He's Alive

"Experiment Log, 27th attempt to separate the power core from Xingtian. This experiment uses the Red Hurricane's Tai'a thermal energy combination sword to cut the target."

Under the cold night sky, the Dark Azure base remained brightly lit.

Although the monster's corpse had been recovered, the seawater pollution caused by its blood still required the cleanup crew to work 24 hours a day just to maintain safety levels.

Inside the high walls, busy transport teams shuttled back and forth through the ruins, salvaging anything usable.

Fortunately, the medical building had not suffered severe damage. Wounded soldiers had already packed it to the brim. Those with lighter injuries could only lie along the corridors, leaving more space for the critically injured who had nearly lost their lives in battle.

Blinding lights illuminated every corner of the hangar as if it were daytime. Xingtian, now only a torso, was hoisted high by chains, like a prisoner undergoing torture, awaiting the next judgment from the control console.

Hum!

A restless roar emanated from the Red Hurricane's palm. The 85-meter-tall giant stood before Xingtian's remains, holding a newly ignited thermal energy cutting sword.

"Red Hurricane, you may begin cutting."

Sizzling air enveloped the restless sword as its tip slowly approached the black power core in front of Xingtian.

There was no sound, no spark. The golden blade simply rested calmly against the outer shell of the black power core.

"Requesting increased power," Meng Changkong submitted to the control console.

"Approved."

The Red Hurricane switched to a two-handed grip. The armor on its arms began to deform, revealing electromagnetic acceleration energy exhaust ports hidden in the elbow joints.

Bang!

Both arms, a total of eight exhaust ports, simultaneously emitted dazzling white light!

The golden Tai'a sword instantly turned deep orange. The sword's temperature at this moment could rival that of an overloaded mecha's power core!

"No, stop!"

Inside the control console, Dr. Chris took off his glasses and rubbed his forehead irritably.

Even though the Red Hurricane had pushed its power to the maximum within safe parameters, the sharp edge of the Tai'a still couldn't penetrate the black shell even a millimeter!

"This is a waste of time," a blonde, blue-eyed woman beside Chris sighed.

The Red Hurricane immediately withdrew the Tai'a from the power core's outer shell.

"How can it be so hard!" Meng Changqing gasped for air. If he had continued to exert force, not only would the Tai'a sword have been in danger of shattering, but his own arm could have fractured.

Although Meng Changkong was also panting, his attention was focused entirely on Xingtian.

"Control console, Red Hurricane requests thermal cutting of Xingtian's armored sections."

"You'd better contact General Chen. If you don't plan on keeping this mecha, then go ahead," Dr. Chris had already considered this method, but it required approval from the Dark Azure base.

"No, we don't intend to destroy Xingtian. We just suspect how far this substance has spread within Xingtian's body."

Meng Changkong's eyes were fixed on the holographic panel before him, displaying the analysis data from the scanner on Xingtian's remains.

The results showed a significant decrease in artificial alloy components in Xingtian's remains, meaning the black power core had fused deeply with this part of the body!

"Approved."

The Red Hurricane once again raised the Tai'a with both hands, but this time it aimed at the position above the power core—from a human perspective, the heart area.

Sizzle!

This time, the scorching blade pierced into the armor!

Meng Changqing immediately broke into a smile, but as soon as he was about to say something, his smile froze.

The depth the Tai'a could penetrate was a mere fifty centimeters!

The brothers quickly withdrew the Tai'a and then stabbed at the mecha's outermost shoulder and waist. However, the results were not much different, with depths of eighty centimeters and eighty-five centimeters respectively!

"It seems we acted a bit too late," Meng Changkong said with a wry smile. "If we had acted sooner, perhaps we could have completed the cutting while the fusion level was still low."

"If that crazy kid hadn't insisted on touching the cube with that broken support pillar, we wouldn't be in this mess!" Meng Changqing's head throbbed just thinking about it.

"Doctor, should we try other cutting methods?" Nina, standing beside Chris, asked cautiously.

"What other methods do we have left to try?" Chris glared at Nina impatiently. "Contact General Chen. Execute Plan B, ignite the power core, and study it right here!"

"Do we really not need to take it back..." The woman's voice was a little shaky, sounding less like a question and more like a plea.

"Take back a destroyed mecha along with it? Use your brain!" Chris's voice suddenly rose. "This isn't something from Earth. It's a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity! Are you really going to let that bunch of high-and-mighty people at headquarters have this chance to make history?"

"But..."

"No 'buts'! We're staying here until we figure out this thing's material properties!" Chris directly interrupted the woman. "Contact General Chen, right now!"

Ten minutes later, General Chen arrived at the control console with his men. He had to be present for such an important matter to prevent any unforeseen circumstances.

"Xingtian is an older model custom mecha. The design at the time was not mature. The power core had to be manually connected to the mecha system and ignited with electricity," General Chen explained to Chris and the other.

"I didn't realize the General was so knowledgeable about mechas," Chris said, standing side-by-side with General Chen, a polite smile on his face. "Nina and I might be staying at Dark Azure for a while longer. I ask for your understanding, General."

"Of course," General Chen replied with a smile. "It's been a long time since Dark Azure had guests. Please forgive us if our hospitality is lacking."

Outside the glass, dozens of cables were connected to Xingtian's remains. Old Yu stood before the lift, constantly adjusting the power supply efficiency.

"General, all preparations are complete."

General Chen's gaze was fixed on Xing Tian, no one could fathom his thoughts at that moment.

"Begin."

At General Chen's command, Old Yu pulled the lever to initiate the ignition sequence.

The previously dim cables immediately glowed white, continuously channeling surging electrical currents into Xing Tian's damaged body.

The sound of mechanical rotation gradually rose, like a steam train approaching the crowd from a distant horizon.

The black power core began to heat up, the pale yellow light grew brighter, and the turbine on Xing Tian's chest slowly started to spin!

"Ignition successful, power core output rising."

Within the control console, the power numbers on the screen were soaring!

"Unknown program intrusion detected! Emergency shutdown initiated!"

Just as everyone thought everything was proceeding smoothly, the system suddenly issued a warning!

"Quickly disconnect from Xing Tian!" Dr. Chris immediately spotted the problem.

The technician quickly opened the control panel, but at that moment, all the displays in the control room turned to static!

"Warning, shutdown program terminated, security protocols being overwritten..."

Outside the window, the power of the operating core continued to climb, the spinning turbine like a vortex on the sea, greedily devouring the energy from the cables!

In the critical moment, Old Yu saw a faint white light flashing on Xing Tian's chest – that was Xing Tian's backup visual module!

Images of Xing Tian acting autonomously immediately flashed through his mind.

"Could it be... Xing Tian is alive!"