Despite the sheer size of the complex, it did not take long for them to reach the hangar they were searching for. Though Noah had to admit one thing, the fact that he was walking very, very fast as well as ignoring just about everything that he stumbled upon along the way played a major role in finding the hangar so fast.
He knew that he looked more like an addict in search of his next dopamine rush but what could he say? Mechas were practically his life, nothing more, nothing less.
“Hello.”
An anthropomorphic bear holding a pad and wearing construction worker clothes was waiting for them at the hangar. The bear had lost one of his eyes as a nasty scar went down nearly half of his face's right hand side. He was looking down at them with quite a menacing expression… or at least Noah thought it to be menacing at a glance. Deciphering expressions was not an easy task and even less so when the one in question was a whole ass bear walking on two feet.
“The boss is waiting for you, guys.”
The bear grunted, rather growled out as he called to them and entered the hangar while deactivating the security measures.
“Well, it seems like you aren’t much appreciated here.” Noah gave a knowing look toward Crow who simply shrugged its wings in response. Watching a Crow somehow formulate a shrug, as if it were a human, was rather… disturbing, to say the least.
[Tin’s subordinates do not like me. They are mostly strays or people who fled from other planets to enter Oz. Their existence is a potential danger and I refused to accept more of them as long as they did not follow the proper procedure.]
It was nearly impossible for a smuggling ship to enter Oz without Crow's knowledge and there were many times, far too many to even count, where he made the decision to simply blow up the ship in outer space rather than letting them enter the orbit. These ships brought with them potential dangers and uncontrollable variables that could serve to cause chaos in Oz, and in extension, his perfect control and he was having none of that.
[Tin appealed; Dorothy approved, Lion did not vote, so I lost the democratic vote. Now Tin is in charge of foreign affairs and he generally hires those people to work for him if they have the skills. Only after an extensive background check done by me, of course.]
“Boss is a good man. Thanks to him we have honest jobs, we eat well, and we live in security.”
The gruff bear talked without turning toward them. Clearly, its senses were quite sharp and the bear had no problem in listening in on their conversation no matter how softly they spoke.
[Kindness and emotion do not help in running a kingdom and in terms of efficiency, Tin would reach a higher completion rate if he stopped using flesh and blood creatures as workers.]
“You mean efficient in the same way the boss despises your fashion sense?” There was clear mockery in the walking and talking bear’s voice but there was nothing much Crow could say in response or retort his statement.
[…]
If Lion’s ideas were rejected by Tin because they were sometimes too ugly, Crow got rejected because he was too monotonous. This was a rather prominent weakness in his actions and thought circuits. Even though Crow was infinitely close to a living being he ultimately was still an Artificial Intelligence.
Unlike Tin,
“Heh, you are fun. It’s rare to see this guy get shut down like this. Name is Noah, what about you?”
The bear turned and eyed Noah up and down with its one functional eye before bringing his paw forward, “In this part, they simply call me Old Bear. The boss likes you, sorry for the rude behavior earlier. We had more than a few all-nighters these last few days because of you and trust me it takes a toll on the psyche.”
Noah smiled as they high-fived. Handshake would have been quite difficult otherwise after all.
“Hehe, I would like to say I am sorry as well… but since it seems like I will get my Frame sooner, I guess I should say Thanks instead then.”
“You’re damn right, you should.”
The two shared a laugh and started exchanging some small talk as they advanced deeper into the hangar. Meanwhile, Crow simply observed the man and bear converse in silence, as it usually did.
Sometimes the sentient AI wondered if its hypothesis about Noah suffering from multiple personality disorder was correct or if he was simply a great social butterfly. So much so that he even conversed with himself as he did with others.
He placed this hypothesis in his near-infinite memory drives and increased the possibility of this hypothesis by some notches.
———
“Noah! Crow, you are finally here! Come and see this little baby we made for you!”
When they finally reached the innermost section of the hangar after passing through 5 security checks no less, they finally found Tin busy looking down at his notes before he noticed them.
There was an entire team composed of animals like Old Bear surrounding him. From cats to goats, rats and even bunnies. There were also a few androids walking around and some humanoid people who had fish scales and gills on their necks.
Fish people?
This was quite a diverse set of crew if he had ever seen one. However, Noah did not have the current mindset to care for this… rather interesting bunch at the moment, only giving them a cursory look. All his focus now lay on the massive looming giant covered by an equally colossal sheet.
“Is this it?”
Tin was not offended by Noah’s reaction. In fact, it was quite thrilling. After all, while this was a standard model they used as the base, he also worked quite hard in modifying it to a higher level.
There are few things more worthwhile for a craftsman than to see the expression of anticipation on the faces of his clients.
“Lower it now.”
He snapped his fingers and those working on the upper floor pushed down the sheets, slowly revealing the colossal figure behind it.
[Show off.]
Crow clicked his tongue but everyone just ignored the sentient AI’s antics.
If Noah could measure his heart rate at the moment, he would realize that it was off the charts. Slowly, ever so slowly, his anticipation reached such a level that the slow fall of the sheet was almost torturous to him right about now.
Thankfully, he did not have to wait for long and the giant of steel behemoth was revealed, standing tall with a menacing structure and proud gait.
The genuine version of this novel can be found on another site. Support the author by reading it there.
“I present to you Shadowblade MK-I from the Vanguard Shadowblade series.”
“Whooa…”
Noah was rendered speechless as he looked at the mecha, his mecha. He knew it was a Knightframe but he could only think of it as mecha.
Despite his anticipation, he had been ready for disappointment and while what he was seeing did not match up to his expectations… it was still pretty fucking epic.
Noah observed the Shadowblade MK-I, marveling at its sleek, streamlined design that seemed built solely for speed and agility. The frame's dark, matte-finished armor, with its sharp, angular lines, gave it a menacing, predatory appearance. Its head featured a visor-themed sensor array that shined faint, luminescent blue, lending it an almost sentient gaze.
The torso was compact and muscular, with reinforced plating over the vital areas, for extra protection, giving it a powerful and resilient look. The shoulders, adorned with retractable blade sheaths, hinted at the array of weapons that were concealed underneath their covers. The arms were slender yet paradoxically powerful, ending in clawed, blade-like hands that appeared both precise, sharp, and strong.
The legs, long and sculpted for speed, showcased thruster ports and articulated joints, suggesting the rapid and agile movement capability of the frame— it was built with extreme mobility and maneuverability in mind. Glowing yellow energy lines accented the entire frame, pulsing with internal power, adding to the frame a dynamic, almost living presence.
“Ohohoh. From your expression, I guess I don’t have to ask if you like it or not.”
Tin laughed jovially and took out the specs of the Frame, manifesting them before Noah in a hologram to see.
“Now for the less glamourous but still exciting part, take a look at this.”
Series Type: Vanguard - Shadowblade
New Name: Shadowblade MK-I
Focus: Close combat and Agility
Full Specifications—
Height: 12 meters
Weight: 22 tons
Armor: Lightweight nano-fiber composite with enhanced flexibility
Power Source:
* High-efficiency plasma core, optimized for agility, speed, and maneuverability
Mobility:
* Primary Thrusters: High-output ion thrusters located on the back, calves, and arms, providing exceptional maneuverability
* Secondary Thrusters: Micro-thrusters for precision movements and rapid directional changes, located throughout the body to maximize movement freedom
* Leg Actuators: Reinforced and optimized for acrobatic feats and rapid close-quarters engagement
Sensors:
* Optical Sight: Advanced multi-spectrum optical sensors for superior vision in all environments and terrains
* Auditory Enhancers: High-fidelity audio sensors for detecting enemy movements and environmental changes in real-time
Weapon Systems:
* Primary Weapon: Dual retractable energy blades, shaped like traditional katanas, housed within forearm compartments, capable of slicing through the toughest armor. Has both hilt version and retractable integrated versions.
* Secondary Weapon: Arm-mounted plasma claws, perfect for grappling and delivering powerful melee strikes with deadly lethality
* Supplementary Weapons: Wrist-mounted micro-missiles for short-range engagements and bombardment
Defense Systems:
* Reactive Armor: Small, energy-absorbing plates that disperse kinetic and energy impacts, reducing damage from enemy attacks
* Stealth Field: Short-duration cloaking device for temporary invisibility, ideal for ambushes and evasion
* Energy Shields: Quick-deploy energy barriers for brief periods of enhanced defense
Special Features:
* Enhanced Agility System: Gyroscopic stabilizers and enhanced joint actuators that allow for seamless, fluid movements, and acrobatic combat styles
* Combat AI: Specialized AI focusing on close combat tactics and evasive maneuvers, learning and adapting to enemy patterns in real-time
* Holo-Projection: Generates decoy, realistic images to confuse and mislead opponents during combat
Noah seriously looked at the information with full focus. Knowing your machine was always the first step of piloting a mecha around Earth and while he certainly couldn’t have an understanding as deep as the mechanics themselves, some basic understanding of the inner workings was still necessary to fully harness the Frame.
“So, what do you say? Ready to test this beautiful beast?”
Noah gave perhaps what could be considered his most sincere smile in a long while, “I thought that you would never ask.”
Noah quite literally had to wipe his lips just to make sure he wasn’t drooling as he observed the Shadowblade’s side profile with a fervent gaze.
The elevator stopped right around its head region and he immediately stepped on the ramp that extended out of the head. With each step, his giddiness reached a new high as he got closer and closer to the new frame.
From up close, he could see that the face lacked some definition that could distinguish it from the average frames but it was not a serious flaw by any means.
“So now what?” He asked Tin who was looking at him with an amused smile from the side.
“Well, ideally you should be wearing your armor and a special uniform to integrate yourself with the frame’s interface, but since it’s just a test run, there is no need.”
Tin’s notepad manifested, hovering before his eyes. After he inputted a series of buttons on the interface, an opening appeared on the back of the head. Soon, a long white tube was ejected from the base of the Frame's neck.
“This seems quite different from the mecha of the pirates I fought.”
Tin couldn't stop himself from scoffing, “Don’t compare us to them, please. Even though this is a standard model, it’s a rather recent one, unlike the ones those pirates were able to barely scavenge from who knows where.”
Tin gestured toward the chest of the Shadowblade, “Old models have the cockpit in this place. Which is rather restrictive when it comes to security and fast escape measures. It’s also a rather obvious target for your opponent. The Entry plug system is slightly different. It’s also directly connected to all of the systems of the Frame. Go on. It’s time to pilot this baby. You read the manuals, right?”
“Of course.” Noah nodded absentmindedly as he jumped and reached the Entry Plug before promptly entering it at a relatively fast pace.
“Well… I guess that’s one way of doing things.” Tin chuckled and gave the signal to his staff.
“Start all the checks! I swear if there is even one error I am going to dock everyone's pay!”
He shouted, forgoing his gentlemanly mannerism. After all, the first flight of a new frame was a very serious matter. It was the moment when the most accidents occurred in an average frame's lifespan.
Tin would have rather had a non-sentient robot take the first test drive for safety measures, however, he also understood that there were some pilots who became angered when they did not get to take their mecha out for its very first flight.
***
The interior of the Entry Plug exuded a sense of sterile precision and cutting-edge technology. The cylindrical space was compact yet efficiently organized, designed with the pilot's needs and safety in mind.
The walls of the Entry Plug were lined with an array of screens, control panels, and holographic displays. Each screen showed various diagnostics, status updates, and real-time data feeds from the Shadowblade. The soft, ambient glow of the screens cast an eerie, blue-green light across the interior, highlighting the intricate network of cables and conduits that ran along the walls, pulsing faintly with energy.
At the center of the tunneling Entry Plug was the pilot's seat and Noah landed directly in it.
Immediately, he could see that the seat was equipped with a complex harness system, designed to secure the pilot firmly in place. Armrests extended from the sides of the seat, each embedded with a multitude of buttons, switches, and touch-sensitive panels, allowing the pilot to control the Frame with pinpoint precision.
While Noah had not received training for the Frames of this era, he did read the manual quite thoroughly to note down all the important bits of information. Naturally, he understood the functions of the embedded buttons at a glance. In essence, their functions were not so different from what he was accustomed to while piloting his mecha, Ouroboros.
Still, Noah ignored all those things and looked at the helmet dangling up in the air.
This was what he wanted to test the most out of everything the frame had to offer— A Pseudo Neurolink.
This device was crucial for linking the pilot's neural impulses directly with the Knightframe, creating a seamless connection between the pilot and his ride. At least this was what the different manuals said. Noah was quite hesitant to believe that this could bring anything close to a full Neurolink.
Placing the helmet on his head, securing it tightly using the straps and connectors, Noah let out a sigh and let himself relax as he caught the controller.
“Connecting the Interface.” A ticklish sensation was felt as the Neurolink started the connection.
[Activation]
[Authentication Check: Success]
[Commencing system check]
[No abnormalities in the nerve connection.]
[Connection to External equipment.]
[Activating environmental sensors]
His surroundings seemed to be finally coming to life as a myriad of colors flashed before his eyes until finally… Shadowblade’s numerous cameras blared to life and connected to his Pseudo Neurolink, showing him the scenery outside the Frame.
The image quality was excellent, to say the least, and he was able to maneuver the cameras – zoom-in, zoom out, focus on distinct objects, and change the camera angles, and position – with just the click of a button. It was as easy as it could get.
“Hum…”
[Energy Reserves: 80%]
[System Check: Complete]
[Vanguard – Shadowblade activation complete.]
Even though he had received the system check completion message, Noah waited patiently for a few seconds, silently waiting for the final piece…
[Noah. This is Tin, you can start now. Firstly, move the different limbs one after another… Noah?]
“Oh… Understood. Sorry, I was just… spacing out.”
He answered a beat late and gave an awkward smile. He had been unconsciously waiting for the activation of the Deep Dive system but he realized sadly that this system was unavailable on this frame.
“Damn…”
The deep dive system was, perhaps, the jewel of the Neurolink. A complete fusion between human and machine. A sensation like no other as he became something more and was able to share all the senses of his companion.
But this?
Noah groaned as tension felt like a comet when he realized that he was unable to get back the sensation he cherished the most.
This frame was no companion. It was nothing but a machine.
[Noah?]
“Sorry. Starting the tests. I will now move the right arm.”
Tin became a little worried as he could feel that Noah was still as excited as when he started but he chalked it up to nervousness and decided to give the okay for the start of the test.
***
The numerous tests lasted for more than five hours. Five hours during which Noah was made to test more than a hundred different movements and even had to fight a few AI-controlled machines just so he could get a better feel of the machine and its limits.
While Noah’s excitement never reached its previous peak, he was still smiling by the end of the day. He was more than a bit satisfied with the new machine he was now able to pilot.
The Pseudo Neurolink was responsive enough to allow for some risqué movements but Noah had been warned innumerable times when he tried to perform some operations that were simply impossible for the Frames to perform with the Pseudo Neurolink.
The input lag between his thoughts and the system was far too long for his comfort, and it served as one of the key factors of his frustration.
Still, it went without saying that the Shadowblade was an incredible machine. One he would be able to use for some time until he was able to create his true companion.
Outside of this, and as much as this fact hurt his ego, Noah had to begrudgingly admit that Shadowblade was superior to Ouroboros in simply every way.
There was nothing much he could do about this sad fact but he was determined to create a new and stronger Ouroboros in the future. One that will fall behind no other.
The best and perhaps most significant addition was the application of Dark Matter.
The frame as a standard one was not equipped with a specific interface to enhance a distinct power system like Omid’s personal frame, The Scorched, for example. Yet, it was still able to absorb his energy to empower the energy shields as well as a few weapons.
Had the pirates he killed before facing Omid been able to activate those shields, he would have had a much harder time defeating them.
However, that was the past.
He had won, he had survived, and he was taking a new step toward becoming stronger.
Now that he had his Mecha ready— it was time to finally leave Oz.