Chapter 40: First Milestone
The team celebration dinner had been exactly what they needed—terrible food choices courtesy of Chen Hao, good conversation, and the sense of moving forward after two difficult weeks. Now, three days after their deployment restriction lifted, Lin Feng stood in his soul space reviewing the equipment they'd accumulated over their missions.
Analysis Protocol: Equipment inventory assessment.
Installed components:
White-tier Enhanced Mobility Leg Component (left leg, installed) White-tier Standard Leg Component (right leg, original) 4x Colorless-tier supplementary components (various)
Uninstalled components available:
2x Blue-tier weapon components (from wolf pack engagement) 1x Blue-tier energy core (from wolf pack engagement) 1x White-tier energy core (from Tier 1 hunt) 6x Colorless Chaos Crystals5x White-tier Chaos Crystals
Current tier: 1Energy capacity: 500 units
Tier advancement analysis: Sufficient materials available for Tier 2 breakthrough.
Lin Feng had been avoiding this decision for three days, ever since the restriction lifted. Advancing to Tier 2 was a significant milestone—not just the increase in energy capacity, but the fundamental shift in how his mecha operated. Tier 2 pilots were considered fully-fledged combatants, no longer rookies but genuine threats on the battlefield.
But tier advancement required installing multiple high-quality components and absorbing Chaos Crystals in a specific sequence. The process was more intensive than simple equipment installation, and failure could damage his soul mecha permanently.
He'd researched the process extensively. Read academy manuals, studied successful advancement cases, consulted with professors. The requirements were clear:
Tier 1 to Tier 2 advancement requirements:
Minimum 3 White-tier or higher components installedEnergy core upgrade (White-tier minimum, Blue-tier recommended)5-10 Chaos Crystals absorbed (higher quality reduces quantity needed)Soul space synchronization maintained during integrationEstimated success rate: 85% with proper preparation
Lin Feng currently had one White-tier component installed. He needed at least two more, plus the energy core upgrade, plus crystal absorption. The process would take several hours and require perfect focus.
But the rewards were substantial. Tier 2 meant roughly 70% increase in energy capacity—from 500 units to approximately 850 units for someone with his exceptional baseline. It meant improved physical capabilities, better equipment compatibility, and qualification for more dangerous Land of Origin zones.
Time to commit, he decided.
He withdrew the Blue-tier energy core from his dimensional storage—the premium drop from the alpha Wolf Beast that had nearly cost them everything. The component gleamed in his soul space, significantly more sophisticated than his current Colorless-tier core.
The installation process for an energy core was more complex than peripheral components. The core sat at the heart of Logic Frame's power system, connecting to every other component through energy channels that needed to be carefully rerouted.
Lin Feng approached Logic Frame and began the visualization process. His current Colorless-tier core pulsed with steady energy at the center of his mecha's chest. He reached out mentally, feeling the connections—dozens of them, linking the core to weapons, defense, mobility, sensors, everything.
The disconnection took forty minutes and left him sweating in the physical world. Each severed connection felt like tearing away a piece of himself, but he pushed through, drawing on the experience of his previous installations.
The old core finally detached and dissolved into raw energy.
Now came the hard part—installing the Blue-tier replacement.
He positioned the new core where the old one had been. It was larger, more complex, with twice as many connection points. The integration would be significantly more difficult than his leg component installation.
Lin Feng took a mental breath and began forging connections.
The pain hit immediately—worse than the leg component, worse than anything he'd experienced in equipment installation. His consciousness fractured across dozens of connection points simultaneously, each one demanding perfect focus while his mind screamed in protest.
Thirty minutes in, he was crying in the physical world, his body convulsing from the mental strain.
Forty-five minutes in, he nearly lost consciousness entirely.
But at fifty-three minutes, the final connection solidified.
Analysis Protocol: Blue-tier energy core integration complete.
Installation time: 53 minutes.
Mental strain: Extreme (recovered).
New energy capacity: 500 → 720 units (44% increase from core alone).
Core efficiency: Significantly improved. Energy recovery rate increased by 35%.
Warning: Not yet Tier 2. Core upgrade is prerequisite, not sufficient condition for advancement.
Lin Feng emerged from soul space gasping, his shirt soaked with sweat. Chen Hao looked up from his desk where he'd been studying.
"Energy core installation?" his roommate asked.
"Yeah," Lin Feng managed. "Blue-tier. That was brutal."
"Worth it?"
Lin Feng checked his status. His energy capacity had jumped from 500 to 720 units just from the core upgrade. "Yeah. Definitely worth it."
"You going for Tier 2?" Chen Hao asked.
"That's the plan. Need to install two more high-quality components, then absorb the Chaos Crystals." Lin Feng drank water, rehydrating after the intense mental effort. "Probably another two days of installation work, then the actual tier breakthrough attempt."
"Let me know if you need anything," Chen Hao said. "I went through Tier 2 breakthrough last week. It's intense, but you'll be fine."
"You advanced to Tier 2?" Lin Feng asked, surprised.
"Three days ago," Chen Hao confirmed. "My Iron Wall is up to 870 units now. The defensive specialists get slightly higher energy pools than balanced types. Wanted to wait until you were ready to tell everyone—didn't want to make you feel rushed while you were dealing with the Analysis Protocol upgrades."
Lin Feng smiled. "Congratulations. How does it feel?"
"Stronger. More solid. Like my mecha finally has the foundation it was designed for." Chen Hao grinned. "And the first time I sparred after advancing, I surprised myself with how much harder I could hit while defending. The tier difference is real."
Over the next two days, Lin Feng installed both Blue-tier weapon components—one in each arm, replacing his Colorless-tier basic weapons. The installations were agonizing, but he'd developed a rhythm now, a mental framework for enduring the pain and maintaining focus through the integration process.
By Saturday evening, he was ready for the actual tier advancement.
Analysis Protocol: Tier advancement readiness assessment.
Components installed:
Blue-tier energy core (chest, recently installed) Blue-tier weapon component (left arm, recently installed) Blue-tier weapon component (right arm, recently installed) White-tier Enhanced Mobility Leg Component (left leg) White-tier Standard Leg Component (right leg)
Total high-tier components: 5 (exceeds minimum requirement of 3)
Chaos Crystals available: 6 Colorless, 5 White
Recommended absorption sequence: All 5 White-tier crystals, supplemented by 2-3 Colorless if needed.
Estimated success probability: 91% (high-quality components and crystals increase success rate)
Warning: Process duration approximately 2-3 hours. Cannot be interrupted once begun.
Lin Feng told Chen Hao he'd be incommunicado for several hours, then entered his soul space for the final time as a Tier 1 pilot.
Logic Frame stood before him, transformed by the new equipment. The Blue-tier components gleamed noticeably brighter than the White and Colorless-tier parts—a visible marker of quality and power. His mecha looked stronger, more complete, ready for evolution.
He withdrew the five White-tier Chaos Crystals from dimensional storage. They appeared in his soul space as glowing gems, each pulsing with concentrated energy. These weren't just power sources—they were fragments of the Land of Origin itself, crystallized essence from beasts that had absorbed dimensional energy for years.
The advancement process required absorbing these crystals through his soul space, letting their energy flow through Logic Frame and transform its fundamental structure. It was part meditation, part cultivation, part systematic integration of external power into internal framework.
Lin Feng positioned the first crystal near Logic Frame's chest, where the new Blue-tier core pulsed steadily.
He reached out mentally and began the absorption.
The crystal dissolved into pure energy—a torrent of power that flooded into Logic Frame through every component simultaneously. Lin Feng felt his consciousness expand, stretch, transform as the energy integrated with his mecha's structure.
It wasn't painful like component installation. This was different—overwhelming, euphoric, terrifying in its intensity. He felt Logic Frame growing, cells of energy multiplying, systems upgrading, capacity expanding.
The first crystal took twenty minutes to fully absorb. When it finished, Lin Feng could feel the difference immediately.
Analysis Protocol: First crystal absorbed.
Energy capacity: 720 → 760 units.
Structural integrity: Improving.
Tier status: Still 1, approaching threshold.
He absorbed the second crystal. Then the third. Each one took roughly twenty minutes and pushed his energy capacity higher, pushed Logic Frame closer to the threshold between Tier 1 and Tier 2.
After the fourth crystal, something changed.
Analysis Protocol: Warning—approaching tier threshold.
Energy capacity: 720 → 820 units.
Structural changes accelerating.
Next crystal absorption will likely trigger tier advancement.
Prepare for intense transformation.
Lin Feng took a mental breath and absorbed the fifth and final White-tier crystal.
The transformation hit like a tidal wave.
Logic Frame's entire structure began to shift. The mecha grew—not dramatically, perhaps a few centimeters in height, but the change was visible. The armor plates restructured themselves, becoming denser, more refined. Energy channels that had been adequate for Tier 1 widened and multiplied, creating a more sophisticated network.
And the energy capacity expanded.
Lin Feng felt it happening in real-time—his soul space resonating with dimensional power, Logic Frame drinking in energy from the void itself, the fundamental nature of his mecha evolving from foundation stage to the beginning of true power.
The process took forty minutes. Lin Feng existed in a state between meditation and transcendence, his consciousness merged with Logic Frame as it transformed. He could feel every change, every improvement, every system upgrade occurring at the cellular level.
Then, suddenly, it was complete.
Analysis Protocol: TIER ADVANCEMENT SUCCESSFUL.
Previous tier: 1
Current tier: 2
Energy capacity: 500 → 850 units (70% increase)
Energy recovery rate: +35% improvement (from Blue-tier core)
Structural integrity: +40% improvement
Combat effectiveness: Estimated +60% overall improvement
Status: Officially advanced to Awakened Stage threshold. No longer Foundation Stage.
Lin Feng opened his eyes in the physical world and immediately felt the difference. His connection to Logic Frame was stronger, more refined. When he flexed his hand, he could feel the mecha's response—smoother, faster, more powerful.
He stood up from his bed and nearly fell over. His body felt lighter, more energized, as if the tier advancement had somehow affected his physical form as well. The soul-mecha connection worked both ways—improvements to Logic Frame translated to subtle enhancements in physical capability.
Chen Hao looked up from his desk. "You did it."
"Yeah," Lin Feng said, a grin spreading across his face. "Tier 2."
"Congratulations," Chen Hao said, standing to shake his hand. "Welcome to the Awakened Stage threshold. How does it feel?"
"Powerful," Lin Feng replied honestly. "Like I've been operating at half capacity and didn't realize it until now."
He entered his soul space briefly to confirm the changes. Logic Frame stood taller, stronger, its Blue-tier components now perfectly integrated with a Tier 2 framework. The Analysis Protocol's code strings glowed brighter, processing power enhanced by the increased energy budget.
Analysis Protocol: Post-advancement status check.
Current specifications:
Tier: 2Energy capacity: 850 unitsSystem overhead (Analysis Protocol v0.4): 75 units (8.8% of capacity, down from 15%)Available combat energy: 775 units (91.2% of capacity)Synchronization: 49% peak, 42% sustainable (unchanged by tier)Combat effectiveness: Significantly enhanced
The reduced percentage overhead was particularly notable. The same Analysis Protocol that consumed 15% of his Tier 1 capacity now only consumed 8.8% at Tier 2. More power available for combat while maintaining the same sophisticated tactical intelligence.
Lin Feng checked the time: 7:47 PM. His father would still be awake—probably reviewing military reports or helping Xiao Yue with her mecha theory homework.
He pulled out his communicator and called home.
His mother answered. "Lin Feng! This is a pleasant surprise. How are you?"
"I'm good, Mom. Is Dad available? I have some news."
"He's right here. Let me put you on speaker."
His father's voice came through. "Lin Feng? What's the news?"
"I just advanced to Tier 2," Lin Feng announced, unable to keep the pride out of his voice.
There was a moment of silence, then his father laughed—a deep, genuine sound of pure joy. "Tier 2 at eighteen years old! Lin Feng, that's exceptional! Most pilots don't reach Tier 2 until their second year of academy!"
"I had good equipment drops from the Land of Origin deployments," Lin Feng said modestly.
"Equipment helps, but it's not everything," his father countered. "You need the skill to earn those drops, the judgment to install them correctly, and the foundation to support tier advancement. This is your achievement, son. I'm proud of you."
"We're both proud," his mother added. "This deserves a celebration. Can you come home this weekend?"
"I can get a day pass for Sunday," Lin Feng confirmed.
"Perfect," his mother said. "I'll make all your favorites. Your father can invite some of his old squadron—they'd love to congratulate you."
"Actually," his father said, "let's keep it family only. Lin Feng, Xiao Yue, your mother and I. This is a family milestone."
"Xiao Yue will be thrilled," his mother said. "She's been asking about the Land of Origin nonstop since she heard about your deployments."
"Tell her I'll answer all her questions on Sunday," Lin Feng promised.
After ending the call, Lin Feng spent another hour in soul space, testing Logic Frame's new capabilities. The improvements were across the board—faster movement, stronger attacks, better energy efficiency, enhanced durability. The tier advancement had transformed his combat potential.
Analysis Protocol: Combat simulation comparison.
Tier 1 Lin Feng vs Tier 1 Rabbit Beast: 95% success probability, 38-second engagement.
Tier 2 Lin Feng vs Tier 1 Rabbit Beast: 99.7% success probability, 18-second engagement.
Tier 2 Lin Feng vs Tier 2 Wolf Beast (solo): 73% success probability, 65-second engagement.
The numbers told the story. What had been challenging at Tier 1 was now trivial. What had been impossible alone at Tier 1 was now difficult but viable at Tier 2.
Sunday arrived with clear skies and comfortable weather. Lin Feng took the public transport home, watching the familiar streets pass by. He'd lived most of this life in this city, but it felt different now—smaller somehow, less imposing, as if advancing to Tier 2 had changed his perspective on the world.
His father met him at the door with a crushing hug. "Tier 2! Let me look at you."
Lin Feng laughed. "I look the same, Dad."
"No, you don't," his father said, studying him carefully. "You carry yourself differently. Stronger. More confident. That's what tier advancement does—it changes you in ways that go beyond the mecha."
Xiao Yue appeared from the kitchen, now fourteen years old and growing taller every time Lin Feng saw her. "Brother! Mom said you're Tier 2 now! That's amazing!"
"Thanks, Yue. How's your theoretical training going?"
"Good! I'm top of my class in mecha theory, and my synchronization meditation is improving." She grabbed his arm. "But I want to hear about the Land of Origin! Is the sky really purple? Are the beasts as scary as the documentaries show? Did you really fight a Tier 3 Crystal Bear?"
"One question at a time," Lin Feng said, laughing. "And yes, the sky is purple. Two suns, actually—one orange, one blue."
His mother emerged from the kitchen, wiping her hands on a towel. "Dinner will be ready in an hour. Lin Feng, your father wants to test your new tier in a sparring match."
"Light sparring only," his father clarified. "I want to see how much you've grown."
They moved to the backyard, where the family maintained a small training area. Both father and son entered their soul spaces simultaneously, manifesting their mechas in the physical world through synchronization.
His father's Iron Sentinel materialized—a massive 22-meter defensive-type mecha at Tier 15, covered in battle scars from decades of combat. Next to it, Lin Feng's Logic Frame appeared at 15 meters, gleaming with newly-installed Blue-tier components.
"Just like old times," his father said, his voice coming through Iron Sentinel's speakers. "Except this time, you might actually land a hit."
They sparred for fifteen minutes, and Lin Feng was amazed at how much better he could perform. At Tier 1, he'd been hopelessly outmatched against his father's Tier 15 mecha. At Tier 2, he was still outmatched, but he could at least keep up, could read attack patterns, could execute counters that his father had to acknowledge.
"Excellent," his father said, blocking one of Lin Feng's strikes. "Your coordination has improved dramatically. That Analysis Protocol of yours is really paying off."
"It helps," Lin Feng agreed, dodging a slow sweep his father deliberately telegraphed.
"One more thing," his father said, then moved with the speed of a veteran pilot.
Lin Feng's Analysis Protocol screamed warnings, but there was nothing he could do. His father's blade stopped a hair's breadth from Logic Frame's neck.
"Dead," his father announced cheerfully. "Never forget—tier advantage is real. You're Tier 2 now, which is excellent, but there are pilots at Tier 10, 20, 30 and beyond. Stay humble, keep training, and always respect your opponents."
"Lesson learned," Lin Feng said, demanifesting Logic Frame and returning to his physical body.
Dinner was exactly what his mother had promised—all his favorites, lovingly prepared. The family gathered around the table, and Lin Feng felt a wave of gratitude for this second chance at life. His father was alive and healthy, his mother was happy, his sister was thriving. This was what he'd fought to protect.
"So," Xiao Yue said between bites, "tell me everything about the Land of Origin. Start with the portal crossing."
Lin Feng described the dimensional transition, the purple sky, the dual suns, the thick energy-rich air. Xiao Yue's eyes widened as he talked about the forest, the alien vegetation, the sense of being in a dimension where the rules were slightly different.
"And the beasts?" she prompted. "You've fought how many?"
"Fourteen successful engagements," Lin Feng said. "Eleven Tier 1 Rabbit Beasts, three Tier 2 Wolf Beasts. Plus one Tier 3 Crystal Bear encounter that we had to retreat from."
He didn't mention Wang Min's injury in detail—that story was too recent, too painful. But he described the coordination, the teamwork, the way the Analysis Protocol helped them fight smarter rather than just stronger.
"The Rabbit Beasts aren't actually cute, despite the name," he explained. "Two meters tall, carnivorous, teeth like knives. They're fast and aggressive, but predictable once you understand their attack patterns."
"And the wolves?" Xiao Yue asked.
"Pack hunters. Intelligent. They coordinate like trained soldiers—the alpha gives signals, the betas respond, they flank and rotate and adapt to our tactics." Lin Feng smiled slightly. "Those were the hardest fights. Not because any individual wolf was overwhelmingly strong, but because they worked together as well as we did."
His father nodded approvingly. "That's what makes the Land of Origin dangerous. It's not just raw power—it's intelligence, adaptation, and coordination."
"When I awaken my mecha," Xiao Yue said determinedly, "I want to join your team. You can teach me everything you've learned."
"You've got four more years before awakening," Lin Feng reminded her. "By then, I'll probably be graduated and working as a professional pilot."
"Then I'll join whatever organization you're with," Xiao Yue said stubbornly. "I want to fight alongside my brother."
Lin Feng's father smiled. "She's determined. Just like her brother."
After dinner, Lin Feng's father pulled him aside for a private conversation in his study.
"Tier 2 at eighteen," his father said, settling into his chair. "Do you know what that means?"
"Good progress?" Lin Feng offered.
"It means you're on track for Tier 10 by graduation, possibly Tier 15 by age twenty-five." His father's expression was serious. "That's elite trajectory, Lin Feng. The kind of progression that attracts attention—from corporations, from military, from powerful organizations."
"I'm already getting recruitment offers," Lin Feng admitted. "Corporations sending messages, military liaisons making contact. I've been ignoring them."
"Good," his father said. "You're too young to commit to anything. But understand that as you continue to advance, the pressure will increase. Tier 15 pilots are valuable assets. Tier 20 pilots are strategic resources. The higher you climb, the more people will want to control or utilize your abilities."
"I'm planning to stay independent," Lin Feng said. "Form my own team, operate as a mercenary company."
His father nodded slowly. "That's a viable path, but difficult. Independent operators need strong backing, reliable income, and the skill to avoid being crushed by larger organizations." He paused. "But if anyone can make it work, it's you. Your Analysis Protocol gives you an edge that most pilots don't have."
"Speaking of which," Lin Feng said, "I've been meaning to ask—do you think I should share the Analysis Protocol methodology? Publish my techniques, help other pilots develop similar systems?"
His father considered the question carefully. "That's a philosophical choice more than a practical one. Sharing would help humanity overall, but it would also diminish your unique advantage. My advice? Keep the core system proprietary, but teach general principles. Help others learn systematic thinking without giving away your specific implementation."
"That makes sense," Lin Feng agreed.
"One more thing," his father said, his voice dropping. "Wang Min's injury. I read the mission report—academy sends copies to parents of team members. You handled it well, but I know it affected you."
"It did," Lin Feng admitted. "Still does."
"Every commander who cares experiences that," his father said. "I've lost squadmates. I've made decisions that got people killed. The guilt never completely goes away, but it transforms into determination—to be better, to protect more effectively, to make the hard calls when necessary."
"That's what Wang Min said. About the weight of leadership."
"She's wise beyond her years, then." His father smiled slightly. "Use that weight to make you stronger, not to crush you. Learn from every failure, celebrate every success, and remember that perfect safety is impossible in combat."
Lin Feng nodded. "I'm trying."
"That's all any of us can do," his father said. "Try our best, learn from our mistakes, and keep moving forward."
The conversation shifted to lighter topics—academy news, rankings, upcoming tournaments. But Lin Feng felt the weight of his father's experience in every word, the wisdom earned through decades of combat and command.
As the sun set, Lin Feng prepared to return to the academy. His mother hugged him tightly. "Stay safe out there. Call more often."
"I will, Mom."
Xiao Yue grabbed his arm. "Promise you'll tell me more Land of Origin stories next time you visit."
"Promise," Lin Feng said, ruffling her hair.
His father walked him to the transport station. "Tier 2 is just the beginning. Keep training, keep improving, and don't let success make you complacent."
"I won't," Lin Feng promised.
Back at the academy, Lin Feng found Team Seven gathered in the common room. Chen Hao, Li Xin, and Tang Yue all looked up as he entered.
"How was the family celebration?" Tang Yue asked.
"Good. My sister is obsessed with the Land of Origin now. Wants to join my team when she awakens."
"Four years from now?" Li Xin said. "You might be running a mercenary company by then."
"That's the plan," Lin Feng confirmed.
"Well, Tier 2 team leader," Chen Hao said with a grin. "Ready to get back to work tomorrow? We've got authorization for deeper territory now that both of us are Tier 2."
Lin Feng smiled. "Ready. Analysis Protocol v0.4 is operational, I'm Tier 2, and we've learned from our mistakes. Let's see what we can accomplish."
Analysis Protocol: Status summary.
Lin Feng—Tier 2 achieved. Major milestone complete.
Energy capacity: 850 units (70% increase from Tier 1).
Combat effectiveness: +60% improvement overall.
Family bonds: Strong. Father proud, mother supportive, sister inspired.
Team status: Three members Tier 2 (Lin Feng, Chen Hao, Li Xin), one Tier 1 (Tang Yue), one recovering (Wang Min).
Next objectives: Advanced Land of Origin operations, continued equipment optimization, preparation for deeper challenges.
Current academy rank: 23rd.
Assessment: Foundation stage complete. Awakened stage threshold achieved. Real journey beginning.
Tier 2 at eighteen years old. Analysis Protocol version 0.4 operational. Team coordination refined through crisis. Equipment optimized for current tier.
This was just the beginning.
The path to the peak of power stretched ahead, filled with challenges, dangers, and opportunities.
But for the first time since reincarnating into this world, Lin Feng felt truly ready to face them.