"My name is Lai Gouxie, and I'll let you die knowing who you're up against. That way, you can tell the King of Hell who sent you, hahaha!"
The person opposite was seated on a miniature mecha, hunched over, with a wide, sinister grin.
The cockpit of this miniature mecha had no external armor; the pilot served as its head. They were typically used for cargo transport.
However, this mecha had clearly been privately modified. The cockpit was fitted with a transparent protective shield, its right hand had been converted into a mechanical pincer, and its left hand housed a massive chainsaw!
Gu Ya could vividly imagine the bloody scene of the mecha seizing a human, then the chainsaw slicing through their waist.
The mecha's giant chainsaw suddenly roared to life, its massive pincer hands opened, and its thrusters erupted with flame. Without a word, it charged straight at Gu Ya.
Gu Ya's scalp tingled with alarm.
In a flash, Lai Gouxie's mecha was upon Gu Ya.
Gu Ya could even feel the wind generated by the spinning chainsaw.
Life and death hung in the balance!
With a speed no ordinary person could match, Gu Ya agilely dodged the whistling chainsaw.
"So the skills of an intermediate mecha pilot aren't just for controlling the mecha," Gu Ya thought, relieved.
The system had automatically activated [Active Mind] at the critical moment.
Everything Gu Ya saw slowed down, its movements becoming deliberate and discernible.
Although it only lasted for a second, it was enough for him to evade the fatal blow!
The opponent's piloting skill clearly couldn't keep up with Gu Ya's speed. Gu Ya quickly maneuvered behind the mecha.
[Weakness Scan]!
This was the second skill of an intermediate mecha pilot. Gu Ya's vision magnified the weak points of the opponent's mecha infinitely.
"One, two..."
Gu Ya muttered silently. The opponent's mecha had a staggering fourteen critical weak points due to faults.
"You should learn to perform regular maintenance and keep your mecha in optimal condition."
At this moment, the mecha clumsily turned, preparing to launch a second charge at Gu Ya.
But Gu Ya, unexpectedly, charged directly at the mecha.
"Hahahaha! Are you an idiot!" Lai Gouxie bellowed with laughter.
"With the protective shield, bullets can't harm the pilot."
"If only I could disable the shield..."
Gu Ya quickly leaned back, performing a slide to evade the giant pincer and darting under the mecha.
This was the spot.
Gu Ya raised the metal staff in his hand, pulled the trigger, and aimed at the weak point on the left leg. The tip of the staff suddenly tightened.
"Kid! Crawling between my legs?" Lai Gouxie peered down.
Suddenly, the mecha's left leg emitted a piercing grinding sound, rendering it immobile.
"Damn it, you broke my mecha!"
Lai Gouxie forcefully pushed the throttle valve. The mecha's back thrusters blazed, propelling it forward a short distance.
As Lai Gouxie frowned, searching for Gu Ya, an untimely tapping sound echoed.
Lai Gouxie turned his head and froze.
Gu Ya stood on the mecha's back, holding his metal staff, aimed at the protective shield.
A loud shattering sound emanated from the massive protective shield, and countless fragments embedded themselves into Lai Gouxie.
Lai Gouxie gritted his teeth against the pain, and focused his gaze. A dark, empty muzzle was now pointed at his head.
"I'll return your words to you. My name is Gu Ya. Go report to the King of Hell!"
Then, a bullet exploded Lai Gouxie's head.
What sprayed out wasn't blood and brains, but a dark, viscous liquid, just like the tall man from before.
"Both of them are androids."
...
In a dark, three-story building within Sector 13's wastewater treatment area, a man was watching a holographic live feed.
When he saw Gu Ya blow Lai Gouxie's head off, a vein bulged on his left hand, crushing the glass wine cup he held.
However, a subtle, sinister smile then appeared on his face.
"Interesting."
At this moment, a voice came from his communicator: "Boss, that kid took down Lai Gouxie too. What do we do?"
The man chuckled softly and said indifferently, "Bring him to the plaza."
"Understood!"
...
Gu Ya strained to lift Lai Gouxie's body and tossed it out of the cockpit.
This mecha could still be repaired and used. At least it was more reliable than facing steel with flesh and blood.
The cockpit was smeared with Lai Gouxie's black blood. Gu Ya ignored it, quickly wiped it down, and activated the [Precognitive Piloting] skill.
The operation procedures for this model of mecha instantly appeared in a holographic analysis. Gu Ya quickly simulated them.
"Simple."
Gu Ya sighed softly, then emerged from the mecha and went to its left leg.
The system automatically initiated mecha repair analysis, with detailed explanations appearing for everything he saw.
He had broken the knee joint bearings and transmission rod of the mecha's left leg with his metal staff. New parts were needed for repair.
Gu Ya looked at the metal staff in his hand. The holographic analysis showed the exact parts required.
"This will come in handy."
The mecha repair analysis appeared. Following the repair steps, Gu Ya used the screwdriver and wrench left in the cockpit to quickly and precisely remove the damaged external armor.
Then, he dismantled the metal staff and installed it onto the mecha's leg.
While repairing, Gu Ya inadvertently glanced at his experience points. Without him realizing it, they had increased to 235 points, still more than halfway to the 500 points needed for the next level.
He wouldn't worry about that now. Saving his sister was the priority.
Gu Ya accelerated his work. Five minutes later, he had successfully assembled a makeshift knee joint.
Gu Ya put away his tools, slipped into the cockpit, and started the mecha.
The mecha's leg emitted the sound of grinding parts. Although there was no lubricant, it would at least function.
Just then, a figure appeared on the rooftop of a shop to the left.
"Come to the Old Sector plaza. Our boss wants to meet you personally."
After speaking, the figure vanished.
Gu Ya's expression darkened. He wondered what new trick the other party had up their sleeve, asking him to go to the plaza, an open area with no cover, making him an easy target for encirclement.
Even with a mecha, escape would be impossible.
The sky was darkening, and the light from bonfires illuminated the district.
Gu Ya gazed at the bonfires, recalling his sister's innocent and lovely face.
Over the past few days, Gu Ya had found himself growing increasingly fond of his sister.
Despite her rebellious nature, she was sincere towards him.
Especially when she had said, "I'll build you a wife," her expression clearly indicated she wasn't joking.
It was hard to imagine an eleven-year-old child having such thoughts. In his previous world, an eleven-year-old would still be clinging to their parents, obsessed with anime, and living a carefree life.
No time to dwell on such thoughts. Gu Ya pushed the throttle to the max. Saving his sister was paramount.
Although this type of mecha could fly, its power was ultimately insufficient. It was like a mother hen, unable to fly very high.
Gu Ya took a winding path to the Old Sector plaza.
The plaza was surrounded by eight bonfires, with over a dozen people standing in the center.
Some piloted mechas, others rode hoverbikes, and some had no vehicles.
And in the very middle, seated atop the tallest mecha, was a man steadily positioned, dressed in a long black trench coat.
Beneath the coat, his robust chest was tattooed with a ferocious-looking crocodile.
The man sat with his legs crossed, his expression leisurely.
The gleaming pointed leather shoes, paired with his neat, short hair, exuded an aura of intimidation.
Gu Ya stopped at the outer edge of the plaza, refraining from moving further in.
"You've finally arrived!" the man sitting in the center said slowly.
His tone was neither servile nor overbearing, but powerful and resonant.
"Where's my sister!" Gu Ya shouted.
The man waved his hand, and a thin man escorted Youyou from the back.
Youyou's mouth was covered by her clothes, and she looked at Gu Ya with tear-filled, terrified eyes.
Her face was clean, and her clothes were intact.
Gu Ya felt a slight sense of relief.
"And who are you?" Gu Ya yelled.
"I am a superior of the Crocodile Alliance," the man replied calmly.
"How can I get my sister back?" Gu Ya shouted.
The man slowly stood up from his seat, his shoulders flexing and widening. The trench coat slid down his arms, revealing his strong upper body muscles.
He let out a sneer and said, "First, you have to defeat my Fierce Crocodile mecha."