Iron Widow

In order to pilot Chrysalises—giant changing robots that can combat the mecha aliens who lurk beyond the Great Wall—the lads of Huaxia dream of teaming up with females. The fact that the females often pass away from emotional stress is irrelevant.

Zetian, at eighteen, gives herself up as a concubine-pilot in order to kill the expert male pilot who killed her sister. However, she exacts her revenge in a manner that no one could have predicted: she kills him via the mental connection between pilots and escapes the cockpit unharmed. She is called an Iron Widow, a sort of female pilot who can sacrifice boys in order to strengthen Chrysalises instead, and who is much feared and suppressed.‏

Li Shimin, the most powerful and controversial male pilot in Huaxia, is matched with her in order to control her unsettling but crucial mental strength. Zetian will not cower as readily, however, now that she has tasted authority. She will use every chance to use their combined power and notoriety to fend off attempts on her life until she discovers the precise reason why the pilot programme operates in such a misogynistic manner and puts an end to the sacrifice of additional females.