I Became God's Reaper in Another Universe

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The crowd erupted at the display of agility of the mechs, each tier offering faster and more precise movements. In the tier 1 Vanguard, Raven initiated a rapid sidestep, the mech's legs bending and adjusting with near-human grace as it dodged an imaginary projectile. Without missing a beat, she twisted the controls, sending the mech into a sharp pivot, its reinforced heels digging into the arena floor before launching into a seamless sprint.

A murmur rippled through the crowd. A Tier 1 mech wasn't supposed to move like this.

The real shock came when Raven executed a feint, shifting left before suddenly vaulting to the right. The mech didn't just turn; it broke momentum mid-stride, shifting weight instantly with a burst of controlled thrusters, something only higher-tier mechs were thought capable of, since even a Reaper was sort of sluggish when making such movements until Tier 4, and even then, they weren't perfect. It was a movement that defied the clunky limitations of traditional Tier 1 mechs.

"Impossible," someone from the corporate booths muttered. "There's no way a Tier 1 mech should have that kind of mobility."

Another voice, sharp with disbelief, cut in. "Did… did a Tier 1 just perform vector shifting?"

Before the whispers could spread further, Raven launched into the next maneuver. The Vanguard mech pushed off the ground, its knees bending at just the right angle to absorb impact before it leaped, all in one fluid motion that was neither sluggish nor unstable. It wasn't a mere jump but a controlled, airborne repositioning. It landed with a calculated roll, rising to its feet in an instant, ready for the next move.

Gasps filled the air. In the VIP booths, representatives exchanged frantic glances. Some leaned forward, analyzing the mech's movements, while others hastily whispered into their Nexus devices. The realization was setting in, this wasn't just another variant mech with minor improvements. This was something entirely new.

The Tier 1 Vanguard then engaged in rapid-fire strikes against an array of stationary holographic targets. The mech's limbs moved with a precision unheard of for its class, its white sword gleaming in the light as it delivered swift blows with efficiency. The smooth articulation of its joints allowed Raven to chain movements together, flowing seamlessly from a swing to punch and into a spinning kick before vaulting backward while holding the sword in a defensive stance.

A round of hushed exclamations spread through the crowd.

"That level of articulation… it's beyond there's absolutely no way thats a Tier 1."

"No delay, no stutter, and look at the stabilization. I'm afraid our Reaper has lost its title as the most dangerous mech."

Then came the final test. Raven jumped up in the air and used her thrusters to push her sideways a little as she took out the rifle that was attached to the Vanguard's back as she raised her left arm as cover and fired a single round at a cannon that was equipped with a Reaper's rifle. 

The cannon fired at the same time. A split second later Raven's shot went right through the rifle, destroying it while the shot fired by the Reaper rifle slammed into her shield, or so everyone expected. To everyone's surprise, the round was stopped millimeters from the Vanguard's shield before dropping harmlessly into the ground before it.

The reaction from the audience was immediate. Some corporate representatives clenched their jaws in frustration, while others were already drafting offers in their minds. Mercenary leaders were either leaning forward with wide eyes or whispering among themselves, considering the implications of outfitting their lower-ranked pilots with machines that handled like this.

Aspen was already walking through the tall hallways to the A.V.I booth when he heard the crowd fall into a stunned silence. This was just the Tier 1 model. And the best was yet to come.

Salazar managed to gather his words as he spoke. "Ladies and gentlemen… A.V.I's tier 1 Vanguard, with an initial price of 14 point 5 million credits. Next up is the demonstration of their Tier 2 Vanguard."

The audience didn't even get time to register what they had seen with the Tier 1 Vanguard as Raven piloted her mech to the edge of the testing grounds right next to the Tier 2 Vanguard, its servos hissing as it came to a halt. The moment its stance settled, the Tier 2 Vanguard stepped forward, a taller, more refined variant of the Vanguard.

The Tier 2 model stood at a height of 9.5 meters, obviously taller than the 7-meter-tall Tier 1 Vanguard. Its armor plating looked as if it was heavier and thicker, yet somehow appeared as if it could weigh less. Unlike the Tier 1, which had showcased raw agility that surpassed that of its competitors at its tier, the Tier 2 felt more like a precise and deadly tool.

"For the demonstration of the Tier 2 Vanguard, certain combat parameters will be activated," Salazar's voice reverberated across the testing grounds and the seating area..

The instant he finished speaking, the mech, which was being piloted by Jess, launched forward with a burst of acceleration. But unlike the Tier 1's sprint, its movement felt almost as if it was calculated. With every step, just before its foot touched the ground, micro-adjustments to the foot's positioning could be seen for a split, done in a way to maintain optimal balance.

Then came the first real test. Multiple high-speed drones started darting around from out of hidden compartments around the arena, moving unpredictably through the air, their erratic movements were designed in order to simulate high-agility targets. In lower-tier mechs, especially in those that are space-compatible, tracking and locking onto such fast-moving threats required seconds of adjustment, time many didn't have on the battlefield as a split second could change the tide of the battle.

The Tier 2 Vanguard demonstrated just why this class of mechs was far superior to all the other classes as it needed none. 

With a subtle shift in posture while still moving, the mech's onboard AI-assisted targeting system synchronized with Jess's neural link. Jess raised her rifle and the moment the first drone veered sharply left, the Vanguard fired.

The round struck true, turning the drone into shredded metal accompanied by a rain of sparks.

Gasps echoed through the crowd.

"Impossible…" one of the weapons engineers from Titan Dynamics muttered, eyes wide as more drones zipped unpredictably across the field.

One by one the drones were shot down. The Tier 2 Vanguard twisting and pivoting, adjusting angles on the fly without ever losing momentum. Each shot wasn't just precise, it was as if the mech could see where the drones would be before they even moved. As if it could see the future and fire off just as the drones commenced their change in direction.

Then Jess shifted tactics. The mech holstered its rifle on its back and grasped the sword that was right next to it as another set of drones emerged, this time accelerating toward it in aggressive attack formations.

Jess didn't wait. She surged forward, closing the gap. The moment a drone tried to outmaneuver her, the mech's stabilizers adjusted in microseconds, and the blade flashed, cleaving the drone in half before swiftly switching to the next target as if it were all part of a single attack.

"This is unreal," a mercenary captain whispered, watching as the mech weaved between incoming threats with speed that rivaled Tier 3 mechs. "A Tier 2 moving like that?"

A corporate representative from Daimos Dynamics gritted his teeth. "What the hell did they put in that thing? How in the name of all that's holy did they manage to keep that thing at Tier 2?"

The final test for the Tier 2 came as the arena's simulation changed. Jess stopped moving as the doors opened and a Tier 2 Sentinel that was being controlled by an AI stepped through and onto the testing grounds. Being recognized as the strongest armored mech within its tier aside from the Reaper, it was a mech whose defenses traditional Tier 2 weapons would struggle to crack without sustained fire.

Jess wasted no time. The Vanguard shifted into a low stance, the energy output in its thrusters ramping up. Then it pushed off the ground. Jess closed the distance in an instant, her break-neck speed coming to a surprisingly fast stop as she slashed at the Sentinel while in mid-air. 

The Sentinel's shields glowed red as a slash appeared on it, tearing a hole through its defenses. It started to close quickly, but before it could do so, the Vanguard, which was still airborne, swiftly brought down its sword through the opening in the Sentinel's shields. 

The sword tore straight through the armor without any struggle. It went down through the mech's head, then its empty cockpit before also tearing through its reactor, the tip of the blade poking out between the Sentinel's legs.

The Sentinel shut down, its reactor, which had been completely torn apart rather than destabilized, did not even spark, let alone explode. The Sentinel had been forced into a Seiza pose with a sword going entirely through it from top to bottom.

Jess gripped the sword handle and yanked it out of the Sentinel, yerking it to its side and causing it to fall in a resounding boom, sending a ripple through the crowd.

First, there was utter stunned silence. Then, thunderous applause.

Salazar, barely containing his shock, finally found his voice. "Ladies and gentlemen… A.V.I's Tier 2 Vanguard! With an initial price of 31 million credits."

The murmurs among the VIP booths turned into a frenzy. Some were already placing calls to their higher-ups, while others scribbled down figures. Jess piloted the Tier 2 Vanguard off to the side of the testing grounds, standing right between Raven in the Tier 1 and Santos in the Tier 3 as the destroyed Sentinel was cleared out.

After about 10 minutes of murmuring and chatting, Salazar's voice cut through the noise. "Alright you all, two more demonstrations left to close out this year's Mech Conference and it seems like up until now, A.V.I has delivered on their promise." 

Salazar stopped for a second, letting the crowd take in his words. "Now, up next is the demonstration of their Tier 3 Vanguard. This test… will be a little bit… different," Salazar dragged out his words. "Now, it is not a test that hasn't been done before, but it is one that is rather dangerous."

"Accidents may happen but the purpose of this test is to showcase the mech's ability in actual warfare. And what better way to do so than having it fight not one, but two of what is, well, now was considered 'The Deadliest Mech Class.'"

When Salazar finished speaking, the blast doors opened again, and in walked two Tier 3 Reaper Class mechs that were piloted by pilots from the Cenollian Planetary Guard. "Now everyone remembers the rules, play dirty, play fair, doesn't matter, as long as everyone walks out of here on their own two feet."

Santos piloted his 10.5 meter tall Tier 3 Vanguard to one side of the testing grounds that was opposite to the 2 Reapers. A hologram of a countdown glowed below the platform Salazar was standing on with 10 seconds on the timer. "Ladies and gents, you are about to witness a sparring battle for the ages." 

The moment the countdown reached zero, the arena burst to life with a deep, reverberating clang as the signal to engage sounded.

Santos wasted no time. The Tier 3 Vanguard launched forward, its movements deceptively smooth for something its size. The Reapers, piloted by elite Cenollian Planetary Guard members, reacted instantly, moving into a pincer formation, their pilots relying on years of combat experience with one of the deadliest mech classes ever built.

The Reaper on the left raised its rifle, firing off toward the Vanguard while strafing sideways to flank it. The other Reaper surged forward, closing the gap while drawing its signature Scythe, intent on forcing the Vanguard into a melee brawl while the other one took advantage of its distraction and shot it from its flank. 

But Santos wasn't playing by the old rules.

Without breaking stride, he tilted the Vanguard's frame just enough to let the shots from the flanking Reaper skim past, the mech's onboard AI-assisted movement predicting each trajectory with uncanny precision. At the same time, the Vanguard twisted at the last second to evade the charging Reaper's swing with the scythe.

A loud boom echoed across the arena as the scythe cleaved the air where the Vanguard had been moments ago, slicing into the reinforced ground with enough force to kick up debris. Before the Reaper could recover, Santos retaliated.

In a blur of motion, the Vanguard's right arm shot forward, seizing the scythe mid-retraction. Servos whined as the two mechs struggled for control, but Santos had the advantage—his mech's overwhelming power and stabilization allowed him to overpower the Reaper.

A sickening crunch followed as the Vanguard twisted the scythe free from the Reaper's grip. In the same motion, Santos spun and drove the weapon straight down in an attempt to slice the Reaper's arm off with its own weapon. But he failed to do so as the Reaper's shields glowed orange and the scythe skidded across it.

This didn't stop Santos as he just a swift cross slash with the Vanguard's sword, creating an opening for him to drive the scythe through the Reaper's shoulder joint, severing vital control linkages. Sparks and hydraulic fluid sprayed into the air as the Reaper staggered back, its right arm rendered useless.

The second Reaper, seeing its ally faltering, adjusted tactics. It activated its thrusters and lunged from above, switching to its melee weapons. This pilot had opted to use two short swords that shimmered with a blue glow rather than the Reaper's signature scythe. The pilot aimed to bisect the Vanguard while it was engaged.

But Santos was ready.

At the last possible second, the Vanguard disengaged from the wounded Reaper and threw its entire weight backward, dropping onto one knee as the attacking Reaper's twin blades sliced through the air just inches from where its cockpit had been.

The moment the Reaper's momentum carried it forward, the Vanguard exploded into motion. Its left arm shot up, grabbing the Reaper's forearm mid-strike while its right arm snapped forward driving the hilt of his sword up and into the Reaper's chest in a devastating blow.

Crack!

The Vanguard's sword hilt caved in the Reaper's chest plating just next to its cockpit, denting the armor inward. The sheer impact sent shockwaves rippling through the mech's frame, knocking out vital targeting sensors as the Reaper stumbled backward.

Santos twisted the mech's body and drove a vicious knee straight into the Reaper's torso, lifting the mech off the ground for a split second before being hurled toward the other Reaper.

Boom!

The two Reapers collided, their frames crashing against each other with bone-rattling force. The crowd erupted as sparks and smoke filled the air.

Santos exhaled, rolling his shoulders as the Vanguard straightened. The fight was over before it had even properly begun.

The two Reapers lay on the ground, systems flickering, heavily damaged by a few blows but still operational. Despite their formidable reputation, they had been utterly outmatched—not by a Tier 4, not by another and Reaper piloted by a more formidable pilot, but by the brand new Tier 3 Vanguard.

Santos aimed his sword down at the two Reapers in a show of dominance that was followed by silence. Then the audience broke into explosive cheers, whistles, and thunderous applause.

The implications were staggering. The Reaper class, long considered the pinnacle of deadly mech warfare, had been dismantled, no, it had been humiliated by a mech that didn't even bother to use its primary weaponry or have even its paint chipped.

Santos turned his Vanguard away from the two Reapers and pointed his sword at the audience. He had connected to the testing ground's audio system through his mech and he spoke, his voice coming through crisp and confident. "And that… is the future of warfare." He then turned and walked to where the other 2 Vanguards were.

Salazar, stunned but quick to recover, cleared his throat before announcing the price.

"Ladies and gentlemen… the Tier 3 Vanguard, with an initial price of 78 million credits!"

The corporate booths descended into chaos. Some executives were already yelling into their Nexus devices, while others stared, slack-jawed, at the battlefield.

Because for the first time since its creation almost two centuries ago, the Reaper was no longer the king. Sure mechs had gone through updates so they weren't using such old technology, but that's just how long it had been since the first Reapers had been introduced.

After a while, the testing grounds had been cleared and it was time for the testing of the Tier 4 Vanguard. "Now with that out of the way, we are moving on to the demonstration of the Tier 4 Vanguard," Salazar stopped for a second as he looked down at his tablet. "Umm… so this is a little weird… There isn't really a schedule for what sort of display will be held…"

While he was speaking the blast doors of the testing grounds slid open once again and in walked the Tier 4 Vanguard. Its 12-meter frame slowly moved eerily naturally, almost humanlike. It raised its right hand and seemed to scratch its neck before arching backward and then side to side, as if it were stretching.

"Everyone, you must be wondering how this mech is moving this fluidly…" Aspen's voice resonated throughout the testing grounds and everyone immediately understood that the one piloting this mech was Aspen, or as they knew him, Azrael Fallcrest.

"Well, let's just say that in between tier 3 and tier 4, we don't just have a more optimized and bigger version of the Vanguard. Though it is just that," Aspen stopped as the crowd chuckled. "Between tier 3 and 4, there isn't just a shift in technology development, no. There is a monumental shift, a lead, a massive evolution in the way a mech is piloted and in the way it moves."

Holograms started appearing all over the arena as the audience stared slack-jawed. They had thought time and time against that there was no way A.V.I could outdo itself, only for them to come out of nowhere and blow their previous actions out of the water.

In the holograms, the image of Aspen standing on a small platform that resembled the running pad of a treadmill and was slightly sunken in from all sides. "This is the all-new omni-movement we at A.V.I have developed for all of our mechs tier 4 and above. With this, you only need your neural link and your helmet to be able to pilot your mech as you are suspended on this. Your exact movements will be your mech's movements."

Word Count: 3191 Words 👏

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