Winnie had been Ash's steadfast companion for eight years, the backbone of his survival despite her age and worn parts. She was like a gentle elder, ever-reliable, silently enduring the wear of time to protect him.
Ash felt a heavy weight in his heart—a sensation he’d only known once before, when his father had passed. Was this sadness? He wondered, whispering to himself.
He let himself drift into thought, “I hope Dad’s well, wherever he is now…”
He spent the entire day in solitude, finding a quiet place to be alone. When Ash finally made his way to the Mech Training Base, he called over Rune with a calm expression. "Rune, I want to see the course list."
Sarah’s frustration had been simmering. She had spent countless days combing through the combat district, searching every possible room, yet hadn’t caught another glimpse of the enigmatic YC. Although her repeated failures had left her disheartened, she refused to give up. She kept reminding herself to persevere, just like YC.
Today was no different—still no sign of him. She sighed, deciding instead to check in on her cousin, Lily, who would likely be in the Basic Training Zone.
Lily was the daughter of Sarah’s aunt and had always been close to her. Recently, Lily had failed a few mech piloting exams, prompting her mother to reach out to Victor, Sarah's father, for guidance. Since Victor was often busy, most of the responsibility had fallen to Sarah.
When Sarah arrived, she found the Basic Training Zone nearly deserted. The fundamental exercises here weren’t highly valued; most trainees had already learned them as children. She quickly located Lily’s training room and entered.
Inside was a large open space, littered with obstacles. Lily was awkwardly navigating through them, her movements slow and labored.
Sarah watched without interrupting, pleased to see her cousin putting in the effort. Then, her attention was drawn to a swift black figure moving gracefully among the obstacles. Whoever it was, their skill level seemed beyond what basic training required. Curious, she peered closer.
Suddenly, Sarah froze, her pulse quickening as recognition hit her—YC! There was no mistake; it was him! The slight damage on the left shoulder and scrape on the left side of the black mech confirmed it. Could it be that all her persistence had finally paid off?
Meanwhile, Ash scrutinized his Blackbird's performance stats with a slight frown. He was close to hitting Rune’s standards, but there was always something holding him back, just a fraction he couldn’t overcome despite countless attempts.
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“Given your comprehension and foundation, you shouldn’t have much difficulty with these basics,” Rune had once said. “But if that’s the extent of your ambition, you’ll never be able to pilot me.”
“Most people overlook these fundamentals, and they are gravely mistaken!” Rune’s words echoed with an intensity that had once stirred something deep within Ash.
“I’ve calculated that 99.328% of advanced maneuvers stem from these so-called basic moves. The fundamentals are the essence of every skill a pilot needs!”
Ash pondered this as Rune handed him a detailed set of parameters. “Here’s a training regimen tailored to your Blackbird’s specifications. Follow it closely.”
Rune’s electronic eye glowed with renewed intensity. “Ash, remember: never believe in the concept of limits.”
Ash was grateful for Rune's guidance. After years of struggling to survive on Garbage Planet 12, he embraced anything that could improve his skills. But he underestimated Rune’s rigorous standards; each requirement tested Blackbird’s performance limits. After countless hours of exhausting effort, Ash finally managed to complete one of the parameters. The relief and joy nearly brought him to tears.
“Well done,” Rune remarked, a hint of satisfaction in his voice. “But your pace must improve. We’ll implement an incentive system. If you fail to complete one task a week, your diet will be restricted to organic sludge for the following week.”
Ash looked at Rune’s ominous grin in resignation. With Winnie out of commission, he had no choice but to rely on Rune for food. And to avoid the miserable sludge, Ash pushed himself harder.
Today was the final day of the week. If he failed to meet his goal, the prospect of a week on that thin, revolting sludge awaited. Why was he falling short? Rune wouldn’t set a goal beyond Blackbird’s capabilities.
Ash wrestled with his thoughts, trying to uncover the missing element.
In training, Lily noticed her cousin on the observation deck and attempted to approach, piloting her Blackbird mech clumsily. But her inexperience showed, and she accidentally struck a metal beam, letting out a panicked yelp that echoed through the room.
The sound snapped Sarah out of her YC reverie. She looked up to see Lily’s Blackbird spiraling down from midair. Sarah tensed, fearing the impact might traumatize her cousin, who was already timid and physically fragile. Quickly summoning her Phoenix-II, Sarah dashed forward, but the thick clusters of obstacles slowed her down.
Just then, the sound also caught Ash’s attention. Spotting a Blackbird in freefall, he moved instinctively. Memories of his chaotic survival grounds on Garbage Planet 12 surged up, and his hard-earned skills surfaced. Calmly, he maneuvered with a newfound ease through the obstacles, flowing seamlessly among them.
Moments before the Blackbird hit the ground, Ash’s mech intercepted it, gently reducing its speed as they glided to a steady halt.
“All right, you’re safe,” Ash said, placing the other Blackbird on the ground.
Two seconds later, a Phoenix-II mech arrived. Observing Sarah’s warm greeting to the other pilot, Ash guessed she must be a friend. With a faint pang of envy, he glanced at the Phoenix-II, recognizing it from their previous encounter. Noticing Sarah’s gaze, he gave a respectful nod.
Then his eyes wandered to the screen, where his performance statistics lay waiting. And then, Ash stopped, transfixed.