For a long time now.
Zumama had actually been preparing for the selection of the next Chieftain of the [Eunectes Tribe].
Same as the Great Chief.
The chieftain replacement ceremony for each sub-tribe was held roughly every three or four years, and the selection method naturally followed the unique and primitive tradition of the entire Tiacau people.
Dueling.
Commonly known as...
A no-rules group brawl.
Whoever was left standing at the end would be the Chieftain. And as long as a Chieftain was strong enough, they could continue to be re-elected indefinitely.
In fact.
With Zumama's unparalleled Fidia talent, she could have easily won the chieftain selection ceremony on her own strength and become the Chieftain. With her record of once fighting Gavial to a draw, if Zumama wanted it, she could even contend for the position of Great Chief.
However.
Zumama had also considered it.
If she became Chieftain or Great Chief through her fighting skills, and then tried to preach about how amazing machinery was and that they should develop it together, the tribe's people would never be convinced. Only by using the machines she built with her own hands to defeat everyone and become Chieftain or Great Chief could she truly convince them.
After all.
Based on Zumama's understanding of her own people.
With the exception of those from the [Inam Merchant Guild], most were simple-minded. They respected whoever was stronger than them, regardless of whether that strength came from a machine.
In reality, Zumama had already built a simple prototype of a mech over the years. All it lacked was a 'heart' that could truly power it. The energy supply and the design of the operating system were the most difficult parts of the entire machine.
Lucas Reeve spent half a month tinkering with Zumama and the High Priest, and a prototype engine basically came together.
Although they knew the principles and where the problems were, the materials were a significant issue. From various scraps, the three of them managed to patch together a simple engine.
Zumama gazed at the crystallization of her years of hard work before her, an indescribable excitement welling up in her heart. The High Priest flapped his wings continuously, his small glasses bobbing up and down in a slightly comical way.
"Should we go assemble it? I can't wait to see how cool [Big Ugly] looks when it starts up!"
"Yeah, yeah!"
Just as the two were about to leave, Zumama seemed to remember something and became a little dejected.
"If possible, I'd really love for the Lord God to see Big Ugly start up too. It's a shame the Lord God can't seem to leave the idol..."
High Priest: "?"
Lucas Reeve: "?"
After a moment of stunned silence, Lucas Reeve finally spoke slowly, "You know, is it possible that I *can* leave the idol?"
"Huh?!"
Zumama was startled. Immediately, a handsome soul with black hair and black eyes slowly floated out of the stone statue.
"!!!!"
Zumama's eyes widened.
She never would have imagined that the Lord God could actually emerge from the idol. She opened her mouth, but despite her shock, she didn't scream. After all, compared to the scientifically educated residents of the cities, these primitive tribes in the remote rainforest were more likely to accept phenomena that ordinary people couldn't.
However.
What surprised Zumama was simply this.
The soul's appearance was completely different from that of the idol.
The stone idol's features were almost completely indistinct; one could only barely make out a humanoid shape. But the soul that emerged from it was far more handsome. Black hair was common, but in Zumama's eyes, black pupils were incredibly rare. At least, none of her companions in the tribe had black eyes.
Moreover, the incredibly deep and ancient temperament within those black eyes was something most people did not possess. Not even the many elders in the tribe who had lived for a very long time had such deep eyes, which were like pools that had been silent for a thousand years.
"Let's go."
For a moment, Zumama was at a loss.
"Lord God! Is it really okay for you to leave the idol like this?"
"It's fine. The idol is just like a house for me. I'm just used to living in it and too lazy to move."
"??"
Zumama's eyes widened.
She never thought that the idol the entire tribe trusted so implicitly was treated so casually... just a place where the Lord God lived, and one that could be changed at will...
So... casual...
Lucas Reeve casually slipped into Zumama's body. The young woman was startled by his sudden action, but she didn't resist much.
To be honest.
Compared to inhabiting objects, Lucas Reeve actually preferred inhabiting human bodies. After all, a person's physical body was, strictly speaking, a natural vessel for a soul.
On the way back.
Zumama was still a little unaccustomed to it.
Due to the beliefs she had been taught since childhood, even though her reverence for the temple had gradually faded in her heart over the years, the most instinctual fear and worship hidden deep inside were still deeply ingrained in her mind.
Along the way.
Zumama was a nervous wreck.
The Lord God she respected and believed in was now inside her own body...
It felt like your favorite superstar had their arm around your shoulder the entire time.
Nervous!!
Zumama's heart was about to leap out of her mouth.
In the past, she could stroll around carrying an engine, but now her steps were somewhat cautious. The distance from the temple to the back mountain where she lived wasn't very far. Normally, walking this distance wouldn't even make her break a sweat, let alone gasp for air.
But after Lucas Reeve possessed her.
Zumama felt immense pressure both mentally and physically. Fine beads of sweat constantly formed on her forehead. By the time she completed the journey to the back mountain, Zumama was completely drenched.
Her smooth, fair skin, like the scales of a snake, was soaked in sweat. It resembled a damp, smooth slate, faintly reflecting the light.
As it was getting late.
The tribe was completely different from the city.
In the city, nightfall marked the beginning of nightlife, and the crowds in various shopping malls, nightclubs, and bars would gradually grow.
But in a primitive tribe, even oil lamps were considered a luxury.
In the absence of light, many people chose to sleep after dark and wake at dawn, a very healthy lifestyle.
It was only six o'clock...
But there were already few people walking around in Zumama's Eunectes Tribe.
Zumama circled around to the back mountain.
Since there was no one else around, Lucas Reeve simply floated out of her body and curiously examined the various mechanical parts scattered on the ground.
This mountain of mechanical parts showed just how diligent Zumama had been over the past few years.
At the very least...
Lucas Reeve had rarely seen anyone with such perseverance.
No one to teach her.
She could only learn on her own, over and over, from general textbooks that came from the outside world. She hadn't even had a single day of formal education before she started learning; she couldn't even handle addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division within ten.
Such learning ability.
Even Lucas Reeve could only feel admiration.
It was like...
A child who had never been to school for a single day, who didn't even know what 1+1 was, managed to get into university through self-study.
Although getting into university wasn't rare for students who studied diligently.
The starting points were completely different.
With this level of learning ability, Lucas Reeve thought that if Zumama were given a good learning environment, she might really become a top-tier expert in the future.
This kind of talent... being left in a remote, backward, primitive civilization was truly a bit of a waste.
Maybe he should just poach her for Raythean Industries.
Jessica was still young, and it was still a long time before she would inherit Raythean Industries. But when she got older, she would inevitably be considered as the true heir, and the many shareholders at Raythean Industries were most wary of the inheritance system...
They would surely try every means possible to prevent the only heir of Jessica's father from inheriting.
However, perhaps in a few years.
Once Jessica had more leverage.
No matter how unwilling those shareholders were, there would be nothing they could do...
As Lucas Reeve was thinking, he suddenly asked a question.
"Zumama."
"Here!!!"
Zumama, who was walking, was suddenly startled. Her smooth snake tail slammed onto the ground behind her with a bang, knocking a dent into the grassy ground.
"Have you heard of Raythean Industries?"
And the High Priest on the side flapped its wings and landed on Zumama's other shoulder.
"I've heard of it."
Zumama also said excitedly at this moment.
"I've heard of it too! Lord God! I learned about it from some books. It seems Raythean Industries is the largest mechanical research and development company outside this world!! The most cutting-edge technologies are all developed by this company!!"
Zumama's eyes were filled with longing.
This was like the yearning for a university that someone living in a backward mountainous area would have after accidentally learning about the outside world...
Lucas Reeve smiled slightly and extended an olive branch.
"Your talent seems quite good. If you want to leave the tribe and go to farther places in the future, you can go to Raythean Industries. A major figure in Raythean Industries and I are on very good terms. I can make an introduction."
"!!!!"
After hearing Lucas Reeve's words.
Zumama stood there in a daze for a moment.
She looked at Lucas Reeve floating in the air beside her in disbelief. For a moment... she didn't know what to say.
If it had been anyone else.
Zumama would have definitely walked up and given them a big slap. Hmph!! Trying to fool me?!!
But... what the Lord God said was definitely true!!
After all these days.
Zumama had gradually come to trust the Lord God she had once disliked more and more blindly.
In her eyes.
The Lord God was almost omnipotent!
This was the power of absolute faith.
Originally, Lucas Reeve thought Zumama would nod in agreement immediately. After all, Raythean Industries was her dream, a place to learn more cutting-edge technology. Nothing could be more attractive than that.
But unexpectedly.
Zumama's expression suddenly dimmed slightly.
"I... don't really want to..."
"Although I long to be there, I know my own limits. My foundation is very weak, and I'm not that smart. What if I embarrass you, Lord God...."
"Hehe... Little Zumama, if your learning ability is called 'not smart', then there probably aren't many smart people in the outside world. Think about it first. And let me see [Big Ugly]. You can tell me directly when you've made up your mind."
Lucas Reeve habitually patted Zumama's soft hair. As expected of a race that fused with snake characteristics, Zumama's hair was cool to the touch and incredibly smooth. This hair quality would make countless girls in the big cities who used all sorts of hair care products every day incredibly envious.
Zumama's little face blushed, and she quickened her pace slightly, her huge snake tail swinging back and forth on the ground.
*Thump, thump, thump~*
Who knows how many dents were made in the grass by the swinging of Zumama's tail.
And in the tribe not far away, in the house closest to the back mountain.
"*Tribal Profanity*, what is that Zumama doing again!! An explosion last night, and pile driving tonight?!! We have to get the Chieftain to help find her a husband... with a man and a family, maybe she'll stop tinkering with this stuff. Tinkering with this junk day in and day out, I have to sleep on edge every night!"
The trio—one person, one bird, one soul—arrived at a corner of the back mountain amidst Zumama's thumping, reaching a spot near the rock wall where a not-so-large 'mech' lay.
Wow~
Lucas Reeve was a little surprised.
This mech wasn't very tall, only a little over four meters. Its entire body was made of metal. However, due to the lack of metal forging technology, the armor on the mech's surface was practically welded together from various finished metal pieces, which made the whole [Big Ugly] look a bit ugly...
However, [Big Ugly] already had the basic shape of a humanoid. A pair of large feet supported the entire mech, and there were wheels under the feet. On the sides were devices similar to 'arms'. On [Big Ugly]'s chest was a long, black cannon barrel, and directly above the barrel was the cockpit.
This is something else...
Lucas Reeve let out a sigh of admiration.
Although it looked a bit... ugly.
But this was a primitive rainforest with limited conditions. Moreover, it was created by Zumama and the High Priest, one person and one bird. Or rather... just Zumama alone, since Lucas Reeve had discovered over the past few days of research that the High Priest mostly just slacked off and provided encouragement.
Zumama excitedly carried the engine to the back of [Big Ugly], while the High Priest habitually sat in the cockpit, ready to start it at any moment.
Lucas Reeve scanned the entire Big Ugly with his spiritual power, and a rough 3D model of its structure appeared in his mind. Although it was crude, the structure in many places was sound.
Under Lucas Reeve's guidance.
Zumama inserted the engine into [Big Ugly]'s body, connected all the pipes, and after a final round of adjustments, Zumama took Lucas Reeve far away, letting the High Priest pilot it alone.
She gave a signal to the High Priest.
The High Priest swapped the small round glasses in front of his eyes for sunglasses, looking very cool, and pressed the start button.
Along with the roar from the engine behind.
*Clank, clank...*
The sound of a tractor starting up rang out.
After black smoke was continuously discharged from the several huge exhaust pipes at the back of Big Ugly.
The four-meter-tall mech didn't explode as imagined, but instead began to move slowly.
"It... it worked!!!"
Zumama couldn't believe her eyes.
In fact, she had already mentally prepared herself for failure. After all, she had failed no less than fifty times over the years, so one more failure wouldn't matter.
When failure becomes the norm.
One tends to be unaccustomed to success.
Even as the High Priest shouted excitedly and Big Ugly started running before her eyes.
Zumama still couldn't quite believe it.
Lucas Reeve patted Zumama on the shoulder.
"You did it.."
With the back mountain covered in all sorts of mechanical parts, and after so many days of forgetting to eat and sleep, Lucas Reeve knew the effort this young woman had put in. In fact, Lucas Reeve could roughly guess that even without him, Zumama would have likely succeeded anyway. He had only accelerated the progress towards that success.
"Thank you! Lord God!!"
Zumama bowed deeply to Lucas Reeve with great respect.
All these years of hard work were not in vain!!
+5000
Lucas Reeve smiled slightly, pocketing another five thousand Prayer Power.
"This Big Ugly isn't its final form. We'll have to continue optimizing it together later to make it truly stand on this land!"
Zumama was stunned for a moment, then a brilliant smile bloomed on her face.
"Yeah!!"
And in the tribe not far away.
"Damn it!! What is Zumama doing again!! That rumbling won't stop!!! Can't a person get any sleep?!!!"