"Oh? You can tell my stats are better than the other X-model Mecha Girls?" Torch studied Derek Su with interest. A faint golden glow seemed to circle within her pale golden eyes, concealing her true emotions so completely that no one could tell what she was thinking.
So this was the Son of God.
He had the same two eyes, one nose, two ears, and one mouth as those arrogant, unpleasant human Techmasters, yet for some reason, he carried an entirely different presence.
Torch suppressed the excitement in her heart.
If Derek Su would just drive her once, she would gladly go a whole year without bathing.
"Well, if your designation is 01, then it's only natural you'd be stronger than the others, right?" Derek Su rubbed his nose, trying to cover his awkwardness.
Only Stella, standing behind him, knew the truth.
Her Master was definitely lying again.
"That's not necessarily true. A lower designation doesn't always mean better performance… though I am indeed a bit stronger than them."
Torch nodded.
She reached out and touched the X-58 Derek Su had chosen. A faint blue glow spread across her body.
Derek Su immediately noticed that X-01's stats had changed.
[Drifting: 71]
[Acceleration: 71]
[Cornering: 71]
[Boost Charge: 71]
[Stability: 71]
[Impact Resistance: 71]
[Endurance: 150]
Clearly, she had used a special ability to redistribute her stats.
"Now my performance is about the same as X-58. Want to run a test?" Torch gave Derek Su a playful wink.
There was nothing to test.
Derek Su shook his head. "No need. You didn't have to go through all that trouble."
"So that means you're willing to pilot me, right?"
"..." Derek Su fell silent.
He had never actually agreed, but the way Torch spoke left him with no real choice.
Before he knew it, he had been guided into her rhythm, and now there was no obvious reason to refuse.
He turned back to ask Stella for her opinion.
Stella blinked, her gaze settling on Torch. She could sense it clearly. This was a dangerous Mecha Girl.
The kind of danger that came from a top-tier unit. A performance monster. A killer on the track.
Her Master wouldn't suffer any loss piloting someone like this.
And if she could somehow bring her back to join the three thousand beauties in her harem…
Stella lowered her head slightly, her bangs casting a shadow over her face as a sly smile curled on her lips.
She gave Derek Su a thumbs-up. "Master, go for it. Put some power into it!"
Derek Su: "???"
...
Ten minutes later, Derek Su was seated inside Torch's cockpit.
Torch's exterior looked similar to the other X-model Mecha Girls, but more refined and stylish, with sharper lines that gave it the feel of an upgraded version.
"By the way, Torch." Derek Su glanced at the seven or eight silver-white metal spheres floating around him and frowned. "What are these things? I don't remember Mecha Girl cockpits having anything like this."
Torch went quiet for a moment.
Click. The door locked shut.
Only then did she speak in a calm voice. "These are recorders and scanners. They will capture and process your driving techniques, your handling of the track, and the timing of your commands. With this data, I can create an AI mechanical core that perfectly replicates your technique for this track."
"…You're just going to say that outright?"
"There's nothing to hide." Torch looked straight ahead at the track. "You don't really care if an AI replicates your skills, do you?"
"Not really. But what if I did?"
"It's too late." Torch tilted her head slightly. "The door is already sealed."
Derek Su: "..."
"I'm curious. What's your goal with this? No matter how advanced AI gets, it can't replace a Techmaster, can it?"
That question plunged the cockpit into silence.
Even the previously warm air seemed to grow colder.
Derek Su realized he might have said something wrong.
But he had only spoken the truth. AI belonged to technology, while Techmasters operated on something entirely different.
Some abilities simply could not be replicated.
"Have you ever heard of the Boundary Void Tunnel? Or… the Void?" Just as Derek Su was lost in thought, Torch's calm, cool voice broke the silence.
"What's that? A new track?"
"Seems like you don't know."
"Hey, don't talk in riddles. How am I supposed to know if you won't explain?"
"The fact that you don't know means you're not meant to know yet."
Torch turned her head slightly. A faint blaze seemed to flicker in her golden eyes.
"When the time comes, you'll understand."
"Wait, you…"
Bang!
The starting gun fired.
Around them, drivers launched their chosen X-model Mecha Girls, tires smoking as they burst forward. The one in the center, controlled by an AI mechanical core, had the fastest launch, already showing a hint of the explosive start Derek Su had once displayed at the Knox Rally.
Even though Derek Su was still confused,
his muscle memory kicked in instantly, completing the launch in one smooth motion.
"So this is what a top-tier human driver's launch feels like. It really is satisfying."
Torch's voice carried a faint note of appreciation.
The floating metal spheres buzzed as they scanned him.
At the first corner, Derek Su used a simple handbrake drift.
The scenery stretched into blurred lines. The timing of releasing and applying the handbrake, hitting the accelerator, and turning the wheel was flawless.
So precise that even if he wanted to mess around, his muscle memory wouldn't allow it.
Screech!
The rear swung out in a perfect arc through the corner.
Tire smoke curled around them, elegant and controlled.
"So this is what a top-tier human driver's drift looks like. As expected of the Magician. It feels incredible."
Derek Su: "..."
Over the steel bridge—
"So this is a top-tier jump. That was almost too good."
Derek Su: "..."
Through the tunnel—
"So this is wall-riding overtaking? Wow… feels like I might break."
Derek Su: "..."
They completed five laps in total. The track included a roughly 200-meter tunnel, just wide enough for a single Mecha Girl.
To save time, Derek Su used wall-riding overtakes, even passing the AI driver that was still on its fourth lap.
As they crossed the finish line—
"So this is how a top-tier driver finishes. That was incredible…"
"Stop!" Derek Su snapped, his face dark, veins bulging.
He was a proper driver, driving a proper Mecha Girl, racing properly.
If he kept going with Torch, things were going to start feeling very strange.
"Alright, the race is over. You've recorded everything you needed. Hand over the prize money and let's go our separate ways."
Torch's AI driver was actually quite strong. It was obvious she had absorbed a lot of his techniques.
But in the end, it still fell short.
It could barely keep up in the first lap, but after five corners into the second lap, it was completely left behind. That made the race rather dull for Derek Su.
Being invincible really was lonely.
If possible, he genuinely hoped Torch could create an AI strong enough to challenge him.
So after learning her goal, he didn't mind at all. He even cooperated willingly.
...
Torch pressed her lips together, staring at Derek Su's annoyed expression in the rearview mirror.
You would never understand how strong Derek Su was without driving with him.
She used to think that statement was exaggerated.
Now she understood completely.
Because even after experiencing it herself, she still couldn't see where his limits were.
As expected of the Son of God.
As long as Derek Su was here,
the plan could be carried out perfectly.
Even if the final cost would be immense.
But for Mecha Island. For this world.
Torch's gaze sharpened.
Even if it costs her life, she would not hesitate.
...
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