You said mechs were going to fight monsters, but instead you're destroying stars with your bare

Chapter 138 The Soul of Steel
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Feasibility Report on Establishing a Strategic Fortress City for the Decisive Battle Against the Abyss in the Hakone Region

Proposer: Anonymous
Abstract: This report aims to demonstrate the strategic necessity and technical feasibility of establishing an ultimate fortress city in the Hakone region of Fusang, integrating "ultra-deep underground bunkers," "multi-layered movable armored cities," and "strategic weapon systems for decisive battles against the abyss." This plan not only aims to provide absolute physical defense but also strives to fundamentally deconstruct and replace the militaristic meme virus left over from the old Fusang Empire by constructing a new and positive cultural totem, thus building a dual barrier of spirit and material for the future of Fusang and even all of humanity.

I. Strategic Site Selection Analysis: Hakone, a City of Natural Barriers

The Hakone region, situated in the Fuji volcanic belt, is surrounded by mountains, making it easily defensible and geographically located at the geometric center of the Fuso archipelago. Its unique crater-like topography provides a natural geographical advantage for constructing ultra-deep underground facilities (codename: Geof-ront)...

II. Core Urban Design Concept: "Fortress" is "Homeland"

Movable Armored City: The city's core will be built on a massive hydraulic suspension system, with all buildings designed in a modular fashion. In the event of a Level 1 alert, the entire city can be sunk 800 meters underground into the Geof-ront within 90 seconds, with the surface covered by 200 meters of superalloy armor plates.

Geofront, an underground ecosystem: The underground city will simulate the surface ecosystem, including a complete system of residences, production facilities, education, and healthcare, ensuring that residents' lives are not affected during a long-term lockdown...

III. Strategic Decisive Battle Weapon Systems for the Abyss
Rapid Deployment System for Mechs: Constructing an electromagnetic catapult track with a total length of over 30 kilometers underground in the city, mechs can be launched directly from underground hangars to any designated combat area on the surface, reducing reaction time to less than 30 seconds.

The Positron Rifle Project: To establish a giant capacitor array in the Lake Ashi area, which can mobilize all the electricity of the Fusō Islands in wartime to power ultra-long-range positron sniper rifles, enabling precise strikes against targets outside the atmosphere.

Final Defense System – N-mines: Deploying non-nuclear high-yield strategic weapons on the outskirts of cities as the last line of defense…

IV. Core Strategic Objective: To counter the "curse" with "subcultural myths of the new century"—Meme Wars Theory

The essence of the "filthy" virus is not in the biological realm, but rather in the realm of meme contamination. It parasitizes the remnants of the militarism of the old Japanese Empire, feeding on concepts such as "Emperor," "Divine Kingdom," and "Gyokusai" (a Japanese term for death). Physical eradication cannot eradicate its spiritual source of infection.

To break this curse, a new god must be established.

The core of this proposal is to construct a brand-new cultural totem full of hope and heroism by using the mecha myths of "Giant Warriors" and "Saviors," which are shared subcultural memories of the global younger generation, and to completely deconstruct the original meme concept.

Transforming this fortified city into a real-life "anime mecca," replacing outdated militaristic ideology with the belief of "piloting mechs to protect our homeland." This is not merely a physical reconstruction, but a "cultural vaccine" inoculation program targeting outdated ideas...
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The entire command center was so quiet you could hear a pin drop.

The bigwigs present exchanged bewildered glances, their expressions incredibly varied.

"Who...who wrote this? Nonsense! Utter nonsense!" A conservative old leader was so angry that his hands trembled. "Turning a decisive battleground concerning the fate of humanity into...an anime city? Ridiculous! Laughable!"

However, some of the young staff officers and technical experts had a strange glint in their eyes.

Some people even made their stance clear.

He slapped his thigh and stood up excitedly.

"This is simply a brilliant idea!"

His voice trembled slightly with excitement: "Meme wars... cultural vaccines... this approach is absolutely correct! We have been struggling with how to eradicate the deep-rooted militaristic ideology of Japan, and this report has given us a completely new and radical solution!"

"We can even brand this city by creating a new myth! Through multimedia forms such as animation, games, and movies, we can build it into a world-class cultural IP, making 'piloting mechs to protect humanity's common home' the coolest and most desired dream for young people."

"We can also host various events to make this city a city of hope and a city of the future that young people around the world aspire to."

"With cultural creativity, cutting-edge technology, and green energy as pillar industries, we will create enormous economic benefits and employment opportunities! Let the people of Blue Star truly feel that peaceful development and embracing the world can bring a better life than clinging to an isolated island and reviving the old militaristic dream!"

As soon as he finished speaking, the report's attachments were opened.

It was a meticulously edited concept promotional video, brimming with passion and enthusiasm.

Accompanied by rousing symphonic music, futuristic mechs are launched from underground, engaging in a fierce battle with monstrous abyssal monsters, accompanied by subtitles that are both melodramatic and incredibly exciting, such as "Humanity's anthem is an anthem of courage" and "There is no escape."

All of this made the expressions on the faces of the leaders present even more interesting.

This proposal, which should have been top secret, was somehow "leaked" to forums and chat groups among mech pilots and even the general public.

In an instant, a single stone stirred up a thousand waves!

"Holy crap! Who wrote this report? This is going to cause a stir!"

"So, what's this about, the Human Instrumentality Project?"

"Do you think I haven't seen *Neon Genesis Evangelion*?!"

"I hugged this cartoon when I was a child."

"I don't understand, but I was deeply shocked."

"Who knows about this kind of thing?"

"Anyway, the adults up there won't understand."

"High energy ahead, non-combatants please evacuate immediately!"

"I don't care, I'm going to pilot Unit-01!"

"Young man, I see you possess dual spiritual roots in earth and wood. With this opportune time for infrastructure development, I have a mecha I can gift to you."

Meanwhile, a proposal within this plan has sparked widespread discussion across the entire planet…
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We stand on an isolated island in the universe.

This blue planet, like a steel-shelled egg suspended in boundless darkness, harbors a "soul" called life. We pride ourselves on being the most intelligent of all beings, yet beneath our hard, fateful shell lies a restlessness and madness capable of self-destruction.

This is not alarmist.

Simply turn your gaze to the Fusang Islands, and the civilization it has nurtured is the most extreme and concentrated portrayal of this "steel-shelled egg".

An invisible yet indestructible steel shell—forged by its unique geography, culture, and history—envelops this nation.

This outer shell was once their barrier, the crucible from which their civilization evolved.

However, when the internal growth force reached a critical point, the steel shell failed to sublimate and instead became an eternal shackle that imprisoned itself.

Unable to break through external barriers to gain new life, and unable to internally digest that desire, this force transforms into a repressive, distorted, and even morbid undercurrent.

The so-called "mono no aware" is, at its deepest core, a lament for this fate—a lament for the self that is destined to never break free and can only foresee its withering before birth.

When the external disguise is stripped away, the hidden twistedness and madness will erupt like a volcano, turning into flames that destroy themselves and others.

We must never forget, and we should never forgive, the evil that has bred from this land!
And now...

Everything is settled.

We swept this land clean, temporarily extinguishing this twisted, evil fire.

We have finally set foot on this island nation, where we can thoroughly settle the blood debts committed by Japan and console the tens of millions of innocent compatriots who died unjustly.

Calmly appreciate their culture, and reflect on the current situation.

Now, let's examine ourselves from a planetary perspective...

A chilling reality then clearly emerges.

All of humanity is now inside a giant “steel-shelled egg”.

We stand together on this lonely island floating in the deep sea of ​​the universe, beneath our feet are active "geological plates" composed of nations, races, and beliefs, constantly rubbing and colliding, brewing an earthquake powerful enough to tear civilization apart.

Above us, the unknown threat known as the "Abyss" has become a Damocles' sword hanging high, ready to transform into a tsunami that sweeps everything away and devours the blue planet at any moment.

Under such extreme external pressure, where will human civilization go?

Is it a repeat of the same mistakes, where suspicion and conquest build the Tower of Babel, isolating each other, turning internal pressure into inward or outward madness, and ultimately perishing together in the flames of self-destruction?

No! We must, and inevitably will, find a completely new path.

We choose to turn our attention back to Japan.

This land, once deeply eroded by militaristic ideology, and this nation, accustomed to "shattering into glory" under oppression, will become the most severe, and therefore the most perfect, stress test ground for this great rehearsal.

Here, we will build a "fortress city" that transcends physical boundaries. It is not only a fortress to resist the external "abyss" but also a furnace to melt the internal "steel shell".

This is not a simple redemption, nor is it cheap healing.

This is a necessary self-refinement for the survival of all humankind.

If we can nurture the flower of hope on this land with the spiritual nourishment of "a community with a shared future for mankind".

If we can fully embrace the vast universe and usher in a "new life".

Therefore, we will proclaim this to all mankind—

No matter how deep the abyss of despair a civilization may face, it can choose not to degenerate.

When that future fortress city stands amidst the mountains of Hakone, when its lights pierce the long night, that light will illuminate not only the future of Japan.

It will become a guiding light for all human civilization in its darkest hour, a blueprint that has withstood the most rigorous tests.

It will proclaim to all future eras—

Even if we are born on an isolated island, we can choose to unite into a continent.

When the doomsday alarm sounds around the world, humanity will no longer be lost and be at odds with one another in fear.

Because we will remember this rehearsal, remember this lighthouse, and remember that we have long since mastered the method of hatching.

This is the most profound mission of our time.

This is the most sublime hymn to human civilization.

This is the real...

The Soul of Steel!
(End of this chapter)