Chapter 460: 458
A metal sphere more than fifty meters in diameter now hung in orbit around Mars.
It circled the planet at an ever-increasing speed, seemingly scanning its surface.
Inside the YoRHa's command center, a circular device on the table before Kain projected a three-dimensional image of Mars.
Streams of data flowed around it, and the projected planet began to change.
It looked as though time were running backward, gradually restoring Mars to the thriving ecosystem it had once possessed.
Scientists had long theorized that Mars was once similar to Earth.
The barren red sphere in the projection gradually changed color. An atmosphere appeared, followed by oceans and vast expanses of green vegetation.
Of course, the real Mars remained unchanged.
If the planet itself had transformed along with the projection, that would have gone far beyond science and entered the realm of divine miracles.
For now, the Planetary Rejuvenation Device was merely scanning Mars, analyzing its condition, and determining how much of the planet could be restored.
The process resembled archaeology. When archaeologists discovered a badly weathered artifact, modern technology could simulate its restoration and display what it might have looked like in the past.
Hmm?
The scan finally ended, and Kain examined the results.
The device presented several different levels of planetary restoration. Naturally, the more thorough the restoration, the longer the process would take.
Kain immediately selected the fastest option.
This plan would rapidly restore the ecosystem of only one region, creating an environment capable of supporting approximately ten million people.
The rest of the planet would take much longer to recover naturally, perhaps more than a century.
As long as those ten million inhabitants did not recklessly strip the region of its resources, their population growth should remain roughly proportional to the planet's natural recovery.
Execute restoration plan.
Confirmed!
At the same moment, the metal sphere in orbit abruptly plunged toward Mars and struck the surface.
Yet no physical impact occurred.
Instead, the sphere passed directly into the ground.
It resembled the underground submarine from Doraemon, sinking through the planet without damaging the surrounding geology.
The metal sphere was heading for the Martian core, where it would begin altering the planet from within.
On the projection, it descended toward the core at astonishing speed.
Ten seconds later, it successfully merged with the Martian core.
The core immediately began changing. Waves of energy spread outward from its center.
At the same time, Mars's rotation began to shift.
About a minute later, visible tremors spread across the surface. Entire mountain ranges shook.
Dormant volcanoes seemed to awaken in anger, erupting under the relentless seismic activity.
Apocalyptic scenes began unfolding across the entire planet.
The location containing this STC had not originally been scheduled as Kain's next destination after returning from the SEED universe.
The boss on the Golden Throne had suddenly designated it as a priority destination.
An hour later, one region of Mars had already undergone an astonishing transformation.
Time seemed to be accelerating there as the first signs of an oasis gradually appeared.
This apparent acceleration was actually the result of nanotechnology.
Nanomaterials rapidly broke down certain substances, replicated others, and stimulated the growth of new materials. Together, these processes produced an effect that resembled accelerated time.
Even so, several days would pass before humans could safely breathe in the restored region.
Half a day passed in the blink of an eye.
Inside the YoRHa's core chamber, Tessa made one final adjustment.
"Mm. That should do it."
The Lambda Driver was a device capable of converting human thoughts into physical energy. Its user could then manipulate that energy to accomplish whatever they could clearly envision, within certain limits.
In a sense, it could be described as a godlike power.
If mental energy could be transformed into physical energy and manipulated like telekinesis, it could directly affect the material universe. If that control became precise enough to rearrange elementary particles, the user would effectively possess the power of creation.
Of course, that was only a theoretical possibility at the absolute limit of the technology.
Another branch of Lambda Driver technology connected the user's mind directly to a machine.
The user became the machine's soul, while the machine itself became their body, allowing them to control it as naturally as their own limbs.
At first glance, this resembled the technology in Asuna's world that allowed people to use a helmet to log into an android body.
In reality, there was a crucial difference. A Lambda Driver truly fused the user with the machine.
This was Tessa's field of expertise. She was particularly skilled in manufacturing and installing devices based on this technology.
In simple terms, Tessa excelled at assembling a computer and successfully installing its operating system.
Kaname, by comparison, was better at optimizing that computer afterward, allowing it to draw out the full potential of every piece of hardware.
That was the fundamental difference between their specialties.
"Next, we need to restart the system and confirm its condition."
As she spoke, Tessa's face gradually turned red. She fidgeted slightly and looked shyly at Kain.
"Mr. Kain, I need to connect to the system so I can inspect how well it has integrated with the entire ship. But I'm not familiar with warships, so could you guide me? I don't want to accidentally activate something and cause an accident."
In truth, she did not need his guidance. Tessa should have been perfectly capable of completing the inspection by herself.
However, she had learned what had happened between Kaname and Kain during the previous synchronization.
She wanted to experience the same kind of closeness.
"Kaname already explained the inspection process to me in detail last time. I can handle it myself, so you should get some rest, Tessa."
Kain spoke as though he had completely misunderstood her intentions, thoughtfully suggesting that she rest after working for several hours.
Tessa's cheeks immediately puffed up like an angry hamster's.
She looked rather adorable.
Asseylum was not in the chamber. She was currently assisting 6O in studying the Martian Kataphrakt she had brought with her.
"Are you an idiot?" Tessa demanded. "Can't you tell what I'm trying to say?"
"What are you trying to say?"
"I want the same special synchronization you had with Kaname!"
Tessa finally blurted it out, still visibly fuming.
Was this man made of wood? Did she really have to spell everything out for him?
"What kind of synchronization?"
Was he pretending not to understand?
"You know, the kind involving a certain... arrangement."
"Huh? Tessa, are you sure you haven't misunderstood something?"
His utterly bewildered expression made her clench her fists.
After taking a deep breath, Tessa explained exactly what she meant, loudly and with mortifying clarity.
Her face burned brighter with every word. If Kain continued pretending not to understand, she really was going to punch him.
"Do you understand now?"
Kain gave her a peculiar look, as though he were seeing her in an entirely new and rather questionable light.
He was doing this on purpose.
He had deliberately forced her to say something so embarrassing just so he could tease her.
"I'm going to bite you!"
Still puffing her cheeks, Tessa launched herself at him and clung to his body like an octopus.
She opened her mouth and made an exaggerated show of preparing to leave a permanent bite mark on his neck.
At the last second, she changed course.
Instead of biting him, Tessa gathered all her courage and kissed him squarely on the lips.
She refused to give him another opportunity to tease her. This time, she would take the initiative and make her feelings unmistakably clear.
She was determined to get at least one step ahead of Kaname.
(End of Chapter)
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