Chapter 47: The Unexpected Offer
The tension from the previous encounter lingered in the air as the General straightened up, his expression serious. "Kalki," he began, "how much do you need for the blueprint of your mech?"
Kalki hesitated for a moment before raising five fingers, intending to indicate 50 million UC. The General's eyes widened in surprise. "Five billion?" he exclaimed.
Kalki's hands, still raised, started trembling involuntarily. His shock turned into an unconscious nodding of his head, confirming the General's misunderstanding. "Yes," he managed to say, though his voice wavered with the overwhelming realization.
The General nodded, a determined glint in his eye. "I'll agree to this deal, but I want to see your mech in action during the second round of the competition. Prove its worth in combat, and you'll have your five billion."
With the General's words still ringing in his ears, Kalki made his way to the arena where the second round of the competition was about to commence. Only those mechs that had been assessed and certified were allowed to proceed, narrowing the field to around 300 participants.
As he prepared for the next stage, Rook and Alex approached him, concern etched on their faces. "Kalki, where did you disappear to in the middle of the competition?" Rook asked.
Kalki quickly formulated a response, trying to sound casual. "I had to take care of something urgent," he replied. "Nothing to worry about."
Rook seemed somewhat satisfied, but Alex's eyes narrowed, filled with doubt. He had seen Kalki's devilish nature earlier and wasn't easily convinced. "Are you sure that's all?" Alex probed, suspicion evident in his tone.
Kalki offered a reassuring smile, but inside, he felt the weight of Alex's scrutiny. "Trust me, it's nothing. Let's focus on the next round."
Despite Kalki's reassurances, Alex couldn't shake the feeling that something significant had happened. However, with the competition resuming, there was little time to dwell on his suspicions. The arena buzzed with anticipation as the remaining competitors prepared to showcase their mechs, each one striving to prove its superiority in the upcoming battles.
As the students chatted among themselves, a loud, regal musical sound echoed through the arena, signaling the arrival of nobility. Instantly, all the students and instructors bowed deeply, showing their respect. Only Rook and a third-year student remained standing, their eyes scanning the crowd with a mix of defiance and curiosity. Kalki, unfamiliar with the protocol, quickly followed suit and bowed, unsure of what was happening.
Suddenly, the vice principal appeared on stage in a flash of light, seemingly teleporting out of nowhere. "Welcome, Emperor and Empress," he announced, his voice carrying a mix of awe and reverence.
As the Emperor and Empress entered, a palpable pressure filled the air. The Emperor's presence was overwhelming, akin to that of the principal, and the students found it difficult to breathe under the weight of his aura. Just when the pressure seemed unbearable, the Empress released a soothing counter-pressure, easing the tension and allowing the students to catch their breath.
Kalki's eyes widened in utter shock as he recognized the Empress. She was none other than Ms. Seraphina, the woman who had always helped him whenever he needed it. When she first assisted him, Kalki had thought she was simply a wealthy benefactor. Never in his wildest dreams had he imagined that she was the Empress. And Ember also accompanies them. Kalki thought this was the reason why she did not attend the first stage of the competition to see Kalki.
Ember accompanied the royal pair, her presence adding to the surreal moment. Seraphina caught sight of Kalki and subtly winked at him with her right eye, while Ember gave him a friendly wave. The brief interaction did not go unnoticed. Immediately, the students turned toward Kalki with dangerous, envious looks. Rook, in particular, fixed him with a serious, almost accusatory gaze, making Kalki's heart race with tension.
The Emperor stepped forward and began his speech, his voice resonating with authority and charisma. He spoke of honor, duty, and the expectations placed upon the students. His words were both a challenge and a motivation, urging them to strive for greatness and uphold the legacy of their institution.
As the Emperor concluded his speech, the vice principal stepped in to wrap up the ceremony. "Prepare yourselves," he instructed. "We will soon be teleporting to the semi-dimensional rift for the next stage of the competition."
The students braced themselves as the vice principal activated the teleportation process. A bright light enveloped the arena, and in an instant, they were transported to the semi-dimensional rift, ready to face the challenges that awaited them.
The chaotic atmosphere of the Battle Royale enveloped Kalki as he found himself randomly transported to a remote, hilly area. His mech, Tempest Inferno, stood tall amidst the rugged terrain. Inside the deck, Kalki communicated with Yaksha, his voice echoing in the confined space. "I'm not in the mood to fight just yet," Kalki admitted, stretching out and preparing to nap.
Yaksha, irritated by Kalki's laziness, retorted sharply, "You can't just sleep through the competition, Kalki! This is a test of your skills and the mech's capabilities. You need to stay alert."
Outside the arena, the Emperor and Empress observed the ongoing battles through a large holographic display. The Emperor turned to the Empress, his expression curious. "Is this the boy you sought out as the lower pillar?" he asked, pointing to Kalki's dormant mech on the screen.
The Empress laughed softly, her eyes twinkling with amusement. "The competition has just started. Give him time. You'll see his true potential soon enough."
A devilish smile spread across the Emperor's face as he replied, "Let's see how this unfolds."
Meanwhile, in another part of the battlefield, Rook was engaged in a fierce fight against a group of mechs. Unlike his usual approach of fighting alongside Alex, he now fought solo, displaying an impressive mastery of his mech. With precise and powerful attacks, he defeated multiple opponents with single strikes.
Rook's mech moved with extraordinary agility, its fire abilities blazing through the battlefield. Flames erupted from its cannons, incinerating anything in their path. The mech's movements were swift and fluid, evading attacks with ease and countering with devastating force. Unlike Kalki's neural link control, Rook skillfully manipulated the mech using manual controls, demonstrating his superior piloting skills.
As Rook's mech launched another fiery attack, his concentration was unwavering. He maneuvered with confidence, his mech's agility and power allowing him to dominate the battlefield. With each enemy mech that fell, Rook's determination grew, his focus solely on securing victory in the Battle Royale.
Back in the hilly area, Kalki remained in the deck, half-asleep, ignoring Yaksha's continuous curses. The mech stood idle, a stark contrast to the intense battles raging elsewhere. However, Kalki's moment of rest would soon be interrupted as the competition progressed, pushing all participants to their limits.
Suddenly, Kalki's mech shook violently, jolting him awake from his sleep. He quickly scanned the surroundings, peering through the mech's visual interface to see what had caused the disturbance. Outside, he spotted a group of students who had come to eliminate him, their mechs surrounding Tempest Inferno in a semi-circle.
The leader of the group stepped forward, his voice amplified through the mech's speakers. "Surrender now! You don't stand a chance against us," he boasted. Kalki recognized the voice immediately—it was Dhanush, a second-year student who had previously lost to him in a battle simulation pod, much to his own embarrassment. It was clear Dhanush had no idea who was inside the enemy mech.
Kalki chuckled, a wide grin spreading across his face. "Dhanush, you should have known better than to challenge me again," he said, his voice filled with amusement. He activated Tempest Inferno's sword, a massive blade that radiated both flame and wind essence.
With a surge of energy, Kalki channeled his essence into the Elemental Nexus Core, which then distributed it throughout the mech's body. The mech's power output spiked dramatically, emanating the formidable aura of a peak epic-tier beast. The air around Tempest Inferno crackled with energy, its presence overwhelming.
Dhanush and his group felt the shift in power, their bravado quickly turning to fear. "Retreat! We can't fight him like this!" Dhanush ordered, his voice betraying his panic as he and his group tried to flee.
Kalki, deciding to end the confrontation swiftly, used only his mech's sword to avoid harming the pilots within their mechs. With precise control, he unleashed a series of rapid, thunderous strikes, the blade moving with the speed and accuracy of a laser beam. Within milliseconds, he had severed the limbs of all the enemy mechs, leaving them immobilized and defenseless.
Dhanush and his group were left stunned, their mechs disabled and their plan in ruins. Kalki's swift and decisive action had rendered their assault completely ineffective, showcasing the immense power and skill he wielded with Tempest Inferno. Like this Dhanush and his group eliminated and teleported back.
Kalki decided to end the confrontation decisively. "It's not worth fighting flies," he muttered, activating the Tempest Inferno's vehicle mode. The mech transformed smoothly into its sleek, high-speed jet form, blazing boosters igniting as it took off into the sky.
Flying through the air, Kalki enjoyed the rush of wind and fire elements propelling him forward. He navigated the hilly terrain below, scanning for any significant threats. After a while, he spotted a scene that piqued his interest: Rook's mech, heavily damaged, with only one leg and one arm remaining. The opponent was none other than the same third-year student who had previously looked at Rook with disdain.
Kalki's lips curled into a devilish smile, his demeanor shifting dramatically. His aura darkened, a malevolent energy radiating from him. "Interesting," he murmured, his voice tinged with a sinister edge.
As the third-year student's mech stood over Rook's crippled form, Kalki made his move. In a fluid motion, Tempest Inferno shifted from jet mode back to its imposing mech form, still airborne. Kalki descended rapidly, his sword blazing with elemental power. The sudden transformation and attack took the third-year student by surprise.
With a fierce battle cry, Kalki launched himself at the third-year student's mech, his sword aimed directly at the enemy. The blade, infused with both flame and wind essence, gleamed menacingly as it sliced through the air, ready to strike with devastating force.