The Glory of Mechs

"For survival, for glory, come join the glorious evolution."

Listening to the promotional broadcast echoing through the streets, Xu Jiang did not know whether to laugh or cry.

The first time he heard it, he had nearly pulled out his phone to call the police. It took him quite a while to realize that he had transmigrated into a chaotic and dangerous world.

After three months, he had gradually adapted to life here. If he wanted to live well, he had to awaken a Talent and become strong.

"Number 8778, Xu Jiang."

"Here."

"You've thoroughly read the Awakening Manual, correct? Please enter this room and complete your class change."

The beautiful staff member guiding him wore a professional smile as she patiently arranged the class-change process.

Xu Jiang nodded and followed her directions into a small room nearby.

The room was spacious and empty. Only a violet-red flame floated at its center. It gave off no scorching heat, yet radiated a dreamlike brilliance.

People in this world called this thing a Spirit Seed. It possessed the ability to awaken human Talents.

As he slowly reached toward it, it felt as though an electric current washed over his entire body. A cold mechanical voice rang out in his mind.

Potential activation complete. Extracting Talent.

Congratulations, you have obtained a B-Rank Talent: Mech Overload.

Congratulations, you have obtained an SSS-Rank Talent: General's Order.

Dual Talents? And one of them was even the highest SSS Rank?

Was the obvious lag in that voice because he had transmigrated? Xu Jiang secretly rejoiced.

Talent extraction complete. Strongly recommended class: Mech Warrior.

"I'll choose Mech Warrior."

Confirmation complete. Class change successful. May the glory of mechs be with you.

After receiving that cold blessing, Xu Jiang felt as though a spring breeze had washed over him. When he opened his eyes again, a stream of information appeared in his mind.

Name: Xu Jiang

Level: Level 1

Class: Mech Warrior

Talents: Mech Overload, General's Order

Skill: Basic Repair Lv1

Mech Overload: After activating Overload, mech performance doubles, and the damage of weapons equipped on the mech doubles. Duration: 10 seconds. Cooldown: 6 hours.

General's Order: Mech Soul, unyielding and ever-spirited. As a mechanical general, you may appoint certain weapons as generals. Once appointed, they will be completely bound to the host.

Basic Repair Lv1: Without needing to understand mechanical principles, use a special ability to repair machinery below green quality and no higher than your own level. Material consumption increases by 100%.

Mech Overload had too long a cooldown, while Basic Repair was purely for logistics. Neither seemed particularly useful.

Fortunately, he still had the SSS-Rank Talent General's Order. It ought to be powerful, right?

How was he supposed to use it?

Xu Jiang looked at the mech case beside him. Its metal shell stood over a meter tall and looked exceptionally sturdy. This should have been the equipment granted after his class change.

When he pressed the activation button, a dull sound of mechanical transformation rang out. The case gradually opened, revealing a set of mech armor.

Since it was a free gift, there was no way it would be an advanced mech. Xu Jiang's set was the most basic Exoskeleton Mech.

A skeletal support frame was arranged over the black tactical suit. Made from dark-gray alloy, it looked quite futuristic.

Xu Jiang put on the tactical suit and pressed the confirmation button. The mech began contracting tightly around him, and his first thought was... It's so heavy!

The dark-gray alloy structure firmly locked down force-bearing areas such as his legs, elbows, and ankles. Solid protective armor covered his chest and back, while a silver pistol hung at his waist.

It was like wearing a thick, heavy leather coat. It did not hinder his movements, but the thing was truly heavy.

If Xu Jiang remembered correctly, this model was the first-generation standard-issue mech from over a hundred years ago. It was not merely outdated—it belonged in a museum exhibit.

Compatible machinery detected. Would you like to appoint it as a general?

A prompt sounded in his mind. Without another word, Xu Jiang began patting the mech all over his body.

Congratulations. Appointment successful.

Huh? It had succeeded that easily? Let's check the attributes.

T-1000 Exoskeleton Mech (Lieutenant General)

Type: First-generation light Skeletal Mech

Quality: White

Weapon Slots: Desert Eagle Pistol, Empty, Empty, Empty

Mech Weight: 40 kg

Attributes: Increases explosive limb strength by 80 kg.

Desert Eagle Pistol (Colonel)

Quality: White

Magazine Capacity: 7 rounds of 12.7 mm ammunition

When Xu Jiang saw those attributes, his heart went cold.

What was the difference between before and after the appointment?

It was still basic equipment, still without much of an attribute boost. It was utter garbage.

Just as Xu Jiang was agonizing over it, the broadcast urged him to hurry. He could only quickly remove his armor and leave the class-change room.

Outside the room was still the same sweetly smiling receptionist. But when she saw him dragging a mech case marked T-1000, her smile stiffened slightly.

"Mr. Xu, did you successfully complete your class change? Would you like vocational training? I can help you fill out the form. What class did you get?"

"Mech Warrior."

"What Talent?"

"B-Rank Mech Overload."

"Skill?"

"Basic Repair Lv1."

"Take the form and fill it out yourself over there. I'm very busy. Next."

"..."

Was she really being that blunt? Her expression changed faster than the pages of a book. Xu Jiang helplessly shook his head.

It was obvious that this beautiful receptionist had been looking to land a wealthy husband. That earlier smile had been an investment.

Clearly, Xu Jiang's Talent and class were the kind that offered no return whatsoever. Her expression froze, and she directly drove him away in disgust.

"Hmph! Thirty years in the east, thirty years in the west. Never bully a poor youth! One day, we'll rise!"

"That's right! Today, you ignore us. Tomorrow, you'll be beyond our reach."

Those were such cringeworthy, hot-blooded vows that even Xu Jiang felt embarrassed listening to them. More importantly, he had not said them!

Xu Jiang walked into a corner and patted the mech case beside him.

"Were you the one talking just now?"

Though the voice had entered his mind directly, he could clearly sense that it came from his new equipment.

"Greetings, General. I am your subordinate, Desert Eagle. You may call me Little Deagle."

The Desert Eagle trembled slightly, and a young man's firm, resonant voice came through, as though he were standing at attention and saluting him.

"You can talk?" Xu Jiang's mind went a little blank.

"Reporting to the General, yes. Your power has allowed us to awaken successfully. The glory of mechs shall surely bloom."

Such fanatical enthusiasm made Xu Jiang unable to resist checking the attributes again. Fine, they were still two pieces of basic equipment. With this combat power, could they really rise?

As though sensing Xu Jiang's doubts, another female voice sounded in his mind.

"General, we will definitely reclaim the humiliation you suffered today. As long as we keep leveling up, we can become stronger."

Hmm, that actually sounded quite reasonable.

As far as Xu Jiang knew, class changes could result in many special classes, but among them all, Mech-type classes leveled up the fastest.

Replacing a layer of alloy armor or picking up a large-caliber cannon all counted as improvements! Compared to classes that needed meditation and cultivation, it was far more straightforward.

Besides, his General's Order could grant sentience to machinery. With a group of weapon spirits helping him, his combat power would definitely soar.

With that thought, Xu Jiang was full of confidence. He filled out the form, found the deserted registration counter in the corner, and handed it over.

Unlike the enthusiastic female sales representatives outside, the receptionist here was clearly much shabbier.

One chair, one desk, and an old man drinking tea.