Chapter 388: Flywheel Arm
Translator: Strivon
Luo Nan examined both the exterior and interior of the gadget and got a general understanding. Only then did he nod and follow the explanation in the manual. He reached with his arm and pointed at the jungle before Gear, but Papercut promptly stopped Luo Nan, indicating that he should pay attention to the construction workers inside and outside of Gear. "Be a bit more low-key. Go deeper inside."
Luo Nan smirked, revealing a wry expression, "It's nothing. Everyone knows quite a bit already..."
Papercut knew what Luo Nan meant, but he couldn't say it out loud. He just chuckled and pulled Luo Nan into the depths of the jungle.
Before they could even walk two steps, Xue Lei appeared from the corner of a small pathway in the jungle. He saw the two pulling each other and was a bit stupefied, "Where are you guys going?"
"Yo, Leister, you're here," laughed Papercut in greeting. Papercut and Xue Lei were quite familiar with each other.
"Brother Papercut," Xue Lei returned a greeting. In the end, he finally figured it out. "You've come for lessons."
Luo Nan, who was in the middle, started sweating a bit when he heard Xue Lei's words. Luckily, Papercut's response was quite vague as well, "I've come to check the goods. Let's check it out together."
"What goods?" Xue Lei wasn't quite on the same page.
Luo Nan's gaze was sharp. He could tell that these goods were of sinister design with a single glance. Xue Lei wanted to seize him to do sanshou training together. There were even training cloths in his hands!
How could he let Xue Lei prevail? Luo Nan immediately made up his mind. Today, he would rely on Brother Papercut for protection. He would certainly hug this thick leg even in death. He would have Xue Lei feel awkward enough to not be too forceful.
The thoughts flashed in his mind, and Luo Nan used 'trying out the control class" as an excuse. He pulled Xue Lei into the jungle, then turned his head and said, "Brother Papercut. Everyone's here today. If you're free tonight, let's all go together."
Papercut went, "Ha," expressing his surprise. He knew Luo Nan's nature quite well. Luo Nan was quite pure, but how could he understand the ways of the world? He had taught Luo Nan lessons for over a dozen days in the past, but he had never seen this kind of treatment then.
In general, fatties knew themselves quite well. Papercut asked, "Where did this idea come from? You're not just inviting me, right? Who else is there?"
Luo Nan knew that his invitation was given too abruptly, and he didn't dare let Papercut have much time to think. He just laughed, giving better reasons and bargaining chips, "Just come, come! Let's have fun together. I invited Leister. Yes, and also... Also, Cat Eyes...."
"Huh?" Endlessly new tones of voice were heard from Papercut throughout this day. There was no other way to express his confused thoughts. He just barely tidied up the overall context and couldn't refrain from being skeptical, "Who did you just say? Cat Eyes?"
"Cat Eyes?" Xue Lei was stupefied as well. Could it be that Luo Nan's get-together was not the same as the one he mentioned today at noon?
Luo Nan gaped, wishing that he had a smooth mouth. Today was a typical case of not thinking over the details and wanting to be lazy, but instead, he had piled all his troubles atop each other.
Hey! Don't rush to conclusions!
Luo Nan was suddenly blessed with inspiration. He blinked his eyes. There was an excuse he could use, and he didn't need to fake it. He swallowed and began speaking the heavenly-fallen masterpiece, "Isn't this because she changed her specialty...?"
Papercut believed to have understood upon seeing Luo Nan's subtly embarrassed expression. He nodded and laughed, "You really think that Cat Eyes gave up pursuing all-encompassing perception because of you? Who told you?"
"This one," Luo Nan turned his gaze.
"It was me." Xue Lei half raised his arm, confessing obediently. His source of information was the gossip circulating on the Psychic Wave Network, which possessed a lot of inferences in nature. He couldn't avoid feeling a bit embarrassed right now.
Papercut looked at these two sixteen, seventeen year-old teenagers and felt that the matter of education was a long road. He felt a great sense of responsibility, and he explained patiently, "This isn't called changing one's specialty. It is just focusing on choosing a more appropriate route of development. In the past, people looked forward to Cat Eyes's long-range perception the most, okay? You don't need to be embarrassed because of this, but you also can't blindly gossip about it. After all, spreading these rumors is the same as spitting on one's reputation. One bad move and both sides will be slandered!"
Luo Nan and Xue Lei obediently listened to the lecture with lowered heads.
Papercut thought about the get together tonight and didn't know whether to laugh or cry, "Cat Eyes actually agreed? She doesn't feel awkward at all...?"
She really doesn't feel awkward. She's depressed.
Luo Nan was discovering more and more that inviting Papercut to be an overseer was quite a decent choice. He could act as a buffer, at the very least, and help Luo Nan get through the most awkward early stages of meeting. As for eliminating misunderstandings in deep conversations, Luo Nan could only play it by ear.
With the conversation reaching this point, it became awkward for Papercut to refuse. He was also worried about these two teenagers who weren't good at social conversation. They might cause something bad to happen even with good intentions and rip cat eyes a new one.
Cat Eyes was very well known in the Society for her strange temperament.
Having decided to participate, Papercut didn't waste his breath, conserving his strength for the get-together at night. He sighed and brought the conversation back to the main topic, "Come on. Let's first operate the Flywheel Arm."
Though Luo Nan didn't have much interest in this sort of combat machinery, he would still choose this one over sanshou boxing training if he had to choose one or the other. He pumped himself up, preparing to follow the requirements of the manual, and he mobilized his interference power.
Papercut wanted to teach him how to aim instead, "This toy's safety factor is quite high; it's not easy to hurt yourself, so you can stand in all sorts of stances without issue. However, you need to know that this isn't like those energy beams that shoot out from the palm of your hand; that would be far too stupid. Clawing your fingers, extending your arm, it's all wasteful."
Luo Nan was a bit bewildered by what Papercut said, "Then what sort of stance should I use?"
"There are many! This most effective technique is the throw! Just imagine throwing a dart, or throwing a fist, or cleaving with a chop of the hand... and so on. It's all okay."
Luo Nan swung his arms stiffly, "Like this?"
Xue Lei smirked at the side, "Zero foundation."
Clearly, Xue Lei already made some judgments from the many times Luo Nan avoided sanshou boxing training. He gave Luo Nan this jab.
Luo Nan pretended not to hear him. He tried the Flywheel Arm twice, beginning by mobilizing his interference power and pouring it into the wrist guard to start it up.
As the God Gear and Body Gear meshed and turned, the heart lantern of the eyes orifice lit up, illuminating Luo Nan's skull. Just as before, this was the sign of the formation of interference power.
Though Luo Nan hadn't focused too much on cultivating the internal refinement over the past two days, his foundation was truly thick and sturdy. Under the drive of many factors, such as the aid of the Wraith Sign's meteor-like boost, the eyes orifice was not the only things that was a success. There was also the mouth and tongue orifice. It had turned into a spiritual pond of nectar, and it resonated with the heart lantern of the eyes orifice from afar.
In the internal refinement technique, the heart lantern and the spiritual pond were like the spring sun melting snow. The cold and warmth stimulated each other. When it came to the interference of the mental and the material planes, the spiritual pond became overflowing with nectar upon the lighting of the heart lantern. This nectar became the most excellent lantern oil, as it connected with the heart lantern and aided its flame.
And so, three orifices were integrated to one. The strength of the interference power surely wouldn't stop at a three-times increase, right?
Luo Nan originally wanted to follow the manual and engage in control, but he had instantly went into full gear.
His arm trembled slightly, and a long hissing sound was heard soon after. A standard circular slice was ejected out from the center of the wrist guard. It was first flung into the air in a spiral, but suddenly, it increased in speed. It went forward in the air in a perfectly straight path. With a thunk, it penetrated the tree ahead. The slice could barely be seen.
Luo Nan noticed that the overall process was not like that of throwing a dart, but of releasing a guided missile. The Flywheel Arm was a launch tube. It just tossed the projectile out. The true purpose of the interference power was to drive the slice to kill the target.
Otherwise, with the sharpness, speed, and trajectory of the slice, the first thing penetrated would be Luo Nan's palm.
The safety features were set up quite well. The power was indeed very mediocre. It was lacking when compared to ordinary firearms. Of course, it was fatal toward normal people, but for ability users, the question was up for consideration.
As Luo Nan thought about this, Papercut laughed and said, "This is the emergency slice-shot. It's for when you're faced with a sudden attack. Its purpose is to scare people. You've just exhausted your energy, right"
Luo Nan still needed to get used to the changes in interference power after integrating three orifices to one. He just laughed, appearing to agree tacitly.
Papercut continued to teach him the knick knacks, "Have you noticed it yet? The emergency slice-shot was shot out from between the many layers of armor plates. They are all like this. Nothing can be fired from the upper layer. This is because the active force between the layers is utilized. There is ample 'friction for fire'. Can you feel it? That this is the mechanism?"
Luo Nan still didn't talk. He had his mind sink into the inner layers of the Flywheel Arm. He applied his interference power once more, and felt an irregular slice in the middle. It reverberated between two layers, and it revolved at low speeds under the same pressure. It moved slightly as it endlessly accumulated energy.
"Excellent. You're ready and waiting for action, like pulling a bow without shooting, increasing the power layer by layer. Nanster, you sure are gifted in the control class..." Papercut let out a sigh of admiration, then he let out yet another subconscious sigh. Could there be another up-and-coming change of specialties from the activation class before his eyes?
Luo Nan followed Papercut's explanation and controlled the slices that were becoming all the more lively within the wrist guard. The inner layer of the wrist guard that stuck to the skin increased in temperature, but there weren't any clear changes in temperature with the outer layer. The shielding effect was first class.
Xue Lei's senses were quite sharp. At the side, he was able to perceive a few subtleties, and he gathered closer in curiosity. He even reached out to touch with his hand, but Papercut swatted his hand away. "What if Luo Nan can't control it and it explodes?"
Luo Nan rolled his eyes, "I feel like I can still hold it."
"Then continue. This toy will certainly be more powerful the more it accumulates energy."
This was true.
Luo Nan was able to feel the slice accumulate physical energy, as well as rely on its overall structure. It relied on a special material to endlessly absorb interference power. Clearly, this was where the uniqueness of this single structure lay.
The technology that the Flywheel Arm possessed was much higher than what appeared on the surface.
Papercut spoke faster, introducing Luo Nan to the firing mode, "There's a computer chip built into the Flywheel Arm if you want to attack with it. It can link up with smart devices, and you can preset the flight path beforehand. You can also choose from special shapes for the slice and calculate obstacles, air resistance, and so on. You can use it to snipe under complicated environments. It has a lot to offer. Plus, we all have HexaEars, so we're saved quite a bit of effort."
Luo Nan followed Papercut's words and engaged in wireless connection. Sure enough, an exquisite interface popped up on his retina. Numbers that changed in real time in accordance to the immediate environment appeared before him.
Through the HexaEar, all operations could be controlled telepathically. Luo Nan randomly chose a target, and the interface used dotted lines to represent the available paths and so on. At the same time, the interface also indicated the percentage of accumulated energy for the most optimal effect.
Wasn't this like playing a video game?
Luo Nan didn't have any specific feelings, good or bad, toward this stupid method of operation. He was a rookie. The more complete the aiding functions, the better for him. But a true master would certainly dislike these programmed settings.
Before the thought could finish, Papercut already added, "There's more. If you feel super kick-ass, then you can choose mental control. It tests how long someone can maintain continuous operation. Really kick-ass people can have a dozen slices orbit around their body, like controlling a dozen flying swords. Close combat. Long-range attacks. You become someone unkillable, a terrifying foe..."
"So this is the true way to use it!" Luo Nan shook his arm slightly. The Flywheel Arm was used by the control class, so micro-control should be of big importance.
Papercut spread open his hands, "That's what it's described as, but it's different in practice. Just look. To maintain the structural function, the shape of every composite slice is different, so the flight trajectory is different as well. Plus, there are all sorts of joining combinations. If you don't use a smart device to perform calculations, a typical person wouldn't be able to keep it together. Perhaps those on the Architect, Extraordinary level could do it, but what's the point on counting on this thing when you reach that level?"
"That's true." Luo Nan raised his hand, firing it in smart mode. The irregular slice was dark in color but sharp, instantly opening a path through the jungle barrier. The thick branch, Luo Nan's target, was sliced away, and the slice soared into the air before turning around. The slice buzzed as it spun, sounding like a miniature chainsaw. Branches broke wherever it passed, demonstrating a rather terrifying might.
Luo Nan had unleashed a boomerang weapon. The irregular slice came back in a loop, its speed gradually decreasing. It fell back to Luo Nan's wrist like a tired bird returning to its nest. It joined together with the wrist guard as Luo Nan continued to infuse his interference power within.
Papercut smacked his chin, "All right, this marks the beginning. Your operation of the Flywheel arm is too rigid. Whether it’s in smart mode and free mode, you can switch the modes in the middle of a mode. You can change the direction, increase the power...in real combat, you choose to use the smart control mode and install a flight path, you can suddenly switch to mental control mode. Save your worries and energy. The adaptability and flexibility is quite sufficient, but there will still be surprises."
"That's true."
Luo Nan continued to practice within the jungle. He didn't forget to let Xue Lei have a taste in the middle. This was to placate Xue Lei and distract him, so as to prevent Xue Lei from jumping to the topic of sanshou boxing practice.
Time passed very quickly. The sky already turned dark, and the three people had already tortured the nearby trees quite enough. They were ready to go back.
Luo Nan's wristband vibrated at this time. Tian Si was calling. Her tone was a bit tense, "Junior Nan, I'm really sorry. There's a little matter I need to handle with my school society. Tian Qi is doing some experiments, so it will probably be a bit late before we can go."
"Gotcha, Senior Sister Tian." Luo Nan didn't want to give Tian Si stress. He was still counting on this senior sister to hold down that worthless Mo Peng.
Next to Luo Nan, Papercut was baffled, "Who is that? Is she also going to the get-together?"
Luo Nan spoke in passing, "She's one of my senior sisters. There's also going to be her little brother. They're coming with us tonight."
"People from outside of the circle?" Papercut was shocked.
Luo Nan became diffident from Papercut's reaction. He could only avoid the important facts and dwell on the trivial ones, "It's Tian Si. The one who became a hostage at Ocean Sky Cloud City. You've met her before, right?"
He knew he couldn't continue hiding it after seeing Papercut's expression. He could only add, "There are also two relatives of my family and maybe their friends. It is supposed to be a get together at Frost River Reality. I'll just say hi to them in person, and later we can talk about our stuff."
"You, oh you!" Papercut really didn't know whether to laugh or cry. He just reached out and tapped him. He opened his mouth, not to vent but to say, "You have much to learn. It appears that there are quite a few people attending. Have you reserved a private room?"
"Private room?" Luo Nan went into a state of shock.
"I knew it!" Papercut sucked in cold air between his teeth. Luo Nan had really sunk way too far into his homebody nature.