The Mech Touch

ring to bear in order to save his life, but she was definitely hiding something under her sleeve.

As for Flashlight or the Bright Republic, Ves didn ’t put much hope in their help.
Their influence was minimal in the Protectorate.

Even though it seemed that Ves wasn ’t alone, he still didn ’t want to resort to this option.
There was still a chance he could save his hide without burning all of his bridges.

As the two sides prattled on and on, Ves closed his eyes and concentrated his mind.

He had restrained his fury and his spirituality throughout the entire tribunal so far.

He let everyone else say their piece while he kept his mouth shut.

He let High Inquisitor Xefin Lin Poxco take advantage of the trial by espousing his traditionalist political agenda in front of the entire Protectorate.

”Now it ’s my turn. ” He whispered to himself.

Although he had been divested of his ordinary comm, he could still call up his impression of his designs in his mind.
As the lead designer of the Transcendent Messenger, there was no way he forgot its contours and its design specifications.

A true mech designer could always recall their mech designs by heart!

Right now, Ves did so by projecting the Transcendent Messenger design in his mind.
He vividly recalled all of its lines and curves and technical specifications.
As Ves created an accurate image of the Transcendent Messenger design in his mind, he pressed his mind to it, seeking an even deeper connection.

The mask of innocence he donned for the entire week was becoming a hindrance.
Therefore, he decisively shed it from his mind, allowing himself to establish an unobstructed connection to the image of the Transcendent Messenger.

Eventually, he managed to commune with the design spirit of the Transcendent Messenger.
Just because Ylvaine ’s spiritual fragment had moved out of his mind didn ’t mean it was gone forever!

Ves guessed that he was able to communicate with the design spirits of his finished mechs, and he was right.
He managed to establish a distant and shallow connection to what used to be Ylvaine ’s spiritual fragment.

He mentally communicated to the design spirit.

”I need your help. ”

A pulse of doubt flowed across the connection.

”There are Ylvainans who are maligning me and the design you are inhabiting in.
If this goes on, I ’ll be declared guilty and the Transcendent Messenger will be tarnished as well. ”

Another uncertain pulse flowed from their connection.

”Do you know what that means? The Ylvainans will turn against the Transcendent Messenger! The Inquisition will not only outlaw the design, but also destroy all of the mechs derived from it! Your existence will become meaningless! ”

This time, the design spirit transmitted an alarmed pulse.

”Help me! Lend me your power so I can teach these Ylvainans what their great prophet truly wants! Lead these lost sheep back to the flock! ”

A small moment passed as Ves waited for the design spirit to digest his words.
After thirty seconds of silence, Ves finally perceived a reaction from the connection.

”Ahg! ” Ves held his head as a sudden headache spiked in his mind.

Ylvaine ’s spiritual fragment decided to respond for his call to help by temporarily shuttling out of the Transcendent Messenger! It forcefully squeezed its way through the narrow connection until it emerged back into Ves ’ mind!

Immediately upon arrival, Ves mentally transmitted his intentions to the fragment, and it only hesitated for a short moment before agreeing with the plan.

Ves was about to do something he had never done before.

He was donning the spiritual fragment like a mask.

It was dangerous, it was stupid, but it was the most effective solution he could think of.
How better to confront the devout Ylvainans by doing so while embodying a part that used to belong to the prophet? It was brilliant!

The fusion between his mind and the fragment was anything but easy.
The spiritual fragment was far more powerful than any image he had previously donned as a mask.
The only reason why the fusion managed to take place at all was because both of them had lowered all of their defenses and actively wanted to merge!

Various unknown and incompatible thoughts, emotions and other impulses flooded his mind! The spiritual fragment was way too energetic! It was corroding his mind and impacting his design seed!

Yet despite all of the strain, Ves tried his best to resonate with the spiritual fragment.
It was hard.
They were two completely different individuals.
Ves had to force the process until something akin to a partial fusion took place!

When Ves next opened his eyes, his eyes seemed to glow.
He lowered most of the barriers in his mind, allowing the strong spiritual fragment to radiate its sacred aura in full glory!

”ENOUGH! ” He boomed.

This forced High Inquisitor Xefin Lin Poxco to shut up.

Everyone else sat rooted in silence as they turned their attention from the inquisitor to Ves.
Somehow, he appeared much different all of a sudden!

Ves stood up.
”This farce has gone long enough! ”

”Please sit down, Mr.
Larkinson. ” High Inquisitor Kelly Ixef Poxco warned from the bench.
”You are speaking out of turn! ”

”It is you who are speaking out of turn, Your Excellency! ” Ves boldly declared.
”All of you here have been carried away by this travesty of a tribunal that goes directly against your great prophet ’s will! ”

Ves amped up the spiritual fragment ’s aura, causing everyone present to regard him completely differently! The aura was so strong that it even transcended distance as the broadcasts conveyed a fraction of it to the viewers watching the tribunal proceedings at home!

When he determined he caught everyone ’s attention, he released a shocking declaration.

”Let ’s get the truth out of the way.
The crime that High Inquisitor Xefin Lin Poxco accuses me of? I ’m guilty! I planned the theft! I obtained the nutrient pack wrapper that you consider as a relic! I held it in my hands moments before I had it destroyed! ”

The entire gallery gasped in shock at the bold admission! Even the three judges couldn ’t help but lose their composure for a moment!

”Has Ves Larkinson gone mad?! ”

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