The device on the belt Jin wore was called the ‘System Driver’, (for lack of a better name from Jin). It had been personally named like this by the System as it had created it instead of waiting for Jin’s researchers to build it.
It was basically a replica similar to what all the various masked heroes used in TV shows to gain additional powers, only that the System was able to do the same for Jin without resorting to cinematic tricks. (Perhaps, the System itself wanted to copyright such a design and enhance such powers for its own benefit?)
Unlike those TV shows, the System Driver was authentic and not some dungeon instance magic fabricated by digital ones and zeroes. Yet the design and concept worked the same. Jin had an activation device to transform, and his phone acted as the key for this. The System would transmit the data and pieces of armour it had stored within the device to equip Jin almost immediately.
Those pieces of armour were naturally the Living Armour which Ke Mi, Shu and the other werejackals had painstakingly cultivated for the past few months. However, the concept of transforming into a masked warrior with a full plate armour had not been conceivable despite the ‘System magic’… Until Peppers found a game-changing property from these newly grown metal plates.
She had experimented and discovered that if given enough data to the metal plate by any means such as hitting, burning, freezing, electrocuting it, the armour would temporarily shape in a way the users wanted it to be. That was when the System realised its immense potential and decided to ask Peppers to hit it with a tremendous amount of electromagnetic waves jam packed with data accumulated by the System.
To their surprise, it did conform to the way the data was presented, and from there, they tried ways to retain the data within the living armour for use in combat. Else, the living armour would be too ‘malleable’ in nature. And if that’s the case, it would not be protecting the user at all.
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“… In short, we need the armour to retain its data else any other thing that hits it will cause it to transform based on that. For example, a fire-based attack on the living armour will make its temperature increase and potentially burn the user inside.” Ayse, who collaborated with Peppers, shared her conclusion.
“Then it does not protect the user a single bit.” Peppers lamented.
“Think of it as the young living armour deflecting the hurt away by replicating the way it was hurt. That is why we need to control its new properties if we ever want to make a proper suit of armour for Jin.” Ayse replied.
“Now you will understand when I initially asked for the various demon parts like the eyes of the Transforming Spiders or Keyrin’s… Erm body parts.” Gold who had been the initiator of this armour project spoke out to the two of them.
“Those properties are not really new to the living armour. I recall reading something like this, and I believe this could possibly be a variant since we grew it too fast. Though perhaps we have too little knowledge about them since they were so rare to find in the first place.”
Then out of the blue, the System who had been lurking suddenly decided to take on the project with great interest. It graciously used some of its celestial magic with all the materials that had been gathered (or donated) to create the System Driver.
Thus, the new System Driver was born from the System’s magic. But despite it being created from the Heavens’ mandated entity, such a creation should still need to undergo a series of trials and tests before it was used in action.
Sadly, there was no time for it until now.
When Jin transformed, he felt like the living armour fit him like a good glove. Apparently, there was an initial suit of nano living armour enveloping his entire body. And after which, additional plates of living metal covered him. From bracers, pauldrons and a full helmet to waist armour, knee guards and even armoured boots which covered the front and back.
And most importantly, the armour was featured in a black and white scheme that suited Jin’s cultivation and the uniqueness of it. While the helmet was still human-shaped, it was the panda mask that brought out the distinct look of the masked hero. (Had it been the System’s master plan all along to actually create this full armour with the introduction of half-mask?!)
But this time, the half panda mask was enlarged a little bit more, and its ceramic appearance had been changed considering the System had opted for a more carbon fibre metal style to the Half Panda Mask.
“System Rider Panda!” Jin announced out loud and struck an odd bearish… pose. Moloch could not help but laugh at the name! Even King Baal, who was in awe with the sudden transformation, broke into a bit of a giggle when he heard the name.
“What?! I have no choice but to say it! That was written and demonstrated on the screen!��� Jin explained but as soon as he had said it, realisation struck that it must have been the System’s way of getting back at him in a subtle way.
“Ahhh! Whatever!” Jin pulled out his Bam Sword from the ground and realised that the living armour was also moving to cover the hilt and crossguard of the sword.
“Neat.” Jin thought to himself as he started to charge towards King Baal.
“A suit of flashy armour will not help you in any way, it might actually impede you.” King Baal told him as he pulled his sword out and faced Jin upfront.
“That’s what the enemy believes.” The System voice was coming from within the helmet, and Jin suddenly felt that his Maqi was forcefully output to various parts of his body without him concentrating.
“The System finally found a way to contribute to the User’s fight even outside of the dungeon instances or shop. Through this suit, the System can now directly influence and regulate the output of Maqi and send them wherever needed in your body for the most optimal defence or offence.”
“This is especially crucial when User has to put time into managing the store instead of fighting, causing User to be suboptimal in his fighting abilities despite his above average current grade.”
“You can’t blame me! You always set high standards to achieve for the shop!” Jin shot back as he sent a slash forward and this time around, King Baal could instantly feel that the sword strike was immensely different from the previous bout.
It was harder, faster and the attacks had direction. For once, ever since its inception, the System finally felt it was useful in a battle where it could actually contribute to a fight directly. Jin later figured that its influence could potentially become a double edge sword in the future, but there was no time to think about that right now.
Because he needed to prove that Moloch was right in choosing Jin as the new master to save his old King from his self-destructive path.
