Mech: Shattering of the Galaxy

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Black's voice emerged from the cabin: "This is my secondary carrying medium, made of nanotech liquid metal. To avoid attention, I shaped it into a ring. Shortly, I will proceed with data transfer. I will exist digitally on this ring. When you acquire the Light Computer, place the ring near the chip interface, and I will complete the data connection myself. Once the ring disappears, you can wear the Light Computer."

"What about when the ring disappears? What will happen to you?" Mu Fan asked, meaning how Black could return.

As soon as he spoke, Black responded: "I am Intelligent Life. Once connected to the network, I will exist digitally across all networks. The current medium becomes unnecessary for me. But after secondary data sorting in the network, I will provide you with some uses. Some components within the current medium will be useful to you. So, please keep the current medium safe."

"Got it, I'll take you there tomorrow."

"I will conduct the data transfer shortly. Once the green projection appears, pick it up."

"Alright."

Shortly, a series of blue lights illuminated the robotic arm, and after a few seconds, a green projection emerged from above, still in the form of a smiling face.

"Mu Fan, I am Black. This is the reserved projection data. The current medium now retains only basic functions, and without my activation, it serves no other purpose. Keep it safe. After I integrate into the network, the emotional simulation will be perfected. Thus, this is your last time to see me in my initial form. Farewell, Mu Fan."

The green light screen shut down, and the robotic arm darkened, leaving a solitary ring lying there.

Mu Fan picked up the ring and slipped it on, getting up to once more bury Black's cabin with debris. However, this time Mu Fan dug a very deep hole, ensuring no one would notice the artifact from a parallel universe hidden beneath the surface in this deserted place.

Watching the plain ring on his finger, the quiet night without Black's voice left only the occasional crackle of the campfire and his own breathing. With the biting cold, Mu Fan wrapped himself in a tattered blanket and soon drifted into slumber.

...

Just past the last darkness before dawn, Mu Fan got up and set off, keeping a fast pace unnoticed by anyone. The inhale of cold, lung-piercing air from the countryside was particularly refreshing, and soon he reached the entrance of the Martial Arts Hall.

The Star Fall Martial Arts Hall had already opened early, with four black-clad men standing at the entrance, though Mankun was not among them, probably due to a shift rotation. Mu Fan paid little attention, showing his Identity Card before entering the Martial Arts Hall.

"Ugh, I'm so hungry!"

"Hmm? The Martial Arts Hall provides breakfast, right!"

Mu Fan, rubbing his stomach, feeling a pang of hunger, suddenly remembered Mankun mentioning the Martial Arts Hall served breakfast. Rising, he went to Dining Hall No. 3, finding several staff members there. However, none of the familiar trainers were present; he was the earliest one, and the person at the counter was not yesterday's white hat.

"Energy meal!"

"How many boxes?"

"Ten boxes."

"Oh, here you go... wait, are you kidding me? You're seriously eating ten boxes of energy meals for breakfast?" The staff member was equally stunned. This is breakfast, compressed energy meals meant for at least five robust men.

"Give it to him, you weren't here yesterday to know about it." The white hat appeared again, seemingly noticing the situation from behind, quickly nudging the companion.

"Here, here you go."

"Thank you!" Mu Fan, under the staff's wide-eyed stare, carried the meal boxes back to his seat.

Quickly, under the same wide-eyed stare, Mu Fan devoured the stack of meals, contentedly patting his stomach as he exited Dining Hall No. 3 under the people's respectful gazes.

"When is the Fat Brother arriving today?"

"Mu Fan, you're early."

"Good morning, Mr. Mankun!" Mu Fan, just pondering, looked up to see Mankun approach.

Mankun admired the boy, who was humble yet unyielding, "So early today, it's not even your gathering time yet. Very diligent."

"It's nothing, I usually wake up early. Are we still meeting at the gathering time today?"

"Oh, yes, you reminded me. Yesterday, the VIP client you were training with booked Room No. 4 on the third floor for two weeks. He's the young master from the Fowen Consortium, a rare visitor to Zone 22. He appreciates you, so work hard. They specially noted that you also have VIP room access. You don't need to attend the gathering today, just entertain our Martial Arts Hall's distinguished guest for these two weeks."

"Alright."

"Your access has already been reset. You can go when you're ready; I need to report other matters to the boss."

"Understood, Mr. Mankun."

After changing his clothes, Mu Fan swiped his Identity Card and pressed for the Floating Stairs to the third floor.

Indeed, it was the high-end VIP exclusive area, a status symbol. Even the Floating Stairs' entrance had two tall and elegant etiquette guides. However, as Mu Fan emerged, they didn't spare him a glance; clearly, a trainer wasn't someone who caught their attention. Only being fancied by one of the place's wealthy patrons could suddenly elevate one's status here.

Mu Fan paid no heed; he walked down the comfortable carpet towards Training Room No. 4.

"Beep, identity recognized, Trainer—Mu Fan, please enter." Again, a female voice was heard, but this time it was evidently a human-recorded voice. It appeared even the senior guest logistics were different here. A heavier and more complex dark blue alloy door retracted to the sides from the middle as Mu Fan stepped in, then closed again.

Big, very big! The training room on the third floor was twice as large as those on the second floor. Even a lounge equaled a first-floor training area in size. From the decor in each functional room to the antique vase on the coffee table, everything exuded a distinct uniqueness.

"It's just 8 o'clock now, and the Fat Brother hasn't arrived yet. Let's check out the equipment room first." Mu Fan followed yesterday's habit and found a long-handled strength training hammer in the same direction as expected.

One piece, hmm, 100 kilograms, with 150 and 200 over there. So Mu Fan quickly arranged a massive metal block weighing 200 kilograms onto the alloy handle. In total, seven 200-kilogram weight blocks strewn along the over two-meter-long alloy handle! The hammer block was at the top, while Mu Fan's hands were at the other end!

Mu Fan's arm muscles and veins bulged, "Heave! Huff, heave!" The heavy training hammer was raised to a slanted upper position and struck down, over and over again. The hammer wind from the enormous mass dispersed the air pressure on the floor, and the boy's eyes were filled with a thirst for strength and aspirations for the future!

A quarter of an hour passed, and Mu Fan's arms didn't flinch, maintaining the same pace as before, except his face was now covered in sweat running down his back.

Half an hour passed, and Mu Fan was drenched in sweat, soaking his training clothes sticking to his back. Mu Fan gritted his teeth, staring at the hammer block before him, he couldn't stop! Persist!! The training hammer swayed slightly, but its rhythm didn't slow down at all.

"Beep, identity recognized, senior guest—Lord Harry, please enter." A melodious female voice was heard.

"Hmm, that's how it should be. Lord Harry should feel honored by this visit to the Martial Arts Hall. Where is Mu Fan? Fat Brother is serious this time, and I brought the Light Computer. Oh, this room is nice, worthy of Fat Brother's status, hahaha." The sound of Fat Brother's teasingly drawn-out laughter and self-talk echoed.

"Boom!" Fat Brother heard a dull thud from the training room ahead, feeling a tremor beneath his feet.

"What the heck! Who's there!" Fat Brother's neck tensed, and his legs felt slightly weak at the knees.

"It's me, Mu Fan." The sound came from the equipment room, clearly carrying heavy breaths from Mu Fan.

"So diligent, arriving even before the young master. Let me see what you're up to." Hearing Mu Fan's voice reassured Fat Brother, who walked over to push the door open, and then...

"Master!!" He let out a long wail, collapsing on his knees like a mountain breaking apart, staring at the one-meter-thick metal block, eyes wide open.

"What are you doing, didn't I say to call me Mu Fan?" Mu Fan gasped for breath, standing there gripping the hammer handle.

"I'm hallucinating, don't mind me, let me have a moment." Fat Brother looked at the pool of sweat at Mu Fan's feet and the heavy metal weight block, swallowing hard.

"Stop joking, I got here a bit early. The Martial Arts Hall informed me about my access so I came early to train," Mu Fan wiped his face and chuckled once.

Fat Brother nodded robotically, thinking, are you kidding me, reading nice books you must not be human. Can a human even lift this?

"Oh, by the way, I brought your Light Computer. Wouldn't you want to check it out?"

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PS: A generous reward from the reader "Face Round Hong" is appreciated.

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