Shandong

But no one had expected the host's voice to take a dramatic turn at that moment. In an excited tone, he announced, "After Midnight Ghostfire was defeated, our nation's 8th Generation Jaeger, Shandong, which had been conducting routine patrols near Singapore City, arrived at the scene and ultimately destroyed the kaiju."

At last, the crowd let out relieved laughter.

"Ha, that scared me. I thought Singapore was done for." Mike patted his chest, while Rosen smiled faintly as well.

The footage on the screen was then replaced by a fierce battle between the Gravedigger and Shandong.

This time, the battlefield was Singapore City. Shandong's red paint job stood out sharply in the footage. As an 8th Generation Jaeger, it stood a full 160 meters tall; even the skyscrapers in the city paled before it.

China's 8th Generation Jaegers were heavy Jaegers, and their fighting style was completely different from that of lighter models. Shandong neither dodged nor evaded, charging straight into the kaiju and kicking up countless fragments and clouds of dust along the way.

After only a few exchanges, the difference in strength became clear. Shandong easily blocked the opponent's thick tail, then drove its steel hands, as large as buildings, into the Gravedigger's hide. It hoisted the creature high into the air and hurled it from inland back onto the shallows!

The Gravedigger flew nearly a kilometer before crashing heavily into the sea, the waves it kicked up almost forming a miniature tsunami!

The once-majestic kaiju had become a kitten before an eighth-generation machine. Shandong charged into the shallows at full power and greeted the creature with a standard military boxing combination using fists charged with high-voltage electricity. Every blow that landed created a storm, sending everyone's blood racing.

The Gravedigger clearly could not withstand it any longer. Beaten senseless, it swayed on the verge of collapse.

Then Shandong seized an opening, and the countless weapons across its body unleashed a close-range bombardment.

"Full Burst!"

With both arms bent, chest thrust out, and head raised, this was Shandong's standard posture when launching an all-out attack.

One dark cannon muzzle after another, magnetic storm rings, and missile silos emerged from beneath its armor, all facing the helpless Gravedigger.

Amid earth-shaking roars, countless electromagnetic, particle, and magnetic storm weapons blossomed across the Gravedigger's head. Finally, Shandong stepped forward, raised the Laser Cutter in its right palm, and aimed at the Gravedigger's neck—where Midnight Ghostfire had already carved a three-meter-deep wound. Shandong then drove the Laser Cutter straight into that wound.

Slash!

It cut the Gravedigger's entire head off!

The head flew far away before smashing into the sea!

And to prevent the pollution from spreading further, Shandong casually fired an ion cannon at the kaiju's blood-spouting neck, scorching it shut. The dark blue blood was immediately sealed inside the corpse. The entire sequence was executed with practiced ease.

The Gravedigger's enormous body finally toppled over unsteadily, sending water soaring into the sky. Even many trees on the distant shore were snapped by the pressure wave. The footage showed that the kaiju's corpse was far larger than a standard track-and-field stadium in the city.

"Ha, Shandong really is the strongest."

"Obviously. Shandong is an 8th Generation Jaeger. Taking down these little seventh-generation kaiju is child's play."

"If only I got the chance to pilot an eighth-generation machine someday."

"Not in this lifetime, hahaha."

Seeing Shandong utterly crush the kaiju, the mood in the room relaxed. Everyone chimed in with one another, making random jokes.

What played next on the television was the interview segment that the pilots cared about most.

Ever since monsters had descended upon Earth, the profession of Jaeger pilot had emerged. The famous pilots in particular spent all day showing off everywhere with models of their Jaegers, like full-fledged celebrity stars.

Was there really a pilot who cared nothing for fame or profit? That was absolutely a lie.

The scene changed, and Shandong's pilot appeared on the screen.

Although most people had long heard of her, they still could not help gasping when she truly appeared on screen.

In the footage, a crimson figure walked over from the distance. The color was exactly the same as Shandong's paint job. Although the Pilot Suit largely concealed her body's curves, her slender frame and waist-length hair made it clear to everyone that she was a woman.

Especially when Rosen saw her, his brow twitched.

"Lin Yin..."

Lin Yin 27 years old From Zhejiang Former pilot of the seventh-generation heavy Jaeger Huangshan Holder of the highest record in Human-Kaiju Synaptic Link history with a 96% Sync Rate.

Rosen was far too familiar with this "senior sister." After all these years, she had not changed at all. She was still exactly as he remembered her.

She was not especially beautiful, and she often wore a cold expression. She never beat around the bush when she spoke, and she acted with even greater decisiveness.

Rosen felt as though every part of her radiated an aura of "efficiency first."

"Miss Lin!" The reporter immediately stopped Lin Yin as she prepared to leave. Though her gaze made him freeze for a moment, he still asked professionally, "What are your thoughts on the destroyed Jaeger and the kaiju Shandong just eliminated, Miss Lin?"

Lin Yin glared at him, her eyes icy.

"Instead of asking such useless questions, you should film more of the disaster area. Just today, tens of thousands more people have been left homeless."

Hearing Lin Yin's response, the reporter immediately nodded along. But just as they were about to continue questioning her, Lin Yin spoke first and shut them down.

"As for the rest, I have no comment."

With that, Lin Yin left the scene.

At this point, the opinions of the onlookers diverged for the first time. Some supported Lin Yin's approach, while others scoffed at it.

"Rosen, what do you think?" Mike asked Rosen.

"Me?... It has nothing to do with me." Rosen suddenly did not want to keep watching.

If I had successfully conquered Kunlun that day, would I be the one sitting inside Shandong now? Rosen suddenly wondered.

Unfortunately, there were no what-ifs in this world.

Being a Jaeger pilot—that had once been his dream. Yet everything connected to that dream was now deeply stabbing at the heart of this former genius.

"Maybe... you might still have a chance to become a pilot." Mike spoke again, interrupting Rosen's thoughts, his tone rather strange.

But Rosen merely tilted his head noncommittally upon hearing that.

A 53% Sync Rate, and he still wanted to become a pilot? That was pure fantasy.

"I mean it. Of course, that's assuming you can return to your previous level," Mike added.

"Duh, you think I don't know that?" Rosen finally snapped, replying in a low, irritated voice.

"What if I told you... I have a way?" Mike suddenly raised his voice, drawing everyone's attention.

Rosen's body trembled slightly.

He slowly turned his head, as though his neck had rusted stiff.

"What did you say?"

"What if I told you that my Sync Rate dropped just like yours, yet I can still operate a Jaeger? Even now, I'm still a Jaeger test pilot."

"Is that true?"

Rosen narrowed his eyes, an indescribable glimmer flashing within them.