Mental Power: A.
Physical Constitution: D.
Endurance: E.
Motor Coordination: F…
Gu Lin stared at the test report displayed on the light-brain, his brows knitting tighter and tighter.
There were more than twenty categories on the report. Aside from the mental power rating of A, every other indicator hovered pitifully around E-level. Such a score, if placed in his original world, wouldn’t even count as passing.
Sensing the gloomy pressure leaking from its host, the system wisely chose to keep silent, not daring to interrupt.
Yes, Gu Lin was a transmigrator.
Three days ago, he opened his eyes and found himself in a completely unfamiliar world.
According to some so-called “system,” he had crossed into the pages of a Zerg novel titled “After Becoming a Male, I Accidentally Saved the World.”
In this story, he had taken over the role of a despised cannon-fodder scumbag, a “fake villain” meant only to set off the glow of the protagonist.
But there was a reward. As long as he performed his job as the hateful scum-attack properly, he could accumulate points.
And these points weren’t ordinary! They could be exchanged for rare resources, items, even, upon completion of the mainline mission, a special tool that allowed him to resurrect in his original world.
In short: all he had to do was keep throwing himself into death flags, keep courting disaster, and the more convincingly he did so, the more points he earned.
After clarifying the situation, Gu Lin had immediately asked the system for basic information on this world.
The Zergs here were… very different from the insectoid monstrosities he was familiar with. In fact, they had already shed most of their insect traits, and could essentially be treated as humans.
But unlike humans, there was a sharp gender divide: female Zergs possessed terrifying combat abilities, while male Zergs were fragile and weak. Their only real advantage lay in mental power, but their bodies were far, far inferior to their female counterparts.
Gu Lin had silently read through the novel’s contents and the “gift pack” of data the system so kindly supplied, and then wasted no time in using the original body’s connections to schedule a full body test.
The results, unsurprisingly, were extremely bad.
Aside from that slightly decent A-grade mental power, every other physical parameter was downright pitiful.
【Um… Host, an A-grade mental power is already something many male Zergs can’t even dream of reaching…】
The system, having endured for a long time, finally dared to speak up.
【No. That’s not the point.】
Gu Lin shook his head and explained in his heart.
【A mental power and a body that don’t match, the imbalance can cause collapse. It will drastically shorten lifespan. The original body had already reached A before the third awakening. If, during one of those awakenings, the mental power breaks through A to S-level… his body will never be able to endure it.】
【That’s impossible! In the novel, his mental power hardly grows at all.】
The system retorted instinctively.
The Zerg grew through three metamorphoses: the first at six years old, the second at adulthood, and the third three years after adulthood.
For most Zergs, the first two were unavoidable. The third only occurred if their mental power reached A-grade.
The original body was exactly that one of the rare A-grade males.
【That may be the “original character.” But me? My mental power has already surpassed S long ago. Who can guarantee that, during the third awakening, I won’t break through?】
Gu Lin continued explaining.
The system fell silent. Remembering the terrifying mental strength it had sensed in this host, it too started to feel uncertain.
【But there’s still time. As long as I can raise my physical constitution to B-level before then, I should be able to withstand the impact of S-level mental power.】 As he spoke, Gu Lin opened the system’s interface, scrolling directly to the item shop. His eyes landed on two potions: the low-level constitution enhancer priced at 10,000 points per dose, and the mid-level one priced at 100,000.
【Let’s see… three of the low-level, plus one mid-level. That should be enough.】
The system immediately drew in a sharp breath. Thirteen thousand points in total? No! A hundred and thirty thousand! At this rate, they wouldn’t earn enough until the Year of the Monkey!
【Don’t panic. I’ve got a plan.】
Gu Lin casually tapped a few times on his light-brain, then lay back into the nutrient pod already filled with restorative liquid.
The system tilted its head, confused until it saw the message Gu Lin had just posted to his personal homepage on the star-net. And then… it froze solid.
【Marshal Hicks’s mech operating skills are basically nonexistent. In a single battle, he overheated his energy source three times, destroyed two laser launchers, and his performance makes me seriously question whether he even knows how to pilot a mech at all】
The system’s circuits whirred.
Marshal Hicks… the Zerg’s highest commander…
Courage! Yes, His host was truly courageous!
But regardless of how much chaos that single post would soon unleash, Gu Lin couldn’t care less. Having lobbed his bomb, he muted his light-brain with a flick of his fingers, shut his eyes, and sank fully into the nutrient pod.
The moment he entered, his consciousness automatically connected to the star-net, smoothly transporting him into the virtual space.
Just like in his previous world, the star-net here was divided into two parts: one accessible with just a personal light-brain, the other, a fully immersive virtual realm only reachable through a nutrient pod.
Yet compared to the vibrant, bustling star-net of his past life, the Zerg virtual world was barren and desolate. The few Zergs passing by hurried along with cold faces though whenever they passed him, their steps faltered. They slowed, sneaking sidelong glances at him from the corner of their eyes.
As the strongest mech pilot of his past life, Gu Lin, of course, noticed those furtive stares. But he didn’t take them to heart. Logging in, he teleported straight to the virtual mech training ground.
Only after he vanished did the onlookers gather together, whispering excitedly about just how stunning that male Zerg had been.
Only one Zerg, named Josie, quietly tugged his companion’s sleeve and showed him the light-brain. On the screen was the very post Gu Lin had published moments earlier…
But Gu Lin knew nothing of this. And even if he had, he would’ve brushed it off with a laugh.
Right now, he had no intention of paying attention to the uproar on the star-net.
There was only one thing on his mind
Mechs.
As one of the rare A-grade males, the original body had held a position of privilege within the Zerg.
From the moment his talent was first detected, he received a yearly allowance of star-coins enough for a female to live comfortably for her entire life.
And that wasn’t all. The original’s family background was outstanding; for him, star-coins were never a problem.
On top of that, he had a fanatical love for mechs. As a result, his personal lounge on the star-net stored hundreds, even thousands of mechs of every kind imaginable.
They stood neatly lined up within the virtual space, row after row, an awe-inspiring sight that could easily make any mech enthusiast dizzy.
Gu Lin had already logged into the star-net three days ago to take a look, and then promptly stayed there for three full days straight. Only when the nutrient pod blared a warning did he finally have to log off and rest.
Although he’d only been immersed in the star-net’s mech space for three days, he had still made full use of the mechs stored there, along with battle videos scattered across the net, to get a rough grasp of the Zerg’s mech standards.
The conclusion, however, left him deeply disappointed.
The Zergs’ mech technology lagged far behind that of the Human Federation he came from.
Their manufacturing level was, at best, comparable to where humanity had been a hundred years ago. As for mech piloting skills, especially the precision of fine control, they were nowhere near his old world.
Still, there was one piece of good news. The foundation of Zerg mech tech and his world’s tech shared the same origin. With a bit of adjustment, he should be able to adapt quickly.
But his physical condition… really was dragging him down.
The system’s enhancement potions weren’t enough. He needed to think of other solutions as well.
With that in mind, Gu Lin directed a floating robot to carry him into the cockpit of one of the mechs.
He had experimented with piloting these machines in the star-net space for several days now. But he had yet to spar against an actual opponent or rather, an actual Zerg.
His hands were itching to test his skills, to measure his current strength against a true Zerg mech pilot.
Gu Lin readied himself, then tapped the option for random match.
Almost instantly, his opponent materialized on the opposite side.
The Zerg piloted a very standard long-range artillery mech. Aside from some faint traces of modification, it was essentially a mass-produced model, nothing remarkable at all.
At the same time that Gu Lin got a look at his opponent’s mech, the other Zerg also saw him.
The female Zerg on the other end rubbed her eyes, doubting her own vision. She couldn’t be blamed for her shock, Gu Lin’s mech was far too extravagant. Every inch of it radiated the aura of money.
In this society where the ratio of females to males was sharply skewed, unmarried females typically amassed great wealth in order to attract a desirable partner.
And as a result, most females never purchased finished mechs. Instead, they favored custom modifications, building machines to fit their own fighting styles.
But this mech… this was different. This particular model was one she had seen before. Even as a simulated product purchased on the star-net, its price started in the seven-digit range. No ordinary female would ever spend that much on a single mech.
Which meant…
The female’s eyes lit up. Could it be the opponent across from her was a male?
Before she could sort out the swirl of speculation crowding her mind, the system’s notification cut her short.
On the other side, Gu Lin having only recently transmigrated and still unused to his new identity as a male was naturally oblivious to the fact that his opponent had already imagined half a dozen melodramatic scenarios in her head.
For Gu Lin, this was his first real fight against a Zerg since his transmigration, and he was more than eager.
The match countdown ended. The instant the signal rang out, the crimson mech under Gu Lin’s control shot forward like an arrow leaving the bowstring.
He weaved past the opponent’s laser fire with ease, then drove his weapon straight through the cockpit in a clean strike.
The female Zerg piloting that mech never even saw how he attacked, her screen went dark in an instant as she was forcibly ejected from the battle space.
“…That’s it?”
It wasn’t just the defeated female who was dumbfounded. Even Gu Lin himself was filled with question marks.
Were the Zerg really this weak?
Frowning, he clicked “match” again.
The second fight ended just like the first, an instant kill! His opponent was thrown out before they even understood what had happened.
Then came the third match. The fourth. The fifth…
One after another, until the twenty-eighth battle. Nearly every single one ended in a one-hit kill.
Maintaining an average of just over ten seconds per match, Gu Lin racked up twenty-eight consecutive victories before the system stopped giving him opponents altogether.
He could sense that his foes were steadily increasing in skill and strength. But for him, they were still too fragile, too flawed to stir any excitement.
Yes, their mech operations weren’t weak but their grasp of detail, of precision control, was abysmal.
Against someone like him, battle-hardened, carrying an overwhelming mental power advantage. It was child’s play to find their blind spots in defense and finish them in a single strike.
When the system failed to match him again, Gu Lin exhaled slowly, feeling out his current condition. Perhaps it was time to log off.
After all, his body in this world was nowhere near as resilient as before. He remembered climbing a staircase and ending up breathless like some frail invalid… life was tough.
No, correction: Zerg-life was tough.
Just as he was about to exit, the system chimed, Match successful!
Gu Lin blinked, a little surprised, and looked up. A mech appeared across from him, this one, however, was unusual.
At first sight, Gu Lin instinctively sat up straighter. His previously relaxed nerves drew taut.
This mech had clearly been through multiple rounds of modification. Its entire framework had deviated from its original design.
But with Gu Lin’s discerning eye, he could tell immediately that the modifications were good. Very good.
The lines were smooth, the structure reasonable, the work clean and precise. Unlike the gaudy, hideous monstrosities he had seen before, this machine was powerful yet elegant.
From the very moment his opponent appeared, from the fluidity of their preparatory movements, Gu Lin could already sense it, the mech’s performance was top-notch.
And even before the fight began, his blood was stirring.
For the first time since arriving in this world, his battle spirit surged.
Finally! This was an opponent worth fighting!
✦ ✧ ✦
[Translator]
☕ A LITTLE SOMETHING FOR THE TRANSLATOR
⚠️ TRANSLATOR COFFEE LEVELS CRITICALLY LOW ⚠️
☕ BUY THEM A COFFEE →
✧ (づ｡•ㅅ•｡)づ ☕ ✧
✦ thank you for reading ✦
Next →
ChaptersChapter 1 · Crossing OverChapter 2 · KaxiuChapter 3 · Social DeathChapter 4 · Female Servant/WifeChapter 5 · ConfusedChapter 6 · MysteryChapter 7 · CamouflageChapter 8 · AcquaintanceChapter 9 · Man in a ShellChapter 10 · FoodChapter 11 · RemunerationChapter 12 · GossipChapter 13 · TaskChapter 14 · CoverdaleChapter 15 · Mission AccomplishedChapter 16 · ExchangeChapter 17 · DreamChapter 18 · DelicateChapter 19 · ReasonChapter 20 · SpecialChapter 21 · 2 Dose of VialChapter 22 · Night WatchChapter 23 · One NightChapter 24 · GratefulChapter 25 · ContestChapter 26 · FortChapter 27 · RecordChapter 28 · SealChapter 29 · MissedChapter 30 · Treasure TroveChapter 31 · Battle SpiritChapter 32 · IllusionChapter 33 · PhotosChapter 34 · DifferentChapter 35 · Heartfelt wishesChapter 36 · TeasingChapter 37 · InterestChapter 38 · TrappedChapter 39 · Borrowing a knifeChapter 40 · SecretChapter 42 · ConditionChapter 43 · QuestionChapter 44 · AnswerChapter 45 · CoreChapter 46 · MeetChapter 47 · WeirdChapter 48 · DifferentChapter 49 · Spiritual SeaChapter 50 · ConceptsChapter 51 · RoefellerChapter 51 · Hicks Return!Chapter 53 · 10 thousand points!Chapter 54 · RedemptionChapter 55 · ChangeChapter 56 · ReceiveChapter 57 · Side QuestChapter 59 · It seems like a old FriendChapter 60 · TrainingChapter 61 · MoodChapter 62 · ConfusedChapter 63 · Children’s PlaygroundChapter 64 · GiftChapter 65 · ApproachingChapter 66 · ThreatChapter 67 Part 1 · Do you have any objections?Chapter 67 Part 2 · Do you have any objections?Chapter 68 · MaintenanceChapter 69 · Thank youChapter 70 · UndercoverChapter 71 · VisitChapter 72 · FrenzyChapter 73 · TransactionChapter 74 · ReminderChapter 75 · ArenaChapter 76 · InterestingChapter 77 · CuteChapter 78 · SecretChapter 79 · CompareChapter 80 · StrategyChapter 81 · CrisisChapter 82 · ProtectChapter 83 · Blind SpotChapter 84 · SafetyChapter 85 · Mission ObjectiveChapter 86 · DeterminationChapter 87 · Grave DangerChapter 88 · GuessingChapter 89 · Chess PieceChapter 90 · EmotionsChapter 91 · Guardian’s HeartChapter 92 · A Dangerous FigureChapter 93 · FrustratedChapter 94 · BullyChapter 95 · NegotiationChapter 96 · ChallengeChapter 97 · RejectionChapter 98 · PlantingChapter 99 · Thank youChapter 100 · LeveragingChapter 101 · ChaosChapter 102 · SubmitChapter 103 · ThoughtsChapter 104 · Good news and bad newsChapter 105 · MadmanChapter 106 · CooperationChapter 107 · Just drawingChapter 108 · It was a pleasure working with youChapter 109 · StargazingChapter 110 · GuideChapter 111 · Plant FlowerChapter 112 · White WolfChapter 113 · SterilisationChapter 114 · CollarChapter 115 · RunChapter 116 · GenerousChapter 117 · ImageChapter 118 · FriendlyChapter 119 · LostChapter 120 · TasteChapter 121 · System upgradeChapter 122 · Transfered FromChapter 123 · Keep dragging it outChapter 124 · CategoryChapter 125 · DemolitionChapter 126 · I want to cry but can’tChapter 127 · Upgrade completeChapter 128 · Tears streaming down my face in the windChapter 129 · Strange luckChapter 130 · UnknownChapter 131 · Dog plant flowersChapter 132 · Contest of Wits and Silent UnderstandingChapter 133 · ColinChapter 134 · AmbushChapter 135 · DullChapter 136 · BattleChapter 137 · Post-WarChapter 138 · Return ToChapter 139 · Strength EnhancementChapter 140 · Is this a staged accident scam?Chapter 141 · ToolChapter 142 · ProcessingChapter 143 · CluesChapter 144 · MemoryChapter 145 · UnderstoodChapter 146 · I want to hug youChapter 147 · Differential treatmentChapter 148 · So DifficultChapter 149 · Going to farChapter 150 · Real or FakeChapter 151 · ResponseChapter 152 · The truthChapter 153 · Let’s chat Causally?Chapter 154 · A Way to RelaxChapter 155 · ConversationChapter 156 · Daily MissionChapter 157 · A QuarrelChapter 158 · NamelessChapter 159 · ProbingChapter 160 · A Good HelperChapter 161 · ConfirmationChapter 162 · DiscussChapter 163 · ForgottenChapter 164 · TraceChapter 164 · TraceChapter 165 · Contact