Perspective: Ryan Flame
This is going to be an amazing experience!
When he was brought to the equipment testing area of the "Dawn Barrier Central Technical Workshop," Ryan could barely suppress his excited humming. The air was filled with the distinctive scent of ozone, engine oil, and energy cores. To him, however, it smelled sweeter than any air in the city of Rockstone.
His gaze was captivated by the object suspended in the standby frame:
It was a Type-12 "Sentinel" basic interface belonging to the Dawn Barrier's technological system.
Its standard paint scheme was a striking battle red, echoing the flame attribute of the "Red" core that had begun to awaken within his chest. The armor's lines were sharp and aggressive with obvious modular interfaces on the shoulders and chest plates and a sleek, full-coverage helmet.
It was exactly what he had always dreamed of!
"Don't drool like a child who's never seen a toy before, rookie."
Gestalt's cold, serious voice came through the communicator. Ryan was guided to a specially designed "forced resonance donning platform" in the center of the debugging area, where several thick mechanical arms secured him tightly.
"Listen!"
"The essence of the 'forced resonance interface' is to forcibly fuse the raw energy of your 'Red' core, transmitted through the 'tactical link drive' on your waist, with the bio-mechanical neural bundles within the interface's skeletal structure."
"It will become an extension of your body, but simultaneously, the core's will will directly assault your mind!"
"You will feel the power, but also the pain and temptation of madness."
"Remember that once you lose control of your cognition, you will become something more terrifying than any monster!"
"Come on! I've been ready for this!" Ryan grinned, trying to hide the tension in his heart with his usual arrogance. He had already pulled out a flat, fire-red 'Sentinel-Basic Core Pod (Red)' with his other hand and forcefully inserted it into the square, standardized slot at the center of the waist-mounted driver.
"Clack!" The core module was in place.
A cold electronic voice sounded in his mind and over the communication channel simultaneously:
"Forced Resonance Program activated!"
"Countdown: three, two, one..."
"Resonance initiated!"
"Boom!"
Pain!
An unimaginable burst of violent energy mixed with contradictory impacts of burning heat and piercing cold suddenly erupted from the drive. Through the neural interface, the pain pierced deep into his senses and soul.
His "red" Allochromatic Core seemed to detonate in an instant.
"Ugh, ahhh!"
Ryan let out an uncontrollable scream of pain. He felt as though every nerve in his body had been thrown into a furnace and repeatedly scorched and crushed by red-hot irons.
Mentally, he was on a battlefield of blood and fire, engaged in a life-or-death struggle with an ancient beast formed from pure anger and destructive desire. The will of the "red" core was wild and chaotic, carrying a strong corrosive force that attempted to devour his rationality, distort his memories, and transform him into a beast driven solely by destruction and slaughter.
Countless shattered, blood-red illusions of flames, explosions, and destruction flashed before his eyes.
His body struggled violently within the restraints as if it were about to be torn apart.
It wasn't about "wearing" the equipment; it was about being "consumed" and "reshaped" by it!
Crimson data streams erupted from the drive like solidified flames and swiftly enveloped his body. The incessant mechanical "Ka-Chunk!" sound echoed as additional crimson lizard-scale armor plates materialized and snapped precisely into place across his body at a visible speed.
The generation and snap-fitting of each piece of additional armor plate was accompanied by excruciating pain from bones being forcibly realigned and muscles being reshaped by energy.
A faint "fwoosh" sound echoed as the elemental jet nozzles on the outer sides of his arms flashed with a streak of firelight.
The T-shaped composite material visor mask snapped into place, obscuring his severely contorted face. Lines of red self-check data streamed across the lenses.
"Element Online!"
The system confirmation tone announced the completion of the synchronization transformation as the final crimson armor component solidified on his body. Ryan gasped sharply and nearly collapsed in exhaustion within the restraints of the suit platform.
He felt as though every cell in his body had been reshaped; an unprecedented sense of power surged through his limbs. The low hum of energy flowing within the armor echoed like the breath of an awakening colossus.
Ryan slowly raised his right arm, covered in heavy armor, and clenched his fist. A faint, metallic grinding sound emanated from his joints—heavy and powerful.
At the same time, however, he could feel the madness and extreme destructive impulse lurking within his newly acquired power, which was difficult to control.
"Boss, this 'forced resonance' is indeed not an easy experience..." His voice was hoarse and trembled with fear for having survived a catastrophe, with a hint of dread.
He had finally tasted the price of power today.