You said mechs were going to fight monsters, but instead you're destroying stars with your bare

Chapter 13 Taking the Civil Service Exam? Even a dog wouldn't take it!
Ding~!

A crisp, melodious sound was followed by a flash of purple light...

Rare-level blueprints have been acquired.

Ha, sure enough.

Legendary weapon module blueprints, which are even rarer than other rare items, are not easy to obtain.

Li Zhe wasn't particularly disappointed by this.

Being able to obtain two blueprints in one go through the limited-time elite mission is already a pretty good result.

This is like getting a free 10-pull gacha.

With two purple stars already appearing, do you still want a double yolk egg? You're dreaming.

So he readily accepted this guaranteed gift and checked the information on the drawing.

[Rare Melee Module: When installed, it grants the mech melee attack capabilities.]

[Production Materials: 1 or 2 core materials of any quality, 1L energy supplement]

[Production Method: In the maintenance hangar workshop, consume materials and this blueprint (72 hours required; using core materials containing the Cutting Power factor can reduce the time to 30 minutes; using two rare-grade core materials can upgrade this module to legendary quality and grant a dual-wielding exclusive bonus effect)]

[Loading Instructions: (Impact on Appearance) When engaging in melee attacks, the corresponding modules can be deployed on the arm.]

Li Zhe noticed this production method and his eyes lit up immediately.

Good heavens, these blueprints...

It can even be upgraded?

As long as you have the right materials, purple gear can be transformed into orange gear!
As for this rare core material...

He happened to obtain a "chainsaw core" from that elite giant rat.

Not only can it shorten production time, but the quality also fully meets the requirements!

If I can acquire another rare-level core material, I can max out the quality of this module and go straight to Legendary status!

And this "dual-wielding exclusive bonus effect" looks very tempting.

Maybe I could get a dual-wielding weapon.

The damage and the coolness level have increased exponentially!
We must find a way to achieve this condition.

If you were to use ordinary materials to craft a rare purple weapon, it would be a complete waste of the blueprint's legendary potential.

"Ok, deal."

Li Zhe made up his mind.

As for the second rare-grade core material needed, how do we obtain it...?

He immediately turned the detection module to maximum power and scanned the surrounding area.

However, the scan results were not encouraging.

Centered on the rooftop of the office building where he is currently located, there are hardly any elite monsters around, let alone any Abyss Apostles.

It seems that these elite-level monsters are truly rare and hard to come by, with an outrageously low spawn rate.

The current map exploration level is not high.

To encounter one, besides skill, you probably need even more luck.

Li Zhe originally planned to conduct a thorough search by hovering and flying once the vector jet wings were completed.

However, at this moment...

A sudden wave of dizziness swept over his brain.

Li Zhe's vision went black, his body swayed, and he almost fell to the ground.

He immediately grabbed the railing beside him to steady himself, and at the same time, a warning message popped up on the system panel.

[WARNING: The unit has been fighting in the Abyss Realm for over 2 hours and has been affected by the abyssal aura. Its mental stability has decreased by 15%. Please leave as soon as possible, otherwise there is a risk of being assimilated into the Abyss's familiar!]

It turned out to be the case.

No wonder "Introduction to Mech Pilots" repeatedly emphasizes that the time spent entering the Abyss Realm at one time should not be too long.

If you stay in such a highly polluted environment for too long, even a mecha with a body of steel will be slowly corroded and assimilated, eventually becoming a part of the abyss.

My own muscle armor is no exception.

Just then, the task guidance interface also refreshed with a new message.

[Task: To do a good job, one must first have the right tools]

[Description: After a thrilling battle, your mech needs a thorough rest and maintenance. Return to Earth and give it a good servicing!]

[Requirement: Perform a comprehensive maintenance on the mech in a safe environment. The system will score the maintenance results.]

Difficulty: C

[Rewards: A rating of B or higher will grant an increase in three-dimensional attributes (combat power, armor, and energy); the higher the rating, the greater the increase, and there is a chance to receive additional rewards.]

Li Zhe's eyes lit up again when he saw the task.

This system's rewards are really generous!

Fighting to the death is not as good as getting a massage.

After grinding monsters in the abyss for half a day, my combat power only increased by 0.1.

Now, if you can comfortably get a "massage" and achieve an S-level rating, the attribute boost would probably be equivalent to a whole day of arduous training in the abyss!

The price-performance ratio is off the charts! What are you waiting for?
If you can't roll up, just lie down.

Lying down comfortably is also a form of spiritual practice!
Therefore, Li Zhe decisively chose to teleport back to Earth.

As the light and shadow shifted, the familiar feeling of weightlessness returned.

The next second, he was back in his room at the small hotel in Shenhai City.

This room was booked by the succubus in the alleyway who bypassed various surveillance angles and loopholes in the real-name registration system through a series of psychological suggestions.

The original intention was to ensure that he could escape unscathed after committing the murder.

However, this meticulous criminal preparation has now benefited Li Zhe.

This allows him to come and go without anyone noticing.

It perfectly avoids all unnecessary troubles, and doesn't even delay your civil service exam... referring to the open mecha pilot selection exam.

Li Zhe took out his phone and glanced at the time.

One p.m.

There is one hour left before the written exam for the mecha pilot selection begins.

The exam venue is only a ten-minute walk away.

There is plenty of time.

and so……

take an exam?

Exam my ass!
Li Zhe immediately banished the thought from his mind.

I'm practically a walking suit of armor now.

Combat strength 1.6, the kind that can grind steel bars into needles with bare hands.

Why would someone run off and compete with a bunch of newbies for a spot on the exam?

Isn't this just as disgusting as sending an aircraft carrier to bomb a fishpond?
Moreover, I now have the important task of maintaining my nails.

This is a potential S-rank mission, which is related to a huge boost to one's own strength.

Anyone who has taken the exam knows this.

Exams, especially major exams that determine one's fate, are the most torturous mental drain.

A high-pressure exam can even cause PTSD symptoms!

Even years after that exam, I still dream at midnight that I was dragged into the exam room without having studied at all... facing the incomprehensible exam paper, I broke out in a cold sweat.

Li Zhe firmly refused to do anything that would significantly increase mental stress.

The key to maintaining a mecha is to achieve a pleasant, relaxing, and comfortable experience.

Going to jail for taking an exam—that's not called self-care, that's called torture!

Besides, the examination room is definitely equipped with all kinds of professional testing equipment and has all sorts of real experts in charge.

If someone notices something fishy about my physique, who knows what kind of trouble it could cause.

The less trouble, the better.

Therefore, Li Zhe made a decision that went against his teacher's teachings...

He skipped the exam!

Li Zhe was born in an orphanage and grew up in a free-range manner with little care.

Skipping class is something that good students would find unforgivable, but he's done it countless times and is so skilled at it that it's almost heartbreaking.

but……

Speaking of which, I have started to study seriously in the past month.

Li Zhe couldn't help but recall the time when the Abyss Crisis had just broken out a month ago.

At that time, he was still a typical lazy bum.

I skipped my afternoon class and sneaked off to my usual internet cafe.

As a result, the monster appeared.

Several ferocious abyssal minions appeared on the street, killing anyone they saw.

Chaos, screams, despair...

He almost died there.

It was at that critical moment that a mecha appeared out of nowhere.

They wiped out all the monsters, saving the lives of everyone, including himself.

That day, the image of the massive steel structure standing tall in the setting sun was deeply imprinted in Li Zhe's heart.

It was from that moment that the desire to become a mecha pilot was ignited in his heart.

Unexpectedly, a month later, he gained power far exceeding that of an ordinary mecha pilot in a different form.

Fate is truly wondrous.

As Li Zhe pondered this, he packed his things and left the small hotel.

The most urgent task is to complete the mission; let's find a maintenance center first...

(End of this chapter)