The Legendary Mechanic Chapter 1 - Rebirth
Translator: MJ_ Editor: Millman97
“Test subject number 24. The subject lasted for two minutes and forty-five seconds after the administration of Valkyrie. Time of death: 4.22 AM.”
Bright lights blinded Han Xiao as he awoke. The VR-capsule's familiar lid had vanished, replaced by a stark white ceiling overhead. White metal walls enclosed the space, straight out of a sci-fi flick. It looked like an ICU setup, with Han Xiao sprawled shirtless on a frigid metal slab, connected to countless devices. His back felt icy cold.
A cluster of white-coated figures encircled Han Xiao, staring at him like he'd risen from the grave.
All at once, a flood of data surged into Han Xiao's brain, sparking intense headaches. His final recollection was taking on a leveling quest. While building a fresh character in ‘Galaxy’, a burnt egg stench had assaulted his senses...
“Quickly, let Ms. Hila know! The test subject has come back to life!”
“Call the guards!”
Chaos erupted among the researchers, and Han Xiao comprehended their unfamiliar tongue. Words like ‘test subject’, ‘back to life’, and ‘guards’ sent chills down his spine. Footsteps pounded from beyond the door shortly after.
In an instant, Han Xiao chose action over inaction. He bolted upright, tore free the cables, and stumbled toward the exit. The researchers retreated swiftly, dodging any collision.
Crash!
Bursting into a sterile hallway, Han Xiao faced guards in black gear, electric batons ready, closing in from both ends.
Han Xiao's breath caught at the emblem on their attire—a halved plant design.
One guard lashed out with his baton; Han Xiao instinctively threw up a block. Electricity jolted through him, wrenching his body in agony, bones cracking, limbs going numb.
Galaxy capped pain at 40% to safeguard nerves, with VR-capsules tracking vitals against overload—yet his was glitching now.
The guards hauled him to a tiny chamber, sealing him in total blackness alone.
Wincing, Han Xiao rubbed his aching wrist amid pounding headaches and incoming data waves.
Piece by piece, Han Xiao pieced together the shocking truth.
Amazement widened his eyes.
‘Galaxy’ was a global immersive VR MMO peaking at nearly 60 million players online.
Its colossal universe featured quantum-generated maps of immense scale, handling billions without lag. Gold-farming guilds and dungeon runs thrived, top gear fetching millions in USD.
Balance defined its popularity: whales held edges, but casuals stayed competitive via skill and progression, fueling its e-sports dominance.
Han Xiao earned from ‘Galaxy’, but shunned 'pro gamer' labels. A solo power-leveler, he thrived independently.
Veteran since launch, he'd risen through patches, hitting 47th in the latest top 100. Pro potential abounded, yet grinding levels was his passion.
“The Germinal Organization stems from a Version 1 starter world in ‘Galaxy’: Planet Aquamarine,” Han Xiao muttered.
Pre-transmigration, over a decade had passed. Version 1.0 was dusty lore.
“Did I time travel as well?” Han Xiao's face fell.
“No refund on my three hundred bucks‽
“Idiot! That's not priority!” Han Xiao smacked himself.
Memories tangled; his old life's details, even his name, escaped him. Only this world's lore remained, like the current Galaxy Year 687—pre-update by one.
Version 1's trio of powers maintained ten millennia of peace post-exploration: Commonwealth of Light, Crimson Dynasty, Arcane Church. No Silver Revolutionary Army yet, the Supernatural Disaster fighter clung to a barren rock, World of Light unborn, World Tree invasion distant, Shattered Belt—and Aquamarine—lurking on civilization's edge.
Drawing from giants like ‘WoW’, updates hinged on catastrophes or epics. Han Xiao loved it as a game; transmigrated, not so much...
“Get me out!”
Germinal paled against later cosmic giants, but trapped and weak, Han Xiao faced a nightmare.
“Planet Aquamarine mirrors Earth; Germinal seeks its government's fall. Valkyrie subjects become brainwashed fodder, I bet.”
This vessel's mind was wiped clean. Scant basics lingered, plus captivity snippets and tests.
Around twenty years young, vaguely like his old look. Health unclear. Valkyrie, Germinal's brain-booster serum, boasted 30% survival—yet he'd pulled through.
Abruptly, azure text glowed before him.
_____________________
You have been injected with Valkyrie!
+1 Endurance
You have learnt a new ability: Concentration
You have learnt a new ability: Low Level Willpower
¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯
“Virtual interface!” Han Xiao whooped in delight.
_____________________
Name: Han Xiao
Race: Human/Carbon-based (Yellow)
Model: NPC (Countdown to Version 1.0 launch: 358 days 11 hours 03 minutes)
Level: 1
Experience: 0
Main Class: N.A.
Sub-class: Civilian Lv. 1 (0/50)
Attributes: Strength 2, Dexterity 2, Endurance 3, Intelligence 3, Mystery 1, Charm 2, Luck 1
Unassigned Stats: 0
Energy: 0 (Lv. 0)
Energy Rank: 1~2
Grade: F (Mortal)
[Piece of trash with a combat strength of 5; pick any NPC out from the streets and he will wipe the floor with you a hundred times! A hundred times!]
Health points: 23/30 (injured)
Stamina: 36/36
Abilities:
– Concentration: +10% to learning and crafting speeds
– Low Level Willpower: +3 Resistance
Skills: None
Talent points: 0
Class Talents: None
Influence: 0
Reputation: 0
Equipment: None
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“Thank god I still have the interface!”
Ecstatic, Han Xiao spotted oddities aplenty.
Han Xiao creased his brow, sorting his mind.
Primarily, interface or not, this realm was real—no respawns on death.
Next, NPC-tagged yet system-accessible implied player-like leveling—jackpot.
Thirdly, launch countdown hinting pre-Version 1.0? Players incoming soon?
Crucially, peril loomed large!
Resentment bubbled in Han Xiao. Transmigrators got goldfingers, allies, harems, safe starts! Here, war unstarted, he lurked enemy depths—a fatal misstep away from doom. Hall of Heroes? Maybe.
One life only; death ended all. Pity, truly.
‘Pity’ summed his regret. Survival screams normalcy. Overblown cries like ‘Defy heavens!’ or ‘Core pill immortality’ belonged to chuunibyou.
“Why me SAO'd solo?” Han Xiao griped.
Reality assaulted his senses, yet doubts crept...
He exhaled deeply.
Survival first.
A year's buffer till launch meant prep time—his lone hope.
Clank!
Door swung wide; figures entered, backlit silhouettes obscuring faces. One curvaceous woman stood out.
“The subject’s condition?”
Her smooth, faintly raspy tone evoked dark roast coffee, directed at her underling.
“It appears that the test subject has calmed down.”
Experiment head Lin Wei Xian replied, gazing at Han Xiao like treasure incarnate.
“Who are you people?” Han Xiao croaked.
“Hmm? Amnesia...?” The woman's eye flickered.
“Valkyrie stimulates the brain, so memory loss is not unexpected,” replied Lin Wei Xian, squinting.
Eyes adapting, Han Xiao gaped at her.
Burgundy locks half-veiled her face; a sleek black bodysuit strained against voluptuous curves.
Western sharpness softened by Eastern allure—mixed blood magic. Elsewhere, a seductive yokai vibe.
thought Han Xiao.
“I am Hila, the commander here,” said the red haired woman as she looked at Han Xiao. She waved a hand and ordered, “Conduct a blood test. I want to see the report ASAP.”
Stone-faced guards advanced, gripping him roughly. Their bulk and firearms crushed resistance dreams.
Han Xiao knew ‘Crimson Snake’ Hila; this was Aquamarine's Valkyrie Lab scenario, Germinal stronghold.
Version 1 boss terrorizing noobs, ‘Goddess of Death’ among titles. Later ‘Celestial’ might, Cotton Cluster legend.
Han Xiao inwardly苦笑ed. Dire straits!