Chapter 69: Chapter 67: The Liver in Human Skin

Translator: 549690339

When morning light once again filled the bedroom,

Jiang Chen rose and approached the window, stretched lazily, basking in the sunlight as his energy rapidly returned.

In just a few dozen seconds, all weariness had been swept away.

Only then did he sit back at his desk, gazing at the three-dimensional blueprint of a steam mecha generated by the AI on his computer screen.

“Finally finished…”

If the path to crafting a primeval mecha was full of unexpected factors—

the supercharge module dropped from the basic trial, the thorns damage reversal module from the sublimation awakening, the significantly improved defense attributes after sublimation…

These were all beyond Jiang Chen’s control.

If he had to do it all over again, Zero might not evolve into what it was now.

The development of Mecha Number Two, Boiling Steam, was entirely different.

Jiang Chen could research the development path more meticulously, prepare all the modules for it, and cultivate its mecha soul accordingly.

It was the first mecha that he created completely from his own blueprints and grew from scratch.

Because of this, Jiang Chen invested even more of his heart and energy into it.

In just one night, he devised over a dozen combination paths.

Jiang Chen narrowed it down to the three 1st Rank paths he liked the most.

[Explosive Type]: Harnessing the overload and red-heat characteristics of the steam mecha for bursts of power beyond the limit.

Each level of red-heat overload would massively boost attributes but also bring a huge load, causing damage to the mecha’s durability.

Succeed or die trying!

[High-Speed Form]: Utilizing the steam mecha’s jets, modified into special thrusters that significantly increase the mecha’s speed.

Additionally, with steam mecha’s good compatibility with supernatural ability modules, it’s also possible to incorporate auxiliary speed modules to create a high-speed mecha.

Speed is power!

[Enigmatic Type]: Born in the Steam World, steam mechas have a high-level compatibility with ancient god modules of the Age-Old, Void, and mutation types.

It can evolve into a decaying mecha of the Age-Old and Void, mastering the corresponding enigmatic powers.

The three paths represented different evolutionary tendencies.

Jiang Chen wasn’t in a hurry to decide; he planned to collect all the modules first.

Then, he would take turns fitting them onto the steam mecha, and with the help of the [Mecha Soul Fusion] skill, feel out which had the best compatibility.

The one he would ultimately choose would naturally be the path with the highest compatibility.

Moreover, Jiang Chen further perfected Zero’s advancement route.

Using his feelings during the mecha soul fusion, he crafted blueprints even better suited for it.

All this was just his workload for one night.

“If I had this speed and efficiency back when I was studying, I could have finished half a semester’s work in just one night…”

Jiang Chen organized and archived the blueprints.

During this process, he noticed the latest news update on the web page.

[The Ark Organization announces: SSS-class mecha pilot Simon has completed his mecha enhancement and will officially challenge the Hell difficulty level in three days!]

Jiang Chen couldn’t help but laugh.

Why does a challenge to the Hell difficulty level come with a serial broadcast?

Simon declares his challenge.

Simon is about to begin his challenge.

Simon formally starts his challenge…

That’s just too much hype.

And the challenge is set for three days later?

The Ark Organization released the news last night, and even if it’s exactly three days, that still leaves two and a half days before he takes on the Hell difficulty level.

Two and a half days, roughly sixty hours.

Jiang Chen’s current speed for clearing the Nightmare difficulty level is twenty minutes per run.

The speed of mecha repairs is continuously improving, and on average, it takes about five hours for five runs,

As for rest time…

A true mecha pilot is a liver cloaked in human skin.

Eating, drinking, excreting, and sleeping—such low purity!

Meaning, if Jiang Chen maxed out his efficiency, he could clear the level five times and experience armor expansion five times in no more than twenty-seven hours.

What does that entail?

No need to calculate the detailed attributes, an approximate estimation will do.

One armor expansion absorbs three times the normal, and five armor expansions amount to fifteen times the mecha attributes.

With the two previous expansions, that’s equivalent to twenty-one times the attributes of a normal mecha of the same rank (because there was no enhancement).

Just consider, a supercharge module accounts for ten times the attributes.

Mecha attributes reaching up to twenty-one times what they were—if even the symbol of the alliance saw that, they’d weep and ask for guidance.

With such attributes, isn’t clearing a single Hell difficulty level a piece of cake?

With a few more rounds of accumulation, even the Abyss difficulty level would be within reach!

“Three days?”

Jiang Chen’s face brimmed with a smile.

This wave can’t be ruthlessly hijacked, can it?

“Zero, we need to snatch the first clear this time. Put in some extra effort, and let’s take it down within a day!”

Unable to contain his excitement, Jiang Chen pushed open the window and leaped outside, his right hand clenched into a fist.

As the fierce wind blew, vines proliferated, and fissures gaped open.

[Age-Old Shadow construction complete.]

[Welcome to the abyss.]

Back in the Eternal Frost Magic Realm, Jiang Chen didn’t rush to trouble the hidden boss.

Having just triggered a talent, Zero deserved to experience “Nirvana” at least once, which would help evolve the related modules.

The primeval mecha soared high into the sky, dancing wildly among the clouds.

Sure enough, it quickly drew the Frost Bone Giant Dragon’s attention.

As it swooped down from the icy crystal cloud sea, Jiang Chen didn’t hesitate and released Mecha Soul Fusion immediately.

[It feels so good to be filled with Life Force Energy by the master again…]

This time, the attributes of the primeval mecha successfully surpassed the Frost Bone Giant Dragon.

Strength 755, agility 555, and the defense even reached a staggering 920!

Coupled with the equipped [Flame Control] module.

The Frost Bone Giant Dragon spewed a breath of Icy Breath.

The primeval mecha activated its flame jets, combating the Icy Breath head-on, and took the momentum to charge over, stepping onto the back of the Frost Bone Giant Dragon.

Thorns grew from its feet, constantly inflicting trample damage.

In its hand was a 1st Rank high-energy lightsaber that had been swapped in, chopping down fiercely.

Even with its tremendous strength, Jiang Chen forcefully suppressed the Frost Bone Giant Dragon, preventing it from flying into the clouds to initiate Stage 2.

Moments later, the Soul Fire of the Frost Bone Giant Dragon was extinguished.

It transformed into shattered dragon bones and fell towards the ground.

“It clearly could have initiated Stage 2 proactively, but it didn’t use it immediately and saved it for a critical moment…”

“Look, now it hasn’t managed to activate it and has been chopped down, right?”

Jiang Chen commented sharply.

His own approach was more steady, after all.

“Death” was certain to trigger it, and there was no chance it wouldn’t activate before death.

The only concern was that the enemy might be too weak to even force out his new stage.

[For killing the Frost Bone Giant Dragon, you received the item: Skeleton’s Wings.]

[Successfully killed the boss, achieving the exploration goal.]

[Total time spent: 15 minutes 15 seconds.]

[Mission evaluation: SSS.]

[According to the trial evaluation, your rewards are now being calculated…]

[You have obtained Abyss Coins: 3000.]

[You have obtained material: Evil Soul Dust*3.]

[You have obtained the item: Ice-Melting Holy Water.]

[You have obtained the module: Ice Crystal Outer Layer.]

[Settlement complete, would you like to leave the abyss immediately?]

[Note: Refusing to leave allows an additional stay of sixty minutes.]

[Skeleton’s Wings]

[Rank: 1]

[Quality: Excellent]

[Type: External Back Equipment]

[Effect One: When equipped, it consumes 1% of mecha energy per minute. (Energy consumption cap: 50)]

[Effect Two: Grants the mecha the ability to fly, the higher the agility, the faster the speed. (Agility bonus cap: 100)]

[Effect Three: Adjustable in size, fitting up to medium-sized mechas, larger body size increases speed. (At maximum size, speed is increased by 50%)]

[Description: Where the frost wings go, winter descends.]

He actually got the wings of the Frost Bone Giant Dragon.

However, similar to lightsabers and pistols.

Many mecha pilots learn forging techniques and use a variety of materials to imitate abyssal products, creating corresponding external equipment for their mechas.

There are many types of external equipment, and “wings” that provide flying ability are just one type of back equipment.

Some even forged flying or even space-faring vehicles.

Thus, the value of the Skeleton’s Wings wasn’t very high, only a fraction of the value of the Icy Breath.

“The luck this time isn’t great.”

Jiang Chen didn’t choose to leave the abyss; instead, he equipped the Skeleton’s Wings and sped off towards the distant glaciers in hopes that the hidden boss would yield something good.