As time passed.
Zhou Luo maneuvered Fire Thunder out of the alley, with the Shadow Wolves still hot on their trail.
The Shadow Wolves were mutated wolf creatures, inherently speed-type Exotic Beasts.
Being nocturnal creatures, they typically rested in buildings during daylight hours. Had Zhou Luo not attacked their alpha wolf and disturbed their slumber, they wouldn't have pursued Fire Thunder with such relentless determination.
Their sole desire was to tear this detestable Mecha to shreds before happily returning to nap, preparing for their nightly hunt.
"My Lord, there's a five-meter-wide cliff ahead—likely created by some monstrous creature!" Fire Thunder's radar engine could detect terrain within a kilometer radius.
"A cliff? The Dragon Severing Platform!!"
Zhou Luo's eyes gleamed as he recalled the Dragon Severing Platform from the Mech Battle King game map.
Back when Fire Thunder was still low-leveled, Zhou Luo had used this very terrain feature to eliminate numerous Black Iron Beasts, harvesting substantial combat energy.
"Heaven helps those who help themselves."
"Vehicle Warrior, transform!" Zhou Luo forcefully pushed the control sticks. Fire Thunder's body flashed crimson as it leaped into the air, seamlessly transforming into a sports car mid-flight.
The ground bore deep tire marks from Fire Thunder's friction.
Thick flames erupted from its exhaust as the transformed sports car accelerated dramatically, creating distance in the blink of an eye.
"Awooo—" The pursuing Shadow Wolves howled upon seeing their prey escape.
Their powerful limbs became blurs as they clearly activated their signature skill—Shadow Assault!
The distance between them rapidly closed. At equivalent levels, with its superior condition and ultimate skill activated, the Shadow Wolf outpaced Fire Thunder by a significant margin.
"Hmph, Vehicle Warrior transform!"
"VROOOOM!!!"
Fire Thunder's engine roared as it soared through the air. The perfectly designed flaming sports car completed another flawless mid-air transformation, the entire sequence fluid and visually spectacular.
The heavy Fire Thunder crashed down onto the ground, successfully clearing the five-meter chasm.
Unnoticed until now, the Frost Moon Blade had materialized in its grasp. The longsword gathered energy, stirring up dust clouds as extreme fire-attribute combat energy dramatically raised the surrounding temperature.
The Shadow Wolf launched itself at Fire Thunder mid-leap, its body tracing a graceful arc through the air with impeccable balance.
But its fate awaited in the form of a razor-sharp greatsword exuding frost energy!
"Just a dumb beast after all. Welcome your demise!"
Though Fire Thunder's combat energy was fire-attribute, it could harness underground frost energy at will, seamlessly switching between these opposing forces.
This terrifying innate talent earned him the position of City Garrison General at merely tier three—a testament to both his master Limitless Fire's recognition and meticulous training.
The blade containing Fire Thunder's full power cleaved through the Shadow Wolf's skull and down its entire body.
Purple blood splattered across Fire Thunder's frame, adding layers of chilling lethality to its presence.
Deep blue combat energy erupted from the Shadow Wolf's corpse, ultimately streaming into Fire Thunder's chest as a streak of light.
Zhou Luo's weary body was cleansed by the surge of battle energy, dispelling most of his fatigue.
Fire Thunder couldn't help but unleash its own battle energy as well.
He had reached level eight!
Zhou Luo manipulated Fire Thunder to raise its hand and beckon with a finger, an extremely provocative gesture.
Sure enough.
Several Shadow Wolves came flying from the opposite cliff, only to all become nourishment for Fire Thunder.
After ambushing and killing several Shadow Wolves, the remaining ones on the opposite side gave Fire Thunder a wary glance before being summoned back by the elder wolf king.
"That wave wasn't an apology—it means you still need more practice, kid."
Zhou Luo quickly maneuvered Fire Thunder away from the area.
He arrived at a concealed building, cleared out the weaker Exotic Beasts inside, then separated from Fire Thunder's cockpit.
As usual, Fire Thunder drank its motor oil, its deep eyes silently gazing out the window.
This was Fire Thunder's nature—steady, calm, neither arrogant nor impatient, and sparing with words.
The mecha no longer looked as pristine as when it first emerged. Its body was now covered in claw marks, though these were merely superficial wounds that hadn't damaged its core.
Its aura had completely transformed from when it first appeared.
Zhou Luo just wanted to reach first rank quickly, then sweep through all his contemporaries in Canglan with an invincible momentum before entering the Imperial Capital Mecha University.
He was already far ahead of most novice Mecha Masters. Though some geniuses might catch up, Zhou Luo intended to crush them with overwhelming superiority.
Just like how he'd dominated the first-rank virtual combat rankings for years.
Several days later.
Fire Thunder's combat level reached the peak of level nine.
During these days, the Shadow Wolf pack had targeted Zhou Luo. Whenever he began hunting for battle energy, large groups of Shadow Wolves would surround him.
Each time, Zhou Luo fought his way out.
The Shadow Wolves suffered heavy losses—their old, weak, sick and injured were nearly all slaughtered by Zhou Luo, leaving only a few high-level, robust individuals in their den.
All of this was orchestrated by that elder wolf king in the background. Killing it would end everything.
"Time to settle accounts."
A fiery red sports car shot through the streets under moonlight, leaving trails of Exotic Beast corpses in its wake—either crushed by impact or blown apart by artillery fire.
Half an hour later.
Inside the Shadow Wolf den at the Vol Mall, the severely wounded elder wolf king finally fell to Fire Thunder's great blade.
"Boom!"
The thousand-jun heavy Frost Moon Blade sank three inches into the ground. Fire Thunder's arms trembled slightly as it leaned on the polearm, while Zhou Luo in the cockpit gasped for breath.
Wiping sweat from his brow, Zhou Luo exclaimed, "Finally over!"
From beneath the massive wolf king corpse emerged a mass of pure battle energy, which seemed drawn into Fire Thunder's body.
Fire Thunder's battle energy continuously surged at this moment, its extreme fire attributes vibrating uncontrollably.
"Haaa!!!"
Both Fire Thunder and Zhou Luo suddenly felt an inexplicable power arise within them. Though completely exhausted moments before, Zhou Luo now felt capable of single-handedly taking on a true wolf king.
Of course, Zhou Luo knew this was just an illusion from his power increase.
With his current combat ability, encountering a healthy wolf king would still send him fleeing in disgrace.
Fire Thunder's battle energy continued raging.
Fiery red energy radiated outward, flipping over several nearby Exotic Beast corpses.
"Fire Thunder leveled up!"
Zhou Luo hurriedly activated his Battle King Glasses.
[Mecha: Fire Thunder!]
[Level: 11!]
[Ultimate Moves: Thunder Crescent Slash! Blazing Sun Slash!]
[Evaluation: This is a Sports Car Clan Warrior from the City of Time named Fire Thunder. His combat style is as swift, domineering, and majestic as his name suggests!]
[Mutation: Different dimensions and powers have caused Fire Thunder to evolve. He can now absorb not only moonlight, thunder, and frost energy but also the power of the blazing sun!]
PS: Hand over those bookmarks right now, or my little bro will send you flying with a single "Roc's Flight of Ten Thousand Miles" attack!!
(End of Chapter)