He Hao groaned a few times before slowly opening his eyes.
At first.
His vision was a blur.
After a moment.
His sight gradually came into focus.
And then he saw a huge figure, brimming with a sense of metal and weight.
He was somewhat dazed.
It felt familiar.
Then he suddenly remembered that it wasn't his mech.
Black Thunder?
After killing the giant beast, Black Thunder had stood up.
The armor plating on its abdomen and fists was still falling away.
Bright sparks leaped from the damaged parts of the mech.
They spoke of the battle's ferocity.
The sunlight was fierce.
It outlined Black Thunder's heavy frame in golden light.
Like a black God of War.
It stood proudly between heaven and earth.
At that moment, Black Thunder's cockpit opened, and someone climbed out.
That person braced a hand against the mech's pitch-black armor, raised his head, and closed his eyes.
He bathed in the sunlight covering the ground.
On the ground.
Everyone stared at the figure dyed golden by the sunlight.
They were awestruck.
All of them were shaken.
Several seconds passed.
He Hao suddenly shouted, "Which bastard took my Black Thunder?"
Only then did Li Bohang, Zeng Shan, and the other students realize that the third-year student had woken up.
Li Bohang hurriedly explained, "It was Classmate Luo."
"Senior Student He, don't blame him."
"If he hadn't killed the two giant beasts, we would all have been in danger."
"He killed two giant beasts?" He Hao looked around and finally saw the corpses of Lili and the Si-beast.
Then he touched his chest. "That's not right. I'm still wearing my Combat Suit. How was he able to start the mech?"
Li Bohang adjusted his glasses and said, "My guess is that Classmate Luo may be an Innate Resonator."
"An Innate Resonator?"
Zeng Shan and the other students looked bewildered.
They had no idea what that was.
He Hao, however, shuddered from head to toe.
Then he muttered, "So that's why. So that's why."
So Luo Yan was an Innate Resonator.
No wonder Di Zheng had been willing to support a wild kid from the surface to the point of letting him fight a Death Match.
If he was an Innate Resonator, everything made sense!
By then, Zeng Shan and the others were already peppering him with questions. "Student Li, what is an Innate Resonator?"
Li Bohang smiled faintly. He did not keep them in suspense.
He began to explain.
"We reserve Mech Masters. Even after graduating from the Academy, we may not necessarily be able to pilot a mech."
"Teacher Zhao already explained this in Mech General Knowledge Class."
"That's right. We can't simply establish resonance with just any mech."
"Even a Primary Mecha, which has the lowest resonance requirements, might reject us."
"Some people may go their entire lives without obtaining a mech of their own."
He Hao stood up and said solemnly, "But Innate Resonators are different. Those people are born for this."
"They can establish resonance with mechs of any type and any level."
"Even without putting on a Combat Suit or connecting the neural wires."
"They can still pilot a mech."
"In the entire Guangling City, there used to be only one Innate Resonator. Now, there are two."
Zeng Shan asked in confusion, "Then Innate Resonators just have more choices than everyone else."
"And they don't have to worry about being unable to find a mech to pilot."
"But Student Li and Senior Student He, you both seem to hold Innate Resonators in very high regard?"
He Hao sneered. "Just?"
"You have no idea what being an Innate Resonator means."
Li Bohang seemed very knowledgeable about the subject. He smiled and said, "Teacher Zhao also said that Visualization Technique has different levels."
"Mechs are the same."
"Based on their performance, they can be divided into Primary, Intermediate, and Advanced."
"Above Advanced Mecha, there are Divine Guard, Divine General, and even higher levels of mechs."
"Primary, Intermediate, Advanced, and even Divine Guard mechs can have their performance improved through modifications and additional external equipment."
"This can raise their assessed level."
"However, Divine General-class and higher-level mechs cannot be upgraded through human means."
"From the moment they leave the factory, their levels are fixed."
"And the more advanced the mech, the more difficult it is to establish resonance with."
"Especially mechs above the Divine General level. Most of them possess special capabilities, so the Mech Masters who can pilot them."
"Are all extremely valuable assets."
Zeng Shan finally understood. "So Innate Resonators can establish resonance with all mechs."
"In other words, they can easily establish resonance with Advanced Mecha and effortlessly pilot Divine General-class mechs."
"That is their value?"
He Hao gave a contemptuous laugh. "You're not completely stupid after all."
"That's right. Divine General-class mechs already possess enough power to annihilate an entire city on their own."
"But not just any Mech Master can establish resonance with them."
"For an Innate Resonator, that isn't a problem at all."
"Guangling currently has only one Divine General-class mech. If we can train an Innate Resonator into a qualified Mech Master."
"Then Guangling can request another Divine General-class mech from our superiors."
"With two Divine General-class mechs, Guangling City will have a ticket to enter the Desperate Battlefield!"
"You can't imagine what that means."
While they were talking.
Luo Yan had already climbed down from the mech.
He Hao walked over.
He glared at Luo Yan.
Without saying a word, he passed him.
Then he examined Black Thunder closely.
Finally, he said, "A layman shouldn't casually pilot someone else's mech."
"Look at what you've done to Black Thunder."
Luo Yan did not respond.
But then He Hao added, "Still, for a layman, you did quite well."
"Remember to put on a Combat Suit next time. Innate Resonators do have certain advantages, but one careless moment can still get you killed."
Luo Yan looked back.
He Hao had already climbed into the mech.
A moment later.
Black Thunder started up again.
He Hao's voice rang out through the external speakers. "Let's go. I'll escort you to the assembly point."
He piloted Black Thunder over to retrieve the rifle, then headed toward the canyon entrance.
By evening.
Luo Yan and the others reached the assembly point.
After arriving at the temporary camp, He Hao went to file his report.
That night.
Wei Fenghua summoned Luo Yan to his tent.
Inside the tent, Wei Fenghua picked up a cup of water and swallowed two capsules.
Only then did he speak.
"He Hao has already told me. You piloted Black Thunder, killed a giant beast, and protected your classmates."
"Good work."
"After we return, the Academy will give you a reward."
"However."
"You're an Innate Resonator, and your potential is enormous."
"From now on, when you're on the battlefield, I want you to prioritize protecting yourself."
"Only help your comrades when you have the strength to spare."
Luo Yan looked at him and asked, "I heard Zeng Shan say that Innate Resonators are valuable 'assets'?"
Wei Fenghua nodded. "That's right."
Luo Yan was slightly puzzled. "If that's the case, why didn't the Academy or Commander Di stop me from fighting the Death Match?"
"If I had died, wouldn't that have meant losing a valuable asset?"
Wei Fenghua smiled. "A treasured sword is honed through trials, and plum blossoms release their fragrance after enduring bitter cold."
"Do you understand?"
All of Luo Yan's doubts vanished.
He nodded forcefully. "I understand!"
Before you continue