Counterfeit Hero

Chapter 518: After the revision: Volume 6 Chapter 19 Engine

The levels of civilian mecha warriors are set and assessed by the Mecha Association, which is spread throughout the universe. They are assigned titles from low to high levels as Protector, Elite Soldier, Fighter, Knight, Commander, and War God. Each title is further divided into levels three, two, and one, from low to high.

A Mechanical Knight is equivalent to a Level 7 or Level 8 Mecha Warrior in the military. A Mechanical Commander is roughly equivalent to a military Level 9 to Level 10 Mecha Warrior. As for the Mechanical War God, it is almost a legendary existence.

Of course, this is only a comparison of close combat abilities. If we consider factors like long-range strikes in actual wars and psychological changes in life-and-death situations, the general civilian mecha warriors and military warriors are really incomparable; one is for competition, while the other is for slaughter.

Civilian private mechas and military mechas are two systems that are completely different yet interdependent. The prototype tank of the mecha was created based on warfare. However, the golden age of modern mecha development was precisely in the historical period when land armor forces declined to become an appendage of war, and civilian mechas began to rise.

At that time, with the expansion of human star domain exploration and the civil demand for public safety, competition, exploration, research, and private security, the armor forces that descended from the war altar started to be used in civilian applications. This period of history created a deep accumulation of mechas in civilian life.

This accumulation has deepened with technological advancement, new materials, new engines, and the advent of the energy era. Eventually, it re-attracted the attention of the military. Mechas, with their high mobility, energy shields, equivalent striking capabilities, and much lower manufacturing costs compared to fighter jets, started to re-enter the war stage.

It can be said that civilian innovation fostered modern mechas and changed the nature of warfare. No one knows how many mecha masters, how much advanced yet secretive mecha technology, how many secrets regarding mecha materials, power, and control are hidden in the vast human star domain over the past thousands of years.

Especially now, mechas have entered an era once again led by civilian development. The gradual decline of long-range attacks heralds the rise of close-range mecha combat represented by private mechas. The military of all countries has their eyes on the private mecha technology that leads in close combat.

Due to different purposes, civilian private mechas and military mechas have different development paths. Most private mechas do not have energy shields and are not allowed to load long-range weapons; thus, there is no need for long-range strikes and defenses. Their focus on close combat has led to advanced fighting skills, which are exactly what is needed in mecha close combat during wars.

It can be said that the development of mechas has always been led by civilian wisdom and will continue to be led by it.

And this time, the Level 3 Mecha Knight invited by the Capital First Military Academy is an undisputed master of civilian private mechas. Especially, that Level 3 Mecha Knight named Thomas is from the Holy Land of private mecha combat — the Free Port Alliance.

The so-called Free Port Alliance is actually a loose organization composed of five member planets. These five immigrant planets do not have exploitable resources themselves, nor are there resource planets around them. They are just suitable for human habitation. Among them, four are naturally resource-less planets, and the leading one was exhausted of all its resources by humans and eventually abandoned.

This planet is the birthplace of humanity, the most famous planet in the universe — Earth!

Due to the lack of resources, these planets can only rely on their geographical locations to develop interstellar trade, tourism, processing, and other industries. The harsh living environment forces them to excel in these industries. To attract tourists, these planets not only developed various tourist attractions but also established the most luxurious casinos and red-light districts in human society.

Similarly, to prosper interstellar trade, the import and export tariffs of these planets are almost none! This stimulates processing and other industries to create job opportunities.

Therefore, these planets have become the free paradise for all human rich people and criminals. In this world filled with dark rules, the law of the jungle is the rule everyone lives by. Here, an adventure, a raid, or a business opportunity can make a pauper rich instantly. Likewise, it can turn a billionaire into a pauper.

There are all kinds of temptations and opportunities here. As long as you have the ability, anyone can enjoy everything the human world has to offer here. This place has top scientists, super-rich, exiled government officials, thieves, fraudsters, pirates, mercenaries, interstellar explorers, and wanted criminals from various countries.

This place is both heaven and hell.

For all civilian mecha warriors, this is the Holy Land of mecha combat.

Because, besides the Cosmic Mecha Fighting Tournament held every four years, these planets also have various open mecha competitions with high rewards. These competitions cover all projects, including mecha design, mecha modification, mecha racing, and mecha fighting. There are also all kinds of bounty projects concerning mechas, where as long as you have the skills, you can obtain high rewards or bounties.

For some people, the most attractive thing is the underground mecha duels on these planets. These never-ending mecha battles, listed alongside underground black boxing as one of the most brutal human competitions, attract all human rich and desperadoes with high rewards, stakes, and exciting fights.