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

Watching Jiang Chen raise his right fist, he touched the Abyss Rune.

Lines of text appeared before Jiang Chen’s eyes.

[…Rising from the darkness at the beginning, quelling the world of chaos, bringing hope and glory to civilization…]

[…Ending the Age-Old Abyss, witnessing the legends of old, transcending the trials of despair, kindling the fire of hope for countless civilizations…]

[All that you have experienced has now become your most precious trait.]

[Please choose one to permanently etch into the fabric of your civilization.]

…

[Choice one: Endurer]

[Type: Civilization Trait]

[Effect: When civilization encounters an invasive disaster, Civilization Potential temporarily decreases by 80%, reverting after the disaster ends…

After ending the disaster, gain additional Civilization Potential growth; the longer the disaster duration, the greater the increase in Civilization Potential.]

[Description: Thirty years in the east, thirty years in the west, don’t bully the young and poor.]

…

[Choice two: Legendary Being]

[Type: Civilization Trait]

[Effect: Slightly increase the speed and probability with which members of the civilization acquire Legendary Traits.]

[Description: In this day and age, who isn’t a legend?]

…

[Choice three: Insomnolencer]

[The rest is omitted.]

…

The choice of civilization traits showed a significant difference from last time.

Last time, all the civilization traits that appeared were related to Jiang Chen’s personal experiences.

This time, not only did the description before the choice contain a section unrelated to Jiang Chen.

But among the available traits for civilization, there was also a unique option.

[Endurer]

Jiang Chen had come of age almost entirely in a headlong rush, where was the endurance?

“It must be related to the candidacy for the Light of Hope.”

“I am now a candidate for the Light of Hope, so during the evolution of the trait, part of my past experience was taken into account—”

“When I had the Supercharge Module wrested from me, to survive, I threw in my lot with that person.”

“It is this episode from the past that has evolved into this trait.”

Li Xiao spoke to explain.

He spoke calmly, but Jiang Chen could sense the turmoil that had once transpired…

A mecha pilot who could reach 8th Rank, could not possibly be unaware that talents who received an SSS-class rating were exceptionally gifted.

When a module was taken, the intent was certainly to eliminate the root of the problem.

Just like the genius mecha pilots who had their Supercharge Modules taken from them, of the five, two died on the spot.

The remaining three survived through various means.

The word “throw in my lot” that Li Xiao used was overly simplistic; had he shown the slightest dissatisfaction or hostility during the process, death would likely have been the consequence.

Even so, to have lived and grown up, he must have paid a tremendous price…

“Those who deserved to die, I’ve long since killed.”

“The past is over, let’s look at the traits first.”

Li Xiao said with a smile, looking at the personal terminal in front of him.

He had already sent the three traits Jiang Chen mentioned to the higher-ups of the alliance, consulting them for advice.

The high rank mecha pilots of the alliance quickly made judgments and responded promptly.

“Following everyone’s suggestions…”

“First, rule out the Insomnolencer.”

“During the days of your rank ascension trials, the super ability gene serum injections have been nearly completed.”

“The current average sleep time on Planet Blue Star has already decreased to half an hour.”

“Even ordinary people, if tired, can rest briefly to recover their energy.”

“Under the influence, the state of all trades has changed.”

“For example, web novel writers, the most competitive bunch, are now updating up to four hundred thousand words daily.”

“At this point, life efficiency is no longer limited by energy, but by personal capabilities and ideas.”

“Even if we add the Insomnolencer trait to increase energy, the benefits would be minimal.”

Seeing Jiang Chen nod in agreement.

Li Xiao continued.

“There are quite a few supporters for both the Endurer and the Legendary Being.”

“The Alien Demon Invasion calamity that Planet Blue Star is currently facing has already lasted for twenty years.”

“If we choose Endurer, we can quickly reap a wave of Civilization Potential—just defeat the Alien Demon Invasion and it’s even possible to swiftly awaken another civilization trait…”

“It’s pointless, the benefits are too low.”

Jiang Chen shook his head.

In terms of subsequent benefits, Endurer doesn’t know how many times worse it is than the Joint Burner.

As for quickly obtaining Civilization Potential, awakening the next civilization trait…

Why not pick a better one this time?

Li Xiao also agreed with Jiang Chen’s words, nodding.

“So, is it the Legendary Being then?”

“This can enhance the strength of top talents; it’s very suitable for you.”

Ever since the Abyss difficulty level guide was posted on the alliance forum,

Jiang Chen frequently logged into the alliance forum, releasing some intelligence and data. Each of his posts was extremely popular.

He also explained the settings related to Legendary Traits in one of his posts.

Therefore, high rank mecha pilots like Li Xiao knew exactly what Legendary Traits were and how precious they were.

“It’s only a slight increase, not a stable one; it might not be useful…”

Jiang Chen shook his head.

The increase in Civilization Potential provided by this trait was so subtle, he wasn’t sure how effective it would be.

If the bonus was minimal, he would rather work harder for a few more days or contract a few more Legendary Overlords and thoroughly drain them.

“No rush, I have an item; let’s refresh a few times first.”

In the upgrading process of this rank trial, Jiang Chen had ambushed ten Void Legion sites.

He rescued seventeen civilizations undergoing an invasion, accumulating nineteen uses of the Light of Hope.

With so many reset opportunities, was he supposed to let them collect dust?

“Keep the Legendary Being for now…”

“Endurer and Insomnolencer can be reset.”

Jiang Chen touched the Abyss Rune, taking out a gentle sphere of light and choosing to use it.

The ball of light pulled out strands of light that merged with the characters within the Abyss Rune, reweaving two new options.

…

[Option One: Protector]

[Type: Civilization Trait]

[Effect: When civilization is in a stable state, members with strength tiers below half that of the Light of Hope experience a 500% talent effect increase.

(For example, if the Light of Hope’s strength tier is 10th Rank, members of 5th Rank and below can trigger the effect)]

[Description: Holding an umbrella for the future generations.]

…

[Option Three: Hand-to-Hand Brawler]

[The rest is omitted.]

…

Jiang Chen’s eyes lit up.

“This Protector effect is so strong, a fivefold talent effect increase!”

“If my own talent has a tenfold increase, wouldn’t it directly become fiftyfold talent!?”

Li Xiao shook his head.

“The range of this talent’s activation is limited; it only affects low-ranked mecha pilots, increasing their growth speed.”

“Once they’ve grown, they’re knocked back to reality.”

“Moreover, it’s of no use to you…”

Jiang Chen smiled.

“As long as my strength tier is twice that of the entire civilization, won’t it be effective for everyone?”

“Moreover, this is just a Civilization Trait; the Light of Hope can unlock further privileges; it might not be useless for me.”

Li Xiao fell silent for a moment.

Twice the strength tier of the entire civilization.

He is currently a 9th Rank mecha pilot, nearing an 11th Rank strength tier.

To receive the bonus, Jiang Chen’s strength tier would have to exceed 20th Rank.

Is that even humanly possible?

But…

After considering Jiang Chen’s growth rate, Li Xiao found he couldn’t refute it.

It seemed he really could do it!

“…Then this one?”

“No need to hurry; there are plenty of chances left; let’s refresh a few more times.”

Comparing [Protector] and [Legendary Being], Jiang Chen preferred the former.

Moreover, given the recurrent appearance of Insomnolencer and Hand-to-Hand Brawler, it appeared that if he passed up on these Civilization Traits, they would still have a chance to appear again.

So, to increase the selection amount,

he kept only Protector and refreshed both Legendary Being and Hand-to-Hand Brawler away.

New Civilization Traits emerged before him.

[Slaughterer], [Saint Transformer].

“…who are these names calling out.”

It seems that only option one is a Civilization Trait that emerged based on the past experiences of the Light of Hope candidates.

Option two and option three are from Jiang Chen’s own experiences.

For instance, Slaughterer derived from Jiang Chen’s repeated annihilations of abyss beasts, with his days almost always filled with slaughters.

While its effects were not as good as Protector’s, they were still considerable.

It’s just that the name was not very pleasing to the ear.

Jiang Chen decisively refreshed it for a new one.

Once… twice… ten times…

Jiang Chen stopped, his gaze landing on a new Civilization Trait.

[Contractor]

[Type: Civilization Trait]

[Effect: After passing the basic trial, all members of the civilization get a chance to contract a mecha, and it increases the probability of the contracted mecha’s talent appearing, as well as the talent’s strength tier, etc.]

[Description: The goal is to become a Pokémon Master!]