Apocalyptic Mechanist Section 12

[Life Ascension in progress...]

The next moment, an even more immense surge of heat erupted, enveloping Jiang Xiao from the inside out.

Fortunately, the discomfort came and went quickly.

It lasted less than ten seconds before receding completely.

Jiang Xiao instinctively braced himself on the ground to stand up, but a crisp sound echoed as the brick floor beneath his palm instantly cracked!

"?"

[Life Ascension complete]

[Primary Starry Human — Spirit Energy Affinity: Medium, Source Energy Affinity: Medium+]

[Talent Value (Dual Talent): 2.58]

[Note: Talent Value is an independent multiplier. The amplification intensity is based on baseline intelligent lifeforms in the universe. For example, if Source Energy Strength is 50, the Source Energy quality and magnitude for a Primary Starry Human are 2.58 times that of an ordinary human.]

Holy crap?!

Jiang Xiao's eyes widened. "What the heck? Is there a stat system in the Endless Starry Sky?"

[Retrieval system has been upgraded. It can now scan the tier and talent value of biological targets no more than two tiers above the player.]

Carefully controlling his strength, Jiang Xiao slowly stood up.

"A twofold difference in Source Energy and Spirit Energy means at least ten points in strength difference. I wonder what the Viper Race's talent value is. They don't feel much stronger than ordinary humans."

While adapting to his body's strength, Jiang Xiao observed the radar map.

So, the next step was to end this brief game.

Chapter 13: Slaying, Thunder Cannon Floating Cannon

Perhaps due to the Origin Data, Jiang Xiao had extremely high control over his body.

In less than fifteen minutes, he could skillfully control the explosive increase in strength that was several times greater, and even the surging Source Energy within him moved with ease.

Feeling he had adapted sufficiently, Jiang Xiao looked up at the person in front of him.

"Personal status."

[Player: Jiang Xiao]

[Level: Tier 2 (Evolution: 0%)]

[Talent Ability: Origin Data]

[Talent Value (Dual Talent): 2.58]

[Dual Energy Affinity: Medium (12 EXP/h)]

[Source Energy Strength: 50 (21/1000)]

[Spirit Energy Strength: 10 (0/300)]

It takes 1000 experience points to increase by one point?

"I'll just have to take it one step at a time."

With a thought, Jiang Xiao unleashed a semi-transparent silver-white stream of energy that burst from his body, enveloping him like a blazing inferno.

Source Energy Aura, the iconic symbol of Tier 2!

Standing within the fierce Source Energy Aura, Jiang Xiao felt his physical fitness significantly increase again, and the destructive power and defense brought by this aura were quite formidable!

A casual step left clear footprints on the brick floor.

Unlike the dense and hard Source Energy of the Tier 2 Viper Race, Jiang Xiao's Source Energy was quite balanced and surging. Whether for offense, defense, or strength enhancement, the effects were incredibly fierce.

The martial artist on the Doran had said this was due to differences in race. Ordinary humans' Source Energy had no outstanding effects; it was very balanced.

Martial artists of races like the Viper Race excelled in strength and defense.

Primary Starry Humans evolved from ordinary humans, so their Source Energy effects were naturally balanced as well. Of course, no matter how balanced, with the Talent Value in play, their defense and strength were still beyond what the Viper Race's so-called 'specialty' could match!

Jiang Xiao suddenly saw his reflection in a worn-out mirror nearby.

A young man about 1.9 meters tall with messy black hair, his upper face covered by metal goggles, revealing only a slightly thin lower face.

Did he grow two centimeters taller?

Not only that, but his pores had shrunk to the point of being barely noticeable, and the reticulated skin texture had completely disappeared.

Except for his eyebrows, hair, and eyelashes, there wasn't a single hair on his body!

Thinking of something, Jiang Xiao looked down at his palm and smiled with satisfaction. "Good, no fingerprints or palm lines either."

It had to be said, the life form of a Primary Starry Human was indeed quite advanced. At the very least, its metabolism was far stronger than that of an ordinary human.

He picked up his two Source Energy Battle Blades and attempted to inject Source Energy into them.

The two battle blades were Tier 1 Source Energy equipment. Source Energy at Tier 1 Peak intensity could already unleash their maximum performance. More powerful Source Energy wouldn't provide further enhancement; this was the equipment's limit.

However...

As the Origin Data stream covered them, the two battle blades trembled slightly. The Source Energy patterns spreading across the blades gradually shifted from blue to pale yellow, and the devices within the handles began to generate heat.

Mechanical Reinforcement!

"The increase is much greater than when I was Tier 1. Any further and it'll start to wear down the weapon..."

Enough. Let's settle this!

Jiang Xiao no longer dallied. He glanced at the radar map and flashed away.

At the same time, Guda stood on the first floor of the building with a dark expression.

Two squads of Viper Race martial artists stood with their heads bowed, not daring to make a sound.

"One martial artist killed, and they didn't even see the opponent's figure. How could the Viper Race produce such useless trash like you!"

Guda's stacked head trembled, clearly furious.

Outside Prison Star, its Viper Race was a renowned space pirate clan, with countless powerful pirate groups emerging. They had done everything from robbing merchant ships and civilian transports to attacking resource planets of intermediate civilizations.

It wasn't that it had never lost before, but it had never felt so humiliated as it did today.

"Lord Guda, why don't we wait until night and use thermal imaging to search? Without relevant equipment, he can't possibly hide his body heat, right?"

Seeing Guda in a rage, the Tier 1 Peak martial artist who had first entered the building with Guda said cautiously.

Hearing this, Guda's anger subsided slightly. Seeing no other good options, it let out a cold snort and left first.

"Then let's do that. We'll temporarily leave the building complex and act at night."

On the overgrown, ruined road, Guda slid forward with a cold face, its initial ease and complacency completely gone.

When it received the order from the deputy gang leader, it had guaranteed that it would deal with the human martial artist within a day. After all, judging by the video of the Iron Fist Brothers' demise, he was at most an ordinary human who had just broken through to Tier 2.

It was also possible he was at Tier 1 Peak, on the verge of entering Tier 2.

In its opinion, if he were truly a Tier 2 martial artist, even without equipment, dealing with an injured Tier 1 Peak opponent wouldn't require any schemes.

Who would have thought that after confidently accepting the mission, it would encounter setbacks right from the start?

First, it was provoked and toyed with in person, then three gang members were killed in secret. It never even saw the opponent's figure from beginning to end!

To it, this mission had already failed.

At least in the eyes of the gang's higher-ups, it would likely leave an impression of incompetence.

"Damn rat, how dare you humiliate me!"

Punching a utility pole that blocked its path, Guda's anger grew fiercer.

"Oioioi, the weak should be thoroughly humiliated by the strong, ya hear!"

A clear voice came from ahead. Guda, consumed by rage, immediately froze. It cautiously retreated a step and peered intently.

It saw a slightly thin human youth, dressed in a one-piece combat suit, who had appeared ahead at some unknown time.

He twirled two battle blades, their protective goggles reflecting a metallic sheen, and the exposed lower half of his face wore a brilliant smile.

After a moment of stunned silence, Guda's expression immediately contorted and trembled.

"You dare appear before me!"

Jiang Xiao tightened his battle blades and chuckled, "Yo, shrimp-headed viper, I came half a day early to block your door. Wouldn't it be a waste of my good intentions if you didn't come out?"

[Guda (Viper Race)]

[Talent Value: 1.23]

[Source Energy Strength: 58 (Tier 2)]

[Spirit Energy Strength: 1 (No special abilities)]

In terms of Source Energy Strength alone, the Tier 2 Viper Race was similar to him. However, in other aspects, there was quite a bit of difference.

The main reason Jiang Xiao wasn't ambushing but provoking him head-on was to test his current combat strength.

He still had a vague understanding of the actual increase in strength brought about by dataization.

Guda had no time for pleasantries. A dim brown aura erupted, and the several-meter-high aura generated a powerful shockwave that shook the surrounding buildings, filling the air with smoke and dust.

The ground beneath its snake tail cracked in a net-like pattern. Guda instantly crossed over ten zhangs, and a long staff appeared in its hand!

Jiang Xiao immediately reinforced his battle blades, dodged the attack, slashed at the leg, and then thrust upwards towards the opponent's armpit.

At the same time, a surging stream of Origin Data flowed along the Source Energy Aura and into the long staff in Guda's hand!

The long staff was not a Tier 2 Source Energy weapon; it only had Tier 1 strength, but it was still much more lethal than fighting bare-handed.

The sound of metal clashing echoed. Guda slanted its staff to block a slash, then its aura rapidly converged towards its shoulder, intending to tank the strike to gain an attack opportunity.

However, the moment the yellow-glowing blades touched its shoulder aura, its expression drastically changed.

It hurriedly unloaded its force and retreated rapidly.