Chapter Fifty-Three: Forsaking the Root for the Branch

"What are you daydreaming about?" Xuanxuan waved her hand in front of Zhanyu.

Zhanyu glanced at Xuanxuan, a faint smile tugging at his lips. Perhaps he'd been shocked too many times; now, hearing such news, he'd learned to remain calm.

"Show me the experiment," Zhanyu said without hesitation, fully trusting Xuanxuan.

She nodded, setting up the simulation mech.

Tilting her head, she pondered what movements the simulated mech puppet should perform. What had Wanqi Weihao and the others competed in last time? Xuanxuan thought for a long while, but during their competition, she'd been preoccupied with the simulated mech puppet and hadn't really seen what they did.

However, she vaguely remembered some details of Zhanyu's previous battle with Kuang Shao.

She recalled them carefully.

Xuanxuan operated the puppet mech, moving it back and forth, walking several laps until the awkwardness faded.

Then she began to control the mech in earnest.

Zhanyu stared in astonishment as the mech before him moved with remarkable agility, performing the "Z-step" and aerial rotations in ways that seemed almost impossible.

It took considerable effort for Zhanyu to convince himself that the small mech contained no human pilot, only a simulated mechanism, operated from the outside—by mental force, no less.

Even though he, Zhanyu, had watched Xuanxuan dismantle the simulator, seen her install new parts he'd crafted, witnessed the reassembly, and finally observed her control it—all right before his eyes.

Still, it was difficult to believe.

That a simulation mech could move with such flexibility.

And, that it could be controlled by mental power! That the operation could be so convenient, so agile.

Xuanxuan noticed Zhanyu's expression, a slight curve at her lips, though it was hidden beneath her white mask.

Zhanyu's expressions were becoming rarer, but his dumbfounded look was quite endearing.

“How is this possible?” Zhanyu asked.

Xuanxuan thought for a moment about how to explain it simply. “Inside the puppet—no, you can think of this simulated mech as containing a formation array. It connects to my mental force, and the array governs the entire body of the simulated mech, much like your central nervous system. My mental force controls the array, allowing me to command the whole simulation mech through mental power.”

Zhanyu nodded, still only half understanding; he had no idea what a formation array was.

But he grasped that it was akin to having an intelligent system inside the mech, and Xuanxuan’s mental force acted as the control panel. The new components replaced the functions of an intelligent core.

Although he wasn’t fully versed in the use of mental power in mechs, Zhanyu understood a little.

The principle was the same as what Xuanxuan had said—her technology was simply more advanced.

“Can this control larger machines?” Zhanyu asked.

Xuanxuan nodded. “Yes, but it depends on the strength of the mental force. For this simulated mech, even an ordinary F-level could operate it.”

“What about my ‘Solaris’?”

“‘Solaris’?” Xuanxuan recalled the size and complexity of Zhanyu’s black mech. “A novice would need at least B-level mental force, but with experience, C+ would suffice.”

He looked at Xuanxuan, barely able to believe it. Currently, only a handful of advanced mechs could be controlled by mental power due to the difficulty.

Moreover, the technology was immature and prohibitively expensive.

It couldn’t be adopted as a standard tool by the military.

But “Solaris” was one of the best large-scale mechs—renowned throughout the Federation.

If such a mech required only B-level mental force, “What about ordinary military mechs?”

Xuanxuan gazed at Zhanyu, puzzled. What exactly constituted an ordinary military mech?

He had spent enough time with Xuanxuan to understand her every glance.

He immediately ordered a standard military mech for Xuanxuan from Pearl Tower.

It was the most common type. Thanks to star network delivery, it arrived almost instantly.

He looked at the sturdy black machine before him.

It wasn’t particularly attractive—quite unremarkable, with hardly any outstanding features.

Yet its mediocrity was its greatest strength, for it lacked glaring flaws.

Xuanxuan meticulously inspected it.

She considered: if she installed the puppet’s core in this machine, it would likely require at least C-level mental force to control.

Though somewhat smaller than Zhanyu’s mech, its overall quality was inferior, and its control system certainly less smooth than “Solaris.”

Xuanxuan gave an honest assessment: “C-level.”

Zhanyu frowned, confused. Such mechs in the military could be operated by those with D-level physical abilities.

Even E-levels could manage, using manual controls.

Xuanxuan was even more perplexed—why would anyone need to control such a machine externally with mental force? Unless they were mages, would those trained in physical techniques require it?

Internal control was different; the proximity greatly reduced the mental force required, and it was much safer.

For those operating mechs, it was the most convenient and fitting method.

Xuanxuan couldn’t understand why Zhanyu insisted on this roundabout approach.

She said, “Using this method, if you control it from inside, even E-level mental force would barely suffice, though D-level is best.”

Zhanyu, who’d been somewhat frustrated, suddenly saw a glimmer of hope.

“Internal control is more convenient, safer, and suitable for you.”

Because the Federation’s combat environments were often inhospitable to humans. Unlike the continent of Mata, which was only a single landmass, where mages could operate puppets externally anywhere.

Zhanyu slapped his forehead. “That’s right.”

He felt foolish. If mechs were controlled externally, soldiers’ survival odds would be much lower.

Against the insect swarm, only those with advanced physical or psychic abilities could barely stand up to them.

Ordinary soldiers, deprived of mech protection, had no chance of survival.

Humanity depended on mechs to repel the insect threat.

In the Federation, the presence of mechs and soldiers ensured ordinary people could live their lives.

Zhanyu valued Xuanxuan’s mental control technology so highly because it could improve mech technology significantly.

He firmly believed the insects were evolving, and their retreat a few years ago was merely a pause to recuperate. The Federation’s belief that the insects had truly been repelled was laughable.

Given their numbers and capacity for evolution, humanity’s path to victory was still long.

Advances in mech technology could greatly enhance human combat strength.