Just as the Iron Wall Fleet was reeling from the Sea Wolf's new shield, the wreckage search teams made a discovery...
Boom! A Mechanical Arm gently set down a battered piece of wreckage roughly five meters across, its surface already crystallized.
"This is all you recovered?"
"Yes, Captain. It appears to be a core component from near the mecha's cockpit. Two other friendly ships seem to have recovered something as well. The rest of the wreckage was probably blown far away by the energy storm."
"Is that so? What a shame." The captain sounded rather regretful, then gave an order with a hint of excitement. "Cut it open!"
One Legendary Mecha Core was essentially equivalent to an entire Legendary Mecha. Being first on the scene had its advantages. If he put in a request, perhaps he might get a chance himself?
Zzz! Several thin, high-energy beams flashed past in rapid succession, expertly dissecting the wreckage and stripping away its outer crystalline layers.
Every cut was perfectly smooth, yet the mecha wreckage inside had not suffered so much as a scratch. The "knife work" was exceptionally masterful.
"Move in!" The captain waved a hand, and several Engineering Mechas that had been waiting at the ready surrounded it.
Humm! High-Frequency Vibration Blades rose high, ready to chop the wreckage into pieces and extract the mecha core within.
But just then...
Boom! With a tremendous explosion, the wreckage in the middle suddenly burst apart without warning!
Fragments shot outward, battering the unprepared Engineering Robots with a barrage of cracks and flying sparks.
Then, before everyone's stunned eyes, a silver humanoid machine roughly two meters tall slowly walked out of the wreckage-strewn scene. It wore a black crystal faceplate, and the character for "three" was written on its chest.
The sudden turn of events