Chapter 50: Chapter 48: Settlement Rewards, New Mecha: Boiling Steam!_1

Translator: 549690339

The coastal region on the tenth day experienced a difficulty spike that was simply exasperating.

No sooner had night fallen than a giant tentacled monster appeared.

Its main body did not leave the ocean, but it had the ability to tear through the Void, launching attacks from several kilometers away.

Jiang Chen used an external scanning device, but even the database did not contain any corresponding information.

[Ancient God’s Descendant]

[Attribute: Unknown]

[Trait: Unknown]

[Weakness: Unknown]

[Evaluation: Escape]

Clearly, the mecha pilots who had encountered it before had not been able to fully ascertain its abilities and provide the relevant information.

However, no matter what, this was only a trial from 0th Rank to 1st Rank.

As a Level 1 abyssal creature, its strength had a limit.

Jiang Chen had now completely surpassed that limit!

After a tangle, he seized the opportunity and funneled transcendent fire directly into the Void Rift torn by the Ancient God’s Descendant.

Although only a small amount of transcendent fire was pulled back by the tentacle, it was not enough to directly burn the opponent’s main body to death, but it did cause some damage.

The most important thing was that the Ancient God’s Descendant, pained by the attack, churned in the sea water, stirring up waves.

It also exposed its own location.

Jiang Chen leaped high and launched a star-piercing spear, pinning the Insect King’s Spear onto its body to mark the spot.

Following the marker, he charged into the near sea and used his tremendous strength to drag the long tentacle ashore.

Finally, he drew his lightsaber and meticulously sliced the Ancient God’s Descendant into mince, without any fat to be seen.

[Killing the Ancient God’s Descendant, material obtained: Blood of Distortion.]

[Killing the Ancient God’s Descendant, module obtained: Archaic Bloodline.]

[Killing the Ancient God’s Descendant, trait obtained: Unstable Mutation.]

There were many drops, but there was no module for Void attacks.

Only a core module for enhancement dropped, and in terms of rarity, it was even less than [Brain of Decay].

However, the dropped trait did catch Jiang Chen’s attention for a longer moment.

[Unstable Mutation]

[Type: Trait]

[Effect: Owning this trait, there is a high chance of mutation during mecha evolution, causing mecha modules to develop positive or negative effects.]

[Description: They grow in truly unique ways.]

One look at the gambler’s eyes deemed it crap.

Once the mecha evolves, the installed modules will be completely absorbed and cannot be changed again.

If positive effects occur, it’s fine, but if there are negative effects, it’s purely disgusting and you can’t even replace it.

Especially for Jiang Chen who absorbs modules, stacking negative effects would be very stupid.

He quickly threw it into the storage, sorted into the trash processing category.

“Sure enough, if you want top quality, you’ve got to hope for the trial rewards…”

The Ancient God’s Descendant was just the beginning.

As time passed, the creatures that had left the ocean and ventured deep into the land seemed to sense something.

They no longer continued inward, instead changing direction, rushing towards the sea.

Insect Kings, Mothers, Anemones, Giants…

One abyssal creature after another returned from the depths of the land, almost forming a tide of monsters that made the earth tremble.

But in Jiang Chen’s eyes, they were like walking treasure chests.

Whenever they approached within a certain range, he simply threw the Insect King’s Spear, achieving a kill with high efficiency—

Even though the materials and modules dropped by these abyssal creatures were of no use to him.

Selling them for money was still no problem.

Unfortunately, once the accumulation of corpses reached a certain amount, the creatures returning from the land would prefer to take a longer detour rather than approach this land of death again.

Time slipped away by the minute and second.

The sky gradually brightened.

When the permanent star rose completely, its light casting upon the land.

Jiang Chen suddenly felt that a certain element he had grown accustomed to for the past several days, almost as natural as the air, had vanished.

At the same time, the creatures still on land, even those only inches away from the seawater, collapsed to the ground wailing.

In a short time, they were completely silenced.

The bodies decayed and disintegrated at an abnormal speed.

Leaving only skeletons behind.

Seeing this, Jiang Chen felt a stir in his heart.

Were these creatures relying on some element to survive in the outside world?

While he was surprised, lines of text emerged before his eyes.

[The Ancient Gods have returned to slumber, and the abyss recedes once more.]

[Beneath the abyss, the spark of civilization continues, releasing a faint yet tenacious glow.]

[You have completed the task: Hold out for ten days.]

[Evaluation: SSS.]

[Based on the trial evaluation, your rewards are being calculated…]

[You have obtained Abyss Coins: 10000.]

[You have obtained material: Heat-resistant Alloy]

[You have obtained an item: Reserve Fuel]

[You have obtained a module: Rapid Cooling]

[You have obtained a Nascent Form Mecha: Boiling Steam]

[Your privileges have been elevated to 1st Rank, unlocking new trait slots and mecha slots.]

[Settlement is complete, you may leave the abyss at any time. (Maximum stay: one hour)]

Jiang Chen’s attention immediately shifted to the settlement information.

The rank elevation, materials, items, modules…

All were ignored by him, as his gaze fell directly on the [Nascent Form Mecha].

It wasn’t just establishing a refuge, gathering survivors, it wasn’t just posing as a Tian Qi knight, bringing hope to survivors…

He constantly improved his evaluation at settlement, all for this reward!

You see, after a mecha pilot is promoted, they can get a new Mecha quota and build their second Mecha.

Either create Mechas through different paths, to deal with different abyss enemies.

Or choose the summoning route to increase the number of intelligent Mechas they own.

Alternatively, adopt the combination route, merging different Mechas to form a supreme Mecha.

No matter which school of thought, it would be a significant enhancement for any mecha pilot.

However, if a mecha pilot wants to build a new Mecha, simply piling up materials won’t do.

What they need is something like the Nascent Form Mecha of model Zero Mecha.

Only these Nascent Form Mechas are capable of installing modules, strengthening attributes, and evolving.

Furthermore, Nascent Form Mechas also have varied qualities and types.

Nascent Form Mechas of higher base quality naturally have higher potential, resulting in more perfect qualities and attributes after evolution and transcendence.

As for how to obtain Nascent Form Mechas.

One way is an abyss drop, extremely rare.

This kind of Nascent Form Mecha can be traded, but nobody really sells it; they all use it themselves.

Another way is through rank promotion trials.

As long as you pass the rank promotion trial, even with the lowest evaluation, you can get a second model Zero Mecha.

If the evaluation is higher, it’s possible to get a Nascent Form Mecha with innate attributes and even of higher quality.

This kind of Nascent Form Mecha is non-tradeable and is the source of Mechas for most mecha pilots.

“SSS-class evaluation… The quality of the Nascent Form Mecha should exceed the regular and reach excellent, right?”

Jiang Chen touched the Abyss Rune with anticipation.

[Boiling Steam]

[Type: Nascent Form Mecha]

[Effect: Upon activation, obtain a 0th Rank Mecha: Boiling Steam]

[Note: Non-tradeable.]

A brass-colored metallic Mecha appeared before his eyes.

Its legs, arms, and both sides of the waist had small steam jets.

Compared to clunky Mechas from the Steam World, it looked more form-fitting and was also smaller.

[Codename: Boiling Steam]

[Type: Lightweight Full Coverage Armor]

[Quality: Excellent (2-fold Absorption)]

[Rank: 0]

[Enhancement: Zero]

[Attributes: Strength 3, Agility 3, Defense 3, Enigmatic 1.]

[Armor: 20/20.]

[Energy: 40/40, Recovery Rate: 0.03/s.]

[Core module: Not Loaded]

[Auxiliary modules: Not Loaded]

Indeed, it was of excellent quality!

All three basic attributes reached three points, and it even had one point of enigmatic value.

Considering the double absorption efficiency of the excellent quality.

Even without any modules installed or any enhancements…

The attribute bonus that would come from immediately expanding the armor was already close to catching up to Zero!

“What’s more important is…”

“The Mecha itself requires maintenance.”

“During the rank promotion trial, if Zero breaks apart, it can’t rejoin the fight until the next day.”

“Having a second Mecha means there’s a backup even if Zero breaks.”

Isn’t the efficiency skyrocketing?

And after completing the rank promotion trial, Zero could also undergo transcendence…

Jiang Chen could hardly control the corners of his mouth from fiercely rising.

Wait?

Return immediately!

A pitch-black rift opened at his feet.

The trembling of the earth had completely stopped, and the world sank back into silence once more.

After an unknown amount of time, with a click, the shelter’s door quietly opened.

The gentleman in the tailcoat peeked out.

No Mechas, no monsters.

Only monster skeletons that stretched as far as the eye could see, along with endless ruins.

Finally, was it over?

He cautiously stepped out, looking at the outside world and feeling the morning sun on his skin, he couldn’t help but smile.

Even though the world was nearly destroyed.

He was still alive, and that was enough.

Behind him, Laila also emerged, scanning around.

It appeared that Lord Tian Qi had already left, and she hadn’t had the chance to say goodbye to Zero…

Moreover, the world and civilization had been destroyed by the monsters.

Her parents, her brother, her friends, they all perished at the hands of the monsters.

Looking around, she saw only wounds and death.

Was this the… new world after the apocalypse?

“Eh?”

The tailcoat-clad gentleman looked towards Laila, his gaze focusing.

“Laila, what’s that on your neck…”

“A black eye?”

[Civilization continues to endure.]