Chapter 594: Teardrop and Spatial Window
Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation
Ye Chong took the journal, along with the microchip that contained the mentioned visual out of the mech. No expression could be perceived on his face, not even Rui Bing could discern the thoughts of her man.
Ye Chong then booted the energy management system of the mech for further investigation.
There was one last question unanswered, what kept the mech running for so long? What kind of energy source?
And the details on the glowing interface answered him, as what he had suspected – it was Teardrop, which was not a far-fetched choice for a superior model from a superior family. What he found far-fetched however, was the fact that Shang never thought of utilizing Teardrop for his own energy consumption, despite also being a superior mech model.
No wonder the red-tailed beasts were catching the mech like moths to the flame. All these while, it was because of the energy signature, not the mech.
Ye Chong was not sure how these beasts would use a Teardrop but he was very sure that these beasts wanted it hard.
He dismounted Teardrop and took a look at the circuit. The materials involved might have been considered top-notch back then, but now they appeared obsolete in the eyes of Ye Chong who had mined an inventory full of rare minerals from Darkniss before.
His calm eyes shifted to the piles of dusty bones across the seat, there might not be words from him but his heart was rumbling with something complicated.
Was that … my father? My true father?
His mind spoke softly, never believing that it would be such a reunion with his father when it happened.
"Ye," Rui Bing's heart ached upon the grimly indifferent expression of Ye Chong, "Let's bury our father." Her hands gripped Ye Chong tight.
He responded with a nod as he began picking up the crumbling bones piece by piece.
Both of them exited the mech. Ye Chong withdrew his dagger, an action foreign to the bewildered Sha Ya as he started digging a hole on the ground to place the pieces.
The experience was not particularly new to Ye Chong since he was also the one who buried Papa back then. He still could remember it like it was yesterday. It was so sad that he feared as Papa was his only relative who had taken good care of him since he was young.
Ye Chong might be apathetic at times, but he was still a child back then. There was fear in him, over losing his only close relative who had been taking care of him since he was still crawling the ground.
And now he was there, watching his signpost of blood and flesh disintegrating into the ashes on the ground. It was a complicated feeling of seeing a reunion having to go like this.
"Let's salute your father...," said Rui Bing softly.
He was not entirely clear about this concept of saluting people but he just imitated Rui Bing's action as he bowed before the tomb thrice.
Ye Chong intended to leave the scene afterwards, as he looked at that old damaged Lazunite gasping for air on the ground. The mech was beyond repair and only components like the detection system were working as if yesterday, with a few glitches that could be fatal to the pilot.
Let ashes be ashes.
Let memories remain as memories.
Let the mech stay the place it was, with its owner for all eternity.
"We are going back," said Ye Chong hoarsely to Sha Ya who was unaware of what happened in the abandoned mech far away from her. Nevertheless, she was fully aware of what should be asked and what should not, so she just remained quiet and followed the order as they returned to Darkniss.
Ye Chong's crew had been following their leader for quite some time so they could tell his mood despite his apparent indifference. Their leader might be a wise and calm one, unexpressive of his emotion yet they demonstrated cautious obedience, as part of their deep respect to Ye Chong their leader.
"My lord, perhaps we could use this window," said Aried as he inched towards Ye Chong.
"What do you propose?" replied Ye Chong as he got back from his deep thoughts. He did not see how one could utilize this dimensional window that broke the surrounding with horrendous cracks, other than killing the place of course.
"Sir, the cracks are fading away," added Sha Ya.
"Fading..." Ye Chong flinched, "away?" That was a plot twist.
"Wait, Sha Ya, did you say 'fading away'?" Aried was astonished too, "Impossible! We did not detect any high energy activity at the surrounding, at least not high enough to stimulate the disintegration."
High energy... activity? Minerals?
Teardrops?
Was it because of Teardrop?
The thought flashed in Ye Chong's mind.
The dimensional cracks were far more denser at Lazunite yet...
Could there be a relationship... between the space distortion activity and Teardrops?
"Sir!" Screamed Sha Ya, "There are formation of dimensional cracks around us! It's increasing!"
Ye Chong jumped up from his throne.
I knew it! It is the Teardrops! It has to be! The Darkniss utilized Teardrops as the source of energy. Of course Aried could not detect any high level of energy activity nearby!
We *are* the high level energy activity itself!
"Avoid them, Sha Ya, you'll lead us!" Ye Chong commanded as he turned to Aried and said, "We MUST get through the dimensional window, now! Tell me what do you need!"
"But.. but... my lord... We aren't aware of where the dimensional window leads t-"
"I KNOW!" Ye Chong interrupted as he looked at Aried. "We can go anywhere but it's definitely not here! Leave now!"
Aried replied, "Y-yes sir," giving a few dramatic nods.
"What do you need? Report!" said Ye Chong.
Aried pondered for a few moments, "Teardrop. Give me one Teardrop." It was a confident reply from him.
Without hesitation, Ye Chong removed a Teardrop and passed to Aried.
The crew members got busy as bees in the control room, while the rest were looking at the hologram that reflected their upcoming fate.
As we all know, piloting a giant warship to perform hectic and minimal evasion was an art, a tremendously challenging movement that required precise coordination.
Therefore it was justifiable to see the crew members being this tense, as a long chains of command was uttered in shrieks from time to time, from one member to another.
The dimensional cracks were forming at a moderate rate round the ship, which was the saving grace for the crew. If the cracks came a bit faster, they might have to join the stars.
Aried led Sang Kan to the dimensional window as surrounded by a formation of Level 8 shooters. Even though they could not clearly feel the structure of the dimensional window like their Level 9 counterparts, at least they could tell the location.
Aried and Sang Kan began setting up the apparatus, which were all the creation of Aried. Thankfully the ship was well-facilitated, so it did not take him long to build these, especially with the microchip from Ye Chong that contained insane amount of space science information. The Consortium was their aid, ironically.
There were a few blueprints and Aried had built machines upon them, yet no test was actually performed before.
It was a set of 14 silver round disks about half a meter in diameter, with complicated circuits over them. Aried and Sang Kan placed these disks right below the dimensional window.
The crew was curious. Aried was the scholar to them so they were interested in his latest experiment.
Both Aried and Sang Kan first connected all 14 disks and the wiring took them about 30 minutes. They spent the next 10 minutes performing final check.
Aried gestured Sang Kan to back away. He hesitated and eventually left Aried alone far ahead.
Aried was grim, as he installed the Teardrop on the centermost disk.
Beep.
The disk glowed with sea blue energy flowing through the entire circuit over the surface. In no time, the energy reached the other disks too.
Aried was relieved, the apparatus seemed to be working. He began sprinting, sprinting towards the warship. Sang Kan grabbed the running man over his shoulders and ran hurriedly as well.
The moment they got back to the ship, the dimensional window was morphing.