Chapter 45: Preparing for Battle!
Translator: Noodletown Translations Editor: Noodletown Translations

Mu Fan headed straight back, and he felt freer running in the woods than he did in the city district. Only when he got back into his base full of industrial junk did he feel safe and sound.

There was no one else here except himself.

He needed to explain everything to Black, and he had to improve his capabilities as much as possible within the shortest amount of time!

The interstellar pirates were about to attack! The enrolment exam was about to be here!

There was one thing in common between these two events, and it was that they both needed someone with strong strength.

Mu Fan was desperately looking for a way to improve himself, and he had to find Black as soon as possible.

He sat against the wall as he lit up the bonfire at the corner. Then, he put on the helmet and entered the PO Battle Network. His destination was Base Training Camp 341.

“Mech Operation Training.”

Mu Fan knew his way around now, and he shouted the moment he entered this base, “Black, come out quickly!”

A wobbling metal ball appeared in front of Mu Fan. With its electronic eyes smiling, it asked, “What is it, Mu Fan? Did you miss me?”

“Black, do you know the quickest way to improve my strength?” Mu Fan stared at Black seriously.

“Can you explain why you’re looking for one? The training plan has been designed for you.” Black flew around Mu Fan in curiosity.

Mu Fan said in a low voice, “The interstellar pirates are going to invade soon. They are the ones who killed my adoptive parents, and I must be strong enough to stay alive so that I can kill them with my own hands! I don’t know when this chance will come again.”

Black suddenly stopped, and its eyes returned to normal as it stared at Mu Fan. “Host’s request accepted; searching for plans.”

In a range invisible to the naked eye, Black who was inside the PO Battle Network released an invisible wave, and it expanded outward and covered every civilian port of the PO Battle Network on Planet Loga.

“Which interstellar pirate group?” Black’s voice sounded cybernetic.

“Broken Axe!” Mu Fan clenched his teeth as he spat out the name.

“After research, the Broken Axe Interstellar Pirate Group has the following records in the governmental files:

A-level threat. A total of 120 – 150 members. Has two small destroyers and one cargo spaceship.

Poisonous Scorpion, the head of the pirate group, has a level-19 physique and mastered one A-level combat technique and three or above B-level combat techniques.

According to the government reports, the Broken Axe Interstellar Pirate Group is known for the two limited warrior-level mechs they possess – Wind Stealer for aerial combat with a sixth-and-a-half-generation engine and Lightning Striker for ground combat with a sixth-generation engine. Due to the neglection that the military of UGF has towards the border areas, the greatest defensive mechs that Planet Loga has are the adventurer-level mechs with fifth generation engines; they are unable to effectively suppress the interstellar pirates on the ground.”

Black continued to explain, “According to the different settings in the PO Battle Network, the UGF has classified mechs based on their abilities. There is voyager-level (C rating and below), adventurer-level (B rating), warrior-level (A rating), superior-level (S rating), ultimator-level (SS rating), and emperor-level (SSS rating). Out of the four properties of a mech, if the highest rating two properties are above a certain level, then it would be classified as that level. For example, for Wind Stealer and Lightning Striker, they both have two properties noted above A rating, which means that they are much more powerful than the adventurer-level mechs of the military.”

“And then?” Mu Fan asked in a straightforward manner.

“So, the goal of the Host’s training is to operate an adventurer-level military mech equipped with a fifth-generation engine to defeat the warrior-level Wind Stealer and Lightning Striker. Through researching the public available data, there are 37 military mech stations on Planet Loga. Please choose the closest station when the confrontation occurs.”

“Why do I have to choose the closest one?” Mu Fan had a bad feeling about this.

“To steal a mech of the military and battle the interstellar pirate group. Based on my calculation, the chance of overall victory would be 15% if you get defeated in the mech battle and 85% if you win the mech battle. Also, the success rate of the battle when you operate an adventurer-level mech and fight a warrior-level mech is 30%,” Black gave Mu Fan the answer that made him speechless.

First, he had to sneak through the radar and steal a military mech. Then, he had to use it to fight the mechs of the interstellar pirates. After winning the mech battle with a low probability, there would be an 85% chance of defeating the interstellar pirate group. This plan sounded pretty unachievable and unreliable.

However, Mu Fan didn’t think much and agreed since he had trust in Black. “Alright!”

After Mu Fan had agreed, a green light flashed on Black’s body, and its tone returned to normal. It was the A.I. with emotions again.

“Mu Fan, don’t worry too much. I didn’t include the case where I’m also inside the mech in the calculations. I’ll assist you when the time comes, so don’t worry.”

“Oh right, I gave you all the information just now. But aside from that, I need you to surpass level-40 in the gravitational room and reach at least level-18 in your physique. This may be easier for you than learning to operate the mech. According to research, the current widely used model on Planet Loga is the RX series, with Model RX-16 for ground combat, RX-25 for long-range bombing combat, and RX-33 for small skirmishes.”

A huge light screen was projected out of Black’s eyes, showing the exterior of the three RX models. RX-16 was holding a sword and a shield, RX-25 had a long-barrel cannon and a transformable self-propelled cannon, and RX-33 looked like a plane.

“Mu Fan, these three mechs are the strongest weapons that UGF has for this planet. The operation mode for each mech is different, and we are short on time. I suggest you pilot the first one, RX-16. Also, get a micro wireless earphone tomorrow; I will take control of all the monitors within twenty kilometers. That way, if the war occurs, I can lead you onto the shortest path towards the closest military station.”

Mu Fan nodded and pointed at the first model without hesitation, “I pick this one, Model RX-16.”

“Copy that.” The other two models disappeared in the projection, leaving only this RX-16. Then, it slowly appeared in front of Mu Fan.

The red diamond-shaped shield was locked onto the left forearm, and the right arm had a wide silver-white metal sword shining a cold light. The hull was thick and rectangular with blue and white stripes, the armor was strengthened at critical points, and two energy thrusters facing downward were hidden inside the reactive armor on the back. The entire mech looked strong and sturdy, and there were eight enforcers on the feet to support the mech, making it stand upright. There was also a single-hand quick-firing gun on the back for creating a barrage during team battles.

This was a standard military combat mech with the most basic settings; there weren’t even extra modifications.

The wild and grand design made it hard for Mu Fan to be dissatisfied; it was way better than Model EH01 that he had piloted. Yet, this was only an adventurer-level mech, and Mu Fan wondered what warrior-level mechs looked like. He was already curious with the warrior-level mechs that he had never seen before, and he was even more curious about those names that he had never heard of before. The superior-level, ultimator-level, and emperor-level… What were those like?

Black quickly interrupted his train of thought. “Mu Fan, in this base, I can create everything that the PO Battle Network has to offer. Starting from now, you can get yourself familiar with this mech model.”

“Also, based on calculations, you can find four mech operation techniques in the Fantasy-Mode combat zone in the PO Battle Network. You can master them through practice,” Black said calmly, and Mu Fan didn’t detect anything wrong. He didn’t have a concept of what techniques were like in Fantasy-Mode… Those were the techniques that only existed in people’s imaginations.

Chubby Harry never explained this in detail, and Mu Fan didn’t have much care for that either.

Therefore, when Black said this with all seriousness, Mu Fan answered with gratitude, “Thank you, Black.”

“No need to thank me, Mu Fan. You’re the host, and your safety is the priority in any situation. Now, please enter the cockpit, and let’s learn the 208-button control panel,” Black sounded more human, and Mu Fan even felt that it was touched by his words. Perhaps Mu Fan was having an illusion.

“Now, onto the first training – movement technique, Hollow Flash!”