CHAPTER 2529: ABSURD MATCH-UP

Rui could feel the negativity that many of the Martial Artists had clearly developed towards MECHAS.

He didn't necessarily blame them, but he certainly didn't share their feelings on the matter.

He had an entirely neutral response of curiosity, interest, and fascination.

Above all, he was impressed at the solutions that the Esoterist had come up with in order to squeeze every ounce of human potential from the pilot. This was obviously an attempt to ensure that there was no reason the MECHA could not be a viable Martial Path.

It was a revolutionary innovation if he had succeeded. Rui was most certainly grateful and highly respectful of the Esoterist for creating such a remarkable weapon from his own innate ingenuity.

However, based on everything that was said about MECHAS, Rui knew that this weapon was not for him.

Even as he grew incredibly fascinated by the Esoterist's innovation to solve the divergence between human potential and esoteric technological potential, he grew increasingly certain that he would never ever pilot a MECHA.

The reason was rather simple.

It was also the same reason he had not even considered mastering a weapon.

Weapon-users possessed inherent advantages over non-weapon users.

However, there was a major price that came with that power.

The loss of flexibility and versatility.

One could not grapple while holding a spear.

Nor could one strike normally while holding the spear.

There were many, many fields that instantly became extremely difficult, if not entirely impossible, the moment a weapon was held.

Weapons were inherently specialist, to varying degrees.

They were rigid, static, and inflexible in general.

It was not compatible with his philosophy of Water and Adaptive Evolution.

MECHAS seemed to be even more extreme in specialization.

In fact, from what Rui could see, MECHAS demanded single-minded and undivided dedication to their mastery. In other words, anybody who specialized in MECHAS most likely

could not afford to focus on any other field in their entire lives.

That was so beyond merely a deal-breaker that it wasn't even funny.

And despite his resolution, he wasn't inclined to fear or dislike MECHAS as weapons.

In fact, he respected their potential.

It became increasingly clear that the Esoterist had very much succeeded in harnessing the full potential of the human being while also harnessing the best of what esoteric technology had to offer.

That was without a doubt a devastatingly powerful combination. Rui suspected that any Martial Artist who specialized in MECHAS would be beyond remarkable. He speculated that these Martial Artists would become the most powerful Martial Artists in the history of humankind.

Of course, this was just one possibility.

Another possibility was that the disadvantages and shortcomings of MECHAS would outweigh their purported advantages and this weapon would be abandoned as obsolete.

Rui narrowed his eyes at the thought.

This possibility was extremely unlikely simply by virtue of the fact that it was none other than the Esoterist who had come up with this innovation. It was improbable that this man would allow for his greatest invention to crash and burn.

Over the span of this presentation, he had proven his capacity to innovate revolutionary solutions. He alone meant that MECHAS were there to stay.

Unfortunately, the most important variable that Rui needed to predict the success of MECHAS was something he had no way of estimating.

"Is there actual proof that MECHAS can serve as viable Martial Paths?"

This was the most important question that was clearly on everyone's mind.

Theoretical speculation and conjecture was all well and good, but until there was hard proof, it was not possible to say for certain.

Thankfully, the Esoterist was very much cognizant of this.

"As many of you have surely surmised," he continued, "MECHAS are an innovation that long precedes the Beast Incursion, I have been working on them for a little under a decade, actually. I truly did not anticipate that I would reveal them to the world this early, but alas, nobody could have foreseen that human civilization would suffer such an apocalyptic calamity."

He smiled. "In that time I have had plenty of opportunity to conduct countless long-term randomized control trials and experiments to verify whether or not MECHAS are actually viable Martial Paths or not. As for whether I have succeeded or not..."

He smirked mischievously. "It is my pleasure to announce to all of you the Apprentice MECHA corps of the Esocline Federation!"

The screen behind lit up with an image of a hundred MECHAS bearing the insignia of the Esocline Federation. Live footage of the pilots within each MECHA was also streamed side- by-side. The Martial Artists widened their eyes with shock as they could sense the faint but unmistakable Apprentice-level aura emerging from each pilot!

"This...!"

"There is no doubt about it!"

"To think he has not only succeeded but has also begun implementing it!"

The Esoterist grinned as he beheld the turmoil that erupted in the Human Summit as the sheer gravity of the revolutionary innovation of MECHAS shook all of them where they sat. It was truly difficult for all of them to parse that not only had someone developed a weapon system that could harness human potential and technological potential to the highest order, but he had also successfully proven that MECHA pilots could become MECHA Martial Artists!

Rui's eyes lit up with stunned amazement at this revelation.

His immediate next question was one that all of them shared.Content © .

It was one that the Esoterist himself asked.

"Just how strong are these MECHA Martial Apprentices?" He smiled knowingly. "Well, why don't we put them to the test against other Martial Artists and find out?"

He waved his hand, causing the image on the screen to shift, displaying live footage of a Martial Artist standing opposite a MECHA.

The profiles of the two immediately appeared side by side, offering information on the two

combatants.

The details of the two combatants shook all those who beheld them.

"A Martial Squire against a Martial Apprentice?!"

That was an absurd match-up.

"Correct." The Esoterist laughed. "A MECHA Martial Apprentice will be fighting a Martial

Squire, not a Martial Apprentice! Now you shall see the true power of MECHAS!"

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