Chapter 106: Deep-Sea Mecha

"Over time, this place transformed into a massive ancient battlefield."

"Yet according to the data I have gathered, throughout the collapse of civilizations and the onset of the ice age, this immortal, sinister entity has survived unscathed."

"Its origin is shrouded in mystery, as if it has endured from the primordial era all the way to the present day."

Hearing this, Lin Qiu felt his scalp tingle.

The primordial era was the very dawn of the universe. To think that such a colossal entity still existed on their planet.

A wave of wariness washed over Lin Qiu, and the urge to retreat began to take root.

But just then, the system's voice chimed in once more: "Host, do not panic. During the final era, this mysterious, immortal entity suddenly vanished."

"Based on the analysis of the information gathered by this system, it has departed from this world. In other words, this place is safe."

"Phew! You scared me half to death!" Lin Qiu let out a long, heavy sigh of relief, the tension finally leaving his eyes.

He then gazed out over the vast battlefield, his eyes lighting up. These relics had endured through several civilizational epochs without decaying; they were undoubtedly treasures. Just like the ancient city, they must contain immortal metals.

"System, can these be reclaimed?" Lin Qiu asked, his face filled with hope.

The system paused briefly before giving an affirmative reply: "Reclamation is possible!"

"Reclaim all of it!" Lin Qiu's eyes shone with excitement. "I will refine these materials and forge them into immortal armaments!"

Upon Lin Qiu's command, an invisible ripple radiated outward in all directions, with him at its epicenter. Wherever the ripple passed, everything vanished. Lin Qiu was already utilizing the system's power to reclaim the wreckage.

However, a battlefield spanning five epochs held far too many remnants. At his current level, the maximum range of his influence was only about thirty thousand meters.

Thus, he sped forward, covering countless stretches of thirty thousand meters. Finally, the system informed him that he had extracted enough metal with immortal properties, and given his current capacity, he could not proceed any further.

Lin Qiu paused, then said, "Since we've hit the limit, use the immortal metal to forge a flying dagger for me!"

"And devour these relics as well!" Lin Qiu's eyes burned with anticipation. The system was capable of extracting the technological power from these remains.

Back when he was first reborn, his very first skill had been extracted from the electromagnetic waves of a battleship.

Obedient to his command, the system began attempting to extract the capabilities of the residual technology.

Yet, who knew how many eons had passed? These machines had been utterly decimated in battle. While his expectations were grand, reality proved harsh; after working for a long time, the system failed to extract a single useful thing.

Hearing this, Lin Qiu's face turned grim. He had never expected such a disappointing outcome. Unwilling to accept defeat, he continued to search through the ruins. Eventually, fatigue began to set in, and he realized time was running short.

It was already close to eight in the morning, and Bai Jingjing's concert was scheduled for nine.

Casting a final glance at the ruins in the ocean trench, Lin Qiu accelerated, veered sharply, and vanished from the spot.

Half an hour later, he arrived before the gates of the trial grounds. Just as he was about to exit, the system's chime rang out: "Ding! Devourable object detected!"

*Swish!* Lin Qiu came to a sudden screeching halt, carving a long wake through the seawater.

Whipping his head around, his eyes fell upon a colossal mecha half-buried in the trench.

The system explained: "This mecha is completely intact. If the host devours it, you will obtain its laser capability."

Lin Qiu's eyes burned with desire. *Lasers?* In the human world, lasers were reputed to be able to slice through anything in existence.

But a moment later, the system offered a friendly piece of advice: "However, I suggest you claim it instead. Although this is a Tier 6 mecha controlled via a neural link, capable of unleashing at most late Tier 6 combat power, it is more than sufficient for the host's current needs."

"Tier 6..." Lin Qiu felt drool virtually pooling in his mouth.

Currently, he was merely a lowly Tier 3 weakling. If he possessed a Tier 6 mecha, he would have more than enough power to guarantee his safety in the human world.

Coupled with his crystal cannon, he would be virtually invincible.

His heart racing with excitement, Lin Qiu asked the system how to claim this machine.

The system informed him that the mecha had lain dormant in the ruins for the span of an entire civilization, and its internal power source was completely depleted. It only needed a new energy core to be successfully reactivated.

Lin Qiu understood. The "energy source" the system spoke of was essentially just a battery. But what kind of power source did a mecha require? He certainly didn't have one on hand!

"System, if I exchange for an energy core, how many upgrade points will it cost me?" Lin Qiu asked, feeling a bit apprehensive.

The system's reply was blunt: "Given the host's current upgrade points, exchanging for an energy core will cost you a drop of one tier."

"A whole tier..." Lin Qiu gasped. He was currently Tier 3. If he dropped a tier, wouldn't he fall back to Tier 2? A look of intense conflict flickered in his eyes.

Just as he was about to make a decision, the system spoke again: "However, mechas typically carry a backup power source. When disconnected from the main systems, these power sources—much like immortal metals—can endure almost indefinitely. Congratulations, Host. The mecha before you contains a backup energy core."

"Oh..." Lin Qiu blinked in surprise, then burst into hearty laughter. "System, install the backup energy core for me. I'm going to be a mecha pilot!"

The system executed Lin Qiu's command flawlessly.

Thousands of golden beams burst from the silt-covered mecha. The surrounding mud was instantly blown away, revealing a chassis painted in vibrant colors.

Lying in the trench, the colossal machine stood over a hundred meters tall. At the center of its chest, a crystal the size of a millstone pulsed with golden light. This was the mecha's energy core.

Simultaneously, a bracelet ejected from the mecha. Lin Qiu caught it instinctively.

A wisp of golden light condensed upon the bracelet. Lin Qiu's body shifted back into human form, and the bracelet snapped automatically around his left wrist.

The golden light from the bracelet flowed into his forehead, transforming into a stream of data that flooded his mind.

"War Dragon..." Lin Qiu murmured.

Having assimilated the information, he now knew that this mecha was named the War Dragon, a peak Tier 6 machine.

With this knowledge, he turned his left wrist, aiming the bracelet directly at the energy crystal on the mecha's chest.

A beam of golden light shot from the bracelet, striking the crystal. An even brighter glow reflected back, enveloping Lin Qiu.

Within the golden radiance, his body dissolved into countless golden particles before vanishing into the crystal...