Chapter 77: The Exclusive Tactical Orbal Device

Far at the rear of the formation, aboard the Vissalis, Captain Ke ran a hand over his smooth chin. Not a trace of defeat marred his expression; his face remained as inscrutable as ever.
“Pilots with legs rivalling Aslan’s, an out-of-spec S-class, abilities as fantastical as magic, and that terrifying siege weapon in Hero’s hands… Are those above still trying to keep things from us?” He dismissed Diego’s lackadaisical attitude and Nicole’s retreat with indifference. As for the reinforcements… cannon fodder must be resigned to their fate. Aside from Hero—and to be precise, aside from mobile suits with high psychic resonance—the rest held no value on this battlefield.

Therefore…

“All hands, prepare to execute the plan in four hours!”

“Yes, sir!”

Meanwhile, aboard the Archangel—

“Whew—finally, they’ve retreated…” Mu collapsed into his pilot seat, exhaling in relief.

“Should I be happy or sad?” Sharp’s trembling voice betrayed his mixed emotions.

“We survived!” Thor was the first to rush back onto the Archangel’s deck, already steeling himself for a scolding from Miriallia.

“We… held out?” Kira stared blankly at the receding enemy, the numbness in his eyes slowly fading.

The SEED state faded.

Kira lifted the Strike’s left hand, his gaze locked on the unremarkable hexagonal panel, inlaid with only a single yellow and a single silver crystal.

Magic… So there truly exists something so wondrous beyond technology in this world.

“Hey there, kid. I hear you made quite a stir while I was gone.” The moment Kira left the cockpit, Hao Ren caught him.

Kira managed an embarrassed smile, then, with a strange look, pointed at his own machine. He opened his mouth, hesitated, and failed to find the right words.

“What’s wrong?” Hao Ren was actually referring to Kira letting the pink duo go and reuniting with his friend; as for how he’d won the battle, Hao Ren hadn’t the slightest clue.

“Magic! It was magic!” Kira seized the initiative, grabbing Hao Ren by the collar and shaking him back and forth.

“Huh?” With his mind full of nothing but mush and impure thoughts, Hao Ren still couldn’t comprehend.

Half an hour later, Crossbell City, Tio’s private workshop—

“Tio, you’re already able to apply orbal technology to Gundams?” After finally sending the excited Kira on his way, Hao Ren found Tio absorbed in her research.

“Yes. Although orbal technology is difficult for outsiders to grasp, its principles are quite similar to those of electricity. The orbal circuit and electrical circuit only differ in their energy source. Electricity is consumed, but orbal energy can function almost like a perpetual motion machine. Orbal magic is formed by harnessing the release and circulation of circuit energy…” The moment the conversation turned to applied technology, the usually gentle Tio became animated, and pinned Hao Ren in place with a torrent of technical jargon.

Truth be told, Hao Ren didn’t understand a word.

Back in high school, his physics grades… best left unmentioned.

All scientists’ minds work differently, and Tio was no exception.

In the workshop laboratory, Mea watched Hao Ren through the porthole, her face full of grievance as she idly twirled an orbal circuit crystal tube.

Xiao An, meanwhile, typed calmly at the keyboard, lines of data flashing across the orbal computer’s screen.

Both Mea and Xiao An had been roped in by Tio to serve as research assistants. These two formidable biological weapons, in the presence of Tio in her “mad scientist” state, had lost all their imposing airs and behaved as meekly as kittens. Even Nemesis was so frightened she’d turned into a crow and vanished without a trace.

“Appearances can be deceiving. Tio, we owe this victory to you. Otherwise, I’d have died without ever knowing why.” Hao Ren gently stroked Tio’s cheek, his gratitude heartfelt.

“I… I’m just glad I could help you, Master. It’s what I should do.” Tio was startled by his sudden gesture, her words stumbling over themselves, yet the rare warmth from her master made her reluctant to pull away.

“Unfair! Master, you’re playing favorites!” Upon seeing the budding affection between the two, Mea’s eyes brightened with mischief.

And then—

A blade of hair sliced easily through the ceiling. With a flap of her wings, she was gone.

Hao Ren stared dumbfounded as the neatly cut ceiling was carried away by Xiao An’s hair, transformed into a massive golden hand, all while she continued typing unperturbed.

Tio’s face, flushed a moment ago, darkened instantly. She stood rooted to the spot, as if shrouded in a black mist.

“Is she… going dark?” Hao Ren waved a hand in front of Tio’s eyes.

Tio didn’t reply. Instead, she tore off her white lab coat, revealing a form-fitting black combat suit beneath. As her tactical orbal device activated at her waist, green light enveloped her from head to toe.

“Spirit of the Wind!” With the glow of the crystal circuits, Tio rose into the air.

“Not only did they wreck my lab, but they dared interfere with my moment with Master!” With those words, Tio shot through the hole in the ceiling.

Skill: “Spirit of the Wind” — no level, costs 10 EP, grants temporary flight. Speed and altitude depend on additional EP consumed during flight; 10–50 EP per minute, with no time limit.

Tio’s exclusive fifth-generation tactical orbal device, codenamed Aegnima: single-link, four free circuit slots, two slots for water-element circuits, one main circuit slot, EP cap of 550.

Her small pouch, slung at her hip, was packed with Type-1 EP recovery agents, each restoring 100 EP.

Mea…

“Why does it feel like Tio’s character is a bit out of control?” Hao Ren scratched his head, but inside, he was delighted.

No matter how far she strayed, as long as she still cared for him, that was enough.

“Master, this is for you.” While her master was grinning like a fool, Xiao An suddenly remembered something Tio had meant to give him.

Hao Ren took a look—it was an object the size of a pocket watch.

Item: “Fifth-Generation Tactical Orbal Device,” single-link, equipped with five free circuit slots, one slot for illusion-element circuits, one main circuit slot, EP cap of 750.

By inserting circuits, one can gain orbal magic; orbal magic consumes the device’s internal EP. (Note: Created by the summoned creature Tio. Exclusive to the Black Flame Dragon. Non-tradable. Cannot be used in the real world.)

“Huh? Isn’t this a modified version of Lixia’s exclusive orbal device? Hers is a triple-link, mine’s a single-link.” The difference in application range was worlds apart.

However, his device was still empty of special circuits—only buffing attack, defense, evasion, mobility, and accuracy by 1. The main circuit slot was still vacant.

Even after equipping it, Hao Ren could only cast a few spells like Fireball, Ice Blade, or Lightning Strike.

Still, items that consumed only their own internal energy, without draining the user’s personal points, were rare in the entire Main Brain Space.

In the end, having a tech expert around always brought pleasant surprises.

As for profits, that depended on whether Tio could surpass her own limits. The words “non-tradable” were particularly glaring.