"Why did it suddenly start running?", Asher felt the faint firelight around him.
Listening to the "ka-cha ka-cha" sounds in his ears.
Quite atmospheric.
Asher looked down at the phone that had been in his hand the whole time and asked the Angel who knew the most about the situation.
["Please do not be afraid, this is normal."]
["Angel just used energy to activate the Heart of Machinery."]
Asher: "Alright, then how much energy do you have left now?"
Angel quickly gave Asher a precise figure.
["Based on the consumption during this period and a small amount of automatic recovery."]
["51.9%"]
'Goodness!'
If Asher remembered correctly, the Angel previously had about 76% energy.
The energy used to maintain Angel's normal operation and to protect Asher before, at most 5%. Which means, just activating the Heart of Machinery used nearly 20% of the energy.
If the energy needed for Angel to run was easy to collect, Asher wouldn't say anything.
But thinking about what he had to do for that energy, how he went into the sea and dived deep, Asher couldn't help but show a toothache-like expression.
"Tsss—"
'Heart of Machinery.'
'Terrifying as expected!'
Then, Asher seemed to think of something else and hurriedly asked, "Will the subsequent operation and functioning of the Heart of Machinery still require your energy?"
"What does the Heart of Machinery use to create semi-living mechanical creatures?"
'Consumes materials?'
'Or consumes energy?'
If it's the former, Asher might barely be able to support it.
If it's the latter…
Heh.
Asher would immediately choose to donate the Heart of Machinery.
["Both are needed,"] The answer from Angel hit Asher hard.
Asher: "..."
'Is it too late to turn around and leave now?'
'But…'
'I am already here. If I don't finish building Angel's body...'
Forget about Angel. Even Asher would feel a little unwilling.
"Alright then, what do we do next?", Asher wiped his face, calmed down, and asked seriously.
Angel seemed to understand Asher's inner struggle.
["Mr. Asher, please do not worry."]
["Once the Heart of Machinery enters operating mode, it can convert any form of energy into the energy required for subsequent operations and manufacturing."]
["Only, the energy from mythical creatures is the best among all energy types."]
["If replaced with other energy, a very large quantity is needed to achieve a similar effect."]
Asher suddenly understood.
'Quantitative change leads to qualitative change, right?'
'So energy conversion is the trick here.'
"Then you now…", Asher looked at Angel.
Thinking of Angel's massive body.
"How much energy is needed for the Heart of Machinery to recreate your original body?"
While asking, Asher smacked his lips.
Kind of hard to imagine.
Angel's original body was just too big, and every part and component was extremely refined.
More importantly, Asher didn't doubt for a second, Angel's original body definitely had countless attack systems.
'Can the Heart of Machinery really replicate Angel's original body exactly?'
Why did Asher feel a bit unconfident?
["Impossible,"] In this matter, Angel was very honest.
Asher: "?"
'That was a bit too honest.'
"But if it can't recreate an identical body, then what's the point of this whole thing?", Asher asked while stroking his chin.
He didn't doubt Angel's intentions.
'But if it's like this… then what's the difference from Angel just living inside the phone?'
'A usable phone case?'
'Ahem!'
'A usable backup body?'
["Not so."]
["The most important part of Angel is the core, which is Angel's will."]
["As long as there is a suitable body and an appropriate input of resources and materials, Angel can grow on its own."]
Asher: "!"
'Growth?'
'So Angel's restoration process is now split up into parts instead of done all at once?'
'This works!'
Thinking back to Angel's data panel, saying he wasn't tempted at all would be a lie.
But before, since Angel could only reside in Asher's phone, Asher couldn't make a contract with her.
Only contracted beasts count as a true pet beast for a Beast Tamer.
But now…
Asher looked at Angel with a burning gaze.
Before he could say anythingz Angel already spoke first.
["Mr. Asher, once Angel has a body of her own, may I ask if you are willing to form a contract with Angel?"]
["To truly become partners."]
Asher blinked and agreed without hesitation, "Of course!"
"We're already partners, aren't we."
Angel's eye also blinked a few times.
In theory, Angel only had an eye, so Asher shouldn't be able to see any expression.
But watching the blinking frequency, for some reason, Asher just felt it.
Angel was expressing happiness.
"Then shall we begin building your body?", Asher couldn't wait to suggest.
"The more energy you use, the closer the body will be to its final form, right?", Asher speculated logically.
If so…
Might as well go all in and make the Heart of Machinery create something as close to its limit as possible.
That way, Asher could save a lot of effort collecting future materials and helping Angel.
Unfortunately—
["The Heart of Machinery's upper limit can only recreate 5% of Angel's appearance."]
Asher sighed.
Looks like this shortcut isn't going to be so easy.
"5% is fine," After thinking, Asher asked again, "Then your current state inside my phone is… what exactly?"
["Core form. All actions consume energy."]
Asher was silent for a moment.
He really got it this time.
Angel didn't even mention what percent of form she had because living in the phone, there's no form at all.
The phone was just a vessel for Angel right now.
And once Angel had her own true body, it sounded like energy usage would also be more efficient?
Asher: 'No wonder energy always feels insufficient!'
'Turns out the problem isn't with Angel.'
'It is that we haven't communicated clearly from the start!'
Luckily, the Heart of Machinery could now make up for that need.
"Then let's begin," Asher had asked all he needed to.
Now was the time to truly start.
Under Angel's guidance, Asher found steel and other unfamiliar crystal cores, herbs, and such in the alchemy workshop's storage.
Once Asher had cleared out all the stored resources, a small mountain taller than Asher himself had formed on the ground.
Steel and crystal cores being preserved for a thousand years, Asher could barely understand that.
But herbs lasting thousands of years in such an environment?
That made Asher very curious.
'No time to think more.'
'On to the next step.'
He placed all the materials before the Heart of Machinery.
Asher was still wondering how to feed them in—
The next second.
The massive Heart of Machinery floating mid-air extended thick, hollow, vein-like tubes from all directions.
Whoosh!
In the blink of an eye, the mountain of resources on the ground was completely gone.
The tubes didn't retract.
They seemed to be connected to some unseen void.
With deafening roars and bubbling sounds like boiling water, thick white smoke swirled around.
This process lasted for about ten minutes.
Asher felt his ears were about to go deaf.
Even covering them with both hands couldn't stop the noise from drilling into his brain.
When the sound finally stopped, Asher still hadn't reacted.
'Huh?'
'Gone?'
'Isn't it a little too quiet?'
'Where's the body?'
Asher felt not only his ears buzzing, his brain was ringing too.
Even though he couldn't hear external sounds anymore, his brain was still replaying everything on loop.
And then…
BOOM!
A loud crash.
A huge, blurry silhouette slowly appeared in the swirling white mist.
With a thought, Asher quickly looked at his phone.
▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬
[Transfer the Ultimate Weapon Core?]
[Yes] [No]
▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬
No panel had opened.
But a choice interface popped up on the phone.
Asher thought for only one second before decisively pressing [Yes].
A large, glowing, radiant fluorescent orb emerged from Asher's phone.
It blinked at him twice, as if confirming its identity.
After a few breaths, the orb flew toward the massive silhouette in the smoke.
The frozen figure started moving.
The sound of parts clicking, dull footsteps, and electronic whirs like a computer booting.
All mixed together, Asher couldn't even describe it.
Finally.
The smoke cleared.
The massive figure fully appeared in front of Asher.
For a moment, Asher was struck speechless.
'Hmm…'
'How to describe this… okay, this body.'
At first glance, it looked like the material mountain Asher had stacked earlier.
Just that the shape had changed a little.
From a mountain into a giant ball.
Oh wait.
Not just a regular ball.
A ball with two legs.
But the mechanical parts and steel were still recognizable with a little inspection.
Asher: "..."
Silence.
Long silence.
What could he even say?
What should he say?
"…Is this body really okay?", After a long while, Asher finally asked.
Undeniably, his tone was full of doubt and disbelief.
He couldn't help it.
He had seen Angel's original body before.
Though horrifying.
Though sanity-draining.
At least it was exquisite.
Perfectly matched the image of a mechanical creation.
But this thing in front of him, 'What kind of trash—'
'Forget it.'
Asher won't insult it.
"And that big eyeball of yours is missing too. Wait, is this ball supposed to be your eyeball?", Asher crossed his arms and spoke with a blank expression.
He was starting to wonder, 'Is the Heart of Machinery just gluing random parts together?''
BEEP! BEEP! BEEP! BEEP!
Colorful flashing lights lit up on the round ball.
["Mr. Asher, Angel's power has not been affected. Moreover, this body allows Angel to exert greater strength. Please rest assured."]
Asher: "..."
"Not reassured," Asher replied coldly.
Not being harsh.
It's just that…
"Maybe you should go back into the phone," Asher's voice was icy and merciless.
He swore, he absolutely wasn't rejecting Angel.
He just really disliked this body.
Blame the Heart of Machinery.
Angel: "...."
Angel believed in Asher's thoughts and believed he wasn't rejecting her.
But still, this body was a bit too clunky.
After a moment of silence.
Angel suddenly started shaking violently.
Asher: "!"
"Wait! Wait! Wait!"
"You're not gonna fall apart, are you?", Asher looked anxious.
He knew it.
This heap of forcibly crammed-together parts was unreliable.
And then…
Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!
Right before Asher's eyes, Angel's mountain-of-parts body began shrinking visibly.
Smaller.
The two legs became thinner and shorter, matching the smaller body better.
Until finally, with the two legs supporting it, the previously two-Asher-Bai-tall giant sphere shrunk down to the size of a basketball.
Asher: "!"
"You can do that?", Asher couldn't help but squat down and examine the ball carefully.
Asher: "Hmm…"
Asher reached out with both hands and rubbed the round-looking ball.
Then he realized—
'Oh.'
'It isn't that round, actually kinda prickly.'
'But thanks to the smaller size, the parts on the surface aren't as obvious anymore.'
'Just… with all the colors mixed together, it looks kinda strange.'
Not to be rude, but it really did look like something cobbled together from a trash heap.
Eye contact.
Who knows if Angel picked up on Asher's thoughts.
Right before his eyes, Angel's body emitted a soft glow, similar to evolution.
When the light faded, Angel's appearance had changed again.
A smooth metallic orb.
Two thin legs that could extend and retract freely.
On the front of the metal orb, probably the front, was a giant mechanical eye that took up half the surface.
Asher: "!"
"Whoa—", Asher couldn't help but exclaim, "Now that looks awesome."
Not only did it retain Angel's original traits, it finally looked like a real mechanical construct.
Asher: 'This works for me!'
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