Chapter 155
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Chapter 155: Ready to Go
Fresnel navigated through a series of turns within the base, eventually arriving at the training grounds where his teammates were stationed.
His ability, which necessitated distance training and specific sunlight conditions, was typically conducted outdoors.
In contrast, his teammates, unbound by such constraints, gathered for their training sessions indoors.
However, today was markedly different from the norm.
As Fresnel stepped into the training grounds, the usual sight of Wang Xiao practicing bullet evasion was absent, as was the Puppet Master, who was typically seen switching souls among various animal carcasses. The bright markers that Beacon usually deployed were also conspicuously missing.
This unusual scenario was due to the trio currently experimenting with new equipment.
The Weapon Research Department of the research institutes had proven its worth; given that each superpowered individual’s abilities were unique, the equipment they required was not suited for mass production.
If only a few pieces were needed, the production line within the weapons research department was more than adequate.
At that moment, Wang Xiao and his companions were engaged in familiarizing themselves with equipment that seemed to be ahead of its time.
Historically, battles predominantly occurred on the city walls, with stringent requirements for assembly times, leading most superpowered individuals to engage in combat lightly equipped, often wearing just a basic combat suit jacket.
In more pressing situations, Fresnel even recalled instances of fighting without a shirt.
Fresnel circled the group twice, observing as they enthusiastically calibrated their equipment, and pondered the whereabouts of his own requested gear.
Eventually, his search led him to a small briefcase tucked away in a corner, bearing a note with the name "Fresnel" scrawled in a wild hand.
Contrasting the modest size of the briefcase, barely the span of two palms, with Wang Xiao’s full-body matte gray armor, Fresnel was struck by a profound sense of disparity.
What the hell, does the life of someone in the back row not matter?
“Captain, you’re here? Go ahead, open it and see!”
Beacon was the first to notice Fresnel’s quiet arrival. She was clad in a battle suit that was a departure from her usual attire, equipped with emergency components for wound treatment and a modified signal gun at her waist and back.
In combat, Beacon’s primary role was to mark the Puppet Master’s targets to prevent friendly fire, while also keeping an eye on the surroundings to ensure coordination between the front and back lines.
Her ability offered limited scope for enhancement, and her exploration of equipment was aimed at broadening her functional capabilities.
Recently, Beacon’s training had focused on treating wounds during combat, and she had become somewhat of a half-medical officer.
Upon seeing the small box in Fresnel’s hands, a smile broke through Beacon’s typically calm demeanor.
“Captain, please, open it and take a look!”
She urged Fresnel with the eagerness of an audience awaiting the start of a show.
Fresnel was aware that his teammate harbored no ill will, but he couldn’t help but wonder if his own requests had been too modest.
With this thought in mind, Fresnel pressed the latches on the side of the case.
With a crisp “click,” the case opened on its own.
Fresnel was delighted to find the goggles he had requested, equipped with vision protection and night vision capabilities.
His ability required visual alignment to lock onto targets, and after each battle, Fresnel often experienced eye strain.
He donned the goggles and activated them by pressing the switch at his temple.
Soon, a subtle dark layer enveloped Fresnel’s field of vision, akin to wearing sunglasses that automatically adjusted brightness, stabilizing everything in his view at a more consistent light level.
Simultaneously, for objects that his mismatched eyes focused on, the goggles would automatically measure the distance, facilitating his adjustment of the light beam’s concentration.
Although the device was somewhat small overall, its functionality was indeed well integrated. Fresnel tested it back and forth, and the initial slight imbalance in his mind gradually faded away.
After removing the goggles, he turned his gaze to the other two members of the team.
Wang Xiao was currently performing deadlifts while wearing the armor. In his armored state, he stood nearly two meters tall, and with his broad back and sharply defined armor, he resembled a massive, imposing door standing firmly in the center of the training ground.
Seeing Wang Xiao finish a set of deadlifts, Fresnel approached and tapped on his armor.
Wang Xiao lifted the helmet that covered half of his face and looked down at Fresnel.
Wang Xiao was already half a head taller than his Captain, and with the armor, the height difference had increased to a full head.
Facing the downward gaze of his teammate, Fresnel stood on his tiptoes and placed his right hand on Wang Xiao’s shoulder.
“How does it feel? Were you just in active mode or standby mode?”
“Not bad. I wasn’t connected to an external power source just now, but the structure of the armor itself helps me bear some of the external forces.”
Fresnel rubbed his hands together excitedly.
“Can I give it a try?”
Wang Xiao didn’t answer directly but instead pressed a few buttons on his belt, causing the armor to slowly begin to open.
Compared to putting on or taking off a normal combat suit, this process was incredibly lengthy.
When Wang Xiao stepped out of the armor, he seemed to have shrunk slightly. Looking at the armor standing in place, Fresnel felt a strong urge to try it on.
After receiving Wang Xiao’s consent, Fresnel climbed into the armor.
However, the custom nature of the exoskeleton armor became evident at that moment; at the neck area, Fresnel could only protrude half of his head.
As the armor closed around him, Fresnel quickly dropped to one knee, and it took him several seconds to adjust before he managed to stand up with some assistance from Wang Xiao.
As a well-trained superpowered individual, Fresnel’s body was much stronger than that of an average person, yet without the external power engaged, he still felt as though he could barely move.
Only then did he gain a more vivid understanding of his teammate, who possessed exceptional recovery and endurance.
After a few more minutes, a somewhat exhausted Fresnel finally freed himself from the armor, which had felt more like a cage than equipment.
Wiping the sweat from his forehead, he asked Wang Xiao,
“Where’s the external power source?”
Wang Xiao pointed to a prominent external cylindrical piece on the lower back of the armor. The cylinder was about as thick as a normal person’s waist, shaped like a flattened cylinder positioned at the back waist of the armor.
Upon closer inspection, Fresnel noticed three connectors attached to the waist of the armor on that cylinder.
He examined it carefully and felt around, suddenly finding a noticeable indentation on the bottom of the cylinder.
Bending down to look at the indentation, Fresnel discovered it was a ring-shaped depression formed from stamping.
Fresnel’s brow furrowed slightly as he looked at Wang Xiao beside him and asked with disbelief,
“Do you know Mr. Disaster Core?”
