Ethan's Worth

He Hao groaned and gradually opened his eyes. At first, his vision was a blur. After a few moments, it sharpened, revealing the sight of a massive, metallic, and weighty figure. He felt a sense of familiarity and then remembered—it was his mech, 'Black Thunder.'

After defeating the Behemoths, 'Black Thunder' had risen to its feet. Its abdomen and fists were still shedding armor, and the bright sparks leaping from the damaged parts of the mech told tales of a fierce battle. The intense sunlight cast a golden glow on 'Black Thunder's' heavy frame, making it stand like a black war deity between heaven and earth.

Then the cockpit opened, and someone climbed out. The figure leaned against the dark armor of the mech, lifting his head and closing his eyes, basking in the sunlight.

On the ground, the onlookers were awestruck by the golden figure bathed in sunlight, their minds reeling from the shock. After several seconds, He Hao suddenly shouted, "Who the hell started up my 'Black Thunder'?"

Eliot and Cedricl, along with a few other students, realized the third-year student had awakened. Eliot quickly explained, "It was Ethan. Senior He Hao, please don't blame him. If it weren't for him taking down the two Behemoths, we all would have been in danger."

"He killed two Behemoths?" He Hao looked around and saw the carcasses of the 'Tanuki Power' and the 'Si.' Then he touched his chest, "That's not right, my combat suit is still on me. How could he start the mech?"

Eliot adjusted his glasses and speculated, "I guess Ethan might be a 'Natural Resonator.'"

"A Natural Resonator?" Cedricl and the others were clueless, not understanding what it meant.

He Hao's body shook with realization, murmuring to himself, "So that's it. That's why Victor supported this wild boy from the surface to fight in the deathmatch. If Ethan is a 'Natural Resonator,' it all makes sense!"

By now, Cedricl and the others were bombarding Eliot with questions, "What's a 'Natural Resonator'?"

Eliot smiled slightly and explained, "Even if we graduate from the academy, not all of us reserve mech pilots will be able to pilot a mech. Emar, our Mech Knowledge teacher, has already mentioned this. We can't just resonate with any mech. Even with the lowest requirement of a primary mech, resonance can fail. Some may never find a mech to resonate with in their lifetime."

"But 'Natural Resonators' are different," He Hao interjected. "They're like born for this job. They can resonate with any type, any level of mech. Even without a combat suit or neural link wires, they can pilot a mech."

"In the entire Guangling City, there was only one 'Natural Resonator,' and now there's a second," Eliot continued.

Cedricl was still puzzled, "So, 'Natural Resonators' just have more options and don't have to worry about not having a mech to pilot. But you both seem to hold 'Natural Resonators' in high regard?"

He Hao scoffed, "Just that? You have no idea what 'Natural Resonators' represent."

Eliot, who seemed well-versed on the subject, added, "Zhao, our teacher, said that visualization techniques are graded, and so are mechs. They are classified into primary, intermediate, and advanced levels. Above advanced mechs, there are Guardian and General mechs, and even higher levels. Primary through Guardian mechs can be upgraded with additional equipment to enhance performance. However, General level mechs and above cannot be upgraded by human means. They are fixed from the moment they are manufactured."

"The higher the level of the mech, the more difficult it is to resonate," Eliot continued. "Especially for General level mechs and above, which often have special capabilities, the pilots who can operate them are considered invaluable assets."

Cedricl finally understood, "So, 'Natural Resonators' can easily resonate with high-level mechs and effortlessly pilot General level mechs. That's their value?"

He Hao let out a laugh, "You're finally catching on. A General level mech has the capability to annihilate an entire city on its own. But not just any pilot can resonate with them. And for 'Natural Resonators,' this is no problem at all. If Guangling can train a 'Natural Resonator' into a qualified mech pilot, we can request another General level mech from the higher-ups. With two General level mechs, Guangling City can earn a spot in the 'Deadly Battlefields.' The significance of this is beyond your imagination."

As they conversed, Ethan had already descended from the mech. He Hao walked over, glared at Ethan, and passed by without a word, then inspected 'Black Thunder.' Finally, he said, "Amateurs shouldn't casually pilot someone else's mech. Look what you've done to 'Black Thunder.'"

Ethan offered no response, but then He Hao added, "But for an amateur, you did quite well. Remember to wear a combat suit next time. 'Natural Resonators' may have certain advantages, but a slight misstep can still be fatal."

Ethan turned back to see He Hao climbing onto the mech. Moments later, 'Black Thunder' restarted, and He Hao's voice came through the external speakers, "Let's go, I'll escort you to the gathering point." He piloted 'Black Thunder' to retrieve the rifle and headed toward the entrance of the gorge.

By evening, Ethan and the others reached the gathering point. After arriving at the temporary camp, He Hao went to report. That night, Ethan was summoned to Marshal's tent.

Inside, Marshal took a sip of water and swallowed a couple of capsules before speaking. "He Hao has told me how you piloted 'Black Thunder' to kill the Behemoths and protect your classmates. You did well. The academy will reward you when we return. But as a 'Natural Resonator,' your potential is immense. In the future on the battlefield, I hope you prioritize your own safety. Help your comrades only if you have the capacity."

Ethan looked at him and asked, "I heard from Cedricl that 'Natural Resonators' are considered valuable 'assets'?"

Marshal nodded, "That's correct."

Ethan, still puzzled, continued, "If that's the case, why doesn't the academy or Victor stop me from fighting in the deathmatch? If I died, wouldn't that be a loss of valuable assets?"

Marshal smiled and said, "The finest sword is forged in the hottest fire, and the sweetest fragrance comes from the bitterest cold. Do you understand?"

Ethan's confusion cleared, and he nodded firmly, "I understand!"