Chapter 20 This is the Real Abyss_1

[Rookie Must-See: Difficulty Details and Exploration Suggestions for Age-Old Shadow!]

Upon seeing the title of the post, Jiang Chen immediately couldn't take his eyes off it.

Compared to the high-end posts like [Personal Rankings of Supercharge Modules], [Potential Rankings of Top Mechas], [The Relationship Between Basic Trials Ratings and Talents], etc.

Jiang Chen was more interested in the difficulty analysis of Age-Old Shadow.

After all, talents, modules, mechas...

No matter how much he read about those things, they would not provide Jiang Chen with any strength enhancement, and were useless when exploring the abyss.

On the contrary, Age-Old Shadow was a hurdle that all mecha pilots had to face.

Looking at this post could perhaps provide some help.

He clicked on the post, and an introduction caught his eye.

[Age-Old Shadow, also known as the abyss carbon copy, is the shadow of the old world reflected in the abyss.]

[It hides dangers that can swallow the world, yet it also brings the ladder leading to immortality.]

[With this article, I hope that every rookie mecha pilot will find the abyss that suits them.]

Skipping the introduction, what followed was an analysis of the difficulty levels of the abyss carbon copy.

[Ordinary: Do not be misled by this word. Ordinary difficulty is not truly ordinary—there is no abyss carbon copy in the world that can be easily cleared.

Even the safest and simplest abyss carbon copy contains a variety of monsters, as well as powerful bosses.

Only after defeating the boss can one be said to have cleared the abyss carbon copy.

The ordinary difficulty copy of Abyss Level 0 is similar to the difficulty of basic trials.

It is not recommended for rookie mecha pilots who have merely squeaked by the basic trials to dive in immediately.

At the very least, two or three supplementary modules should be purchased and certain combat training should be undertaken before it's appropriate to enter and begin exploring.

Only a mecha pilot equipped with a full set of modules and having undergone some enhancement attempts should try to defeat a boss alone and clear the abyss.

Note: Abyss carbon copies can be explored as a team, with a maximum of three members.

While this will reduce the drop rate, the difficulty will also decrease accordingly.

It is highly recommended for rookie mecha pilots to find two reliable teammates to explore the abyss together.]

[Profit: Low-tier materials copy, with minimal profits and absolutely no module drops.]

Because the ordinary difficulty of the abyss carbon copy is what rookie mecha pilots come into contact with most frequently,

The poster was very detailed in their explanations.

Jiang Chen nodded slightly as well.

If the ordinary difficulty of the abyss carbon copy is completely consistent with the basic trials, and the Roots Titan is the boss...

At least ten points in all attributes, that is, a full set of excellent modules, would be required to defeat it.

The poster's advice was very sensible.

But, this is ordinary difficulty??

You should know that a 0th Rank mecha can only be equipped with four modules and undergo ten enhancements at most.

The attributes gained from enhancements are comparable to those of four modules combined; if high-quality materials are used, there might be a little more, but it's still quite limited.

A full set of excellent modules, equating to half strength, can only barely clear the ordinary level.

And there are still three whole other difficulty levels after that!

Jiang Chen couldn't help but look further down.

[Normal: Like the ordinary difficulty, normal difficulty is also not normal.

The strength of the monsters is higher, and the bosses are even more powerful. Please explore in a team with your teammates.

If you must explore the normal difficulty of the abyss carbon copy alone, ensure that your mecha is equipped with a full set of modules and has undergone ten mecha enhancements, reaching the current peak of strength.]

[Profit: Low-tier module copy, average profits, with a low probability of yielding some high-quality materials.]

A full set of modules and ten mecha enhancements are equivalent to a maxed-out 0th Rank mecha.

And with that kind of power, can one only just barely manage to clear normal difficulty?

Jiang Chen was shocked.

No wonder this post was placed in the most prominent position and flagged as a must-see for rookies.

If a rookie mecha pilot was reckless, treating the abyss as just a game and waltzed into a normal abyss for a spin...

They would be on the fast track to reincarnation.

So, what about the last two difficulties?

[Hard: Hard is really too damn difficult.

At this difficulty level of the abyss carbon copy, it's the limit for ordinary mecha pilots.

Even if you have loaded a full set of modules and completely enhanced your mecha, never try to explore alone, and don't even think about encountering the boss.

You must team up with two teammates of the same level and with excellent cooperation to attempt challenging the boss.

But...

There are always some geniuses in the world that make others feel inferior.

Just like with the high evaluation in the basic trial, even if they all have fully leveled mechas, those geniuses can exhibit even greater power with their outstanding talents!

If you are a beneficiary of the New Talent Protection Act, you may try to challenge the boss alone, and you don't have to stop there.

The deeper abyss will open its doors to you.]

[Profit: Material book of excellence, chance to produce excellent modules, core modules.]

Jiang Chen suddenly understood.

The poster had been talking about the strength of the mecha until now; only now did he truly mention the mecha pilot.

Clearly, only the combined power of a mecha pilot's talent together with the mecha is considered true strength—

Like Jiang Chen, in terms of mecha alone, even with the model Zero-Type 2 mecha, his attributes aren't that much higher than other rookie mecha pilots.

At most, it just recovers a bit faster.

But when it comes to mecha pilot talent,

Jiang Chen's attributes doubled directly, and he could tear monsters apart with his bare hands even without wearing a mecha.

Other mecha pilots naturally have talents, too, and even if they're not as strong as [Undying Barehand], they likely enhance the mecha's attributes as well.

Other SSS-class rookies who can wear the model Zero Mecha can defeat bosses like the Roots Titan.

Their talents also likely double the attributes of their mechas or even more exaggeratedly.

Therefore, passing through the abyss carbon copies that ordinary mecha pilots find difficult naturally becomes no problem.

They are also capable of challenging even higher difficulties.

[Nightmare: The nightmare of ordinary mecha pilots, please don't attempt it if you lack the strength.

Even if you are a beneficiary of the New Talent Protection Act, a genius mecha pilot, you must never challenge the Nightmare boss alone.

Unless you are an SSS-class rookie, please abandon the foolish heroism of going at it alone, and form a team with fellow talented mecha pilots of the same level for abyss exploration.]

[Profit: Excellent module book, chance to produce excellent core modules, mecha pilot characteristics.]

Nightmare difficulty, only SSS-class rookies can solo clear it?

Jiang Chen stroked his chin.

The burst rate seems to be higher for solo players, and if he wants to get the [Weapons Master] characteristic, it's probably better to explore on his own.

As he thought this, he casually scrolled down.

He wanted to see how other mecha pilots replied to this post.

But he didn't expect that the post hadn't ended yet.

Line after line of new content jumped into view.

[The above is the difficulty guide for Abyss Level 0, hoping to help rookies in their abyss exploration.]

[Remember, you only live once, do not rashly enter an abyss that you are not sure about.]

[Moreover, once all you rookie mecha pilots break through to 1st Rank strength and come to Abyss Level 1, you will see two new difficulty levels in the Age-Old Shadow—Hell and Abyss.

Please do not attempt them; they are not challenges you should tackle.]

...

[Hell: The hell for geniuses, the dead end for mecha pilots.

Many talented mecha pilots have fallen here, losing their lives on the spot.

Even for mecha pilots with SSS-class talent, the Symbol of the Alliance, when challenging the Hell difficulty level of the abyss carbon copies, they must find two SS-class teammates to attempt a clear.]

[Profit: Incredibly substantial, an extremely low chance of producing a supercharged module (only appeared three times worldwide).]

...

[Abyss: Rated by the Symbol of the Alliance, this is the true abyss.]

[Profit: Unknown, no one has cleared it.]