Chapter 40: Chapter Forty: Age of Dominion

Chapter Forty: Age of Dominion

After President Frederick stopped speaking, another scene replaced his broadcast on the massive pillar. It was a scene of a red, dashing Power Suit.

It seemed to be a pre-recorded video now playing out. The Power Suit gleamed under the sunlight, reflecting the sharp edges protruding from its shoulders and legs, enhancing its beauty.

Many Evolvers present immediately fell in love with the suit, their eyes gleaming with passion as they stared at it. The arms of the Power Suit had three protruding, curved blades, while the helmet was made of reflective red glass with a dark visor.

Everything about the suit screamed luxury. However, it wasn’t being displayed because of its beauty, but for something else.

A background voice sounded:

"Test Record #487 on Level 1 Fire-Path Power Suit’s Attacking Prowess. All pre-test diagnostics have been completed successfully. Commencing field trials."

At that instant, the controller of the Fire-Path Power Suit lifted his right hand. The arm began to glow and pull in air. Then, a fireball slowly materialised in his palm and was gently pushed forward.

The fireball flew from his hand, blasting a nearby rock to pieces. The Evolvers present were a bit stunned. Although they could achieve such a feat with mech cannons, it generally required at least a Lv. 5 mech.

But from what they had heard, this was only Level 1?

They gasped.

After that, the back of the Power Suit began to shift, and a box shot out from it, rising into the air and transforming into a wide platform. It then flew through the sky, releasing dozens of small fireballs toward the ground.

Boom! Boom! Boom!

Constant explosions resounded from the video as the area was turned into scorched earth. A few seconds later, the platform transformed back into a box and returned to the Power Suit’s back.

The footage then shifted to show the Power Suit facing a large mech.

"Test Record #498 on Level 1 Fire-Path Power Suit’s Defensive Prowess against a Level 5 Frost-Class Mech. All pre-test diagnostics have been completed successfully. Commencing field trials."

The mech’s chest glowed brightly as it gathered energy and released a devastating, chilling blue beam at the Level 1 Fire-Path Power Suit.

The Power Suit glowed as parts of its body shifted, revealing circular disks around its frame. These disks lit up and released a red dome spanning about five metres.

The blue beam penetrated the red dome, but a skin-crawling sight occurred. It began to lose power as it advanced.

Four metres... Three metres... Two metres...

When the blue beam finally reached the Power Suit, it merely pushed the pilot back by a few steps, causing no damage whatsoever.

The Evolvers’ mouths fell open, but many had already clenched their fists, swearing that they must get one.

But that wasn’t the end.

The background voice sounded once more:

"Test Record #499 on Level 1 Fire-Path Power Suit’s Defensive Prowess against a Level 5 Flame-Class Mech. All pre-test diagnostics have been completed successfully. Commencing field trials."

The display switched again as another large mech stood before the Power Suit.

The mech’s chest glowed brightly as it gathered energy and released a catastrophically large red beam, followed by an earthshaking boom that seemed to send tremors running through the Earth.

The Level 1 Fire-Path Power Suit didn’t react. Nothing in its body shifted, and this confused everyone.

Was it malfunctioning?

This was the thought on everyone’s mind. But Valen’s eyes narrowed as a possibility surfaced in his mind. 𝑓𝘳𝘦𝑒𝑤𝑒𝘣𝘯ℴ𝘷𝘦𝓁.𝑐𝑜𝑚

The red beam struck the Power Suit, sending it flying through the air. The pilot didn’t crash into the ground as everyone expected.

Instead, he flipped through the air before landing in a perfect three-point stance, one hand braced against the earth and both feet planted firmly beneath him.

Everyone’s jaw dropped. Not because of the cool stance, but because the Power Suit was undamaged.

Against a full-force strike from a Level 5 D-Rank Fire-Class mech, it remained completely unaffected.

This was like a dream.

Following that, several other tests were displayed, such as reaction speed, running speed, flying speed, perception, and various others.

The recording then transitioned from the Fire-Path Power Suit to an Ice-Path Power Suit, then to a Light-Path Power Suit, a Metal-Path Power Suit, and finally a Wind-Path Power Suit.

At this moment, the Evolvers’ eyes were practically twinkling, their hearts pounding madly against their chests.

The footage shifted once more. This time, however, it was different.

The elemental Power Suits lay in a laboratory, and a scientist in a white lab coat took out a palm-sized orb from each suit.

He turned to the camera and slowly said:

"This is the core of the Power Suit. We call them elemental cores because they possess the energies of the elements. We harness this power using the Power Suits’ Reactors. Then the question is: What happens if the energy is exhausted?"

The excited expressions of the audience cooled as thoughtful looks appeared on their faces.

The display switched to a forested wilderness.

Five Evolvers piloting Fire-Path, Ice-Path, Light-Path, Metal-Path, and Wind-Path Power Suits came into sight. Their levels were all revealed.

Every one of them was exactly Level 1.00%, and they were currently battling a group of monsters, which they quickly finished off.

A moment later, their levels were revealed once more.

Surprisingly, they had risen from Level 1.00% to between Level 1.10% and Level 1.18%.

Regardless of how little the increase seemed, their levels had risen simply from killing beasts.

How was this possible?

The footage returned to the scientist. Still holding the elemental cores, he calmly revealed:

"These cores can be replenished by absorbing the negative energy released by a beast after its death. After replenishing themselves, they use the remaining negative energy to grow denser and increase their own energy reserves. All the while, they release trophic energy into the air, which is then absorbed by the Evolvers wearing the Power Suits. So, you’re essentially increasing your strength with every successful battle."

This revelation was the final straw.

Everyone’s eyes turned bloodshot.

Valen sighed.

The laboratory vanished from the display, and the broadcast returned to President Frederick and the others standing behind him.

As though adding fuel to the fire, he stepped forward while the others revealed faint smiles.

Then President Frederick’s booming voice echoed throughout the hall:

"THIS is the era of humanity’s rise. THIS is the time we push back the invaders. THIS is the Age of Dominion! WELCOME TO THE DAWN OF A NEW ERA!!!"

***

End of Volume 1: Dawn of A New Era.

Next up is Volume 2: King of Silver.