Great, we're doomed now!

Elian raised his hand to interrupt him, his voice leaving no room for argument: "I have business to attend to in the core area, you don't need to follow me."

The research director immediately fell silent and stepped aside to make way for Elian, who walked through the foyer without stopping and entered the vast interior space.

This place is the heart of a highly automated factory. Under the towering dome, giant robotic arms slide silently along tracks, scattering sparks of steel as they perform precise welding and assembly.

On the walls on both sides of the workshop, rows of MS skeletons with their main structures completed but not yet armed or coated are neatly hung.

They stand silently on their supports, their cold metal shells reflecting the light from the overhead lights, their uniform form exuding a powerful sense of strength—there is no cockpit!

This is a particularly noteworthy point.

Since the Calamity War, humans have been very strict about the use of AI drones. For any large weapon system, even if artificial intelligence can complete all operations, there will always be a pilot's position. In critical moments, manual operation takes priority over machine operation.

However, these MS omitted the cockpit, using the extra space to load a third main engine.

Elian's gaze swept over the steel giants, his brow furrowing almost imperceptibly, a deep sense of regret crossing his mind:

These are all powerful tools that were secretly manufactured at great expense, and they were supposed to become the force that would turn the tide at the crucial moment. But now, due to the rapid changes in the situation, they may become useless... No, how can we let all of this go to waste?

We must succeed!

Ellian, resolute in his resolve, quickly suppressed these futile emotions and strode towards the deepest part of the factory. There stood a heavy alloy door, isolated from other areas and requiring multiple authentication steps to open; even the person in charge here was not authorized to enter.

Elian stood before the door, underwent complex biometric and password verification, and then adjusted the air pressure... The heavy door slowly slid open, revealing a completely different space behind it.

This is a secluded room with almost no superfluous furnishings. At the center stands a "being" composed of complex mechanical structures, quietly resembling a hill.

Various lines converge along the ground, are analyzed and calculated inside the machine, and finally the desired result is obtained.

It not only simplifies work, but it also has independent research capabilities, and is even faster and more reliable than human scientists!

—Of course, this is clearly not someone you can communicate with.

"~~~"

Seemingly sensing Elian's arrival, an alloy tentacle sprang out from the mechanical hill, its tangled wires ending in a robot's body. As its eyes glowed red, it was supported by the tentacle and brought before Elian.

The robot has a roughly humanoid outline, but it is entirely composed of metal that shimmers with a blue halo, tangled cables, and intricately constructed joints. Its distinct female features can only be discerned from the unique lines and subtle proportions of its torso and limbs.

Of course, this is just a simple design; it doesn't have the concept of gender and is simply a machine that strictly obeys commands.

When Ellian saw the robot-like figure bowing respectfully and bends over, as "docile" as a Japanese waitress in a movie, a sense of confidence immediately rose in his heart.

"A bunch of cowards! They're not worth talking to!"

Just hearing the name Kuze Hidemori terrifies you... So what? Don't forget, even Kuze Hidemori was once beaten to the brink of death by M·A and had to sleep for three centuries!

Therefore, AI is fully capable of killing Kuze Hatsumori!

At most, they can replicate the Demon King's original appearance, but my Elion family's AI has been iterating for a full fifty years!

and--

Who is your master?

[Angel, the AI ​​No. 666, exists for only one purpose: to fulfill the dream of its master, "Elian."]

The fleet commander nodded slightly: "The heads of the family have always firmly grasped the highest authority and would never allow the AI ​​to go out of control. As for himself, he has full confidence!"

"Very good... Now you have a new mission. Are you ready to face off against the legendary big shot?"

Please enter your target.

"Kuseha Mamoru."

[Kuze...Ye Shou...Matching data detected. Initiating the creation of seventeen battle strategies based on the data...Past failures have been taken into consideration—]

This will certainly be useful in this situation.

“Good!” Elian nodded in satisfaction.

Chapter 267: The Shadow of Omnics (4.5K)

Ye Shou's appearance caused a huge uproar in the solar system. Even on Titan, countless people still wanted to see the legendary hero's true face.

—Nobody even cares about the Calamity Pilgrimage anymore; how to get to Titan is the hottest topic right now.

The authorities have tried their best to control and even block many shipping lanes, but there are still "pilgrimage fleets" setting off from Earth, Mars and the Moon, just like an interstellar animal migration, a true steel torrent that no one can stop.

However, allowing the fleet to continue expanding would have unimaginable consequences should an accident occur. Therefore, the Tower of Babel stepped in to devise a "pilgrimage route" and strictly reviewed the number of participants, ultimately limiting it to twenty large transport ships, with nine Gundams and a mothership providing escort.

Meanwhile, Earth and Mars each dispatched warships and envoys to discuss the aftermath of Titan with Ye Shou, expressing their deep respect for the "hero" in their news briefings to all of humanity.

—A storm is brewing.

Ye Shou paid close attention to these matters, knowing that he had become the focus of the entire solar system, and that his every move would be interpreted by the outside world as having some deeper meaning. However, he did not care about this and his attention was still focused on Titan.

In addition to repairing the wounds caused by the riots, new unions should be established to conduct in-depth research on the operation and management of large enterprises and to understand the opinions and needs of local residents and employees.

As for forming the Knights of Askeladd, that's a much easier task compared to what's mentioned above...

Ye Shou felt a little bad about the maid:

I told her I was going to bring her on vacation, but it ended up being just another day of working overtime.

Liuli seemed to have come to terms with it, without any complaints, and continued to diligently lead the clerical staff, helping Ye Shou handle various problems.

She had completely given up on the carefree world of just the two of them, where all they did was whisper sweet nothings to each other.

Lucy wasn't able to relax either, but her task was rather special:

"The data is severely corrupted, but by comparing the different devices—chips, helmet, camera unit—we can still piece together a complete record... Do you want to see it now?"

"of course."

Ye Shou examined the black cuboid in his hand: "One of the seventy-two Demon Gods, an elite pilot of the [Tower of Babel], why would he die silently in a place like this... Aren't you curious?"

-

In a vast, dark void, far from the main shipping lanes, in an asteroid belt that could be described as a junkyard, a hunt is drawing to a close.

Two agile Gundams—Barbatos and Magasiia—like apex predators in nature, each led their own MS squad back to the mothership.

Starting several hours ago, and continuing until just now when they completely annihilated the last wave of space pirates who were putting up a last-ditch resistance, the various damaged machines and parts scattered throughout the asteroid belt still silently testify to the intensity of the battle.

The two Gundams belong to two ancient pilot families who have followed the Legion Lord since the Calamity War. Even in modern times, they have not forgotten their glorious traditions, and the family members still consider it an honor to become the ace of [Babi Yin Si Lun].

Only the most outstanding individuals are qualified to inherit the Gundam frame!

This large-scale battle was merely another continuation of the legend of the Seventy-Two Demon Gods; it was nothing special.

—With this in mind, the two pilots, who have been friends since childhood, decided to press their advantage and wipe out this evil gang completely!

It took them quite some time to track the fleeing pirates down to their lair.

The pirates probably realized they were being followed, but they had no other choice but to obediently lure the Babel Tower's cruiser back.

Because this is space, not on land or in the ocean, human vehicles cannot stay away from supply points for too long!

Unlike regular armies, pirates cannot simply find the nearest satellite to anchor. Instead, they expand outwards from their base, making it easy for them to expose their location if something goes wrong.

...At this moment, what appeared before the Gundam squad was a small, abandoned satellite whose interior had been hollowed out and whose structure had been crudely modified.

Judging from its appearance alone, with countless twisted cannon barrels and detection antennas protruding from its surface, covered with rust and various pieces of broken metal, it resembles a fully functional semi-permanent fortress.

As planned, Barbatos' squad would attack the main entrance from the front, while Magasiia's squad would flank and clear out the outer defenses before joining forces to take down their command center.

Although the pirates put up a fierce resistance, it was ultimately no match for the well-trained regular army. Barbatos charged forward like a demon, each swing of his heavy greatsword carrying devastating force, shattering the hastily assembled defenses.

Magasia, on the other hand, is more like an elegant assassin, using his excellent mobility and accurate long-range shooting to flank and eliminate enemy strongpoints, clearing obstacles for his comrades.

—In fact, both are general-purpose aircraft, but because the pilots of this generation had a close relationship, they complemented each other with complementary enhancements.

Soon, the outer defenses were completely breached, and the two squads successfully rendezvoused inside the fortress, advancing towards the core area. The last resistance force gathered in the hangar/command area. This spacious area contained several specially modified mobile suits, piloted by the pirate leader and so heavily modified that their original appearance was unrecognizable.

Of course, this still can't compete with the Gundam frame, which is constantly being equipped with new gear over time. Barbatos and Magasiia still have an absolute advantage.

However, just when the pirate leaders were defeated one after another and victory seemed to be within reach, a sudden change occurred!

From the innermost corner of the hangar, a relatively "slender" mobile suit, shaped like a swordsman, was activated by the pirate leader and silently rushed into the battle line, instantly killing three wingmen.

"Varied--"

Unlike other pirate mechs, its overall structure is not cluttered; instead, it exudes a cold, harmonious feel. The armor lines are smooth and harmonious, and the joints gleam with an ominous, eerie blue light. The weapons mounted on its arms are firing pins that, when triggered, unleash tremendous force, piercing straight through the cockpit!

Gangnail?

...It might have been an illusion, but the thing felt very familiar to the two Gundam pilots.

"What the hell is that?" a team member exclaimed.

Magasilia's pilot was the first to meet them. He was full of confidence in his own and his machine's capabilities, and his rifle fired in bursts, the armor-piercing high-explosive rounds flying accurately towards the strange machine's vital points.

But what happened next left everyone speechless—

With predictable fluidity, the strange machine evaded all attacks by the slightest margin, maintaining its balance without any disruption, and seamlessly entered its sprint.

Its movement trajectory was completely unconventional, as if it were not bound by inertia. Its instantaneous burst of speed even exceeded the refresh rate of the detector, so much so that the auxiliary aiming system did not have time to adjust!

"what?!"

Magasilia's pilot only had time to utter half a cry of surprise before the strange machine was already upon him, a blade of light flashing with blinding arcs of electricity popping out from its arm, a cunning thrust that pierced directly through Magasilia's shoulder joint, and then pulled!

Explosive sparks erupted from the damaged area, Magasiah dropped his rifle, and his machine staggered backward. At the same time, he drew the longsword from his back with his other hand, attempting to block subsequent attacks.

"Watch out! Something's wrong with that guy!"

"I know!"

boom!

Snapped!

In a few swift exchanges, all of Magasia's attacks were seen through, and he didn't even manage to graz the opponent's edge, while he himself was almost dismembered!

The pilot was incredulous. He had been called a genius since childhood and had never encountered an opponent who could "shut him out"—how could someone like that become a pirate?

The shadow of death loomed over him; he could be killed by his opponent at any moment!

Needless to say, Barbatos had already shaken off the remaining pirate soldiers who were still putting up a last-ditch resistance and charged forward like a cannonball.

call--

The heavy sword, like a hammer, slammed into the strange machine with a piercing shriek that tore through the air.

clang!

A deafening roar echoed within the hangar. The bizarre machine used a seemingly slender arm to block the attack, but with just a slight touch, it tilted to one side, dissipating all the force.