Chapter 323: The Only Thing That Made Welt Feel Comfortable
Welt sensed the tidal wave of inspiration sparked by the future television rippling through the multiversal Chat Group. He didn't rush to interrupt their brainstorming, instead leaning back and allowing everyone ample time to immerse themselves in the boundless possibilities.
Truthfully, he needed the quiet just as much as they did. The turbulent emotions churning within his chest had yet to fully settle. Regaining the Core of the Herrscher of Reason was no small matter. He closed his eyes, taking a slow, measured breath as he re-adapted to the phantom weight of it—a lost-and-found power, deeply heavy with memories, now flowing through his hands once more.
After some time, when the chaotic chatter in the group finally began to subside, Welt decided it was time to shift the focus. He had one more prize to share. Unlike the heavy legacy of the Herrscher Core, this particular reward allowed him to feel pure, unadulterated joy without a single worry about the past.
He uploaded the data into the Chat Group. It manifested as a holographic projection emitting a soft blue glow. It wasn't a solid object, but rather a constantly rotating, complex runic mark that exuded a cold metallic luster and an overwhelming sense of advanced technology.
`[Item: Overlord's Descent]`
`[Rarity: Blue Quality]`
`[Description: Originating from a highly advanced technological dimension where colossal humanoid mechas serve as the apex of military weaponry. This peculiar runic creation is the materialized crystallization of that world's advanced wisdom and power. Upon entering combat, the rune automatically siphons ambient kinetic energy to charge. Under standard conditions, it reaches maximum capacity within ten continuous rounds of engagement.]`
`[Upon full charge, the user may initiate transformation into one of two initial mecha forms:]`
`[- Overlord Sword Demon: Engineered for extreme offense and hyper-mobility. Equipped with an oversized tactical greatsword and a high-energy particle cannon. Specializes in tearing through enemy front lines and obliterating high-priority targets.]`
`[- Overlord Zero: Engineered for unmatched defense and battlefield control. Boasts heavy composite armor plating and a wide-area energy aegis shield. Specializes in absorbing catastrophic damage and protecting allies.]`
`[Note: Additional Overlord Mecha models will gradually unlock as the user achieves deeper synchronization and mastery over the existing forms.]`
For the first time since the Chat Group's inception, Welt had received a reward that didn't carry the baggage of a tragic backstory or a heavy moral burden. It was a prize he genuinely, wholeheartedly geeked out over.
`[Welt: As for this... it is easily the most worry-free and satisfying gain I've had in recent memory.]`
Even through the cold text, a rare hint of genuine amusement bled into his tone. One could easily imagine the stoic man sitting in the Astral Express, a faint, boyish smile tugging at the corner of his lips.
`[Welt: I imagine no one could resist the chance to pilot a mecha, right?]`
It was an absolute truth. Whether it was his early days constructing countless weapons as the Herrscher of Reason, or his later reliance on the Star of Eden with its heavy industrial aesthetic, his fondness for massive creations that married raw power with mechanical beauty was deeply ingrained in his soul.
From his perspective as a former animation storyboard artist, the sharp, aggressive lines and powerful structural integrity of the Overlord series perfectly blended violent aesthetics with utilitarian function. It aligned flawlessly with his tastes. Imagine it: standing on the grand battlefields of the future, no longer relying solely on the Herrscher's authority or the Star of Eden's gravity manipulation. Instead, he would be piloting a steel giant tens of meters tall, operating like a mobile fortress. Crushing enemies and shielding comrades in the most visceral, earth-shaking way possible—just visualizing the scene was enough to reignite a long-lost sense of youthful passion in his chest.
Knowing the energetic personalities of the younger generation in the Chat Group, Welt didn't stop at mere text. He knew dry descriptions wouldn't satisfy their curiosity, especially Stelle's.
With a few quick taps, he extracted the detailed concept art provided by the system and forwarded the striking visuals directly into the chat.
The first image displayed the Overlord Sword Demon—a ferocious, predatory humanoid mecha interwoven with sleek blue and silver plating. It possessed mechanical wings swept back for aerodynamic thrust and gripped an oversized, devastatingly sharp greatsword.
The second image showcased the Overlord Zero—a heavier, incredibly strong juggernaut. Its rigid, brutalist lines and hyper-developed shoulder and arm armor made it look exactly like a walking fortress of unyielding steel.
These two visually explosive images instantly triggered a new wave of absolute chaos in the Chat Group.
`[Stelle: Wow!!! SO COOL!!!]`
Stelle's exclamation practically vibrated off the screen. She was already envisioning herself strapped into the cockpit of one of these steel behemoths, carving a path of destruction through the cosmos.
`[Stelle: Look at this big guy! It's a hundred times cooler than those clunky automatons from the Artisanship Commission! No, a thousand times!]`
`[Wise: Indeed... it's a stunning design. This pure expression of mechanical power is completely different from the technological path taken by the Hollow Investigative Association's defense force.]`
Even Wise, who usually analyzed things from a strictly practical standpoint, couldn't hide his awe at the sheer engineering marvel.
`[Paimon: It looks so strong! And it's huge! It's almost as big as the giant forms Lumine and Stelle transformed into last time!]`
`[Belle: Congratulations, Mr. Welt! This reward really suits you perfectly!]`
Back on the Express, watching the envious comments roll in, Stelle's thoughts began to gallop like an unbridled horse. A brilliant, utterly chaotic idea exploded in her mind.
Wait a minute, she thought, her golden eyes widening. If Uncle Yang has the Herrscher of Reason's core back... and he can use the authority of 'understanding and replication'...
If he thoroughly researched these Overlord Mechas and memorized every single gear, circuit, and energy output... couldn't she just ask him to print out a custom mecha for her?! She could pilot the Sword Demon. March could pilot the Zero. They could build an entire legion of Overlord Mechas and steamroll any Lord Ravager or Antimatter Legion squad in a glorious torrent of steel!
Just imagining that scene made Stelle's mouth stretch into a manic grin that nearly reached her ears. She was vibrating so hard she almost started dancing right there in the parlor car.
She was a millisecond away from typing this genius proposal into the chat when her fingers froze over the holographic keyboard. She swallowed hard, forcibly choking the words back.
No, wait. She had just spent the last half-hour cracking jokes specifically to distract Uncle Yang from the heavy, traumatic memories associated with the Herrscher core. If she brought up his replication powers now, it would drag his thoughts right back to that dark place. It would completely ruin the lighthearted mood she had worked so hard to build.
Stelle underwent a violent, internal emotional war in the span of three seconds: from the manic, starry-eyed excitement of a sudden epiphany, to the crushing disappointment of realizing she couldn't act on it, and finally settling into a forced, stoic mask of absolute seriousness.
She raised both hands and slapped her own cheeks with a loud smack.
"Hold on, Stelle," she muttered under her breath, staring intensely at the wall. "For the sake of the long-term mecha grand plan, I must endure... I'll bring it up later. Yes, later..."
However, her entire emotional cycle—from her eyes shining like supernovas, to her drooping shoulders, to her sudden feigned seriousness—had played out right in front of March 7th.
The pink-haired archer jumped at the sudden slapping sound, planting her hands on her hips as she stared at her friend in absolute exasperation.
"Hey, hey, hey! Your thoughts are practically broadcasting on a giant screen right now!" March sighed, shaking her head. "I mean, I've seen your emotional roller coasters plenty of times, but it still feels completely outrageous every time I witness it!"
March leaned in, poking Stelle's cheek. "Your emotional switching speed is faster than flipping a page in a comic book! Seriously, how do you even do that?"
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