From the perspective of actual capability improvement, at each stage, a Mechanical Warrior can clearly perceive some changes.
For example, at the First Level, apart from the continuous increase in the power of operating the War Armor, as the Brain-Machine Synchronization Rate increases, the synchronization delay time will gradually shorten, shrinking from the initial 35 milliseconds standard value, continuously reducing until the value overall decreases by 10%, reaching around 31.5 milliseconds.
If you use an amplifier, the delay time will extend to a bit over three times.
When Ren Zhong used the amplifier, he perceived a delay of 100 milliseconds, while his actual delay was 33.33 milliseconds at that time.
When the four parameters surpass the Second Level, aside from higher carrying power and shorter delays, his physical fitness will undergo a true transformation, with significant improvements in muscle and bone strength, explosive power, endurance, and nerve response, among others.
Additionally, his auditory nerves will resonate with the Crystal Chip in the Armorâs Exoskeleton, resulting in nearly delay-free neural hearing.
At the Third Level, it expands to neural visual resonance.
At the Fourth Level, it completes the five senses: hearing, vision, smell, taste, and touch.
At the Fifth Level, apart from another bodily transformation, his brain and nervous system will experience full resonance with the Fifth Level Exoskeleton "Super Armor," triggering a Sixth Sense response, achieving complete human-machine integration.
People who ride a motorcycle or electric bike with a helmet know that even if you lift the visor and have your ears exposed, while traveling on the road, your vision and hearing seemingly have no difference from not wearing a helmet, yet you always feel a layer of detachment from the external environment.
The same decibel sound seems softer than usual.
You react slower, by a margin, to sudden road hazards compared to when not wearing a helmet.
Bicyclists need long-term adaptation to barely overcome this detachment.
With full-body armor, in a certain sense, a Mechanical Warrior is like being trapped in a humanoid coffin in the Egyptian Pyramids, experiencing both claustrophobia and a stronger sense of detachment.
As a Mechanical Warrior progresses from the First to the Fifth Level, they must continuously overcome this discomfort to achieve human-machine integration.
Compared to the previous upgrades, whether in pure numerical changes or real potential combat power, there truly is a nearly insurmountable chasm between the Fifth and Fourth Levels.
The greater the improvement, the harder it is to break through, and the rewards for success are greater, an undeniable truth.
No wonder thereâs no Fifth Level Combat Professional in the small town yet.
No wonder a Fifth Level Professional can become Starfire Townâs savior, this is the reason.
After thoroughly studying these materials, Ren Zhong sighed and talked to himself.
"Under normal circumstances, the annual census wouldnât reach the point where a Fifth Level Professional must step in to resolve the situation, but this time Starfire Town faces a different situation."
"Ma Dafuâs indulgence towards the professional teams now makes sense. Previously, he didnât know that Starfire Resources were up to mischief, he considered the locally grown professional teams as half one of his own."
"Lin Wang, who is just one step away, is indeed most likely to breach the Fifth Level gap. Concentrating the townâs resources onto the professional teams through a pyramid-like blood-supply network is the most optimized choice for success rate."
"Sacrificing a small part to save the majority is very reasonable. Although Old Ma is relatively merciful, he also has a cold side. But unfortunately, he was backstabbed by Starfire Resources. No wonder he doesnât directly inquire about Starfire Resources, because itâs meaningless."
"But since this is a secret, how would Lin Wang say it openly in front of Zheng Tian and the others back then? Lin Wang only wanted to kill me, not including Zheng Tian. Once they safely return to the town, the news will definitely leak out."
"Lin Wang didnât have this concern. Then, canceling this matter was already irrevocable in the early stages."
"Now Ma Dafu is both desperately struggling and placing hope in Sun Miao and me, hoping we take away some of the deserted people."
"This is the unavoidable fallback Old Ma has."
After analyzing this wave, even though another layer of gloominess covered Ren Zhongâs heart, he was not disheartened.
Knowing the difficulties in advance is better than being completely ignorant.
One has to know the difficulties to overcome them effectively.
As a former researcher, he has never despised difficulties, only ignorance.
In the morning, Ren Zhong slept for just over four hours.
By twelve thirty in the afternoon, he was already soaking in the training field.
At three in the afternoon, he finished his training and then sneaked into the lounge to lie down, taking a nap to catch up on sleep while waiting for the shareholder Huang to finish work.
Timeâs up!
Post the sell order now!
Funds were recovered, account balance reached 622.63.
Ren Zhong didnât even bother to exchange pleasantries with Ju Qingmeng, scuttling out of the training field with a slightly fatigued body, riding his motorcycle straight to the flea market.
He had already, from previous casual chats with Zheng Tian, learned about her acquaintances in the market.
Following the lead, at three forty-three, Ren Zhong found the seller.
...
A middle-aged, pot-bellied man with a handlebar mustache, whose face immediately strikes as cunning and shrewd, stood in front of a Thunderbolt Car, gesturing animatedly at Ren Zhong.
"Brother, as you can see, this Thunderbolt Multi-purpose Battle Car is almost new. The market price is at least nine hundred, but Iâm offering it at just six hundred fifty before tax, practically giving you two hundred fifty for free."
Ren Zhong: "Bro, itâs too expensive, lower it a bit."
The chubby merchant: "Big brother! Iâm giving away two hundred fifty for free. Itâs not just a big loss, itâs like cutting my carotid artery off!"
Ren Zhong: "Six hundred fifty is really too much."
He squinted his eyes, quietly watching the other perform.
Go on, keep it up.
Your bottom price is 600, I can see through whatever color of underpants youâre wearing, yet here you are pretending.
The chubby merchant, undeterred: "Iâm not bragging, this thing really doesnât lack buyers. If I just put it here, half the townâs professional teams with the means would be up here fighting for it. Whether you buy it or not is up to you."
Ren Zhong was actually a bit anxious inside.
Due to Bai Fengâs injury, Zheng Tianâs team didnât go out hunting today.
He couldnât possibly avoid watching them nonstop during the day.
At the moment, Zheng Tian hadnât noticed, which was already fortunate.
Now Zheng Tian could show up at any moment.
By then, everyone would be among their own, and intercepting face-to-face would be hard to handle.
Even worse, the Thunderbolt Carâs capacity is five people; if shameless Zheng Tian sees it and asks for a favor to hitch a ride, it would be difficult to refuse on the spot.
That would truly cause everything to collapse.
Not only failing to suppress but becoming a free ride provider instead.
The plan would be completely disrupted.
Ren Zhong grit his teeth hard for a final probe, "As far as I know, your car has been here for three days. If it were so easy to sell, wouldnât it have been snapped up earlier? Why is it still here now? Cut the crap, take-it-or-leave-it price at five hundred eighty, not a penny more. If you nod, Iâll transfer the money right away. Deal?"
Under Ren Zhongâs aggressive gaze, the seasoned and cunning chubby merchant finally caved.
He was caught with his achillesâ heel.
Itâs a fact: a thing that should sell well was simply being inquired about by penniless folks for three days straight, and as soon as they heard it was over six hundred, theyâd all slip away faster than rabbits.
Itâs like being haunted!
He was even questioning his life.
Has Starfire Townâs populace really declined to this state?
Not even a semi-professional team could come up with six hundred!
How poor are these people!
"Alright, alright then. Letâs sign the contract."
...
Ding!
Transfer successful, payment cleared.
Ren Zhong pushed his motorcycle onto the Thunderbolt Carâs trunk and roared away.
Though he sold the goods, the fat merchant looked like a wronged bride, gazing at the departing vehicleâs shadow in the cold wind.
Ren Zhong failed to control his expression a bit before boarding the car.
He caught a glimpse of the sneering satisfaction on this manâs face.
His heart was bleeding.
He murmured to himself, "I lost the bargaining. I lost completely. I encountered a master, and I got got!"