Chén Yàn's consciousness felt like it was submerged in thick darkness until a sudden vibration yanked him back to reality.
That was his phone, automatically shutting down due to insufficient power.
"Damn... I forgot to charge it," Chén Yàn said regretfully. He never forgot to charge it, but last night...
His eyelids felt as heavy as if glued shut. He struggled to open his eyes, only to be met not by the warm yellow chandelier of his rented room, but by a matte metal dome.
"Hiss..." He inhaled sharply, trying to push himself up, but found himself secured in an incredibly form-fitting seat. His chest and waist were tightly fastened by safety belts, the cool sensation seeping through his thin shirt, sending a shiver down his spine.
Where was this?
Chén Yàn suddenly turned his head, his gaze sweeping around.
He seemed to be in a confined space, with silver-gray alloy panels all around, covered in fine intricate patterns, like some complex circuitry. Looking down, in front of the foot pedal, a sinuous, symmetrical slit ran from under his feet to the dome, like a hatch that could open. The cabin was silent, with only one indicator light blinking rhythmically and slowly—on, off, on, off, like a heart beating in the darkness.
A mecha?
The thought flashed into Chén Yàn's mind without warning, making him tremble.
He instinctively raised his hand, touching the cold cabin wall. The metallic texture transmitting to his fingertips was terrifyingly real. A faint scent, like plastic mixed with ozone, lingered in his nostrils, unfamiliar and imbued with a strong sense of the future.
This isn't a dream.
Chén Yàn's heartbeat instantly went haywire, pounding against his chest, hurting his eardrums. He clearly remembered that he should have gone to work as usual, come home as usual, eaten, showered, and played games as usual. The moment he logged onto the high-spec computer he had spent a lot of money configuring, specifically for playing AAA games, a push notification window from a game platform popped up in the lower right corner of the screen.
"Congratulations on obtaining exclusive trial access to "Survive in the Rift"!"
Bright red artistic characters appeared, with a line of smaller text below: "The first immersive mecha survival game, control future mechas to traverse cosmic rifts, establish colonial bases on alien planets, and find a new home for a soon-to-explode Earth..."
He had chuckled at the time, thinking such a gimmicky game dared to brag so much. Earth's population explosion was a fact, constantly reported in the news, but "traversing rifts" and "migrating to alien planets" sounded like plot points from a third-rate sci-fi novel. He casually clicked "Confirm Trial," thinking that since it was still early to sleep, he might as well pass the time.
And then?
And then... did the screen flash a blinding white light?
Chén Yàn's memory went blank.
He should have been sitting in front of his computer, waiting for the game loading screen to appear, not trapped in this conspicuously expensive mecha cockpit!
He struggled to unbuckle his safety belt, but his fingers fumbled and hit a protrusion on the seat.
"Click—"
The safety belt unbuckled itself and retracted into the seat. The surroundings were silent. The mecha hadn't started yet; it was in standby mode. This realization calmed Chén Yàn a little, but more questions flooded his mind.
Was this really just a trial game? Or...
He stared at the silver-gray metal wall, as if he could see the world outside through it. Was this a scene from the game? But everything was too real—the tightness of the safety belt, the chill of the metal, the smell in the air, even his rapidly beating heart due to nervousness, all felt too vivid to be virtual.
If not a game... then why was he here?
Was Earth really about to explode? Were there really rifts in the universe? And he, an ordinary office worker who took the subway every day and typed on a computer, had to pilot this sci-fi mecha to complete a "save humanity" mission that only existed in movies?
Chén Yàn pinched his thigh hard, wishing this was just a dream.
The sharp pain transmitted, and he gasped, simultaneously falling into utter despair.
The green light continued to flash, tirelessly, as if urging him on, or perhaps mocking him.
Chén Yàn slumped back into the seat, his mind a blank. He thought of the AAA game he had bought but not finished, the half-box of milk left in the refrigerator, the work report that was due tomorrow morning...
Those trivial, ordinary, once-boring daily routines were now the places he most longed to return to.
And now, he was trapped in this cold mecha, like a chess piece casually discarded in a corner of the universe, not even knowing which way to move next.
The green light in the lower right corner of the display screen continued to blink stubbornly.
"Since I'm here, there's nothing I can do. I'll try to figure out how to activate the mecha first, and deal with the rest later."
His ability to quickly recover after disappointment was one of Chén Yàn's strengths. He began to search for a way to start the mecha.
He tried moving his body and discovered that the seat beneath him was far more comfortable than he had imagined. It wasn't a hard mechanical seat but conformed to his body's curves like memory foam, with just the right support for his lower back. He hadn't noticed before, but a silver band was embedded around the edge of the seat, which was now glowing faintly, emitting a soft warmth.
"I see..." Chén Yàn breathed a sigh of relief and leaned back against the seat. The seat's embrace was just right; it didn't feel restrictive but provided adequate support when the mecha moved.
His gaze returned to the armrests on either side of the seat. There were semi-circular spheres that could be covered by his hands, seemingly like the neuro-sensory control panels he had seen in anime, which were emitting a faint glow. He placed his hands on the semi-circular spheres. The surface was covered with a warm material, like some kind of bio-skin, its texture resembling human skin.
Could this really be a trial of "Survive in the Rift"? But this touch, this sight, even the attention to detail in the scent... what VR game could achieve this level?
As if echoing his thoughts, a line of text appeared in the visual display in front of him: "Activate, YES/NO."
He responded to the mecha's query: "YES." His dry throat emitted a hoarse sound that didn't sound like his own, but the mecha didn't seem to care. The flowing light in the cockpit suddenly accelerated, the pale purple light patterns turning a brighter blue, as if responding to his call.
Chén Yàn's heart raced again.
The next second, the originally silver-gray alloy panels seemed to come alive. Countless pale purple light patterns flowed slowly along the intricate lines. They were like the blood vessels of some organism, spreading from the control panel to the dome, then winding to the sides of the seat, bathing the entire cockpit in a hazy, dreamlike flow of light.
"This..." He was stunned. Just as he was about to reach out and touch the flowing light patterns, the view around the cockpit suddenly lit up with a "buzz." Text resembling activation codes appeared on the surrounding cabin walls. Seeing these codes, Chén Yàn's breath hitched—wasn't this the most advanced artificial intelligence?
"Main power connected, all system checks... normal. Gravity 1.05G, atmospheric pressure within safe limits, magnetic field check... error. Re-check magnetic field using fixed equipment, stellar positioning check... unknown. Rift transfer and exploration mecha—"Argo", activation complete, please enter pilot's name."
"Chén Yàn." Chén Yàn reported his real name without hesitation. He did the same in games; he didn't like using strange pseudonyms to conceal himself.
"Pilot registration complete. Welcome. From now on, the artificial intelligence "Argo" will serve you. Please call me anytime if you need anything."
As the mecha's main power was connected, the 360-degree view was as if the entire world had been brought into the cockpit. The edges of the colorful panels seemed to completely disappear. Chén Yàn felt as if he were suspended in mid-air, clearly seeing the scenery in all directions—he was on a huge hill. The light-brown earth slopes were bathed in a golden-red hue by the setting sun, and the exposed rocks on the slopes had distinct edges, as if cut by a giant axe. In the distance, at the foot of the slope, lay a large, dark green forest. The treetops were layered, and in the wind, green waves swept through them. Gray magpies startled from the branches could be seen, their wings brushing past the leaves with a rustling sound that seemed to penetrate the image.
In the left view, a vast grassland stretched out along the gentle slope of the hill, a fuzzy carpet woven with light yellow and dark green. Several goats were grazing, their downy fur shimmering in the sunlight. They occasionally looked up in the direction of the mecha, their black, lustrous eyes showing no panic, their chewing motions unhurried.
The right side of the view was divided by a silver ribbon—a winding stream. The water was so clear that the smooth pebbles at the bottom were visible. Several common carp swam by, wagging their tails and disturbing the reflection of the clouds on the water's surface. Occasionally, an osprey would glide over the water, its sharp talons piercing the stream, snatching a shiny large fish and flying to its nest in the treetops to feed its hungry chicks.
White chalk-like stone slabs paved the ground beneath the mecha's feet, leading to a large structure resembling the "Arc de Triomphe." The archway was pitch black, its other side hidden from view. Flanking the stone avenue were exquisitely carved figures of various individuals. Some wore armor, wielding swords and sabers; some wore exotic clothing and danced gracefully. More were people and creatures never seen before, like mythical elves, dwarves, and demi-humans with beast-like features. These sculptures stood like loyal guards along the avenue leading to the giant stone gate.
Chén Yàn turned his neck, and the visual display seamlessly adjusted with his movements—the scene behind him was even more spectacular: a huge semicircular stone platform was sunken into the ground, its edges as neat as if drawn with a compass. The surface was covered with fine carvings, forming a pattern resembling a star chart. Several rays of golden sunlight were breaking through the clouds, falling precisely into the groove in the center of the pattern, refracting into scattered light spots.
The entire space was enveloped in a strange silence. There was no urban hustle and bustle, no mechanical roar, only the sigh of the wind brushing past the stone pillars, the calls of animals on the distant grassland, and the gurgling of the stream. These sounds were not real but were conveyed through the interplay of light and shadow in the visual display, painting a clear soundscape in his mind.
The flowing light in the cockpit, juxtaposed against these natural images, felt somewhat out of place. As the pale purple light patterns flowed over the "grassland," it was as if a translucent veil was cast upon the blades of grass; as they swept over the "Arc de Triomphe," they added a future-flavored mystery to the ancient carvings.
Chén Yàn suddenly realized that this ruin might be connected to his inexplicable appearance. But he was not an archaeologist, let alone an astronomer. He knew nothing about the script and star charts engraved on ancient ruins. Even if they were related to him, Chén Yàn couldn't find a way back.
He should focus on surviving first.
"Argo."
"Yes?"
"How do I operate this mecha?"
"Please place your hands on the sensors and issue commands mentally. Or you can issue commands via voice."
"Move forward." Chén Yàn blurted out without thinking. In his opinion, to calm his agitated mood, it would be difficult to mentally recite commands, so giving voice commands directly seemed more straightforward.
As soon as he spoke, the cockpit gave a slight shake. Chén Yàn instantly tensed, bracing for a bumpy ride, but the expected jolt didn't come.
The mecha seemed to be moving slowly. The external view showed the stone sculptures slowly receding, but he could barely feel any movement. The seat seemed to have some kind of automatic damping device. No matter if the mecha was moving forward or turning, it steadily supported his center of gravity, without even the slightest unnecessary tilt. It felt like sitting in the first-class cabin of a maglev train—so smooth that one almost forgot they were moving.
"Stop."
The flow of scenery also stopped, but judging by the reactions of startled animals and birds, only the mecha stopped, not the image projected on the cabin walls.
"Argo, does this mecha have weapons?"
"It is equipped with basic armaments: a double-bladed sword and a submachine gun."
The cabin wall displayed a three-view drawing of the mecha, with the weapons carried on the arms further magnified, and the parameter information annotated with text.
"Why only these two?"
"The rift transfer technology mastered by humans has its limitations. The mass of a transferred object is directly proportional to the energy consumed and inversely proportional to the transfer distance. The greater the mass, the higher the energy consumption, and the shorter the transfer distance. To maximize the transfer distance, the equipment carried by the mecha must be reduced."
"So if the ammo runs out, I'm done for?"
"Certainly. It is recommended to begin base construction immediately to replenish the mecha's energy and ammunition."
Upon hearing Argo's reply, Chén Yàn's heart suddenly accelerated. He thought, isn't this like the currently popular colony simulation + base building, with survival and tower defense elements? The excitement was off the charts. The sense of loss from being thrown into a corner of the universe had completely vanished, replaced by a desire to explore and survive in the unknown world.
Oh, right, before that, I need to understand the story background and the final mission. After all, it's a game, and maybe I can go back after achieving the game's objectives.
"What happens after I build the base? Will Earth's colonists arrive?"
"That is not possible. Celestial scans were performed earlier, but the current star system cannot be identified. This planet is not recorded in the database, and direct contact with Earth cannot be established."
"Cannot establish contact?" Chén Yàn's voice suddenly rose, the end of his words trembling with disbelief. He instinctively leaned forward, but the seat no longer restrained him, nearly making him hit the cabin wall.
Fortunately, Chén Yàn had a flash of inspiration and held tightly onto the sensor, steadying himself. The sensor detected his anxious emotions, and the pale purple light patterns flashed twice rapidly.
"Then... then what about the migration mission mentioned in the game push?" he pressed, his fingers unconsciously clenching the sensor, the warm bio-skin material indenting slightly under his grip.
"The mission objective remains unchanged, but its execution requires establishing an interstellar communication link. The current primary task is to gather resources and build a headquarters and a communication center." Argo's answer was still a calm, steady electronic voice, as if stating a fact that had nothing to do with itself.
Chén Yàn stared at the three-view drawing of the mecha on the cabin wall. The double-bladed sword on its arm gleamed with a cold metallic light, and the ammunition parameters of the submachine gun clearly displayed "Initial Base: 320 rounds." These weapons, which had seemed cool game equipment just moments ago, now appeared particularly flimsy. On this unknown planet, not even recorded in the database, this amount of armament was as weak as a child's toy.
"What materials are needed to build the headquarters and communication center?" he asked, his voice steadier than before.
The image on the cabin wall switched instantly. The area that had displayed the mecha's weapons now showed a holographic projection with several flashing icons: "Carbon, Iron, Titanium, and other rare elements."
"Can you tell me the distribution and reserves of these resources on the planet?"
"The mecha's onboard detector has a limited range. More complex instruments need to be built to determine this."
"So, it still starts with base construction." Chén Yàn repeated in a low voice, a hint of helplessness in his tone, yet also a hint of determination that he had no choice but to proceed.
He stared at the holographic projection on the cabin wall, at the flashing icons for carbon, iron, titanium, and those unfamiliar rare elements, his brow furrowing slightly. He was familiar with these element names from middle school chemistry textbooks, but extracting them from the planet's soil and rocks to provide materials for building a base seemed like a fantasy to him, someone who dealt with keyboards every day.
"What's the first step in base construction? We can't just build it out of thin air, can we?" Chén Yàn asked, his fingers unconsciously tapping lightly on the control panel, making a faint clicking sound.
The holographic projection on the cabin wall switched again. This time, a simple schematic of a base appeared. "In the initial phase of base construction, an energy collection device and a mineral smelting furnace need to be erected. Blueprints for these are available in the database. As long as sufficient materials are collected, the construction modules within the mecha will automatically build them without manual intervention," Argo's electronic voice remained steady.
Looking at the schematic, Chén Yàn had a rough idea. To put it bluntly, he first needed to solve the problem of raw materials, just like building a house requires bricks, steel bars, and cement.
"Alright, tell me where the materials are and how to mine them. Let's build the headquarters first."
"First, please replace the double-bladed sword on the mechanical arm with an excavator. There are exposed rocks 0.3 kilometers to the front left, rich in iron. There is a coal seam 1.5 kilometers to the right, underground. While it is not enough to form coking coal, it is sufficient for decomposing carbon elements. I have marked nearby resource points on the map. Please collect them according to priority and required quantities."