I've successfully awakened my Abyssal Mark!
Raleigh's face lit up as he stared at the eye-shaped mark on his palm.
The location of an Abyssal Mark isn't fixed,it could appear on the face, neck, hands, arms, chest, or elsewhere. But no matter where it shows up, the symbol is always the same: a black eye.
A symbol of the Abyss.
At the same time, the appearance of an Abyssal Mark meant that its bearer would enter the Abyss in one hour to begin the basic trial,the first step on the Dao of a Mech Warrior.
"According to what I read online…" Raleigh muttered to himself.
"Everyone who awakens an Abyssal Mark has their potential unlocked, revealing their unique talent. Each talent is a symbol of the soul, one-of-a-kind and incredibly powerful. Just by touching the Abyssal Mark, you can see your talent information."
His heartbeat accelerated. "So… this is it. My talent… my soul's symbol…"
"What's my talent?" Curiosity bubbled inside him. He clenched his right hand into a fist, then used his middle and ring fingers to touch the black mark.
Lines of information appeared before his eyes:
Name: Raleigh
Rank: Zero
Talent: Titan Assimilation
Mechs Absorbed: None
Mechs Held: Zero-Type Mecha
Abyss Coins: 0
Items: None
…
Talent: Titan Assimilation
Effect: When your Mech is destroyed in battle, you can absorb its attributes and modules, permanently gaining the corresponding enhancements.
Enhancement multipliers increase randomly with Mech quality, starting at one time.
Raleigh froze.
Absorb a Mech's power and gain permanent enhancements?
He looked at the silver-blue Mech not far away, its polished armor gleaming under the dim city lights.
So if he used that mech in battle and it got damaged… once it broke, his combat power wouldn't drop at all. In fact, he could tear monsters apart with his bare hands.
And powerful Mech Warriors usually had multiple Mechs with different specializations to handle various combat scenarios.
If "permanent enhancements" were stacked, then destroying multiple Mechs could pile all their attributes onto him, potentially making his power utterly unstoppable.
Even more,Mechs are just equipment. They can be repaired. If a repaired mech is destroyed again, could its attributes stack a second time?
Raleigh's eyes practically glowed.
This is insane!
This… this is my Soul symbol!
And the Titan Assimilation talent didn't just absorb attributes,it absorbed modules too.
Attributes were simple, but what were modules?
He pulled out his phone and quickly searched.
Modules originated from the Abyss, a special type of item Mech Warriors used to modify Mechs. They were divided into core and auxiliary modules, giving mechs new attributes, powers, and abilities.
For example, a thermal weapon module could modify the hands or eyes, allowing the mech to emit heat lasers. An anti-gravity module could let the mech defy gravity and fly.
"In other words, modules are basically skills that give mechs special abilities."
And he could absorb them too?
A mental image flashed in his mind.
The silver-blue Mech soared into the sky, shooting a thermal laser that incinerated its target. And he? He would leap into the air himself, blasting thermal lasers from his eyes, roasting the enemy into charcoal.
"Am I… Homelander?" Raleigh laughed quietly, shaking his head in disbelief.
This talent not only boosted his power but also didn't hinder his Mech Warrior role. The stronger the Mech, the more attributes he could absorb,and the stronger he became.
Positive feedback all the way.
He glanced at the "Mechs Held" section.
The basic trial wouldn't involve hand-to-hand combat. After Awakening an Abyssal Mark, Mech Warriors received a basic Mech as a foundation, which could be improved over time.
But as a starting mech, its stats were… modest.
Codename: Zero-Type Mecha
Type: Light Exoskeleton Armor
Quality: Normal
Rank: Zero
Enhancement: Zero
Attributes: Strength 1, Agility 1, Defense 1, Mystery 0
Armor: 10 / 10
Energy: 10 / 10, Recovery Speed 0.01/s
Core Module: Not Loaded
Auxiliary Module: Not Loaded
No rank, no enhancements, no modules. Strength, agility, and defense are all at the lowest level. Yet even this was a real exoskeleton armor, far stronger than any ordinary human.
Raleigh glanced around. No one seemed to be paying attention, so he struck a pose, clenched his right fist, touched his palm, and whispered,
"Transform!"
White light surged from his palm, flowing over his body. In an instant, it solidified into a sleek black combat suit and helmet, wrapped in a silver-black exoskeleton of unknown metal. He looked like a special forces soldier straight out of a sci-fi movie.
Seeing his reflection in the side of a vehicle, Raleigh felt a thrill.
Yes. This. This is it!
At that moment, the silver-blue mech on the road turned its head. Its eyes glowed faintly, and an electronic voice echoed from its helmet:
"Detection complete. Target: Zero-Type Mecha. No threat."
A new Awakened…
The Mech Warrior inside the silver-blue Mech raised an eyebrow. The newcomer had seemed terrified earlier, frozen in place when encountering an Abyssal Monster. The weakest among this batch of survivors,yet he was the first to awaken an Abyssal Mark.
"Psychologically, he's fragile. Even if he survives the basic trial, he might not have the courage to continue exploring the Abyss…"
"Never mind. He's awakened an Abyssal Mark, so he must have some talent. Even if he quits Abyss exploration, he could still be useful in logistics."
The silver-blue Mech moved forward and extended a silver gauntlet. Its mechanical joints whirred softly.
"Hello, newcomer. I am General Lucian Stroud, a Mech Warrior of the Alliance. You've Awakened an Abyssal Mark. In less than an hour, you will be cast into the Abyss for your basic trial. The goal: survive twenty-four hours. Any fatal injuries, and you die completely. I think… you need my guidance."
Raleigh swallowed, his excitement mixing with nervousness. He hesitated for a moment,this was the first time someone of such rank had addressed him personally,but then decisively extended his hand.
"Hello Veteran Sir , I'm Raleigh," he said firmly.
General Stroud chuckled.
"I'm only a Third-Rank Mech Warrior, not a Veteran. I'm just here to explain the trial scenarios and offer some advice. But…" He tilted his head slightly, eyes scanning Raleigh's armor. "You have potential. Don't underestimate yourself, even if your starting mech is… modest."
Raleigh nodded eagerly. "I understand. I won't waste this chance. I'll survive this trial, no matter what."
General Stroud's tone softened. "Good. Remember, the Abyss isn't just a test of power. It tests your mind, your adaptability, and your courage. Many strong warriors have fallen there simply because they panicked. Observe, think, and choose your actions wisely. Your talent… Titan Assimilation… is unique. Use it, but don't rely on it blindly. Power without strategy is a trap."
Raleigh's grip on his gauntlet tightened. His pulse raced at the thought of facing the Abyss, but instead of fear, a wave of exhilaration surged through him.
"I won't fail," he whispered to himself. "No matter what comes… I will come out stronger. I will prove my talent… and survive."
The silver-blue Mech's eyes dimmed slightly as General Stroud took a step back. "Prepare yourself. The trial will begin soon. One hour from now, the Abyss opens. Be ready… Mech Warrior."
Raleigh looked at the horizon, where the faint shimmer of the Abyss portal would soon appear. He could feel the anticipation thrumming through his veins. This was it,the beginning of his journey, the first step toward mastering the Dao of Mech Warriors.
And with a spark of determination, he clenched his fist again.
"Bring it on. I've got Titan Assimilation…"