The Mech Touch

antage.
As a higher-tech gauss rifle, its muzzle velocity was incomparably better.
This gave the targets less time to move and dodge incoming fire.

As the Deliverer started to run out of ammunition, the target bots were really making Joshua sweat!

Not only had the distance stretched to the limits of the effective range of the Executor rifle, the final test also simulated the conditions of its intended use.

Around a hundred targets bots buzzed and flew in a facsimile of a sandman swarm.
Ves had secretly installed a colored bomb inside one of the bots.
Once the bot was hit, the bomb would explode in scarlet fury.

Ves installed this bomb extremely well, taking out a couple of superfluous components to keep its mass and sensor signature the same.

To be honest, he didn ’t even know which of the bots in the swarm carried the bomb.
This would ensure absolute fairness in the test, as not even Ylvaine ’s spiritual fragment would be able to cheat by accessing his mind!

”It seems like Joshua ’s compatibility with the Deliverer is not good enough. ” He whispered.

Joshua managed to hit three drones in the distant swarm.
This was an amazing feat of accuracy considering that the bots were much smaller than the typical sandman drone.

Unfortunately, none of the three unlucky drones contained the priority target that the Deliverer was meant to destroy.

”Alright, let ’s end the testing session here.
Joshua, come back to the carrier. ”

”Yes, sir. ”

The mech pilot obviously sounded glum due to his failure in hitting his assigned target.

In fact, Ves actually didn ’t expect Joshua to be able to accomplish another impossible feat.

Once the Deliverer returned, a crew of mech technicians refilled its energy and ammunition reserves.
They also inspected the mech for any obvious faults.

The prototype was still in close to optimal state.
The next tests could proceed without any major issue.
In fact, continuous testing was not a bad idea as they could test whether the mech could cope with back-to-back sorties.

Finally, a real Ylvainan mech pilot entered the Deliverer ’s cockpit for the first time.

Lieutenant Dominic Kronon had the pleasure of piloting the mech after Joshua ’s turn.
The experienced marksman mech pilot quickly got the hang of the prototype ’s basic operation and flew it out into space.

As the Deliverer started to make the same basic movements at the start of each deployment, Ves and Gloriana closely observed the telemetry related to the mech pilot ’s integration with the mech.

”It ’s better than with Joshua, that ’s for sure. ” Gloriana concluded.

”If Joshua is a guest in Ylvaine ’s home, then Dominic Kronon must be a resident! ”

Just looking at the feed displaying the interior of the cockpit hinted at this difference.
The mech lieutenant ’s face was practically rapturous as he came closer to the source of his faith than ever!

Ves actually underestimated the impact on Ylvainan mech pilots when they came in touch with Ylvaine ’s spiritual fragment!

Dominic ’s entire body and mind resonated powerfully with his closest beliefs! A vast, supreme existence touched his entire being.

This being tested his faith and found nothing wanting!

As soon as Dominic passed this test of faith, the mech beckoned him deeper, encouraging him to immerse himself further until he practically embodied the machine!

For a time, Dominic was the Deliverer, and the Deliverer was Dominic!

This sublime moment changed his entire life, but only happened for a relatively short period.
Once he got back to the testing session, his fluency in piloting the prototype constantly increased!

He had long passed Joshua ’s scores and went a step further!

As a devout Ylvainan, he already possessed a high degree of compatibility with the Deliver.

As a marksman mech specialist, he easily became accustomed to the Deliverer ’s operation.

Many marksman mechs were slow and lightly armored, but this was the first time the mech lieutenant piloted a mech so deficient in these aspects.

Nonetheless, his close connection with his mech did not allow him to show any doubt towards the Deliverer ’s configuration.

If the Great Prophet himself had blessed this mech, then who was he to doubt its viability in combat?

At the very least, the offensive might of the mech was not in question!

As soon as the testing session proceeded to shooting down target bots, Dominic finally showcased his considerable skill in marksmanship!

Despite firing as fast as the gauss rifle could cycle, he managed to sustain a near-perfect hit rate at close to medium range!

He even managed to hit slow-moving targets at longer ranges with a high degree of accuracy!

It was only when the target bots started to whizz and accelerate as fast as actual sandman drones that the lieutenant encountered difficulties.

It was simply too difficult to hit the tiny bots when they moved so fast.
His impeccable aim and prediction ability could no longer keep up with the situation.

When a hundred target bots simulated a sandman swarm, Dominic only managed to hit a couple of mundane targets.

He failed to take out the primary objective!

”This won ’t do. ” Ves frowned.

Was Ylvaine ’s spiritual fragment being lazy or something? Where was the Guided Aim ability that Ves placed his entire hopes upon?!

He gritted his teeth.
Just as he was starting concentrate his mind in order to get in touch with the inscrutable fragment, the situation suddenly changed!

A distinctly red explosion enveloped one of the target bots!

In the backdrop of space, the explosion was like a bloody flower that bloomed amidst the starry seas!

The sight astounded Ves and Gloriana.
Both of them knew what it represented.

”The lieutenant already took out three ordinary drones.
That means that there was a one-in-ninety-seven chance for him to take out the primary objective! ”

Those were miniscule odds! For the prototype to hit the correct target should hardly be a coincidence!

Nonetheless, Ves couldn ’t rule out this possibility.
He needed to repeat the same scenario again and again in order to verify that the Deliverer actually received assistance!

”This test is not conclusive yet! Let ’s do it again! ”

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