Chapter 98
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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 98
Chapter Title: Second-Generation Core
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The experimental Gigant prepared for testing was Miles grade.
However, it wasn't exactly the same as a standard Miles grade. It appeared to have undergone various modifications to accommodate the new core.
‘The core stabilization got a lot of attention. There are several techniques I've never seen before.’
Instead of immediately activating the core, Abel examined its surroundings.
This was a matter directly tied to his own safety, after all.
It was an instinctive action, separate from trusting Deborah's words.
‘The core is... as expected, dualing technology.’
Abel's gaze turned to the core.
The purple core looked like a single unit on the outside, but that wasn't the case.
It was two cores linked together, then coated with a purple membrane.
‘This membrane enhances bonding for stabilization. Output might be a bit lower, but that's unavoidable.’
The dualing technology that connected two cores wasn't just about combining their power additively.
Through resonance between the two cores, it could produce three or four times the power.
However, the higher the output, the lower the stability, so it was generally limited to an appropriate level.
First, the front core seemed to be two cores typically used in Tito grades linked together.
‘This should produce at least 1.5 times the power of a standard Miles core.’
It was an inference based on game lore and the knowledge he'd gained here, but he didn't think it was far off.
What mattered in this technology wasn't the dualing itself, but how stably it could be maintained.
In fact, that was why second-generation cores hadn't been developed yet.
“Whew.”
Abel let out a short breath and loosened up his body.
Analysis was the researchers' job. His task was to confirm if this core functioned normally.
He had already heard about the problems from previous experiments.
‘The failures all stemmed from issues during the resonance process with the core.’
Several possibilities came to mind immediately.
But without checking directly, he couldn't pinpoint the exact problem.
Abel steeled himself and placed both hands on the core.
‘It’s cool.’
A cold sensation transmitted through his palms.
Abel drew mana from deep within his body and slowly pushed it into the core.
The mana spread from the core throughout the entire Gigant.
The crucial part came next.
Resonance was completed when Abel's mana returned to his body after passing through the core and Gigant.
Spreading mana through the Gigant wasn't too difficult.
The hard part was accepting the mana amplified by the core.
Wooooong—!
The core began to glow faintly and vibrate.
Abel felt a torrent of mana rushing in.
It retraced its path, lingered briefly in the core, then surged into Abel's body.
“Guh.”
An intense foreign sensation pierced his body, drawing an involuntary groan from him.
But he gritted his teeth, steadily assimilating the mana into his body, and eventually succeeded in accepting it.
Wung-wung—.
Pushing the accepted mana back into the core made everything easier afterward.
Once the pathway was established, the mana connected Abel and the Gigant stably, as if it had never caused any trouble.
“Whew.”
Abel exhaled shortly once more and opened his eyes wide.
The process he'd just completed wasn't easy, but most riders failed at what came next.
After finishing the basic resonance and attempting to move the Gigant, they couldn't overcome the intensified foreign sensation.
Abel focused on that point and slowly tried to move the Gigant.
But then.
‘This is...’
The mana he thought he'd fully assimilated churned wildly inside him.
And it wasn't just that.
The sensation that should firmly link him and the Gigant was extremely unstable.
It felt like he was sitting inside the belly of a massive enemy, not a sturdy ally.
Abel instinctively grasped the problem.
‘The core fusion isn't perfect.’
Dualing technology linked two cores to draw out immense power.
But if the cores weren't selected properly, major issues arose.
Just like now.
‘The mana is trying to flow in all directions.’
Imagine a carriage pulled by two horses.
If both horses run in the same direction, there's no problem.
But the moment they pull in different directions, the carriage doesn't just fail to move—it endangers the passengers.
The current situation was exactly like that.
‘Should I just point it out like this?’
Now that he'd identified the cause, it wouldn't matter.
With development this far along, just hinting at it would let them produce a proper result within the year.
But that would mean his dream of obtaining a second-generation core ahead of schedule would vanish into the distance.
As he stabilized the churning mana and pondered, Abel seemed to make a decision and gripped the core tightly.
Wooooooong!
There were two ways to handle rampaging mana.
Exert powerful control to forcibly restrain it.
Or drastically raise the sync rate with the Gigant to force the mana in one direction.
Easier said than done—neither was something to attempt lightly.
Just look at how all the renowned riders Deborah had recruited had failed.
Yet Abel didn't give up.
‘The key is imagination.’
He imagined not just piloting the Gigant, but becoming one with it.
The mana circuits spread throughout the Gigant's body were his blood vessels, and the flow within them was his blood.
He sensed the metal muscles and frame, then brought them under his control.
“Th-the Gigant is shaking!”
“What does that mean?”
“It's a symptom that usually appears when the sync rate is extraordinarily high.”
A technician observing from outside conversed with Deborah.
Abel heard the conversation as vividly as if it were right beside him.
Not strange at all.
If he and the Gigant were one, then those sensations were surely under his control.
Wung-wung!
Even amid this, the mana continued its fierce resistance.
Forcing disobedient mana down a single path was only natural to provoke rebellion.
But Abel didn't waver and instead raised his sync rate even higher.
And at one point.
Thud!
Abel braced his arm against the ground and rose to his feet.
He tensed his trembling legs, straightened his waist. His field of view shot up, taking in the entire lab at a glance.
“Haa.”
Abel exhaled hot breath.
A powerful force coursed through his entire body, filling him with ecstasy.
An omnipotence incomparable to any previous Gigant enveloped him.
‘This is the second-generation core.’
It exceeded expectations.
Even with output heavily restricted, it seemed to match twice that of a standard Miles.
Abel savored the sensation for a long while before looking down.
Silence had fallen over the previously noisy lab.
Not just the technicians and researchers—even Deborah stared at the risen Gigant in shock.
“My god.”
Only after a long moment did someone regain their senses and murmur in admiration.
“It... it stood up.”
“Did it succeed?”
“Of course! It raised the Gigant!”
Once the silence broke, words poured out like a dam bursting.
Abel lightly performed a Gigant diagnostic routine in that state, then laid it back down in its original position.
Soon, the cockpit opened, and Abel emerged, his body drenched in sweat.
“L-Ladder!”
“Hurry and support him!”
The staff rushed over to assist him.
Their attitude was worlds apart from before he piloted it—extremely cautious.
“Splendid. Beyond expectations.”
Deborah approached next, her eyes sparkling as she spoke to him.
Her pupils gleamed brightly, unlike before.
Excitement. Pleasure. Satisfaction. And possessiveness.
Seeing the complex emotions swirling in Deborah's eyes, Abel grinned.
“It exceeded my expectations too.”
“Could you continue cooperating with experiments going forward? I'll compensate generously per session.”
“Is that necessary?”
“Pardon?”
Abel spoke to Deborah, who paused at his response.
“At this point, it won't be easy to find anyone else who can handle that core besides me.”
“Well...”
“So let's make an exclusive contract. Include that core in the compensation.”
“What exactly do you want?”
“I want to transplant that core into my Gigant and use it.”
It wasn't an impulsive remark born of excitement.
He had planned from the start to acquire it somehow if the core proved usable.
Of course, he didn't think Deborah would refuse.
What she needed wasn't the unfinished core itself, but sufficient experiment data.
“Very well.”
Sure enough, Deborah nodded without much deliberation and extended a hand.
“Shall we negotiate the detailed contract terms?”
“Yes.”
Abel clasped her hand.
* * *
Right after the experiment, the mood suggested they'd sign immediately, but the actual contract was finalized three days later.
Abel needed time to review the terms, after all.
After three days of review, they reached a satisfactory agreement.
Once the contract was done, Deborah spoke.
“We've focused on checking the points you mentioned, and sure enough, stability varies greatly depending on how the cores are combined and fused.”
Abel had shared the issues he'd sensed right on the day of the experiment.
It was his original duty, separate from the new contract.
Abel nodded in response.
“Yes. There were signs of attention to core combinations, but a little care isn't enough. Previously, you used cores of the same type, right?”
“Correct.”
“Same type doesn't guarantee good fusion. Sometimes different individuals match better.”
Core fusion wasn't that simple.
Gigadeus fragments operated on principles unlike ordinary lifeforms, especially cores.
“The current best combination is definitely the fire monkey and black lizard specimens.”
“An interesting pairing. You'll probably discover quite a few more with some searching.”
Deborah smiled and nodded, then slowly spoke.
“I'm tempted to recruit you not just as a test rider, but as a researcher too.”
“That praise is too much. I'm nowhere near that level.”
“Researchers need more than knowledge... I see you're not interested.”
Sensing Abel's reaction, Deborah changed the subject instead of pressing.
“But are you sure about transplanting the current core into your Gigant?”
Deborah's question was reasonable.
It had succeeded in one activation, but it was still unstable in many ways.
But Abel replied firmly.
“Yes. There will be risks, but I can control it sufficiently.”
For Abel, the new core's power was worth the danger.
Deborah, no longer interested in persuading him, readily agreed.
“Then we'll leave the transplant to Vulcanus's workshop and proceed immediately. And I'll lend you the artifacts provided during the experiment for free.”
“Those artifacts?”
“Yes. Consider it a small gift.”
“I'll gratefully accept.”
Abel saw no reason to refuse.
With those artifacts from the experiment, he wouldn't face mortal danger even in the worst case.
After wrapping up contract-related talk like this.
Abel brought up a separate question he'd prepared.
“Unrelated to the contract, I have one curiosity.”
“What is it?”
“Do you know anything about Gigadeus remains?”
At that question, Deborah's eyes flashed with slight surprise, then she smiled.
“You mean the ones in Red Hall.”