People contaminated with Abyssal Aura had a higher probability of Awakening an Abyssal Mark. Raleigh was the first,but he certainly wouldn't be the last.
General Stroud gathered all the survivors in a semi-circle, his silver-black armor gleaming faintly under the dim light. He cleared his throat and began to speak.
"You may have already read something about the Abyss online," he said, his voice firm but calm, "but since it concerns your lives, I'll explain it again, briefly."
"The Abyss is like countless fragments of shadow, reflecting myriad worlds. It contains an almost infinite number of world shadows. You might encounter desolate alien planets crawling with giant beasts, step into nations where magical arts dominate, or even wander through post-apocalyptic cities filled with mutants…"
A shiver ran through the survivors at the last words. Some looked wide-eyed, others unconsciously backed a step.
"The Mech Warrior's mission," General Stroud continued, "is to extract Abyssal Aura from these Old Shadows and obtain materials to strengthen your Mech Armor."
He paused, scanning the hopeful looks in some of the survivors' eyes. A shadow of disappointment passed over his face.
"However… you are not Mech Warriors. Even if you have Awakened an Abyssal Mark, you have not yet passed the trial, nor have you undergone any combat-related training."
He let the weight of his words sink in, and the room grew quieter.
"Facing enemies in the Abyssal Shadows," he said slowly, "the only thing you can rely on is a Zero-Type Mecha. You should know that the Zero-Type Mecha has only ten points of armor value."
A few survivors whispered among themselves, unsure what that meant.
"What does that mean?" a timid voice finally asked.
General Stroud's eyes narrowed slightly. "Even if the enemies in the Basic Trial are relatively weak, a single heavy strike can deplete one point of armor value. Ten points can withstand… at most, ten attacks. Once this limit is exceeded, your Mech Armor is completely destroyed and returns to your Abyssal Mark, awaiting repairs. At that moment, you will face those terrifying monsters with your mortal flesh."
Raleigh's pulse quickened. He glanced at the overturned bus not far away,the side of the vehicle still bore long, jagged wounds. Mortal flesh against monsters like that… it was suicide.
"So," General Stroud said, raising a hand to silence the murmurs, "what I want to tell you is simple: avoid combat. Don't go looking for fights in the Basic Trial to get a top evaluation. Among those who think they can storm through recklessly, only one in ten usually survives."
He let that sink in. A few survivors paled and straightened in their seats, eyes darting nervously around the ruined training area.
"What you need to do," General Stroud continued, "is observe, avoid danger, and find a safe place immediately. As long as you survive for twenty-four hours, you pass the trial and become an official Mech Warrior. Once you've mastered your Abyssal Mark, you can freely enter and exit the Abyss for exploration, and purchase materials to strengthen your Mech Armor."
He paused again, letting the weight of experience in his tone resonate. "Naturally, growth takes time. There's no need to rush."
Scanning the crowd, General Stroud nodded slightly. These newcomers didn't seem like reckless hotheads,they would likely survive if they followed the rules. As for Raleigh… though his face was hidden behind the full-face Mech helmet, General Stroud could tell the timid young man would obey and hide when necessary.
"Of course," General Stroud added, "the trial world is complex. Avoiding combat entirely may not always be possible. That's why, before the trial begins, I will teach you the basic self-defense techniques for the Zero-Type Mecha."
He leaned forward slightly, voice firm. "If you're unlucky and an Abyssal Monster damages your armor too quickly, don't panic. When you kill a monster, your Abyssal Mark will absorb Abyssal Aura and grow. It may even condense into items, materials, or modules. The drop rate in the Basic Trial is high,you could find materials to repair your armor or restore your points. And the world itself may hide recovery items…"
After a period of intimidation and careful explanation, General Stroud finally demonstrated combat techniques suitable for Mech Armor, sharing insights honed over countless Abyssal explorations.
Raleigh, being the first to Awaken an Abyssal Mark, was called forward to train and demonstrate tactics. His movements were careful but precise, and as he tested the Zero-Type Mecha's limits, he felt the thrill of his Titan Assimilation talent simmer beneath the surface.
Other survivors slowly Awakened their Abyssal Marks, following Raleigh's lead. Their hesitation was palpable, but so was the hope that maybe, just maybe, they could survive.
Sixty minutes passed like a flash. With only one minute left on the countdown, General Stroud stepped back, placing a firm hand on Raleigh's shoulder.
"Living is the most important thing," he said earnestly.
Raleigh stood still, watching General Stroud move to address the others. Calm washed over him, and he silently nodded. He understood perfectly. Living… surviving… that was the first step.
His mind raced with possibilities. According to General Stroud, drop rates in the Basic Trial were extraordinarily high,far more generous than in later Abyssal explorations. Evaluation rewards were also greater, often giving powerful Mech Warriors a jumpstart on Core Mech Armor development. This was the Abyss rewarding the brave newcomers.
And Raleigh was different from the others. His talent, Titan Assimilation, enhanced his main body directly.
When other Mech Warriors' armor was damaged, they were reduced to mortal flesh, losing nearly all combat effectiveness. Raleigh, however, could absorb the Mech's attributes. His strength, speed, and resilience would remain intact.
Under the dark helmet, his gaze hardened. The next time a monster appeared, he would not sit idly by. He would take the initiative to fight, absorb their power, and become stronger. Only by growing could he survive,he would not let fear dictate his fate.
The numbers on the screen before him zeroed out, transforming into flowing black text:
[The trial is about to begin.]
[Welcome to the Abyss.]
A dark rift opened silently in the sky above, and Raleigh felt himself plummeting.
[Current Location: Ruins of Mutation]
[Level: Zero]
[Difficulty: Trial]
[Mission: Survive twenty-four hours]
[Description: In Creation Era 3399, an extraterrestrial meteor fell into the city. Within thirty minutes, a biochemical virus spread rapidly, turning over ninety percent of the population into mutants. The Empire attempted a large-scale eradication forty minutes later, but the virus had already reached the outside world. Three days later, civilization collapsed, leaving the planet a ruin and breeding ground for mutants.]
[Friendly Reminder: This Old Shadow is a Basic Trial; no items may be brought except for the Zero-Type Mecha.]
In the concrete ruins, green plants intertwined with purple slime. Humanoid monsters with silver metal fused into their flesh wandered the streets, their movements jerky and unnatural.
Above a kilometer-high skyscraper, tangled in giant vines reaching into the clouds, a dark rift tore open. From it, a warrior in silver-black exoskeleton armor fell, crashing onto the helipad in a cloud of debris.
Raleigh gritted his teeth, his pulse racing. The trial had begun. Survival was no longer a lesson,now, it was a fight.