The Mech Touch

The Heavensword had arrived!

After crossing through multiple different zones, the Heavensword successfully navigated its way over to the Viola Magnifica System where the expeditionary fleet of the Golden Skull Alliance was currently stationed.

Ketis had already guessed since she first saw the Heavensword poking out of the container sphere during the historic live broadcast that the two would reunite.

In truth, she frequently doubted whether this would actually happen.

It seemed incredibly arrogant and conceited to claim that there was nothing more important in the Red Ocean to the Heavensword than seeking out Ketis!

Yet that was exactly what happened.

Whether this was because she was still the strongest swordmaster in the new frontier or because her past interactions with the powerful ancient sword, the Heavensword had obviously set her as its first destination after arriving in the dwarf galaxy.

Ketis felt honored, but became more concerned about what it would do now that it had sought out its target.

The pretentious Heavensword continued to radiate its splendor for half a minute.

It was difficult for Ketis to muster her willpower and maintain her sobriety in the face of the sword's great power.

It had clearly grown stronger after absorbing a lot of exotic radiation from Messier 87! Compared to the half-starved state it had ended up in after languishing in the Milky Way Galaxy for so long, the Red Ocean Galaxy had clearly given it a second life!

The differences between its prior state and its current condition were like night and day. Not only had the Heavensword managed to engage in interstellar travel for several weeks all by itself, but it had also managed to regain its strength as a transcendent grand work!

According to what Ketis had learned, only god-like creators possessed the capacity to bring a grand work into existence.

As a mech designer herself, Ketis could barely pick out a few visible clues on how the Heavensword far surpassed the quality of a masterwork. There were too many profound details about the relic weapon that were so incredibly refined that she grew dizzy when she tried to take a closer look.

It frustrated her that she lacked the qualifications to understand what made the Heavensword so much better than a masterwork sword like the Decapitator!

Just as Ketis attempted to make another attempt to understand the secrets behind the Heavensword's grand existence, the ancient weapon gradually withdrew its

Overwhelming presence.

It mercifully toned down the lightshow, but also hid a lot of faint details that could have given Ketis a few more clues on what turned the weapon into a grand work.

How frustrating!

Ketis tried her best to rein in her professional greed and curiosity and tried to remain on guard against the legendary weapon's arrival.

It became a lot more tolerable to look at now that it had made an effort to accommodate the nearby humans.

While the recently rejuvenated Heavensword still radiated a soft white glow that seemed to give everyone who looked at it illusions of a mystical heavenly paradise, the weapon at least did not appear as overbearing as before.

Heavensword Commander Charles Antunovic and President Fred Walinski had already knelt as soon as the ancient relic appeared in front of the greeting party.

They had grown up worshiping this mythical weapon, so they had no qualms about expressing their highest respect and admiration upon its arrival!

No words were necessary for the mech officer and swordmaster to convey their utter willingness to surrender and obey to the will of the Heavensword.

Perhaps they may only hesitate if the Heavensword instructed them to act against the interests of the Larkinson Clan, but Ketis feared that they would rather take orders from an inhuman relic than the clan that showered them with opportunities and privileges! ℟áŊŐＢЕś

In order to ascertain whether the Heavensword's purpose in the Red Ocean contradicted her own goals and that of the Larkinson Clan in any way, Ketis decided to break the silence.

"Why... are you here?" She asked as she gripped her own greatsword tighter.

She wondered how the Heavensword would communicate with her this time. It was clear that it was intelligent enough to talk like a human, but would it choose to do so, or opt for a more confusing means of conveying its intentions?

The Heavensword flew closer.

That was not all. It conspicuously turned around so that its blade pointed towards the open hatch of the hangar bay.

The Heavensword presented its hilt directly towards Ketis.

Both Legion Commander Charles and President Fred reacted with great pride and reverence towards this obvious action!

"Take it." Charles Antunovic urged. "The Heavensword... has chosen you... to become its new holder, its new Heavensword Saint."

"No."

"What? You..."

Ketis' expression remained flat as she firmly rejected an offer that would have made a lot of Heavensworders ecstatic!

"Haven't you listened to a single word I said in our last conversations? I have no interest in becoming the next Heavensword Saint. This is why I brought the two of you along. If this relic truly wants to be held by a genuine swordsman, then I would rather have one of you take up this responsibility"

Ketis wanted to palm her face. Hadn't they talked about this already? She thought they agreed with her plan! How come they completely forgot about it when the Heavensword finally arrived?

She not-so-subtly nudged the Legion Commander of the Heavensword Mech Legion

Forward.

"You try, first."

"B-B-But I am just a sword initiate!" Charles Antunovic exclaimed. "Every previous Heavensword Saint used to be a bona fide swordmaster! I do not deserve to touch the

Sacred sword!"

"JUST DO IT, CHARLES!"

Though Charles felt it was greatly disrespectful and very much wrong for an unworthy swordsman such as him to touch a relic of the gods, he reluctantly did so after getting

Repeatedly prodded by Ketis.

"Please... please forgive me for my disrespectful actions."

When Charles slowly reached out with his armored sword hand and came close to gripping the hilt, the Heavensword suddenly released a pulse of heavenly energy that repulsed the approaching hand as well as the rest of the body!

"Ugh!"

Both Ketis and Fred backed off from the Heavensword as they saw the pulse of energy physically push their compatriot back by dozens of meters!

A soundless collision took place as Charles Antunovic's armored body crashed against

The deck.

Fortunately, that was all that happened. The shock-absorbing functions of his vacuum-sealed suit of combat armor perfectly kept his body unharmed.

The message was pretty clear. The Heavensword did not harbor any hostility towards Antunovic, but it obviously did not consider the mech officer to be a worthy holder.

"You're next, Fred." Ketis prodded the older man's armored form. "If the Heavensword doesn't approve of a sword initiate, then let's see whether it is willing to tolerate a

Swordmaster such as yourself."

Fred Walinski smiled in a depreciating manner. "I appreciate your confidence in me, but I fear you are grossly overestimating my attractiveness to the sacred sword. Just as how swordsmen prefer to select the best swords in a weapon store, the Heavensword clearly wants to be wielded by the best swordmaster. Out of the two of us, you are clearly the

Strongest."

"I am not a pure swordmaster." Ketis objected. "I am a Journeyman Mech Designer as well. I can never commit my entire life to combat."

"I do not think the Heavensword minds that. In fact, I think it may appreciate you even more because of that. Only a swordmaster with deep technical knowledge such as you can adapt and popularize the swordsmanship that the sacred sword stands for. I... I think I can feel what it seeks from you. It doesn't want to be wielded by a swordmaster who only knows how to destroy such as myself. It wants... it wants to be wielded by a swordmaster who also knows how to create."

She knew what Fred meant. As a swordmaster who was more powerful than him, she was vaguely able to read the Heavensword's strong aura as if she was examining a very

Powerful ace mech.

Heaven... was all about creation, of bringing new possibilities to life.

What a remarkable weapon.... perhaps the fit between herself and the Heavensword was

Not as low as she thought...

"Sharp!" Her companion spirit suddenly woke her up from her fascination.

"Damnit!"

Ketis' eyes grew strained as she forcefully took a step back from the alluring

Heavensword.

"Fred."

"Yes, Ma'am?"

"I gave you an order. Step forward and attempt to grasp the hilt."

Though Fred clearly thought that he would be met with the same reaction as Charles, he

No longer argued with Ketis and did as instructed.

The Heavensword released another pulse of white energy that 'gently' but very

Decisively tossed Fred Walinski backwards!

Just like the legion commander, the armored form of president of the Red Swordsmanship Federation crashed on his back a small distance away.

Though Ketis had pretty much predicted this outcome, she still grew upset that the

Picky Heavensword had rejected her counteroffers.

The weapon slowly floated closer to the only swordmaster who remained standing and

Enchantingly offered her to take possession of the only sword-type grand work known to exist in modern times.

The woman felt increasingly more conflicted.

Ketis the Journeyman Mech Designer eagerly wanted to grab the Heavensword and

Claim it for herself in the hopes that she could figure out how to forge blades that were

Just as great one day!

Ketis the swordmaster emphatically rejected this forced imposition by a sword that

Embodied a different kind of swordsmanship.

"No." She addressed the Heavensword. "I do not want you. Can't you understand my message? I already have a sword! I do not need you to replace my weapon! You are not even a greatsword!"

She lifted up her Bloodsinger and waved it in front of the Heavensword for emphasis.

However, the Heavensword continued to press closer, which compelled Ketis to step

Backwards.

Ketis grew increasingly more angry. "I reject your presence. I reject your power. I reject any notion of turning me into your next Heavensword Saint! BEGONE!"

She no longer hesitated and whipped her Bloodsinger in a sweep that caused the flat of

The greatsword's blade to smack the Heavensword aside!

For a moment, no one could believe that Ketis actually dared to push the Heavensword

Away from her body!

It took a lot of willpower for her to resist the allure of posesssing the Heavensword, but she felt better for being able to stand up to the overbearing sword!

She only believed in her own sword style and her own personal sword. The greatsword

Was her favored weapon. She had no desire to switch to wielding a slender and lighter one-handed blade.

Yet the Heavensword not only ignored her words, but even began to close in faster!

Ketis' anger and frustration had reached a boiling point!

"I REFUSE TO BE YOUR SLAVE! BEGONE, HEAVENSWORD! I WILL NEVER YIELD MY BLOODSINGER AND MY SWORDSMANSHIP TO YOUR DEAD MASTER'S TYRANNY!"

She no longer held back and resonated with her Bloodsinger to unleash an extraordinary

Technique!

She abruptly thrust her greatsword forward!

"SWORD OF LYDIA!"

The empowered piercing attack had no chance in hell of penetrating or leaving a single

Mark on the Heavensword, but the powerful collision still allowed Ketis to fling the Heavensword straight through the hangar bay hatch and out into space!

Of course, the Heavensword quickly managed to correct its flight. Ketis desperately hoped that the Heavensword would respect her demands, but clearly

That was not the case as it attempted to fly right back inside!

"Linda!"

A huge presence dove in from above and crashed into the comically undersized relic

Weapon!

It turned out that the Amphis Extremis had finally taken action!

The ace mech had charged closer and used its foot to kick the Heavensword far away

From the combat carrier!

Even now, the relic sword was uncontrollably tumbling away as if it remained confused

What just happened!

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