Regarding the future direction of the Reunion Movement.
Lucas Reeve, Patriot, Talulah, and Alina had discussed it many times. FrostNova, however, didn't seem to enjoy discussing such matters, so she rarely participated in these kinds of conversations.
Of course.
She wouldn't normally attend such meetings.
Only when Lucas Reeve was present would she also join in.
This behavior was naturally noticed by Patriot.
Of course.
There was nothing Patriot could say.
After all.
Lucas Reeve was a god.
Even if he had the appearance of a human, his divinity could not be hidden. A god could not have a future with a mortal.
That included Alina.
In fact.
Everyone in the Reunion Movement was well aware of Alina's love for Lucas Reeve.
However.
Patriot knew clearly.
Neither of these affections would bear fruit.
After subsequent discussions.
The Reunion Movement's future plans for relocation were divided into several options.
First, remain in Ursus and treat this place as a long-term base.
Second, head into the wilderness. Although the wilderness was full of monsters, the Reunion Movement had a large number of people, including the Shieldguard and Yeti Squadrons, as well as individuals like Patriot and FrostNova. As long as it wasn't a beast tide numbering in the tens of thousands, they could generally handle it. If they happened to find a place in the wilderness that could support long-term habitation, the Reunion Movement would settle there directly.
Third, head to Lungmen...
In an environment where all of Terra persecutes the Infected, Lungmen's willingness to take in outside Infected was already a breath of fresh air. Although they made the Infected stay in the slums, there were actually quite a few factories within the slums. The wages were low, but as long as the Infected were willing to work, they generally wouldn't starve.
However, how to get in was a problem. One or two Infected could sneak in, but such a large group of several hundred, including former regular soldiers from Ursus... the Lungmen Guard Department wasn't blind.
If it were just a troop of Infected, it might be manageable.
But... the Shieldguards and Patriot were too... conspicuous.
The shields and armor of the Shieldguards were as important as their lives—in the truest sense, as long as they lived, their shields lived. Asking them to abandon their heavy shields was harder than killing them. As for Patriot, a Wendigo of that size—the Lungmen Guard Department wasn't blind...
Columbia was also a good choice...
But...
Lucas Reeve felt that he had been relying on Jessica a bit too much lately.
In the past, Jessica relied on him, but now it seemed he was relying on her in many ways.
Most importantly, he currently lacked a physical body, making movement inconvenient.
If he had a physical body, he could easily cultivate his own exclusive force. Relocating the Reunion Movement would be a breeze, without so many restrictions.
Mainly...
Jessica's background was just too convenient...
It was no wonder that when Jessica met the Genie, she asked him what wish he wanted. Being rich really did let you do whatever you wanted; it could solve 99.9% of the world's problems. The remaining 0.1% could only be handled by a cheater like Lucas Reeve.
However.
Since Columbia was quite far from Ursus.
This option was temporarily set aside.
Ultimately, after discussion, they decided to stay here for a while.
Anyway.
The southern border of Ursus was much warmer than the north. Even though it was still below freezing, there was a huge difference between minus 40 degrees and minus 15 degrees. Coupled with the super-high-power heater that Lucas Reeve had built himself, which could radiate heat across the entire Reunion settlement, the compatriots, who were used to environments of several tens of degrees below zero, could probably walk around bare-chested without any problem.
The good days were here...
After the settlement was re-established.
Many of the Reunion Movement compatriots breathed a huge sigh of relief. One by one, filled with excitement and motivation, they began to chop down surrounding trees to build wooden cabins. It was a scene of thriving prosperity—provided the Army Group didn't come to cause trouble.
However.
Patriot did not let his guard down. He, along with the Shieldguards and Scouts, maintained 24-hour rotating patrols. At the slightest sign of the Army Group, they would immediately pack up and flee. This place was different from before. Previously, they couldn't escape because behind them lay an even colder ice field, and entering it meant certain death. But this was the southern border of Ursus; if they wanted to run, they could immediately flee into the wilderness.
Meanwhile, Lucas Reeve hadn't been idle over in Sargon.
Under his and Zumama's constant tinkering.
The new model of Big Ugly had begun to undergo major modifications. The High Priest wasn't just idly flapping its wings nearby either; it was directing which color of paint would look best on Big Ugly.
According to the design schematics.
This version of Big Ugly was completely different in style from the previous one.
The previously external cockpit was changed to an internal one in the second-generation Big Ugly.
On the blueprints.
The second-gen Big Ugly stood at a height of about five point three meters.
The cockpit was designed for a person of normal size. After all, if it were designed for the High Priest's size, what would Zumama do if she wanted to pilot it?
The cockpit was located in the chest of the second-gen Big Ugly, corresponding to the position of a human's ribs and internal organs.
For the second generation's design, Lucas Reeve didn't entirely reference a humanoid form. He removed the head and neck, which, while cool-looking, wasn't practical for the first version of a war machine. Aesthetics could be considered later. Instead, the cameras were also placed on the chest.
The arms and legs, however, did reference the human form.
After all, a humanoid form has its advantages.
The external armor of the second-gen Big Ugly would be uniformly made from the [Nirvana Metal] that Lucas Reeve had recently forged. Beneath the [Nirvana Metal], a skeletal structure with high hardness and cushioning capabilities would be used. As for the most critical joints, they would use the D35 alloy forged by Lucas Reeve.
It possessed hardness comparable to D32 Steel but had unparalleled extensibility and plasticity, allowing it to perfectly serve as the crucial connecting joints for such a mech. Moreover, its extremely high Originium Arts conductivity ensured that there would be no energy transmission decay.
Next was the engine.
Lucas Reeve opted for an engine similar to that of a low-altitude shuttle, capable of producing 1400KW of power at peak performance. This was more than enough for the second-gen Big Ugly.
The second-gen Big Ugly had a total height of 5.3 meters and an estimated weight of less than ten tons, likely around 6 tons.
After so many days of design and consideration.
Finally....
The blueprint for the second-gen Big Ugly had roughly taken shape.
Next came Lucas Reeve's unparalleled forging skill.
The process was tedious.
To create such a large mech, even with a rough blueprint, the time required for a single person to forge it was not short.
—Three Months Later—
Zumama stared at the transformed Big Ugly before her, too excited to speak.
Although Big Ugly was almost complete, it still needed several rounds of testing and optimization after being built to finalize the design.
If this had been a few months ago.
Zumama would never have dared to imagine that she could turn Big Ugly into what it was now. And now... she was even running tests back and forth on the engine.
She looked at Lucas Reeve, who was arguing with the High Priest over what color to paint the exterior.
Zumama's gaze grew hazy.
She didn't know why, but she instinctively reached out to grab the lower half of Lucas Reeve's soul that extended from her own body. But since he was a soul, she couldn't touch him at all; her hand passed right through the translucent lower half, leaving Zumama incredibly dejected.
Girls from primitive tribes are direct.
They don't like to hold things in.
If they like someone, they like them. If they don't, they'll say it directly. There's none of the catfishing games you find in the cities.
And Zumama had been holding it in for a long time.
She had wanted to confess her feelings many times, but each time the words were on the tip of her tongue, she didn't know how to say them. Sometimes, she even wondered if she was truly a member of the [Eunectes Tribe]. Being so hesitant was completely unlike her former self.
Her tail swayed back and forth behind her.
Zumama wanted to say it, but for a moment, she didn't know how.
After all...
He was the Lord God.
For a mortal to confess to a god was a taboo transgression in itself...
But...
But....
"Little girl Zumama, what are you thinking about? You look so distracted."
Suddenly.
Lucas Reeve patted Zumama's shoulder, his sudden words making her jump in fright.
"N-no... I was thinking... thinking... thinking about when you... and I would finish the second-generation Big Ugly."
"Soon~"
Lucas Reeve turned around, looking at the over-five-meter-tall Big Ugly behind him with great satisfaction.
This brand-new Big Ugly would undoubtedly be a force on the battlefield. Lucas Reeve had already tested it before completion; based on the firepower of the previous Ursus independent regiment, continuous artillery fire on Big Ugly's surface couldn't cause any damage to the Nirvana Metal.
Furthermore.
Due to the Nirvana Metal's property of absorbing large amounts of kinetic energy, only a small fraction of the explosive force penetrated the outer armor to reach the mech's interior. However, that tiny bit of impact no longer posed any threat to Big Ugly; it was negligible.
When the time came, it would be equipped with a full complement of various weapons.
Even the firearm was personally built by Lucas Reeve—a 4-meter-long multi-functional weapon that could be used as an assault rifle and a sniper rifle. The bullets were of the same caliber as those used in the revolvers of the Laterano Apostolic Knights. As for the sniper mode's ammunition, Lucas Reeve specially created a 60mm caliber Originium Round. A single shot could instantly pierce a Shieldguard's heavy shield and even penetrate several people in a row... it was that terrifying...
On its shoulders were small, self-tracking Originium missiles, and on its back were numerous incendiary Originium demolition bombs, each capable of melting a tank in an instant. These were all crafted by Lucas Reeve through sleepless nights.
On both sides of the waist.
Two sharp metal daggers that could cut through ordinary metal like tofu.
And inside the armor on the inner thighs, various other types of Originium bombs were hidden.
They were all specially designed by Lucas Reeve.
Of course.
There was also a hidden backup power source on its back to prevent energy issues.
With this complete set.
The second-generation Big Ugly had been completely transformed into a true weapon of war and slaughter.
Don't underestimate Lucas Reeve's current forging talent.
No exaggeration.
The current Reeve could replicate any weapon from any country on Terra, as long as it was mechanical, and even optimize it to be more powerful.
The only drawback was.
There was only one of him.
Production was extremely limited.
"Zumama~ Do you have a favorite color scheme?"
Lucas Reeve asked for Zumama's opinion.
For the second-gen Big Ugly's color scheme, Lucas Reeve wanted to go with a sci-fi, deep-blue mech style, while the High Priest chose the same yellow as the original Big Ugly. The soul and the bird argued over the color for a long time without reaching an agreement.
But at this moment, Zumama had no idea what color to choose.
Looking at Lucas Reeve's approaching face.
Zumama immediately grew flustered.
"Um... whatever Lord Lucas Reeve likes, I will definitely like...."
"Hah!! What a love-struck fool."
The High Priest covered its forehead and fluttered away to the side.
Ultimately.
Regarding the color scheme.
Lucas Reeve and the High Priest decided to go with Zumama's favorite color, red, as the main color, with yellow and deep blue as accents.
Once the paint was applied.
The brand-new second-generation Big Ugly was officially complete!!
The High Priest couldn't wait to get inside and pilot it. For this official occasion, the High Priest had put on a custom-made mini-suit and a pair of snazzy little sunglasses. Although Lucas Reeve didn't know why a bird would wear a suit, the High Priest loved this sense of ceremony.
With a flap of its wings.
The cockpit door on Big Ugly's chest opened, revealing a highly sophisticated cockpit inside.
The moment it sat down.
The cockpit door closed.
Then.
Around the High Priest, the screens surrounding the cockpit lit up simultaneously, like a VR display, making it seem as if one were entirely outside.
*Bing~*
The mono-eye above the hatch lit up, flashing with a grim red light before turning blue.
"Big Ugly Mk. II!! Acti—"
"Lord Lucas Reeve..."
Zumama suddenly called out to Lucas Reeve, "Big Ugly was just a name I came up with casually. And since it wasn't finished, plus the original Big Ugly really was ugly... now... I feel like this name isn't quite suitable anymore. Why don't you change it..."
Lucas Reeve pinched his chin. "Change it, huh..."
In a few seconds of thought, several Gundam names flashed through Lucas Reeve's mind.
Although he really wanted to use his favorite name, Exusiai.
But it seemed...
It shared a name with a certain angel next door.
And...
in the future, Lucas Reeve would choose to create the original Gundams. Even if they couldn't be used on the battlefield, the sentiment was there. Who wouldn't want to pilot a Gundam?
"How about..."
"We call it Titan."
"Mm!!"
Lucas Reeve smiled faintly and gave the command to the High Priest in the cockpit.
"Titan! Activate!!"
The High Priest, in turn, adjusted its glasses with its wing in a fittingly dramatic manner and fired up the thrusters.
"Codename: Titan!! Lord High Priest!! Activating!!"
Instantly.
The massive thrusters on Titan's back spewed out scorching, deep-blue flames. Accompanied by the roar of the internal engine, the entire Titan shot into the sky, soaring to a high altitude.
"Weapons systems test!!"
The High Priest: "Understood!!"
*Thump~*
The numerous weapon bays on Titan's back opened one after another. Small Originium missiles launched from the bays, landing in an uninhabited area deep in the rainforest.
Instantly.
A series of violent explosions erupted into the sky.
The dazzling light of the explosions flared up from a distance.
Zumama couldn't help but cover her eyes, watching with immense excitement as the Titan flew through the fiery light.
This was...
a true mech!!