The male [Armored Giant Lizard] was enveloped in a layer of distorted, high-temperature air, the surrounding frozen earth sizzling and crackling. Large amounts of white steam billowed from the gaps in its bone armor, resembling a steam locomotive.
"Brutal."
Watching the monster charge straight at him, Cao Dan didn't retreat an inch, letting out a cold laugh.
"Zzzzt!!!"
White-blue mechanical currents pulsed wildly around him, finally converging in his palms as he pressed them into the void before him.
Buzz!!!
A massive, pitch-black rift, over twenty meters long and wide, appeared out of nowhere between the man and the beast.
A flash of red light.
A huge, crimson metal plate, its surface crystal clear like a ruby, crashed down.
This thing was enormous, several meters thick.
This was metal refining material that Cao Dan had stored in the [Dimensional Factory], originally intended for upgrading the armor of his war machines; now it was perfect as a shield.
"Boom!!!"
A deafening explosion resounded.
The charging [Armored Giant Lizard] didn't even have a chance to brake before crashing head-on.
A massive shockwave swept outwards in a circular motion.
Mud flew everywhere, and the surrounding frozen ground churned up.
Cao Dan, standing behind the [Crimson Crystal Iron], remained as steady as a mountain.
His clothes fluttered slightly, his hair swayed a little, and he didn't even blink.
"Hiss!!!"
White steam slowly dissipated, leaving a shallow dent on the surface of the Crimson Crystal Iron.
In front of the iron wall, the [Armored Giant Lizard] was a gruesome sight.
Its wedge-shaped head was covered in blood, and its hard bone plates shattered under the immense recoil, with two broken bone spikes flying out.
It stood there swaying, as if drunk.
Its eyes were filled with mosquito coils, probably suffering a concussion.
"Idiot."
A flash of electricity struck Cao Dan's feet, and he lightly leaped onto the top of the [Crimson Crystal Iron].
He crossed his arms, looking down at the monster beneath his feet with a mocking gaze.
"Only a fool would try to fight a heavily armored tank like you head-on."
And indeed, this "Void Iron Summoning" technique was somewhat reminiscent of the First Hokage's "Rashomon" from Naruto.
Although it was only one layer, the hardness of this [Crimson Crystal Iron] was definitely enough to give this giant lizard a run for its
money. "Strike while the iron is hot."
Cao Dan didn't want to waste any more time.
His eyes turned cold, and he shouted, "Open!"
Around the still-dazed [Armored Giant Lizard], countless tiny black cracks, each half a meter long, suddenly appeared, densely packed, numbering in the dozens.
"Buzz buzz buzz!!!"
One by one, palm-sized mechanical creatures shimmering with a ghostly blue light flew out from them.
All of them were present.
This was all of Cao Dan's accumulated resources—a full forty-five [High-Pressure Wasps (Special Cao Dan Branded Edition)].
Each one, enhanced by his [Perfect Mechanical Sense], was imprinted with its own mechanical power and possessed the additional attribute of [Discharge +1].
"Enjoy my thunderous feast!"
Cao Dan slammed his finger down.
"Zzzzz!!!"
In an instant, dozens of high-voltage wasps erupted simultaneously.
Each released over 5000 volts of high-voltage current, dozens of currents intertwining in the air to form a giant lightning net, instantly engulfing the enormous giant lizard.
This was no longer an electric shock; it was a thunderous explosion.
The already severely injured and dizzy [Armored Giant Lizard] couldn't even utter a scream.
Its muscles convulsed wildly under the stimulation of the current, blue-white electric light illuminating the entire dim forest.
A few seconds later.
A rich, smoky aroma of roasted meat wafted up from below.
"Stop."
Cao Dan waved his hand.
All the wasps instantly ceased their attack, hovering in mid-air.
The monster below remained completely still.
It lay sprawled beneath the massive red crystalline iron wall, its body billowing black smoke, its once rust-red bone armor now charred black.
"Tsk, what a pity."
Cao Dan looked at the enormous corpse and shook his head regretfully.
The [Dimensional Factory], though powerful, could only store and process mechanical equipment or raw materials.
Otherwise, it would be a portable super spatial weapon of mass destruction.
"Just to be safe."
Cao Dan dispatched five more wasps to deliver several more electric shocks to the monster's eyes, heart, and other vital areas.
Only after confirming that the monster was completely dead, with no nerve reflexes remaining, did he leap from the [Crimson Crystal Iron].
"Collect."
With a thought, the massive piece of crimson crystal iron and the swarm of mechanical wasps vanished instantly, retrieved into the dimensional space.
At this moment, Xiang Cong and his men were still lying on the ground some distance away, their fates unknown.
Cao Dan didn't rush to wake them, but instead walked to the giant lizard's corpse.
He stepped on the charred, massive head and reached his right hand into the void.
A thin black crack opened, and he drew out an alloy longsword from it.
"Pfft."
The sword blade pierced through the cracked bone armor on the back of the giant lizard's neck, gliding smoothly like a hot knife through butter.
After a moment of stirring,
Cao Dan reached inside and rummaged around for a while, pulling out a pale yellow crystal the size of a pigeon egg.
The moment the crystal appeared, the surrounding cool air instantly warmed up.
"It was here after all."
Cao Dan played with the crystal core, a hint of joy flashing in his eyes.
He had noticed during the battle that the male giant lizard's neck fluctuated particularly strongly. After
putting away the crystal core, Cao Dan turned and walked towards the mountain of bones.
The headless corpse of the female giant lizard still lay there, its white bones stained with blood.
The [Bone Orchid] that had survived the battle still swayed gently in the breeze, its bone-white petals stained with blood, exuding an eerie beauty.
Cao Dan stepped on the creaking bones and walked straight to the highest point.
There grew the oldest and best-looking [Bone Orchid].
He uprooted the top-grade herb.
The moment the flower root separated from the bone fragments, a glimmer of precious light shone through the bone shards below.
"Hmm?"
Cao Dan raised an eyebrow and kicked away the bone fragments covering it.
There, six white giant eggs, each the size of a soccer ball, were neatly arranged in a nest formed by ribs.
The eggshells had faint cloud-like patterns and emitted a faint life fluctuation.
"Good heavens, so it was to protect its offspring."
Cao Dan suddenly realized.
No wonder the female monitor lizard had been guarding it and refused to leave, no wonder the male had gone berserk.
These were the eggs of the [Armored Bone Monitor Lizard].
If they were unfertilized, they would be a good meal, but these eggs clearly showed signs of life.
If he could take them back, hatch them, and tame them, they would be six living tanks.
"I'm rich."
Cao Dan walked down the mountain of bones and looked at his men lying haphazardly on the ground in the distance.
Most of these guys were still foaming at the mouth, and Xiang Cong's eyes were tightly closed, clearly his consciousness had been scattered by the C-level pressure.
"A bunch of weaklings, they still need more training."
Cao Dan sighed helplessly.
"Zzzzz."
A bolt of electricity flashed across his body, then transformed into more than a dozen thin currents, accurately striking each of them.
"Ah!"
"Holy crap!"
Accompanied by a series of pig-like screams, the group of unconscious soldiers sat up from the ground as if they had risen from the dead.
"Monster, enemy attack! Enemy attack!"
Xiang Cong was the first to wake up, still clutching his rifle, looking around in terror.
But all he saw was Cao Dan's disgusted expression and the huge, still smoking corpse of a monster in the distance.
"Platoon...platoon leader?"
Xiang Cong was stunned for a moment, then remembered the embarrassing incident of being knocked unconscious by the monster's aura.
The tall man's face turned red, wishing he could disappear into the ground.
"Um... Platoon Leader, I... I'm so sorry!"
Xiang Cong hung his head, his face full of shame. "I'm such a useless piece of trash. I fainted before even facing the monster head-on... I've disgraced your platoon."
The other soldiers who woke up one after another also hung their heads, not daring to look at Cao Dan.
As soldiers, to be cowardly before the battle even begins and to faint directly is simply a disgrace.
"Alright, stop being so effeminate."
Cao Dan walked over and patted Xiang Cong's shoulder with a strong pat, making Xiang Cong wince.
"Those are monsters that have crossed the threshold of C-rank. The pressure of their life magnetic field alone is something your current physiques can't withstand. This is a physiological instinct, not that you're cowardly,"
Cao Dan said calmly. "Fainting isn't shameful; what's shameful is not daring to stand up after fainting."
"Train hard with me from now on. Once your physiques improve, even C-rank monsters won't be impossible to kill."
Hearing this, Xiang Cong suddenly raised his head and shouted, "Yes, sir! Platoon leader! I'll train myself to death!"
"Stop talking nonsense and get to work."
Cao Dan pointed to the corpses and the mountain of bones in the distance.
"Dissect these two giant lizards for me. Take the skin, bones, and flesh. Don't forget the [Bone Orchids]. Oh, and there are six eggs. Be careful when you're carrying them. If one breaks, I'll deduct half a year's pay from your military pay."
"Yes, sir!"
...
Two hours later.
Cao Dan and the others left the forest.
At the foot of the mountain of bones, a golden light suddenly flashed.
A large, slick weasel peeked out.
It twitched its pink nose, sniffing the air intently.
"Squeak?"
The smell of roasted meat from those two annoying lizards still lingered in the air, but that didn't matter.
What mattered was the scent of the [Skeleton Orchid] it had been craving—where was it?
It shuffled along, making its way to the top of the pile of bones.
Looking at the place where the exquisite [Skeleton Orchid] had once grown, only bare skeletons remained.
Not a single flower, not even a hair.
Even the few eggs it had planned to steal for snacks were gone.
"Squeak!!!"
The weasel froze for a few seconds, then let out an angry screech.
Enraged, its golden fur bristled, and it rolled wildly on the pile of bones, kicking them apart with its hind paws.
Night fell.
Outside the biting forest, a fierce wind howled.
The temperature plummeted to minus twenty degrees Celsius, the icy wind like blades, rattling the protective barriers surrounding the camp.
But inside the camp, a different scene unfolded—a bustling activity.
Several smokeless field stoves lined up, the air filled with the aroma of food.
"Platoon leader, this smells amazing! Just one whiff and I don't feel cold anymore!"
Xiang Cong squatted by the stove, holding a metal lunchbox, drool practically dripping from his chin.
Cao Dan wasn't wearing his heavy combat uniform, only a tight-fitting tactical vest, revealing his muscular physique.
He gripped the handle of the large field pot in one hand and a long-handled ladle in the other, his movements fluid and effortless as he tossed in a handful of seasonings.
"Look at you guys, so pathetic,"
Cao Dan chuckled, flicking his wrist.
"Boom!"
A half-meter-high flame erupted from the pot.
The ingredients in the pot tumbled and leaped in the flames, all of them the most exquisite belly meat of the [Unicorn Rock Python]. The
slices, thin as cicada wings, quickly curled and changed color under the high temperature, the oil sizzling.
The soul of this dish wasn't the C-grade snake meat, but rather a handful of purplish-black, shriveled fruits that Cao Dan had casually added earlier : [Trembling Thorny Vine]. This plant, also a specialty of the Bone-Piercing Forest, is a perennial vine with neuroactive properties; its leaves and fruits contain toxins. While it's not quite suitable as a medicinal ingredient, it's a perfect substitute for Sichuan peppercorns as a spice. Cao Dan only used the thinnest oil sac on the fruit's outer layer; after being stir-fried over high heat, the original neurotoxins transformed into an intensely numbing flavor. "Out of the pot!" Cao Dan swung his ladle, evenly distributing this hearty dish, named "Exploding Rock Python Willow," into everyone's lunchboxes. "Try it, everyone. This is my secret recipe. Remember, this [Trembling Thorny Vine] is slightly addictive. You might be a little more excited after eating it tonight, perfect for night duty." Xiang Cong couldn't wait and was the first to grab a bite and stuff it into his mouth. "Hiss!!!" The moment it entered his mouth, he felt like he'd been struck by lightning, his whole body trembling. The tingling sensation exploded from the tip of his tongue, rushing down his throat to the top of his head, followed by the tenderness of the snake meat and the bursting aroma of the oil, and finally a slightly sweet aftertaste. "My god..." Tears instantly welled up in Xiang Cong's eyes, not from the spiciness, but from being moved. "Platoon leader, I've wasted my life! All that stuff I ate before was pig swill! This is human food!" Qi Quan, sweating profusely, stuffed food into his mouth while panting. "It's so chewy! The taste is amazing! If I opened a restaurant in the inner city with this skill, even the big shots in the city would line up to eat here." "Alright, hurry up and eat. After you're done, we'll go back to the three-shift system as planned." Cao Dan served himself a bowl and ate slowly. The Chinese cooking techniques from his previous life, combined with the top-quality, energy-rich ingredients from the wasteland, could indeed create a surprisingly delicious combination. This wasn't just about satisfying their appetites; it was also about regulating the soldiers' mental state. In such a high-pressure pioneering environment, a good meal was more effective than any mobilization order. ... After eating and drinking their fill, the camp gradually quieted down. Except for the sentries patrolling back and forth in the cold wind, most people crawled into their temperature-controlled tents to rest. Inside the platoon leader's tent. Cao Dan lay on his folding cot, raised his wrist, and tapped on his tactical terminal. "Beep beep beep!!!!" A series of message notifications rang out. It was a settlement list from the logistics department; the several batches of special monster materials he had ordered transported back had all been assessed and put into storage. [Account Balance Change: +14,200 Military Merits] "Over 14,000..." Cao Dan's finger slid across the screen, entering the military merit exchange system. This time, his privileges seemed to have increased due to the increased military merits; the list contained many previously unseen items. Besides the usual mechanical products, what attracted Cao Dan's attention most were the rows of technical blueprints and knowledge transfer materials. [Exchange List (Partial)]: [Blueprint: Rhein Active Drug Nanoparticles] Description: Medical black technology originating from Rhein Life Sciences, a subsidiary of Rheinmetall. Silver micron-sized particles with extremely strong targeted decomposition effects. Can be used to quickly remove blood stasis, neutralize most neurotoxins, and residual radiation dust. Required Materials: Active silver ions, Grade E or higher regenerative bio-enzymes, nanoparticle matrix… Exchange Price: 3800 Military Merits [Blueprint: Platinum Spirit Lubricating Fluid] Description: A high-grade maintenance fluid specially designed for precision mechanical joints, significantly reducing mechanical wear, increasing heat dissipation efficiency by 30%, and possessing a slight self-healing function for metal scratches. Required Materials: Liquid platinum suspension, Grade E or higher monster fat extract… Exchange Price: 1500 Military Merits [Blueprint: Simulated Skin Fiber (Military Grade)] Description: A high-molecular biomimetic material, with a touch, temperature, and color indistinguishable from real human skin, and possessing infrared detection protection. Exchange Price: 1200 Military Merits
[Blueprint: Blazing Rocket Launcher (Portable for Individual Soldiers)]
Description: A simple and brutal weapon for suppressing fire.
Exchange Price: 2500 Military Merits
…
Cao Dan's gaze lingered on the first few items for a long time.
Whether it was drug particles, lubricants, or even simulated skin, their underlying technology all pointed to the same field: nanomaterials science.
"Nanotechnology…"
This was Cao Dan's current weakness.
Although the [Magnetizer] inheritance sent by Dong Kun was powerful, it focused more on mechanical control and magnetic field application in combat, and its knowledge of material synthesis and application was not deep.
"Mechanics must overcome nanotechnology, otherwise, even if we have the blueprints now, we will still be limited by nanomaterials when creating things."
Cao Dan made a decision.
He entered keywords into the search bar and filtered out relevant knowledge books.
Soon, three e-books appeared before his eyes.
"Double Helix Polymer Nanotechnology" - Exchange: 2500 Military Merits
"Micro-Nano Fabrication Technology and Its Applications" - Exchange: 2800 Military Merits
"Supramolecular Assembly: Structure and Function" - Exchange: 10000 Military Merits (Locked: Requires Colonel-level Officer Permission)
"Tsk, permission-hungry dog."
Looking at the book priced at 10,000 and locked, Cao Dan curled his lip.
However, he also knew that one must take things one step at a time.
"Exchange the first two books."
[Deducted 5300 Military Merits, data transmission in progress...]
Cao Dan began reading. Formulas and models about molecular structure, atomic arrangement, van der Waals force applications, and self-assembly logic flashed through his mind like a meteor shower.
In his field of vision, lines of system notifications filled the screen:
[You have read "Double Helix Polymer Nanotechnology," and your understanding of microscopic materials has deepened.]
[You have read "Micro-Nano Fabrication Technology and Its Applications," and you have mastered the preliminary nano-etching process.] [
Relevant knowledge accumulation detected. Your advanced knowledge—[Advanced Material Synthesis] proficiency has greatly increased...]
[[Advanced Material Synthesis] upgraded to Lv3!]
[You have unlocked new synthesis recipes: High-strength carbon nanotubes, shape memory alloy skeleton (micro).]
"Hoo..."
Half an hour later, Cao Dan slowly opened his eyes, countless fine data streams seemingly flashing deep within his pupils.
"So that's how it is, this is the mystery of the microscopic world."
Having mastered the theoretical foundation, the next step is practice.
He didn't hesitate to squander his military merits again.
"Exchange for the [Rhine Active Drug Nanoparticle] blueprint!"
"Exchange for the [Platinum Spirit Lubricant] blueprint!"
[5300 military merits deducted.]
Two complex blueprints instantly imprinted in his mind.
[Blueprint Improvement]!
Cao Dan's consciousness sank into the [Dimensional Factory], and the two blueprints floated in the void, undergoing drastic changes under his mental interference. He combined the nanotechnology knowledge he had just learned with his other knowledge to modify the original blueprints.
[Improvement in progress...]
[Improvement successful!] [
Obtained new blueprint: [Rhein Active Drug Nanoparticles (Improved Version)] - 20% increase in efficacy, reduced side effects.] [
Obtained new blueprint: [Platinum Lubricant (Improved Version)] - Doubled high-temperature resistance, with weak magnetism, can be magnetically controlled to actively cover wear points.]
While improving these two blueprints, Cao Dan had a flash of inspiration and unexpectedly fused together a completely new material blueprint:
[Original Blueprint: High Self-Healing Active Nanomaterial (Liquid)]
"This is it!"
Cao Dan suddenly sat up in bed, his eyes gleaming.
This was what he had always wanted.
With this, plus the [Polaris Miniature Reactor] he had already mastered, the final piece of the puzzle for creating a true individual mech was finally complete.
"But before that..."
Cao Dan lowered his head, looking at his combat suit.
The [Magnetic Control Combat Suit - Silver Dragon Head] blueprint had remained in a semi-finished state since its improvement due to material limitations.
Although it was bulletproof and could transform, it lacked true biological activity.
"Now, it's time."
Cao Dan snapped his fingers.
"Snap."
Silver metal flowed from his neck, gathering in his palm and forming a writhing silver sphere.
"Go."
Cao Dan flipped his hand, and a dark dimensional rift silently opened, swallowing the sphere.
Less than half an hour later
, within the dimensional factory's space, a brand new, dark silver liquid slowly took shape.
"Come out."
Cao Dan stretched out his hand.
The dark rift reappeared, and the dark silver liquid slowly flowed out, landing in his palm.
The moment it touched his skin, Cao Dan felt an unprecedented sense of familiarity.
It was like an extension of his own body; without conscious control, it reacted instantly to a mere thought.
Cao Dan's massive white-blue mechanical power surged in instantly, imprinting the item.
[Item]: Magnetic Control Battle Suit - Silver Dragon Head (Nanosymbiote version)
[Quality]: Blue
[Material]: High self-healing nanofluid
[Effects]: Magnetic control nanofluid (can switch freely between solid and liquid states, switching speed 0.01 seconds); High self-healing metal (instantly restores itself after damage with a small amount of mechanical power); All-environment adaptation (automatically adjusts internal temperature and humidity, isolates radiation and toxic gases)
[Special Effects]: Automatic defense (built-in micro-logic chip, automatically defends against physical/energy attacks); High-speed healing (built-in Rhine active drug nanoparticles - improved version)
[Exclusive Imprint (Cao Dan)]: Rigid Body +1 (defense is further increased when locally hardened); Nano-shaping (can freely simulate the appearance of clothing, or form simple melee weapons on the body surface)...
"Perfect."
Cao Dan stopped the mechanical power transfer.
The dark silver metal seemed to come alive, slithering up Cao Dan's arm like a snake.
In the blink of an eye, it covered Cao Dan's entire body, then the light and shadow shifted.
One second it was a ferocious, full-body exoskeleton armor, the next it transformed into a regular tactical training uniform, even the texture of the fabric was perfectly simulated.
"This feels amazing,"
Cao Dan murmured, lying back down on the bed and looking at the tent ceiling.
"All the modules are almost done. Next up is the mech."
The night was deep, and the tent was warm and cozy.
Cao Dan sat cross-legged on his cot, a specially rolled cigarette between his fingers. This cigarette was made from dried leaves of the "
Crying
Sand Grass," and when lit, the smoke was a strange pale blue, carrying a slightly hallucinogenic aroma.
Taking a deep breath, the aroma instantly dispelled mental fatigue, making his mind more active.
"Hoo..."
Cao Dan exhaled a blue smoke ring, his eyes becoming extremely focused.
His consciousness was completely immersed in the "Dimensional Factory."
"Come on, let me see if I can mold you."
With a thought, countless blueprints appeared in the void.
[Power Arm Blueprint (Improved Version)], [Polaris Miniature Reactor], [High-Pressure Wasp], [Wrist Thermal Cutting Line], [Air Compression Cannon]...
and the newly mastered [Rhein Active Drug Nanoparticles]...
These scattered fragments of knowledge and technology began to combine in his mind, and the blueprints slowly took shape.
This was an extremely mentally taxing jigsaw puzzle; the slightest mistake would lead to collapse.
"The skeleton needs to be lightweight, made of ultra-light white aluminum... The joint connections must use shape memory metal to prevent wear... The energy core should be placed in the chest, with a lead layer to shield against radiation... The neural connection system still needs further optimization..."
Outside, beads of sweat appeared on Cao Dan's forehead, and he kept putting the cigarette in his mouth while it burned.
...
[Blueprints generated!]
A holographic, three-dimensional mecha model slowly rotated and appeared in the center of Cao Dan's field of vision.
[Item]: Individual Armor (Unnamed)
[Quality]: White (Common, Assembled Type)
[Specifications]: Height: 2.5 meters (on the borderline between heavy exoskeletons and micro mechs); Weight: 360 kg (even with lightweight materials, this weight is still considerable)
[Control]: Human-controlled, requires a physical fitness level ≥ 2.5 (below this value, forced operation is difficult); Auxiliary System: Basic Smart Chip (responsible for fire control assistance and balance calibration)
[Power Source]: Main Engine: Polaris Miniature Reactor (provides continuous and stable high-power); Backup Power Source: High-Energy Graphene Battery Pack (located on the back, for emergency or silent mode)
[Module Configuration]: Skeleton System: Spring-piston hydraulic shock absorber bracket (bionic structure, significantly cushioning impact upon landing); Right Arm Weaponry: Built-in [Wrist Hot Cutting Line] (close-range cutting), Palm [Air Compression Cannon] (medium-to-close range knockback/blasting), [Radiation Dispersion Device] (miniaturized, used for cleaning up environmental pollution); Left Arm Weaponry: [Portable Bionic Intelligent Nest] (can accommodate 2 high-pressure wasps); External Attachments: [Large-caliber Triple-mounted Machine Gun] (simple and brutal firepower suppression), Concealed [Stealth Sword (Alloy Improved Version)] (pop-up assassination weapon); Auxiliary Modules: Panoramic Thermal Imager, Geiger Counter (radiation dosimeter), Tactical Searchlight; Mounting Points: 3 external mounting points on each leg (can mount ammunition boxes, first aid kits, or grenades); Life Support/Medical: Back implanted [Rhein Active Drug Nanoparticles (Improved)] injection slot, automatically injected when the pilot is seriously injured.
[Core Materials]: Main Armor: Ultra-light white aluminum (alloy); Secondary Materials: Memory metal, high self-healing nano-coating (surface rust and corrosion protection)
[System Evaluation]: Industrial Waste (This is like forcibly stuffing a Ferrari engine into a Wuling Hongguang's shell and welding on two Gatling guns. Although it can run and fight, it has no aesthetic appeal or systemic structure whatsoever, and may even disintegrate at high speeds. Drivers are advised to buy insurance.)
...
Looking at the last line of extremely glaring words "Industrial Waste," Cao Dan's lips twitched violently a few times.
"No appreciation."
He snorted coldly, looking at the silver-white, mechanically beautiful behemoth with eyes full of fatherly love.
Although it was pieced together and had many illogical parts, this was the first mecha he had personally designed in the wasteland!
This meant that he had said goodbye to fighting monsters with his bare hands and officially entered the ranks of mecha warriors.
"What should I name it?"
Cao Dan stood up, walked to the tent door, and lifted the curtain.
Outside, it was still a world of ice and snow. Snowflakes, whipped up by the biting wind, danced in the beams of the searchlights like layers of white gauze.
He spat out his cigarette butt, gazing at the steel watchtower that stood firm against the cold wind.
"Let's call it [Frost No. 1]."
The moment the name was decided, the long-absent system notification sounded again, and this time, it was exceptionally pleasant.
[You have successfully created the first complete "Mecha" blueprint!]
[This is an important step towards becoming a "Mechanical Overlord."] [
Rewards being distributed...] [
Received: Intermediate Skill Enhancement Card * 1] [Received:
Basic Skill Enhancement Card * 3] [Received: Special Blueprint * 1] [Received: New Specialization - Reverse Engineering] Cao Dan's eyes lit up. This time, the rewards were incredibly generous. First, there were the skill enhancement cards. He knew their value all too well. In the professional system, Lv.5 and Lv.10 were two huge dividing lines. Lv.1 - Lv.5: This is the beginner stage. As long as you practice, you can level up by accumulating proficiency. Lv.5 - Lv.6: This is the hurdle between beginner and intermediate levels. Countless people are stuck here for years without making any progress.
Lv.10 - Lv.11: This is the insurmountable barrier between intermediate and advanced levels, requiring extremely high comprehension and opportunity.
Including what he had saved up before, he now possessed two intermediate cards and three beginner cards.
"That stingy system finally showed
some generosity," Cao Dan sighed.
As his strength increased, the quest system, which acted like a beginner's guide, seemed to become increasingly silent.
The daily quests that used to reward you with "a little help" were long gone.
The current reward trigger mechanism was a complete black box, entirely dependent on his own exploration—either by creating some earth-shattering invention or by defeating some formidable monster.
This laissez-faire approach, while free, also left him feeling uncertain.
"Whatever, as long as I get something, it's fine."
Cao Dan put away the cards, his gaze falling on the [Special Blueprint] gleaming with a strange blue light.
[Item]:Light Saber
[Quality]:Blue (Growth type, limited by the user, initial color is blue)
[Type]:Energy melee weapon
[Construction]:Handle: A precision metal cylinder approximately 20-30 cm long, with an internal energy focusing lens and force field generator; Blade: A pure energy light blade formed by high-energy plasma bound by a strong magnetic field, ignoring most physical defenses and possessing extremely high cutting and burning capabilities.
[Core Material]:Force Metal, an extremely rare special superconducting material capable of converting any form of professional energy (mechanical force, internal energy, magic power, psionic energy, etc.) into a high-frequency plasma state without loss, and storing and compressing it.
[Special Effects]:Cutting (Power depends on the intensity and purity of the input energy; theoretically, as long as the energy is strong enough, it can cut through anything); Charging (Outside of combat, the user can slowly pour energy into the hilt; theoretically, there is no upper limit.)
[Description]:It is a combination of damage and elegance, only a true master swordsman can wield it. —That is a legend from a distant galaxy.
"Holy crap..."
Cao Dan couldn't help but curse, his eyes wide like saucers.
"Isn't this just a Jedi lightsaber?"
Although he knew this wasteland was a hodgepodge with a haphazard tech tree, he never expected to find blueprints for such legendary equipment.
He instinctively wanted to activate his [Blueprint Improvement] feat to see if he could modify it to be more user-friendly or use a different material.
[Hint: The blueprint's structure is perfectly balanced and cannot be improved.]
"Sure enough, truly top-tier equipment often only requires the simplest design. The difficulty with this thing isn't in the technology, but in the Force metal."
He'd never even heard of this material.
"Looks like I'll have to keep an eye out for this special ore in the future. If I find this stuff, I can become a Jedi too."
Cao Dan reluctantly put away the blueprints.
Although he couldn't build it for now, it was a wonderful idea.
Then, he looked at the last reward: a new feat.
[Specialty: Reverse Engineering]
[Description]: As an excellent mechanic, you must not only know how to build, but also how to dismantle. You can reverse engineer the manufacturing principles and blueprints of any mechanical device, electronic device, or even some biomechanical bodies by disassembling them.
Effect: When disassembling an item, there is a certain probability (based on the mechanic's knowledge and skills) to directly obtain the complete manufacturing blueprints of that item, or learn related key technologies.
Cost: The reverse-engineered item will suffer varying degrees of damage, or even be completely destroyed.
"Amazing skill!"
Cao Dan slapped his thigh.
This specialty was a godsend for him right now.
What is the wasteland lacking the most?
Various advanced technologies left over from previous civilizations.
"This is a huge win."
Cao Dan was satisfied.
After calming his excited mood, he sat back on the bed.
"Let's get started!"
Now that he had the blueprints, he couldn't just leave them on paper.
Cao Dan took a deep breath, and the mechanical power within him surged again, pouring into the [Dimensional Factory] like a flood.
[Manufacturing: Ice No. 1...]
[Materials Input: Ultralight White Aluminum × 200kg, Memory Metal × 50kg, Polaris Reactor × 1, High-Pressure Wasp × 2...]
Compared to the smaller gadgets they'd made before, the complexity of this mecha had increased exponentially.
Time ticked by.
The snowstorm outside the tent gradually subsided, and the eastern sky began to lighten.
Cao Dan's face was a little pale. Inside the Dimensional Factory, a silver-white mecha skeleton was taking shape, about 60% complete.
"I can't go on, this is my limit."
Cao Dan gasped for breath, feeling like his brain was boiling.
His mechanical power was almost depleted, and his mental energy was also overdrawn.
"Haste makes waste."
He forced himself to adopt the posture of the [Mechanical Power Cultivation Method] and began to recover.
He didn't know how much time had passed.
The sky brightened.
The sounds of reveille and soldiers washing up and training could be heard from the camp.
Just as Cao Dan felt he had regained some strength and was about to get up to stretch his stiff joints,
"Whoosh!"
The tent flap was suddenly flung open.
A gust of cold wind rushed in, and a face rushed in.
It was Xiang Cong, his face deathly pale, his military cap askew.
"Platoon...platoon leader, something's happened!"
Cao Dan frowned, a sense of foreboding rising in his heart.
"What's the panic? Tell me, what happened?"
Xiang Cong swallowed hard and said,
"Our eggs, all six of those [Armored Giant Lizard] eggs, are gone."
"Platoon leader, this is it."
Xiang Cong's face was even more ashen than if he'd swallowed a dead fly as he led Cao Dan to the tent where supplies were stored. Before
they even got close, a stench assaulted their nostrils.
"Ugh..."
Several soldiers with keen senses of smell couldn't help but nearly vomit on the spot.
"Why does it smell so bad?" Cao Dan asked, his face dark.
He held his breath and yanked open the tent flap.
"Holy crap!"
The neatly stacked supply crates were now a mess.
In the very center of the tent, there was a hole more than half a meter in diameter, its dark opening leading straight into the ground.
The ground was covered with white eggshell fragments and sticky egg yolk.
The crate containing the [Unicorn Rock Python] snake meat had also been violently torn open.
Not only was the snake meat missing, but it had also been covered with a stream of yellowish urine.
The overwhelming stench was emanating from this urine.
"Platoon leader, that beast dug a hole underground and crawled in. Not only did he ruin all six monitor lizard eggs, but he also peed on the snake meat." Xiang Cong gritted his teeth, wishing he could tear the egg thief to pieces.
"Tear down the tent for me, let it air out."
Cao Dan waved his hand, and several soldiers immediately stepped forward, quickly dismantling the stench-filled tent. A
gust of cold wind blew, and the suffocating stench dissipated slightly.
Only then did Cao Dan walk with a dark face to the pile of broken eggshells.
He bent down and picked up a piece of shell stained with egg liquid, bringing it close to his nose to smell.
Besides the fishy smell of egg liquid, there was also a stench of bad breath.
"Thud."
Cao Dan disgustedly threw the eggshell on the ground, a fierce glint in his eyes.
"Damn it, it's that weasel."
There was no mistake, this nauseating smell was exactly the same as the one he had smelled in the [Bloodscarred Vine] forest before.
It was the smell of the unique odor secretions from the scent glands of weasel-like monsters.
"That beast is so vengeful, it actually followed us all the way here,"
Cao Dan cursed inwardly.
This weasel not only stole food, but also deliberately ruined the remaining food, even urinating on it in revenge. Its intelligence was practically superhuman.
"Platoon leader, what do we do? Can we still keep this meat?" Xiang Cong looked at the piece of snake meat soaked in urine, his heart trembling with heartache. This was a C-grade ingredient!
"Cut off the urine-soaked part, find some vacuum bags to reseal the rest, and leave it there for now. Even if it's inedible, we can resell it. As long as we don't say anything, who will know it's from that weasel's urine?" Cao Dan waved his hand dismissively.
"Are the other supplies okay?"
"They're fine. Except for the eggs and meat in this tent, the other supplies are untouched. That beast only came for the food."
"Everyone, take this!"
Upon hearing this, Cao Dan suddenly shouted, his voice icy.
"Go and collect 10 electric thorn whips, now, immediately!"
"Platoon leader..." Deputy Platoon Leader Jian Xinghe hesitated before stepping forward. "We're about to venture deep into the gourd field to clear the land. Won't this physical punishment affect the brothers' morale...?"
"Affect my ass!"
Cao Dan whirled around, his gaze sweeping over everyone's faces like a knife scraping across them.
"A C-rank monster, right under our noses, with three shifts of patrols, brazenly dug its way in, ate its fill, drank its fill, and even peed before leaving. Do you know what that means?"
He pointed to the hole, his voice suddenly rising.
"It means our defenses are completely ineffective. If the enemy were to sneak in, even ten lives wouldn't be enough for you."
"Enough nonsense. Admit your mistakes, stand up straight when you're being punished. Even a three-year-old in the shantytown knows this. Do I need to teach you more?"
No one uttered a sound; only the howling wind could be heard.
"Xiang Cong, you're the squad leader, and you led the patrol last night, so it's your turn."
Cao Dan pulled a black electric whip from his waist and pressed the switch.
"Sizzle!!!"
Blue arcs of electricity crackled across the whip.
"Yes, sir!"
Without a word, Xiang Cong took off his shirt, revealing his strong back, and lay down on the cold snow.
"Crack! Sizzle!"
"Crack! Sizzle!"
...
Cao Dan didn't hold back; each lash left a charred welt on Xiang Cong's back.
After ten lashes, Xiang Cong was covered in sweat from the pain, but he didn't utter a sound.
Next was Jian Xinghe, then the other soldiers.
Cao Dan remained expressionless, wielding the whip.
Until the last soldier was punished, everyone in the platoon of thirty or forty men, except Cao Dan, had wounds on their backs.
"Are you done?"
Cao Dan threw away the blood-stained whip and looked around at everyone.
"It's over." Xiang Cong gritted his teeth and got up from the ground.
"Good."
In front of everyone, Cao Dan slowly unbuttoned his combat suit, revealing the close-fitting [Magnetic Control Combat Suit - Silver Dragon Head] underneath.
"Take it off."
With a thought, the silver nano-combat suit receded like water, revealing his bare upper body.
He stood at attention in the snow and handed the whip to Xiang Cong.
"Xiang Cong, you begin the punishment. You give one lash, then the other officers follow suit, one lash each. Ten lashes in total."
"Platoon Leader!"
Xiang Cong and the other officers were stunned, overwhelmed with shame, their hands feeling like they were holding a hot potato.
"This...this won't do. It's our dereliction of duty, how could we hit you?"
"Enough nonsense! This is a military order!" Cao Dan shouted sternly. "Xiang Cong, carry out the order!"
"Yes, sir!"
Xiang Cong's hand trembled as he held the whip, his eyes instantly reddening.
"I'm sorry, Platoon Leader!"
*Crack!*
The whip struck, and Cao Dan swayed slightly, a red welt appearing on his back.
Then came Jian Xinghe, then the other officers...
After ten lashes,
Cao Dan's back was also crisscrossed with welts, but he still stood ramrod straight, like a javelin.
The reprimand was over.
Cao Dan slowly put on his battle uniform and buttoned it up.
"I hope this is the last time."
With that, he turned and went into his tent without looking back.
In truth, these minor injuries were nothing more than a scratch to him now.
A slight circulation of his internal energy would restore most of his strength.
But he had to do it.
These veteran soldiers had come from various places; although they had some skills, they were used to being undisciplined and lacked the respect and discipline required for orders.
This time, the weasel's egg theft was a perfect opportunity for Cao Dan to use this beating to establish order.
Back in his tent, Cao Dan sat cross-legged and began circulating the [Mechanical Strength Refinement Method] to quickly restore his mechanical strength.
When Cao Dan stepped out of his tent again, he was back to his peak condition.
This time, there was no need for a troop mobilization.
Outside the tent, dozens of soldiers were already lined up.
Even with wounds on their backs, every one of them stood ramrod straight, and the undiscipline in their eyes had vanished.
"That's more like it,"
Cao Dan sneered.
"Everyone, one squad stays to guard the camp, keep your eyes wide open. The rest of you, follow me, continue clearing the land!"
...
The team arrived once again at the narrow valley shaped like a gourd's mouth.
This was the only way to the interior of the gourd-shaped land.
"Everyone, activate the [Radiation Dispersion Device]."
With Cao Dan's command, the power arms on everyone's arms emitted a faint hum, and a layer of light ripples spread out, pushing away the surrounding radioactive dust.
Last time during reconnaissance, they encountered that strange radiation evil spirit here.
But this time, everything was calm, and nothing happened.
Passing through the narrow gourd-shaped mouth, the view suddenly opened up.
This was the interior of the gourd-shaped land.
The vegetation here was denser than outside, and the air was filled with a damp and cold atmosphere.
The team advanced cautiously.
They didn't encounter any particularly troublesome monsters along the way, mostly D-rank or even E-rank minions, which were easily dealt with by the vanguard team.
Suddenly.
"Boom! Boom! Boom!"
A series of violent explosions came from afar, accompanied by the muffled thud of heavy objects hitting the ground.
"Take cover!"
Cao Dan waved his hand, and everyone immediately scattered, using the surrounding giant trees and rocks for cover.
Ahead, in the dense forest, trees lay fallen in swathes, and a group of enormous creatures were charging towards them.
Cao Dan leaped onto a branch of a giant tree and pulled out his tactical binoculars.
"Is that them?"
The charging creatures were none other than the [Mechanical Hippos] they had encountered twice before.
These biomechanical monsters, created by the Forest Surveillance Bureau, were covered in thick, rusty armor, and their mouths were equipped with large-caliber machine guns.
However, while they had only encountered small groups of three or four before, this time there were nearly twenty.
And what they were attacking was a giant centipede.
This centipede was about sixteen or seventeen meters long, with at least a hundred densely packed segments.
Its entire body was covered in a dark brown exoskeleton, gleaming with a cold metallic sheen, while the joints were covered in dark red soft tissue, like freshly quenched steel.
Its head was flat and shovel-shaped, covered with thick bony plates.
At this moment, the giant centipede was nimbly weaving through the hippopotamus herd. Its massive pincers occasionally sprayed streams of green venom, which sizzled and corroded the mechanical hippos.
However, the mechanical hippos' armor had clearly undergone special treatment; not only was it impervious to water and fire, but the strong acid venom actually removed the surface rust, revealing a gleaming new metallic layer beneath.
"Platoon leader, that centipede looks like the same monster that attacked Captain Li Buyong before,"
came Huang Shan's voice through the communicator.
"Oh? What a coincidence," Cao Dan's eyes flashed with a sharp light. "Don't move yet, let's sit back and watch the fight."
The battle between the two monsters had reached a fever pitch.
This giant centipede was enormous, and the exoskeleton on the back of each segment had evolved a structure similar to magnetic armor, capable of deflecting most kinetic weapons.
The mechanical hippos' machine guns mostly deflected the fire, sending sparks flying.
But their sheer number made up for it.
The mechanical hippos' coordination was flawless: five held the line, five flanked, and the rest provided suppressive fire from the outside.
This tactical sophistication was far beyond that of uncontrolled bio-machines.
"There must be a command-type mechanical unit operating around here,"
Cao Dan surmised, scanning the surrounding treetops for a command center similar to the "image bats."
Just then, the centipede began to falter.
It rammed into a mechanical hippo blocking its path, its hundred legs moving in unison as it leaped up a towering tree, attempting to use the terrain for escape.
"Prepare for battle! If this beast tries to run this way, blast it!" Cao Dan whispered the order.
However, the herd of hippos below gave it no chance to escape.
"Crack! Crack!"
The mechanical hippos simultaneously opened their gaping maws, revealing the dark cannons deep within their throats.
This time, it wasn't ordinary machine guns, but missiles!
"Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!"
Small, arm-thick homing missiles, trailing long plumes of flame, whistled out.
A barrage of attacks!
"Boom!!!"
The intense explosions instantly engulfed the giant tree.
Even with its incredibly agile movements, the giant centipede had no chance against this saturation of homing fire.
Its hard exoskeleton was blasted to pieces, and green blood rained down.
"Screech!!!"
With a scream, the behemoth crashed heavily from the tree, shaking the ground.
Before it could even get up, the swarm of mechanical hippos had already charged forward, beginning their brutal trampling.
Steel hooves pounded furiously on the centipede's body, producing a continuous cracking sound.
This centipede was a ruthless creature.
Seeing no hope of escape, it suddenly raised its head, spewing a thick stream of purplish-black venom from deep within its mouthparts, and frantically burrowed its shovel-shaped head into the ground.
"Whoosh..."
Dirt flew everywhere.
It has to be said, this thing's burrowing talent was practically maxed out.
In just a few moments, its massive body had burrowed into the hard frozen soil, disappearing completely from the ground.
The group of mechanical hippos circled the burrow a few times, letting out a series of dissatisfied growls.
They didn't leave immediately, but instead circled around, their pairs of flashing red electronic eyes constantly scanning the surroundings, seemingly waiting for some new command.
"This is troublesome."
Cao Dan frowned slightly as he watched this scene.
These metal lumps were stubbornly refusing to leave, blocking their path.