Raleigh had already studied the mechanics of Mech Modules thoroughly before entering the Basic Trial. These special items weren't just tools,they were extensions of the Mech itself, capable of significantly enhancing its attributes and abilities. Their plug-and-play nature allowed for countless combinations, letting a Mech adopt completely different combat forms depending on the installed modules.
At this moment, the Zero-Type Mecha only had two Root-Tendril Enhancement modules installed, and Raleigh had already discovered three effective forms:
Brute Force Form, enhancing both upper limbs for maximum striking power.
Extreme Speed Form, boosting lower limbs for lightning-fast movement and agility.
Balanced Form, combining enhancements to upper and lower limbs for a versatile approach.
Switching to the Extreme Speed Form, Raleigh immediately felt a tangible shift in the Mech's weight distribution. Strength and Defense each dropped by one point, but Agility surged to five points,a full five times faster than the Zero-Type Mecha's original state. Every joint and actuator moved with fluidity, the exoskeleton almost seeming to anticipate his thoughts.
The Muscle Mutant, towering and grotesque, relied primarily on brute-force attacks and throwing heavy objects, but with its slow, clumsy movements, it couldn't hope to land a single hit on Raleigh. He darted and spun around it effortlessly, his motions a blur. The mutant roared in frustration, slamming a nearby pillar, but all it accomplished was to shower the room with debris while Raleigh nimbly evaded.
The Muscle Mutant's limited intelligence finally became apparent. It turned its attention toward the passage entrance, clearly intending to push aside the metal obstacles and let Primary Mutators through, hoping to corner Raleigh.
Raleigh shook his head slightly. It's smart enough to plan, but not smart enough to execute it effectively.
He observed the situation carefully. The Muscle Mutant's bulk was nearly impenetrable, its body armored with dense muscles and metal plates. Any direct attacks would have little effect. Raleigh tried throwing a small iron rod like a javelin, aiming for gaps between the plates, and even attempted strikes from behind, but the results were negligible. To inflict real damage, he had to target the mutant's tiny head, carefully exploiting the weak points.
The mutant, frustrated by the blocked passage, attempted to leap and push the obstacles aside. In doing so, it left a slight opening near its head,a vulnerability Raleigh was ready to exploit.
Seizing the moment, he grabbed a helicopter wing from the wreckage, improvising it as a massive cleaver. With the precision and speed of the Extreme Speed Form, he swung it directly onto the mutant's skull. The fragile head caved in immediately, and purple slurry splashed across the rooftop. The inflated muscles of the mutant collapsed in an instant.
A massive surge of Abyssal Aura rushed into Raleigh's palm. Two lines of information immediately appeared before his eyes:
[Killed a special mutant, obtained module: Uncontrolled Mutation.]
[Killed special mutant, obtained item: Active Repair.]
A jackpot drop! Raleigh's excitement surged. As expected of a special elite monster, it had dropped two items at once,one of which was a brand-new module.
However, the Muscle Mutant's thrashing had moved several metal obstacles, creating gaps that allowed Primary Mutators to crawl through. Raleigh switched to Brute Force Form, punching them one by one with swift precision, resealing the passage as he worked. Only then did he have the time to carefully examine the new items.
[Uncontrolled Mutation]
Rank: Zero
Quality: Excellent
Type: Special Module
Effect: Consumes three energy points to gain a random Strength increase of 3–6 points for ten minutes (cannot stack).
Description: The mutation granted by the root tendrils is a disaster,or perhaps a blessing.
This was an outstanding module. Even the minimum increase of three points matched the total attribute value of a single Root-Tendril Enhancement. A maximum increase of six points would give him the strength to directly face another Muscle Mutant without hesitation.
The energy cost and duration were also manageable. The Zero-Type Mecha's base energy recovery rate was 0.01 per second. To regain three energy points naturally would take five minutes, or 300 seconds. With no external energy sources needed, the module's boost could essentially be treated as permanent for combat purposes.
Raleigh grinned and installed the Uncontrolled Mutation module immediately, feeling the Zero-Type Mecha's strength surge further.
Mechs had limits. Each tier could hold a maximum of three auxiliary modules and one core module. The Zero-Type Mecha's three auxiliary slots were now filled. To gain further enhancements, Raleigh would need higher-quality auxiliary modules to replace the current ones,or a rare core module. Core modules were extremely difficult to obtain and definitely not something he could find from Primary Mutators. If he wanted more power, he would have to confront stronger enemies.
Turning to the second item, Raleigh's heart skipped a beat.
[Active Repair]
Quality: Excellent
Type: Item
Effect: Repairs a fully damaged Mech automatically in ten hours.
Description: Active energy flows through the armor, initiating self-repair.
Before entering the Basic Trial, General Stroud had emphasized protecting Mechs at all costs. Once a Mech's armor value dropped too low, ordinary repair items were ineffective, and a specialized repairer was required,someone Raleigh definitely could not rely on in the Trial World.
For ordinary Mech Warriors, this item was a critical emergency lifeline. For Raleigh, however, it represented a unique opportunity. By combining this with his Titan Assimilation talent, he could repair the Mech, absorb its full power, and permanently boost his personal attributes. It wasn't just a safety item,it was an enhancement tool far more valuable than even the Uncontrolled Mutation module.
Excitement coursed through him.
"The Basic Trial goal is simply to survive twenty-four hours… and only two hours have passed so far."
He picked up a nearby metal obstacle, letting a Primary Mutator tear at the Zero-Type Mecha's light-purple fiber armor. Watching the armor value gradually drop, he felt a thrill unlike any other. Calmly, he counted down as the armor weakened:
Ten… nine… eight… seven…
"Break my Mech!… break my limiter!… Titan Assimilation,Activate!"
Raleigh's gaze hardened under the helmet. The next phase of his plan was about to begin, and nothing would stop him from pushing the Zero-Type Mecha to its absolute limits.