Lu Fa gradually began to understand the structure of mechas.
Logically speaking, war machines like mechas should be bigger, the bigger the better. Bigger meant they could carry more weapons and more energy. Yet in reality, that was not the case.
The higher a mecha's rank, the smaller it became. Ordinary Yellow Standard Mechas generally stood over twelve meters tall, Purple-rank Mechas were ten meters tall, and Black-Grade Mechas were only eight meters tall. Red Mechas, meanwhile, were no more than six meters tall.
The reason was simple. Being large made them conspicuous targets, making them easier to hit in battle. Moreover, if a defensive shield had to cover the entire body, the energy consumption would be immense.
Second, there was the issue of money. Ordinary white- and yellow-rank mechas did not matter much, since they could be forged using standard mass-produced metals.
But Purple-rank Mechas were different. Their Core Formations required at least First-Grade Thousand Refinement or Spirit-refined Metal, while their frames had to be made with Hundred-Refinement Metal. And that was only the minimum requirement.
Black-Grade Mechas had even higher requirements. The metal for their Core Formations had to be at least Soul-Forged Metal. At the same time, the metal needed for their frames had to be at least Spirit-refined Metal or Fusion Forging Metal.
To become an advanced Mecha Master, it was not enough to be strong. One also needed money. Either one's family had a solid foundation, or one had to rely on wages, bonuses, and outside sponsorships.
For example, if a commoner in the Federation wanted to acquire a Black-Grade Mecha of their own, they first had to accomplish something significant, then prove their identity was clean, and finally pass layer after layer of review before the Federation would offer assistance.
Of course, the Federation