there was something even more precious, which was the chip currently inserted into the Train Assistance AI.
Inside the train compartment, Ai’s cold and mechanical electronic voice sounded: "This chip contains a lot of data and information about mecha modification and manufacturing. There are many tools and materials here; after gathering them, I can modify and upgrade the mecha within the train in the future."
"Including those instruments, some are for testing plate armor data and rating, such as Level 4 defense or Level 3 defense."
"Some are mecha space compression instruments, able to compress a mecha to roughly the size of a suitcase."
"The circuits of these instruments can all be connected to a generator. There should be an Energy Stone here, and it isn’t low-level, otherwise, it wouldn’t be possible to support this laboratory on standby for so long."
This chip was something they just found, specifically in this laboratory.
A smile almost spilled from Chen Mang’s eyes, and he immediately waved his hand.
"Don’t leave a single brick, needle, or thread!"
In theory, mechas aren’t allowed to be upgraded. For example, the armor and great axe of the "Executioner" created from a green mecha blueprint are Level 4, and they can’t be upgraded. As the train becomes stronger, this level of mecha can only be abandoned.
But with this bunch of stuff,
you can replace the Level 4 armor on the "Executioner" mecha with raw materials from Level 5 armor to modify and upgrade the mecha.
There’s a large amount of raw materials and instruments in the laboratory.
The raw materials are easy to move, mainly assigned to Zhang Damei to carry, after all, they’re too heavy, and using mecha to move them is fitting. As for those instruments, dismantling them requires caution, but with AI remotely commanding through the Iris Chip, there weren’t any major errors.
After clearing out the entire laboratory,
all the high racks and firepower weapons on the plaza were stuffed into the "Gate of Space" embedded on Carriage No. 2.
a Level 10 generator and a Level 5 Energy Stone were found, all packed and taken away.
Chen Mang was already piloting the Fixed Star train out of the mountain massif.
They returned triumphantly, but the mysterious base behind was left in ruins, everything that could be taken had been taken.
Even the gears within the plaza and the mountain massif, Chen Mang wanted to pack up and take away.
However, during the violent dismantling process, perhaps some mechanism was triggered, causing the entire massif to start collapsing rapidly, so they had to leave it be.
"Level 5 Energy Stone."
In the control room, Chen Mang looked at the pigeon egg-sized Energy Stone in his hand with a smile; this was his first Level 5 Energy Stone. His "Workbench" could also manufacture Level 5 Energy Stones, it’s just that he’s never crafted one.
Firstly, he didn’t need it.
His train head and generator both had a Level 3 Energy Stone embedded in them.
But this was already completely sufficient.
A Level 3 Energy Stone required 50,000 units of iron ore, which wasn’t cheap.
And to manufacture a Level 5 Energy Stone, it required consuming 5 million units of iron ore, which he didn’t have, although this Level 5 Energy Stone’s capacity was only 19% due to who knows how long it had been sitting there.
It’s equivalent to collecting nearly 1 million units of iron ore for free.
All the things from that mysterious base were now relocated into the "Gate of Space" within Carriage No. 2.
Chen Mang turned his head to look at Ai and tossed over a brand-new Level 3 Energy Stone: "Name this Gate of Space the ’Mecha Research and Development Center’, and from now on, you’ll be in charge of its management." The source of this content ɪs n͟o͟v͟e͟l͟f͟i͟r͟e͟.net
"We can’t create massive mechas like the ones we encountered in Mechanical City for now."
"This Level 3 Energy Stone should be sufficient for now."
"This time, both chips’ databases have been absorbed by you, bring about something useful, okay?"
"Then let’s proceed on our return trip and prepare to rest!"
Chen Mang smiled as he toyed with the Level 5 Energy Stone in his hands for a bit before stashing it into a drawer. Using this Energy Stone to provide energy would be a waste, as the current train components didn’t require this level of energy. It could be saved for future use with "Energy Cannons", serving as a strategic reserve.
the Fixed Star train returned to the Shahe Plain once again, casually finding a piece of flat ground to start resting without hurrying to search for iron ore. After working non-stop for 48 hours, even an iron man needed a day to rest.
Working tomorrow wouldn’t be too late.
Many things needed preparation first, yellow-grade mecha blueprint, "Leech", in his hand.
It stood 3 meters tall.
It had Level 6 armor, all essential mecha components, but no melee weapons outside of that.
There was a dual-barrel large-caliber cannon on its back, which served as the main cannon.
Each shoulder was fitted with a square rocket pod containing nine rockets.
It wielded two arm-mounted rotary machine guns.
Jet thrusters were on the soles, lower back, and arms.
A pure firepower suppression tool!
Its only means if an enemy got close was to shove the rotary machine gun into the enemy’s mouth; all its firepower weapons could operate at Level 6, using Energy Stones as ammo, selectable from Level 1 to Level 6 bullets.
If it used Level 1 ammunition, a Level 3 Energy Stone could sustain full combat for 600 minutes.
If it used Level 6 ammunition, a Level 3 Energy Stone could power full combat for 30 seconds.
It still offered great value for cost.
A Level 3 Energy Stone was only 50,000 units of iron ore, this 50,000 units of iron ore could be scattered over the train with ease. The most power-consuming part was the twin-barrel large-caliber cannon on the back. If that wasn’t used, it could be prolonged to 60 seconds.
Building it required 28,000 Red Heart Rocks.
Without hesitation, Chen Mang immediately created this "Leech" mecha.
The requirements for physical comprehensive quality to pilot were extremely low, just 10.5.
Basically everyone on the train met this condition, even the train residents, after all, they worked every day and ate bread that increased physical quality, their physical comprehensive quality long exceeded that of normal adult males.
But the requirement for Spiritual Power was quite high.
"Requires operator’s physical comprehensive quality above 10.5, and Spiritual Power above 14.0, with full potential unleashed above 14.5."
"There is no Spiritual Power option on the Iris Chip residents’ data panel, is there?"
"Add the option to quantify Spiritual Power and see who has a Spiritual Power above 14.0."
This mecha’s consumption was much higher than that of the "Executioner", but that’s only natural, as one is Level 4 and the other Level 6, with differences in melee and ranged combat, naturally resulting in varying energy consumption.
In case the train had no more copper ore at all.
This "Leech" mecha could provide the last line of fire support for the train since Energy Stones are made from iron ore.
And in places where the train couldn’t go,
the mecha unit can extend the train’s influence and attack range, somewhat like the train’s tentacles, delivering a painful blow to the enemy with the diverse data and information provided by the Iris Chip AI.
It’s just that those Red Heart Rocks, he’s only ever seen that one mine.
To build a mecha squad,
sufficient Red Heart Rocks and the squad’s adequate physical comprehensive quality are necessary.
"Take that ’Resident Evil’ Map Chip and insert it into the Combat Training Virtual Space, inform them about this."
At dusk, Old Pig walked to the dazed Biaozi, who stood in the twilight, and sighed before patting him on the shoulder: "Don’t be too downcast, it’s just a mecha, besides, don’t you prefer Zhang Damei’s kind of melee mecha? Li Shiji’s kind of fire support mecha never suited your style."
The Fixed Star train’s second mecha, the yellow-grade mecha "Leech".
The owner was Li Shiji.