
To spark Gu Xian's interest, the little ghost even demonstrated the woodpecker technique.
A ten-meter-thick metal wall couldn't hold the Gold Falcon back for a second.
All that was left on the thick metal wall was a smooth, large hole, made using nothing more than an ordinary alloy knife of the same material.
Gu Xian watched, eyes wide with amazement, and burst into enthusiastic applause.
The little ghost was quite pleased with his reaction, wrapping up a perfect night of training.
For most people, the night is for rest, with the day reserved for bustling activity.
But for Gu Xian, daytime had become his period of respite.
Entering the training camp was akin to sleeping, giving his body the rest it needed.
Though his busy schedule of learning and working brought fulfillment, it also led to mental exhaustion.
By day, his time at 33 Bay Road, tinkering with and modifying mechs, provided the mental ease and relaxation he craved.
This bit of downtime was all he needed. After all, nights at the training camp weren't solely for training; there had to be moments to unwind and give his mind a break.
Yeh Ranyi's arrival sent B-183 into a celebratory frenzy akin to the New Year festivities. It was at this moment that Gu Xian truly grasped the magnitude of her influence.
It made perfect sense why the Security Department took her safety so seriously.
Troops were stationed in layers both inside and outside Aelley City, a clear response to the recent appearance of the Angel Mecha.
Tourists flocked in droves, all drawn by the allure of Yeh Ranyi.
Rumors circulated that in just half a month, Yeh Ranyi would host a grand meet-and-greet at Aelley Stadium.
The local engineers had already begun the task of expanding and renovating the venue to accommodate the event.
Yet none of this buzz seemed to reach 33 Bay Road. Only during casual conversations, when the engineering mechanists boasted of their exploits, would they mention their peers—those top-tier engineers.
Their tone, laced with condescension, often referred to the others as the "so-called top engineering mechanists," a backhanded way to affirm their own superiority.
Yeh Ranyi made no further attempts to reach out to Chen Zhuya.
Gu Xian, having witnessed and destroyed the Angel Mecha, received a cordial invitation from the head of the Security Department.
Yet Gu Xian declined.
He couldn't pinpoint the reason, but he felt overwhelmed with busyness.
Ever since he had shared his contact information, Chen Zhuya called him nearly every day, urging him to test her newly designed mecha.
Gu Xian perpetually found himself short on time.
The revamped Pioneer-12 was still under assembly, and one of the remaining seven Mount Buzhou mechas had been confiscated by the Security Department for research. Gu Xian still needed to touch base with George and hash things out.
The evenings, needless to say, were consumed by the indescribable joys of the Eon Training Camp.
Three days later, 33 Bay Road welcomed a new set of visitors.
Dressed to the nines in suits and polished shoes, they exuded an air of importance.
The leader, sporting a handlebar mustache and shifty eyes, was greeted personally by Vian. Their visit was brief.
Curiosity piqued among the residents about the identity of these pompous individuals.
Vian soon clarified—these were the financiers, complaining that the project's progress was too rapid and requesting a slowdown in the cutting speed.
Bewilderment spread among the crew, as they struggled to make sense of the investors' peculiar demands.
Are the only complaints about the construction being too slow from those trying to make extra money by dragging their feet? And then there are those who complain it's moving too fast?
Keep in mind, their wages are settled on a daily basis.
What exactly is happening here?
