Marrying the Disabled Sentinel: Restoring His SSS Glory

Chapter 5: Ability Level One

Half an hour later, Chen Lillian took a hovercar from the Chen family villa to the mech mall across Alpha. The fare was time-based; rides under five minutes were free, but beyond that, charges ramped up. Her half-hour trip cost five hundred star coins.

The mech mall was massive—a thousand meters tall and tens of thousands of square meters in area. Standing outside, Chen Lillian had to crane her neck just to see the colossal advertising screens, the roof vanishing into the clouds.

Even the entrance stood thirty meters high. As she watched a twenty-meter-tall humanoid mech stride out, she understood why the doorway needed such height.

The mech’s black metal body shone coldly, and as it drew closer, the crystal core in Chen Lillian’s mind began to stir. Her entire metal-based ability surged forth, nearly beyond her control, latching onto the giant mech.

She stood rooted to the spot, her expression momentarily dazed—almost intoxicated by the sensation, a mixture of euphoria and hunger.

She recalled there were two ways to level up her metal power:

Absorb energy from crystal cores (unique to the apocalypse, now impossible to find).

Absorb the “essence” in various metals, typically through combat or direct contact.

This mech had been repeatedly refined, extracted, compressed, and reshaped. Its internal “essence” was minimal.

Better than nothing, she thought. Zhao Zhao comforted himself—or so the fleeting notion passed. (1)

“Please present your ID number,” a security robot said, blocking her.

Chen Lillian scanned her lightband over its sensor. The robot’s eyes flashed, then it spoke again, “Chen Lillian, as an ordinary citizen, your access is limited to the first and second floors. Floors three and above are off-limits to non-Sentinels and non-Guides. Please comply.”

“Why?” she demanded, annoyed.

“Because floors three and above contain mechas requiring mental control. Only Sentinels or Guides can operate them safely. To prevent accidents—such as ordinary people damaging their nerves—the mall enforces this rule.”

Chen Lillian’s lips twitched. “That’s blatant discrimination against us ordinary folks…”

No point arguing with a robot. She accepted her lot—first and second floors only. But they couldn’t stop her ability from surreptitiously “touching” every mech part in the building.

Mechas ranged from beast forms to humanoid forms, and from manual operation to full mental control. Manual mechas could, in theory, be piloted by ordinary people, but with one arm missing, Chen Lillian couldn’t even get a test drive.

She didn’t mind. She mentally siphoned off every trace of metal essence she could, piece by piece, from every mech she passed. Shameless? Maybe, but oh well.

Suddenly, Wen Oliver, Li Damian, and Song Celeste arrived, spotting Chen Lillian’s blissful expression.

“Sister-in-law, why do you look so happy?” Wen Oliver asked, folding his arms, his foxlike eyes studying her.

“She looks silly,” Li Damian scoffed, rolling his eyes.

Song Celeste, though silent, also watched Chen Lillian intently.

Chen Lillian simply beamed. “So many mechas—how could I not be happy?”

She completely ignored Li Damian.

“I recall you’re in the Mecha Design Department, with top marks in your major,” Wen Oliver said. “Are you here to buy a mech?”

Wait—Chen Lillian realized the original girl studied Mecha Design and had excellent grades? She felt a flicker of pressure, resolving to cram up on mecha design that very night.

She shook her head. “No. Just looking. I can’t afford one.”

Wen Oliver coughed. “At least you’re honest…”

Li Damian snorted. “Poor and shameless.”

Chen Lillian didn’t even spare him a glance. “I’ll look around on my own. You guys do your thing.”

“Hold on, sister-in-law,” Wen Oliver called. “We’re here to buy a mech for Vincent as a wedding gift. Since you’re here, why not help us pick one? You can offer advice.”

At the mention of a gift for Yuan Vincent, Chen Lillian perked up. “Sure.”

“What do you mean, ‘sure?’ She’s only finished one semester—how could she judge a mech’s performance?” Li Damian objected.

“She can at least pick the exterior,” Wen Oliver retorted. “She is Vincent’s partner, after all.”

Chen Lillian noticed that since the engagement banquet—when she injured that Sentinel with a fork—Wen Oliver’s attitude toward her had improved markedly.

“Sister-in-law, we’ll be entrusting Vincent to your care from now on,” Wen Oliver said earnestly.

“Don’t worry. I’ll take good care of him,” Chen Lillian replied, silently adding, …for the sake of that mining planet.

Her assurance made Wen Oliver smile. For reasons he couldn’t explain, he felt he could trust her.

While the trio compared mechs, Chen Lillian quietly listened to their discussions on features and materials, gleaning valuable knowledge.

Thanks to them, she managed to get access to the higher floors. Unlike the first and second floors’ lifestyle-oriented mechas, the third floor and above showcased combat mechas. Constructed from pricier alloys that emitted stronger metallic “auras,” they provided an even richer feast for Chen Lillian’s power. She practically glowed with satisfaction.

Eventually, Wen Oliver’s group chose a small, ten-meter-tall mech that supported both manual and mental control. Its relatively lightweight design would be easier on Yuan Vincent’s body.

By the time they finished touring the mall, Chen Lillian’s crystal core—initially the size of a single grain of rice—had grown noticeably, now the size of two grains. She’d advanced from her starting stage to Level One in her metal ability.

Wen Oliver piloted his aircraft, giving Chen Lillian a ride back. The vehicle was shaped like an oval, with room for seven passengers, though it wasn’t spacious. As they flew, Chen Lillian sent her ability probing through the craft’s metal interior, mapping every structure in her mind.

Suddenly—thump.

“What was that?” Li Damian asked.

“No idea,” Wen Oliver said, activating the 360-degree external cameras. On-screen, they saw a hideous, massive insectoid clinging to the hull.

“s**t! An insectoid? How did that get onto Alpha?” Li Damian exclaimed.

Wen Oliver couldn’t answer, face grim. He tried rolling the aircraft to shake the creature off.

The cabin lurched violently. Chen Lillian was thrown from her seat, slammed to the ceiling, then crashed onto the floor again.

“If this keeps up, we’ll crash. Land, now!” Song Celeste shouted, clinging to a handle with one hand while trying to grab the tumbling Chen Lillian with the other.

A deafening boom signaled the aircraft’s impact with the ground. Chen Lillian blacked out on the spot.

“Get out of the cabin!” Wen Oliver yelled, forcing the door open.

Li Damian rushed out first, retrieving the newly purchased mech from his storage device and jumping into it.

“Hey, you ugly bastard! Your grandpa’s here!” Li Damian taunted the insectoid.

The creature glanced at him, then continued gnawing at the craft, its huge body coiling around the hull. Its jaws clamped onto the nose, seemingly determined to swallow it whole.

Li Damian spat in disgust and maneuvered the mech to seize one of the creature’s slimy tentacles. He yanked hard. “Get down here!”

A sizzling sound ensued as the insectoid secreted a highly corrosive fluid, dissolving part of the mech’s outer shell almost instantly.

Li Damian cursed in pain, releasing the tentacle. He swung a metal fist at the insectoid.

Inside the cabin, poor Chen Lillian was flung about like a rag doll, bruises blossoming all over. Finally, Song Celeste managed to grab her and carry her out.