Mecha Battle: Why Do You Use Body to Destroy Stars?

The Prehistoric Dragon Turtle is a single-player Legendary Shadow challenge; matching with other players is not possible.

Jiang Chen wanted to gather some intelligence, so he continued to browse and select a suitable Legendary Shadow.

“Zero has already been enhanced to the maximum of 2nd Rank, and Yun has also collected quite a few modules and materials, just lacking the most core ability module…”

“Now, it’s actually Yuu that is still at 0th Rank.”

“During the exploration of Legendary Shadows, I can gather modules and materials for her.”

“That would be [Ancient Life Force][Mythical Life][Enigmatic Ability]…”

With these search criteria.

Jiang Chen quickly selected a suitable target.

[Prehistoric Winged Fiend (Juvenile)]

[Region: Purgatory level]

[Affiliated Calamity: Primeval Life]

[Level: 2]

[Intensity: 4th Rank, 5th Rank, 6th Rank, 7th Rank.]

[Challenge participants: 4]

The Legendary Shadow Prehistoric Winged Fiend, like the Prehistoric Dragon Turtle, belongs to the Primeval Life calamity and should be able to produce resources related to Ancient Life Force and Mythical Life.

The number of challengers is neither too many nor too few, exactly four.

As for the difficulty of the challenge, Jiang Chen chose the 5th Rank difficulty—

Since he created the Perfect Body, nearly two days had passed.

During this time, he had been gathering materials in the Bio-organic Planet and other Endless Abysses while also allowing his attributes to settle.

While allowing his attributes to settle, he made some minor adjustments and modifications to the 2nd Rank modules equipped on the primeval mecha and steam mecha to balance his own force agility and defense attributes.

For example, Zero’s self-repair time is approximately thirty minutes.

Yun’s self-repair time, on the other hand, is approximately seventy-five minutes.

In other words, not counting combat, just the paper data.

For every two times Yun settles, Zero can settle five times.

During this process, the defense attribute is significantly overflowing.

Therefore, Jiang Chen removed some of Zero’s defense and armor modules and replaced them with auxiliary ability modules like [Danger Perception] and [Ion Engine].

He reduced Zero’s attributes to 10,000 force agility and 20,000 defense.

Then, he added some attribute modules to Yun, adjusting the force agility attribute to 50,000 and the defense attribute to 25,000.

Practically, it takes about three hours to settle one round.

A round of attribute growth is estimated to be 150,000 force agility and defense, and 50,000 Enigmatism.

As of now.

Forty-five hours have passed, excluding three hours of spare time.

The actual number of settling rounds is fourteen.

In less than two days’ time.

Jiang Chen’s attributes have undergone tremendous change!

[Attributes]

[Strength 730,000→2,830,000]

[Agility 729,000→2,830,000]

[Defense 983,000→3,080,000]

[Enigmatism 155,000→850,000]

[Special Abilities: Infinite Core, Limitation Unlock, Boulder Form, Return to Primal State (3rd Rank), Mode Switch.]

[5th Rank Abilities: Blood Demon Transformation*3, Thorns Overgrowth*3, Ion Engine*3, Danger Sensing*3, Energy Overload*1.1]

Two days ago, Jiang Chen had to use various ability enhancements to temporarily achieve 5th Rank strength.

Now, his basic attributes have truly grown to the 5th Rank level, and his module powers have also been stacked to three times the strength of a 5th Rank.

If combined with various special abilities, he could even briefly achieve strength comparable to the 6th Rank!

This is the power of settling!

Not only that.

Fourteen rounds of settling mean Jiang Chen has absorbed the power of the steam mecha 28 times, gaining 112 times the module power of [Rapid Action].

Even though the Rapid Action module itself only contained a very subtle force of time…

After an absorption boost of 112 times, it has grown to a considerable extent!

When Jiang Chen and Yun join Bai Ying for time-specialized training.

This stacked power of time, along with the slight time resistance provided by the modules, has begun to make an impact.

When Bai Ying deploys the [Stasis Barrier]’s module power.

Jiang Chen can already feel the strength of time being halted, and in the completely stagnant time barrier, he has a slight ability to move.

This rate of progress is staggeringly fast.

It is precisely because of such great growth.

That Jiang Chen chose 5th Rank intensity for his initial attempt with the Legendary Shadows.

“Logically, the higher the intensity of the Legendary Shadow, the stronger the matched teammates and the higher their civilization level.”

“Naturally, they will also know more.”

“Let’s start with the 5th Rank then.”

Jiang Chen confirmed his choice.

Lines of text appeared before his eyes.

[Challenge Target: Prehistoric Winged Fiend]

[Current number of participants: 1]

[Matching teammates…]

[Teammate matching complete, beginning to shape the shadow.]

[10, 9, 8…]

Jiang Chen had thought he would have to wait a bit longer, but the match was made quickly.

Clearly, in the Endless Abyss, mecha pilots from different civilizations are challenging the Legendary Shadows at every moment.

“There’s really a lot to do for a newbie…”

Jiang Chen moved a thought, calling out to the depths of his soul.

“Zero, we’re heading out!”

He quickly received a response from the mecha.

Countless white tendrils sprouted from the flesh, rapidly forming a five-meter-tall giant mecha, almost like a symbiotic suit.

Zero’s voice also echoed in his mind.

[Zero Model Limiter, superbly entering the stage!]

“… ”

Jiang Chen barely kept himself from breaking out in laughter.

Zero was learning more and more, wasn’t it?

[Age-Old Shadow construction completed.]

[Welcome to the abyss.]

…

[Current target: Prehistoric Winged Fiend (Juvenile)]

[Level: 2nd Rank]

[Strength: 5th Rank (3 million)]

[Description: The primordial life forms were born at the dawn of the universe. They have endless lifespans and can draw upon the power of stars to grow. The older they are, the more powerful they become.

The Prehistoric Winged Fiend is a legendary overlord among the primordial life forms.

It has witnessed the rise and fall of stars, traveling through the sea of stars and the abyss. With a mere flap of its wings, it can bring about the destruction of civilizations; with just a sprinkle of seeds, it can spawn countless peculiar beings.

It is the source of disaster that countless civilizations fear and revere.

Even tracing back to ancient and distant times, as a tender juvenile, it still exhibited overwhelming strength during its stay on a certain planet.]

[Friendly tip 1: You may withdraw from the abyss at any time (requires one minute of preparation).]

[Friendly tip 2: Random team formation has selected you to be the leader of your current squad.]

On the brown planet, immense storms are burgeoning at every moment.

Lightning strikes and fierce sandstorms wrap the world completely, obliterating everything and preventing the genesis and sprouting of life.

Just beneath the storms, a pitch-black rift crackles open slightly.

Four mechas of different volumes and types fall from within.

One of them, a pristine mecha covered with armor reminiscent of flames, descends instantly, automatically hovering in the air.

Another, predominantly black and yellow in color and ten meters in height, its metallic body opens several wing-like thrusters on its back while sinking, staying mid-air through the use of plasma.

A mecha of an indigo color and unknown material, four meters tall, lands on the unseen raging winds and stops in mid-air.

With a slight lift of its hand, the surrounding winds come to an abrupt halt, forming a spherical, windless realm with a radius of a hundred meters around it.

Beside it, there stands a seven-meter-tall mecha, woven together as if from countless intersecting swords, with an appearance of utmost sharpness.

The four mechas, each with their own means, all ignore the planet’s severe conditions and observe each other.

In an instant, the other three mechas focus their attention on the red and white bio-organic mecha.

The indigo mecha speaks out.

“Hello, Captain.”

“My name is Qing, a 2nd Rank mecha pilot with an overall strength of about 2 million. My prime mecha specializes in Enigmatism and storm, excelling in support.”

“Please give your orders as you see fit, I will follow your lead.”

These randomly matched mecha pilots were already well-versed in the rules of the Legendary Shadow.

For instance, the teammates matched with you aren’t completely random; they tend to share similar traits and come from similar civilizations.

The advanced characteristic of the Fire Transmission civilization is Joint Burning, while the Fire Plunder civilization’s is Fire Ignition.

Hence, even if both parties possess Fire Transmitter traits, they are unlikely to be matched with each other.

Furthermore, the selection of the squad leader is not random.

The Abyss Rune will choose the mecha pilot with the highest overall strength to assume the role of the captain.

Thus, the three mecha pilots from unknown civilizations didn’t waste their time fighting for control pointlessly.

Instead, they followed the rules and spoke up.

“My name is Jian, a 2nd Rank mecha pilot with an overall strength of about 2.6 million. My prime mecha focuses on physical and long-range attacks, specializing in offense.”

“Qing is my comrade. Captain, you can command us to cooperate.”

The black and yellow metal body on the other side paused for a moment before finally speaking.

“My name is Da Hei, a 2nd Rank mecha pilot with an overall strength of about 1.4 million. My prime mecha is geared towards technology and long-range attacks, specializing in offense…”

“Just give the orders, Captain.”

“…”

Wow, 1.4 million, 2 million, 2.6 million.

Your strengths span quite broadly. Are you sure you can take on a legendary overlord with a strength of 3 million?

Jiang Chen, piloting the primeval mecha, couldn’t help but raise an eyebrow.

My own basic attributes are nearly 3 million, and with various temporary attribute bonuses, my stable strength should be around 6.5 million.

Comparing that to my three comrades…

It’s about the same as a Qi Cultivation 6th Layer taking two Qi Cultivation 2nd Layers and one Qi Cultivation 1st Layer to challenge a Qi Cultivation 3rd Layer beast.

This matchmaking system is kind of odd, who did you learn it from?

However, Jiang Chen’s core purpose of entering matchmaking wasn’t to farm materials but to gather intelligence.

At the moment, he didn’t waste words, getting straight to the point.

“Sorry everyone, I’m new here, this is my first time joining a match. I’m not sure how I got chosen to be captain…”

“I don’t know the rules of the Legendary Shadow, nor do I know the boss’s tactics. I can’t lead or arrange strategies.”

Jiang Chen paused for a moment, then laid his cards on the table.

“By the way, my civilization’s clearance level has just been upgraded to the second level, and I am the first mecha pilot to enter the Legendary Shadow…”

“I’d appreciate any guidance from my seniors.”

“As a token of thanks, I can help you complete this Legendary Shadow.”

“…”

The three mecha pilots from unknown civilizations looked at each other.

At first, they were somewhat confused by the first part of what he said.

Even if it’s one’s first match, one should have researched the tactics and knowledge related to the Legendary Shadow, right?

Only when they heard the latter part were they struck dumb with astonishment, speechless with shock.

Just upgraded to the second level?

The first mecha pilot to enter the Legendary Shadow?

Are you the chosen hope of a certain civilization?

Wow!

This is a 5th Rank difficulty in the Legendary Shadow, corresponding to a hundredfold strength!

You, a chosen hope, not only qualify for this level of Legendary Shadow, but you also outstrip our strength and become the captain!

Are all the chosen of this generation this monstrous?

Qing and Jian, who claimed to be mecha pilots, instinctively found it hard to believe this and thought the captain was joking with them.

In contrast, the pilot who called himself Da Hei was struck with recollection after his initial shock, looking at the Roots mecha and suddenly remembered something.

He immediately activated a special device to send a private message to Jiang Chen.

“…Planet Blue Star civilization, Jiang Chen?”

“Hm?”

Jiang Chen was taken aback for a moment, looking towards the mecha pilot.

“You are?”

“…Sorry, let me introduce myself again.”

The mecha pilot said through the private message.

“My name is Lan Yi, a hope candidate from the Gaia civilization.”

“Lord Yano has spoken to us about you.”