Chapter 134 - 105 Do you believe in bonds?_2
However, low-intensity Age-Old Shadows will only produce low-quality rare items.
Many high-quality rare items can only be obtained from high-ranked ones.
Furthermore, as the Endless Difficulty Level becomes more intense, the rate of drops will correspondingly increase.
Fourth, the output is bound and cannot be traded.
It was based on these rules
that Jiang Chen did not rush to attempt the Endless Difficulty Level but saved it for last.
The drop rate from low-ranked Endless Shadows is lower, and without the burst rate bonus of [Group Stealth Privilege], whether you strike it lucky depends entirely on chance.
If you’re unlucky, you might not get anything good even after dozens of attempts.
Therefore, Jiang Chen temporarily considered the Endless Difficulty Level as a [Settling Ground].
Specifically for combating powerful Abyss overlords, Talent Triggering, attribute enhancement, and completion of the settling process.
First to settle for a few rounds.
Regardless of whether he got the items he wanted, he could go straight to the rank advancement trial.
Once the Mecha Rank Upgrade trial was completed, with the mecha ranking up, attributes enhancing, and strength increasing,
he would naturally improve the burst rate of the Endless Difficulty Level and get the top-quality items he desired.
At this time, Jiang Chen began his final settling before the rank advancement trial.
He stood outside the courtyard of the jungle residential area, clenched his right fist, and touched the Abyss Rune.
His gaze swept over the vast numbers of 1st Level Age-Old Shadows.
Eventually, it settled on a name.
[Star of Mutation]
“After encountering so many Age-Old Shadows of Abyss difficulty level…”
“Looking back, I realize that the enemy I love the most is still the first you.”
“I’m back again, Master Chao!”
“This will be my final farewell!”
Jiang Chen made his choice.
The abyss atmosphere shattered, rebuilding itself into lines of text.
[10,9,8…]
[Construction of Age-Old Shadow complete.]
[You have stepped into the Endless Abyss.]
Darkness came swiftly, engulfing Jiang Chen.
[Current location: Star of Mutation]
[Level: 1st]
[Difficulty: Endless]
[Intensity: 3rd Rank]
[Mission: Defeat the final boss: Transcender.]
[Description: Born on the Star of Mutation, It possesses infinite evolutionary capabilities, as well as the strong nature of being undying and indestructible.
Now It has returned, becoming even more powerful.]
[Friendly Reminder: Free exploration, you may leave the abyss at any time (requires one minute preparation time).]
The Star of Mutation, completely enveloped in roots, displayed two colors, purple and green, divided by the light of the eternal stars.
Just in the sky above the lush Land of Eternal Day, where the light of eternal stars always shone, a dark crack opened.
Jiang Chen fell from the crack, hovering above the ground covered in roots, looking up at the towering Roots Giant Tree reaching into the sky.
The Star of Mutation existed only in the Age-Old Shadows of the 0th Rank and 1st Level.
That is to say, after he completed the rank advancement trial, he would never be able to return.
Only the younger generation of mecha pilots from Planet Blue Star could continue to challenge the Star of Mutation.
Thinking of how generous Master Chao had been, providing him with so much help,
Jiang Chen specifically made a trip here just to beat up Master Chao a few times, reminisce about the feel, and bid a final farewell.
Since it was a farewell, naturally, he could not forget Master Chao’s disciples…
Jiang Chen clenched his right hand, summoning his mecha.
Gears spun rapidly, combining with the overlying gilded bronze armor to form a steam mecha
while a petite girl from the mecha remnants also appeared beside the four-meter tall steam mecha.
“Zero, will you fight alongside me?”
“Yes! Please, let Zero fight with you, my lord!”
Zero was solemn, nodding vigorously.
Although she was now far too weak, not keeping pace with her lord’s increase in strength,
with her own attributes alone, without the enhancement of Mecha Soul Fusion, she did not even qualify to join her lord’s battle.
Just the aftermath of the combat would probably be enough to destroy her.
But…
Compared to staying behind the scenes, watching the grown-up fight alongside Yun…
She’d rather be damaged in battle, just to stand by the grown-up’s side.
Even if it’s only for a brief moment!
Yun, once a 0th Rank mecha, had been unable to participate in battles for a long time and could only listen to Zero recount his own experiences.
At this moment, it could understand Zero’s feelings even more and convey its own thoughts.
[General Zero, let’s work hard together!]
Jiang Chen was also moved.
When he acquired the intelligence module recently, he had considered the “pseudo-summoning” battle method.
Yet before he could bring it up, Zero had taken the initiative to ask to join the battle, to accompany him in his campaigns…
Truly, his intimate little padded jacket, the pillar of the household!
However.
Zero’s current attributes are indeed far too lacking.
If it enters battle now, there won’t be any sense of participation, just a mere accessory…
Even with the [Undying Barehand] talent, Jiang Chen didn’t know whether a mecha not piloted by himself could still trigger the absorption after being shattered!
“If only there was a way to enhance Zero,” he thought.
“At least to give her some sense of participation…”
Jiang Chen pondered.
[Mecha Soul Fusion] is an ability that comes with the [Mechanical Soul] trait.
Its essence isn’t to truly merge souls and become a new will, but rather it’s more akin to a state of mental link and communication.
Jiang Chen shares his life force energy with the mecha soul, and the mecha soul shares its sensations with Jiang Chen.
This achieves a state similar to fusion.
As a result, when Jiang Chen strengthens the mecha, he doesn’t need to frequently enter and exit the mecha… That would be too troublesome.
He just needs to place his hand on the mecha to enter a brief fusion state.
Then he can sense the mecha’s compatibility with the materials.
Which means…
Touching the mecha is meant to close the distance between oneself and the mecha soul, reducing the difficulty of Mecha Soul Fusion.
“As long as my bond with Zero is strong enough, maybe I can overcome some distance and achieve an [External Fusion]!” he thought.
“Once [External Fusion] is complete, with the infusion of my life force energy…”
“Wouldn’t that be tantamount to me piloting the mecha?”
“There’s a very good chance of triggering the [Undying Barehand] talent!”
Jiang Chen felt a blaze of excitement at the thought.
He controlled the steam mecha, covering Zero’s head with its large hand, and spoke earnestly.
“Zero, do you believe in bonds?”
After a moment, a voice exploded over the Roots Giant Tree.
“I believe, true bonds can transcend distance!”
“Feel my power, Zero!!”
The mecha remnants girl spread her small bone wings behind her and, with hands clasped over her chest, tried hard to sense.
Through her connection with the grown-up and her admiration for him, she finally sensed it—a dazzling light amidst the endless darkness.
That was the grown-up’s light.
“Please bestow your power upon me, grown-up,” she prayed.
The surging life force energy, crossing the span of space, poured into the mecha remnants girl’s body.
In this moment, Zero felt it again, the happiness of being filled by the grown-up.
Power increased by 18,300.
Agility increased by 17,300.
Defense increased by 15,600.
Zero’s attributes had finally reached the strength of 3rd Rank!
Jiang Chen, however, felt a bit weak.
Releasing his own life force energy and infusing it into two mechas at the same time was indeed a bit forced.
Luckily he was piloting the steam mecha, so the weakness of his body didn’t matter.
He immediately removed the armor and entered Stage 2 full-power mode, coordinating with Zero as they charged toward the enemy.
Only the Transcender looked on in confusion.
These guys were shouting about bonds and partners as they rushed forward…
And yet, they indeed received enhancements.
Especially that mecha remnants, exuding a life aura dozens of times stronger than before!
It was just too exaggerated!