After Winning The Esports Championship, I’m going To Pilot A Mecha

One of the most underrated novels I've ever read. Even the original website where this novel was released (jjwxc, of course) has received a pitiful amount of traffic compared to its quality.

(The title and synopsis don’t really do it justice. Why are Chinese webnovels these days so uncreative with titles and synopses that give us nothing, smh.)

The story starts with our main character (MC), a laid-back but genius mecha player, finding himself in an unknown environment. He quickly realizes that the body he now inhabits belongs to a member of a secret anti-government organization. From the outset, he’s in a dire situation from which there seems to be no escape. While the MC is cautious and tries to gather as much information about the organization as possible, with the ultimate goal of escaping, I initially thought this would never happen, or at least not until far in the future. After all, the current government doesn’t seem like a good option. Why not help these guys topple it instead of joining a suspicious, highly controlled government? Plus, the team the MC’s former body owner was part of seemed quite promising. It had that "MC and Co." feel, very much like a main team, with everyone being highly capable.

But then... a lot of things happen, and plans can’t keep up with the changes. I was very surprised when readers who had finished the novel confirmed it to be a Happy Ending (HE) because holy shit, the MC would always find himself in an impossible situation. It wasn’t necessarily the MC’s fault; it was mostly due to his friends finding themselves in dangerous situations (or being killed outright) or the dangers arising from his identity/existence. There’s also betrayal and coincidence mixed in. Despite all this, the novel doesn’t feel angsty or tragic. Somehow, the author manages to maintain a somewhat lighthearted tone while there’s a heavy undertone in the story. Perhaps it’s because of the MC’s perspective?

Additionally, there are a lot of plot twists everywhere, and it’s insane, keeping you on the edge of your seat. The mecha aspect is also very intricate. It’s clear that the author is a massive mecha fan. Usually, in webnovels, especially Chinese ones, mecha is just a tool. They rarely delve deeper into it beyond being a formidable weapon. But here, each mecha is written to have its own uniqueness. The action descriptions are also very engaging, allowing you to easily imagine the specific scenes.

The only weakness of this novel (in my view) is the open ending. I want to know what happens after they all go through that shit. As for romance, I don’t really care about it. The current ‘bromance’ is already perfect because it never disrupts the plotline but still vividly depicts how the MC and ML are the only things they have for each other and the great trust they place in each other, even at the cost of their lives.

I both resent and am grateful for its unpopularity because if it were to gain a massive following, I’m pretty sure the quality would drop. Why? Because this novel violates many standards and regulations in China:

- Most of the characters, including the MC himself, kill a lot, onscreen, and clearly written.
- Following that, the MC has a "crooked three-worldview" (?), as they often say. He does have a moral bottom line, which is especially prominent at the beginning. But as time goes on, we see that he is mostly passive and quite unfeeling. It’s not that the MC is an ice-cold kind of guy; he’s pretty chill and outgoing, especially to the people he’s close to. It’s just that he’s more of a logical person and gets over his complex feelings very quickly. Also, he won’t hesitate to seek revenge for his people—not petty revenge, but the kind involving killing and torture.
- This is very unexpected in Chinese webnovels, but villains, even those who almost killed the MC repeatedly, could become the MC’s allies in the future! They also have very clear motives and goals. The author doesn’t sugarcoat the crimes they commit. For example, that guy who killed many people, regardless of age? He might become an ally too.
- Even the theme of the novel itself is borderline regulatory violation. It’s all about rebellion, and the MC (along with many of his allies) joins what can be described as a terrorist group. Heck, even if he didn’t, he was a fugitive for almost the entire novel.

Anyway, if you’re convinced, read this; it’ll be great. And if you like what you see, please support the author. Google Translate on the web works fine, and there are already many channels for overseas readers to buy coins from. Seven dollars gets you 3000 coins (not including bonuses), and you can buy all the chapters for this novel for around 1600 coins in the mobile app.

I am so frustrated! I read to relax, destress, and find some peace, but this novel—why did I even pick it up if I wanted to be relaxed? 😭 It's just like "It's not easy to be a man" all over again. The halo protagonist is there, but I hate that things don’t get revealed completely. You know that itch you get when a wound starts scabbing but you can’t peel it off? That’s exactly how I feel. It’s actually good to have that in stories—it makes you more engrossed—but dang, I’m so stressed out. I’m losing sleep, and I’m about to kick my bed and blanket to pieces out of curiosity. 😭 The story is so good, though. It could have been slower (more chapters) because, as another review mentioned, it’s moving quite fast. Every chapter is an action scene! 😭 I feel bad for our main character. No rest at all! I can see that the author is really good at writing action scenes and setting them up. I am so riled up. So I’m taking a break. I thought it would be cute, but it’s not turning out that way. I still haven’t found out the truth, and honestly, I just want to read a complete summary, like those heroes in YouTube comments. I’m giving it a 4 because it frustrated me, but the story is really good. You should actually try it if you like something serious. I’ve read quite a few stories about transmigration into characters, so it always makes me think, "What if a person transmigrated into this black market doctor?" Ugh. Someone chat with me about this. I’m open to any rants about this story. Reach me at Pillow Van Willow on Facebook. (If I can still remember it by then) 🥲

The e-Sport aspect isn't particularly significant and doesn't focus heavily on the game. I'm unsure if it will be developed further in the story, as it is barely mentioned at the beginning.

I generally don't enjoy mecha stories, but when I come across an engaging one, I can't help but continue reading.

- **MC**:
  - I expected an overpowered main character (MC), and while he does exhibit some OP traits, he has numerous disadvantages that make him less overpowering than anticipated. Although he is highly skilled in piloting mechas, he struggles with physical combat and gun usage (at least from what I've read so far; this might change in the future). So far, he has been fortunate because the original owner's personality has minimized his need to act. However, he is afraid of confrontations due to his lack of experience and uncertainty about what to do in such situations.
  - For instance, during his first encounter with an alien, he had to imagine he was playing a game to prevent panic. Witnessing deaths around him was both frightening and enraging. After seeing someone shot right in front of him, he had to force himself to remain calm to avoid detection by the organization he is part of. Ultimately, he felt scared and guilty after experiencing death up close, without the involvement of mechas or aliens.
  - There are also secrets surrounding him and the "original" Ji Mingzhu, which he discovers later by examining the owner's possessions. His "amnesia" complicates his interactions with people who knew or interacted with him before. However, his intelligence allows him to form alliances, whether temporary or permanent, with individuals who can protect his life.
  - He is not exceptionally strong but is quite intelligent, except for occasional childish actions, like showing off with his sword in front of thousands of people.
  - The MC is mostly indifferent but has moments that make you want to laugh at him because he can be quite naive at times.

- **AI**:
  - I really like the AI, Axiu. They genuinely try to assist the MC rather than harm him, which is a refreshing change from reading too many novels with evil or insensitive systems. Axiu often comes across as more mature than the MC, leading to humorous exchanges filled with sarcasm. Their relationship is quite endearing, especially when Axiu takes care of the MC, such as ordering or preparing food.

- **Setting**:
  - The world-building and mystery are incredibly intriguing. This is one of the best stories I've read because it strikes a perfect balance between providing enough and withholding just the right amount of information about the MC's world. It feels like I am experiencing everything—the city, monsters, mechas, and people—through the MC's eyes. The descriptions are vivid, and with my active imagination, I can easily picture the daunting city above them.

The story is intensely gripping at times, and I am eager to see how the author concludes it based on the high quality of the narrative so far.

Another outstanding book from the author! Their novels are truly becoming my favorites!

I'm loving itttt. ♡♡♡ To be honest, mecha isn't usually my thing. I only rarely read this genre, but I totally love this.

The novel has depth. It doesn't really focus on the BL aspect but more on world-building and action. The characters are also not stupid. They aren't one-dimensional either. There's plot and intrigue.

The BL part should come later. I already have a hunch about who the main love interest is. Hehehehehe

I'll update this once I'm done. So far, I love it. ❤️

First of all, this is EPIC. I totally didn’t expect such quality and depth from a ‘mere’ mecha and transmigration type novel, and I was very pleasantly surprised.

This work is quite gritty and dark, despite its lighthearted and comedic tone. It involves a complex three-way (or more) conflict between multiple races, with scenes of explicit violence, sacrifices, and death. The story is full of twists and turns, keeping me on the edge of my seat the entire time because I couldn’t even trust the protagonist’s halo amidst all the chaos. Every time the main character, Ji Mingzhu, faced new challenges, I found myself thinking, "Please give him a break..." 😭

I also really enjoy the author's writing style. The way they build the atmosphere is exceptional! I genuinely got goosebumps whenever a Titan (the colossal, ultimate mecha that serves as the 'Guardian' of each city) appeared on screen. The solemn air was palpable, making it feel as though the Titans were truly alive, not just mechanical weapons to be driven like cars.

**Spoiler**
Especially the first appearance of a Titan. The scene where the military cadets first visit the place where their city’s Titan, Zhu Jiuyin, is stored is particularly memorable. Even though the Titan was offline and crouching for recharging, the visual imagery of the small humans standing on a platform dozens of meters high, next to the Titan’s head, yet still appearing minuscule in comparison, was breathtaking. The atmosphere was so solemn that everyone held their breath, as if Zhu Jiuyin was merely sleeping, not a cold, soulless machine. It really took my breath away!
[collapse]

The battlefield descriptions were also fantastic. The author effectively conveys the characters’ feelings of despair, euphoria, hope, and awe. One of my favorite moments was during the first defensive battle in the first city, especially the sacrifice of the former Titan Pilot. His descent into insanity and despair, feeling utterly disillusioned with everything, yet still climbing into the cockpit to protect the civilians despite being retired, was deeply moving. When Ji Mingzhu took over piloting the Titan, the hope he gave everyone was immense. 🤧

Honestly, there’s no romance in this at all, so I was surprised why it was tagged with *shounen ai* as I continued reading and still found no hint of romance.

Well, there was one... if you squint a little hard...
**Spoiler**
Probably between Ji Mingzhu and his personal terminal and childhood AI friend, Ah-Xiu/Canglan. I was genuinely surprised that Canglan turned out to be the most emotionally significant relationship in the end. I thought it might be Tian Ji 😅 But Canglan has always been protecting Mingzhu from the beginning to the end, repeatedly sacrificing everything for him. I was touched when Canglan said, *"I just want a world where Zhuzhu exists."* 😭 And when Mingzhu was on the brink of death, all he could think about was how nice it would have been if Canglan was there. 🤧
[collapse]

But if you don’t care much about romance, this book is excellent if you enjoy stories with an overpowered protagonist uncovering vast conspiracies. It includes mechas, aliens, undercover agents, secret organizations, AIs, clones, and a touch of school life (which only lasted a month or so before things went downhill).

I initially thought it was just another story about an overpowered mecha pilot gaining fame in a mecha school, but it’s much more than that. The story grows and reveals layer upon layer of secrets as Mingzhu delves deeper into his role. It’s fantastic.

The worldbuilding is also quite good. The author doesn’t overload the reader with information, as we follow Mingzhu’s perspective, and he’s a lazy teenager who only wants to game, so he gathers only the necessary information and common knowledge to survive. 😅

The transmigration aspect is intriguing, and uncovering it bit by bit alongside Mingzhu is thrilling! The core reason for his transmigration is genuinely impactful to the world and is a result of human actions and their consequences, not some divine intervention to fix a timeline. This refreshing take sets it apart from other novels in the genre.

There are three main races: Artificial Intelligence, humans, and aberrations, each with a deep secret explaining their current entanglements. **Spoiler**
Plus, there are the true alien species, the Gods, who provided the cores of the Titans to humanity and, in turn, sent 'Ji Mingzhu' to their world.
[collapse]

Initially, you’re thrown into the story blind because we follow Ji Mingzhu’s perspective, and he’s just ‘transmigrated’ with his AI’s data module reset, so we have no prior information. 😂 He’s immediately thrust into a high-difficulty situation as a ‘terrorist group’ member right after waking up. 😭 But Mingzhu is incredibly smart and a great actor, so he fakes it until he makes it. He’s also hilarious, often cracking jokes in the most tense situations, like threatening to change his fellow pilot’s hard rock BGM during battle or complaining that his Titan pilot seat needs replacing because his butt hurts... in the middle of the final battle. 🤣

But even so, I really appreciate that he’s morally gray. I love morally gray protagonists. He has a moral底线 (bottom line) and wants to fight for humanity, but he’s not hesitant to kill, betray, scheme, or act selfishly. Survival is paramount in a war, and he’s not naive about the fluid nature of alliances. He adapts quickly, which is both impressive and a bit terrifying.

The mecha elements can be a bit brain-cell frying with all the sci-fi jargon, but you can let your brain relax and just cheer for Ji Mingzhu like a mindless fan. It’s so cool when he first boards the Titan Zhu Jiuyin! In every combat scene, he looks incredibly handsome. ✨

, I’d give it 4/5 stars because the lack of a clear conclusion (an open ending didn’t have much impact compared to the previous intense events) left me wanting more. I need closure! I want to see the newly rebuilt world. 😭

**WHYYYYY DO ALL THESE DANMEI NOVELS THAT I LOVE ALWAYS END ABRUPTLY WITHOUT EXTRA CHAPTERS?** 😭 **Seriously, every 'gritty, refreshing, no-nonsense, and no-cliché' mecha/sci-fi/military/transmigration type danmei with a morally complex protagonist and minimal romance tends to lack a satisfying conclusion.** 😔

But I’ll give it extra points for a very refreshing take on this genre! It was executed exceptionally well!