Translator: AnubisTL
Erdan fled in a panic almost immediately, not stopping until he reached the Sha River Plains, where he finally paused to catch his breath.
Those two colossal worm monsters... their Tier was clearly far too high; his train stood no chance against them.
His hunch had been correct: this was indeed a fortuitous encounter map, but one exclusive to flesh trains.
"How could this be a flesh train's fortuitous encounter map?"
Only after confirming his safety did Erdan, utterly perplexed, begin to piece together what he had just witnessed. He wasn't unfamiliar with flesh train-exclusive maps, but mechanical trains were completely unable to enter them.
The entrance he had seen earlier had clearly been drilled through—evidence of a mechanical train's excavation. This very fact had led him to believe it was a mechanical train's fortuitous encounter map. After all, why would a mechanical train go to such lengths to access a flesh train's fortuitous encounter map?
Wait a minute...
His expression suddenly twisted into a peculiar grimace. His Tier 3 drill wouldn't have made even a dent in that wall of flesh; at least a Tier 10 drill would be required. But on the Sha River Plains, the only one who could possess a Tier 10 drill was... that guy, wasn't it?
Could this cave have been dug out by that guy?
The more Erdan thought about it, the more likely it seemed.
"Phew..."
Erdan wiped the cold sweat from his forehead with a sigh of relief. Thank goodness I didn't contact him. If he'd rushed over here all excited, only to discover that the fortuitous encounter map I mentioned was the very hole he'd just crawled out of, his face would have turned as black as coal.
That guy...
Was it really necessary to upgrade a drill to Tier 10?
Still, Erdan had to admit, the guy was leveling up ridiculously fast. He'd just checked the Shahe Plains Regional Leaderboard and saw the guy's Tier 5 train had climbed from 34th to 12th place. At this rate, he'd probably reach the top in no time.
This is absurd! A Tier 5 train outranking his Tier 6 one? It was humiliating.
"Whatever!"
Erdan refocused his attention on the information displayed on the control panel screen. The green zone "Ice and Snow Paradise" within the Kunlun Mountain Region was currently experiencing a blizzard. Rumor had it that an avalanche had exposed a massive arm on a mountaintop.
He decided to investigate.
Not every train can fly. Achieving flight requires more than just a "Bunny Cloud" accessory; it demands numerous other acceleration components.
The arm was suspended at an altitude of 2,000 meters. Apart from Erdan, few others could approach it for close-range observation.
"Let's go!"
Erdan took a deep breath before maneuvering the train back into the Kunlun Mountain Region, aiming to traverse it and reach the Green Zone of the Ice and Snow Paradise. He had no intention of venturing into the Yellow Zone beyond the Kunlun Mountain Region for now, preferring to wait until Chen Mang reached Tier 6 before exploring it together for safety.
Maybe I can get my hands on a Mecha Blueprint.
It's been so long, and I still haven't found a single one. Are these things really this rare?
"Hmm."
Inside the Goblin's Tomb, Chen Mang stared expressionlessly at the blueprint in his hand for a long moment before glancing up at Biaozi. "You're saying this Mecha Blueprint was dug up from the ground?"
"Y-yes," Biaozi nodded solemnly. "Not just the blueprint. We also unearthed a train token, some discarded pickaxes, scattered iron ore, copper ore, wood, even spider silk, and remains that unmistakably belonged to goblins."
"What a mess. You can dig up all sorts of junk down there."
"Alright, I get it. You can head back now."
Later, inside the locomotive cabin...
Chen Mang finally turned his attention to the three blueprints in his hand. One was a Mecha Blueprint, and the other two were Vehicle Component Blueprints. All three were green-grade, but the latter two were badly damaged. A long-standing experiment he had wanted to conduct had finally yielded results.
Blueprints could indeed be damaged.
The two Vehicle Component Blueprints looked like they had been ruined long ago, their once-bright colors now completely faded. Only the Mecha Blueprint remained intact.
Green-Grade Mecha Blueprint - Executioner II
Melee Burst-Type Mecha
Firepower Configuration Removed; Optimized for Maximum Defense and Speed
Tier 4 External Armor and Integrated Giant Axe; Top Speed: 140 km/h; Can sustain full-power combat for 100 hours with a Tier 2 Energy Stone embedded. Detailed specifications below:
Requires a comprehensive physical fitness score above 13.5 for optimal performance; can unleash its full potential at 14.0 or higher.
No Mental Power requirement.
Construction cost: 18,000 units of Red Heart Rock.
"..."
Chen Mang lowered his gaze to the Mecha Blueprint in his hand. After a long sigh, he stepped out of the train, lit three cigarettes, and stuck them into the ground. Looking up at the sky, he murmured, "Heavenly Father, you truly bless me."
Just moments ago, he had been wondering where to acquire a Mecha Blueprint, and now he had stumbled upon one.
Mechas couldn't be upgraded. To obtain a stronger model, one had to construct a new one using a Mecha Blueprint.
According to Xiao Ai's information, Zhang Damei was the only person aboard the Stellaris train whose comprehensive physical fitness met the requirements to pilot this particular mecha. Everyone else's physical capabilities fell short. Chen Mang immediately instructed Xiao Ai to summon her.
Before leaving, he stuck three more cigarettes into the ground as a farewell gesture to the Purple Cloud No.
Then, consuming 18,000 units of Red Heart Rock, he forged the Stellaris train's first mecha.
Standing beside the train, Chen Mang tossed a suitcase-like container into the air. The container unfolded rapidly, expanding into a towering four-meter-tall heavy mecha before landing on the ground.
Though only four meters tall—smaller than the mecha he had seen in the mechanical city—it still exuded an imposing presence when standing before a human.
The chest armor was a complex composite of overlapping steel plates, each bolt along the edges as large as an adult's fist. Scarlet lines crisscrossed the armor, resembling molten lava veins flowing across a giant's skin.
Rhino-like shoulder guards extended outward from the torso.
The cockpit was located in the abdomen, where the pilot would sit, controlling the mecha with joysticks and mental commands. The interior was equipped with various components, including a "Mini AI" and a "Mini Oxygen Machine."
The observation chamber was nestled behind layers of protective grilles. The pilot could engage enemies visually or monitor the surroundings through hidden cameras mounted on the mecha, viewing the feed on screens within the cockpit.
The mecha wielded an absurdly massive Giant Axe, its handle alone nearly four meters long.
"Whoa," Chen Mang muttered, standing transfixed before the towering mecha. He couldn't resist approaching it. After pressing a concealed red button on the mecha's knee, the abdominal cockpit slowly descended to the ground.
He opened the hatch and climbed inside.
In an instant, several cables with suction cups at their tips pressed against the back of his neck. The seat contracted inward, securing him firmly in place, while a silicone-like mold enveloped his hands and feet.
Meanwhile, the cockpit screen began flashing red insistently.
"Warning! Warning!"
"Pilot's comprehensive physical fitness is below standard. Forced operation carries a risk of injury."
Ignoring the warning, Chen Mang casually glanced at the message. The cockpit was sparsely equipped with controls. As the four silicone molds enveloped his limbs, he felt an uncanny sense of oneness with the mecha.
He tried to raise his left arm.
Inside the cockpit, his left arm moved in sync with the mecha's, rising slowly.
But...
Chen Mang gritted his teeth, straining every muscle to lift the limb. Only one thought filled his mind: Heavy. So heavy.
Perseverance pays off!
After several agonizing seconds, he finally managed to raise the mecha's left arm into the air, his back already drenched in sweat.
"Whew!"
"Not bad at all."
Chen Mang proudly held the mecha's arm aloft, a satisfied smile spreading across his face. He then maneuvered the left arm to grip the Giant Axe held in the mecha's right hand, securing the weapon before releasing the right arm's hold.
Then, in the next instant—
Thud!
The axe's immense weight sent the mecha staggering forward, collapsing to its knees.
Earlier, the Giant Axe had been planted in the ground, its weight barely noticeable. But now, as the mecha gripped it, preparing to lift it, Chen Mang truly felt its immense weight.
"So cool!" Zhang Damei exclaimed, her eyes wide with awe.
Just then, Zhang Damei arrived, momentarily stunned by the sight before her. The mecha knelt before her, its axe haft embedded in the ground, its head tilted upward to gaze at the sky like a triumphant general reporting to his emperor after a victorious campaign.
Then, she saw Lord Mang emerge from the mecha's cockpit. With one hand casually behind his back and his expression serene, he leaned on his cane as he calmly walked to the side.
"Grandpa Mang?" Zhang Damei whispered in shock. She had been wondering who could be piloting the mecha—perhaps Brother Biao—but she never expected it to be Lord Mang. She had never fought alongside him, only heard Brother Biao's tales of his deadly prowess in life-and-death combat. Now she saw it firsthand!
"Mm," Chen Mang replied impassively, his gaze fixed on Zhang Damei. "This mecha is yours now. Once you're back, familiarize yourself with its controls. There's a beginner's tutorial inside—it shouldn't be too difficult."
"Go."
Without another word, Chen Mang calmly entered the locomotive cabin and headed to Carriage No. 2. Still fully clothed, he lay down in the Medical Pod.
"Max it out. Hurry."
"It hurts."
He couldn't tell if he had fractured a bone or strained a muscle, but it didn't matter. All he knew was the excruciating, bone-chilling pain.
What kind of lousy mecha is this?
Does piloting a mecha really require such high comprehensive physical fitness?
Part of the problem, he realized, was that the mecha's frame was based on Zhang Damei's Individual Exoskeleton Armor, making it a poor fit for him. It was also far cheaper to build than proper Train Armor.
Yet both offered Tier 4 defense.
This mecha cost only 18,000 units of Red Heart Rock.
Building just one was enough; there was no point in making another when no one else could even use it.
Soon enough—
After consuming 11,000 units of iron ore, Chen Mang leaped out of the Medical Pod and strode back to the locomotive cabin. He grabbed a few extra meat sandwiches along the way, stuffing them into his mouth. Better to eat as many as possible, he thought. My comprehensive physical fitness is woefully lacking; every little bit helps.
Once inside the locomotive cabin, he reentered the Combat Training Virtual Space. He needed more practice.
Or else I'll never even be able to pilot a mecha properly.
Outside the train.
Zhang Damei sat in the cockpit, her eyes blazing with excitement as she piloted the Melee Burst-Type Mecha across the wasteland, occasionally making it leap and swing its axe.
"Die!!!" she roared, caught up in the thrill of the moment. She hurled the Giant Axe high into the air, then bent her knees and sprang upward with explosive force. Two jets of blue flame erupted from the nitrogen thrusters on the mecha's back, propelling it skyward to intercept the falling axe. She seized the handle with both hands.
Swinging the Giant Axe in a wide arc, like Noxus's guillotine, she slammed it down onto a withered tree branch with bone-jarring force.
Boom!
The colossal impact sent a cloud of dust billowing outward.
When the dust settled, a heavily armored mecha knelt on one knee, the axe buried in the ground beside it. Its mechanical eyes, glowing with a faint crimson light, stared upward. Crimson lines etched across the mecha's pitch-black surface added a touch of bloodthirsty menace to its appearance.
"So cool!" Zhang Damei couldn't stop her grin from stretching nearly to her ears. Lord Mang's signature move was undeniably awesome. She decided that from now on, this would be her MVP celebration pose. Every time she completed a mission and returned victorious, she would kneel before Lord Mang in this very stance!
A battle-scarred general returns in triumph!
"..."
Biaozi, standing nearby, watched the scene with a sigh of admiration. "You know, this kid really has a natural talent for combat. That's the first mecha on the Stellaris, and they just gave it to her. I'm green with envy."
All the train residents were mining. Even the pleasure workers, shop clerks, and cleaners were digging with pickaxes in the adjacent open area, hoping to unearth valuable resources buried beneath the surface.
No one could afford to be idle. With only 48 hours until departure, every available hand was put to work.
"You need a comprehensive physical fitness score of at least 13.5 to even pilot that mecha, and 14.0 to unlock its full potential," Old Pig grumbled, pursing his lips. He was exempt from manual labor, tasked instead with distributing supplies like Cola, bread, and water evenly among the residents within the 48-hour window, keeping watch for unknown dangers, and monitoring for residents trying to pocket contraband—especially after the first resident turned in a train token. Once one resident did it, others were bound to follow.
"When all you have is a hammer, everything looks like a nail."
The train tokens themselves weren't particularly valuable. But when someone tucked one into their pocket, it meant they were scheming, and sooner or later, they'd cause trouble.
(End of the Chapter)
📖Read [MAT] ahead on Pa.treon@AnubisTL upto c220. [+6/+14.3k]
🎁All [2] Novels can be accessed for just $6/mo.
🔥Translated [700+] Chapters and [1.42M+] Words.
[MASS RELEASE: +3031JUL25] ✍REQUESTING REVIEWS🙏