"Fire Thunder, your combat energy has increased significantly! Soon you'll be able to execute the Thunder Crescent Slash!" Zhou Luo said with a smile as he observed Fire Thunder's combat energy.
"My lord, your combat skills are exceptional. If I were alone, I probably wouldn't be its match," Fire Thunder replied humbly, scratching his head.
"Then let the hunt begin!"
Zhou Luo controlled Fire Thunder as they charged into County 0321. Along the way, low-level Exotic Beasts all fell victim to Fire Thunder's blade.
Meanwhile.
Liu Qingxue's team had also entered the county. The vehicles transformed one after another, standing tall on the pothole-ridden road.
"There are signs of battle here," Liu Qingxue said as she piloted the Ice Empress toward the remains of a Bloodthirsty Tiger.
"This was a level 3 Bloodthirsty Tiger. The fatal wound is on its abdomen—cleaved open by a Mecha's blade. Judging by the combat technique, this was done by an expert!" a third-tier Mecha Master analyzed instantly using his combat visor.
"It must be a low-level Mecha Master. The strong wouldn't come here."
County 0321 was a training ground for novice Mecha Masters; the strong had no reason to visit.
"Everyone, stay alert. The wilderness isn't safe," Liu Qingxue's calm voice transmitted from within her Mecha.
The team nodded in agreement. Their concern wasn't the Exotic Beasts—it was the lunatics from the Dark Hall they feared.
The Dark Hall's madmen didn't discriminate between Exotic Beasts and humans; all Mecha Masters were their targets. Because when a Mecha Master's Destined Mecha was destroyed, it would release a massive amount of combat energy.
These people were the true terror!
Two figures trailing at the rear of the team exchanged a glance, their lips curling into triumphant smirks.
As night fell, the Exotic Beasts in County 0321 grew increasingly frenzied and bloodthirsty, their combat power more than doubling. The darkness was paradise for Exotic Beasts and monsters!
On a ruined street, a Mecha stood encircled by over a dozen Exotic Beasts. In the next moment, the crimson Mecha's power surged—it blazed like golden fire across the night sky, its attacks swift and domineering, far surpassing its daytime strength.
A razor-sharp blade energy swept outward, bisecting all the surrounding Exotic Beasts in an instant. Large clusters of deep-blue combat energy emerged from the beasts' bodies before funneling into Fire Thunder's chest.
After absorbing the combat energy, Fire Thunder's own scarlet energy boiled violently, distorting and howling through the surrounding air.
[Mecha: Fire Thunder!]
[Level: 3!]
[Race: Vehicle Tribe!]
[Ultimate Move: Locked!]
[Evaluation: This warrior hails from the Sports Car Tribe of the City of Time. His name is Fire Thunder, and his combat style lives up to it—swift, domineering, and awe-inspiring.]
After a full day of slaughter, the number of Exotic Beasts slain by Fire Thunder's blade was at least seventy or eighty, if not a hundred. Having absorbed so much combat energy, Fire Thunder had finally reached level 3.
This wasn't due to Fire Thunder's slow progression—rather, a Destined Mecha's advancement depended on the Mecha Master's innate talent. Because the two were bound together, Mecha couldn't endlessly upgrade without limits.
Some people have the potential to reach the fourth tier, meaning they can normally advance to that level without unexpected setbacks. However, it's quite common for a Mecha Master to stagnate if they fall into inner demons or encounter certain obstacles.
Zhou Luo, who possessed the Mech Battle King profession, didn't have to worry about such limitations. Although the experience he required was over ten times that of others, he faced no bottlenecks. As long as he had enough combat energy, he could level up instantly!
Zhou Luo glanced at the sky—the overcast expanse was shrouded in gloom, with only faint traces of moonlight peeking through the obscured full moon.
This wasn't the right setting to continue fighting.
After piloting his mecha in high-intensity combat for most of the day, even Zhou Luo was feeling the strain.
"Fire Thunder, head back to the hotel we stayed at earlier."
"Got it!"
Fire Thunder possessed autonomous consciousness. The combat techniques Zhou Luo executed through his control were remembered by Fire Thunder, allowing him to fight and travel independently.
Other Mecha Masters weren't so fortunate.
Zhou Luo reclined in the soft seat, resting his feet on the control panel for a brief respite.
Before long, Fire Thunder arrived at the hotel from earlier.
The building was in shambles, but fortunately, no Exotic Beasts lurked inside—the horde that had occupied it had already been slain by Zhou Luo.
"Vrrrm—" A dazzling red light emanated from Fire Thunder's chest.
Zhou Luo's figure emerged from it, landing steadily on the ground.
He plopped onto the mattress to rest.
Fire Thunder leaned his Crescent Moon Blade against the wall and gently sat down beside it.
He wasn't injured, nor did he feel fatigued.
"Here!"
Zhou Luo pulled out a large bottle of premium motor oil from his backpack and tossed it to Fire Thunder.
Fire Thunder's eyes lit up at the sight of the bottle!
For Vehicle Warriors, motor oil was like a human's favorite soda—after a long battle, nothing was more satisfying than a swig of high-quality oil.
"Gulp, gulp—" Fire Thunder downed the entire bottle in one go.
"I've got more." Zhou Luo chuckled. Regular oil maintenance was crucial to keep his mecha in peak condition.
Coincidentally, Vehicle Warriors also loved drinking the stuff.
This bottle of oil wasn't cheap—it cost a full 10,000 yuan.
Zhou Luo had bought twenty bottles.
His backpack was packed with nothing but his rations and Fire Thunder's oil supply.
Fire Thunder picked up another bottle and began savoring it slowly.
Just then.
Zhou Luo's wristband vibrated. He answered the call.
The faces of Wang Qiong and Zhou Hong appeared.
"Xiao Luo, are you in the wasteland!?" Zhou Hong demanded sternly.
"Old Zhou, how'd you know? Sharp as ever!" Zhou Luo grinned.
"You still dare to laugh! Do you have any idea how dangerous the wasteland is?! A few years ago, I nearly died there!!!" Zhou Hong's furious voice crackled through the wristband.
Before Zhou Luo could respond, the ground beneath the hotel trembled. The heavy thud of footsteps instantly put him on high alert.
Fire Thunder had already gripped his Frost Moon Blade.
"Old Zhou, I've gotta go—something's happening here!"
"You damn brat, be careful!"
Zhou Hong and Wang Qiong exchanged a glance, worry flashing in their eyes. Countless words lingered on the tips of their tongues, but they held back, not daring to distract Zhou Luo. In the end, all they could say was this.
"Got it."
A warmth spread through Zhou Luo's heart.
After ending the call, he hurried to the window and looked down.
Below, a wart hog the size of a tank was rampaging, crashing into walls with thunderous force.
"Damn thing making such a commotion! It's bound to attract powerful predators soon!" Zhou Luo's expression turned extremely grim.
"My lord, shall I go down and slay it?" Fire Thunder gripped his Frost Moon Blade tightly, his eyes betraying no emotion.
This beast dared to disturb his Mech Battle King's rest - it had already chosen the path to its own death!
(End of chapter)