Reborn as a Mechanist with a God-Tier System-Chapter 283: The journey to Iron Reef [1]
BEEP!
~----~
[Targets Identified!]
[1. Daren]
[2. Sergeant Tyla]
~----~
"..."
Leon stared at the notification that was being broadcasted by the Zerphyr-7 in a daze. ’What the heck!’
He was stunned, then he gnashed his teeth. ’DARENNNNNN!!!’
...
Below, one of the two soldiers looked at her wrist watch to check the time and muttered in a deliberately distorted voice in an impatient manner. "Why is he wasting so much time?"
The other coughed and glanced speculatively at their surroundings.
"Ahem... Leon, it’s me Daren," he smoothed his hair. "If you can see us, don’t keep us waiting, let’s go immediately".
For more than 2 minutes, there was no response.
But then out of nowhere, a massive shadow suddenly appeared above their heads!
"...!" Daren was alarmed.
He didn’t realize that anything was there till it appeared despite now being an E Rank Gene Augur with extremely enhanced perception.
The E Rank Gene Augur immediately entered a defensive stance as he equipped his pistol and aimed at the sky. The other soldier was late to react by a fraction of a second, but she quickly equipped her pistol and also aimed at the sky.
Both froze, aiming at the strange shadow that they now realized was an aircraft, then... a figure jumped down.
Thud!
Leon jumped down from the aircraft and landed directly in front of them.
Both of them were still stunned by the sudden appearance of the black aircraft that somehow managed to sneak up on them, but Leon’s appearance still managed to draw their attention away.
"Hey". Leon casually waved his hand at both of them, trying to play it cool but he could not as his expression crumbled immediately.
He glared at Daren. "Come on man, this isn’t what we agreed!" He lamented. ’You were supposed to be my backup!’
Daren couldn’t respond as he avoided his friend’s face, instead it was Sergeant Tyla who did as she snorted before pulling the mask out of her face.
She threw the mask at him as Leon had no choice but to catch it, then she said in a non-negotiating tone. "I also want to follow you to Iron Reef".
"Why?" Leon blurted out.
"Because I want to".
"But my aircraft only has space for 2 people".
"Then we’ll create space or we’ll manage," she retorted. "Or you can stay in the cargo hold while I and Daren stay in the pilot and passenger seats".
Leon opened his mouth to retort, but then he closed it back. He was tongue-tied.
On another hand though, he was surprised. ’She’s talking to me normally!’ He didn’t know how to react to that.
When he decided to come down from the Zerphyr-7, he already predicted Tyla’s possible reactions. He expected her to rant and shout at him, venting all of her frustration for the past 3 weeks, he even thought she’ll shoot at him with her gun.
He didn’t expect her to be this calm and composed.
This reaction left Leon feeling guilty, then he asked. "Um, you’re not angry?"
Tyla stared at him in disdain even as Daren also finally removed his mask, then she shrugged. "You’re such a coward for rejecting my love, but it doesn’t matter, I already accepted the fact that it’s my cross".
"I’m in love, so I’ll fight for it no matter what it takes".
"After discussing extensively with Daren and venting to him, I realized that you probably have your reasons for deciding to avoid me".
"I’ll respect your reasons".
Leon was genuinely surprised, he just opened his mouth without talking.
"This doesn’t mean I’ll give up though". She glared at him. "I decided to apply as a foreign delegate of the Gene Army that’ll be handling deals between our talented new D Rank Mechanist ally and the Army, that’s why I’m here".
"What of your career?"
Tyla shrugged. "Have you forgotten? I told you that I do what I like, and right now, this is what I want to do".
"Besides, it’s not like I’m deserting the army or something".
Leon quietly glared at Daren, then he looked at her again.
Though he knew it was likely fruitless at this point, he couldn’t help but add. "Following me is dangerous". He said in a serious tone.
Tyla was unfazed. "If it’s that dangerous then you protect me".
"You’re a D Rank Mechanist now, right?" She shrugged. "Are you saying with all that power, you can’t even protect me?"
Leon quietly stared at her.
She continued. "Besides, don’t worry, I don’t intend to be deadweight for long. I’ve decided to become strong too. I spoke with Daren and he told me that you have deep knowledge to know when people are best equipped to attempt a Trial for Ascension, so I want to follow you to learn from you".
"Don’t you dare look down on me," she glared at him and snorted. "I’m an Ascended too, and I’m strong!"
"One day, when I’m strong enough, I’ll beat you for what you made me experience for the past 3 weeks".
Leon blinked and scratched the back of his head. ’Uh... what am I supposed to respond with?’
He alternated a complicated, helpless, and accusing gaze across Tyla and Daren, making his friend pretend to admire the distant sky as he avoided making eye contact with him.
’F*cking Judas!’ He cursed.
...
WHOOSH!
25,000 meters above the surface of Neo-Tokara, the Zerphyr-7 moved like a drifting shadow across the upper atmosphere, its rotors whispering through thin air at 700+ kilometers per hour.
It glided through the sky at cruise speed.
The aircraft’s destination was set for Iron Reef.
With the tension of the past now behind them, Daren finally found the opportunity to excitedly discuss the stealth aircraft as he blabbered non-stop in an excited manner.
"Wow, I didn’t realize that you are already capable of constructing things like this! Leon, this is crazy!"
"This is mad bro!" He looked outside at the clouds drifting past them with wide and excited eyes.
25,000 meters above the surface, they climbed to a level where the aircraft glided through the neon storms in the sky!
This was the first time that Daren and Tyla ever flew inside the neon storms.
At first, it was scary as all around them, Daren and Tyla saw tiny explosions of blue, orange, red, and violet around them like they were drifting at the heart of a supernova explosion.
The neon storms were visually scary, but they didn’t seem that dangerous up close as the aircraft effortlessly drifted through them without any turbulence, or so they thought till Leon explained it to them.
"I already had a few test-runs with the aircraft since I crafted it".
"The neon storms are not always this safe, there are entire vast regions of them that are extremely lethal and I believe can even harm C Rank Ascended".
"The only reason why we’re gliding without any turbulence is because the Zerphyr-7 already mapped the safest route through the clouds to Iron Reef, and it’s continually refreshing it’s feed in real-time to detect any changes in the sky and adjust accordingly".
"Wow!" Daren was genuinely impressed.
By excitedly discussing the Zerphyr-7, Leon already broke the ice completely as they conversed like one big family again.
And finally, Daren asked the big question. "How was your Trial? What did you encounter?"
Hearing that question, Leon took a deep breath as he reminisced the 13 crazy days that he spent in Iron Reef.
He chuckled. "If I told you, you wouldn’t believe it".
"Tell me about your own Trial first".
...
[Special Appreciation to r03n, Shadesworn, and Yametekudastop for the Golden Tickets, thanks for the consistent support! You guys are honestly the best!]
