"Since you want to eat... then just eat it!"

Feeling the almost erupting desire from the Red Scale, Yun You gritted her teeth and stopped holding it back.

"Our biggest wish before was to hope that we... and all the hungry people can have a full meal! No longer need to endure the torment of hunger."

"Although I am still far from achieving the second thing, unable to feed all the hungry people, at least for those around me, I must make sure they are well-fed."

As she spoke, Yun You extended the hand with the Red Scale and gently held the Mantis Blade.

"Eat, anyway... this blade... is only 35,000 Silver Cannons, it's fine, just consider it my treat to you!"

Although she said it like that, the trembling tone of the young girl exposed her heartache.

Of course she felt distressed, that was 35,000 Silver Cannons! Enough to replace a whole set of equipment for herself.

But words, once out, are like water thrown that cannot be retrieved.

She was accustomed to deceiving and tricking enemies, but when it comes to her "people," Yun You had always been trustworthy.

"Buzz...~"

The Red Scale seemed to understand Yun You's meaning and withdrew its invisible force, releasing Yun You's arm.

It cheerfully summoned a few strands of red light, forming a gaping maw, and swallowed the two Mantis Blades in one gulp, crunching down the rare metals from the blades.

Watching it melt the metal into red liquid and slowly absorb it into its scales, Yun You always felt it was like sucking on jelly...

Perhaps, to it, the hard and blazing steel was just sweet candy.

...

A moment later, the Red Scale completely drained the Mantis Blade.

What was left was just a pair of plastic handles, the blade itself entirely devoured.

"Was... was it good?"

Yun You couldn't help but ask.

But the Red Scale didn't speak, instead using action to replace its response.

With a "whoosh," it roared and expanded, regenerating flesh and bone.

This time, however, the gigantic form it created was not a claw but a massive crescent-shaped crimson chitinous scimitar.

It attached itself to Yun You's arm, big enough to almost cover half the girl's body from the side.

And as the crescent scimitar appeared, a voice that only existed on the conscious level emerged from within the Red Scale, entering Yun You's mind.

[D1 Metal Absorption Complete, Red Scale, Evolve]

[Blade Form, Unlocked, Current Seal Level: LV1]

[Giant Claw Form, Current Seal Level: LV1]

[Absorb special metal materials to enhance Red Scale Level]

A few brief words left Yun You quite dumbfounded.

Judging from the lines, these words seemed to be introducing Yun You to the current performance and attributes of the Red Scale.

In fact, some high-level prosthetic bodies do indeed have computer chips, informing the user of price, name, performance level... and special abilities at the moment of installation.

Yun You had even heard about an "Analysis Chip" installed in the brain that's available on the black market, which allows the user to get most of an object's information by staring at it for a few seconds.

Such equipment that can present objects in a data format is not uncommon in Nest City.

But whether it is a prosthetic body or chip, they are ultimately electronic products, the wisdom of modern technology.

However, the Red Scale in Yun You's hand is not an electronic gadget but a real flesh-and-blood creature...

Although Yun You didn't know what it actually was, only knowing this thing arrived inexplicably and without a traceable origin... she was sure there was no chip installed inside it.

She had already tested it with a signal transmitter on the way to the bar; no signal of any frequency could connect with the Red Scale.

This thing was just a hard-to-shatter curved scale.

Yet it "spoke."

This was a somewhat odd scene, like a person with an obsession for blades, endlessly playing romantic games with several swords, fantasizing about them fighting over him, and then one day, the blade actually speaks, and the person is terrified.

That's the kind of feeling the Red Scale was giving Yun You now.

Although it might not be that exaggerated, it was not far off.

"Honestly, I'm kind of worried about you."

The young girl sighed, saying reluctantly, "After all, you suddenly popped up with your own consciousness and can speak; this is really terrifying."

"For a moment, I really considered getting rid of you, because something out of my control can't provide much security."

Upon saying this, the Red Scale seemed somewhat displeased.

[Stop babbling... swing me]

It tossed its thought into Yun You's mind.

The young girl was somewhat puzzled but instinctively swung her arm upward.

Bang——!

With a muffled noise, fine stones and bricks rustled down like rain, sprinkling Yun You's little head.

"Eh?"

Yun You was stunned.

She blankly raised her head and saw that a massive crack, about half a meter long and thirty centimeters deep, had magically appeared on the ceiling several meters above her head.

The rebar inside the ceiling was severed entirely, and even the steel beams supporting the floor were cut open.

Undoubtedly, this was the work of the Red Phosphorus Curved Saber, and this was only the result of a pressure wave slashed from the tip of the blade, not the blade itself.

"Ah...?"

Yun You was completely dumbfounded.

Then her attitude and expression on her face changed within a tenth of a second, the initial worry and concern disappearing without a trace, replaced by unparalleled joy... and praise.

"This feels so secure! Who needs control and loyalty... this is the ultimate safety assurance!"

"So great, Red Scale!"

Yun You rubbed her hands on the back of the saber, whispering, "Just now I spoke a bit too loudly, please don't mind, I just wanted to test our relationship a bit, honestly, I didn't mean anything else."

"Also, I was not sincere enough earlier, control... really isn't necessary at all!"

"Let's start everything over and become friends, what do you think?"

The girl's change of face was faster than flipping a book, a moment ago earnestly skeptical, and the next moment turned into flattery.

Such fast and natural face-changing, even a superstar actor might shed tears watching it.

But she had a point; in the face of such great power, loyalty and sincerity weren't necessary to bring up.

Because if it wanted to revolt, Yun You absolutely couldn't stop it.

Therefore, rather than trying to control, it was better to have a good talk and make a friend...

[Hmph, changing from arrogance to humility, thinking about it makes one laugh]

The Red Scale was evidently dissatisfied with the young girl's behavior and casually mocked.

But unfortunately, Yun You, who hadn't graduated from junior high, didn't understand the meaning.

"Eh? What do you mean?"

[Never mind, I'm praising your cleverness]

"Alright then."

Yun You nodded, not paying much attention.

She flicked her hand, dispelling the chitinous scimitar.

This allowed her to breathe a sigh of relief.

At least now, the Red Scale Giant Claw was still under her control.

But for some reason, this time using the Giant Claw, she didn't feel fatigued.

She subconsciously thought of the Red Scale's self-awareness.

"Red Bro? Did you help me bear the physical consumption?"

[Nonsense, who else could it be but me?]

The Red Scale replied grumpily, its tone filled with exhaustion.

[Finally got a big meal, but used up all my strength just to show off... sigh, I'm really an idiot]

[Alright, enough nonsense, I want to sleep now, don't disturb me, little girl... whenever I wake up and find you, you can talk to me then]

[Oh right, one last thing, don't call me Red Bro, it sounds terrible... from now on call me Master Zero, got it?]

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