17: Physics no longer exists? You're calling a Wuling Hongguang equipped with a cannon a mecha?

"Sizzle—!"

Welding sparks bloomed like midsummer fireworks in the old industrial zone behind Dawn Fortress.

The air was thick with the smell of burnt rubber, pungent rust, and a hormonal scent known as "men's happiness."

One thousand second beta players.

Like a swarm of locusts that had been starving for eight hundred years, they swarmed into this steel graveyard that had slept for a century.

"Dismantle it! Dismantle everything for me!"

"Don't let that manhole cover go! That's pure steel! Take it off and use it as a shield!"

"Holy crap! Who the hell sawed off the streetlight pole? I wanted to use it as a javelin!"

The deafening clanging and banging were a hundred times more terrifying than a renovation team moving in.

From a high vantage point.

Su Mu sat on the boom of a crane, holding a glass of red wine (actually "Happy Water" he just exchanged with points), watching the group of crazy "free laborers" below.

On the backend data panel, a red warning was flashing.

**[Warning: Player currency holdings insufficient.]**

Since the cross-dimensional "financial barrier" hadn't been opened yet, the current "Void World" was still a "no top-up" ethical game.

Even if those rich guys outside waved tens of millions wanting to buy a skin, Su Mu wouldn't receive a single penny.

Moreover, the previous "Contribution Points directly to account upon kill" model led to inflation that was too fast.

Su Mu swirled his wine glass, his eyes playful.

"Simply giving money for killing monsters is called data inflation."

"I have to teach them how to... 'carry bricks'."

"Only by linking currency to physical resources can this economic System remain stable."

His fingers danced quickly across the console, inputting a series of "economic reform" commands he had long conceived.

"You can't catch the wolf without sacrificing the child."

"Give out money first, then reclaim it."

Hum—

A server-wide broadcast boomed over the industrial zone.

**[Second Beta Opening Announcement (Major Economic Adjustment)]**

**[To all players: Due to cross-plane communication fluctuations, the top-up channel is not yet open.]**

**[To ensure your gaming experience, the GM has specially approved a "Pre-war Support Fund".]**

**[Benefit 1: All second beta players will receive a one-time grant of [500 Contribution Points] today.]**

**[Benefit 2: Daily basic allowance of [50 Contribution Points].]**

**[Benefit 3: This test duration is [30 Earth days].]**

**[Unique Main Quest Update: [Capture and Defend].]**

**[Objective: Advance 30 kilometers north, capture [Heart of Steel · No. 03 Satellite City] occupied by Mechanical Beasts, and establish a permanent stronghold.]**

Immediately following.

The font color turned blood-red, exuding a chilling aura of slaughter.

**[Important Update: Currency Acquisition Mechanism Rework]**

**[The "Kill to directly obtain Contribution Points" mechanism is canceled.]**

**[Collect drops: [Crystal Cores].]**

**[From now on, you must personally split open a zombie's head and dig out the energy crystal inside to exchange for Contribution Points at the exchange counter.]**

**[Official Buyback Price List:]**

**[1. Shattered Crystal Core (Ordinary Zombie): 1 Contribution Point/piece.]**

**[2. Turbid Crystal Core (Strength/Agility Mutant Zombie): 10 Contribution Points/piece.]**

**[3. Crimson Crystal Core (Licker/Tyrant-class): 100-500 Contribution Points/piece.]**

**[4. Mechanical Core (Mechanical Beast): Valued based on integrity (High Value).]**

Total silence.

After a brief silence, the player crowd exploded.

"What the hell? We have to dig out brains ourselves?"

"This is too hardcore! Blegh... I feel nauseous just thinking about it."

"Nauseous? Brother, you don't get it!"

A player with the ID [Butcher] wiped machine oil off his face and grinned cruelly: "This is called immersion! Think about it, in the future, it's not just simple numbers jumping, but real loot! That feeling of gouging out a Crystal Core..."

"Stop! I'm going to turn into a pervert too!"

"Forget it! Anyway, we have a huge sum of 500 points today! Spend it first!"

As long as the money is right, forget digging for Crystal Cores, they'd even scatter a zombie's ashes for you.

Su Mu watched the players' emotions being stirred up, a capitalist smile curling at the corners of his mouth.

"Since you have money, go ahead and spend it."

A light tap of his finger.

**[System Update: Industrial Core Mall is online.]**

**[Item List:]**

**[1. Universal Industrial Adhesive (50 Contribution Points/bucket): Don't ask for the principle, it's just black technology.]**

**[2. Scrapped Diesel Engine (200 Contribution Points/unit): Although it's as noisy as a tractor, it moves! It really moves!]**

**[3. Micro Fire-Control Chip (100 Contribution Points/piece): A blessing for Human Body Outline Painters.]**

**[4. Low-quality Hydraulic Transmission Rod (150 Contribution Points/rod): As long as it doesn't snap, its power is boundless.]**

The broadcast had just finished.

The players, who were still secretly delighted about "getting 500 points without digging brains," saw the mall prices, and their smiles froze.

Engine for 200?

Transmission rod for 150?

Still need to buy glue and chips?

So the 500 bucks the officials gave out is just enough to assemble the crappiest "bare car"?

Want good equipment?

Go kill zombies! Go dig for Crystal Cores! Go risk your lives!

"Su the Skinflayer!!"

"This is a trap! This is induced consumption!"

Cursing with their mouths.

But their bodies were very honest.

"Buy! Give me an engine!"

"I have money! I'm going to build a Gundam! I'll go farm Crystal Cores after I build it!"

Whoosh.

The 500,000 Contribution Points that had been sent out less than five minutes ago flew back into Su Mu's pocket like a boomerang, carrying the players' livers and kidneys... In a corner of the industrial zone.

The blue light from the welding torch almost lit up the night sky.

In the center of the crowd.

A man wearing oil-stained overalls with the ID [Minister of Punishments] (real-life nickname: Handmade Geng) was stuffing the newly bought engine into a pile of scrap metal.

And in front of him.

Sat an "industrial monstrosity" that no one could describe with words.

It was the chassis of a scrapped "Wuling Hongguang" van.

The roof had been ripped off, replaced by a "giant turret" forcibly welded together using three steel pipes and a pressure cooker.

On both sides of the car were not doors, but two rusty hydraulic mechanical arms stripped from an excavator.

As for the driver's seat?

That was a red leather barber shop chair, complete with a rotating lifting rod.

"This..."

Wang Wei (ID: Luban No. 7) pushed up his glasses. As a proper civil engineering student, his worldview was collapsing:

"This doesn't conform to structural mechanics."

"The center of gravity is too high! If the speed exceeds 30, it will definitely roll over when turning!"

"And what the hell is that pressure cooker? Is that a cannon? Is that the weapon we're using to besiege the city?"

"You don't understand, do you?"

Handmade Geng lifted his goggles, revealing a set of big white teeth stained yellow by smoke, and patted the car body, making a hollow thud:

"In the Wasteland, looking cool is a lifelong matter."

"As for rolling over..."

"As long as I drive fast enough, gravity won't be able to catch me."

After saying that.

He pulled out a [Micro Fire-Control Chip] he had just spent a fortune (100 points) on from his pocket and slapped it onto the pressure cooker with a 'pa'.

"System! Authenticate!"

Hum—

A faint blue light swept over this pile of scrap metal.

In the backend.

Su Mu looked at the scanned data and almost spat out his cola.

But that didn't stop him from mischievously providing a panel.

**[Vehicle generation successful.]**

**[Name: Wuling · Optimus Prime · Beggar Version]**

**[Creator: Minister of Punishments (Mechanist · Wasteland Style)]**

**[Type: Light Assault Mecha (Pseudo)]**

**[Power Core: Magic-modified Diesel Engine (Noise +200%, Stealth -100%)]**

**[Armor Value: 500 (Main defense comes from that thick layer of rust)]**

**[Main Weapon: Pressure Cooker Steam Pressurized Cannon (Damage fluctuates with the pressure inside the pot, 10% chance of backfiring, please use with caution)]**

**[Exclusive Skill: Deja Vu (When playing BGM, movement speed increases by 30%, but the braking System will be forced offline)]**

"Holy crap..."

The onlookers looked at the panel; only these two words could express their current feelings.

This is the legendary... as long as your thoughts don't slide, there are always more solutions than problems?

"Need a test driver!"

Handmade Geng excitedly waved his wrench: "Who dares to go up? This is the server's first mecha! We're relying on it to hit that No. 03 Satellite City and earn loads of Crystal Cores!"

The whole crowd took three steps back.

Hit the Satellite City? Earn Crystal Cores?

If this thing doesn't fall apart after leaving the gate, it'll be considered a success!

"Night God! You do it!"

Handmade Geng was sharp-eyed and grabbed Chu Qingkuang, who was trying to slip away.

"You're the second-ranked god! You have fast reflexes! We only have a one-month test period, time is tight and the task is heavy! If we don't make some big stuff, how are we going to dig out a Tyrant's brain?"

Chu Qingkuang looked at the barber chair, then at the pressure cooker that could explode at any time, his face turning pale:

"Brother, I play sniper, I don't play with my life..."

"Stop talking! For that 500-point benefit! Let's do it!"

A few players who enjoyed the chaos rushed up and hoisted Chu Qingkuang onto the rotating barber chair, even thoughtfully helping him fasten a seatbelt made of hemp rope.

"Ignite!"

Handmade Geng roared and twisted the steering wheel modified from a water faucet.

Tut-tut-tut-tut-tut—

A thick cloud of black smoke instantly erupted from the rear of the car, accompanied by a deafening roar. The entire car shook violently as if having a seizure.

"It moved! Holy crap, it moved!"

Amidst the cheers of all the players.

The Wuling Hongguang waved its two giant excavator arms like a crazed mechanical crab and charged out recklessly.

"Brakes! Where are the brakes!!"

Chu Qingkuang was being jolted so hard his Soul was emerging. He frantically turned the faucet, but the car wouldn't listen at all.

"Forget the brakes! Test the cannon!"

Handmade Geng shouted from behind: "See that wall ahead? Blast it!"

"Whatever happens, happens!"

Chu Qingkuang was also desperate and slammed down the red launch button (actually a light switch).

Sizzle—Boom!!

The pressure cooker lid popped off instantly.

A cloud of white high-temperature steam exploded violently. With a loud bang, a solid large iron ball whistled out.

There was no parabolic trajectory as imagined.

Carrying terrifying kinetic energy, the iron ball directly blasted a large hole in a brick wall fifty meters away!

But that wasn't the craziest part.

The craziest part was... the huge recoil caused the front of the Wuling Hongguang, which weighed only a few hundred kilograms, to suddenly jerk upward.

The entire car performed a perfect 360-degree backflip in the air.

Clang!

It smashed heavily onto the ground.

Two of the four wheels flew off, and the barber chair spun eighty times before stopping.

Deathly silence filled the area.

Then.

Earth-shattering cheers erupted.

"Awesome!!!"

"Is this industrial aesthetics? Love it, love it!"

"Although it's ugly, it's fierce! With this power, can one shot kill a Licker? That's a hundred bucks!"

Chu Qingkuang was foaming at the mouth, slumped in the chair, feeling like the sky was spinning.

And at this moment.

Su Mu took the opportunity to update the detailed data panels of all players.

**[ID: Night God (Chu Qingkuang)]**

**[Class: Thug · Sniper Specialization]**

**[Mental Threshold: A+ (Extremely dizziness-resistant, suitable for driving all kinds of anti-human vehicles)]**

**[Skill: Although I Don't Know How to Fix Cars, I Know How to Drive Them Until They Explode LV.MAX]**

On the other side.

**[ID: Minister of Punishments (Handmade Geng)]**

**[Class: Mechanist · Wasteland Style]**

**[Mental Threshold: S (Massive imagination, extremely tough spirit, can ignore some physical rules)]**

**[Exclusive Talent: I Think It Works (As long as he firmly believes this pile of junk can move, the System will provide a slight Law correction to make it move)]**

Looking at these ridiculous panels, the players didn't find them unreasonable; instead, they became even more excited.

This is true freedom!

This is the benefit given by Papa Su!

However.

Happy times are always short-lived.

Just as the players were immersed in the joy of creating the first "god car" and were about to go back to the junk pile to find more treasures.

The sky turned dark.

Deep within the industrial zone.

The tallest trash mountain, piled high with countless containers and scrap steel, suddenly trembled without warning.

It wasn't an earthquake.

It was a rhythmic, heavy vibration.

Thump.

Thump.

Thump.

Like some gargantuan creature was waking up.

**[Warning: High-energy reaction detected.]**

**[Warning: No. 03 Satellite City Patroller activated.]**

Two crimson laser beams instantly pierced the night, like the gaze of the Grim Reaper, sweeping across the area.

The trash mountain collapsed.

A steel beast, three stories high, with six sharp metal appendages and a twin-linked machine cannon on its back, slowly rose from the ruins.

**[Reaper · T-800 Multi-legged Self-propelled Artillery (Elite Boss)]**

**[Status: Awakened/Berserk]**

In front of that oppressive metal body, the "Wuling Hongguang Mecha" the players were so proud of looked as tiny as a plastic toy.

Sizzle—

The Reaper's muzzle began to preheat, red light condensing.

The players' smiles froze on their faces.

"How... how the hell do we fight this?"

"We only have wrenches and pressure cookers in our hands!"

"Is this the obstacle for the main quest?"

In the midst of despair.

From the shelter's loudspeaker, Su Mu's cold yet expectant voice rang out:

"Only one month."

"Want to take that city?"

"Want to earn Crystal Cores and exchange for power?"

"Then..."

"This right now is your entrance exam."

"Use the scrap metal you've built..."

"And dismantle it."

"If you don't finish dismantling it, there's no dinner tonight."