New Mech

Now that Xiao Bai had decided to switch to a new mech, the next step was to equip it. At this stage, the new mech was still just a hollow shell, lacking even complete armor plating.
Normally, this process would be long and complex. Xiao Bai's parents worked in this fi eld, though in the civilian sector. According to them, assembling a mecha required not only specialized assembly workshops, a large workforce, and vast amounts of time, but also repeated testing, adjustments, and optimizations to get the mecha operational.
Just adjusting and calibrating the engine alone could take months. With such a cutting-edge mech, the entire process could drag on for an eternity.
But with the Panel's assistance, Xiao Bai could equip the mech as e asily as playing a game. With a few mental drags and drops, he installed the newly assembled Integrated Dynamic Perception System into the head, granting the new mech enhanced vision and hearing, along with radar, scanning, imaging, and X-ray capabilities.
Next was the engine section. Xiao Bai currently had three engines: the "Terror Turtle" he was currently using, the heavy industrial engine obtained from the second ghoul, and the disassembled components from the first ghoul, which he hadn't yet assembled.
He initially planned to see if he could combine all three engines into a new, hybrid system. However, as his gaze swept over the Terror Turtle engine, he discovered an unexpected feature.
"Huh? This unscientific spherical engine, due to its unique biomimetic design, can directly fuse with other engines to enhance their power output?"
"But this isn't a function of the panel—it's built into the engine itself?"
Xiao Bai hesitated briefly but decided to give it a try.
He first "sacrificed" the honest, old engine from over twenty years ago, dragging its icon onto the Terror Turtle engine.
Then, he heard an unusual rumbling from his chest, followed by a sudden spike in temperature. The "Power" value on the panel began to rapidly increase, its digits scrolling upward until it finally settled at 100.
"To improve by that much? This is like upgrading from a bicycle to a supercar! So this is the true power of the Terror Turtle engine?"
Xiao Bai's enthusiasm surged. He quickly reassembled the engine components into a brand-new heavy engine and eagerly fed it to the Terror Turtle.
The Power value skyrocketed again, finally settling at 200.
"Hmm~ The 20-year-old engine improved by 85 points, while the new one improved by 100. You guys are real masters at squeezing out improvements..."
"And the engine's size hasn't changed at all? Just increased its power consumption? What kind of subspace black magic is this?"
"Well, this is good too. It saves precious internal space for other things."
With the engine ready, the next step was energy.
"Small reactor, combine!"
"Energy storage battery, combine!"
A green light scanned the area, and a brand-new reactor and energy storage battery materialized before him.
However, there was a slight disappointment. These components weren't as cutting-edge as he'd hoped. Both designs were three years old, not the latest technology, and lacked any real black magic.
The Energy Storage Battery is a common design, distinguished by superior craftsmanship, greater capacity, reduced wear, and enhanced safety.
The Reactor also follows a standard pattern, based on a special fission reactor developed by Paradise Technology. It's less powerful and less efficient than a nuclear reactor, requiring periodic refueling with heavy metals.
However, it excels in stability and safety, being less prone to explosions or leaks. Its compact size makes it easier to mount, and it generates energy directly, bypassing the need for a "boil water" step.
Xiao Bai's version is even smaller, operates at lower temperatures, and is even more stable and safe, with virtually no risk of secondary explosions. It was specifically designed for medium-sized mecha.
Despite its apparent advantages, it's surprisingly obscure. Three years after its debut, it's barely mentioned online.
"This clearly shows they went down the wrong path," someone commented. "Medium-sized mecha are typically around 15 meters tall—how much can you fit inside? Instead of cramming in this thing, you'd be better off carrying more batteries."
"Plus, storing excess energy is a problem. You'd still need extra batteries to store it. So why not just carry more batteries in the first place?"
"This reactor is perfectly suited to my situation. I have no supply lines here, so I don't need to worry about overflow issues. Any excess energy can simply be stored in my storage space."
"As for the heavy metal fuel it requires... Ha! I have an abundance of heavy metals here. It's practically custom-made for me! Let's install it!"
Xiao Bai inserted the new medium-sized reactor into the abdomen of the new mecha, and placed the energy storage battery around its waist.
The old heavy reactor, now obsolete, was stored in his storage space for the time being.
With these preparations complete, Xiao Bai turned his attention to the main control chipset he was currently using. Carefully, he began transferring it to the spine of the new mecha.
The process made him slightly nervous. Once the chipset was fully transferred, his soul would follow, moving into the new mecha like a 'possession' from a Xianxia novel.
Anyone familiar with possession knows that this process often comes with unpredictable risks.
Fortunately, Xiao Bai's transition went relatively smoothly. He experienced a brief moment of darkness and lost control of his body for a few seconds. But as the sensation returned to his limbs, he heard the Panel's voice in his ear:
System integration synchronization in progress... 60%... 90%...
Main Control System synchronized.
His vision then returned, brighter and sharper than before. He could now zoom in and out at will, and even activate functions like 'Scan' and 'X-ray Vision'.
"Haha, now I've got some real power."
The final task was to transfer the Electromagnetic Interference Module, the Maintenance Mechanical Arm, and various chips and components to the new body.
Of course, he didn't forget the 'coffin'. It was still strapped to his back, but now it was much roomier and more secure.
After completing all the work, Xiao Bai checked his current performance parameters one last time:
Model: Unnamed Mecha
Power: 200
Defense: 20
Processing Power: 80
Energy: 300/1000 (100)
Installed: Terror Turtle Power Engine, Celestial Feather-class Medium-Sized Mecha Structure, Medium Reactor, Grade 5 Energy Storage Battery x2, Other
"This reactor's efficiency is quite good. Despite its small size, it provides 100 energy points per hour, comparable to a Heavy Reactor. It's a hidden gem."
"Hmm... Compared to the leaps in power and energy, the improvement in processing power is rather modest. Even after installing all the chips I have, they're all just old engineering and maintenance chips. I couldn't find any newer ones..."
"That's understandable. The chips are already so small that any smaller and they'd just be dust. Naturally, there are no components to speak of."
"Alright, I'll install the weapons later. For now, let's test the new mecha's performance."

Chapter end