Chapter 58 - 56 Watch Carefully, This Is How to Use Reflective Damage_1
Based on the experience from the basic trial: Ruins of Mutation.
The abyss leader [Evolver] required to be killed by the mission, is mostly located underground surrounded by dense vines, representing the branches of roots.
Therefore, Jiang Chen directly targeted the “Roots Giant Tree” towering over a kilometer high, turned into a mecha cannonball with the force of flight, and forcibly broke it in two!
As expected, when the Roots Giant Tree collapsed and crumbled, the abyss leader was also disturbed.
Different from what was imagined, it didn’t crawl out from the ruins at the base of the “giant tree”.
The vines around the giant tree seemed to come to life, converging towards the center, twisting, and interweaving together.
In just a moment, a green giant over ten meters tall, with vine-like long hair made entirely from interwoven roots, stood amidst the ruins.
To speak the truth…
If one ignored the size and the color.
This Roots Titan’s appearance was quite similar to the primeval mecha.
It seemed to be aware of this fact too as it gazed over at Jiang Chen and actually emitted a thunderous sound.
The sound was converted into the language of Planet Blue Star through an external translator device.
“Thief.”
Jiang Chen almost couldn’t hold back.
How did this leader even know how to curse?
Wasn’t it just equipped with a [Root Core] module…
The guy next door, Master Luo, had his traits blasted out by me and didn’t say anything, right!
In the blink of an eye, the information about the giant was scanned.
[Evolver]
[Rank: 1]
[Attributes: Strength 100 (200), Agility 100 (200), Defense 100 (200), Enigmatism 0.]
[Trait: Gained a new life through the roots and completed its evolution, a brand new life.
Having absorbed and fused all the genetic material of the planet’s life, it can change its form at will, display different stances, and transform into corresponding attributes.
It has an extremely strong Life Force and is difficult to completely annihilate.]
[Weakness: There is a core inside; if it is found and shattered, the kill can be accomplished.]
[Evaluation: Mediocre combat experience, yet possesses flexible attributes, please challenge with caution.]
Fused with biological genes, capable of transforming forms at will…
Ultimate being, is that it?
Jiang Chen didn’t pay much attention to the words of the Roots Titan, only contemplating its traits.
Since the translator bought from the store was effective, it meant that the language of the Roots Titan had long been deciphered by mecha pilots.
All useful information had already been dug up.
If he wanted to know something, after returning to reality, he could just search the alliance’s database.
As for now…
Jiang Chen only wanted to go on a rampage and speedrun the instance.
The primeval mecha slightly retreated.
The next moment, it accelerated forward violently, turning into a meteor that charged at the Evolver.
Facing the raging mecha meteor, the Evolver’s left arm quickly twisted, transforming into a huge shield shaped like a turtle carapace, blocking in front of it.
Defense instantly increased from 100 to 200.
The primeval mecha struck the shield, merely forcing it back half a step.
At the same time, its right arm transformed into a verdant tiger paw, its strength and agility suddenly increased, and it viciously struck at the primeval mecha!
The force of this strike was incredibly terrifying.
The primeval mecha was directly slapped away, crashing into the ruins of the giant tree, kicking up a cloud of dust.
However, the Evolver did not pursue the advantage; it looked at its right paw instead.
Tiny wounds appeared all over the surface of the tiger paw, and juices along with Life Force were flowing out through the wounds.
“Thorns?”
The Evolver seemed rather talkative.
It looked up at the clearing dust and mumbled to itself.
“Cannot engage in close combat, will get stabbed.”
While it spoke, vines interwove behind its back into gargantuan wings that blocked out the sky.
Sharp thorns also grew on the surface of the wings, bursting out violently and sweeping towards the dust.
But then…
The dust was blown away by the wind.
The primeval mecha’s body was covered with countless purple spikes, almost turning into a purple hedgehog, enduring the Evolver’s attack as it charged directly in front of it.
A fist smashed into its face!
“As everyone knows, the application of force is mutual.”
“As I punch your face, your face is also punching my fist.”
“According to the effect of the [Thorns Overgrowth] module, as long as you dare to strike my fist, you will trigger retaliation…”
“You don’t need to attack me; I’ll attack myself on your behalf.”
After the primeval mecha repelled the Evolver, it launched a continuous flurry of punches, whip kicks, and quick-strike maneuvers…
A set of silky smooth small combos was executed.
While the Evolver was under attack, it was also being continuously wounded by thorns, its juices and Life Force steadily draining away.
And then absorbed by the primeval mecha.
“Zero, watch closely, this is how you use damage reflection!”
[I’m watching, my lord!]
Jiang Chen couldn’t communicate, but it didn’t mean the mecha soul didn’t exist.
Especially the nerve-linking method of operation, which brought him closer to the mecha, also enabled the mecha soul to feel his emotions more deeply.
At this moment, Zero coordinated with Jiang Chen’s controls more closely and became increasingly joyful.
Even if the Evolver’s attacks landed on the primeval mecha, Zero wouldn’t feel any pain.
Instead, it would find the sensation even more comfortable.
This isn’t a description, it’s quite literally what it means—
The mecha soul is the will of the mecha, integral with the mecha itself.
When the model Zero Mecha upgraded to the primeval mecha, the one that benefited the most was naturally the mecha soul.
Hence, Zero not only awakened [Thorns Overgrowth] as an upgrade module.
Based on its willfulness, its sensations had also slightly changed.
Upon being attacked, it would derive a sense of pleasure from drawing in the enemy’s Life Force.
Even if the mecha sustained damage, it wouldn’t feel any pain, but would briefly enter a dormant state.
[Merely a painless slumber isn’t enough…]
[I must regard failure as Nirvana, as a pleasure, just as my lord said!]
[Every instance of damage must make me stronger!]
Zero’s will burned fiercely like a blazing flame.
As the will of the mecha, accompanying Jiang Chen in battle, it was keenly aware of one thing—
Every time it was damaged, its lord would become stronger.
In the time leading up to its upgrade, it even began to struggle with sustaining its lord’s power.
Zero was aware of this and held no particular thoughts about it.
Nor would it have any.
Was it supposed to say: Is my lord pouring his heart into me because he wants to grow stronger?
But isn’t the strengthening of mecha by every mecha pilot for the purpose of becoming stronger?
Even the mecha pilot who helped with Zero’s enhancement and had communicated with it thought the same.
It’s just that the lord’s method was a bit different due to his soul’s talent.
As a will born within the mecha, Zero’s thinking was utterly pure.
It didn’t understand vested interests, it didn’t understand grudges and resentments…
As the will and soul of the mecha, it could only feel with its soul.
It could sense that its lord sincerely loved it, genuinely poured his essence into it.
And didn’t treat it merely as a tool.
That was enough.
It would be the mecha of its lord.
And naturally, it would reciprocate this expectation.
The violet-white giant, after a lengthy battle with the verdant-green giant, finally saw an opportunity, raised its hand to summon the Insect King’s Spear, and with a piercing blow, ruptured the Roots Core within its adversary.
“Die!”
[My lord wants you dead, you cannot live!]
Two voices seemed to overlap.
The verdant-green giant emitted a reluctant roar and promptly weakened and withered away rapidly.
A wisp of abyss atmosphere was absorbed by the Abyss Rune.
[By killing an Evolver, you’ve obtained material: Evolution Essence*2.]
[Successfully killing a leader, you’ve achieved the exploration target.]
[Total time taken: 23 minutes 19 seconds.]
[Mission rating: SSS.]
[Rewards are currently being tallied based on trial evaluation…]
[You’ve received Abyss Coins: 400.]
[You’ve obtained materials: Fibrous Heart*4.]
[You’ve received an item: Turtle Carapace Arm Shield.]
[Settlement complete, will you exit the abyss now?]
[Note: Refusing to exit, you may stay an additional sixty minutes.]