Centurion

BOOM!

"Huh?" Sy swept his perplexed eyes into the stands and saw David and the fellow survivors in the storm, cheering for him as their pent up frustration of him not present in the stage had reached a point where they would applause even if it was just his shadow. Although dubious of what was happening, Niel joined, infecting all the crowds from Logria causing an eruption of distinct noises, and becoming a single thunderous sound. Mina did not cooperate with their gimmick, only managing a smile.

"What's this?! Logria's mechanic has finally return to the stage!" The announcer's voice drew a lot of attention.

On the Runerie's collum, Gregory suppressed his urge to also cheer, while his family members had a more serious look on their faces. They noticed that many notable figures were now amidst the audiences. Many top graduates from Pyr Prime had come to spectate their peers, while a dozen of Grade 3 Mech Specialists were present. With all of these eyes watching, Laira's team was way behind with a headless Imperator III.

"Ever since the second specialist in Pyr Prime's team entered the stage, their output doubled," Granduncle Charles had a troubled look on his face, "They're making modifications on their Imperator's exterior. Their intention is clearly to make it flight functional."

"That booster they installed earlier, it was meant for some tests. I saw their aviator pilot during the first round doing some aerobatics." Granduncle Romulus added.

"It's a pain they even had a head start as their Imperator did not suffer any damage." Grandfather Theodore said, sighing as he switched his gaze to Laira's team, his eyes directly landed on the handsome man with a bit of hope.

While Logria's crowd chanted nonstop, Sy glanced at the clock above them.

[8:42:31]

'Plenty of time to fabricate a couple of Straggler S1-2.' He thought. Even though he didn't like attention, he could not ignore the people of Logria, putting all their hopes on his shoulder. He raised a clenched fist in the air, creating louder cheers, while he made his way into the computer core of the workshop and took a peek on the Imperator's schematics.

'Cocky bastard!'

The other contestants leveled their begrudging eyes toward his direction.

'Let see what you can do."

After a few seconds registering the blueprint, Sy took a portable computer and climbed up to their headless Imperator's cockpit. He had been itching to see the computer system of a mech. After plugging his computer into the core of the Imperator, his eyes widened.

It was written in an old language that Pioneers used a long time ago, and was still taught in the academy in order to decipher some technologies that the older ones had left.

After a careful thought, he concluded that the mech factions hadn't tampered much with this old computer system, and were still using it even with the current gens.

He climbed down and made his way back to the computer core. While his hand quickly typed on the projected keyboards, he was using the other one which rapidly swiped on a projected interface.

'Something big is coming.' Niel mentally noted while observing Sy. He was even more astonished at how the younger man was multitasking.

On the other hand, Mina had a pleased look on her face while watching Sy work. She took a moment to look around and wondered at the thousands of people, now almost numbering a million. She was a child when she last witnessed the Union's Grand Coliseum. After a few seconds, she caught sight of a certain group with light-blue hairs. Seated behind the big three of the Runeries was her long time rival. Her eyes immediately narrowed as she noticed something peculiar. Genevieve was smiling in a way that she never saw. She followed her line of sight and it directly landed on Sy's direction. Perhaps, it was her mind making up things, but when she thought of these possibilities, she felt a needle pierced through her heart.

Unable to contain her emotions, she stood up and shouted, "Who are you looking at...!"

Niel was quick to notice his sister's temper and hurriedly restrained her.

On the other side, Genevieve realized the commotion. There on the other stands, Niel was struggling in holding back Mina. She immediately stood up, her kind face replaced by a hostile one.

"WE HAVE AN BIGGER RIVALRY HERE, FOLKS!!!" The announcer excitedly shouted as the screens turned to the ace pilots.

KABOOM!

The amphitheatre shook violently as the crowds roared after beholding the two beautiful pilots, tacking a Master Grade Mech Specialist on the background.

With the crowds less subtle, the mech specialists on the stage were unperturbed. Theon had seen Sy moving around the workshop in quick successions, and did not know what to do. Now that the man had settled on the computers for a few minutes, he took this opportunity to ask. However, when he got close..

"Done!" Sy stood up as a cluster of screens spread out, providing a step-by-step procedure. He glanced at the nearby specialist and asked, "Can you manage?"

Theon could only nod silently with eyes widened.

"Alright, then.." Sy stood up and went to the assembly line, ".. I'll go take the spine, you take care of the arms and legs."

After a closer look at the blueprint, Theon was even more shocked and asked hesitantly, "Are we really going to make this?"

"Of course!"

In a few seconds, a supporting frame swung across, and made steady on the headless Imperator. Sy quickly disassembled the rear chassis of the mech, before ripping out its spine.

When the important part was delivered to the fabricator by an assembly arm, Sy powered up the machine.

Since the fabricator only needed to add an exterior modification, it did not need to revise the spine and would prove to be a faster process.

The young pioneer took an inspiration on the Mathilda 800's robust but inflexible spine in order to carry the heavy flight module. Ever the perfectionist, he did not settle with such a deficiency and aimed to make it flexible and sturdy.

When the finished product was printed, Sy carefully placed it on a corner and shouted, "Bring me the other parts!"

Theon was still struggling to remove the other leg, but hurriedly transported the other. When he was done, Sy was already shouting for another limb.

'F*ck! His fast! How does he do that? It's only 15 minutes!'

Although, getting mentally tired, the specialist delivered all the limbs in time.

"Sy!" Laira shouted after sulking on the corner for over an hour, "Give me a good mech!"

Sy gave her a thumbs up, and proceeded to fabricate the head and its components, instructing Theon to assemble the finished goods. In the back of his mind, he will have to clean up the other man's mess later.

Moments later, he was done and assisted the specialist, securing the limbs in place and then finished the delicate process of reconnecting the spine back to its body.

When the new head was hinged on the shoulders, Theon was astonished. This one had two eyes compared to the cyclops stock version, and almost looked like a face.

"Logria's Mechanic!" Niel started a series of cheers, but then started chewing his nail. Sy was completely overhauling the Imperator III. Impossible was no longer a question. The only problem was the pace in which he achieved it which would have made him limp on the spot.

On the Runeries, the three elderly had their eyes widened.

"What did I just saw?" Granduncle Charles exclaimed, "Did he just fabricate new limbs and a head, and assemble it in under thirty minutes?!"

Gregory swallowed hard. Compared to Dylan Pierre, Sy was a monster. He could only reason in his mind, 'As expected from the maker of the Straggler S1-2!'

"That pace is impossible!" The father of Gregory, William, made a quick assessment, "I don't know of the quality of the components, but those bigger arms and legs, I can attest, are designed to be stronger. To which they are intended, I cannot guest."

On the stage, Sy intently looked at the frail chest of the Imperator III. Beneath it was an unstable reactor, pumping a nonstop flow of energy. This was a vital part that he aimed to make good use of. "Time to make the guns!"

Reaching the fabricator, he uploaded a new data for the computer guidance. Within a minute, it was operable for new components to be crafted.

Theon worked ceaselessly as Sy pumped out new components. He was more confident and less tense now with their silent and smooth operation.

The only sound emitted by a human in their visible workshop was when Sy started scolding the fabricator as slow. Theon disagreed with this. The machine was working way too fast when Sy was manning it.

After an hour, the printing process was over and they both started working to integrate it to the Imperator. With Sy leading the conduct, the platform for the guns was installed on the back of the mech in no time. After sneaking a few Microtapes, they began hoisting a laser cannon.

'I see..' Niel grinded his nails with his teeth, making Mina look at him with concern.

Meanwhile, the Runeries were gaping at the view. The three elderly seemingly choked from an invisible substance when not only one, but two laser cannons were erected on the back of Imperator. As if to mock their logical thinking, four automated energy turrets were added.

When they thought it was over, more weapons were lifted, and neatly placed on their designated position.

"Ak ak ak!" Sy laughed in a sinister manner while patting Theon's shoulder repeatedly after seeing the man gape on the new Imperator III.

'We really did it!' Theon thought. After a moment, he looked at the clock and muttered, "Impossible!"

[5:32:27]

Activating his Molecular Data Imaging Simulator, Sy saw that everything was functioning properly. He entered the cockpit, and his face became gentle as he stared at the old computer language like it was a fragile relic. After all, it was designed by older Pioneers in the past - faithfully used by these people until now. He made a note, adding his name, before doing some changes to incorporate the new functions, and make the system more powerful.

When an hour passed, Sy began renovating the cockpit. While he threw away stuffs that he deemed useless, Theon successfully fabricated a regulator for the reactor. The specialist had learn new techniques from Sy and was no longer afraid to operate the machine.

The other competitors had switched their attention to the others as Laira's team was way behind and did not need their concern, but when they took a glance, they saw Theon opening up the chest of the two-eyed Imperator. The ones from Callum took a step back as they saw the monstrosity before them adorned with dozens of destructive weapons.

"Ain't that overkill?"

"Does-- does that mech even work?"

Realising that it was overly encumbered, they took refuge to this thought and focused on their tasks, while the pilots of their team were demoralized as they had a lesser understanding of mechs. They totally thought that this mech was working perfectly fine and would pulverize them on the field.

Audience from Pyr Prime roared as the aviator pilot of their team took a test drive, doing a few maneuvers in the air which exhilarated the crowds.

Sy came out from the cockpit and trailed away to watch at a good distance. Suddenly, he had an idea for the finishing touch.

"Something worthy of an empire? How 'bout a lorica segmentata?" He smiled at the thought, and started scanning the surface of the Imperator III. After some calculations, he used an assembly arm to hoist the two platings Theon was working with that he hammered into the fabricator. He used the material to craft a rectangular shield, an armour deceptively looking like a lorica segmentata, and a helmet with a horizontal crest. Heavier and stronger materials were used in fabricating a short stabbing sword and three pila.

When the two-eyed Imperator was dressed, it sported an intimidating appearance like a warrior from ancient times.

Genevieve was looking at her rival's direction, 'Mina, you can't..'

"A Centurion!" Granduncle Romulus declared with a grin.