Transformers: Survival of Defective Products

Chapter 175 Arcee - Fearless of Loss

The sound changed after the seawater was swallowed up.

The roar of the collapsing courtroom was muffled by the water pressure, the explosion sound became muffled, and a brief burst of static flashed across the channel due to water interference. Shattered beams and broken gun emplacements all collapsed into the deep blue.

The vector held Arcee as they sank, the water rushing past their sides.

The sea at Aquitron is a darker color than the Earth's, which obviously indicates greater water pressure.

It was heavy and cold, carrying metallic powder and energy disturbances. Light was torn into spots, and floating objects, like countless tiny blades, flew wildly in the aftershocks of the thrusters.

"I'm fine."

The directional probe first scanned Arcee's outer armor, knee joints, and propulsion system to confirm that she was not seriously injured before taking her down a bit further.

Arcee gazed at her.

The light in the seawater was fragmented, and in the distance, the wreckage of the courthouse could be seen crashing down. Her optical glasses were on, and her blue-green eyes were alert and bright.

Taking advantage of the brief moment of silence, Yin Vector said to her, "The barrier issue wasn't your fault."

Arcee's fingers tightened around her shoulder armor: "But if I had been a little faster..."

"Even if it's an 'if,' you shouldn't think it's your fault." The vector interrupted quickly.

Arcee remained silent for a moment.

The water swept past them, carrying debris with it, while in the distance, groups of sharks swam toward deeper waters.

The face of the five-faced judge flickered with an unstable light below, and the curator was also being escorted down by a group of crocodile demons and bailiffs.

Vector said briefly, "That matter isn't over yet, and I'll pursue it. You can't always demand that you be on time, nor should you blame yourself for every loss."

Arcee's optical mirror closed briefly, but the name of the shield remained etched in her mind.

Although she doesn't usually mention it, when she's gathering her energy and acting impulsively, and when she sees her companion fall and the thought "she should have been faster" pops into her mind, she keeps taking him with her.

"I can accept injury, war, but... this is ultimately different."

She stopped there, unsure how to continue, so the vector spoke for her.

"I'm afraid of gaining something again, and then losing it again."

Arcee rested her head on the crook of her neck, and the arrowhead lowered its head slightly, its forehead armor gently touching hers.

It all lasts only a moment.

The seawater seemed to calm down for a moment, with foam and shimmering light reflected in it. Arcee's heart was still aching faintly, but now she felt a warm comfort.

"Arcy".

"Remembering that pain doesn't mean you haven't moved on, and losing something doesn't mean that beauty shouldn't exist."

He loosened his forehead armor and continued:

"If you're afraid to move forward now because you're afraid of getting hurt again, then you're really falling behind."

Arcee didn't remain silent for long, but it was quite noticeable during such an urgent dive.

A wound cannot be healed with a single sentence.

Pain is pain, loss is loss, and the barrier won't return to her from the source of the fire just because of the vector.

But she no longer needs to be harsh on herself or be afraid.

She took a slow breath and said, half-jokingly.

"Do we have to say things like this when we're at war?"

He released his hands from supporting her knees and instead supported her shoulders and back, allowing her to adjust her propulsion posture.

"Because there is no perfect timing."

Arcee paused for a moment, then chuckled; she understood what the gravitational vector referred to.

Both the vectors and the Cybertronians are good at waiting, but they haven't been able to get the results they want until now.

Arcee steadied herself, her thrusters lit up, and she followed the direction of the gravitational vector, though her hand lingered briefly on her shoulder armor.

"Thanks."

The vector nods.

"Return to the team."

Arcee let go and swam towards Alita.

Alita had already switched to vehicle mode and descended with her elite guard and several Autobots. Arcee quickly rejoined the group, looking much better; she wasn't fearless, but she was no longer held back by fear.

The vector glanced at her, confirming that she had entered the array, before turning to go deeper.

The next second, a hand wrapped around her waist from the side and pulled her to the other side.

The force was strong but still restrained, and it was something I was very familiar with.

The vector did not resist and turned around following the force.

Megatron was right beside her.

The water flow lowered the engine noise, and a faint purple light shone from the propulsion port.

He looked at her, and the emotion reflected in his glasses was a little deeper than usual; he was clearly not happy.

"Are you done talking?"

The vector glanced at him.

What are you doing?

Megatron's hand was still around her waist, tightening slightly.

"You've kept me waiting for too long."

The vector paused briefly for a second, its expression a mix of amusement and speechlessness:

"Weren't you listening quite attentively before?"

Megatron looked deeper into the distance, his voice cold and assertive: "There's no conflict."

Vector: ...Well, this guy really does always shamelessly spout what he thinks are logically sound statements.

-

The incomplete silhouette of the five-faced judge below began to swim towards the middle and lower sea areas. The shark spirits regrouped around it, while the crocodile spirits dispersed from both sides. The eccentric, the executioner, the bailiff, and the prosecutor were trying to establish an underwater lock point.

They are indeed very well adapted to the underwater environment.

The shark spirit is clumsy on land, crawling like a fish with legs, but in the water it seems to have a different locomotor system.

Their tails swung rapidly, and in large groups, their speed doubled.

Her fully charged pulse cannon first struck the shark spirit guarding the five-faced judge in the shallow water, and the metal fragments shattered into clumps of gray-black mist in the water.

The magnetic attraction simultaneously deflected their sprinting trajectories, and several sharks collided with each other, their teeth tasting the armor of their companions.

According to the records, "The shark spirit's underwater intelligence remains low."

Megatron's Fusion Cannon was aimed at the curator, who was about to disappear into the middle waters.

The curator instantly used his control skeleton to block, leaving behind a few distorted, mocking laughs.

The five-faced judge chimed in, "Ignorant descendants."

Quoting a vector: "I suggest you do some beauty treatments before pretending to be benevolent."

The Quintesson Judge didn't reply, but judging from its reaction, it clearly disliked the Vector-Driven Mouth. White-yellow beams shot from the tips of its tentacles, splitting into unstable, high-heat rays in the water, bubbles obscuring its vision.

Bumblebee flipped into the water from the other side, made a short buzzing sound to dodge the beam of light, and then rammed into a shark demon that was trying to ambush the ambulance, but it used too much force.

The ambulance driver shouted angrily, "Bee!"

Before Bumblebee could reply, Jack chimed in, "You should thank him for his driving skills."

Ambulance: "He almost sent me and the shark spirit flying!"

In the chaos, the Gravity Vector watched the Quintesson disappear into the lower and middle layers of the sea, and used its magnetic force to tug at Megatron's head.

Megatron suppressed his personal emotions and replaced them with murderous intent and judgment.

"Let's give chase."

Vector: "You push, I'll handle the water pressure and resistance."

Megatron finally released her and immediately transformed.

When the heavy jet-shaped armor closed, it created a ring of water, the thrusters lit up with a purple-white light, and the surrounding seawater was instantly churned into a large number of bubbles.

The vector grabs his wing with one hand, the magnetic ring lights up, and it securely fastens itself to the side of his outer armor.

She used magnetic attraction to lock the contact point, and also pulled the surrounding seawater, compressing it into a temporary guide layer.

The seawater in Aquitron is very dense, and there is low-frequency cognitive interference at its depths.

Megatron's engine roared even underwater: "Hold on tight."

As soon as they finished speaking, they plummeted into the deeper water.

The seawater was cleaved in front of us, and the guide layer looked like a flowing white line. As the depth increased, the visibility decreased and gradually became invisible.

The two aircraft were close together, working in perfect harmony, drawing a straight diving line in the dark sea.

Ultra Magnus's channel connected: "Vector, Megatron, you're moving too fast."

The vector replied, "Let's locate it first."

Megatron: "We'll hold off the Quintessons."

Tong Tianxiao paused for less than half a second: "The home team will follow up."

Alita's voice followed: "Flanking stabilize, Elite Guard and some Autobots follow me."

Arcee was with her too: "We'll be there soon."

Sound waves: "Communication is affected by water pressure, delays increase, and interference persists."

BICk0: "Underwater parameters are being corrected in real time. Please do not let any fish bite off your thrusters. Thank you for your cooperation."

Jack: "Who are you saying that to?"

BICk0: "All machines with thrusters."

Red Spider's voice immediately chimed in: "I suspect you're targeting me."

97: "You've finally started to doubt what's right."

Red Spider: "Take care of your face, which you just had ripped open!"

97: "Quieter than your mouth."

Red Spider: "397!"

"You two shut up," Alita said.

The channel was silent for a moment, then 97 said very quietly, "Okay, I'll talk to you later."

Red Spider gave a reluctant snort, still sounding angry.

The Quintesson Judge stopped at the edge of a darker area of ​​the sea, probably in the lower to middle depths, seemingly intending to rebuild his advantage there first.

The shark spirits swam back from all directions, and the originally clumsy crocodile spirits became much more agile, hovering close to the slowly falling wreckage and the undercurrents.

The curator's control framework is visible in the seawater, with the red lines appearing even brighter.

The Quintesson Judge looked up and saw Megatron and Graviton rapidly descending, their mechanical tentacles and beams ready.

Megatron's speed remained undiminished, and the magnetic rings of his gravitational vectors shone even brighter.

She prepared the pulse cannon in advance, while Megatron simultaneously charged up the fusion cannon.

In the deep water, the first flame ignited.