At that moment, Wang Yixue put the holographic helmet on her head too.
The scene before her eyes changed instantly. She could see everything outside the mech, with all obstructions becoming nearly transparent.
Lines of transparent operating instructions also appeared before her eyes.
A feeling of I am the mech welled up within her.
Her heart pounded nervously. All of this went beyond his understanding.
Was this really something a welder could weld together?
Unbelievable!!
The sounds outside were also picked up by the mech's external sensors and transmitted to Wang Yixue's ears in real time.
"Let it fly!"
"Let it fly!"
"Let it fly!!"
Swept up in the fervent atmosphere, Wang Yixue grew excited too.
With things having reached this point, she could hardly refuse!
Her slightly trembling hand slowly reached for the control stick.
Meanwhile, Elder Wang picked up the phone Wang Yixue had dropped on the ground.
Only then did he discover that the phone's feed was actually connected to the camera inside the cockpit.
It could even switch to the external camera.
The lower-right corner of the screen displayed the mech's various readings in real time, though they were all currently at zero.
They could also turn on the voice button to talk to Wang Yixue.
Elder Wang, Elder Hua, Wang Tianhao, and the others, along with the guests, all looked at the phone screen.
By the time Elder Wang figured out what the phone screen was displaying, Wang Yixue had already gripped the control stick.
Under everyone's watchful eyes.
Her thumb pressed down hard on the climb button at the end of the control stick.
Click!
"Mission complete!"
Wang Yixue gave a wistful smile and waved at the camera inside the cockpit.
She flashed a sweet smile.
She already knew the people outside could see inside through the phone.
She certainly did not believe this mech could actually fly.
Getting it to this level was already impressive enough.
She was satisfied just to experience such incredibly realistic mech piloting.
Through the sound coming from the phone, the people outside heard Wang Yixue announce that the mission was over.
They felt rather reluctant for it to end, while also envying Wang Yixue for getting to experience the cockpit firsthand.
Although everyone had been hoping the mech would actually fly, reason told them it was impossible.
Only Wang Ning stood where she was and sneered, complaining vehemently,
"I knew it wouldn't work. How could Xia Nation possibly develop something before even Eagle Sauce has?"
As though retaliating for how the mech had made her lose her composure earlier, she cursed again, "A lump of iron fitted with speakers. Garbage!"
The people nearby all turned to look at Wang Ning.
Even Elder Wang, standing nearby, frowned.
Some people began heading back to the villa.
Wang Tianhao stepped forward too, calling out to those still lingering,
"Honored guests, the mech experience is over. The birthday banquet will now beg-"
However.
Before he could finish.
An urgent alarm suddenly blasted in everyone's ears.
"Warning!"
"Warning!"
"The mech is about to enter its takeoff configuration. All bystanders, move away immediately!"
An unease that made their hearts tremble surged through everyone.
The piercing alarm rang throughout the manor.
Elder Wang abruptly clenched his fists. Reason told him this mech was merely a very realistic model.
In the end, it was just something for people to admire!
It could not possibly fly!!
Bang-
A wave of air rapidly spread outward from the mech in all directions.
They could clearly see small, closely spaced thrust-vectoring nozzles opening across its body.
Together with the four larger thrust-vectoring nozzles on the mech's back, they all blasted out pink flames.
The ground rumbled along with them.
It began trembling faintly.
"Something's wrong!"
Realizing something was wrong, Elder Wang hurriedly enabled microphone access on the phone screen.
He shouted at Wang Yixue on the screen,
"Yixue, what's happening?"
"Grandpa, it... it's going to fly!"
Wang Yixue's voice trembled slightly. Like a frightened fawn, she was bewildered and at a loss.
She did not know what to do.
Elder Wang's heart shook, and his aged body swayed sharply. His eyes were filled with gravity.
The exoskeleton armor that was currently the main focus of their research institute could only handle simple tasks such as helping soldiers carry heavy objects.
It could not even run, let alone fly!
Even Eagle Sauce Nation's latest cutting-edge technology could not accomplish that.
You're just a welder. How could you possibly do it?
Take off? How was that possible!
All around them, people cried out as they ran,
"Holy shit, the mech moved!"
"It looks like it's going to fly!"
"It really moved! It's even shooting flames!"
"..."
The flames blasting from the mech's engine outlets grew fiercer, shifting from pink toward blue.
At the sight, Elder Wang and Elder Hua could no longer remain calm.
His years of experience told him this mech really was about to take flight.
They had to get away immediately!
Elder Wang ordered the guards,
"Organize everyone and evacuate Cloud Summit Manor immediately!"
"Seal off all of Yunlai Mountain."
"There's no time. Hurry!"
Countless vehicles started up. Those quick enough to react could spare no thought for anything else, simply finding a car and driving away at once.
Under the guards' direction, the previously chaotic evacuation became considerably more orderly.
Elder Wang held the phone, his expression exceedingly grave.
Looking worriedly at Wang Yixue on the screen, he asked,
"Yixue, is there any way to stop it?"
"Grandpa, I don't know either. It... it's already started the takeoff countdown!"
Inside the cockpit.
Wang Yixue was now utterly frightened and anxious too.
The piercing notification tones ringing in her ears wound her nerves even tighter.
[Mech hydrogen engine calibration complete] [Miniature thrust-vectoring port connections verified] [Shoulder railguns functioning normally] [High-frequency particle blade mounted normally] [Beam weapons not mounted!] [Dragoon System not installed!] [Final checks complete!] [3-2-1] [Crimson Sky No. 1, launch!!]
Boom-
The entire Cloud Summit Manor shook violently.
A fierce sonic blast rang in the ears of the countless people who had not yet managed to evacuate.
At that moment, the flames blasting from the mech's engines turned from pink to azure blue.
A powerful force thrust Wang Yixue back into her seat.
If the holographic helmet had not provided assisted breathing, that alone might have made her pass out on the spot.
Under countless watching eyes, the Crimson Sky No. 1 mech erupted in a fierce blaze.
It rose from the ground and shot straight into the sky!