The last flickers of light faded.
Shwoosh!
A glowing panel materialized before Wang Chen.
[Name]: Wang Chen
[Class]: Super Mech Engineer
[Level]: 1
[Strength]: 25
[Constitution]: 25
[Agility]: 15
[Mentality]: 15
[Active Skills]: Super Mech Armor (Upgradeable)
"Normal stats should be around 10 for an average person... but how do I have these values? It's almost three times higher than normal. Could this be because of merging with the so-called Mechanical Divine Heart?" Wang Chen muttered to himself in disbelief.
Feeling the surge of fresh power within his body, he could sense the heat of energy flowing through his limbs, coursing to every corner of his body. It was almost beyond comprehension.
"These three divine-grade skills... looking at their descriptions, they seem incredibly overpowered. But they all revolve around this Super Mech Armor active skill. So, this Super Mech Armor must be an even more powerful ability!" Wang Chen's gaze fixated on those words, Super Mech Armor, his heart racing with excitement.
"Maybe… this is my chance to change my fate!!!"
With newfound determination, Wang Chen jumped out of the hospital bed, eager to test out his new divine skills. But then, realizing that it wasn't the right time with so many eyes on him, he forced himself to suppress his impatience for now.
After hastily completing the discharge procedures, Wang Chen hesitated for a moment, then headed to the third floor to visit his parents' hospital room.
He had so much joy to share, but the people he most wanted to tell were lying there in a lifeless state.
The joy he felt was tempered by a heavy sadness, and his heart, once swelling with excitement, cooled down. No matter how talented he was, time was needed to grow, and until he had the strength, he couldn't afford to be reckless.
Wang Chen stood by the bedsides of his emaciated parents, their faces pale, eyes closed, hooked up to countless monitoring devices. His hatred for the circumstances swelled uncontrollably.
"Mom, Dad… just wait for me!" He whispered softly, clenching his fists tightly.
The medical bills would run out in three days. He had to find a way to raise enough money in time.
With just ten days left until the college entrance exams, the minimum required level for participation was level 10. All students would be rushing into the wild to level up during this time.
Wang Chen decided he would go out to grind monsters in the wild. Not only could he level up, but he could also sell the materials to earn money.
After planning his next steps, Wang Chen called his sister to let her know he'd be late before heading out on the bus toward the outskirts of Luohai City.
He had secretly participated in the Awakening Ceremony without telling his sister.
"I'll explain everything to her when I get back," Wang Chen thought with a smile.
He couldn't wait to test his new abilities in the wild. He still had no idea what the Super Mech Armor looked like or the specifics of the three divine skills he had just unlocked.
One thing was for certain, though he had to wait until he was in the wild to test everything out.
Just as he left, two beautiful girls arrived.
One was a slender red-haired girl, with a body that was almost too perfect. The other was a black-haired girl, elegant and poised, with long, straight, snow-white legs that left people breathless.
The red-haired girl, Li Mengmeng, sighed dramatically. "Xiaoxiao, you're the school beauty! How could you like a guy like him? Didn't he just help you buy some stuff? Only someone like Ren Yinian, the genius, deserves to be with you!"
An Xiaoxiao looked helpless. "Mengmeng, what are you thinking? I'm just here to check on him. I don't like him, okay?"
Li Mengmeng raised an eyebrow. "What do you mean 'just here to check on him'? Look at the way you're staring at him. You've been obsessed ever since he got into trouble. As soon as the Awakening Ceremony was over, you rushed here. And you're an S-rank Celestial Sorceress now! I heard he hasn't awakened any class at all. Your family won't allow you to"
An Xiaoxiao interrupted, laughing, "It's fine, Mengmeng. I know what you're trying to say. We're from different worlds. I just wanted to see him, that's all."
An Xiaoxiao gave a helpless smile, fully aware that Li Mengmeng's concerns were valid.
The two girls went inside and quickly learned that Wang Chen had been discharged.
They exchanged puzzled glances, shocked.
"Didn't they say he'd be in the hospital for at least six months?"
Meanwhile, Wang Chen was already on his way to grind monsters in the wild.
"The best spots for new players are the Poisonous Mushroom Forest, the Demonized Creek, and the Underground Caves," Wang Chen thought as he navigated his way through the area.
After taking a few more buses, Wang Chen arrived at the towering Teleportation Tower. After handing over his last 300 yuan, he prepared to teleport to the Poisonous Mushroom Forest.
A mage in a pointed hat, standing by the teleportation circle, kindly warned, "The Poisonous Mushroom Forest is filled with deadly toxins and traps, a nightmare for new players. You're going there unprepared?"
Wang Chen smiled slightly. "Thank you, elder, but I've considered it."
Others might be afraid of the poisonous creatures there, but with the Super Mech Armor, he was fully armed and had nothing to fear.
The mage shook his head and activated the magic array. "Another young one who doesn't listen."
Shwoosh!
The white light of the teleportation enveloped Wang Chen, and in an instant, he was transported to the Poisonous Mushroom Forest. The familiar, foul stench of decay hit his nostrils as he emerged from the portal.
As he stepped out of the Teleportation Tower, the area buzzed with activity. Many adventurers were shouting as they formed parties and recruited others.
Looking up, Wang Chen saw the dimly lit forest in the distance. The black trees twisted like ghouls, forming the notorious Poisonous Mushroom Forest.
Wang Chen bought a map from a nearby vendor before heading straight into the forest alone.
The air was cold and damp, and the colorful poisonous mushrooms littered the ground like traps.
Once he confirmed the area was clear, Wang Chen's eyes sharpened.
"Super Mech Armor!"
With a thought, the faint blue, transparent mech suit materialized around him. In an instant, it solidified into a sleek black-and-gold exoskeleton, wrapping around his body like something from a futuristic sci-fi movie.
[Super Mech Armor Activated]
Wang Chen felt a rush of power surge through his body. He flexed his hand, feeling no discomfort or extra weight. The armor had become part of him. Looking at his stats again, he saw the changes.
[Name]: Wang Chen
[Class]: Super Mech Engineer
[Level]: 1
[Strength]: 50
[Constitution]: 50
[Agility]: 30
[Mentality]: 30
"Did my attributes just double again? I'm five times stronger than an average person now! And with this exoskeleton armor, the poisonous creatures can't even touch me!" Wang Chen marveled.
He couldn't contain his excitement. "But I still have three more skills to try out."
His mind focused on the first one. With a thought, he activated Mechanical Overload.
Boom!
The black-and-gold exoskeleton's sharp red eyes glowed brightly as crimson streaks appeared around the seams of the armor, emanating intense heat. The air around him distorted from the pressure.
A progress bar appeared in the corner of his vision as the transformation completed.
[Name]: Wang Chen
[Class]: Super Mech Engineer
[Level]: 1
[Strength]: 500
[Constitution]: 500
[Agility]: 300
[Mentality]: 300
"Mechanical Overload is terrifying!" Wang Chen gasped.
He was amazed. After triggering Mechanical Overload, his stats multiplied tenfold, easily surpassing that of a level 20 warrior. The only drawback was the time limit; the overload would only last for about ten minutes before the suit's power would overload and shut down.
"Still... this is more than powerful enough!" Wang Chen thought, as he looked over the other two skills.
Just one skill had already given him this much power. What about the rest?