The One Taking Shape

"Fifteen seconds! The Slaughter Beast has claimed another victory! Let's congratulate Yuelai Tavern on entering the upper league. Next, they'll face new challenges. Will the Slaughter Beast be able to keep his undefeated legend alive? Will any machine be able to last a minute against him?"

The announcer's voice cracked repeatedly over the speakers. But the video wasn't playing in a noisy bar or casino. It was in a solemn conference room.

"It's time to make a decision." The white-haired man at the head of the conference table spoke gravely. The middle-aged man to his left hesitated before responding.

"This is still only the lower league, and the participants are just private groups. The pilot himself is also an expert who can take on the Gold Knight in a half-finished machine. Under these circumstances, this isn't enough to prove the machine's superiority. Abandoning the system we've spent years researching would be unwise."

"Research? You call reverse-engineering outdated junk that's gone through three or four generations of changes to keep up with Ideal Country 'research'?" The oldest man in the room spoke sharply, but the middle-aged man didn't retort. He simply said, matter-of-factly:

"Even if the technology's outdated, at least it's on the right track. As for this machine, we can't even be sure whether..."

"On the right track?" The old man cut him off, slapping the table hard. "Do you think Ideal Country knew its machines were on the right track before it developed them? Research means trial and error. If you don't even have the courage to make mistakes, how can you forge your own path? We have excellent engine technology now. Why not use it as our foundation and find a way to bring out its potential, instead of clinging to that so-called 'right track'? Or do you