Chapter 66: Memory Alloy
"This… what is this? Is it really for me?"
When General Rylen saw the strange sword before him, he immediately knew it was something extraordinary. It was not only light but could also bend to a certain degree and instantly return to its original shape ... just like the Predacon's wounds regenerating after the Dinobot attack.
However, this self-repairing ability had limits. Once the sword was completely shattered or broken, it could never return to its original state.
"This is probably beyond the understanding of your era. To us Transformers, it's a type of memory alloy, though I've always found it somewhat strange. But for you simple humans, this must be the most advanced weapon of your time!"
Of course, Starscream knew that his theory was completely meaningless to the human before him, who had no idea what he was talking about.
But as a general who had fought countless battles, General Rylen quickly grasped the situation. This being called Starscream seemed surprisingly friendly ... and didn't he also bear an Autobot totem on his chest?
"Is this truly for me? Are you really not a threat to us? And why do you seem so unfamiliar with our ancient myths? Where exactly do you come from?"
As the saying goes: He who eats another's food owes him; he who accepts another's gift owes him. Now that he had accepted Starscream's gift, General Rylen's initial suspicion began to fade, replaced by curiosity ... enough to spark a cautious conversation with the towering figure known as Red Spider.
Originally, Red Spider had planned to integrate the memory alloy into his own system due to its immense power. But the sight of the black mechanical panther leaning lifelessly against the wall chilled him to his core.
If he were to lose his ability to transform ... even if his advanced processor reverted to a beast-like mindset ... all for the sake of that strange metal, it would be a terrifying fate. The consequences were clear.
However, these humans didn't seem to face such issues. No matter what form the transforming metal took, these organic beings showed no reaction whatsoever. It might have to do with the simple carbon-based molecular structure that composed their bodies.
After receiving the sword, General Rylen completely forgot his hostility toward Starscream. He even swung his new weapon proudly before his comrades, as if it were a badge of honor.
"Don't worry about my origin. I'm not a native of this planet. Now, tell me everything you know ... about your ancient mythology. I assume it describes two factions at war, and the difference between them lies in this symbol, right?"
Starscream pointed at the Autobot insignia on his chest. He felt a bit uneasy doing so ... he had always thought the Decepticon emblem looked far more imposing.
But to please these humans and gather more information, he decided to keep the Autobot symbol for now ... it did, after all, resemble a smiling face.
"The details… those can only be explained in full by our High Priest. I can only tell you what I know," said General Rylen. "Legend says that thousands of years ago, our world was divided into two great factions. One was led by the Demon King Chi You, whose subordinates were monsters like these. The other…"
General Rylen pointed toward the destroyed black mechanical panther that Red Spider had slain. Clearly, this wasn't the first time his people had seen such monstrous beings.
"I see! So you're saying your planet was originally occupied by the Decepticons, who used some unknown method to create hordes of primitive beasts like these to dominate the world?"
According to General Rylen's account, that certainly sounded like the Decepticons' style. Yet, the Decepticon leader who once ruled this planet must have had extreme tastes ... even turning his subordinates into savage beasts.
Perhaps it was a way to project dominance over primitive civilizations, or simply to instill fear in any who dared oppose them. In any case, it was likely a deliberate effect engineered through advanced Decepticon technology.
But this world had its balance: wherever the Decepticons spread chaos, the righteous Autobots would intervene to stop them. The Autobot faction of that era appeared to have been led by a mighty figure known as Huangdi, the Yellow Emperor ... possibly a supersoldier similar to Optimus Prime. His followers were mostly robotic Transformers.
After the great war, these Autobots were revered as guardian deities by their believers. Unfortunately, it seemed that the Decepticons had ultimately claimed victory, leaving the Autobots ... like the Dinobots that Starscream encountered ... in deep slumber or sealed away.
Had Starscream not stumbled upon this underground city, much of this history would have remained buried forever.
"Yes, Lord Starscream. Without Huangdi, I doubt we, the descendants of the people, would even exist. But why have all of Chi You's subordinates returned to the mortal realm, while none of the guardian deities left by Huangdi have appeared?"
Indeed ... even though Starscream had granted them valuable gifts, the black-haired, black-eyed humans before him clearly didn't see him as one of their guardian deities. Perhaps his face simply looked too villainous for that.
"Look...what's that?"
"It's Aetherion! The Aetherion Clan! I saw that lord striking down the Xiongnu!"
"Heaven's eyes have opened! The heavens truly see us!"
As the saying goes ... speak of the devil, and he shall appear. Just as Starscream and the others mentioned the Autobots, two Dinobot warriors, having rested briefly, helped each other descend to the ground.
Still in their transformed states and bearing the Autobot insignia, they were immediately surrounded by soldiers ... not with hostility, but with visible reverence and excitement.
(End of Chapter)
Special mention goes to Rosebud Gdogg, who stole the top spot as a donor of power stones.