Inside the Main Control Room, Yuan Mei’s gaze was fixed on the new technology tree displayed on the system panel.
Single-Soldier Combat Tech.
These words seemed to possess a magical power, causing his long-dormant heartbeat to subtly quicken.
Although he was the Chief Science Officer in his previous life, his specialization was in information and security, making him an amateur in the research and development of single-soldier equipment.
Now, the system presented this unexpected boon in the form of a technology tree, undoubtedly filling the most critical gap in his capabilities.
Yuan Mei took a deep breath, suppressing the excitement in his heart, and clicked on the details of the technology tree.
A new interface unfolded:
Single-Soldier Combat Suit LV.1
Type: Light Exoskeleton
Function: Provides basic power assistance, integrates close-quarters and long-range firepower.
Materials required for manufacturing: iron ore × 30, copper ore × 10, polymer fiber × 5, basic energy core × 1
Seeing the list of materials, Yuan Mei frowned slightly.
iron ore and copper ore were not an issue, but the last item on the list posed a challenge.
Polymer fiber could be obtained by disassembling fabrics like Prison guard uniforms and inmate uniforms, but this energy core… with his current materials, he probably couldn’t make it.
The basic energy core can be obtained by disassembling the Prison guards’ stun guns.
Huh?
Yuan Mei stared dumbfounded at the stun gun clipped to his waist; this thing could actually serve as a core?
The system follows a “waste utilization” logic; you just provide the materials, and I’ll figure out how to use them.
Looking at the text that popped up on the panel, Yuan Mei submitted the materials with a strange expression.
Although he could craft this item by hand, he would be limited by tools and materials.
He could only say that it truly had to be a cheat.
Required materials detected: iron ore × 30 / 107 (sufficient), copper ore × 10 / 122 (sufficient), polymer fiber × 5 (convertible), basic energy core × 1 (convertible)
Materials met, proceed with manufacturing?
“Manufacture!”
The moment the command was given, the materials in the system warehouse vanished into thin air. Immediately after, a faint blue light appeared out of nowhere on the empty ground in front of Yuan Mei, and countless tiny metal particles and fibers rapidly aggregated and shaped within the light.
As the light dissipated, a black exoskeleton suit, full of power and streamlined aesthetics, floated silently in mid-air.
It was not a bulky full-body armor in the traditional sense, but rather composed of a series of lightweight modules.
The main body was a black metal frame covering the limbs and spine, wrapped with tough polymer fibers, and key joints were connected by precise hydraulic rods, ensuring maximum flexibility.
A slender black tactical longsword was mounted on the back of the suit; on the right side of the waist was a specially fitted handgun holster.
Yuan Mei reached out his hand, and as he approached, the suit automatically decomposed into several modules, smoothly and precisely attaching and fastening to his limbs and torso with an effortless flow.
With a final soft click, the energy core lit up, and a gentle yet powerful sensation instantly spread throughout his body.
He tried moving his limbs; the entire equipment had almost no lag, as if it had become an extension of his body.
“Not bad.”
Although not comparable to the professional power armor of later generations, it was more than sufficient.
Once equipped, Yuan Mei began to survey other parts of the base.
This base, converted from a mine exploration platform, had a much more logical layout than he had imagined. Besides the central Main Control Room, there were several other rooms with different functions surrounding it.
Beyond the maintenance room was a relatively spacious staff lounge, containing several metal bunk beds and a long table, and even a separate restroom. Although the conditions were simple, it was more than enough as a temporary residence.
What surprised Yuan Mei the most was a room located at the deepest part of the platform.
A sign on the door read “High-Precision Drilling Test Site.” Pushing the door open, he entered a vast space with a ceiling nearly ten meters high.
The surrounding walls and floor were reinforced with high-strength Alloy, covered with pits and scratches of varying depths.
This was probably where various drilling rigs were tested originally. Now, it was perfect for him to test the performance of his combat suit.
Yuan Mei walked to the center of the test site, and with a thought, he brought up the combat suit’s control interface.
A semi-transparent virtual panel appeared before his eyes.
Single-Soldier Combat Suit LV.1
Energy Reserve: 100%; powered by electricity.
Current Mode: Standard Mode
Power Assist: 20%
Integrated Armaments: K1 Tactical Longsword, P3 Handgun
He tried adjusting the power assist value up to 70%.
A surge of immense power instantly flowed through his limbs. He drew the tactical longsword from his back; the blade was about 1.2 meters long, entirely black, and sleek in design.
Gripping the hilt, he casually swung it forward.
“Whoosh—”
A sharp whooshing sound echoed, a black streak flashed across the air, and instantly, a slash mark several centimeters deep appeared on the wall in front of him, with a cut as smooth as a mirror.
After the swing, he took the handgun from his waist and, aiming at a previous fist mark on the wall, pulled the trigger without hesitation.
“Bang! Bang! Bang!”
Three consecutive gunshots rang out, and three bullets accurately hit the center of the fist mark. The powerful kinetic energy embedded the warheads deep into the Alloy wall, leaving three charred bullet holes.
Yuan Mei narrowed his eyes, quite satisfied with the test results before him.
This Single-Soldier Combat Suit also enhanced the original performance of the longsword and handgun, achieving an effect where 1 + 1 was greater than 2.
With this, his confidence grew. Ordinary petty criminals would basically pose no threat to him.
Turning off the power assist, he walked out of the test site and glanced at the engineering drone, which was still working tirelessly. He decided to return to the surface to observe the latest situation at the Prison.
Both the base and the combat suit required electricity to operate, so the next objective was very clear.
He returned to the first floor of Mine No. 3 via the stairs, and as he exited the gate, the chaotic scene of the Prison living area once again came into view.
However, compared to when he left, the chaos now seemed to be drawing to a close.
The air was filled with a strong smell of blood and gunpowder, and the previously boisterous roars and gunshots had become sparse.
Yuan Mei cautiously observed his surroundings, carefully navigating through the ruins.
Bodies of inmates and Prison guards were scattered everywhere on the ground. Some died from gunshots, while others were beaten to death in the melee. He even saw traces of gnawing on some bodies, with gruesome wounds that were shocking to behold.
He walked all the way to the outer perimeter of the Prison, and the sight before him made his pupils contract.
The Prison’s once tall and sturdy perimeter wall had now been blown open, leaving a massive gap. Broken rebar and concrete fragments were scattered across the ground, and beyond the gap lay the dim yellow sky of Sand Mine Star and an endless desert.
Near the gap, more bodies lay haphazardly, mostly inmates who, judging by their clothing, had tried to escape from here.
The people in the Prison were either dead or had fled.
The riot, it seemed, was over?
Yuan Mei involuntarily gripped the handgun at his waist. He felt that something was amiss, that he seemed to have missed some crucial information…