Chapter 4

Wang Qianduo already had a Legendary weapon, but he still followed the guide NPC to the warehouse.

If he didn't go there, he couldn't advance the story. He didn't know where Star Sector Three was, either, so he still had to rely on the quest markers to guide him!

Besides, a Mecha could equip three weapons to start with. Only one of them gave stat bonuses, but having multiple ways to attack was still a good thing.

And what if this beginner weapon had some special effects?

The beginner equipment in the warehouse was a dazzling array of blades, spears, halberds, and all kinds of other weapons.

After much deliberation, Wang Qianduo chose a mechanical crossbow to make up for his lack of ranged attacks.

But he was clearly overthinking it. The thing didn't have any special effects at all.

X1-Type Mechanical Crossbow (Common 100%)

Crossbow

Usable by Level 1+ Agility-type Mechas

Attack +2

Agility +1

Strength +1

Attack Speed: 2 seconds/arrow

Note: Mass-produced Mecha equipment for individual soldiers. Can automatically produce energy arrows.

"After seeing Minghong's stats, this thing can't even compare!" Wang Qianduo said as he looked at his new equipment in his inventory. Still, he equipped it on his Mecha.

"Let's go. Time to do some quests!"

After equipping his Mecha with the crossbow, Wang Qianduo left the residential area and headed to the spot in the public area where he could summon his Mecha.

Then, using the method he'd learned on the forums, he summoned his Unit Zero.

He pressed a finger to the six-pointed star on his wrist and softly called out:

"Come forth, Unit Zero!"

The line was a little embarrassing, but Wang Qianduo didn't have time to complain about it.

As soon as he finished speaking, he found himself slowly rising into the air. Light shimmered around him, and the Mecha that had been a holographic projection appeared out of thin air, enclosing him inside.

Unit Zero made its grand entrance!

But before Wang Qianduo could even start marveling at it, he suddenly felt unsteady on his feet. He stumbled twice, failed to regain his balance, and dropped straight to his knees.

He grabbed the "ground" with his hands to steady himself.

As he held that pose, Unit Zero appeared in the real world in the same position.

"Hahaha! Which big shot is this? He didn't even finish the beginner quests before coming out!"

The surrounding players had seen Wang Qianduo's embarrassing moment clearly. Someone even took a screenshot and turned it into a meme, captioning it, "Allow me to wish you an early New Year!"

Before long, the meme had gone viral across the internet.

"Captain, look at that guy. He's still kneeling! That's what you get for not doing the beginner quests properly," said the pilot of a pitch-black Mecha in a passing squad.

"You're making fun of someone else? Have you forgotten how pathetic you looked back then?" said the pilot of a bright red Mecha beside him.

"Ahem... Sister Hua, didn't we agree not to bring that up?"

"Quit bickering and hurry up to turn in the quest to General Huang. Spend the time you save looking into the advancement trials instead!" said the person in the white Mecha at the front, seeing the two of them get further and further off topic.

"Yes... But why does this guy's starter Mecha look so unusual?"

"Maybe he's some rich guy who bought a special Mecha skin!"

"That thing costs over a million. Must be nice to have money!"

"Is that so..."

Wang Qianduo knew nothing about what was happening around him. Because of the special nature of Mecha World, players talked through communication channels.

He didn't have time to check the public channel, either. He had just realized that he was standing on a Floating Platform about two meters square, with the town all around him.

This was the Mecha's cockpit. But everyone else seemed to control theirs just fine, so why was his wobbling so much?

He couldn't even stand up!

"System loading complete. Unit Zero's artificial intelligence is at your service!

Please give me a name!"

Just as Wang Qianduo was about to log off and look up a guide, an electronic voice sounded beside his ear.

"Zero! Since you're Unit Zero, I'll call you Zero!" Wang Qianduo said hurriedly. He felt like he could barely stay on his knees anymore.

"Understood, sir. Zero is at your service. You don't seem to be doing well. Would you like my help?"

After the naming process was complete, the artificial intelligence addressed Wang Qianduo.

"Yes! Yes! Yes! Hurry up!"

"Entering intelligent assistance mode!"

As soon as Wang Qianduo finished speaking, he felt a force appear around him, steadying the platform beneath his feet. Then...

He finally managed to...

Stand! Up!

Congratulations, congratulations!

At last, he didn't have to kneel anymore.

Once he was standing, Wang Qianduo tried walking a few steps. He was still a little unsteady, but at least he could move.

The Mechas in the Mecha Era were mana-powered Mechas. As the name suggested, they used magic as their power source.

That also explained how they could level up—by absorbing Magic Energy to strengthen themselves—and evolve—by using magic to strengthen their bodies.

The way to pilot a mana-powered Mecha was quite extraordinary. The space the pilot occupied looked huge, but he was actually inside the Mecha's chest, in a special space created by spatial technology.

Otherwise, even with Mechas standing around nine to fifteen meters tall on average, there couldn't possibly be that much room inside.

This space could simulate everything around it. The Mecha was an extension of the pilot, and their movements were exactly the same.

"No wonder the beginner tutorial takes several days. These Mechas are way too hard to control!"

Wang Qianduo said helplessly as he wobbled through his walking practice. He realized he might have been tricked.

The beginner tutorial might take time, but controlling a Mecha wasn't something he could master in a short while.

Fortunately, he had the artificial intelligence Zero to help him. Otherwise, who knew how much longer he'd have to stay on his knees?

"Wait, an artificial intelligence! I remember other people don't have one of these!"

"Sir, activating an artificial intelligence directly is a feature exclusive to Unit Zero. Other Mechas need to obtain an intelligence chip."

As soon as Wang Qianduo muttered to himself, Zero answered his question.

"I see. Then I'll be counting on you from now on, Zero!"

"It is my honor!"

With Zero's help, Wang Qianduo used the Space Leap device to travel to the Fourth Planet in Star Sector Three.

On the way to the mining site, his piloting skills improved rapidly.

The technology in Mecha World was about on par with that of Blue Star, where Wang Qianduo lived. Both had reached the age of interstellar exploration.

The farther a place was from the Homeworld, the more dangerous it was—and the higher its number.

Star Sector Three was entirely a beginner sector. It was basically safe, with only the occasional small group of low-level Star Beasts.

The Fourth Planet in Star Sector Three was a vast wasteland as far as the eye could see.

It wasn't suitable for humans to live on, but it was incredibly rich in all kinds of minerals.

After a short period of adjustment and Zero's assistance, Wang Qianduo finally stopped stumbling as he piloted his Mecha.

He also reached the quest location and started waiting in line to collect ore.

Because of the official announcement, the number of players entering the game had surged during that time. Almost everyone was playing.

In the past, even a hit game was lucky to have tens of millions of people online. Now, the entire world was online.

As a result, the beginner areas were packed with people everywhere. It was incredibly lively.

But for all the excitement, leveling up was proving quite difficult for players.

At this quest location, for instance, Wang Qianduo would have to wait at least ten minutes to get his ore.

And that was despite his having skipped the beginner tutorial and gotten ahead of everyone else.

The problem was, there was no way around the beginner quests. Until he completed them, he couldn't take on the main story quests that came next.

Fortunately, he had something to do while waiting. He took out the handbook that the beginner NPC, Yue Ming, had given him and started reading. Before long, it was his turn.

"Recruit, here's the ore the officer requested. Keep it safe!" A pale yellow Mecha, round-headed and with a drill for one hand, handed a box of ore to Zhao Yu.

This Mecha was called Mining Mountain No. 4. It was a specialized Mecha, the second evolutionary form of a starter Mecha—in other words, a Mecha of at least Level 20.

"Yes, sir! I'll get the job done!" Wang Qianduo replied politely, then set off on his way back with the ore.

He knew a battle was waiting for him soon. According to the guide on the forums, this was the first beginner battle, so he was trying to get used to the controls as quickly as possible.

But before he'd gone far, a wave of energy swept over him, and all the players around him vanished.

That was the sign that the story had begun. The beginner battle took place in a space similar to an Instance Dungeon.

The terrain was still that of the Fourth Planet. Dust billowed in the distance as three gleaming Mechas charged toward Wang Qianduo.

"Kid, you're unlucky to run into the three of us today. Hand over what you're carrying, and we'll let you go!" Before the three Mechas had even reached him, a cocky voice came through Wang Qianduo's Mecha channel.