Wow! The item-dropping rate is really high!

Other people might have the luxury of striving slowly in the days to come, but he had to secure his qualification as a regular Mech Pilot today. Only then could he obtain the rewards provided by the mission—the Mecha Transformation Plan 2.0.

All current mechas are generally classified as first-generation mechs, even the more formidable and specialized ones employed by the Mechanical Court.

The truly revolutionary second-generation mechs are those that require a direct transformation in control mode.

Bai E didn't know how long it would take the world's own research and development capabilities to achieve this qualitative leap, but anything was always more reliable when in one's own hands.

This Transformation Plan 2.0, he must get his hands on it!
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"Now, go and truly touch the exclusive weaponry that belongs to you!"

The immense mechas towered not far behind the crowd, which was why those behemoth-seeing warriors were excited and restless from the start.

No matter how realistic the driving experience in a simulation mech might be, it couldn't beat the excitement of actually handling the real thing.

The main body of the mecha was painted in blue and white, standing tall under the sun, glittering and dazzling.

Each mecha had a number written below it, and there was no scramble for mechs since they had been preassigned.

In fact, all the mechas had identical structures and appearances. As standardized weaponry supplied to the military, they were nothing like the customized mechs used by the people of the Mechanical Court.

Following the previously trained safety protocols and rules, they secured their safety ropes and climbed quickly up the iron ladder at the back of the mecha, Bai E and Rose using both hands and feet.

The cockpit of the mecha was located in the chest area, high off the ground; a less physically gifted warrior might have fallen and possibly died on the spot if they slipped during the climb.

It wasn't easy to train a Mech Pilot, and these safety protocols were also part of the assessment. Even Bai E, who was confident of surviving a fall, wouldn't try to be innovative in such a situation.

"Click~"

"Click~"

"Buzz~"

As the cockpit door sealed shut, the sounds of various mechanical structures moving within could be clearly heard by both of them.

What followed was a sense of robust power that struck them head-on, leaving the cabin so quiet that they could hear their own frantic heartbeats.

Their eyes swept over the surroundings, familiar yet strange, and an inadvertent glance between Bai E and Rose revealed nothing but sheer excitement in their eyes.

This is a mecha!

[Discovery of a new "mechanical structure," would you like to establish a link? (From: Mechanical Rhythm)]

This is my mecha!

Even if "mech spirit" is elusive to most, the armored battalion believes in it.

Every pair of Mech Pilots used their mecha for both regular training and actual combat, and unless due to a manufacturing defect requiring a complete overhaul, the mecha would not be replaced during the service period.

In other words, what they had now... would also be with Bai E for his entire career in the armored battalion.

So naturally...

[Initiating link establishment!]

Establishing a link required continuous contact for at least 48 hours, but before that, the two abilities extracted from the intelligent machinery still faithfully played their basic effects.

"Buzz~" The electrifying sound activated the silent giant, and limitless vitality seemed to spread inch by inch through the massive steel body.

The resonance granted by "Mechanical Mind" made Bai E feel as if his consciousness flowed through the entire mecha in that instant.

The instructor's voice, accompanied by a buzzing sound, came from the cockpit speaker, "All units, proceed to the designated target location, time limit: 5 minutes."

As the voice sounded, from the perspective of the cockpit, they could see an off-road vehicle, kicking up two trails of dust, heading away from the military camp.

The instructor was sitting in the car.

And the assessment, too, began now.

Of course, practical training with such enormous mechas couldn't take place within the confines of the military camp; only the uninhabited wilderness was spacious enough for these massive giants to run amok without restraint.

"Received!"

"Received!"

There was no sound, only electronic key presses confirming receipt of the command.

On the electronic display visible to both drivers, the instructed destination appeared.

"Prepare to move forward."

"Received."

It was their first interaction with the actual control of a mecha, and with Bai E and Rose's understanding, they conducted a standard exchange.

"Standard advance three gears."

"Following."

"Prepare to leap."

"Following."

Small mounds that they passed by were easily overcome with the mecha's large strides.

The standard formation when standing still was broken the moment they started.

Of course, that didn't matter.

Mechas, these massive and extremely difficult to manipulate weapons of war, were never expected to act in concert; each mecha was a ferocious beast on the battlefield, a single one... able to form an army.

Only, the performance of some pilots… was exceptionally eye-catching.

Some could flip over with one foot stepping on the other, while others simply tripped and fell.

Perhaps it was too exciting for those first touching a real mecha, pilots who were seamlessly coordinated on normal days now fumbled dramatically, and the mecha fell flat on its face.

The ground shook, startling the other soldiers in the training armored camp.

Fortunately, there were no critical supplies in the direction of the fall, and the space reserved between the mechas was large enough to avoid additional collateral damage.

The instructor, watching through the unmanned drone's surveillance monitor, blushed slightly and gently covered their eyes, only to feel a strong low pressure enveloping the entire carriage the next moment.

"My... My lord," the instructor said, turning toward the towering figure sitting opposite, who also looked up at the surveillance screen. The man's half-dark, half-steel-gray face was ice-cold, which was chilling. Even as an instructor, their voice became hesitant.

"Their usual training performance isn't like this. It may just be that they're too excited and nervous on their first contact with the mecha today…" The instructor squeezed out a smile, trying to salvage some impression points for the cadets they had trained.

"...Hmm." After a long silence, a response devoid of emotion came from the man draped in a dark coat, neither agreeing nor disagreeing.

Swiveling steel-gray eyes searched the screen, finally locking onto the code displayed on the paint of the overturned mecha's ankle—W0713.

The instructor carefully observed the man's facial expression, but unable to discern much, simply offered a resigned smile, not daring to explain further.

...

"Bang!"

"Bang!"

Each step from the mecha's massive body caused the earth to tremble, and the actual sensation was precisely conveyed to Bai E through the hard connection of the cockpit.

Although the simulator also provided similar feedback, the overall feeling always fell short.

Not to mention, with his mechanical body and mechanical mind, he had never felt as familiar with the controls in his hands as he did at that moment.

The same level of Mechanical Rhythm, enhanced by two major mechanical system abilities updated upon his return, made a significant improvement in touch sensitivity for operating.

Even a simple run seemed to have a sense of smooth breathing, as if human.

And when he noticed the other mechas also advancing not far away, a particular feeling arose as if… as if their movements were inexplicably stiff.

"What are you looking at?" Rose inquired curiously, noticing Bai E's gaze.

"Nothing," Bai E withdrew his gaze, looking toward the location designated by the instructor.

That off-road vehicle was already waiting at the finish line.

An impassive emissary from the Mechanical Court coldly timed the event, and the moment the countdown ended, they mercilessly issued the order, "Those who didn't make it, eliminated."