Chapter 42 The Power of Transcendence

"Oh!"

Even the Director, watching the scene from the command post, could not help but let out an exclamation.

Master Jingci was temporarily boosting the power of Traum and Shakya.

Although it was temporary, one could almost imagine what kind of power—far beyond the imagination of modern civilization—these individuals, referred to as "Executors" by ancient civilizations, truly possessed.

Conversely, it made one realize just how terrifying the enemies they faced back then must have been.

"Uwooooh!"

Ryusei felt the subtle tingling sensation that had previously made him uncomfortable gradually transform into a surge of power—an inexhaustible well of energy welling up from the depths of his body.

However, this sensation came in waves. He watched with his own eyes as this golden, arc-like energy generating around his body was continuously channeled into the arm of Shakya, whose hand he was holding.

"The Life Ripple Breathing Technique is the foundation of Mecha-Spirit fusion. And the Mecha-Spirit can only be wielded by those deemed worthy of human-mecha unity," the Director muttered, witnessing this ability with his own eyes for the very first time.

"Coupled with an Executor acknowledged by the Origin Cube..."

The golden energy radiating from Traum created ripple-like distortions in space, spreading outward in all directions.

The surrounding air seemed to vibrate in response.

"Ngh... Uwooooh!"

This felt vastly different from when she had previously used the breathing technique on her own. Although Shakya had done the same thing before, this time felt completely and utterly different!

"Shakya, you have not yet attained the state of a mirror-like and unruffled mind, but no matter. Embrace the anger in your heart and let it become your strength."

Jingci urged Shakya to concentrate further.

Indeed, Shakya's heart was currently filled with sorrow, along with a furious anger at her own helplessness.

"Hah... Whew... Ah..."

To put it into perspective, the strength of the Life Ripple she had accidentally triggered before was like throwing a tiny pebble into a pond, causing merely a faint ripple.

Now, with every breath Shakya took resonating within her body, the summoned energy was as vast, heavy, and violent as the rolling tides of the ocean!

"This... This is simply..."

Shakya's synchronization rate with Traum was already quite good, but now she felt as though their bodies had completely merged into one!

Not just vision, but touch and breathing were in perfect harmony; she could even sense the flow of the air.

Or rather, she felt as though her iron body was lighter than her original flesh and blood.

It was a sensation she had never experienced before!

"Shakya, are you prepared? Follow my words and grasp the essence of Mecha-Spirit Arts," Master Jingci asked. Shakya nodded firmly.

"Dash out, take aim at the cocoon, concentrate all your power into your fist, and strike with everything you have!"

"But aren't you still standing outside?"

Jingci told Shakya to sprint forward at full power, but if she did that, wouldn't Jingci, who was standing on top of Traum, be thrown off?

"Do not hesitate. I have my own way of following."

"Shakya! Go!"

Encouraging words from Shion and the Director also came through the communicator.

"Alright!!"

All of Shakya's pent-up anger and sorrow would be compressed into this single blow.

Only by destroying it could she avenge the fallen civilians.

Only by destroying it could she make amends for her own mistakes.

Traum's feet kicked hard against the ground, stirring up countless flying debris behind it.

The thrusters at its back roared to life, leaving a dazzling comet-like trail as it shot straight toward the ominous black cocoon.

"This technique is known as: Mecha-Spirit Fusion Dash!"

It seemed to be a move Jingci was very familiar with. Now, he was allowing Shakya to experience its true depth.

All the golden lightning wrapped around Traum's entire body concentrated into its right fist, slamming fiercely down toward the cocoon!

With the very first blow, the massive black sphere formed of black fluid was beaten into an arc, the point of impact caving in deeply while the opposite side bulged out grotesquely.

It looked just like a punching bag beaten entirely out of shape!

The tiny tentacles connecting the cocoon snapped one after another, severing it completely from the remaining "tree canopy" portion.

The shockwave from the impact was felt even down in the underground Schwarz command post.

The immense Mecha-Spirit energy battered the cocoon, finally forcing the entity within to spit out a humanoid monster.

The monster flew out along with the impact, crashing heavily onto the ground.

"Did it work?"

Everyone in the command post, including the Director, watched the battle with bated breath.

"This thing is..."

The Director hurriedly flipped through the ancient texts in his hands. Jingci was right; the enemy they encountered this time seemed like several clan variants kneaded together.

"What came out from inside... is this thing... Total chaos..."

The humanoid monster that had been spat out was roughly the same size as Traum, somewhat resembling the clan variant called the "Hungry Ghost" that had attacked first, but it looked extremely weak.

It tried to crawl up from the ground, but was met with a barrage of firepower from Shakya.

Shakya understood now. Previously, in order to hatch this thing, the "giant tree" must have used the "black water" to hunt everywhere.

However, because they had eliminated a large amount of the "black water" and injured the "tree," the creature's hatching had been incomplete, leaving it in a half-dead state right now.

Eliminate this thing, and the battle would be over!

Shakya continuously fired beam cannons and photon missiles, closing in step-by-step on the struggling and overwhelmed clan variant.

"Hang in there!! Finish it off in one go!" Ryusei cheered Shakya on.

"Wait, do not get too close..."

Suddenly, Jingci noticed something was amiss.

The dying clan variant, as Shakya drew within a certain distance, suddenly leaped up, extended its arms, and grabbed Traum!

Not only that, it seized Traum's shoulders and vaulted high into the air, hurling its entire body downward onto Traum from above!

"Mr. Jingci, get away!"

Seeing the clan variant crashing down like Mount Tai, Shakya shouted loudly.

With no other choice, Jingci kicked off fiercely, launching himself away from Traum!

Bolstered by the Mecha-Spirit Art, Jingci landed steadily on the roof of a nearby high-rise building.

The battle took a sudden and drastic turn; who would have expected this creature to mount a counterattack on the verge of death!

The weakened monster emerging from the cocoon crushed down upon the standing Traum, abruptly curling into a massive round sphere that completely enveloped Traum inside it.

This was utterly bizarre.

The sphere even began to emit a blue glow from its all-black surface, growing increasingly intense.

"!!"

Even Jingci's typically calm expression showed a trace of anxiety. Based on his understanding of this type of clan variant, the flashing light meant the creature was attempting to self-destruct.

"Th-This is bad..."

Ryusei noticed that the golden radiance on Shakya's body was gradually fading. Could it be because Master Jingci had left?

No, that wasn't it—he himself was starting to find it difficult to breathe!

In this sealed space, oxygen was being deprived.

Even a robot's cockpit required gas exchange with the outside world, but now all vents and openings were completely sealed shut.

Without air to breathe, the Mecha-Spirit Art that Jingci had enabled Shakya to use naturally lost its driving force.

Shakya herself had likely passed out due to the sudden suffocation.

"Traum's signal has vanished!"

In the command post, this report caused Shion to panic.

"The clan variant wrapped around the mecha and cut off the signal?!"

"I am Jingci. Is Director Qin present?"

Master Jingci patched into the command post's communications; it seemed the Director had also provided him with a communication channel.

"I'm here! What is happening out there?"

"This type of clan variant can form an absolute locked-in space that cannot be broken from the outside. You must lift the containment restrictions on the Origin Cube and expose it."

Both Jingci and the Director must have read the records regarding this spherical clan variant.

The Director immediately ordered the vault personnel to remove the containment seals on the Origin Cube, awaiting Jingci's next move.

"I understand... Then... do you think Shakya can pull this off?"

"Certainly. Although I have left Shakya's side, the Mecha-Spirit energy I injected into her still remains."

"Then... she doesn't seem to be moving?"

While speaking with the Director, Jingci was making preparations with his own hands.

"Because this object seals off the air and obstructs breathing, the Life Ripple cannot be stimulated. Pray, let me assist."