"No, it's not time yet, I can't make a move." Zhang Wei continuously convinced himself.
Zhang Wei wasn't willing to take any risks, no matter how small, that might change the future.
Sacrificing his future for these two scumbags wasn't worth it.
Just as Zhang Wei was desperately suppressing the rage in his heart, Han Xu, that scoundrel, hadn't noticed Zhang Wei's abnormality. After getting out of his extravagant car, he put an arm around Zhang Wei's neck.
What Han Xu didn't know was that when he hugged Zhang Wei's neck, Zhang Wei's entire body trembled slightly, and his fists clenched even tighter.
He almost couldn't resist punching that face, which was now so close.
"How about it, brother, am I thoughtful enough? I brought my sister to see you. Just wait and see your performance later."
Han Xu whispered softly into Zhang Wei's ear.
Zhang Wei appeared extremely agitated. In Han Xu's eyes, Zhang Wei made several strenuous deep breaths.
Then, an unsettling smile appeared on Zhang Wei's face.
"Han Xiao, hello." He almost gritted these words out, his voice a little distorted.
"Pfft, Zhang Wei, why are you so nervous?" Han Xiao couldn't help but chuckle. They had met before, and Zhang Wei had never been this nervous when facing her.
But oh well, for this kind of young, handsome guy with not much life experience, and a bit of money, Han Xiao still had some good feelings.
At least until a wealthier, more handsome guy came along, this good feeling wouldn't disappear.
"Look at you, kid, so pathetic." Han Xu nudged Zhang Wei's back with his arm.
He didn't use much force, but that single action almost ignited the anger Zhang Wei had so painstakingly suppressed.
"Why are you looking for me?"
"Didn't I just say? I brought my sister to see you."
"I'm still busy with something, look!" Zhang Wei pointed behind him.
Only then did Han Xu go to see what Zhang Wei was doing. Upon seeing it, Han Xu immediately frowned.
Han Xiao let out a scream, her face paling with fright.
"Wei Zi, why do you have this kind of hobby now?" Although Han Xu wasn't afraid of rats, seeing the rats in the traps made him feel a bit uneasy.
And what was with putting thick iron chains on rats?
"It's useful."
"Well, brother, this car I bought is on loan, and I'm still short on some money. You see..."
"No problem, I'll help you with the money, but not now. I'll find you in a few days when I return from the mountain. Oh, and your sister, isn't she leaving?" Zhang Wei glanced at the pale-faced Han Xiao.
Looking at Han Xiao's appearance, Zhang Wei felt a subtle sense of vengeful pleasure growing in his heart.
"My sister won't be leaving anytime soon. So we're agreed then, I'll come find you in a few days when you're back in the city."
Han Xu didn't want to linger here and wished he could leave immediately.
"Don't worry, I'll definitely come find you." This time, a very natural smile appeared on Zhang Wei's face.
"Good, I'll wait for you." Han Xu patted Zhang Wei's shoulder, then, without another word, quickly fled with Han Xiao.
The roaring sound of the motorcycle gradually faded into the distance.
Zhang Wei silently watched their retreating figures: "Just let you live a few more days. Maybe letting you experience the apocalypse won't be so bad either."
An apocalyptic human is worse off than a prosperous dog. Zhang Wei knew this very clearly.
"Squeak! Squeak!"
The squeaking of rats brought Zhang Wei's thoughts back.
Zhang Wei shook his head and chuckled: "They're all here, I'll have a way to deal with them."
"This butterfly effect is also a good thing. Originally, Han Xiao wouldn't have been in Chuan City, so I can get my revenge earlier. This is a delightful surprise."
At this moment, Zhang Wei seemed truly relaxed. He continued to tinker with his rats.
From now on, Zhang Wei would stay on Xinfeng Mountain.
Besides the caught rats, Han Xu's daily "caring" inquiries also brought Zhang Wei joy.
At noon on the seventh day of Zhang Wei's rebirth.
A remarkably bright flash suddenly appeared in the sky. Regardless of where they were in the world, it felt as if a powerful flare had been set off.
When everyone's vision recovered, the sky was dim, a layer of dark clouds covering the entire world.
"The Mechanical Descent."
"Countdown, 3, 2, 1."
Everyone looked bewilderedly at the sky. Countless meteors appeared in the heavens.
These meteors streaked towards the ground, seemingly carrying an aura of world destruction.
"The Mechanical Era, begins."
Zhang Wei knew that these meteors were gifts to humanity, because each one contained an Origin Crystal.
These Origin Crystals varied in quality: some were high-grade, some low-grade. Who could obtain them, and what kind of Origin Crystal they received, all depended on individual fortune.
Soon, the meteors struck the ground.
The expected explosion never occurred.
When these meteors revealed their true forms, a message appeared in everyone's minds.
This was a reminder from the mechanical civilization to humanity.
Everyone's personal vehicles had transformed into their own mechs. This was the only message received.
Zhang Wei's expression was excited. He wasn't experiencing such a scene for the first time.
"Mech Core." In Zhang Wei's hand appeared a black, jewel-like Origin Crystal core.
"Combine."
At Zhang Wei's command, the black container, which had been quietly waiting, suddenly began to undergo a massive transformation.
In less than five seconds, a ten-meter-tall, pitch-black heavy mech appeared before Zhang Wei.
The mech's exterior was somewhat ferocious, yet it possessed a violent aesthetic beauty.
"So beautiful," Zhang Wei sighed.
As Zhang Wei was marveling, the mech's chest emitted a black light. When Zhang Wei was enveloped by the black light, his body instantly vanished from its spot.
In just a flash of awareness, Zhang Wei regained consciousness.
His body had merged into the mech's cockpit. The cockpit was completely filled with a flesh-like substance, and Zhang Wei's original body was closing its eyes within this mass.
Zhang Wei's consciousness could no longer feel his own body. He was now in complete control of the mech. At this moment, the mech was Zhang Wei's body.
"Open mech panel."
Two beams of light shot from Zhang Wei's eyes, converging into a light screen before him.
Mech Form: Primitive Form
Mech Level: 1
Weight: 21 tons
Type: Awaiting Selection
Standard Power Configuration: Super Matrix Engine
Equipment: None
"The standard configuration is a Super Matrix Engine?" Zhang Wei was a little surprised; this was something he hadn't expected.
The engine was the mech's power source, and the quality of the engine was extremely important to a mech.
A Super Matrix Engine could be considered the pinnacle among primitive mechs. Even a mech that had undergone one or even two evolutions probably wouldn't have this type of engine.
The most basic engine was a single-core engine, with power size categorized by "vats."
Above single-core engines were matrix engines, and above matrix engines were Super Matrix Engines.
"Select melee mech."
"Ding, selection successful."
A sound appeared in Zhang Wei's mind, and the panel behind him changed.
Mech Form: Primitive Form
Mech Level: 1
Weight: 21 tons
Combat Power: 20
Type: Medium Melee
Standard Power Configuration: Super Matrix Engine
Equipment: None
Zhang Wei closed the panel with satisfaction. Zhang Wei was very familiar with all of this; there was nothing to be surprised about. The only attribute that measured a mech's combat effectiveness was "Combat Power." A Level 1 mech having 20 Combat Power already made Zhang Wei very satisfied.
For those light or even rudimentary mechs, whether their Combat Power could reach ten was a question.
"Mech Level 1. It can only undergo its first evolution at Level 10. Now, it's up to these rats."
Zhang Wei looked at the rats he had caught.
The rats lay trembling on the ground, their bodies undergoing changes, but it would still take some time before they were fully mechanized.
"Up the mountain."
The rats still needed some time to be completely mechanized. Zhang Wei decided to use this time to climb the mountain and retrieve that Origin Crystal.
The ten-meter-tall, sturdy black mech picked up the already prepared battle saber and battle shield from the ground.
Ordinary Alloy One-Handed Battle Saber
Combat Power +3
Ordinary Alloy One-Handed Battle Shield
Combat Power +3
"Truly lives up to the word 'ordinary'."
Picking up the weapon and shield, Zhang Wei immediately began climbing the mountain.
It wasn't Zhang Wei's first time piloting a mech. He was very familiar with it and experienced no discomfort.
For others, just adapting to the mech would probably take a very long time.
The ten-meter-tall medium mech sprinted along the mountain path as if on flat ground. In just a few minutes, Zhang Wei had already appeared at the summit.
At the summit, the Origin Crystal that Zhang Wei had long coveted was radiating beautiful seven-colored light.
Seeing the magnificent seven colors, Zhang Wei was extremely excited.
"I thought this Origin Crystal would at least be a high-grade one, but I didn't expect it to be this high."
The seven-colored light represented the Legendary tier. Origin Crystal tiers, from lowest to highest, were Ordinary, Intermediate, High, Epic, Legendary. As for whether there were higher tiers, Zhang Wei wasn't sure; he hadn't encountered them in his previous life.
Zhang Wei didn't bother with exclamations. He eagerly picked up the Origin Crystal from the ground.
"Ding, acquired Legendary skill, Superpower Combat Power Enhancement."