The molten-like veins on Wang Chen's black-gold armor blazed with a brilliant light, flowing like liquid fire, casting a fiery glow across the cavern. The hum of his mechanical suit reverberated through the underground, shaking the very foundations of the cave. The ground beneath their feet trembled, as if it too could feel the overwhelming force that was about to be unleashed.
The tension was thick, suffocating, as Liu Qiang and the others watched in awe and disbelief. The numbers on Wang Chen's status panel were beyond anything they could comprehend.
Name: Wang ChenClass: Godlike MechanicLevel: 16Strength: 19,800Constitution: 2,200Agility: 16,500Spirit: 18,300
The stats seemed unreal—nearly ten times what they had expected. Wang Chen's power rivaled that of someone far beyond their level, approaching the strength of adventurers in their thirties or forties.
"Twenty thousand strength! Twenty thousand spirit! My god!" Liu Qiang's voice was shaky, his mind struggling to process the numbers. It felt like a dream.
Both Liu Ningning and Lian Yunxi couldn't help but gasp, their bodies trembling from the sheer force of the pressure emanating from Wang Chen. The shockwave of his power hit them like a physical blow, enough to almost knock the breath from their bodies.
"Enjoyed yourself enough?" Wang Chen said casually, glancing at the distant Goblin Priest. His eyes flickered with a crimson light.
The Goblin Priest froze. A cold sweat began to bead on its forehead as it sensed the impending doom. It felt like it had just been marked by death itself.
Before it could turn to flee, Wang Chen exploded into motion.
Boom!
The speed at which Wang Chen moved was incomprehensible. He closed the gap between them in the blink of an eye, and with a single, devastating punch, he slammed into the Goblin Priest's body.
Boom!
The force of the punch sent shockwaves through the cave, the air around them compressing with the explosion of energy. The Goblin Priest's eyes nearly popped out of its skull as it was hurled backward by the impact. It flew through several stone pillars, crashing through them with a thunderous roar, before finally smashing into the cavern wall, leaving behind a smear of broken, pulpy flesh.
The cavern went silent.
A shower of glowing materials erupted from the Goblin Priest's remains, scattering across the ground. Its once formidable presence had been wiped out in an instant, reduced to a pile of scraps.
Wang Chen landed gracefully, his expression unreadable as he stood over the remains.
Just as he began to look away, one of the Goblin Priest's eyes—still trembling with terror—rolled toward him, coming to a stop at his feet. Without even sparing it a glance, Wang Chen lifted his boot and crushed it underfoot.
The sound of the eye shattering echoed through the cave.
The air was heavy with silence.
Liu Qiang, Liu Ningning, and Lian Yunxi were still frozen, their mouths agape, eyes wide in disbelief. It was as if time had slowed, and they couldn't comprehend the brutality and swiftness of what they had just witnessed.
One punch.
A clean, brutal kill. The Goblin Priest hadn't even had time to react, let alone defend itself.
Liu Ningning and Lian Yunxi turned to Liu Qiang, as if seeking an explanation for what had just happened. But when they saw his face his mouth hanging open in pure shock—they realized they were no better off.
"Is... is he really just a level 16 mechanic?" Liu Ningning asked, her voice trembling.
Before they could process the implications of her question, a white light flashed above Wang Chen's head. His level increased from 16 to 17.
With the experience gained from killing so many enhanced Goblins and the boss-level Goblin Priest, it had been inevitable.
"Holy" Lian Yunxi gasped, her eyes wide with astonishment.
This confirmed their suspicions: Wang Chen hadn't been hiding anything from them. He really was just a level 16 mechanic.
Lian Yunxi swallowed hard, trying to collect her thoughts. "I think we all seriously underestimated Wang Chen."
Liu Ningning nodded slowly, still in shock. "The most incredible thing is, we didn't even know someone like him existed. He's so... low-key."
She let out a sigh. "I always thought the strongest person at Luo Hai First High was Ren Yinian, but now... it's clear the true powerhouse is Wang Chen."
Before they could dwell further on their astonishment, the mechanical worker bees and ants that Wang Chen had deployed earlier scuttled over, dragging the bloodied bodies of several enhanced Goblins. They dropped them at the group's feet.
"Liu Qiang," Wang Chen called out, his voice cool, "deal with these enhanced Goblins."
Liu Qiang hesitated for a moment before nodding. "Got it, Chen-ge."
With a deep breath, Liu Qiang raised his magic staff, his body straining as he used every ounce of his strength to finish off the Goblins one by one. It took him all his effort, but eventually, the last Goblin fell, and Liu Qiang's level jumped to 10.
With only two enhanced Goblins left, Liu Qiang stepped back and offered them to Liu Ningning and Lian Yunxi.
"Thanks..." they murmured, not needing to say more. They were grateful, and with swift precision, they eliminated the remaining Goblins.
Having been trapped here for so long, they were far behind in level compared to others. They knew they needed to level up quickly if they didn't want to be left in the dust.
Once the battle was over, Wang Chen removed his Godlike Armor and walked over to the Goblin Priest's loot. He started sifting through the items, hoping to find a weapon that would be compatible with his other armor pieces. He needed to upgrade his gear, and the Goblin Priest's drops might hold the key to advancing his power.
He was running out of time. His goal was clear: to level up as fast as possible. He would repay every ounce of humiliation Ren Yinian had caused him right in front of everyone.