22 Paragon Atom suit

"Tell us what you have in mind, Nolan." Adril requested, turning his attention to his trusted subordinate.

Nolan nodded respectfully and began to articulate his thoughts. "In this current situation, I don't believe that any new ideas or strategies will drastically alter the course of the war. If my intuition serves me right, the Entomons have likely gleaned information about our destructive capabilities from the recent events in the Z solar system. Consequently, they'll likely approach future encounters with greater caution and vigilance, which could work in our favor by buying us additional time. This time is critical for advancing our projects and preparations."

"Now, what I propose is that while Professor Aizel and his team work on building the time machine, we should focus on upgrading our weapons and equipment. During the battle of Zeoter, I witnessed many excellent soldiers. We can select a new batch of elite soldiers and equip them with superior weapons and equipment. I believe they will be invaluable assets, potentially even strategic resources, in the war. Strengthening our military and prolonging the war as much as possible should be our priority."

Additionally, we should consider developing several Atom suits larger than those Greedworms. They need to be highly resistant and capable of easily defending against a swarm of Noble Entomons. Fortunately, we have enough Grade 51 Alpha titanium alloy (a combination of pure titanium and Graysten) to construct these gigantic Atom suits.

We already have the design for the Atom suit. Although we didn't proceed with its construction previously due to its limited applicability, the current circumstances necessitate its development. Now is the opportune moment to revive the Paragon Atom suit project. I hope Lord Adril will approve of this initiative." With that, Nolan concluded his statement, took a deep bow, and returned to his seat.

Lord Adril looked at Nolan and nodded his head in appreciation. Soon, murmurs filled the chamber as everyone began discussing the project.

"Ahem..." Lord Adril cleared his throat, signaling for attention. The chamber fell silent once more as all eyes turned to him.

"Now, Nolan's proposal is indeed promising. We shall proceed with the Paragon Atom suit project," Lord Adril declared, his voice carrying authority and determination.

"I think that's a good idea; I approve of this project. Organize a team and start the project immediately," Lord Adril finally gave his authorization.

However, Lord Miles raised a concern. "Lord Adril, won't that be a bit wasteful? Those are high-quality metals, even if they're not the highest grade available. Currently, we're low on resources, and every bit counts. Building Paragon Atom suits that size, over 300 meters, will require a considerable amount of metal."

"Lord Miles, do you want to take these metals with you to your deathbed? If you don't have any constructive ideas to contribute, then I suggest you refrain from speaking and simply listen," Adril scolded him.

Lord Miles looked taken aback for a moment, then hung his head low in awkward silence.

"Professor Aizel, during the war, we encountered significant difficulties in combatting the Noble Entomons. Their shells proved highly resistant to lasers and impervious to most of our conventional weapons," Lord Adril continued, shifting the focus back to the issue at hand.

"It took a significant amount of heavy weaponry to bring down just one of them, which puts us at a major disadvantage. I hope you can find a solution for us," Rick requested.

Professor Aizel nodded in understanding and elaborated, "Those Noble Entomons measure between 40 to 70 meters in height, weighing between 170 to 300 tons. Their shells are composed of carbon with a structure akin to graphene, making it clear why our conventional weapons are ineffective against them."

The weight and proportion of the projectiles compared to the targets are completely mismatched. The current bullets are akin to tiny pellets fired at a rhinoceros. Regardless of the bullet's material strength or velocity, it will have minimal impact on the target.

The Noble Entomons are simply too large, and their shells are exceedingly strong and thick. It's not that our weapons are ineffective; it's the bullets themselves. We need to develop larger weapons capable of penetrating the armor of the Noble Entomons and other high-class variants.

You need heavier and stronger materials with greater penetrative power.

Grade 51 Alpha Tungsten Alloy is the optimal material for the bullets, but our supply is limited. I'm more inclined towards building the Paragon Atom Suits. Bullets are consumable and single-use items, whereas the Paragon Atom suit can serve as a strategic weapon.

No matter how tough their shells are, you can always crush them like bugs if you are two or three times larger than them." Professor Aizel shared his opinion.

"We can use the alpha tungsten alloy for the outer shells and incorporate heavy metals like lead inside for increased penetrative power," Nolan suggested.

"That would be even better. Nolan, I entrust you with full responsibility for these projects. Now, everyone, make arrangements for the ceremonial awards. We will conclude this meeting here," Lord Adril declared, dismissing the assembly as he exited the chamber, followed by a group of individuals.

As everyone rose to leave, General Rick suddenly felt a pat on his back.

"Kid, you seem to be getting cockier these days," Marshal Brayden chuckled, giving Rick a friendly pat.

"Old fogey, you seem to be getting weaker every day. Why do I smell thick jealousy in the air?" General Rick retorted with a smirk.

"Tch... Kids these days don't respect the old," Brayden shrugged, voicing his complaint.

"You'll never improve if your thinking is stuck in the past like an old man," Rick retorted.

"Oi, you two, stop bickering like children." Marshal Colton intervened, bringing an end to their banter.

"What are you two talking about? And congratulations on your promotion, Rick," Jayden congratulated him.

"Nothing, just a shameless old man trying to leech off from the younger generation," Rick answered with a smirk.

"You...!" Brayden almost flared up as he pointed his finger at Rick in anger.

"Enough with your nonsense, old man. Now, I have a question for you," Rick sternly said as he locked his eyes with Brayden.

"Who was the one that sent Amelia into my army?" Rick asked, his tone laced with a baleful aura.

Everyone fell silent, sensing trouble brewing.

"What are you talking about, and who the hell is Amelia? I have never heard that name before," replied Brayden, feigning ignorance. "Professor Aizel, we should head to the ceremony town," Jayden interjected, attempting to escape, but his path was blocked by Rick.

"Congratulations, Rick, on becoming Field Marshal," Professor Aizel greeted Rick warmly. Rick was one of his former students and one of his most promising pupils.

"You were one of my best students. Regrettably, you didn't pursue the path of science. With your photographic memory and high cognitive abilities, you could have excelled as one of the best scientists. It's a pity..." Professor Aizel shook his head and sighed deeply.

"Professor Aizel, is your granddaughter named Amelia?" Rick asked.

"Yes, my granddaughter's name is Amelia Balfe. She is one of the smartest..." Before Aizel could finish his sentence, he realized what was going on. His expression turned to one of rage as he launched an attack on Jayden.

"How could you?! I trusted you as a friend," Aizel screamed as he lunged at Jayden.

"Enough!" Jayden shouted, his frustration evident as he fought back against Professor Aizel's accusations. "Stop acting like you are the victim! It was you who suggested this idea, and now you are accusing me?"

"I was given the burden to find her a responsible husband, and you all agreed on Rick as well. Now you turn against me?" Jayden's frustration was palpable in his words.

"You two!" Jayden pointed his finger at Brayden and Colton with rage. "Don't think you can escape from this. Rick! It was these two who manipulated the whole process. Just think about it. Who would dare to go against your military order?" Jayden exposed all their scams.

Colton and Brayden exchanged looks, realizing they were caught red-handed.

"Bam, Bam, Bam…"

There were three consecutive lightning-fast punches thrown at Brayden, Colton, and Jayden. Before everyone realized what was happening, the three old men were lying on the ground, groaning in pain.

Rick walked out of the hall, ignoring everyone around him. Professor Aizel stood frozen, holding his breath, afraid to make even the slightest movement. Just moments ago, he had felt an intense surge of killing intent. He knew Rick had let them off easy this time, especially him.

He let out a deep breath as soon as Rick was out of sight. His body still trembled from the pressure.

The three old men stood up grumpily, their noses bloodied and a few teeth broken.

"Hmph…"

"That brute... How dare he hit me that hard. Now my nose is ruined. He could have shown a bit of restraint. These old bones can't handle this kind of roughhousing anymore," Jayden grumbled, his voice muffled by his runny nose. A medical bot swiftly arrived and patched up his nose.

They were well aware of Rick's fiery temper, yet they felt compelled to take the risk. They had hoped that by finding him a wife, they could temper his wild demeanor. They believed that marriage might mellow him out.

"How could he be my student? He's a demon in human form," Professor Aizel cursed loudly, relieved that he had narrowly escaped harm.

"Let it go... A genius like him will have his own temperament. He's very different from normal people like us. That's why he's called a genius. We can't understand their minds through logic," Brayden sighed deeply, regretting his decision.

"Why didn't you stop him?" Colton asked, bewildered by the sudden turn of events.

"I can't. He's way stronger than before. His progress speed is too fast. He's a freak of nature," Brayden replied dejectedly.

After a few minutes of fixing their faces, they got ready to leave.

"Alright, let's head out. We'll be late for the ceremony," Colton urged everyone.