In the training camp, where the single crabapple tree stood barren and lifeless, a comparison was made by an instructor— the crimson of begonia flowers was likened to the hue of blood. Yet Gu Xian, a man entwined with fate, escaped the confines of the camp, leaving a trail of bodies behind. He did so before the first bloom could grace the forlorn tree.

His escape marked the beginning of an existence as one of the universe's most hunted criminals. Rising to the ominous rank of a Class A fugitive in the Federation, Gu Xian found himself fifth on the most-wanted list. In a single year, his bloody path took him through eleven galaxies, leaving 850 destroyed mechas in his wake. Unaffiliated with any faction and devoid of a master or a background, he remained a solitary figure, unclaimed and notorious.

His extraordinary piloting skills coupled with his propensity for leaving a trail of victims in numerous locations made him a formidable fugitive. Miraculously, he evaded capture and even counterattacked military special aircraft numerous times using ordinary mecha, enhancing his ghostlike infamy. His appearance remained a mystery, his true identity shrouded in shadows...

Throughout these days filled with violence and bloodshed, Gu Xian was driven by a solemn promise he had made to his friends. Now, only one final wish of his friend remained unfulfilled...

Yet, can Gu Xian succeed in fulfilling this last wish while being pursued relentlessly across the universe, and at what cost?

C245 Tortoise Shell and the Direction of the Breakthrough