Chapter 381

  A Mechrem In the Making

  In physics there is always the question of what happens when the unstoppable force, i.e. a fully charging mechanoid object meets an immovable object, aka a recently Teleported mechanoid craft that took up direct position in the straight path of the charging object.

  Logic tells us that there are two possible extremes, the first is that the unstoppable force will barrel through the immovable object as its force and inertia will dictate. The other equally possible but different extreme is that the immovable object will stand firm and not give at all, causing the unstoppable force to curl into a giant metal ball that ultimately crumples upon impact with the immovable object.

  Odds are, it will be somewhere in the middle, the old car stuck dangling with its wheels spinning in the air trick, unable to add more force due to its sole point of speed being taken away from it.

  In this particular case, Raygunnr, my sentient mechanical suit with his own independent thoughts and desires, and I are the metaphorical wall and our Legrand opponent is the proverbial car with its wheels caught spinning.

  BOOM!

  I purposefully adjusted our punch to land off center of the pilot’s seat. The reason is that I still don’t want to kill anyone. I especially don’t like the idea of killing a contestant that might otherwise be our world’s only form of hope for further existence in the future.

  These qualifiers, these regional contests built on weeding out opponents is a clear-cut way to make it so our talent pool to choose from in the future is much less than our competitors. This is why I went for a disabling strike, versus a clear-cut punch that should otherwise end the fight.

  The good news is that we survived.

  The bad news is that we only made a Raygunnr sized dent within the opponent’s hull, and cracked their cockpit screen. If this was a space battle, then our opponent would no doubt lose immediately due to a breach in the hull. Fortunately for them, and for me, this was a battle still being performed in our natural environment, meaning they could still breathe, and therefore they were not disqualified.

  Shock.

  There was a complete shock on our opposing pilot’s face as he just stared at the massive fist that was still entrenched within the hull of his previously believed to be superior suit. By all means he did have room to be concerned, as his suit was made of the finest of materials apparently harvested from metal realms that add magical property to metals that are far beyond what can be made safely here in the main world of Biprism. Just as the Arcanarus Tower can generate more powerful spirit-based spells and components, apparently the realm that these ships came from can produce monstrous devices that do not corrode when exposed to magic and instead seem to have a very slow healing property assigned to them.

  Even now, I can see the effects of the metal already converting excess mana from the pilot and converting it into healing energy to repair the ship.

  “Oh, look, natural Robealing observed in the wild?” I say, grabbing removing my fist, and then all but manhandling the disoriented pilot and his suit to the ground.

  “It’s clunky, and not very efficient, particularly as it seems to be spending most of its time over converting, and even then not fully applying the energy to the resonating wound. But rather surrounding the wound area, as if slowly trying to heat the metal back into a more advantageous form,” I note as I see the effect.

  “Get off me!” The Legrand pilot finally exclaims after pushing me off and spinning the two of us away.

  “Some people,” I begin, then continue my thought, “just don’t care about learning about the magical beauty of the world around us.”

  “Come on, let’s kick his ass, for science,” Raygunnr chimed in speaking in Mana Language, meaning I was the only one here who could likely understand what he was saying. At least, I thought I was the only one here who could understand, but I could almost swear that I saw the machine recoil slightly.

  I tilted my head, trying to see if I was just imagining things or if the machine managed to move on its own without guidance from the pilot. My Angel’s Sight grants me a few unique features, and the important part here is that I can see the machine and pilot at the same time. While the machine normally follows the pilot’s movements exactly, there was one involuntary flinch when the machine would have heard, or rather felt the mana dispersal from Raygunnr’s Mana Language.

  “Focus,” Raygunnr stated, letting me know that our opponent was already on the move.

  Fortunately, his moves were slow, telegraphed.

  Moving lightly, I dodged slightly to get out of the big machine’s way. Then provided a quick reinforced Qi punch to the side. Not that I wanted to add more power to the punch, but that I was still concerned about breaking Raygunnr’s hand from the impact with what at its base was a more condensed tier of metal.

  Crumple.

  However, it seemed that my precautions were not necessary as his fist not only impacted the vulnerable hip joint that I had been aiming at. But also the crystalline barbs where his knuckles extended were able to puncture their way into the superior quality metals. At least the quality of metals were superior at first, but we had spent multiple months breaking down each and every inch of Raygunnr’s body, only to reforge them into this newer and stronger crystalline form. A form that looked more like a moving rock than an actual machine.

  “Oh, this is going to be fun, can I try a bit?” Raygunnr asked.

  Flinch.

  Once again, the machine seemed to flinch slightly at the provocation. Was it too aware?

  “Yeah go for it, just dodge his sword” I offered, as I mentally began reaching out and seeing if there was in fact a consciousness inside the machine. Had the Legrand empire managed to somehow fuse an elemental spirit into the chassis of their machine?

  Thud.

  What happened next was what one might expect, Raygunnr was so focused on dodging his opponent’s sword, that he ended up getting socked in the face. Fortunately, my new aura, my Robealing Aura from my level 500 Quintessential Ethereal Healer class selection was already hard at work repairing his face.

  If it got too dangerous, we both knew that I would take over and try to end this safely.

  “Times like these that I wish someone thought about bringing a sword,” Raygunnr spoke to himself. His words a direct reflection on the fact that I wouldn’t let him find a sword. At the time, I told him it was due to his not having the fundamentals down, which he is now adequate given the way he is weaving around. Though it is clear that he thinks this to be more of a dance competition than a true life or death battle as he is spinning around, twisting out of the way and ultimately providing punches that are more style than substance. Still, he is being effective and that is all that matters at this point.

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  My real reason for us not getting a sword was that there was not enough Tier III material around to make a decent sword. Also, it was clear that such a sword would likely break against the Tier IV materials and beyond that the Legrand empire had access to. Meaning that such a sword would only be shrapnel right now.

  Qi flow.

  Raygunnr was doing a great job of infusing and circulating Qi throughout his body. In all, this was very enlightening, while he had the forms down, he was definitely making them his own, which was important. Better still, he was able to anticipate his opponent’s reaction and spin into a devastating counter.

  Smack.

  The Legrand bot swung his blade horizontally, ducking under he infused his crystalline hand with Qi, the ducking low, he swiped upward with perfect timing and skill. Not attacking the hand but forcing the wildly swinging blade upwards over the two of us. I was on standby ready to use Telekinesis to stop the blade entirely if it should be needed, but this was as much a need for Raygunnr as it was for me to trust in Raygunnr.

  With the wild slash averted, and the Legrand suit sliding out of the way, Raygunnr again surprised me by infusing Qi into his whole right arm and torso, causing him to spin back and deliver a devastating backhand to the back of the mechanoid’s head.

  Clang.

  The force was so powerful that not only did he cave in the head and auxiliary nerve cluster for the machine, but he also caused the mechanoid to fall face first into the ground.

  “Taste the back of my crystal fist,” Raygunnr shouted at his downed opponent as he moved his feet into a bouncing step that put us facing our opponent but not in an off-angle stance. A stance that presented the smallest portion of us towards the enemy. Normally this stance would be impossible by most pilots as they would not be able to see their opponent given the angle that the cockpit was now facing. But this was the difference with our unique bond. First, I had Angel’s Sight that could allow me to see the opponent from this awkward direction already. Second, and probably most important, right now my positioning didn’t matter as Raygunnr was at the helm.

  I almost wanted to comment on the mocking of an already downed opponent being uncalled for, but I’d let him have it. As he was being sporting enough to let his opponent get back to his feet. Also, I assumed I was still the only person here who could fully understand Raygunnr, but that suit seemed to offer a different opinion to that thought, as once again, it seemed to visibly flinch at the taunt.

  Again, I searched, and only after looking deeply could I finally see the faintest spark of consciousness merging.

  Oddly enough, it was my own overlapping auras that were causing the effects. Arcane Geomancy aura was coating the metals and seeming to bring the machine to life. While my Robealing Aura was healing it, but only the parts that were slowly being converted by my aura.

  The reason this was seemingly taking so long was the fact that apparently Tier IV materials are just denser and take more time to permeate with my energy than the normal materials I am used to.

  Still, this is good.

  “Draw this out,” I tell Raygunnr.

  “Wait, you approve of this?” He asked incredulously. Normally I would be opposed at such senseless violence, but right now I was curious.

  “I don’t approve of your taunting, but if you can draw this out long enough for me to fully awaken the opposing suit, then yes, I will approve of all your actions.” I reply. From our connected bond that we have developed, it only takes him a moment to realize that I am first serious, and second why I am serious.

  “You think you can bring her to life?” He asks.

  “Her?” I ask.

  “Oh yes, anything that pretty has got to be a female. Just like how you name your cars all female names like they are females,” Raygunnr begins and I can already feel grossed out by his thoughts. However, it only takes me a minute to pause and realize that he is now a machine. While he might have been human at one point, his thoughts are now that of a mechanical kind. Also, he must no doubt be having some scientific need to carry on the species? I don’t know, but this all seems too weird to fully comprehend. That said, I wouldn’t chastise a blobfish for finding another blobfish attractive, which is why I am going to try to overlook this odd thought process. And I will not be close enough to look, if and when, Raygunnr tries to act on these attractions.

  Just as I am about to finally accept these vulgar thoughts from Raygunnr as being normal, or at least within the limits of acceptability, he turns up the creepiness level to eleven.

  “I think she looks like a Chloe, but with a chrome type look and feel. Oh, I know, Chlome,” Raygunnr stated, naming this poor girl, I mean machine, before she is even fully sentient.

  Still, that was enough, for what happened next was what could only be described as a master class in teaching the basics.

  For as soon as the Legrand opponent got up, dusted themselves off, grabbed their sword and began, Raygunnr was a blur of movement.

  I could tell that he wanted this conversion to happen almost as badly as I did. Though, I didn’t think he had the pure altruistic methods of science meeting magic as I did. No, unfortunately I could almost feel a deeper thought lingering just beyond his baseline thoughts and actions that almost frightened me.

  However, for the moment our thoughts, actions, and even our fates had been intertwined for this competition. And our current objective, now that we knew that winning was all but assured, was to now see if we could animate and breathe life into the opponent’s superior suit of armor. Not that I’d want to break my registration with Raygunnr, a fact that would likely be impossible now that the competition has already begun anyways, but mainly I want to get as many of these superior mechanoid suits away from the enemies and hopefully working for our cause. That is the cause of the Midnight Hunters.

  This is why, while Raygunnr dances around, giving out occasional backhands and odd lines that don’t really seem to fit or mean anything, I continue to focus my energies on resonating with the suit.

  Then finally, after yet another powerful backhand that sends the opponent mech to the ground, something magical happens.

  Namely, all the bumps, gouges, and crumpled bumpers all begin to heal up rapidly as I can tell that the effects of my Robealing Aura are now fully affecting the Legrand suit.

  “Uh-oh,” Raygunnr notes as now it means that the machine can heal from the damage at roughly the same rate that he can. Which he is right, given the superior quality of the opponent we are facing, it would mean that I would need to step in and hopefully end this faster.

  Maybe even going so far as to avoid these feeble attempts in the future.

  For a moment we just pause, taking up the same off-angle stance as we had earlier, as we prepared for what would likely be the most violent part of this competition.

  We watched as the newly awakened machine began to cling to life and willing itself up into what could be described as the praying drunkard. That position you get in, when you are on your knees and barely able to hold yourself up with your arms.

  The machine, this apparent Chlome, holds herself upright.

  As I have that name, the one forced upon me by Raygunnr, I am met with a system message.

  That was not what I wanted, I thought to myself as I saw that the effects of my Taxonomist title kicking in and then I express that no, I wanted her name to be Chlome.

  GAH!

  I hate this system sometimes in that it just goes out of its way to make me look ridiculous, as if I need help.

  However, while I am having this existential crisis, I almost forget that there is still a match ongoing. Almost, in that the match ends pretty much after Chlome the Chlome fully gains consciousness and then apparently seems to forcefully vomit out her pilot. Again, as if she was getting full use out of this praying drunkard position.

  I guess that is one way to win a match. Awaken the opponent mechanoid suit to consciousness and then have them eject their own pilot like they were a giant hairball. Simple.

  With that, we are about to leave. Or at least I thought we were about to leave, until Raygunnr went over and reaching out a gentlemanly hand, offered to help Chlome the Chlome up, still not going to get over these stupid names.

  Chlome coquettishly accepts the gesture, and then almost seems to blush while holding onto Raygunnr’s hand.

  I try to let them have their moment, but of course I am right here, stuck inside Raygunnr’s stomach. Fortunately, as soon as we get out of the arena, we meet not only the other Midnight Hunters, who are also prepared to pilot their own sentient Teleiotís suits, but we also have Penelope here to help Raygunnr from grooming this poor machine straight from the start.

  “I see you made a new friend,” Penelope begins. I almost want to correct her, but then realize that was a very good use on the word made.

  “Good one,” I comment and mean it.

  Blushing.

  “Thank you,” Penelope offers with a slight curtsy.

  “Would you mind taking this poor girl and introducing her to the other Teleiotís?” I ask.

  “Oh, why certainly,” Penelope looks flustered for a moment. I don’t blame her as I kind of wanted to spend more time with her as well, but I also didn’t want this poor Chlome to get lost in the shuffle and be stranded here.

  “Come right this way,” Penelope stated using both her regular voice and Mana Language to talk to Chlome. “I am Penelope, and you’ve already met Dr. Spiritlight, we are members of the Midnight Hunters. . .”

  Penelope as amazing as ever, instantly helped Chlome relax a little, and took her off to be registered with both the guild and other Teleiotís in the area.

  I watched, waiting until Penelope was fully out of earshot and then finally relaxed, realizing she would be just fine with Chlome. Just as I was almost worried about Chlome randomly getting agitated for unknown reasons, Raygunnr seemed to read my mind and decided to flip the script, by making me agitated with him.

  “You know, the great thing about us Teleiotís is that you don’t need a fancy house or a mansion. Instead, it is the ultimate male fantasy, for all you really need is a really nice and spacious garage.” Raygunnr began.

  As he spoke, I realized why I likely never understood any males that I was with, if this was their normal thought process.

  “That’s right, all you need is a large enough garage to move your Mechrem into,” Raygunnr stated.

  With that, I could feel that there was some type of meaning or connotation to Merem. Then finally after a long enough pause where he did not clarify, I finally had to ask.

  “Mechrem?”

  “It’s nothing, just forget it,” Raygunnr declared in the same way he tried to tell me that BDSM was about dressers.

  I just pause and purse my lips together before I ask, “I’m not going to like this word, am I?”

  For his part, Raygunnr paused and then finally managed, “well that all depends, just how open are you to the idea of alternate lifestyles, and the idea that one master machine could be enough to service multiple other submissive machines?”

  And like that, I knew I did not want to go any further down this line of thinking.

  “I’m good, you do you, and I will be fine wayyyy over here,” I responded, trying to draw a clear line of I didn’t want to know what he meant by Mechrem, even though I unfortunately had a good enough idea to really feel greasy at the thought.

  Merry Christmas!

  This chapter was released early so you could spend more time with your friends and family. Please take a moment to let someone special in your life know that you care for them.

  Scheduled* release will be January 15th 2026!