NOVEL NEXT Chapter 9: Kurtulo (Part 2)
"This is ridiculous! A company has actually created a Jaeger! And it's a Mark-6 Jaeger that surpasses the most advanced fifth-generation one! When did the world become so absurd?"
After integrating an unfamiliar Jaeger into the application system of the PPDC's Jaeger combat data platform system, Tendo Choi still couldn't believe it. He considered himself a genius, but he never imagined that a company could build a Jaeger on its own! Even a fourth-generation model seemed far-fetched to him!
The cost would be astronomical.
Just the core team needed to maintain, repair, and build a single Jaeger, at its peak, would require at least hundreds of people! Besides, there were numerous other teams involved in the project with clear divisions of labor. Just thinking about the construction costs, technical power, labor costs, supporting factories, and industrial strength was enough to drive any company manager mad.
At present, the Jaeger Program was something only a country could afford to sustain!
If the information was true, then Shao Industries had broken this perception.
"I don't care how Shao Industries and Dr. Luke Field managed it, as long as their Jaeger can help us eliminate the Kaiju, I'll disregard everything else," Stacker said, watching the increasingly intense battle on the virtual screen with a deep, calculating gaze. Over the years, as funding shifted largely toward the Anti-Kaiju Wall Project, Stacker had even resorted to black-market trading of Kaiju carcasses to fund PPDC operations and Jaeger maintenance. What else did he have to care about?
His only obsession was eliminating the Kaiju and finding a way to close the wormhole at the bottom of the Pacific.
Anyone who could help on this path would be his ally!
...
"Hang in there, Rogue, the headquarters said new support is on the way." Crimson Typhoon rushed forward to help, offering encouragement to the battered Shaolin Rogue. But in a moment of distraction, the Kaiju, Hou Da, seized the opportunity. It discarded the Shaolin Rogue and, despite taking a few more wounds, grabbed Crimson Typhoon's mechanical arm and hoisted it high, preparing to slam it to the ground.
Fortunately, Crimson Typhoon managed to adjust mid-air, twisting its metal waist 180 degrees, and with a powerful mechanical leg, it kicked the Kaiju, sending it flying.
Roar!
After crashing into the sea, the Kaiju, Hou Da, furiously righted itself, its massive body expanding with each breath, muscles and yellow arteries standing out. The Shaolin Rogue was swatted to the ground, and its mechanical arm was ripped off. The Kaiju's foot crushed its chest, and after discarding the broken arm, it aimed for the Jaegers head. If it weren't for Crimson Typhoon once again intervening, Shaolin Rogue's head would have been torn off by the Kaiju's powerful claws.
"Careful! It's getting stronger!" one of Shaolin Rogue's Arm had been ripped off, and the Jaeger's energy shield had suffered damage. With the Kaiju now enraged, continuing the fight would put the pilots in grave danger.
Luckily, the pilots of the Shaolin Rogue had already received an alert from PPDC. On their virtual screen, they saw a strange new Jaeger rapidly descending toward them with a fiery exhaust trailing behind it.
It was a Jaeger with a skull-shaped head, and three eyes that occupied half the head's area. Its back was hunched, and the thick armor suggested it was a powerful warrior—perfect to take the front line, absorb the Kaiju's fire, and create an opening for Crimson Typhoon.
"Hey..." The Shaolin Outlaws pilots were about to greet the newcomer, offering tactical information, but before he could speak, a massive red figure flew past their virtual screen, slamming into a building and burying half its body in debris.
The next moment, the Kaiju, Hou Da, having just knocked Crimson Typhoon away, charged again to finish it off. As it leapt, its arms came crashing down heavily towards the new Mecha Hunter.
Boom!
Kurtulo raised both arms, crouching slightly. With its energy system at full power, the Kaiju, Hou Da, found itself locked in a struggle, unable to overwhelm Kurtulo, who stood unwavering.
The Kaiju Hou Da cursed itself for not having a tail like a bipedal creature, which could have helped in the battle. It also regretted not having long-range attack capabilities. But it still had a secret weapon—its ability to fly!
Suddenly, the skin under its arms tore open as wings, like those of a pterosaur, unfolded. It was preparing to soar into the sky with its unwitting opponent, intending to show it the thrill of flying and the despair of falling.
However, just as it attempted to take off, the Kaiju was stunned to see the opponent's two slender, skeletal mechanical arms extending from behind. Each palm contained a pulsing energy orb, glowing brightly.
In a desperate attempt, the Kaiju struggled, but Kurtulo acted quickly. The energy orbs were forced into its mouth and chest wound, releasing blinding light from within the Kaiju's body. Electricity surged from the wound, transforming the Kaiju into a glowing, electric hedgehog, standing out against the dark skies.
After several seconds, the Kaiju finally fell motionless, suspended in the air, like a limp, broken mass of flesh, held aloft by Kurtulo.
...
"Kaiju life signs are gone," PPDC's Tendo Choi reported with a numb voice. Stacker, standing next to him, stared at the peculiar Jaeger on the virtual screen, his eyes filled with awe.
...
Shao Industries.
Core Area of the G3 Hunter Factory.
Liwen Shao rushed in, her face anxious. As she entered, she saw Dr. Luke Field removing the sensory helmet from his head. Shao looked around in confusion, trying to find the person who had been connecting with Luke Field via the sensory link, but Luke was the only one wearing the equipment.