Today was the first official day of school, and in the morning, there was a dry and dull opening ceremony.
Shane and Xiao Wu finished their breakfast and hurried to the assembly ground.
As work-study students, they naturally wouldn't get any good spots.
"Hmph, honestly! Why do they make us stand at the very back?"
Xiao Wu stood with her hands on her hips, glaring indignantly at the so-called leaders on the podium.
"Silly girl, this is actually a highly sought-after spot that others can only dream of!"
"Look how scorching the sun is. See how hot those people in the front are? This shady spot of ours is incredibly pleasant."
Shane pulled the little loli next to him, and the two of them hid together under the shade of a tree.
"Oh, you seem to be right~"
Only then did Xiao Wu realize, and she immediately cheered up, no longer complaining.
Then, she took out a carrot from her little satchel, "Shane, want some?"
"Can't you bring a cucumber next time? That thing has much more water, you know~"
Shane took it, had a bite to taste it, and then handed it back to Xiao Wu.
"But cucumbers don't taste as good as carrots!"
Xiao Wu pouted her little lips and continued to munch on the spot where Shane had bitten, eating with great relish.
Seeing this, Shane paid no more attention to the food-loving little rabbit and instead cast his gaze over all the new students on the assembly ground.
He was searching, searching for a Martial Soul with development potential!
However, after scanning the entire crowd, Shane was immediately disappointed.
This was the first batch, and also the worst batch, of new students he had ever seen. Not a single Martial Soul made his eyes light up.
Putting aside the plant-type and food-type Martial Souls, the tool-type Martial Souls were all things like sticks and hammers. The flying beast-type Martial Souls were crows and swallows. Those with slightly stronger combat capabilities were perhaps tigers and jackals.
But their spirit power levels were too low, and their combat data was practically nil, completely incomparable to the Wind Wolf Mecha data he had obtained from Su Yuntao.
As for the academy's teachers, most of them were also around Su Yuntao's level, some even worse…
Looking at it this way, Shane dismissed the idea of changing his mecha.
After all, his current spirit power level wasn't high, and some archive data had to be preserved, so the amount of Martial Soul data he could collect and store was limited. There was no need to waste memory.
However, not finding a target didn't mean Shane couldn't enhance his own combat power!
"Hey, Siri, initiate mecha data update!"
"Compare the Wind Wolf Mecha and the Spirit Rabbit Mecha, and integrate their strengths to compensate for weaknesses!"
[Command received. Executing…]
A light screen that only he could see immediately appeared before Shane's eyes. Data from the Wind Wolf Mecha and Spirit Rabbit Mecha scrolled and compared continuously.
[Analysis complete. Wind Wolf Mecha possesses second-generation iteration qualifications. Does the host wish to proceed with the above operation?]
"A second-generation update, huh? Since I can't find a better Martial Soul for now, I'll just use a low-cost card enhancement as a transition!"
"Siri, confirm operation!"
Shane made his decision after a brief thought.
[Host initiating Creation Mode, activating Mecha Master function!]
[Modification Target: Wind Wolf Mecha]
[Data Blueprint: Spirit Rabbit Mecha]
[Commencing combined update, second-generation mecha modification initiated!]
Xiao Wu quickly finished her carrot. When she looked up, she found Shane staring intently at the empty air in front of him.
Just as she was about to ask, Shane preempted her.
"Xiao Wu, keep a lookout for me. If anyone approaches, warn me immediately."
Without giving the little loli a chance to refuse, Shane turned his head back and immersed himself in optimizing the mecha.
"You! I'm not going to be your lookout!"
Her mouth said no, but her body language said yes. Although Xiao Wu said this, she actually obeyed obediently, her large eyes darting around.
In truth, it didn't matter to Shane whether she kept a lookout or not. He was just afraid the little rabbit would get too bored, so he gave her something to do.
Looking at the entire Nuoding Junior Academy, Spirit Honored Masters with spirit power exceeding Rank 30 were few and far between.
With such low strength levels, they couldn't possibly spy on the Intelligent Chip's operations, let alone when Shane was in such a remote spot.
The scorching sun beat down, and time seemed to slow considerably.
Finally, everyone endured through the opening ceremony, and Shane also successfully completed the modification!
[Data update complete. Mecha modification successful!]
[Name: Swiftwind Demon Wolf Mecha (Second-Gen Wind Wolf Mecha)]
[Characteristics: Retains and enhances the Wind Wolf's aggression and agility, while also integrating the Spirit Rabbit's burst power and flexibility.]
"Phew, mission accomplished!"
Having expended a great deal of mental and spirit power for a long time, a layer of sweat had beaded on Shane's forehead, but his eyes were shining – he was elated and triumphant!
At this moment, Xiao Wu sidled over and asked curiously, "Are you done?"
"Mm, you did a good job keeping watch. I'll treat you to a big meal later!"
Shane pinched Xiao Wu's flushed, warm cheek and chuckled.
"Then you still have to buy me carrots!" Xiao Wu's spirits immediately lifted upon hearing this.
"Alright, alright, alright, I'll buy, buy, buy!"
Shane wasn't in a hurry to try on the new mecha. There were too many people here now, making it inconvenient, and besides, after standing all morning, he was also hungry.
Feeling good today, Shane took Xiao Wu to the second-floor canteen.
The carrots there were bigger, longer, thicker, and tasted even better!
Looking at the little loli stuffing her little mouth full, Shane helped wipe a rice grain from the corner of her lips and asked with a smile, "Xiao Wu, when are you planning to hunt for your first spirit ring?"
"Hmm? It should be in the next few days, I guess…"
Hearing this question, Xiao Wu's gaze became somewhat evasive.
She was a 100,000-year-old Spirit Beast in human form; she didn't need to hunt for her first seven spirit rings, as she could condense them herself.
"Then you must absorb a spirit ring of a higher age, okay? Otherwise, you'll be left further and further behind by me!" Shane deliberately provoked her, tauntingly.
"Alright! Then you just wait and see! Sister Xiao Wu is the most amazing!"
Sure enough, the silly rabbit was so easily hooked.
The age of Shane's first spirit ring was closely related to Xiao Wu's spirit rings, so the stronger she became, the stronger he would become!
After lunch, Shane didn't take Xiao Wu back to the dormitory. Instead, he went to the place where they had their secret "date" yesterday.
"Shane, what are we doing here?"
Xiao Wu clearly remembered this place. A bad premonition suddenly arose in her heart. She subconsciously licked her lips and took a step back.
"Why are you running? It's not like I'm going to eat you~"
"Didn't you say yesterday you still wanted a mecha spar? Today, I'll grant your wish!"
Shane grabbed Xiao Wu's arm, pulled her into his embrace, and said with a wicked grin.
"Mecha spar? Bring it on! Sister Xiao Wu isn't afraid of you!"
The combative little rabbit's fighting spirit was ignited; she still wanted to prove herself!
"Spirit Rabbit Mecha, combine!"
Shane had granted her access, so with a single thought from Xiao Wu, the Spirit Rabbit Mecha instantly equipped!
"Shane, hurry up and turn into your big bad wolf! I absolutely won't lose this time!"
Xiao Wu was eager to try, the poor little white rabbit not yet realizing the gravity of the situation.
"Hehe, Xiao Wu, sometimes you're really cute. Endearingly foolish~"
Shane couldn't help but laugh a few times, then finally snapped his fingers with a "Pa!"
"Swiftwind Demon Wolf, combine!"
The next moment, in an instant, data materialized!
Azure-green armor paired with silver-gray components enveloped Shane completely!
The beast awakens! Tremble, little white rabbit!