Above Scrap Iron Valley, a blood-red halo spread across the sky—
as if it were an execution seal descending from the heavens.
The central authority of the Refuge City had issued the order to activate the "Severance Protocol":
> "Completely seal off Waste Zones 13 through 16. Cut off communication, energy, supplies, and airspace—
let them rot away slowly in the wasteland."
---
[1] Scrap Iron Squad · Temporary Base
Deep in the wasteland, a massive crater had been converted into a temporary base.
Ironbrand led the scavengers to collect supplies.
Baita set up a simple repair station.
Lin Yueheng stood quietly beside R-01, facing the shattered cliff face.
In the center of the ruins, the wreckage of the downed aerial mech "Night Viper" was still smoking.
Baita tore off an intact propulsion wing component, inspecting it as she cursed:
> "This thing uses dual-fuel vector thrust. For your walking fossil? Completely incompatible."
She looked up and saw R-01's torn steel spine, still standing like a beast refusing to fall.
> "You sure it can be mounted?"
Lin Yueheng said in a low voice:
> "I'm not sure if it can be mounted…"
He paused, running his hand over R-01's scorched steel spine.
> "…But I know—it wants to fly."
---
[2] Fusion · Spinal Awakening
As Baita began installing the propulsion wing interface, R-01's back suddenly shook violently!
Boom!
The recovered propulsion wing jolted—emitting a high-frequency vibration, and actively extended its docking arms!
Baita sucked in a sharp breath:
> "I didn't control that… It's auto-matching the interface!"
A glimmer flashed in Lin Yueheng's eyes:
> "It's fusing."
The propulsion wing's shell softened under high heat,
being absorbed and transformed layer by layer by the mech's spinal neural system—
energy conduits and alloy frameworks were rearranged like newly grown veins and bones,
until finally, on R-01's back—
A pair of deep-red, foldable glider wings slowly unfolded.
Completely different from Night Viper's structure:
> A heavier frame, with nozzles coursing with blazing energy veins—
like half-open dragon wings.
It wasn't mounted on.
It had grown anew.
Baita murmured under her breath:
> "…It really is evolving."
---
[3] "Severance" Lockdown Begins
Just as they were about to test the new propulsion wings, the communicator shrieked an alarm.
Ironbrand shouted:
> "Bad news! The shield's coming up!"
In the distance, a towering wall rose into the sky, sealing off the entire dome above Zone 13.
That was the "Severance Wall"—
its outer layer a projected defensive net to block reconnaissance and energy strikes;
its inner layer a solid barricade of ultra-dense metal and energy matrices.
Baita's face turned pale:
> "This isn't just a blockade—they mean to kill all of us inside!"
Lin Yueheng gazed at the wall, speaking slowly:
> "We don't need them to open the way."
He turned to R-01.
> "We'll fly over ourselves."
---
[4] Roaring Wings · First Flight
Inside the cockpit, Baita frantically adjusted output, sweat dripping down her face:
> "I can push it to sixty percent power at most! Any higher and the whole wing set could blow!"
Lin Yueheng was already seated in the pilot's chair, hand on the main control stick, eyes closed:
> "It won't blow."
The screen flickered, displaying:
> [Roaring Wings · Prototype Flight Mode Initiated]
[Tip: Optimal glide takeoff angle — 35° from cliff edge]
Lin Yueheng took a deep breath:
> "Then let's fly."
R-01 charged toward the cliff on pounding steps and leapt—
Boom!!!
Deep-red flames roared from the thrusters—
the metal frame thundered, and the air twisted into vortices under the scorching blast!
The Roaring Wings snapped open, slicing through the outer projection shield like a hunting falcon,
drawing a blazing trail across the night sky!
---
[5] Aerial Duel · The White-Faced Arbiter
The moment R-01 passed through the projection defense,
a white figure hovered silently in midair—
its silhouette sharp as a blade carved into the wind.
It was the Imperial Severance Division's high-altitude arbiter mech,
built to hunt and kill any who attempted to cross the boundary,
an elite Imperial model known as "White Hawk · Arbiter"—its pilots had never failed.
It carried no conventional weapons,
only a long staff, and a circular condensation shield spread behind its back.
The command voice was cold and merciless:
> "You think a pair of wings can place you above the law?
Lin Yueheng, the heavens will judge you."
The Arbiter thrust its staff forward!
Several floating electromagnetic chains formed multi-directional locks,
cutting off every possible aerial path for R-01!
—First restricted air battle!
Lin Yueheng yanked the control stick hard:
> "Then let's hear how loud these new wings can roar."
He cut the jammed auto-navigation and manually piloted the propulsion wings—diving into the wind at an angle!
The Arbiter's staff morphed into a spiral-blade spear, slashing down like lightning!
R-01 flipped sharply, sweeping up from behind—
twin wings surging, twin fists charging!
> "This punch—falls for the heavens and the earth!"
Bang!!!
Boom——!!!
A thunderous blast shattered the clouds—
the Arbiter's back took the full hit, and its shield matrix collapsed completely!
---
[6] Voice from the Depths · The War God Takes to the Skies
R-01 landed—dropping to one knee.
The Arbiter's wreckage trailed flames as it plummeted into the wasteland,
like a fallen sky-eye disappearing into the night.
Lin Yueheng slowly stood.
Suddenly, the comms reconnected—
voices of scavengers from across the wasteland poured in one after another:
> "He flew… He really flew over…"
"The sky isn't unreachable anymore. We can charge across too."
"That wasn't a mech. That was the first time in my life I've seen defiance tear open the heavens."
Ironbrand looked at the still-spread Roaring Wings and murmured:
> "That's our… war god."