Item Name: Mechanical Power Arm (Excellent Grade)
Arm Armor: +600 Strength: +15 Evaluation:This is an exceptionally well-made Mechanical Power Arm. Its refined details significantly enhance its effectiveness and utility.
From the original 300 armor and +10 Strength, it had doubled to 600 armor and +15 Strength.
The improvement was astonishing.
Firefly took a deep breath, once again marveling at how overpowered her exclusive skill, Mechanical Affinity, truly was.
With the same materials, she not only had a higher success rate than others but also produced gear of significantly higher quality. It was like getting premium returns for standard investment.
Unable to resist, Firefly equipped the Mechanical Power Arm immediately.
The silver-toned armguard fit her right arm perfectly, sleek and minimal in design. Most of it was hidden beneath her clothing, with only the back of her hand exposed—revealing a gleaming silver gauntlet.
As soon as she equipped it, a surge of strength coursed through her body.
A full +15 Strength—the equivalent of five level-ups for a normal player.
In Star Trail, Armor acted as a white bar layered over Health. Damage would deplete armor first; only once it hit zero would Health begin to drop. It was essentially an extra health bar.
However, the armor value from the Mechanical Power Arm only applied to her right arm. Attacks to other unprotected areas would still damage her Health directly.
Still, for early-game equipment, this was incredible. Most players wouldn't even see gear of this caliber until much later in the game.
As Firefly admired the armguard, a knock came at the door.
She walked over and opened it.
Standing there was Xiya, her two fluffy fox ears drooping, big eyes looking up at her with a pitiful expression.
"Sister Firefly… um… I'm hungry…"
Firefly blinked, realizing how late it had gotten—and that she hadn't eaten either.
She gently patted Xiya's head.
"Alright. Let's go eat."
They walked hand-in-hand to a mechanical-themed restaurant. The interior resembled a cozy bar, with only a few patrons scattered about. The atmosphere was relaxed and quiet.
The place was called Mechanical Storm.
Firefly remembered it from forum posts in her previous life. It was a favorite haunt of Mechanic-class NPCs. Some players had even learned rare skills or obtained blueprints from high-level NPCs here.
At that very moment, Te Xi sat at the bar, visibly troubled.
As the Dean of Instruction at the Gears and Power Academy—the top Mechanic school in Xuta City, second only to the capital's City of Machines—she was rarely stumped.
But today, she was.
A student had brought her a Mechanical Arm for repair. Te Xi, proud and meticulous, couldn't admit she was struggling—especially since the student was the child of a high-ranking official.
She sipped a drink that looked suspiciously like engine oil and stared at the device.
"Could it be the joint connection point…?"
A soft, gentle voice interrupted her thoughts.
Startled, Te Xi turned.
Standing nearby was a silver-haired girl with an almost ethereal beauty. Even as a fellow woman, Te Xi found herself momentarily stunned.
But she quickly composed herself.
"Joint…?"
She examined the elbow joint again but found nothing unusual.
Then her eyes drifted to the girl's right hand—partially concealed beneath her sleeve, but just visible was a sleek, silver gauntlet.
Its craftsmanship was exquisite. The smooth plating, the subtle glow—it wasn't something just anyone could make.
Te Xi's gaze sharpened.
"Beautiful lady, would you mind taking a look at this for me?"
After only a moment's hesitation, she handed over the student's Mechanical Arm.
Firefly accepted it. Xiya, seated beside her and happily munching on grilled meat, watched curiously.
The moment Firefly held the device, she frowned.
Item Name: Crude Mechanical Arm (Junk Grade)
Arm Armor: +50 Strength: +2 Agility: –2 Evaluation:A poorly manufactured Mechanical Arm. The materials and construction reflect the creator's lack of skill. Incorrect joint materials result in excessive rigidity and poor flexibility.
It wasn't entirely useless—suitable for Strength-focused players who didn't rely on Agility. Maybe a front-line tank.
But compared to the Mechanical Power Arm Firefly had just crafted, it was worlds apart.
The reason she'd spoken to Te Xi in the first place was because she'd noticed the steaming gear emblem on her coat.
That emblem belonged to the Gears and Power Academy—the premier Mechanic institution in Xuta City.
In her previous life, players had gone to great lengths to enroll there, even as ordinary students.
And being an "ordinary student" was no small feat.
The academy taught essential Mechanic skills like:
Mechanical ManufacturingMechanical MasteryEnergy Control
Skills that were nearly impossible to learn elsewhere.