The Mech Touch novel Chapter 7276

"The plan that I have devised for you is not as complicated as you think." Ves responded to Isobel's justified doubts. "I think it is important that we first define the goal of engaging in artifact cultivation. You want to acquire the powerful concepts attached to the Artificial Fire Heart. There are several ways you can fulfill this goal. Stealing them is the fastest but also the most reckless solution. It is much better to study the concepts and comprehend them as deeply as possible. As long as you combine this with frequent contact with the artifact, you should definitely be able to duplicate the concepts or even the higher-level laws that form the foundation of our reality."

“You can steal the runes and concepts from others?" Isobel asked.

Ves nodded. "Yes, but you should think carefully on whether you have picked an acceptable target. Nobody will care if you steal the concepts from an exobeast. In fact, I think that this is one of the reasons why the Hunters of the Hunting Association are able to grow so powerful in so little time. Instead of trying to patiently understand every concept before duplicating them with great care and attention, the Hunters simply plunder the concepts from their defeated prey. You can even steal them from other humans."

“There has to be a limit."

"As far as I know, that is not the case." Ves gently told the ace pilot. "One of the mandates of the Red Collective is to discourage and respond to incidents where cultivators are up to no good. While these incidents are usually suppressed and swept under the rug, I have access to enough data that tells me that out-of-control madmen will only become more prevalent in the years to come. This is the sequelae of plundering what you do not understand. The lack of comprehension will result in an imperfect fit between cultivator and his stolen concepts."

“That sounds like piloting a mech designed for another person.”

Ves twitched his lips. "Sort of. If you want to play it safe, then use Ascension Runes as a reference. You can rest assured that they are a perfect fit for you. They formed organically as you piloted the Promethea since she became a third order living mech. While it is highly likely that you already possess some of the concepts represented by the Ascension Runes, you can still use them as a way to translate the runes of the Artificial Fire Heart. This can subsequently allow you to pick the most desirable concepts in accordance with your plan."

"And what is my plan, exactly?" Isobel pressed.

“Control and immunity." Ves emphasized the words. "You should try to obtain more from the precious artifact, but you must absolutely prioritize stability and safety. Systematic cultivation usually results in the opposite, especially if you are greedy for power, but you do not need it as much as the Promethea is your primary pillar of strength. If there is any room, you can try to increase your mastery and comprehension of other concepts such as combustion or heat. This will allow you to amplify your attacks just like the Alfari Corps Detonation Code you have learned."

Isobel was one of the few pilots who Ves entrusted with an enlightenment fruit.

The mention of the Detonation Code caused Isobel to recontextualize what she learned. Now that Ves imparted her with a higher-level perspective on systematic cultivation, she felt she gained a new understanding of that code.

“I see. I understand now why the Detonation Code is so... insistent on adopting certain superstitious beliefs. I understand it a bit better now that I know what it is trying to do. The Detonation Code is big on emphasizing power, but it doesn't pay much attention to safety. It seems to me that this may be deliberate. Those who fail to master it wil inevitably set off an accidental explosion in their own bodies."

Ves shrugged. "The goal of transference is to empower oneself. Without a strong enough regulating authority such as the Red Collective, you can be as unscrupulous as you want. We are literally talking about turning yourself into living weapons. The temptation to go further, master more dangerous concepts and wield great power is irresistible to many people. Even expert pilots and ace pilots are vulnerable to this. I know you look composed right now, but I know that you have a strong desire to become stronger. This is nothing special for ace pilots like you. Saints would not exist if they could already solve their problems when they were weaker."

Saint Isobel felt unsettled at being exposed. She wanted to reject his accusation, but she could not bring herself to state an obvious falsehood.

Just the fact that she had to confront this truth already filled her with unease. She did not feel ashamed for desiring more power. She just did not want to lose control and appear shameful in front of others.

Fortunately, she did not mind that much if Ves was the one who understood her better than others.

Pilots should always place their trust in the mech designers who served their needs. Isobel reached out and took hold of the artifact. It was quite dense, making it heavier than an organic heart.

it was well-built and designed to take a beating. It contained a lot of advanced tech, much of which she struggled to understand. Her Saint Kingdom could only penetrate parts of its structure. Its center was a complete black hole to her perception.

That concerned her a bit. By choosing to implant this in her cybernetic body, she would introduce an unknown but extremely potent power source inside herself. That was not much different from installing a bomb inside her chest!

Yet... Ves made a lot of sense in his explanations. A bomb only posed a threat under certain conditions. So long as Isobel maintained control and took enough precautions, she may be able to benefit from its presence, but only as long as she remained disciplined and in control.

“This is a well-built device." She said. "I see no reason to question its engineering. The greater threat to my own safety may be myself. You are right. The temptation of power is universal. Hardly anyone can refuse an opportunity to gain greater strength. I might be okay with playing it safe right now, but who knows whether I can resist the temptation if I am locked in a difficult fight. The greater the danger, the more I am willing to lower my bottom line."

“Then don't." Ves sternly told her. "You are better than this. From what I know, one of the greatest dangers of artifact cultivation is that you become enthralled by the artifact. You are not its servant. The only acceptable relationships are one where you remain in control, or one where you are equal partners. Anything else is self-defeating, if not today, then tomorrow. I know it sounds simple when I say it, but it is really a lot more difficult in practice.”

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