Master Smith Under Ministry of National Defense

Master Smith Under Ministry of National Defense

195 – Upgrade

As Soo-Jeong delved into her research using Aura Metal, she gradually identified its unique properties. She then began applying upgrades to the existing power armor she had created, incorporating Aura Metal.

The next-generation power armors, upgraded with Aura Metal, featured thin strands of the metal woven throughout the armor like veins. This allowed for the control of numerous functions, which previously required specific actions, vocal commands, or button presses, to be operated solely through thought.

The basic operating system, which scanned muscle movements with AI to execute desired actions, was improved to read the wearer’s thoughts, enabling the execution of desired actions with the same feel as moving their actual body. As a result, the movements performed while wearing the next-generation power armor were far faster and more precise than those of the previous models.

“Though it’s an expression that doesn’t quite fit such thick and heavy equipment, this armor feels like ‘I’m not wearing anything at all,’” Ho-Chang remarked.

Ho-Chang was given a new power armor with a ‘mobility upgrade,’ which incorporated a high proportion of Aura Metal in its motion control system, fitting his style of operating the armor with martial arts-like movements. He was deeply impressed by the mobility of the new armor, which accurately executed his intended movements at the desired timing and speed.

“This is amazing! At first, I was shocked when I saw the cockpit. I thought you had removed all the original functions because all the control buttons were gone. But to think you’ve replaced all those buttons with thought control…” Byung-Tae exclaimed.

Byung-Tae’s specialized suit, ‘Dog Fight,’ received a ‘control upgrade,’ which incorporated a high proportion of Aura Metal in its control system rather than its motion system. Although the speed of movement while wearing the armor was inferior to the mobility upgrade, the control upgrade significantly enhanced the operational aspect, allowing him to use hundreds of functions solely through thought.

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“This is truly incredible! To think that such a power armor could be developed! The Sub-Master is undoubtedly a genius blessed by the gods! No, perhaps the Sub-Master is the incarnation of a deity! Wait, considering her goddess-like beauty, she must be the incarnation of a goddess!”

The most intense reaction to the upgraded suits came from Deki, the Elemental Master who had recently joined the Liberal Clan and could control four elements. Unlike the other clan members’ power armors, her new specialized suit had no thick exterior armor and resembled a full-body swimsuit that revealed the contours of her body. Surprisingly, Soo-Jeong had densely embedded Aura Metal throughout the entire fabric of the suit. This suit contained three times the amount of Aura Metal compared to the larger power armors.

The suit, which was almost entirely made of Aura Metal, enhanced Deki’s existing awakened abilities nearly fivefold. When manipulating water, her control became more intense; when handling fire, it became hotter; when controlling wind, it became sharper; and when dealing with earth, it became harder. Without any rank increase, Deki’s abilities were effectively boosted by two ranks. In a mock battle against Myung-Jun, she demonstrated excellent defensive capabilities against the Elimination Suit, a stark contrast to her past struggles against Director Moon Hee-Cheol’s attacks before joining the Liberal Clan.

“Don’t get too excited. The reason I designed the suit this way is because your abilities are so versatile that you don’t need the power armor’s assistance. This suit is solely focused on enhancing your awakened abilities. So, the strength augmentation, additional armaments, and defensive capabilities provided by the original power armor are all…”

“I need to cover those with my awakened abilities, right? Understood. Thank you, Vice-Master!” Deki replied.

With that, Deki used her earth manipulation ability to create a solid exterior armor that enveloped her entire body. The armor, composed of multiple parts to avoid hindering her movements, gleamed like obsidian and began protecting her body.

After upgrading some of the crew members’ equipment, Soo-Jeong moved on to upgrading the equipment of the academy instructors. For Lee Soo-Bin, who could already handle light rings freely without Aura Metal, the efficiency of an Aura Metal upgrade was low. Similarly, Edward Taylor, the Blaze Spear, who specialized in attack rather than mobility or defense, had a low dependency on power armor.

Moreover, Edward Taylor’s Blaze Spear reached temperatures of hundreds of thousands of degrees when using his awakened ability, causing even titanium to evaporate. Therefore, an Aura Metal upgrade was out of the question for his spear. Given the limited amount of Aura Metal available, Soo-Jeong prioritized efficiency and carefully managed its usage.

“Well, I expected a reward, but I didn’t think I’d receive it in advance. Thank you, Miss Soo-Jeong. With the weapon you’ve given me, I’ll make sure to take Banara’s head.”

Following Myung-Jun’s intention to prioritize upgrading the combat members, the next beneficiary of Aura Metal was Orléans. He had been using a rapier forged by Myung-Jun, but it served more as an ‘awakened ability amplifier’ rather than a direct combat weapon. The difference in his ability’s potency when wielding the rapier versus using his bare hands was significant, making the weapon very precious to him.

However, his beloved weapon, the ‘Water Jet,’ was reborn into a completely new dimension after Soo-Jeong upgraded it with Aura Metal. The amplification ratio of his awakened ability increased significantly, and it transformed into a ‘Mind Spear’ type weapon that could fly through the air and shoot high-pressure water jets according to the user’s thoughts.

The slender rapier danced around Orléans like a sword from a martial arts novel, constantly emitting thin streams of water particles from invisible holes in the blade to keep it aloft.

“Normally, you’d need a separate propulsion system to keep a weapon airborne, but in Orléans’ case, that wasn’t necessary. He can generate water out of thin air, so the only issue was how to use that water efficiently,” Soo-Jeong explained.

Soo-Jeong also upgraded the axe of Sven, another member of the Servium Clan who wielded ice abilities. She enhanced the axe to amplify and release awakened energy without compromising its durability. With the Aura Metal-enhanced axe, Sven could now summon ice pillars twice as hard and much larger than before.

“Hahaha! Yes! Now this is what I call an iceberg! Those monsters! This time, I’ll turn them into a honeycomb!”

Excitedly swinging his axe and turning the test room into a Himalayan snowfield, Sven finally slung the axe over his back, satisfied. He then approached Soo-Jeong and asked, “Um…”

“What is it? Is there something you’re not happy with?”

“Can’t my axe fly in the air like Perrier’s weapon?”

“That’s impossible. Perrier can freely generate a substance to use as a propulsion system because of his awakened ability. But your ability is ice, and the weight of your axe is incomparable to Orléans’ rapier. While it might look cool to have a flying sword, the amount of Aura Metal in your axe is much greater. Therefore, the amplification ratio of your awakened ability is higher with your axe,” Soo-Jeong explained.

Standing nearby, Luis Pereira, the leader of the Floresta Clan, spoke to Sven. “Sven, don’t be too greedy. Some people here haven’t received new equipment at all.”

Pereira’s plant manipulation ability was one of the abilities less affected by Aura Metal, so his weapon was excluded from the Aura Metal upgrades. While it was possible to create equipment focused solely on enhancing her awakened ability, like Deki’s suit, the efficiency compared to the input was too low.

However, Soo-Jeong had already prepared equipment for Pereira. “There’s no new technology applied, but I have prepared equipment for you, Mr.sPereira.”

Pereira, who had been sitting in the corner with a gloomy expression, jumped up. “Is that true?”

“Of course. You fought in the heart of the Amazon, where your ability was at its strongest, and still lost to Banara before he got stronger. This time, the battle is likely to take place in an urban area with few trees, so you might be less effective than the trainees if we’re not careful.”

Soo-Jeong’s words struck at Pereira’s pride, but he couldn’t refute them.

‘Just an ordinary person outside the forest.’

‘An ability more suited for farming than combat.’

These derogatory phrases about Pereira’s abilities only proved that Soo-Jeong’s words were true. However, Soo-Jeong hadn’t said them to hurt his feelings.

“That’s why you need to shed that stigma this time. The limits of your awakened ability are far beyond that,” she said.

“Do you really think so?” Pereira asked.

Soo-Jeong nodded and, with a beautiful smile, said to him, “I sincerely believe that you will be the most outstanding performer in this battle.”

As the saying goes, all men are weak to a beautiful woman’s praise. Seeing Soo-Jeong’s smile, Pereira felt dizzy and replied, “Even if it costs me my life, I will make sure to live up to your expectations.”

“I believe you will. The equipment I’ve prepared for you has been in the works long before this incident occurred,” Soo-Jeong said.

“So, where is this equipment?” Pereira asked.

“It’s not here. The equipment I’ve prepared for you is too large to fit in this room,” Soo-Jeong explained.

“Large…?” Pereira echoed.

Everyone in the test room turned to look around. The test room was already incredibly spacious, designed to allow those receiving equipment to use their abilities to the fullest. It was large enough to play baseball indoors if they wanted to.

So, naturally, everyone was curious about what kind of equipment could be too large to fit in such a vast room.

“What kind of equipment could be too large to fit in this spacious test room?” Pereira finally asked, unable to contain his curiosity.

Soo-Jeong responded, not in an explanatory tone, but as if she were playing a fun prank. “It’s no fun to explain what kind of gift you’re getting before you receive it, right? So, I won’t explain it here. You’ll see your specialized equipment on the Liberator before the operation begins.”

With that, Soo-Jeong continued upgrading everyone’s combat capabilities in sequence, preparing them for the operation. This was to stop the largest horde of monsters advancing underground towards Seoul.

The upcoming war between humanity and monsters in the mega-city of Seoul, with its population of 12 million, was set to be the first ‘all-out war’ that would determine the fate of the Liberal Clan and humanity.

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