Reboot: Mechanic

After listening to Vanessa regarding the evolved Gilaso variant being shrouded with a strange energy. 

Theobold quickly turned on a communication device to order his soldier to bring a sample of the corpse over.

Although he had already inspected the corpse, Theobold found nothing out of the norm and could only store it in an area that could preserve the corpse from rotting thanks to the polluted atmosphere. 

Since the corpse was a new version, Theobold needed to ensure the corpse remained intact and could be studied later on, even if there was no fruitful result yet.

Waiting for a few minutes, some soldiers carried a sample of the corpse. 

The sample was one of the tentacles that were amputated from the intense fight they had. 

Narrowing his eyes and inspecting the tentacles thoroughly, Theobold still found nothing. 

"Are you sure there is a strange energy shrouding it?" He turned his attention to Vanessa and asked confusingly. 

It wasn't that he doubted her claim, but it was just that he could not detect anything. 

Meanwhile, Vanessa nodded her head, her expression turned even more solemn. 

"I don't know how, but the strange energy is still somewhat active right now. It just wasn't as powerful compared to his live status." Vanessa explained. 

Knowing that Theobold could not sense the strange energy, Vanessa decided to manipulate the magicule in the surrounding atmosphere to trigger the strange energy.

Vanessa focused her abilities, manipulating the magicule-rich atmosphere that surrounded the tentacle sample. 

She had a unique sensitivity to such energies, and she believed that by introducing additional magicule energy into the equation, she might be able to trigger or enhance the strange energy signature she had detected earlier.

As she channeled her abilities into the tentacle, a faint, eerie glow enveloped it. Theobold and the other soldiers watched in fascination as the tentacle reacted to Vanessa's manipulation.

Sure enough, as Vanessa continued to infuse it with energy, the strange energy she had sensed earlier became more pronounced. 

It was as if some hidden force within the tentacle was responding to her influence.

Theobold leaned in closer, his curiosity piqued. "It seems you were right, Vanessa. There is indeed something unusual about this creature's energy."

Vanessa nodded, her brow furrowed in concentration. She could feel the strange energy reacting to her manipulation, almost like it had a life of its own.

"I believe this energy might be dormant within the Gilaso variants until triggered," Vanessa suggested. 

"It's unlike anything I've encountered before. We should exercise extreme caution when dealing with these evolved variants. They might have abilities we can't predict." She added. 

Theobold agreed with her assessment. They had already faced formidable challenges with the Gilaso variants, but the addition of this mysterious energy made the situation even more precarious.

"Maybe it was this peculiar and strange energy that resulted in the energy wave that we received early on. The damage was clear and it's a destructive one to our body." Theobold commented, feeling pressured by this new variable. 

It was as if the monster wave with variants wasn't enough, but now they even had to deal with a new variable in the mix. 

Just how messy had the situation developed into? 

Scratching his head slightly, Theobold was truly exhausted this time.

Nevertheless, he could not afford to simply throw in the towel and call it quits. 

Maybe others might have done it, but not him. This was his responsibility and duty, so he could only continue forward.

"Since the magicule could trigger the strange energy, let me attempt it," Theobold suggested, following almost the same process as Vanessa.

However, to his dismay, there was no reaction whatsoever, prompting Theobold to be stumped once again.

"Ahem, let's try this again." Faking a cough, Theobold stretched his body first and attempted to trigger the strange energy again, only to no avail. 

"Hmm, maybe the residual strange energy has all dissipated after the early trigger." He added. 

"Um, no, that's not true." Vanessa was quick to shoot him down, manipulated the magicule, and managed to trigger a reaction swiftly, causing Theobold to swallow his remark back down to his throat. 

Although the reaction was minimal, it was a reaction nonetheless, a stark contrast to Theobold's claim earlier. 

"I guess you're just not the chosen one, but it's alright. I'll go and inspect the rest of the corpse to see if I can find anything. You can just stay here and keep an eye on the other families' military team." Vanessa then suggested, exiting the command center.

The other soldiers remaining in the command center wanted to laugh at how Theobold was embarrassed but sensed his intense gaze, prompting them to sit up straight.

Toward Vanessa and Mary, Theobold might be somewhat helpless at them, but toward his own soldiers, there shall be no mercy.

"Hmph, increase the surveillance and make sure to double-check the equipment. The lots of you have embarrassed me quite a bit already when an evolved Gilaso variant managed to sneak up on us." Theobold raised his tone and scolded harshly. 

"Yes, Commander Theobold!" The poor soldiers could only accept their pitiful fate as they took the blame even though they were not at fault.

How were they supposed to anticipate such a thing when even Theobold himself with the highest perception here failed to anticipate it? 

Alas, who told them to be soldiers under him, and weren't in the same situation as Vanessa that could indirectly call Theobold ignorant. Nor could they be like Mary who was able to ask for rewards without any repercussions. 

As Theobold became overly harsh toward his soldiers, back in the Iron Sentinel, progress could be seen.

Mary had already managed to connect the silicon wafer on the chip, which was the semiconductor utilized for manufacturing the IC chip they were building. 

Her eyes were already somewhat watery, given that the chips were tiny and required tons of focus to ensure each of the thousands of tiny resistors, capacitors, diodes, and transistors were fabricated.

Pausing for a moment, Mary turned her attention to Shi Tian and asked gently. "Nathan, can I punch you for some stress relief?"