Chapter 264: Chapter 178: Mecha Evolution Complete, Stepping into 3rd Rank!_1

Vitaz’s four basic abilities are unquestionably exceptional in effect, and each one is top-notch.

Most importantly, as a spirit of the Void, these abilities are her “instincts.”

They can be employed as easily as humans walk or breathe.

Therefore—

These four abilities have no cooldown whatsoever.

The Void Traversing ability, even being a spatial leap ability, has no consumption either; it can be used wantonly!

The divine prodigy Ying Tian’s Spatial Leap supernatural ability and Purgatory Asura’s Shadow Orb equipment…

Combined, these two things are still utterly outshined by the single ability of Void Traversing!

Jiang Chen had long coveted spatial abilities and couldn’t wait to undergo Mecha-Pilot Symbiosis with Vitaz, sharing these abilities.

After personally experiencing them, he was exceptionally satisfied.

“Whatever the seller flaunted, the buyer can flaunt just the same after the purchase.”

“A perfect score review!”

“However, spatial abilities are not invincible.”

“Like the Spatial Anchoring Device I use, high-rank mecha pilots and Abyss overlords have many ways to counter spatial abilities.”

“I need to absorb it a few more times to stack up the intensity of the abilities.”

In the abyss, restraining equipment does not mean absolute restraint.

Just as ice and fire counter each other, if one side is powerful enough, it can ignore the counter and exert its normal strength.

…

After the Mecha-Pilot Symbiosis, Vitaz went straight back inside Jiang Chen to sleep.

Although she was asleep within him, she could still communicate with the Void Dimension and continuously draw strength for growth.

This was an instinct of her being a spirit of the Void, as well as a gift from the endless Void.

However, the speed at which she became stronger…

Without close observation, Jiang Chen could barely notice it.

Is this what you call growth?

I’ll get her something significant later on.

Jiang Chen then turned his attention to the other three mechas.

Until Vitaz completely lifted her seal, that is, before reaching the 6th Rank, there was no need to consider rank upgrading and module loading.

But it was different for Zero and the others.

Jiang Chen had to nurture them carefully, hands-on.

First came the preparations before rank upgrade.

The Latent Ability Upgrade and Mecha Talent Catalytic Instrument were both used on Zero.

The catalytic instrument merely sped up the mecha soul’s growth rate, instead of directly granting a talent.

Whether a mecha can awaken a talent and the effect of the awakened talent depends on its intrinsic potential.

Therefore, using these two items together yields the highest benefit.

Next came the Mythical resources, Supercharge Modules…

Once all the preparations were in place.

It only took Jiang Chen a moment to complete Zero’s Mecha Rank Upgrade.

From 2nd to 3rd Rank, it was still a mecha evolution.

Even with the Latent Ability Upgrade, it was still an “Imitation Upgrade,” and not a true mecha upgrade.

Therefore, Zero only increased in size from the original five meters to fifteen meters, with no significant changes in appearance, just minor ones.

The mecha’s quality was upgraded from Flawless to Perfect, reaching the limit of the Latent Ability Upgrade item.

At the same time, its attributes fully developed.

[Strength 200,000, Agility 200,000, Defense 2,000,000, Enigmatism 200,000]

[Armor Value: 10,000,000.]

…

At the same time, she acquired a new evolution module.

[Life Force Protection (Supercharged)]

[Rank: 4]

[Quality: Perfect (Mecha Dependent Upgrade)]

[Type: Evolution Module]

[Effect: Can choose one allied mecha to provide Life Force Protection for, absorbing damage in its stead when it suffers armor value loss. (Damage mitigation, defense, etc., are calculated.)]

[Description: If you’ve got the guts, hit me first!]

Through repeated nurturing and resource investment,

Zero finally evolved a pure [Life System] module.

The effects of this module were clearly related to her recent battles—

Despite being a meat shield-type life system mecha, wanting to take on damage for Yun and Yuu, she couldn’t maintain aggro steadily.

The enemies either ignored her and attacked her teammates,

Or they launched an AOE, and while she survived, her teammates all perished.

As a result, Zero, in deep contemplation of her pain, awakened such a module.

This way, no matter whom the enemy attacked, as long as she lived, she could reliably protect her teammates.

“Not a bad module,”

“Especially when paired with Yun, it can directly absorb the Life Force loss from Energy Overload, essentially becoming an unharmed burst mode!”

“It’s just that it seems I can’t use this module…”

“I can’t be taking hits for the mecha while inside it, right?”

“That would be too difficult to handle.”

Jiang Chen was still pondering over the module combinations.

After Zero completed her evolution and reverted to her young girl form, she lowered her head.

“I’m sorry, Master…”

“Hmm?”

Jiang Chen looked up in confusion, only to hear Zero say with embarrassment.

“You’ve used so many items on me, yet I still haven’t awakened any talents…”

Jiang Chen came to a realization and laughed, gently rubbing Zero’s tendriling hair.

“It was impossible for you to awaken any talent in the first place.”

“This item accelerates growth.”

“You’ve just used the item and haven’t had the chance to grow yet, so how can there be any results?”

“From now on, as long as you keep up your efforts, you will awaken a talent sooner or later.”

“And furthermore…”

Jiang Chen paused for a moment, speaking earnestly.

“I would rather you awaken a talent later than awaken a weak one.”

“Work hard to accumulate.”

“Only with enough accumulation can you become stronger when you are reborn from the ashes.”

“My lord!!”

Zero’s emotions were tumultuous.

“Please let me grow!”

“Sure.”

Mecha Soul Fusion is not only for combat.

Like now, Jiang Chen wasn’t in battle but could activate Mecha Soul Fusion, infusing Life Force Energy into Zero’s body.

To temper her, train endurance, and enhance the strength of the mecha soul.

Furthermore, he could activate [Time-Speed Fusion], using Time Acceleration abilities to increase the burden on the mecha soul.

At eight times speed, it only took a dozen seconds to make Zero faint.

She collapsed on the ground, eyes rolled back, unconscious.

After satisfying Zero’s desire for growth, Jiang Chen intended to move on to an upgrade.

Deep inside, however, Vitaz’s voice rang out.

“What was that just now?”

“…Mecha Soul Fusion. Do you want to try it?”

“Hmm.”

A minute later, Vitaz lay side by side with Zero, rolling her eyes.

Although her peak strength was very high, she was now sealed as a 3rd Rank Mecha and couldn’t bear Jiang Chen’s tremendous Life Force Energy.

In fact, she managed to endure a whole minute at eight times speed.

That greatly surprised Jiang Chen.

She would sleep all day and hadn’t even practiced her skills, yet she could have such a high soul strength.

It could only be said that her talent was really impressive; she was truly the darling of the Void.

“It’s a pity she doesn’t like training or combat…”

“Otherwise, she would be even stronger.”

Jiang Chen continued with Yun’s Rank Upgrade.

He invested one [Attribute Enhancement] item and two [Supercharge Upgrade] items.

Yun successfully completed the upgrade, evolving into a 3rd Rank Mecha.

Just like Zero, her mecha’s exterior didn’t change much, it simply grew in size a bit more.

[Attributes: Strength 800,000, Agility 800,000, Defense 300,000, Enigmatism 100,000]

…

[Instantaneous Explosive Strike (Supercharged)]

[Rank: 4]

[Quality: Flawless (Mecha Dependent Upgrade)]

[Type: Evolution Module]

[Effect: At the very moment you are about to hit an enemy, instantly supercharge your strength and, with the help of the force of time, briefly increase your attack speed and add explosive damage.

The additional damage is related to Strength, Agility, and Time Acceleration rate.

Base power cap: 1 million. For each doubling of Time Acceleration rate, power cap increases accordingly.

You receive 50% reflected damage.]

[Description: This strike, to have you vanish in a puff of smoke!]

Well, hurt the enemy a thousand, harm yourself five hundred.

Yun is heading further down the path of self-harm!

If Zero uses Life Force Protection on her, she wouldn’t need to harm herself…

A blow that both hits the enemy and hurts teammates, a real indiscriminate attack.

Of course, self-harm aside, the effect of this damage-type module is undeniably powerful—

As a 3rd Rank Supercharge Module, its base power cap already matches the strength of a 5th Rank.

Currently, Jiang Chen’s Time Acceleration rate can reach a maximum of eight times. Paired with this module, he can deliver a strike close to that of a 6th Rank!

If Jiang Chen’s Time Acceleration rate rises to a hundred times, a thousand times.

Then the power of this strike will also increase a hundredfold, a thousandfold!

The most important thing is—

Jiang Chen has locked health.

By then, with one punch, the enemy would be gone, but he would only blow up one Life Force Core.

Pure rascal.

He could even have Zero use Life Force Protection on him, transferring the damage…

“Well done, General Yun; let’s reward you with a Mecha Soul Fusion!”

After ten seconds, recently upgraded Yun lay side by side with Zero and Vitaz, eyes rolling back.

Jiang Chen then turned his expectant gaze to Yuu.

Neither Zero nor Yun awakened a new Module Set after completing their evolution.

After all, the 2nd Rank modules they were equipped with had no special combination with the modules they had previously absorbed and could not trigger any bond.

Yuu was different.

She had already absorbed three modules, and now she was going to absorb the Six-Armed module.

All were top-of-the-line limb modules from the Enigmatism side; they should be able to form a combo, right?

Start evolving!

Indeed, after pouring a vast amount of Mythical resources, surrounded by the aura of the Abyss Rune, Yuu’s deep blue dragon body underwent significant change.

Her original form with three heads and six arms, looking like a demonic dragon, was indeed terrifying and dreadful.

But it also seemed somewhat deformed and peculiar, lacking aesthetic appeal.

After this evolution, all the heads and arms on Yuu’s deep blue dragon body disappeared from view, no longer visible.

She looked much more normal, as well as more nimble and agile.

Jiang Chen immediately checked her attributes.

[Strength 100,000, Agility 100,000, Defense 100,000, Enigmatism 2,000,000]

…

[Demon God Returns (Supercharged)]

[Rank: 4]

[Quality: Perfect]

[Type: Set Module]

[Effect One: Can use Primal Force to form a Demon God Supernatural Appearance made of energy.

The Demon God’s body has all the effects of Return to Primal State, Three Lives Skull, and Six-Armed Demon God. (When Return to Primal State is on cooldown, activating the Demon God’s body does not provide temporary Attribute Enhancement.)]

[Effect Two: When the Demon God’s body is activated, all head and upper limb modules are treated as Demon God modules, capable of triggering all effects without extra consumption. (For example, Destruction Ray can be released simultaneously with Three Heads and Six Arms.)]

[Description: Three Heads and Six Arms, possessing vast supernatural powers, effortlessly controlled.]