Chapter 188: Call Sign 'Madman', Call Sign 'Vanguard

The Ether Artificer Ascension System; the Federation's currently primary technological system revolves around this mysterious energy.

Humans cannot directly utilize ether, but it can link the human body with a mecha, thereby achieving an effect greater than the sum of its parts.

Furthermore, he divided humanity's use of ether into two types, giving rise to two completely different professions: the artificer and the mechanic.

Simply put, the mechanic's role is to use ether to produce various powerful mechanical components for the artificer's use.

The artificer, however, emerges from the mechanic ranks, truly utilizing ether to achieve personal sublimation, thereby exerting a stronger effect together with the mecha.

This is why mechas have become the mainstream weapon of this world.

This is the training classroom; Yun Sheng is listening attentively to the lecture on ether.

After four years of effort, he has become a qualified private first class; now he finally has the opportunity to become an Iron Guard.

Chi Hong is so strong that even without him, Yun Sheng is a warrior capable of single-handedly slaying thousands of Insect Disasters.

He must... become stronger.

"What do you mean? Chi Hong's data cannot be backed up?"

Yun Sheng looked at the technician before him, utterly perplexed.

"Yes, your Iron Guard... his data seems somewhat corrupted..."

"Every backup attempt fails, and I don't know why."

"Perhaps... maybe its model is too outdated?"

Hearing this, Yun Sheng felt a heavy heart; since the mecha data backup technology was perfected a few years ago, many people have chosen to upload data to avoid losing their comrades.

And Chi Hong cannot be uploaded....

This means that if Chi Hong is destroyed and he does not bring back its Crystal Core, Chi Hong will vanish forever from this world.

Yun Sheng's heart is heavy, and aside from replacing Chi Hong's parts with stronger ones and installing upgrade components on its Crystal Core, there is nothing else he can do....

"Mechanical Age Year 85: Yun Sheng has finally become an Iron Guard! Over these seven years, you have faced countless battles alongside Yun Sheng, feeling his growth; Yun Sheng is now a Second Realm Artificer, and his appearance reminds you of your first master: the Azure Wolf."

"At that time, the Azure Wolf was merely an Iron Guard who had just entered the Third Realm, but his talent was lacking, so he ultimately remained only in the Fifth Realm; thus, Yun Sheng can indeed bring you to witness a broader world, and you increasingly feel that your decision was correct."

"Originally, upon learning that your data could not be backed up, Yun Sheng's heart was in turmoil; he began to hesitate, lacking confidence, fearing that his mistaken judgment would doom Chi Hong."

"Nevertheless, while fighting alongside Yun Sheng, you have still ventured into perilous situations many times; there have been several occasions when Yun Sheng thought he wouldn't see tomorrow, yet you always managed to bring him out of the encirclement, leaving him astonished."

"Such events have occurred many times, and each time after surviving the ordeal, Yun Sheng would reflect deeply."

"Even with such caution, it is still unavoidable to repeatedly plunge into desperate straits; fate is essentially a game of chance, so rather than being timid, one should be fearless!"

"Yun Sheng has realized; the youthful fervor is evident now—he no longer hesitates, no longer holds back, he does not waver, becoming invincible and fearless...."

"\"You think you can! Kill me!!! \" This phrase has almost become Yun Sheng's catchphrase; he seems to have discovered your trait: as long as you are with his comrade Chi Hong, no one can kill them."

"Yun Sheng does not know whether this is due to heavenly favor or some other reason, but he knows he can no longer fear life and death."

"Yun Sheng has undergone a tremendous transformation; when one places life and death aside, one becomes the strongest! In just a month, Yun Sheng repeatedly achieved extraordinary feats, becoming a hotshot in the military, and because of his death-defying fighting style, he earned the nickname \"Madman. \""

"Moreover, it is worth mentioning that Yun Sheng and his little girlfriend have not broken up to this day; Yun Sheng is now 25 years old, this love spanning nine years seems not yet to have reached its conclusion, you are the witness to all this, and as a mechanical being, you too will find it astonishing."

"According to humanity's baser nature, such an act called pure love ought to be unlikely to occur, and you cannot help but sigh, Yun Sheng's luck is truly excellent."

"If we follow the standard of human world novels—orphans, parents deceased yet possessing a powerful background, casually encountering a veteran mecha in Scrap Mountain, and a randomly chosen girlfriend who can stay to the end—this should be considered a very standard protagonist template."

"Yun Sheng has greatly altered your view of humanity; as a machine, you too must begin to anticipate the days ahead."

"Mechanical Age Year 88: For you, there are two recent pieces of good news."

"The first piece of news is that Yun Sheng, as an Iron Guard, has performed extraordinarily in the military, achieving great merits multiple times; at only 28 years old, he has become a Major, causing countless people to marvel."

"At the same time, the reputation of the mecha Iron Guard Chi Hong has spread alongside the Madman Yun Sheng, and after investigation, it is confirmed that you are a mecha from 88 years ago, that is, from the last century's grassroots level."

"Nobody can believe that you grew from a fodder mecha, and it is even harder to believe that you are already an 88-year-old veteran mecha."

"If nothing unexpected happens, you have had a small surge of popularity, and the mechas that are best preserved in the military and still battle-ready number only twelve; furthermore, these mechas once had extraordinarily powerful Iron Guards, relying on strong ether energy, which is why they have endured to this day."

"These twelve mechas each have their own serial number; the military will assign them to those individuals with extraordinary talent."

"However, Yun Sheng is not eligible to obtain a serial-numbered mecha; even if he could, he would not abandon Chi Hong, he does not care for those serial-numbered mechas, after all....."

"After all, who says Chi Hong cannot become a serial-numbered mecha?"

"We appoint Iron Guard Chi Hong as the Thirteenth Serial-Numbered Mecha, with the call sign unchanged."

"Still Chi Hong!"

Looking at the officer before him, Yun Sheng broke into a bright smile and returned the salute.

"Moreover, \"Madman\" Yun Sheng, after deliberation at headquarters, has now been permitted to inherit your father's designation and call sign!"

"From now on, your designation is T1227, call sign: Vanguard!"

"Yun Sheng has inherited his father's designation and call sign, but coincidentally, his father's designation is exactly the same as yours once was; this coincidence delights Yun Sheng."

"However, what pleases him most is another matter."

"He is about to get married!"