A Chemist's Interstellar Saga

Chapter 108: First Mecha Experience
Chapter 108: First Mecha Experience

Samurai was crafted by the mecha master, Valport. When he made it, Valport noticed Scion was just a kid. So, he made Samurai’s avatar to match Scion’s age, hoping it would be a buddy for him.

Years flew by. Scion grew older, but Samurai stayed the same—a cheeky, chatty kid. Scion thought about asking Master Valport to tweak Samurai’s avartar, but there was something special about the little guy.

From a trusted childhood friend to someone Scion saw as a younger brother, Samurai had been a constant. Sometimes, Scion even felt like a worried parent.

Samurai had been with him through the mundane and the thrilling, protecting him all the while. Their bond, forged over years, was unbreakable.

Scion had decided to keep Samurai just as it was, so regrets were pointless. He wasn’t one to linger on what-ifs. With a deep sigh and a resigned smile, he said, ”Unmute.”

Once the language system kicked in, Samurai straightened up. It knew Scion didn’t tolerate nonsense.

Samurai grumbled to itself but then spotted the little kid in Scion’s arms. Curious, he asked, ”Hey, little one, who are you?”

”Hello Samurai, I’m Arix. It’s great to meet you. I may need your help today,” Arix said, eyes shining with excitement and a bit of shyness.

Don’t be fooled by Samurai’s childish looks—it was a real Supergiant-Class mecha. Most people never even saw one. Even military students had to wait until they graduated and joined a legion to see a real one.

”Don’t worry, I’ll protect you today,” Samurai declared, chest puffed out in a big brotherly way.

”Thank you, Samurai,” Arix replied, full of admiration.

”Hahaha! No problem at all!” Samurai laughed, proud as could be.

”Alright, time to start the battle,” Scion interrupted. He knew these two could chat forever and never get to the fighting part.

”Okay, let’s go! Time to fight the insectoids. Master, get ready, we’re establishing the psychic link,” Samurai said, buzzing with excitement at another chance to shine.

Arix’s eyes sparkled, as she was about to see a Supergiant-Class mecha in action. If her classmates at the Hecaris Military Academy knew, they’d be so jealous.

Scion wasted no time. He placed Arix on his shoulder and sat in the pilot seat. Slowly, he channeled his psychic power into a larger button on the control panel until it lit up.

Scion closed his eyes and waited. As he connected his psychic power to the mecha, Samurai’s serious voice filled the cockpit.

”System, connected.”

”Energy, sufficient.”

”Power, normal!”

”Green across the board.”

...

”Mecha self-check complete, all systems go. Master, I’m ready for the battle.”

Scion opened his eyes slowly. The mecha began to move, whirlwinds forming under his feet, propelling him toward the insectoids.

When they reached a special trio of insectoids, Samurai halted.

Like a real samurai, the mecha raised its longsword high and swung it down. A light blade, hundreds of meters long, slashed through the air. The massive insectoid in the middle was sliced in half before it could react.

The other two special insectoids, seemingly intelligent, screeched angrily at their companion’s death. Countless other insectoids swarmed toward the pure white mecha as if commanded.

Facing the oncoming wave, Scion remained calm. He activated the mecha’s energy shield, blocking the attacks.

He then maneuvered Samurai to leap into the air, performing a sword flourish.

A light blade, 50 meters wide, swept through the air, clearing a 100-meter radius of insectoids in front of the mecha!

A single strike from Scion was as powerful as a particle beam. Arix, watching, finally understood the true might of a mecha. No wonder pilots were revered. A single pilot could rival a battleship.

Of course, it was also because Scion was insanely powerful.

...

In the starship carrier’s Control Room...

With the admiral on the battlefield, Vice Admirals Klaus and De’an felt at ease, so they left command to other officers. They watched the real-time battle feed side by side.

Seeing Scion clear a 100-meter radius of insectoids with one strike, they were awestruck.

”No wonder he’s the admiral. His destructive power is incredible,” Klaus admired.

”The admiral has always been strong, and Samurai seems even stronger now. Valport must have made some special modifications,” De’an said, enviously touching his Space Button, which housed his own mecha.

”Well, Scion is Valport’s godson, after all. Too bad Valport isn’t taking any more godsons, or I’d try my luck!” Klaus, now over fifty, said with a mischievous grin, stroking his chin.

De’an Vice Admiral rolled his eyes and scoffed, ”Let’s not even go there. You’re ten years older than Valport. Think you can compare to our admiral in looks? He became Valport’s godson. You? You’d be lucky to be his janitor.”

Klaus Vice Admiral, feeling indignant, huffed, ”What if Valport appreciates my humor? Looks are temporary. A hundred years from now, we’re all just bones.”

”Even as bones, Admiral Scion’s will look better than yours,” De’an Vice Admiral sneered.

”Hey, De’an! Are you looking for a fight today? Let’s step outside and see who can kill more insectoids,” Klaus Vice Admiral challenged, rolling up his sleeves.

”Bring it on! Like I’m afraid of you!” De’an Vice Admiral shot back, taking off his neatly pressed coat.

The Empire officers in the control room inwardly rolled their eyes, used to these two high-ranking officers bickering over the smallest disagreements. As long as they didn’t cause trouble for everyone else, it was a blessing.

Chapter 123 Competition

Before they could leave, Vice Admirals Klaus and De’an suddenly remembered something crucial—As Scion wasn’t in the Control Room, they had to stay behind to keep everything running smoothly.

This posed a problem. If they didn’t compete today, they’d feel uneasy, but they couldn’t abandon their sense of duty either. Sharing a quick glance, they both had the same idea.

”Captain Chris!” Vice Admiral Klaus called out sharply.

”Captain Sunak!” Vice Admiral De’an echoed.

Captain Chris and Captain Sunak exchanged nervous looks. Reluctantly responding, they heard exactly what they feared.

”You two go out and kill insectoids. Whoever kills the most gets this Star-Class energy stone,” Klaus declared, showing a purple crystal.

”Hah, getting cheap on us? I have a Subgiant-Class healing potion for the winner,” De’an added, flaunting a green potion.

Captain Chris was not thrilled. He didn’t really want it.

However, Sunak’s eyes lit up at the sight of the prizes. He wasn’t interested in them for himself, but he knew Arix would love them. Imagining her sweet, excited face made him grin.

His sudden laughter drew the attention of almost everyone in the control room. They likely thought he had lost it. Captain Chris looked at him like he was crazy.

Everyone knew this competition wasn’t a joke. The loser would endure intense training under the victorious Vice Admiral, which usually ended in some painful ”friendly sparring.”

Many soldiers in the Tiger Legion had faced this ”friendly sparring.”, often leaving with bruised faces.

But De’an didn’t mind. He figured if Sunak was laughing, he must be confident, which meant De’an was destined to win.

Vice Admiral De’an chuckled, but Vice Admiral Klaus wasn’t amused. He turned to Captain Chris, narrowing his eyes with a creepy yet kind smile, staring silently.

The message was clear.

Captain Chris felt a shiver down his spine and quickly stood at attention, promising to Klaus, ”Sir, I won’t let you down.”

”Good! That’s the spirit of a true warrior of the Empire. I have high hopes for you,” Vice Admiral Klaus finally smiled and nodded.

Captain Chris cursed inwardly but kept a polite smile on his face.

Sunak and Chris placed their right hands over their chests, saluting Vice Admirals Klaus and De’an with the traditional Empire gesture before leaving the main control room together.

As soon as they stepped out, Captain Chris’s smile vanished. He turned to Sunak, curiosity clear in his voice. ”Sunak, what were you thinking back there, smiling so happily?”

”That’s a secret,” Sunak replied, chuckling playfully.

Chris’s curiosity only deepened. He raised an eyebrow and guessed, ”Does it have something to do with your little niece? Are you planning to give her the spoils of victory?”

Sunak was annoyed. He hated Chris for being so smart sometimes. Honestly, the most frustrating people weren’t just the smart ones or the strong ones. It was the ones who do both. They were smart and strong, and that was just infuriating!

Seeing Sunak’s annoyed expression, Chris knew he had guessed right. His smile turned mischievous. ”I thought this would be boring, but now it seems interesting. Just imagine your niece receiving the gift and sweetly calling me ’Uncle Chris.’ That would be quite delightful.”

Sunak was furious. It was bad enough that Scion always tried to steal Arix’s attention, and he couldn’t do anything about it. But now, a fellow officer was trying to do the same? No way!

With a cold laugh, Sunak retorted, ”Already dreaming of victory? It’s been a while since you’ve been away from the admiral and piloted a mecha. Don’t end up needing my help halfway through the battle with the insectoids. That would be quite embarrassing.”

Chris shot back, ”Funny, I could say the same to you. Remember who saved you when you were running for your life from an insectoid? If it weren’t for me, you might already be fertilizer for some flower garden.”

”Bah!” Sunak glared at Chris.

”Hmph!” Chris lifted his chin arrogantly and snorted at Sunak.

The two continued bickering as they made their way to the carrier’s deck, where they quickly deployed their mechas. They both scrambled into their mecha cockpits like mice evading a cat.