Two players lurked among the tree lines, their hidden vantage point suggesting they awaited a certain event. Peering down from their elevated positions, they scoured the area, hoping to spot a vulnerable target whose equipment they could steal. This particular route had become a well-known hunting ground for such opportunistic acts. The thrill coursed through them as they eagerly anticipated the expressions on their soon-to-be captives' faces, envisioning the victorious moment when they would seize control and snatch away their valuable possessions. Yet little did they know, fate had a grander plan in store.

Beneath them, a colossal mecha emerged, towering at least five meters tall. It was a sight they had never witnessed before, a behemoth with massive limbs that strode forward. Its design boasted a sleek, streamlined aesthetic reminiscent of modern mecha anime, adorned with intricate blue circuitry patterns. The sheer presence of this mechanical marvel overwhelmed them, leaving them awestruck, thinking they had hit the biggest jackpot this early in the stage of the game.

Naturally, they assumed that a pilot resided within its metallic confines since it is a mecha, or so they believed for the time being.

"Whoa, look at that... Is that a fucking mecha?" one player exclaimed, his voice tinged with awe.

"Yeah, definitely an NPC."

"We should message the entire guild about this. If we can acquire that, we'll become unstoppable in the early stages of the game!"

"Maybe," the player responded skeptically. "But we have over 30 guild members. It might be worth a shot. With our numbers, we could take down the pilot and claim that thing for ourselves."

"Sure thing! I'll call them all over on the Guild Chat," he eagerly declared, unknowingly setting a chain of events into motion that would seal their fates.

Within the cockpit of the mecha, a young woman sat with a bored expression while looking into the outside world through a HUD inside the claustrophobic but comfortable cockpit filled with snacks and a ventilation system that gives her fresh, chilly winds from outside.

"LexAI, where the hell are we even supposed to go now?" she grumbled.

With an annoyed and eerily lifelike voice, the AI responded, "I'm currently searching for a trial site to advance to the next floor. Will you just shut the hell up, Victoria? You're not even the one piloting me."

"Ugh, fine. Just activate the Neural Network cheat code I installed for you," she retorted, her annoyance evident on her face.

"Whatever," the AI responded dismissively, no longer paying attention to her antics.

After a brief silence, they resumed their forward stride. Despite its massive frame, the mecha's movement speed appeared surprisingly swift. To hasten their progress, it transitioned into a jog.

Inside the cockpit, the AI named LexAI assumed control of the mecha, or as it was called, the Gear. These colossal machines served both as means of transportation and formidable combat assets. In this instance, Victoria had personally crafted and modified the Gear she now utilized to ascend the tower, adding a range of unique features.

This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.

"Victoria," LexAI called out from within the cockpit. "Why don't you get some sleep? By the time you wake up, we'll have reached floor 2."

"That was my plan, you know?"

"Fine, go ahead."

Little did they know, further down the path they were traversing, dozens of players were already preparing an ambush.

Continuing their journey, LexAI successfully located the nearest trial site and pressed on. The Neural Network within the Tower of Eternity functioned similarly to the real-life internet, but with a magical twist. Instead of relying on conventional signals and infrastructure, the network harnessed the power of mana. As an absolute instrument capable of recording every event within the tower since its inception, mana served as the foundation for this technology. Through the clever implementation of mana signatures and sensors, the brilliant engineers from various research guilds had developed a system that could gather and distribute information within the Neural Network. This technology had become widely accessible through Neural Hubs scattered across the tower's floors. However, LexAI's Gear was equipped with this capability, allowing him to tap into this portable information source whenever he pleased.

As they continued their stride, LexAI constantly utilizes the built-in 360° mana sensors within its head, effectively eliminating blind spots. The information gathered was relayed to the cockpit in real-time, processed through an image filter to match the visible light wavelength Victoria perceived. This enabled her to observe the battlefield while piloting the Gear, ensuring her safety against potential threats. With his constant mana sensing, the Gear's sight far surpassed that of ordinary humans. It allowed them to perceive hidden details obscured by objects, such as the crude traps laid before them—a display of amateurish and despicable tactics that LexAI vehemently detested. These cowardly strategies employed by the weak disgusted him to the core.

Finally, the anticipated ambush, which LexAI had saw coming from yesterday, was about to unfold.

If the Gear had the ability to display expressions, its face would have shown a deep frown, reflecting the utter pointlessness of these lowlife attackers' efforts.

"[Vine Grasp]!" A sudden surge of enormous vines coiled tightly around his body. Though breaking free from the binds would have been effortless for him, but he's simply too angry that he didn't bothered to remove them. The traps were triggered, unleashing a series of explosions and even lightning-infused snares, likely aimed at trying to fry his circuits. Numerous players descended from the trees above, launching their most powerful attacks and others unleashing a barrage of arrows and spells. However, their efforts proved futile, merely leaving superficial scratches on LexAI's cherished paint job.

"Insects..." he uttered with contempt. If he possessed a mouth, he would have been grinding his teeth in fury. Consumed by anger, gatling guns materialized from his arms' sides, relentlessly spraying nearby players with a hail of bullets, tearing them to shreds. Naturally, he hadn't forgotten about the long-range fighters. A cavity opened in the center of his palm, drawing in mana until it manifested as a pulsating purple laser. He skillfully maneuvered the continuous beam horizontally, ensuring it struck its intended targets. Any unfortunate player caught in its path met instant demise, their bodies incinerated by the searing laser attack. Panic set in among the survivors, who scrambled to flee.

However, he wouldn't allow them to escape so easily. A compartment on his back swung open, releasing a volley of foot-long white missiles soaring through the air at breathtaking speeds. Unbeknownst to the players, these were heat-seeking missiles, each one under LexAI's remote control. Even if the players attempted to deceive the thermal sensors, he could adjust the missiles' trajectories in real-time. The landscape erupted in a symphony of detonations as dozens of explosions reverberated simultaneously, obliterating everything caught in the blasts—players' bodies reduced to mere ashes in an instant.

Without so much as a flicker of emotion, he resumed their journey, as if he had simply crushed a few insignificant bugs beneath his feet.