Chapter 11 The Trial Ends, SSS-class Evaluation!_1

The mecha pilot himself gained the ability to communicate with plants and animals and perceive the emotions of inanimate objects?

Isn't that just another way of saying "Innate Ability"!

However, innate abilities are powers mecha pilots acquire upon awakening, inherent to each person's soul and unique, unchangeable, and non-repetitive.

These mecha pilot traits that drop from the abyss, on the other hand, are added abilities acquired later in life.

They should be similar to modules and available for everyone to drop, not unique.

"A mecha pilot trait for communication, huh..."

After some thought, Jiang Chen did not use the [Soul of Life] trait.

He did not know if there was a limit on the use of mecha pilot traits, and whether, once activated, they could be changed at will like a mecha module...

In case there was a usage limit and they couldn't be changed.

What if he later discovered the [Soul of Life] trait was not suitable for him?

Wouldn't that be a waste of a precious trait slot?

"Better to wait until after the basic trial ends, gather some information, and then decide," he thought.

Jiang Chen organized his loot and looked towards the passageway from which he had come, a hint of excitement in his eyes.

The Newborn Giant he had just faced, as a branch of the Roots, certainly wasn't unique.

He could definitely try to find other branches of the Roots and drop more items.

"Time to start monster farming!"

......

Some time later.

The lavender-colored mecha warrior stood in the street, holding a blade woven from Root fibers, surrounded by the corpses of mutant monsters.

He released his hold, and the blade dissipated, absorbed by the mecha.

"It should be about time..."

After defeating the Newborn Giant, Jiang Chen tried calling on new Root branches in the city's other high-rise buildings.

Unfortunately, despite visiting several places in a row, he did not encounter a second Newborn Giant.

Perhaps the Newborn Giant wasn't unique in the larger scheme, but in this basic trial city, there might only be one.

Even though he didn't find a second Newborn Giant.

In the process, Jiang Chen also killed a large number of mutated monsters, including some special mutants.

One special mutant even dropped a Weapons Module for him, ending his awkward situation of fighting unarmed.

Now, nearly twenty-four hours have passed, and the sky has already brightened again.

After such a long time of fighting without eating, drinking, or resting, Jiang Chen's energy had also reached its limit, and he could not have held on if he hadn't absorbed mecha power.

Finally, Abyss Runes emitted wisps of mist that coalesced into words in front of Jiang Chen.

[Basic trial complete.]

[Trial assessment: SSS.]

[Calculating your rewards based on trial assessment…]

[You have received Abyss Coins: 5000.]

[You have received Materials: Seed of Mutation.]

[You have received Items: Strengthening Nutrient Fluid*3.]

[You have received a Module: Roots Core (Supercharged)]

[Settlement complete, disengaging from the abyss.]

As expected, a top-tier assessment!

Jiang Chen had gone unmatched among the monster hordes; if that wasn't the highest assessment, then probably only total annihilation would qualify.

Speaking of which, do the words 'supercharged' behind Roots Core indicate an enhanced version?

However, Jiang Chen didn't have time to check its properties.

A dark fissure opened, and he fell uncontrollably into it.

......

Shuilan City, Minghu District.

All awakened individuals had entered the basic trial, and the unawakened survivors had already left.

Xie Minglei, an alliance mecha pilot, was also nowhere to be seen.

Only the alliance's rescue team still remained stationed there.

The basic trial lasted a fixed twenty-four hours.

Seeing that the time was almost up, the rescue team leader gathered the medics and other logistical personnel, waiting for the return of the mecha pilots.

"I wonder if anyone will disappear in the abyss this time…"

The rescue team leader sighed inwardly.

As the leader of the alliance's rescue team, he had led his team more than once to provide support for rookie mecha pilots.

Because of this, he had witnessed too many rookie mecha pilots failing to return on time, completely vanishing within the abyss.

Of course, the rookie mecha pilots who were able to receive support from the alliance were often survivors who encountered abyssal creatures and had undergone the instruction of mecha pilots.

In such cases, the probability of passing the basic trial was extremely high, with a survival rate of over ninety percent.

As for those rookie mecha pilots who awakened Abyss Runes on their own and entered the abyss alone, their survival rate significantly dropped, at most not exceeding sixty percent.

Compared to those individuals, these survivors were already quite fortunate.

"The last ten seconds, nine seconds…"

The countdown hit zero, and a silent black rift opened in the sky, from which a grey shadow fell.

Upon witnessing this scene, the rescue team leader was about to step forward and speak when he subconsciously stopped in his tracks.

What fell from the rift was not the common silver-black exoskeleton mecha.

It was a mecha warrior wrapped in light purple fiber armor, exuding a commanding presence!

If that had been all, the rescue team leader wouldn't have been surprised.

Having supported so many rookie mecha pilots, he had seen plenty of talented pilots equipped with mecha modules that altered the appearance of their mechas.

The problem was...

The surface of this light purple mecha was not only covered with cracks but also coated in a substantial amount of purple mucus, along with countless bits of flesh and blood.

It looked as if it had fought its way out of a mountain of corpses and a sea of blood, a battle-damaged version that inspired trepidation in all who saw it.

A few members of the rescue team were also intimidated by the appearance of this mecha and involuntarily held their breath.

The next moment, the fibers receded, and the mucus and flesh vanished with the mecha, turning into light and dissipating.

Only a young man with a bare upper body stood in place, asking.

"Is there any water?"

Only then did the rescue team leader snap out of his daze.

"Bring the water and food over quickly…"

......

The long periods of intense monster clearing without food, drink, or rest had completely strained Jiang Chen's spirit.

Now that he had eaten and drunk his fill, his spirit relaxed, and drowsiness overwhelmed him.

He hadn't even taken a shower before he collapsed onto the bed provided by the alliance's rescue team at the hotel and fell sound asleep.

Shortly after he had fallen asleep,

a burst of explosive air sounds came, and a silver-blue mecha streaked across the sky above the streets before thunderously landing outside the hotel.

After landing, Xie Minglei scanned his surroundings and quickly approached the rescue team leader.

"Where's Jiang Chen?!"

"It's the person who just finished the basic trial and returned from the abyss!"

"...He just ate something and should be asleep by now, sir. Are you here for him? I'll go wake him up…"

Xie Minglei immediately stopped the rescue team leader.

"No, let him rest well. I'll just wait here."

Seeing Xie Minglei's reaction and recalling the scene of Jiang Chen's return, the rescue team leader couldn't help but ask.

"Sir, what happened?"

"…"

Xie Minglei took a deep breath to control his excitement and said as calmly as he could.

"He received an SSS-class evaluation in the basic trial he just completed."

At these words, all the rescue team members were stunned in place.

It was common knowledge that the basic trial had nine levels of evaluation, with SSS-class being the highest.

So far, out of millions of mecha pilots on Planet Blue Star who had gone through the basic trial, only a handful had received an SSS-class evaluation.

Those who grew up after that became powerful mecha pilots who were invincible among their peers and were now influential figures on Planet Blue Star.

These were beings that the ordinary rescue team could never come into contact with, only seen in the news.

They had provided support for a genius mecha pilot of that caliber?

The rescue team leader's heartbeat quickened.

After this, wouldn't he have something to boast about in front of other team leaders for a decade?