Whoosh—
After a relatively brief journey,
the starship descended over the dense jungles of southern Peru.
Since Setsuna already knew the story, he didn't need to follow the original plot like the male and female leads, running around the Incan Sun Temple.
On the radar interface of the Eternal Snowfall, the Key's location was clearly marked.
Located on the outer edge of Earth's orbit, Richelieu's fleet had scanned all of South Arica, providing Setsuna with a holographic map accurate to the deciter.
As soon as the group disembarked, they followed the route through the rainforest.
"Hmm, about 300 ters due north—it's probably hidden inside a cave."
Setsuna led the way, followed by his companions and a few Autobots.
Every so often, he checked the map as they chatted noisily while moving through the forest.
"Hey bro, your abilities are way too convenient."
Bumblebee, ever the friendliest, struck up a conversation with Setsuna.
"Your ship can change size, even retract. You just tap a button and bring up a map..."
"How do you do that?"
After a brief exchange, he already regarded Setsuna as a chanical lifeform like himself.
Except Setsuna was a starship, and he was a Chevrolet.
That ability to grow and shrink, deploy and retract gear at will, even control body mass—Autobots found it incredibly enviable.
Normally, to avoid drawing attention among humans, they had to stay in vehicle form most of the ti.
They didn't even dare transform in public.
Setsuna and the shipgirls' abilities were just too convenient.
"Uh, it's a racial trait."
Setsuna thought for a mont and gave a concise answer.
Ever since 19, he and the shipgirls were basically the sa species.
"Seriously?!"
Bumblebee looked a bit disappointed. He had hoped it was so advanced tech or superpower they could learn.
"What about your other stuff? Looks like you're even stronger than the boss?"
"That thing you used to scrap Nightbird in one shot—what was it? Your Gundams can fly too?!"
He pointed at Unicorn, making a shooting gesture.
"Hmm... that was an Infected Missile, part of the Fleet of Fog weapons series."
Setsuna looked Bumblebee up and down.
"If there's ti later, I can have soone co and upgrade the Autobots. I can't promise weapons, but I can get you flying."
"Think of it as a small gift."
"Are you serious?!"
Bumblebee, Arcee, and Mirage were all surprised.
"No big deal. You guys are always getting beat up by Decepticons and Unicron's lackeys, after all."
Setsuna replied.
He and Optimus had already finalized their partnership.
The Autobots were excellent allies—worth investing in.
"You even understand Cybertronian structures? All I know is that gatron modifies Decepticon mbers..."
"Just saying, I'm way more complex than that Chevrolet I look like."
Bumblebee knocked on his chest with a thump thump thump.
"I don't. Bulin does, and I figure your structure has to be simpler than a starship."
"Bulin? What's that?!..."
...
While they chatted, Suddenly, rustling noises ca from up ahead.
Crunch—crack—step—
Along with snapping branches and approaching footsteps, a large, muscular black gorilla dropped from above, landing on a high platform before them. It looked down imposingly and slowly spoke:
"Halt, strangers."
"Why have you co here?"
It stood about three ters tall, and upon closer inspection, its body was entirely composed of black tal.
Its arms and shoulders were covered in tallic plates and patterns, and its eyes glowed with a faint blue light.
Behind the tal gorilla, a similarly cybernetic rhino and a half-chanical eagle erged.
"Holy crap, Optimus Primal!!!"
"Rhinox and Airazor too!!!"
Gudako and Setsuna instantly recognized the Maximals—icons from their childhood.
Too bad there was no Dinobot, Tarantulas, or Waspinator.
"???"
Optimus Pri was baffled by their reactions.
"How do you know them? Wait—why are you so excited?!"
...
After a brief mont of confusion, the misunderstanding was quickly cleared up. Optimus Primal jumped down and introduced himself to both Optimus Pri and Setsuna.
It aligned with what Setsuna already knew.
His na was Optimus Primal, in honor of Cybertron's greatest warrior—Optimus Pri. Primal was one of the Maximals who lived in a jungle world far across ti and space.
When Unicron and Scourge attacked, Maximal leader Ape Pri realized they stood no chance against Unicron. He entrusted the Transwarp Key and command of the Maximals to Primal, ordering him to flee before their howorld was devoured.
Roughly 5,000 years ago, Primal and the Maximals arrived on Earth and went into hiding in southern Peru, forming a friendship with the local people and guarding the Key together.
Upon eting Optimus Pri, Primal felt like he was eting his idol—clearly moved.
"So, great warrior of Cybertron, is there anything I can help you with?"
The gorilla leader looked up and asked.
"Give him the other half of the Transwarp Key."
Optimus pointed to Setsuna, opting to honor their cooperation agreent before a fight broke out.
"?!"
The tal gorilla didn't understand at all.
"No, Optimus Pri."
"You know Unicron is seeking the Transwarp Key to descend upon this world."
"If he gets it, he'll destroy Earth and countless other worlds just like he destroyed my ho!!!"
"Scourge... the Terrorcons... we must hide it. We cannot let them find the Key!!"
His expression turned fearful.
Clearly, he had a deep-rooted fear of Unicron and the Terrorcons.
The Maximal leader, Ape Pri, had been vastly stronger than Primal, but when he stayed behind to cover their escape, he was nearly one-shotted by Scourge.
"You have no idea how terrifying Unicron and Scourge truly are!!! They're the embodint of destruction and annihilation, they crush everything in their path..."
"The Terrorcons offered their souls to Unicron. Their power is far beyond your imagination..."
Primal was going full lecture-mode, seriously explaining to Optimus and Setsuna just how terrifying Scourge was—
"Okay! Stop! Enough hype!!"
Purifier stepped forward.
She fished around in her rigging, pulled out a mangled tal arm, and tossed it on the ground.
"Here. This the Scourge you were talking about? Recognize it?"
"!!?"
Optimus Primal froze, imdiately scrambling over to examine the broken remains.
Even though the arm was wrecked and the blade had been shattered, the markings and structure were unmistakable.
"Scourge?!"
"You actually fought Scourge?!"
Ripping off a Terrorcon arm was almost unthinkable.
Primal, Rhinox, and Airazor imdiately regarded Setsuna and the shipgirls with newfound reverence.
"Fought him? That's nothing..."
"I've got more spare parts. Here."
Purifier rummaged around in her gear.
Out ca another of Scourge's arms, two legs, and his torso—smashed into three pieces by Gudako.
She scratched her head awkwardly.
"Uh, the head got knocked off by Barbatos. We couldn't find it."
"Bla ?!"
Gudako puffed her cheeks and spread her hands.
"???"
The Maximals stared at the dismbered, scrap-piled Scourge and nearly blue-screened from shock, dropping 810 points of sanity on the spot.
Scourge's parts were covered in dents and craters, clearly the result of severe blunt-force trauma.
To have beaten such a powerful Transforr to pieces spoke volus about their strength—already beyond comprehension.
"..."
"How... did you manage this?"
Optimus Primal was silent for a long ti before raising his head to ask.
He rembered Ape Pri.
When they had fled their howorld, Primal had dread of one day avenging him—of defeating Scourge.
But the power gap was too massive. That dream remained just that.
And now, a group of off-worlders had casually dumped Scourge's parts before him. That counted as justice.
"Scourge is kind of weak, actually. Three hits and he was done."
Gudako patted her chest proudly.
She glanced over at Setsuna and gestured.
"Commander could crush him barehanded."
"..."
Primal found it hard to believe any human could beat Scourge unard, but since it was clearly their trophy, he didn't argue.
"Thank you."
He nodded respectfully to Ritsuka Fujimaru and Setsuna.
"In that case, I'll entrust the Key to you."
Optimus Primal turned and motioned for the group to follow.
With Optimus Pri's endorsent and the battle trophies on display, he was willing to trust these strangers.
"May I ask… what do you intend to do with the Transwarp Key?"
"Study it. Build an FTL ship. Send the Autobots ho."
Setsuna answered without hesitation.
Observer added casually:
"And maybe, if we get the chance, summon Unicron for a beatdown. His projection's not strong. Trust ."
"!!???"
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