Hiss—
With a sharp release of steam, the loading apparatus surrounding Oblivion completed its cooling cycle. Behind the curtain of white vapor stood a grotesque metallic face, its massive body motionless and silent.
Thick conduits were still embedded in its back, continuously feeding energy into its frame, faint orange light pulsing through them.
Two rows of razor-edged spikes crowned Oblivion's head, while rows of serrated metal fangs hinted at the beastly factor built into its core. Its colossal body was covered in condensation, though the droplets quickly evaporated under the heat radiating from within.
Oblivion had not yet awakened. It exuded nothing but cold stillness. Yet even dormant, the sheer pressure emanating from its massive frame was overwhelming—especially for those who knew what kind of monster stood before them.
From its head and torso, one could clearly see similarities to Apocalypse.
"Phew… Mission accomplished, boss. Bartmoss's consciousness has been stripped down and fused into a shell within Oblivion's body. It allows the user to achieve perfect compatibility with the frame. There are still side effects, though. I'm afraid only you can fully control this monster."
Mudor jogged over, eyes glazed with excitement as he ran his hand across Oblivion's metallic surface. He had never imagined he would one day be able to touch Oblivion like this.
In the original PROJECT universe, ever since this thing was created, it had existed in a state of instability. It obeyed PROJECT not because it had to—but simply because it chose to.
And the moment it stopped choosing…
That would be the day PROJECT fell.
Roland's eyes burned with anticipation.
The apex combat power on land was finally his.
After learning Oblivion's full performance specs, Roland had been genuinely shocked. Unlike the crocodile's depiction in the game, Oblivion possessed long-range attack capabilities. Its frame speed was astonishing—especially once it entered Dominus State.
"Mudor, get ready. I'm taking it out for the first time."
Roland waved his hand impatiently.
"I understand. I'll prepare everything immediately."
Mudor hurried off. After all… he wanted to witness Oblivion's true form as well.
...
Soon, a sealed chamber forged entirely from alloy unfolded. At its center stood a device resembling a nutrient pod, with a dedicated conduit designed to connect to the interface at the back of Roland's head.
"Boss, just remove your clothes, lie inside, and connect that tube to your interface."
Roland nodded and climbed in without hesitation. After connecting the tube, he took a deep breath and closed his eyes.
"Alright… ready. Begin."
"Understood!"
Mudor immediately began entering commands.
Images of Oblivion's body and Roland's body appeared side by side on the display. A percentage indicator rose steadily next to Oblivion's image.
As the number climbed, Mudor's breathing grew tense.
100%.
The word "Complete" flashed across the screen.
"Hahahahaha! Success!!!"
Hiss—
The conduits embedded in Oblivion's back detached and retracted into the wall. Orange energy began flowing through the seams of its body, pulsing rhythmically like breathing.
Hum—
A deep engine resonance echoed through the chamber.
In an instant, orange energy flooded Oblivion's entire body. The spikes on its head ignited with blazing orange light.
"ROAR!!!"
The moment Oblivion opened its jaws, a thunderous roar erupted.
The pressure of a top-tier predator spread across the entire base. Personnel still working inside froze in terror, their legs trembling uncontrollably.
After that roar, Roland fully seized control of Oblivion's body.
He inhaled deeply.
A thread of rage began to rise from within—but it remained suppressed. Still under control.
Erasing it completely was impossible. The rage mechanism was one of Oblivion's greatest strengths.
A double-edged sword.
Boom!
Roland slammed a claw into the alloy floor. The impact cratered the surface instantly, energy claws embedding deep within it. The missile-resistant alloy floor crumpled like soft metal beneath his strike.
"This is pure art!!!"
Mudor's ecstatic howl echoed nearby.
Roland glanced at him, inwardly resigned. Mudor, Samuel, Moket—they were all the same breed.
"Mudor. Stay further back. I've just taken control of this body. I can't regulate it perfectly yet. I might accidentally kill you."
Roland's voice, transmitted through Oblivion's system, had become a distorted, raspy electronic growl.
Mudor wisely retreated. He had no desire to test his fragile human body against Oblivion's steel frame.
"Prepare the testing field. I need to measure my current strength."
Mudor pressed a control switch.
The ultra-thick alloy walls surrounding Oblivion separated and unfolded, transforming into a massive open platform. Mechanical units shifted the remaining alloy barriers into position.
Within seconds, the chamber became a vast training arena.
Mudor quickly withdrew to a safe distance.
Once no living personnel remained nearby, Roland loosened his restraint slightly.
Boom!
A deafening blast echoed as claw marks gouged violently into the alloy floor, the metal exploding outward. Oblivion's massive frame blurred into an orange streak, slamming against the wall.
Its claws tore straight through a Tepper alloy block as if ripping paper.
Then Roland remembered something.
"Mudor. Deploy my Moon Blade."
"Yes!"
A massive metal Moon Blade rose from below.
Roland stepped forward and gripped the handle.
Hum—
Orange energy surged through the entire weapon in an instant.
Without hesitation, he launched forward.
Oblivion's massive body transformed into a blazing orange drill, punching straight through the alloy block ahead.
Boom—Sizzle—
Extending his claws to stabilize himself, Roland looked back.
A massive hole had been bored clean through the Kairo Alloy block behind him.
At that moment, Roland gained a much clearer understanding of Oblivion's combat power.
Kairo Alloy was the same protective armor alloy used on Unit-01.
...
If you'd like to support my work and unlock advanced chapters, you can follow me on p-@-treon.
p-@-treon/GhostParser (40 Chapters Ahead)
You can also follow as a free member to read a few advanced chapters.