I’ll be the Red Ranger
Chapter 172 – Battling in a Mecha

- Oliver -

"Just perfect," Oliver muttered under his breath.

In any other situation, for most people, piloting a mecha in a fight against three Red Orks might have been a sign that things were going well. But trapped inside a leaning skyscraper, with a five-meter-tall mech barely fitting in the cramped spaces, piloted by someone as inexperienced as himself, and with a robot lacking proper weaponry, the odds were decidedly not in Oliver's favor.

‘At least I don't feel the pain from the impacts,’ he thought, his eyes flicking over the multiple camera feeds displayed on the cockpit's screens. The vibrations and jolts from each collision were intense, but the mech absorbed most of the physical strain.

Around him, the building groaned ominously. The structure had been compromised from the ongoing assault, and every heavy footstep threatened to bring it all crashing down. There were about ten humans held captive by the Orks. Gray Orks stood guard over them. But it was the three Red Orks that demanded Oliver's immediate attention.

He pushed his piloting skills to the limit, weaving the mecha in tight arcs to dodge incoming blows, redirecting attacks when he could, and seizing any opportunity to strike back. However, his options were limited, the confined space made large movements dangerous.

As Oliver tried to form a plan, another heavy impact slammed into the mecha's side. One of the Red Orks had snuck in a blow, using a massive hammer-like weapon to send Oliver careening into a wall. The mecha crashed through layers of drywall and steel supports, debris raining down as several walls collapsed from the force.

"Fucking hell!" Oliver exclaimed, gripping the control sticks tightly as he fought to regain balance. Alarms blared inside the cockpit, a barrage of warning signals flashing across his HUD.

Through the external cameras, he could see the Red Orks regrouping for another attack. Their movements were coordinated and alarmingly quick for creatures of their size.

‘[Insight] isn't going to help me right now,’ he thought desperately. ‘I've learned all I can, I know how to pilot this shit. I just don't have the experience. Using the Blue Armor might get me kicked out of the mission, and using the Green would definitely cause more than some problems. Artificial Armor wouldn’t make a dent on those Orks.’

He shook off the doubts clouding his mind. Oliver activated the drill attachment on the mecha's right arm and revved it to full power. The massive drill bit spun rapidly, emitting a harsh mechanical whir. Timing his move, he swung the arm upward just as one of the Red Orks lunged forward.

The drill thunderously clashed with the Ork's weapon, a colossal axe. The impact sent shockwaves through the floor, shaking the entire structure. Below and above, frightened screams echoed as civilians felt the tremors and feared the worst.

"Come on!" Oliver growled, pushing the mecha's arm harder against the Ork's weapon. Sparks flew as metal ground against metal.

Out of the corner of his eye, he saw another Ork circling. This one wielded an enormous, serrated spear. The Ork charged, aiming directly for the mecha's legs.

"Not good!" Oliver screamed.

He tried to move, but the confined space and his locked position with the first Ork hindered him. The spear struck the left leg of the mecha at the knee joint.

"Alert. Armor compromised. Left leg movement impaired," announced the cold, synthetic voice of the onboard system.

"Shit!" Oliver gritted his teeth, maneuvering the mech desperately to isolate one Ork at a time..

He thrust the mecha's massive arm forward, the reinforced plating colliding with the chest of a charging Red Ork. The impact sent the creature staggering back, buying Oliver a precious few seconds. With a swift command, he activated the thrusters on the left leg. The jet roared to life, propelling the mech sideways and out of the path of the giant hammer that smashed into the floor where he'd stood moments before. The sudden burst of speed startled the Ork, but it wasn't enough to take it out of the fight.

‘I need to react faster,’ Oliver thought, his mind racing. He understood the crux of the problem: his opponents were relentless, their brutal efficiency honed by countless battles. ‘Or maybe… see the opponent's next moves.’ An idea sparked. Though they were Red Orks, he had evolved his [Observation] boon to the Bishop level. It was worth a try.

Focusing intently on the nearest Ork, Oliver activated [Observation]. Instantly, his vision shifted, and colors drained away, leaving a stark black-and-white world. Time seemed to slow as shimmering lines appeared, floating around the Ork like ghostly tendrils. They traced the potential paths of the creature's imminent attacks and defenses, a web of possibilities laid bare before him.

"That's it! Hell yeah. Now I'm gonna mess you up," Oliver exclaimed from the cockpit, a fierce grin spreading across his face.

Oliver knew he couldn't maintain the ability on more than one target at a time, but if he could eliminate even one of them, the odds would shift in his favor. The Ork wielding the massive spear was his immediate focus. Through the [Observation], the lines projected the monster's next move, a powerful thrust aimed at the mech's damaged left leg.

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He could see how the Ork intended to defend and where it was directing its Energy, but there was no turning back now; the mech was already committed to its attack. However, Oliver could pour even more power into it.

As the Ork braced for impact, the drill affixed to the mecha's arm roared to life, its spinning teeth biting into the creature's tough hide. The Red Ork snarled, its muscles bulging, as it fought to halt the drill's relentless advance. Its feet dug into the floor, cracking the tiles beneath, but it was barely holding the mecha at bay.

"Strength isn't just in the arms, you dumb pig!" Oliver shouted over the communication system. His fingers danced across the controls, flipping switches with practiced precision. He diverted additional power to the accelerators and thrusters.

With a deafening roar, the mecha surged forward. The sudden burst of force overwhelmed the Ork's defenses, sending it hurtling backward. The hulking creature slammed into the building's interior wall, steel and concrete yielding under the impact. Before it could recover, Oliver gave it one final push, and the wall gave way entirely. The Red Ork was propelled out of the room, disappearing into the open air beyond, its roar fading as it plummeted toward the chaos below.

Breathing heavily, Oliver scanned the panoramic displays inside the cockpit, searching for the remaining two Orks. His sensors pinged just as they emerged from behind a cluster of shattered columns, their eyes burning with rage.

"Right on time," Oliver muttered.

With the fall of one of the Orks, the other two, though still feral, were no longer as coordinated. One attempted to hold the mecha arms while the other attacked it with its giant axe.

However, Oliver was already prepared to deal with them. The first Ork arrived too soon, trying to disable the arms, but the Mecha's strength was far superior to his. Instead of holding it back, he was the one caught.

Oliver only needed a flick of his controllers to hurl the second Ork out the building. However, the last Ork had not given up yet. Still bashing his axe against the machine and trying to force against its armor, he kept applying more and more strength.

Oliver's fingers flew over the control panel, navigating through a maze of switches and levers until he found the sequence he needed. With a determined flick, he rerouted the thrusters on the mech's legs, adjusting them from their default backward position to face forward. Locking eyes on the Red Ork before him, he angled the thrusters directly at the creature.

Clamping the Ork in place with the mech's powerful arms, Oliver gritted his teeth. "Let's see how you handle this," he muttered. He activated the thrusters at full power.

A torrent of searing flames erupted from the mech's leg units, engulfing the Red Ork in a relentless inferno. The Ork's roar of agony—"RUARGH!"—echoed through the fragmented remains of the skyscraper, a guttural scream that sent shivers down Oliver's spine.

He watched as the creature thrashed in the fiery onslaught, its tough hide charring and cracking under the intense heat. Despite the grim sight, Oliver felt no pity. Still, the gruesome spectacle made his stomach churn. He was grateful for the filtration system in the cockpit, which spared him from the stench of burning flesh.

The few remaining Gray Orks bore witness to the horrifying demise of their leader. Panic flickered in their eyes. Without hesitation, they turned and leaped from the building’s gaping wounds, preferring the uncertain fate below to the fiery wrath of the mech.

Though free, the human hostages reacted viscerally. The acrid smell of the charred Ork permeated the air. Several people doubled over, vomiting as the odor assaulted their senses.

As the flames began to subside, Oliver deactivated the thrusters. He adjusted the mech's leg, shaking off the smoldering remnants that clung stubbornly to the metal. The charred husk of the Ork crumbled away, disintegrating into ashes scattered across the debris-laden floor.

"Alright, everyone," Oliver's voice crackled over the external speakers, steady but edged with urgency. "Who wants to go down first?"

The civilians stared back at him, a mixture of hope and apprehension in their eyes. Most were paralyzed by fear, uncertain of their next move. After a tense moment, two people stepped forward, their expressions resolute despite the chaos surrounding them.

"I'll go," one of them said firmly, brushing a strand of soot-streaked hair from her face.

"Me too," the other added, his voice steady.

"Great. There are two ladders at the back of the mecha; you can climb up and secure yourselves to them. Additionally, I can carry two more people in my arms. Does anyone else want to go down?" Oliver asked, but fear kept the others from trying.

The others watched, some with eyes wide in trepidation, others casting nervous glances at the gaping hole where the Red Ork had met its end. The thought of descending from such a height was daunting, but staying was not an option.

One man swallowed hard. "Are you sure this is safe?" he called out, his voice wavering.

"It's safer than being here when the rest of the building comes down," Oliver replied bluntly. "Trust me. I've done this before." It was only once, but he had done it.

This was neither his first nor last rescue of the day. Over the next ten hours, Oliver would pilot the mech in a relentless rescue campaign, ascending and descending the heights of the city’s skyline. Each trip blurred into the next as he extracted trapped civilians, escorted them to safety, and returned to face new dangers. The mech's once-pristine armor was now scarred and scorched, bearing the marks of countless encounters.

Many hours later, after the Rangers had driven the Orks away and assisted in the rescue, Oliver's task was finally over. He parked the mecha against one of the buildings still standing and stepped out of the cockpit.

Looking up at the steel giant, only one thought crossed his mind. ‘I need to buy one of these for myself someday.’

Oliver sat down, leaning against the mecha's cold metal exterior for a moment, letting the adrenaline drain from his body before heading toward the Teleport Hub.

Unfortunately, there was only one attendant on duty. Before getting on the teleporter, Oliver remembered something.

"Do you know if a Hector passed through here? Hector from Atlas."

The attendant looked at him, thinking for a moment.

"Ah! Are you Cassius? A man left this for you. He asked me to thank you and hand it over."

The attendant handed him what appeared to be a small flash drive.

‘Who even uses these anymore?’ Oliver wondered.

"Thank you very much," Oliver said as he stepped onto the teleporter.

‘Time for my punishment.’ Was his last thought before returning.

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