Chapter 56: Chapter 54 Moving Forward into the Darkness_1

Translator: 549690339

The No. 1 Mecha chose the life path and awakened the Reflection module.

In the future, it will certainly continue to enhance recovery and stack defense.

As a complement, the No. 2 Mecha naturally provides stronger firepower and damage, yielding the highest gains.

However, there are equally many paths that can provide firepower and damage.

Whether it’s strength or agility.

Even without much basic attributes, energy-based extreme Mechas can also be equipped with powerful tech modules, becoming formidable artillery.

“I can first sort out several ideas, then pass the abyss carbon copy and try to obtain the Supercharge Module.”

“At that time, the dropped Supercharge Module can serve as the core to conceive the evolution path of the No. 2 Mecha.”

Jiang Chen thought while carefully moving his body.

He was afraid of exerting too much force and accidentally blowing up the newly born steam mecha.

It is still at 0th Rank now, with three points in all attributes. Even with twice the absorption, it can only bring six points in all attributes.

Then, it would have to enter a six or seven hour repair state.

It’s too insignificant.

Jiang Chen already looked down on these attributes.

Merely single-digit attributes, even if the armor expanded dozens of days, it would be almost the same as a single Zero expanded armor attempt now.

Rather than making it work so early, it’s better to spend a few days nurturing affection, collecting materials, and then undergoing a mecha upgrade.

The base quality is excellent, and after the upgrade, the quality could possibly exceed exceptional.

The gains would be many times higher!

By then, triggering the talents of the two Mechas in turns would also mean doubling the growth speed again.

In this way, the Mechas would not need to break many times to give Jiang Chen the strength for a perfect level-up.

“Zero, after all, you are the eldest in the family, bearing a heavy burden.”

“When your brothers and sisters grow up, they can also share your pressure.”

“This family now relies entirely on you!”

The continuous ten-day level-up trials still had some impact.

Although Jiang Chen had no physical issues, he still felt a bit listless mentally.

After all, the habits formed over the past twenty years, such as sleeping and eating, cannot just be erased.

Jiang Chen finished his frugal meal, lay on a beach chair, basked in the sun, and browsed the alliance forum.

He also checked the Mecha Blueprints in his personal terminal and organized the training thoughts for the No. 2 Mecha.

When tired of browsing, he would close his eyes and rest for a while.

Until the sun set and night fell.

He opened his eyes full of energy and stretched his body.

Continue onto the next run!

Jiang Chen had not forgotten that another SSS-class talent mecha pilot was strengthening his Mecha, attempting to challenge the Hell difficulty level of the Age-Old Shadow.

Although there was no first pass reward for the Age-Old Shadow…

But as all mecha pilots were paying attention to this event, becoming the first to pass was akin to having a “world announcement.”

How could Jiang Chen let him take the lead?

“Since I can’t hide and there are big shots covering for me,”

“I’ll just play the role of a monster rookie.”

Jiang Chen touched the Abyss Rune, and a series of text appeared before his eyes.

[Abyss Descent Trial]

[Level: 1]

[Difficulty: Trial]

[Trial Passer: Jiang Chen, Rating: SSS]

[Trial Passer: …]

Like the basic trials, the Abyss Descent Trial also recorded clearance information.

However, Jiang Chen’s recent clearing did not cause much of a stir.

When he was browsing the alliance forum earlier, only a few mecha pilots were marveling at the rapid breakthrough speed and abundant energy of the rookie, speculating if he was a type of mecha pilot with a physically enhanced body…

The majority of the discussion posts were related to Simon of the Ark Organization.

After all, getting an SSS rating in the basic trials,

it was taken for granted that he achieved the highest rating again in the level-up trial.

There was nothing surprising about it.

On the contrary, achieving a solo pass of the Hell difficulty level was truly unprecedented and more likely to catch the attention of mecha pilots.

Jiang Chen’s gaze didn’t linger on the Abyss Descent Trial but continued to scroll down.

Soon, he saw two familiar names.

[Star of Mutation]

[Level: 1]

[Basic Difficulties: Easy, Normal, Hard, Nightmare.]

[Advanced Difficulties: Hell, Abyss.]

[Endless Demons Realm]

[Level: 1]

[Basic Difficulties: Easy, Normal, Hard, Nightmare.]

[Advanced Difficulties: Hell, Abyss.]

When he was at 0th Rank, the two Age-Old Shadow copies that Jiang Chen had cleared had startlingly appeared here.

The levels they represented had also changed from 0th Rank to Abyss Level 1.

In fact, not just Star of Mutation and Endless Demons Realm.

Nearly all of the Age-Old Shadows from the 0th Rank Abyss could be found in Abyss Level 1.

Seeing these Age-Old Shadows, Jiang Chen couldn’t help but recall the Symbol of the Alliance’s evaluation of “Abyss difficulty level.”

[This is the true Abyss.]

Perhaps…

When the Symbol of the Alliance gave such an assessment, it wasn’t to emphasize the horror of the Abyss difficulty level,

but purely literal.

Only the Age-Old Shadows at the Abyss difficulty level are the true face of these disaster-stricken planets.

As for Easy, Normal, Hard, including even Nightmare and Hell difficulty levels,

they were just weakened projections of these disaster-stricken planets.

The Abyss copies explored by rookie mecha pilots at the 0th Rank were projections within projections, the weakened of the weakened.

Therefore, there were no Hell or Abyss difficulty levels in the 0th Rank Abyss.

“The true Abyss…”

Jiang Chen’s mind stirred.

If Planet Blue Star had not seen the rise of mecha pilots, but only the emergence of powerful monsters from the abyss,

seeing as their strength was constantly growing, the eventual swallowing of Planet Blue Star and the obliteration of civilization were indisputable facts.

Would Planet Blue Star then become one of these [Age-Old Shadows]?

“Considering the countless planets destroyed by the catastrophe and the constant influx of monsters from the abyss, the abyss clearly aims to devour everything…”

“Given that, why then do mecha pilots who command the power of the abyss exist?”

“Tripping over their own feet?”

“Moreover, although mecha pilots gain power through the abyss,”

“during the Abyss Descent Trial, the mission is not to destroy civilization but to save it, to preserve the flame of life…”

“What does this mean? Practicing how to save the world?”

“The logic is clearly flawed.”

“If we think about it inversely, the power used by mecha pilots, although it comes from the abyss, might not be bestowed by the abyss…”

“It could be that some existence has stolen the authority of the abyss and granted this power to mecha pilots, seeking to resist something…”

“This makes the logic much more coherent.”

Jiang Chen spread his right hand, looking at his palm.

The Abyss Rune was like a pitch-black eye, gazing back at him.

[When you gaze long into the abyss, the abyss also gazes into you.]

Jiang Chen shook his head, casting the saying out of his mind.

No matter what the abyss represents, it wouldn’t affect his current goal—

To become stronger!

After all, a weak civilization, a weak individual, can’t decide its own destiny.

To stand still in fear of the darkness and the unknown on the road ahead is an act of cowardice that will only lead to being swallowed by the abyss.

He would rather walk into the darkness.

Even if there were a precipice ahead that would ultimately lead one to fall and shatter to pieces.

At least he wouldn’t regret hesitating.

Jiang Chen raised his right hand high and clenched it into a fist fiercely.

Transform!

Begin exploration!

Vines surged out and wrapped around him.

Lines of text emerged.

[10, 9, 8…]

[Construction of Age-Old Shadow completed.]

[Welcome to the Abyss.]