Chapter 17: Squeeze some potential
The moment Princess Yuki left the room and the door closed with a solid click, Emperor Takeshin swayed lightly like a man drunk on too much wine.
His powerful aura, which had blanketed the chamber like a golden storm, wavered and flickered even as his two aides stepped forward instantly to support him.
A trickle of blood escaped his lips and he gasped and wheezed like an old man after a round in the boxing ring against a heavy weight champion.
"Have a seat, Your Majesty." Captain Colossaria flickered forward in a blur of red and gold, and placed a massive cushioned chair behind him. It thudded softly as it landed.
The hulking construct must have weighed over a thousand kilograms, yet she moved it like a feather.
"Thank you, Ria." Emperor Takeshin sank down with a grateful sigh, his immense frame creaking against the plush seat. He pressed his thumb on a small button at the center of his chestplate. With a faint hiss, the armor shimmered and receded, melting away from his body until it vanished completely from view.
"Ugh, by the gods. That damn armor may be supremely strong, but it is also supremely uncomfortable. Ria, you need to find ways to improve its user experience." Emperor Takeshin groaned and rolled his shoulders, the joints cracking audibly as he stretched his massive arms.
"Of course, Your Majesty. I will get on it immediately and present Mark 4 to you latest by tomorrow." Captain Colossaria accepted the feedback with grace, her tone brisk and precise as she tapped a mental note into her earpiece.
"Overall, I am very pleased with its performance. Without it, I would have been critically injured. As it is, my injuries this time are not light at all." The Emperor exhaled deeply, the weight of reality sinking back into his voice. "The monsters grow in power daily. And their Kings are no longer as easily bullied as before. War is coming..."
Emperor Takeshin’s golden gaze finally turned toward Akira, who was still standing frozen, eyes bulging and jaw dangling like a shocked tourist witnessing divine technology in action.
"What the hell? Liquid armor! That’s..." Akira’s breath hitched, a boyish sparkle lighting his stunned expression. "That’s mega cool!"