Everyone in the Command Hall looked at each other, their faces full of disbelief.
"Those idiots on Sakurajima can't be that stupid, can they? They're not using the 97 as the main pilot and letting the 95 go up there to muddle through?"
Someone nearby muttered:
"Could it be because Sakura Saber's previous pilot couldn't even beat one of our base's reserve trainees, and Sakurajima got so furious they lost their minds?"
"Are you talking about Luo Bing? I've heard of him. He's our base's designated next-generation pilot. Even on a global scale, he's a top-tier genius!"
As they talked, the discussion gradually drifted off-topic.
Until General Luo's voice rang out, suppressing all the arguments:
"Deploy Wulei!"
"No matter how foolish Sakurajima is being, that's their business. But if we just stand by and watch the monster break through the defense line and rampage through the city, that would be a dereliction of duty!"
"Letting some slacker with a Spiritual Connection Index of 95 be the main pilot... Hmph, Sakurajima must have picked up a ghost!"
General Luo was furious at Sakurajima's ridiculous maneuver, but he still faithfully carried out his duty instead of standing by and watching.
No matter what conflicts or disputes existed between the two sides, ordinary people's lives should never be used as bargaining chips!
Not long after General Luo gave the order, his private phone rang.
After glancing at it, General Luo's stern expression softened somewhat.
He gestured to his assistant, then walked out and answered the call:
"Little Bing, how are you recovering at home? Does your head still hurt?"
The person on the other end was Luo Bing. He had returned to his dorm to recuperate, using a headache as his excuse—a symptomless, unexplained headache.
When a student with poor grades claimed to have a headache and wanted to go home to rest, they were probably asking for a beating.
But talented students received completely different treatment.
"Uncle Luo, I'm feeling better. It's nothing serious."
As Luo Bing spoke, he glanced outside. Seeing Luo Yun still watching television intently, he quietly added:
"Uncle Luo, thank you for what you did for Xiao Yun."
General Luo did not say much. He merely sighed.
"While you're home, talk to Xiao Yun more. That child has suffered, and she carries resentment in her heart."
"Fortunately, her Spiritual Connection Index hasn't reached 95 yet. Otherwise, I wouldn't have been able to make that suggestion."
Anyone with a Spiritual Connection Index above 95 was a promising prospect under special attention. With proper training in the future, they had a chance of becoming outstanding pilots with scores of 96 or even 97.
If General Luo suggested deducting five points from such a promising candidate, he would have to face a Military Court!
"I understand, Uncle Luo. I'll talk to Xiao Yun properly."
"Uncle Luo, what exactly is going on with the monster invasion? Why did Sakura Saber end up facing it? Shouldn't it be our Wulei?"
General Luo looked around. Seeing no one else nearby, he quietly explained:
"Little Bing, with your intelligence, you should be able to see that our branch base holds great strategic significance."
"Nine out of ten monster invasions begin from the sea. At most, one might come from somewhere like an inland saltwater lake."
"Sakurajima is our natural shield. As long as it isn't breached by monsters, a vast stretch of our coastal region will remain safe!"
At this point, General Luo sighed.
"Keeping the enemy beyond our borders is ultimately beneficial to us. That's why we can turn a blind eye to Sakurajima's little schemes most of the time."
"This time, Sakurajima wants to add a little glory to their new pilot, so let them."
Luo Bing had considered all of this before.
What he cared about was something else.
"Then... can Sakura Saber win?"
General Luo immediately cursed from the other end:
"Win my ass! Sakurajima's people must have water in their brains. They've got someone with a Spiritual Connection Index of 97 and aren't using her as the main pilot, but instead sent up a 95. Her innate reactions are half a beat slower than the monster's, and Sakura Saber's base stats are worse than this Iron Hammer's. If it can win, it won't be because Sakura Saber is strong—it'll be because this monster has water in its brain!"
Perhaps realizing that swearing was unbecoming, General Luo lightly coughed before continuing:
"But you don't need to worry too much, Little Bing. This Iron Hammer won't cause much trouble. I've already ordered Wulei to deploy!"
"That's good. Thank you, Uncle Luo. I understand."
"Don't be so polite with me. If Brother Luo hadn't arrived so early back then, my name would've been on the memorial too..."
Halfway through, Old Luo remembered that Luo Bing's parents' names were on that very memorial, and he immediately stumbled over his words.
He could no longer speak properly.
After coughing twice, he hurriedly changed the subject:
"Little Bing, get some rest. Try to recover soon and return to your regular training. You're definitely going to be Wulei's next pilot!"
"I'll do my best, Uncle Luo."
After hanging up, Luo Bing's expression had already turned ugly.
"Junko... I told you long ago, what belongs to you belongs to you. You can't keep yielding!"
Luo Bing could more or less guess what had happened aboard Sakura Saber.
Koizumi Junko's personality in his memories was simply too gentle. She was not someone with a forceful disposition.
Take one step back, and she would keep taking steps back.
Until, in the end, she gave up the main pilot's seat!
But Junko, some things could not be yielded. Letting someone incapable sit in that position was irresponsibility toward millions of people!
"Looks like I have to make a trip."
Luo Bing closed his eyes and sank his mind into the depths of his consciousness.
The moment he closed his eyes, a blueprint of a gigantic monster-like creature appeared in his mind, impossible to forget.
It was an upright giant beast with two tiny arms, two incredibly thick hind legs, and a heavy tail. Its back was lined with spikes like those of a Stegosaurus.
As a transmigrator who had watched Godzilla movies, Luo Bing was naturally familiar with the image in his mind.
But the name beneath the blueprint was not Godzilla. It was "King of Monsters"!
Below King of Monsters was a progress bar—or perhaps an experience bar?
Below the experience bar, there were five separate sections.
They were "Body Size," "Skills," "Evolution," "Action Duration," and "Grand Roulette."
Over the past few days, aside from merging with the original owner's memories, Luo Bing had been pondering how to use this thing that seemed to be a Golden Finger, as well as the purpose of all its submenus.
After estimating things in his mind for so many days, he had more or less figured it out.
He just could not be certain.
Only one sentence could fully express the oldest truth within it:
"Practice produces truth!"
"Then... I'll try it myself!"
Sob, sob, sob. I update at least three times a day.
I swear on Fire that I'm not a pigeon. Please support me, big shots.
Praise the sun.
I Can Become Light Too?
Several days earlier, on the very day he had transmigrated, Luo Bing had already discovered his Golden Finger.
Perhaps it was worried someone would become the shame of transmigrators, or perhaps this world needed a hero? Or maybe it needed a monster for some unknown reason.
In any case, Luo Bing had transmigrated with this Golden Finger called "King of Monsters."
First, this Golden Finger had no newbie guide sprite, nor did it provide any form of verbal explanation. Luo Bing had to figure everything out himself.
Second, this King of Monsters Golden Finger usually lay there like a dead pig, utterly motionless.
Luo Bing guessed that only after he filled the experience bar would there be some changes.
And then...
This Golden Finger naturally could not just remain in Luo Bing's mind, where he could only observe it by closing his eyes and thinking!
Luo Bing had a feeling.
As long as he wanted to,
he could become light.
Ahem, wrong show.
Rather, as long as Luo Bing wanted to, he could transform into the King of Monsters depicted in that blueprint!
That also gave Luo Bing a preliminary understanding of his identity. Wasn't this basically Ultraman's Human Form transformation?
The only difference was,
Human Forms transformed into Giants of Light, beings admired by everyone across the multiverse. Ordinary people would take one look and know they belonged to the lawful good camp, great heroes who saved the world.
But Luo Bing would transform into one of the little monsters Ultraman bullied.
Although Godzilla was no little monster. It was Earth's native guardian of ecological balance, bearing the title King of Monsters. Its nature was that of a programmer collecting a dead salary from Mother Gaia, specializing in fixing every bug that disrupted the balance.
But only Luo Bing, the transmigrator, knew those Godzilla backstories. Nobody else did.
In their eyes, Godzilla was a monster!
And monsters were enemies!
That was also the main reason Luo Bing had been so hesitant about this Golden Finger after completely receiving the original owner's memories.
A monster could not become humanity's guardian.
Humanity's guardians in this world were creations of humanity itself—those magnificent mecha!
Monsters?
They were all enemies that had to be eliminated. Even if they could not be eliminated, they had to be driven back!
Looking at the Tokyo TV Station broadcast, the crimson figure standing solemnly in the seawater entered his view once more.
Even Luo Bing, a reserve pilot, could clearly see the slight sluggishness in Sakura Saber's movements.
Of course, that was because he knew what he was looking at.
To ordinary people, that slight delay simply looked like measured, orderly movement without any problems!
"If Junko were the main pilot, there wouldn't be these problems. I know Junko's capabilities... But now it's been switched to this Nakamura I've never heard of..."
Luo Bing gritted his teeth.
He did not know whether the issue with Sakura Saber's main and secondary pilots had been demanded by Sakurajima or whether Nakamura had privately pressured Koizumi Junko.
No matter which it was, since it had already become an established fact, it had to be changed!
"Xiao Yun, I'm heading out for a while. Eat first. I'll eat when I get back!"
After reminding Luo Yun, Luo Bing grabbed his coat and headed out.
Before you continue