Chapter 81 — Saber-Toothed Tiger

It was as if a door to a world had swung open.

Deep darkness, and distant memories that had slept for thousands of years, awakened by lamps one after another, dazzling and snow-bright.

Row upon row of bronze mechanisms stood silent and motionless like so many ferocious beasts, stretching farther than the eye could see. The bronze's deep, restrained luster was as ancient and desolate as that age itself, and the scent of blood and fire came rushing at his face.

Tang Tang walked on in a daze, so shaken by the sight before him that his mind went blank. He pressed forward on instinct, his gaze greedy and burning as it swept across those bronze mechanisms.

The bronze machines were of every bizarre description—some shaped like wild beasts, some like human figures, but most in forms Tang Tang could not put into words. Yet every single one of them was steeped in an indescribable air of grim slaughter. The deep bronze hue lent that faint killing intent an added measure of solemnity.

"This base was only meant for everyone to rest and regroup while training. The armory is quite small," Soldier said lightly.

Quite small...

And this counted as quite small...

Tang Tang no longer knew how to describe what he felt. He could not imagine how mighty the Southern Cross Legion must have been in its day.

Soldier glanced around and said with some feeling, "I remember this base was designed and overseen by Luo Si. That fellow had the most twisted demands of anyone. It's thanks to him that this place is so well preserved. Here you can get a look at the legion's standard-issue equipment from back then. The things made for the even more twisted ones—those aren't here."

"More twisted ones?" Tang Tang asked, curious.

"Mm. Experts all had their own machinists to custom-build for them, tailor-made. Ordinary soldiers got no such treatment," Soldier explained.

"Can these machines still be used now?" Tang Tang could not help asking.

"They should still work." Soldier was not certain either. "Pick one and try it."

"All right!" Tang Tang was thrilled; he had been itching to try for a while. His gaze swept the room, and was caught at once by a bronze mechanism.

It was a typical humanoid machine, looking like a suit of armor one size larger, roughly two meters tall. The first impression it gave was ferocity: its head was that of a tiger, majestic and stern. Every joint bristled with barbs! Especially the joints of its fingers and palms—Tang Tang could picture striking an opponent with a clenched fist, the spikes at the knuckles tearing through their defense with ease, while the immense force behind it would sweep all before it like withered leaves. The tips of its ten fingers bore sharp tiger claws that could lock and grapple, lethal in the extreme. The knees and elbows needed no mention—one blow from them and the opponent would surely lose all fighting ability.

"This one!" Tang Tang said without hesitation.

Soldier took one look and nodded. "You have a good eye. It's called the Saber-Toothed Tiger, a classic close-quarters melee machinism—a perfect fit for your fighting style."

"Saber-Toothed Tiger..." Tang Tang liked the name immediately.

"Combat machines of this kind are called machinisms," Soldier added, then pointed at the Saber-Toothed Tiger. "Its specialty is agility, with an emphasis on attack. Fist techniques, palm techniques, finger techniques, joint locks, leg techniques—all are greatly enhanced. The enhancement ranges from twenty to twenty-five percent, depending on the individual's level."

Tang Tang was visibly moved. A twenty percent enhancement to martial techniques was a truly terrifying figure. Raising the power of any martial art by twenty percent was exceedingly difficult.

"But it's not without weaknesses," Soldier went on. "The Saber-Toothed Tiger favors offense over defense; its weight means its defensive ability isn't outstanding. And what it enhances is the instantaneous burst of true force—its short-distance sprint is excellent, but long-distance running is not its strong suit."

As he spoke, Soldier opened the machinism's chest plate. It was hollow inside, and on the inner wall of the armor countless complex red lines were visible, strikingly vivid against the deep bronze base.

"Doesn't it look rather like human blood vessels?" Soldier asked as he worked.

"A little," Tang Tang nodded.

"The starstone goes here." Soldier pointed to a groove in the inner wall. "The back plate is designed thickest and can withstand fairly powerful blows, but you'd best not use it as a shield. In actual combat we found that if it takes too strong a hit, the groove can be damaged, and—well, then this thing becomes a bronze tin can."

Soldier spoke of it as if counting his family treasures; he was clearly very familiar with it.

"All right, get in and try it."

Hearing this, Tang Tang scrambled inside without a moment's delay.

"Take a couple of steps." Soldier stood to one side with his arms folded. By habit he patted his pocket, then suddenly remembered that he was a soul general now. He felt a twinge of regret—if only he had a cigarette or something at a moment like this, it would be perfect...

Wild with excitement, Tang Tang took a step forward, but failed to control his strength properly. Clang! He pitched headfirst to the ground.

Soldier leaned his head back, scarcely able to bear the sight. "Whoa, whoa, whoa, young man, mind your strength—it amplifies your power."

Before the words were out, bang! The Saber-Toothed Tiger on the ground shot up violently, slammed hard into the ceiling, and punched out a shallow human-shaped dent. A moment later it dropped with a smack to the floor, raising a cloud of dust.

"Young man, amuse yourself slowly. I'm going to look around elsewhere. Don't worry, this thing can take a beating."

With those words Soldier drifted away and vanished.

It was the first time Tang Tang had ever come across anything so much fun. At first it was indeed hard to control, and he fell and lost control often. But soon Tang Tang's beast-like reflexes gained the upper hand.

Clang, clang, clang!

Tang Tang ran wildly through the armory in the Saber-Toothed Tiger, now and then knocking over other machinisms, but he paid them no mind. He felt an indescribable exhilaration, as though his whole body held inexhaustible strength. Experiencing a machinism firsthand was utterly novel. He was filled with admiration for the men of the Southern Cross Legion—whoever had invented such a mechanism was truly formidable! Heavy as it looked, it took only a tiny amount of force to drive, and it was wonderfully agile.

The Saber-Toothed Tiger came to a sudden stop, smooth as flowing water. Tang Tang drew a deep breath and threw a punch, and the true force of his whole body surged out!

Great Snowslide!

Crack!

Where the fist struck, the air utterly shattered and annihilated, the surrounding air collapsing violently toward his fist and producing a soul-shaking boom.

So powerful!

Tang Tang was stunned by that punch.

He knew perfectly well how powerful the Great Snowslide was, but he had never imagined that, wearing the Saber-Toothed Tiger, the Great Snowslide he unleashed could be so mighty. An ordinary Great Snowslide could shatter the air, but not annihilate it. The perfected Great Snowslide, its power raised by twenty percent, had undergone a qualitative change.

The hot blood in Tang Tang's veins was instantly set ablaze, and he began frantically unleashing one martial technique after another.

Every technique turned ferocious beyond measure, its power soaring.

Tang Tang felt like a berserk fighting machine, invincible on every field!

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Soldier gazed at the badge before him.