Unstoppable Momentum

"Report: Xiao Shou's neural handshake connection has returned to normal and is now stable."

"We are checking the handshake connection data from Mount Tai's consciousness sensor. The current connection value is stable at 95 percent."

Everyone in the command center perked up at the report.

"It looks like Xiao Shou's handshake connection value has improved again. Under normal circumstances, the handshake connection value between two pilots should be around 92 percent."

Mao Shucheng sighed. This indicated that Xiao Shou's personal neural handshake connection value might have reached 97 percent or even higher.

It was no less impressive than the value of Jacob Smith, pilot of Wanderer, which currently held the highest neural handshake connection rate among Jaegers.

It might even surpass it.

Mount Tai had practically been tailor-made for him.

But it was not yet time to celebrate. They had merely succeeded in taking the first step.

A far greater trial still awaited them.

7:30 p.m., the 19th.

The sky had already begun to darken.

"The monster codenamed Bladehead is now only a stone's throw from Kowloon Port."

"Even the harassing firepower of fighter jets and the South Sea Fleet has failed to stop Bladehead's advance!"

The female television host continued reporting on the monster's movements.

"Next, we will show the live footage."

The camera zoomed in, revealing Bladehead's advancing form.

Even the powerful firepower of the airborne fighters and the South Sea Fleet was no more than a scratch to it.

It simply could not halt its advance.

A distinctly humanlike mockery glinted in the shark-like Bladehead's eyes.

"Brrrrrr!"

The deep rumble unique to helicopter engines.

It tore through the fog-shrouded harbor.

And entered the view of the surveillance drones.

Four helicopters carried the Mount Tai Jaeger beneath them.

Twelve fighter jets flew in V-shaped formation, escorting Mount Tai.

It broke into the battlefield where fierce fighting still raged.

Bladehead no longer looked as relaxed and mocking as before.

It let out a low, growling howl.

The blue-black Jaeger giant before it had clearly made it feel threatened.

It stopped its advance.

Its hooves kept pawing at the water, kicking up wave after wave of spray.

"Oh my God, that's our Jaeger, Mount Tai! It's finally here! It has intercepted the monster Bladehead in the near seas!"

The female host's voice rose excitedly. In truth, everyone watching before a screen was equally stirred.

At that moment, no matter what they were doing, people across Nation Z were staring at the live broadcast.

Those at home watched the broadcast directly on television.

Those working outdoors watched the giant screens scattered throughout the streets.

Teachers and students in schools temporarily suspended classes and watched the projection screens broadcasting the feed in their classrooms.

Factories also halted work, and all the workers stopped their assembly-line tasks to watch the live broadcast on television.

The invasion of the monster Bladehead.

Had drawn the attention of the entire nation.

Perhaps it was not just Nation Z.

When one side was in trouble, support came from all sides.

Though ordinary people like them were nothing before the monster Bladehead.

So long as they stood united and worked as one, there was no obstacle they could not overcome.

It had always been so, from ancient times to the present.

Nothing could defeat them.

Even if they suffered temporary setbacks, they would always overcome them!

The monster threat before them was no exception.

Though people were scattered across the country and could offer little help to Hong Kong's defensive battle.

They had faith in Hong Kong's defense line, and in Mount Tai!

They believed that the military regions would stand united and yield not an inch of land!

They worried for their compatriots in Hong Kong, and they had the resolve to resist every negative emotion brought by the monster's assault!

At that moment, the television broadcast's ratings nearly reached their peak, hitting a staggering 80 percent!

It was a figure that had not been reached in many years.

It meant that 80 percent of the nation's 1.4 billion people were glued to the live broadcast at that moment.

And that did not even account for multiple people watching the same television.

Even the residents of Hong Kong and nearby cities who had already taken shelter in underground bunkers were watching the live broadcast on the big screens inside.

This live war broadcast tugged at the heartstrings of the entire nation.

Many foreign media outlets were even rebroadcasting it. Counting that viewership, the audience would likely reach four or five billion people.

"Mount Tai has entered the designated offshore deployment zone."

"Transport team, stand by to deploy Mount Tai."

"Attention, Mount Tai pilots. We are about to deploy Mount Tai. Maintain your balance!"

"Transport team, deploy Mount Tai!"

Inside Mount Tai's cockpit, Xiao Shou and Xie Yushan took a deep breath.

They tensed their focus. The battle was about to begin.

This was being broadcast live across the nation, even the whole world. Mount Tai's debut sure was on a grand scale!

(PS: Friendly reminder: the experience is even better if you play "Pacific Rim" while reading!)

The four heavy-lift transport helicopters released their cables and dropped Mount Tai into the near seas.

The majestic Jaeger giant's descent sent towering waves crashing in every direction.

"Here we go!"

"Don't get too nervous."

"What a joke. You're the nervous one. Don't forget, I'm inside your head!"

"Strike first!"

Xiao Shou and Xie Yushan began to run inside the cockpit.

Mount Tai mirrored their movements and charged toward the monster Bladehead!

"Oh my God, what is Mount Tai doing? They're actually taking the initiative to attack!"

The female host at the live battlefield cried out in shock.

She had thought Mount Tai should focus on defense and wait for Bladehead to charge first.

"They want to use inertia to increase their attack power."

Mao Shucheng said as he watched the battle from the Shatterdome command center.

"Perhaps that is part of the reason, but more importantly, it is momentum!"

"They want to unleash that unstoppable momentum—the spirit of 'none can stand against me'!"

Jin Rong said from the side.

She knew that while Xiao Shou had become much more obedient and sensible now, he had been quite the troublemaker before.

Fighting and brawling had been common for him.

Though most of the time, it had not been his fault. The street punks had simply gone too far with Xiao Shou and the other orphans from the Orphanage.

They often cursed them as children without fathers or mothers, provoking Xiao Shou into anger and forcing him to fight back.

So when it came to fighting, Jin Rong still had confidence in him.

Though he had never received formal military training, he was hardly helpless.

And let them not forget that Xie Yushan, who shared memories with him, was a soldier who had undergone rigorous military training.

With Xiao Shou's fighting instincts combined with Xie Yushan's combat movements.

Though this was Mount Tai's first battle, it was clearly a debut at its peak.

The viewers before their screens did not know any of this.

They simply found it exhilarating. The sight of a nearly ninety-meter-tall Jaeger giant charging head-on at a hundred-meter-tall beast was immensely impactful.

A true warrior dared to face a bleak life and confront dripping blood.

The world always expected men to be fearless and unafraid.

In short, get up there and fight!