The dusty, noisy battlefield was alive with the agile movements of Pilots weaving through the chaos.
*Boom!*
A thunderous roar echoed from the sky, instantly drawing Bai Zhiyuan's gaze to a distant flash of light on the horizon.
Bipedal mechs deployed from orbit onto the battlefield, unleashing a tempest of fire and steel.
The coordination between Pilots and Titans was seamless.
As the cockpit of the bipedal mech opened, the Pilot, agile as a monkey, slid inside.
It was just like how she, in reality, had managed to enter the control room with the assistance of the Bt-7274 access bay.
*Clank—*
*Crackle—*
The difference was that the Titans in the VR game were far more agile than their real-world counterparts, and the texture of their steel and metal was something high-molecular-weight materials simply couldn't replicate.
So cool!
This was a true steel beast!
Just hearing the sound of the machinery in operation made Bai Zhiyuan's heart pound.
However,
the impact of the steel beast on her was far from over. Just as Bai Zhiyuan was marveling at the Titan's imposing exterior,
projectiles rained down on the Titan from five or six directions on the battlefield. Bai Zhiyuan instinctively closed her eyes, lamenting that such a magnificent machine would be scrapped in the next moment...
*Clang—*
*Hum—~*
Then, the Titan's massive steel right arm extended backward, its five fingers curling slightly as a pale blue energy coalesced at its fingertips.
With a powerful swing, the energy instantly expanded into a fan-shaped energy shield that enveloped its body, absorbing all incoming attacks from every direction.
And that wasn't all.
As the energy burst forth, all the stray projectiles returned along their original trajectories.
*Rumble!!*
The sound of explosions filled the entire battlefield. Through the billowing smoke, the Titan's towering image became indelibly etched in Bai Zhiyuan's mind.
So powerful!
This level of combat was something only a nimble and powerful steel beast like a Titan could handle.
Any ordinary person or a clunkier machine would consider themselves lucky to escape without damage, let alone whether they could break out of the encirclement of fire.
Bai Zhiyuan was stunned by the formidable Titans on the battlefield, especially experiencing these battles as if she were there. The sensation...
was far beyond watching a visually stimulating blockbuster from in front of a screen.
Even though her consciousness hadn't fully synced with a Pilot yet, the heat waves from the battlefield still impacted the deepest parts of her mind, making her feel as though she were flying.
[After linking with a Titan, a Pilot will only be defeated by a vast army... or by other Pilots...]
As her consciousness soared, the narration appeared at the opportune moment.
[Ever since I was sensible, the Frontier has been my only home... IMC has been forcibly taking our resources for years... polluting and destroying our planet...]
IMC?
They didn't sound like good people.
Bai Zhiyuan quickly straightened her expression, ready to dive into the world-building. For someone like her who enjoyed both the plot and the experience, this was paramount.
[They slaughter anyone who resists!]
Bai Zhiyuan could even detect a hint of anger in the narration. Clearly, the person named Cooper in the narration harbored deep hatred for the IMC.
[Although we've won several consecutive battles on Ceres recently, we're still a long way from defeating IMC.]
Ceres...
The planet where the story was set was far from Terra, possibly not even in the Milky Way anymore.
Bai Zhiyuan thought blankly.
[Now... I'm a Rifleman in the Militia, fighting for the freedom of the Frontier. Becoming a Pilot is still a distant dream...]
Oh, I see.
This aspiring Pilot named Cooper is likely the character the player will embody.
As expected of an old gamer familiar with multiple LucasArts-style themed games, Bai Zhiyuan instantly grasped Cooper's identity as the narrator.
[But when I become a Pilot... I hope to be worthy of the title.]
As the voice faded, the screen froze on the image of two Titans locked in a duel.
Clearly,
in the future, players would not only have to face enemies attacking from all directions but also Titans from the IMC.
Battles between Titans... Recalling that blood-pumping scene, Bai Zhiyuan's consciousness trembled slightly. She eagerly anticipated the day.
With a sense of trepidation, Bai Zhiyuan's consciousness descended, officially entering the game segment—[The Pilot Trial].
......
Meanwhile, on the other side, Mo Zhi was also analyzing the easter egg segment of the game's opening.
"That Titan wielding a single sword looks pretty cool. Are they the good guys, or are they the villains?"
"Jack Cooper? Is that the rookie Pilot we're going to play as?"
"Honestly, bros, I'm getting impatient. Can we just start fighting already!"
It wasn't until the prompt for [The Pilot Trial] appeared that Mo Zhi finally mused, "I don't know how long you guys watched, but I felt like I experienced a blockbuster movie."
"Rifleman Cooper, let's go."
After a brief period of blackness, Mo Zhi's vision was once again met with the sight of a refined middle-aged man. His hair was streaked with gray, and he wore excellent gear.
What drew particular attention was a prominent scar on his face, resembling a burn mark.
Wait?
"This... how does this person look so much like the protagonist in the promotional video?"
Mo Zhi exclaimed, "Although the male lead in the promo video is much younger than Captain Lastimosa here, you can see the traces of his past on his face at a glance."
"More scars, but also the steadiness of a mature man."
Lastimosa: "Damn it, the simulation pods on the ship must have reset. We need to re-calibrate."
Emmm...
Mo Zhi rolled her eyes. My dear Captain, couldn't you wait until after I've finished my praise before revealing your true nature?
'Hahaha, I didn't expect to be proven wrong so quickly.'
'No kidding, steadiness and swearing aren't mutually exclusive.'
'This graphics quality... even at the lowest 2K setting, it's so clear. What would it be like if we were in VR...'
'Stop talking, I'm already crying with envy!'
......
The viewers burst into laughter. Captain Lastimosa showed no mercy to Mo Zhi.
*Beep beep!*
*Whirr click click!!*
The trainee named Cooper fumbled with the equipment in front of him and then, to Mo Zhi's dumbfounded gaze, entered the trial arena.
It was called a trial arena, but before entering, there was a lighting simulation test similar to a driver's license exam.
Inside a confined, dark, and small space, Mo Zhi's breathing became slightly rapid. She didn't quite like this environment.
"Do you think this will do, Cooper?"
Fortunately, at this crucial moment, Captain Lastimosa's voice rang out, "Yes, let's go."
"Let's see how much you remember."
"Setting neural link."
"It's similar to linking with a Titan, but different."
"To learn new skills, one needs the right mindset."
Captain Lastimosa patiently and gently imparted his experience and techniques to Cooper, the new Pilot. Mo Zhi listened intently, completely focused.
*Ding...*
*Ding ding ding...*
A series of small, ghostly green lights illuminated, repeatedly scanning Cooper, who sat within the instrument.
With a sudden 'whoosh,'
another anomaly occurred!
......
(Around ten o'clock yesterday, I started burning up, accompanied by a headache, swollen eyeballs, and toothache. I felt like I was about to die. Strangely, after pushing through and sleeping, I woke up this morning with the fever gone. Except for feeling a bit weak, I have no other discomforts.)
(I'll see how I feel later and try to churn out another chapter.)