Chapter 1518 The Legendary Mechanic

Having deactivated the Sovereign Avatar, Han Xiao's consciousness returned to his main body, and the scene before him changed back to the mechanical throne room of the Black Star Palace in the Shining World.

He took off the Evolution Cube hanging around his neck and examined it closely, the silver cube reflecting a shimmering light.

"It's been more than twenty years since I got you from Sisko..."

Han Xiao caressed the Evolution Cube, a cool sensation traveling from his fingertips, and a wave of intimacy welled up from the bottom of his heart.

According to the incomplete records of the Evolver civilization in the Heterochroma Legacy, Han Xiao had long resonated with the Evolution Cube, forming a soul connection.

If he handed it over to the empire, he wondered if they would ask him to sever the connection and have a direct descendant of the empire, like Dark Emperor, take the spot.

Shaking his head, Han Xiao temporarily suppressed the matter in his heart, deciding to consider it slowly. He put the Evolution Cube back on, stood up, left the room, and headed to the inner ring base outside the palace to find Fording.

He glanced at Phillip's surveillance footage and saw that Fording was chatting with Aurora, Hardaway, and others at the veteran cadre activity center. Han Xiao then boarded a hovercraft and entered the base, arriving at the guards' exclusive activity room.

As soon as he walked into the room, he heard Hardaway's triumphant voice.

"...I feel it. My Esper ability has improved again a few days ago. There's a subtle change in my deep-level genes. I feel that the door to Super A Grade has opened a crack for me."

Aurora looked at Fording, "How many times has he said that?"

"Two hundred and thirty-three times." Fording chuckled.

"Exactly, he says he's going to Super A Grade every day, and it's been more than ten years with no progress." Aurora couldn't help but retort.

"Don't you believe me, I improve every time I spar with the legion commander's Apostle Weapons, it's just a small improvement." Hardaway harrumphed.

"Sparring? You mean getting beaten up." Fording spread his hands.

"What's wrong with getting beaten up? That's how my Esper ability works." Hardaway retorted, "At least I last longer than you. No matter what, I'm still the Black Star's trump card."

Hardaway's ability was to increase his body's defense, making him stronger. Getting beaten up was his way of evolving, using external force to transform his cells and genes, like forging himself with the help of others.

Since he was already a peak Beyond Grade A Esper, only attacks with the power of Super A Grade could stimulate his evolution.

After the appearance of the Apostle Weapons led by Youzu, Han Xiao transferred the job of beating up Hardaway to the Apostle Weapons. As he continued to grow stronger, the power of the Apostle Weapons also increased. Since they could fight Super A Grades, they were naturally more than enough to beat up a Beyond Grade A. Hardaway would often run to the Apostle Weapons to spar and get abused.

Because of his outstanding defense, he could last a long time against the Apostle Weapons, longer than the other guards. After more than twenty years of beatings, Hardaway's progress had accumulated, and his combat strength had improved significantly. As a Super A Grade seed, he always called himself the legion's number one general.

At this moment, everyone heard footsteps and turned to look at Han Xiao walking in, and they all stood up to greet him.

"Sit down, I'm just here to take a look." Han Xiao waved his hand and walked to Fording's side, putting a hand around his shoulder.

"Here you go again?" Fording said helplessly, tapping Han Xiao's chest, but not struggling.

Over the years, he had gotten used to it—men's friendship was simple; the more they touched, the better their relationship became.

Now that Black Star's reputation was growing, more and more officers felt constrained in front of Han Xiao. Within the legion, only a few old friends, including Fording, could be so casual in front of Han Xiao.

While Han Xiao contentedly absorbed the luck, he turned to look at Aurora, sizing her up and down, and asked, "How's your life energy accumulation?"

Aurora smiled, as if sunlight had lit up the room, "It's already huge. I can feel that as long as I accumulate for another half a year, I can cross the threshold of Beyond Grade A."

Hearing this, Han Xiao nodded.

Aurora's Life Esper Ability allowed her life energy to increase every moment, causing her body to constantly evolve, improving her physique, optimizing her genes, and maintaining her youth.

At Grade B, the way to upgrade her Life Esper Ability was unique. Aurora found it difficult to deliberately train. She needed to wait for her life energy to accumulate automatically until the total amount exceeded the standard of the next level, then she could advance smoothly.

This path had its advantages and disadvantages. The disadvantage was that progress was slow. A certain amount of life energy was generated every day depending on her level. Using the Esper Ability to consume life energy would reverse the progress of the upgrade. Aurora had created many life potions before, but she had not yet reached Beyond Grade A and was now rarely doing this.

But the advantage was long-term, that is, there was almost no bottleneck. As long as the life energy reached the standard, she could advance naturally, meaning that advancing to Super A Grade was only a matter of time for her, but it might take hundreds or thousands of years.

Speaking of which, Hela was plundering the life energy of others to strengthen herself and accelerate her advancement, while Aurora was sharing her life energy with others, slowing down her own growth. The two's Esper Abilities and advancement methods were completely opposite.

"By the way, Uncle, when is my sister coming back?" Aurora couldn't help asking.

"I don't know." Han Xiao shook his head. "I specifically sent them a message a few days ago, but they didn't reply and didn't answer my calls. They might have run off to some secondary dimension to adventure and can't receive the quantum network signal."

"Hmm, I haven't seen her in years. I miss my sister." Aurora puffed up her cheeks, feeling a little sullen.

"I miss her a little too." Han Xiao nodded.

"I miss her too." Hardaway echoed.

The two immediately turned to stare at him, with a surprised expression of "What does it have to do with you?"

Hardaway crossed his arms and snorted, "She's been gone for twenty years and still holds the honorary title of guard captain. Fording is only temporarily filling in, and I'm still a vice-captain to this day. I can't even find anyone to challenge for her position."

"Oh, so that's why." Aurora breathed a sigh of relief and patted her trembling chest. "I thought you had some ideas about my sister."

"Your sister is so cold, she wouldn't look at me." Under Han Xiao's gaze, Hardaway coughed and muttered softly, "Besides, how would I dare..."

When he first joined Black Star's command, Hardaway didn't have much experience, so even though he was a dignified Super A Grade seed, he was willing to temporarily submit to Hela and only be a vice-captain.

But now that so many years had passed, Hardaway had also changed from a newcomer to a veteran. His strength had improved, and he was more confident. In addition, Hela had been gone for twenty years, and he felt that he had the qualifications and didn't want to be inferior to other Beyond Grade As anymore. He wanted a higher position and to become the captain of the guards.

This would be beneficial to his reputation in the universe. The name of the captain of the Black Star Legion's guards, like the chief vanguard officer of the war domain, had an added influence. While pursuing strength, Hardaway occasionally considered this aspect.

"Sure, when Hela comes back, as long as you can beat her, you'll be the captain of the guards." Han Xiao said with a smile.

"Okay, it's settled then." Hardaway's spirits lifted.

After chatting for a while, Han Xiao left the room and walked down the corridor. As soon as he went out, he opened the panel and chose to settle the Silver Shadow's Super A Grade challenge mission.

[【Silver Shadow】 has been completed!]

[You have completed all mission requirements, you have gained 245e experience]

[You have received 【Character Summon Card – Silver Shadow】]

[Character Summon Card – Silver Shadow: 【Comet Glide】 – For a short time, Agility +15%, Movement Speed +45%, Acceleration Efficiency +300%, cancels speed limit, can accelerate infinitely, lasts 12s, maximum number of uses: 0/4]

[You have received the reward: Draw one of Silver Shadow’s abilities (Skill/Talent)]

[Hint: Silver Shadow is a Martial Artist, some draw-able abilities have automatically adjusted effects based on your profession]

[Drawing randomly… Draw completed!]

[Please choose one of the following five abilities as a reward:]

[1.【Charge·Endless Momentum】- Skill: Your next melee attack will inflict additional damage based on the distance of the charge. The longer the distance, the higher the damage, with no upper limit. At the same time, you will suffer a counter-shock and bear 70% of the impact damage of this attack, consuming 200 Stamina and 3000 Energy, cooldown 240s – To smash others, or to smash yourself, that is the question]

[2.【Dark Energy Absorption】- Skill: You can absorb the dark energy in the universe, restoring 15%~25% Energy each time, consuming 800 Stamina, cooldown 24s]

[3.【Nuclear Force·Structure Reinforcement】- Talent: The cell particles that make up the body form a more stable distribution structure. You gain 12% absolute physical damage resistance, you are immune to true damage, and special attacks such as armor penetration and shock are ineffective against you (non-immune, converted to normal damage)]

[4.【Self-Refresh】- Skill: Removes all negative states acting on the body (except 【Silence】 and 【Energy Seal】), consuming 300 Energy, cooldown 420s]

[5.【Heavy Speed Crit】- Skill: Passive skill, when you start to accelerate, your melee critical hit rate and critical hit damage multiplier will rapidly increase, providing up to 80% critical hit rate and 375% critical hit damage. When you maintain speed, this effect is constant. When your speed decreases, if you do not restore the peak speed of this movement within 2.5s, the effect will start to decay irreversibly after 8s, and return to zero in 4s. After returning to zero, it will cool down for 120s before reactivating - Life lies in movement, run, don't stop!]

"The quality of this draw is pretty high." Han Xiao's eyes lit up.

There was a template talent, and the other skills were also high-quality. Apart from the luck factor, the main reason was that Silver Shadow's abilities were of average quality.

After taking a closer look, Han Xiao first eliminated 【Dark Energy Absorption】. Martial artists relied on Energy to make a living. This was a very important means of replenishing Energy, but he had a more efficient way of recovering Energy by getting beaten up, so he didn't need this.

Generally speaking, when a template talent appeared, Han Xiao would usually choose the template, but the core effect of this 【Nuclear Force·Structure Reinforcement】 was true damage immunity, which overlapped with the ability given by the Germinal Leader.

The other 12% absolute physical resistance and immunity to shock, armor penetration, and other damage had some effect, but the cost-effectiveness was not so high.

He was already very strong in terms of durability, mainly relying on terrifying recovery ability to run rampant, and this improvement in defense was very weak. The last time he ravaged Little Baddie, he obtained 【Legendary Fixed Damage Reduction】, which was enough for him.

This time, his inner desire for output finally turned the tables and sang, immediately starting an uprising.

After thinking for a while, he made a choice.

[You have comprehended the skill 【Charge·Endless Momentum】!]

"This is more suitable for me." Han Xiao thought to himself.

Although 【Heavy Speed Crit】 was good, it was limited to the melee critical hit rate of the main body, and it had to be triggered by mobile warfare. It was very suitable for Silver Shadow's combat style, relying on flexible speed to graze repeatedly, like a flying sword going back and forth, but it was not so compatible with him.

In comparison, 【Charge·Endless Momentum】 was very fierce, providing unlimited additional damage based on the charging distance. He himself had to bear 70% of the equivalent damage. The power was great, and the side effects were also great.

As the saying goes, heaven is on the left, and iron-headed babies are on the right. Even if they die in battle, they must fall on the road of charge. This was a lose-lose, die-together attack method.

Coincidentally, in terms of dying together, the Technician Han was a well-deserved expert, leading the industry for not a hundred years but eighty years!

He had means of recovering Energy by getting beaten up and exchanging HP for Energy, not only was he thick-skinned, but he was not afraid of anti-injury.

And I am a rich and handsome Mechanic, there is no need to do it myself, I can use the Sovereign Avatar to charge, so there is no risk at all, even more suitable for this ability than Silver Shadow himself!

As long as the movement distance was enough, it was possible to hit millions of damage with one head, which could be used as a decisive means.

"This ability is reliable, finally there is a stronger attack skill, Silver Shadow is really generous, sending me such a good meeting gift."

Han Xiao was secretly delighted.

This little brother is interesting enough, I have to take care of him in the future.