Chapter 616: Chapter 390: Southern Country Industry?
(The two-in-one large chapter, 4600 words.)
The entire arena had been completely isolated from signals, which meant that aside from short-range communication and the Mecha Association’s official channels, no outside signals could reach in.
So, no matter how anxious outsiders were, they couldn’t leak even the slightest bit of information they had in hand.
No one knew why the Extreme Special Soldier suddenly dove down from the high altitude; they only hadn’t figured out why this mecha was charging towards the southeast.
Since the Extreme Special Soldier had also chosen a direction toward the Iron Throne, the focus of attention might as well shift to the mechas that had already reached the throne to see their battles.
After all, in a little while, all mechas would be near the throne.
The Sky-splitting bird, leaving trails of afterimages in mid-air, rushed towards the southeast direction. Xia Zuo, in the cockpit, also noticed the radar scan signal that had just flashed on the battle screen.
The signal was fleeting, and he didn’t take it seriously.
After all, there were dozens of mechas in this vast map; not all radar scans were necessarily from one mecha. If he had to be concerned about everything, it was simply impossible to keep up with all of it.
A playful smirk on his face, Xia Zuo had immense confidence in his own skill and unprecedented faith in the mecha he was controlling.
The Lan Du Military Group’s secret aerial Super Series prototype mecha—the Sky-splitting bird—possessed a unique transformation device; when changed into its jet form, its speed even broke through 11 mach.
This was a mecha capable of tearing through space!
Speed above all!
This was the ultimate attribute of the Sky-splitting bird.
With a speed capable of tearing through the sky, it would utterly shock the world.
His drop zone was towards the southeast in this circular area, with the throne closest to him being number 16 and the furthest being number 19.
And this time, Xia Zuo’s target was that Iron Throne numbered 19!
Because this valley was a separate canyon, located behind a large rift, only this narrow path was passable.
The treacherous terrain and the greatest distance decided that throne number 19 would definitely not be the first choice for those competitors.
However, for the Sky-splitting bird, which could fly and engage in aerial combat, this was a natural terrain advantage.
The speed of the Sky-splitting bird had now reached mach 7.5, and getting there would take just an instant.
To seize the throne at a speed unattainable for other mechas, then lock in the top 36 after half the time had elapsed, and he could go out and hunt down that damned mecha.
After all, he had received quite a few benefits from the Lan Du Military.
It was time to exert some effort~~
Swoosh, swoosh, swoosh!
At that moment, six flares suddenly shot out from the dense forest ahead.
The crisscrossing Thorny Snake Missiles attacked the Sky-splitting bird soaring in mid-air.
Xia Zuo’s eyes turned cold, and his hands moved in a dazzling display across the control panel in an instant.
The silvery-white Sky-splitting bird suddenly accelerated further, instantaneously hitting mach 8!
The whole mecha charged head-on towards these surface-to-air missiles.
The white silhouette twisted and weaved through the tracking missiles, miraculously passing through the route that was clearly blocked by the six Thorny Snake Missiles.
In the blink of an eye as they passed by each other, the six Thorny Snake Missiles, having lost their target, struggled to change their angle and prepare to strike again.
At this point, the Sky-splitting bird, still in humanoid form, suddenly spread its hands wide open, with two large spinning flywheels, each over three meters in diameter, whirring in its palms.
The Sky-splitting bird in mid-air turned and thrust its hands forward, the two silvery-white flywheels swiftly intersecting and slicing towards the six missiles.
Spinning, the flywheels traced a jagged path through the air, finally striking directly atop the missiles.
Boom, boom, boom, boom!
Six Thorny Snake Missiles burst into a huge cloud of red smoke in mid-air.
Xia Zuo glanced through the combat screen at a particular angle below and sneered, “I have no time to waste with you.”
A section of his mecha’s pale white arm opened, and a slender missile emerged from the automatic loader behind, sliding into position on the brace.
Then, with a soft click of metal unlocking, a white blast of air burst forth, and the round missile flew straight toward the ground below.
High-altitude release—Thermo Bomb!
After launching, Xia Zuo looked at the flickers of fire below, paying them no further mind.
The Sky-splitting Bird turned again towards the southeast, its three pairs of wings tracing beautiful arcs in the sky.
A second later, the missile struck the ground directly.
But before the dust could settle, the ground exploded with a mighty roar.
A terrifying burst of fire engulfed the forest, flames drawing the attention of all onlookers in that instant.
“Is that, is that a Thermo Bomb? How could such a weapon be permitted?”
“Thank goodness it’s mecha down there; if it were people, who knows how many would’ve died…”
“The rainforest is ablaze; the scene is too horrific.”
On the screen, the dense, verdant rainforest was now fully ablaze, a giant crater swallowing the vegetation above.
A light green mecha staggered out of the devastation, and upon seeing the mecha that had become a mere speck in the distance, it finally abandoned any attempt to pursue.
Indeed, none of the mecha that came to participate in the King of the Hill competition were to be underestimated.
“System alert: Mecha ‘Snow Hunting Eagle’ has now captured Throne 27 with a current score of 1 point.”
“System alert: Mecha ‘Blue Dragon Blade Machine’ has now captured Throne 15 with a current score of 1 point.”
“System alert…”
As the Extreme Special Soldier dashed forward, Mu Fan began to hear the Mecha Association’s alerts in his ear.
His pupils dilated with deep, swirling crimson as he listened, a subtle change coming over his expression.
Someone has captured a throne already?
Given the speed of the Sky-splitting Bird just now, it should appear for throne capture very soon if that’s the goal.
Sure enough, as Mu Fan thought this, another alert chimed in his ear.
“System alert: Mecha ‘Sky-splitting Bird’ has now captured Throne 19 with a current score of 1 point.”
Mu Fan’s eyes brightened.
Target—locked!
His fingers tapped rapidly on the console, and a purple light on the throne map in the lower right corner of the map lit up.
“Straight-line distance 210 kilometers, the terrain in between is rather complicated. This Throne 19 has a natural terrain advantage, with only one narrow passage for entry. Giant rifts flank either side; if the mecha does not have flight capability, attacking this throne will be extremely dangerous.”
“Understood.”
“What kind of attitude is that…” Mu Fan’s indifferent reply left Black speechless, unable to continue.
“No matter how dangerous, we’re going to rip them apart, aren’t we?”
“Even I am at a loss for words.”
In this verbal exchange, Black was utterly defeated.
To maximize speed, the Extreme Special Soldier intentionally avoided the undulating hills and forested areas, instead running along the plains by the river.
The black mecha drew a long, dark streak across the brown earth.
…
Outside the atmosphere of Blue Capital Star, a battleship with a yellow-brown exterior was silently wandering like a ghost.
Compared to the beautiful and massive planet, this warship was so small it was nearly negligible.
Inside the command room, the mottled yellow and brown interwoven colors remained, and the huge figure seated in the center was quietly staring at the combat screen in front of him.
Beside him, a subordinate was bowing and reporting.
“My lord, the exact location of the Mecha Combat Competition has been confirmed, but due to changes in today’s competition content, the real location is still 1100 kilometers away from the current locked position.”
“Mm,” the huge figure replied indifferently, without any further words.
“We’ve detected traces of the Federation military fleet, but they are all concentrated within the atmosphere. Currently, the Shadow of Demon Snake Device can protect our main ship from being discovered temporarily, and I wouldn’t recommend going any deeper; otherwise, the probability of being discovered will increase to 65%.”
“Mm.”
“My lord…” The subordinate, seeing the behavior of his leader, hesitated, unsure of what to say.
The temperamental and unpredictable Lord Knight, truly, was not something they, as subordinates, could fathom.
“A bunch of chickens and dogs,” the huge figure said slowly, extending a finger to swipe through the virtual space in front of him.
The scenes on the screen began to change while the deep yet bloodthirsty voice of Andumari echoed simultaneously.
“The real elites of the Federation are on the borders; none of the four major Assault Fleets of Thunder, Light, Snow, and Wind from the Fourth Military District are stationed here. The flagship of these native fleets on administrative planets is just an ordinary seventh-tier warship, not any special modified model. As for those fifth and sixth-tier warships… heh, I don’t intend to engage in a siege battle with them. Does naval battle strategy have any meaning for the Strangling Demon Snake?”
The subordinate responsible for intelligence work looked up upon hearing this, “Lord Andumari, but your plan involves breaking through two blockade lines of the Federation and the Mecha Association in a row. There are quite a few High Tier presences among the competing Mecha Bodies and the Association’s judging mechas below. Once entangled, if we are sealed off by a cluster of ships with force fields, then…”
This subordinate, with an earnest look in his eyes, as the head of intelligence for the seventy-second Gatepost Knight, had to report all potential dangers to his lord.
“My lord, all this, just to kill an ordinary Mechanical Master; the price is simply too high!”
Hearing his capable subordinate’s statement, a slight tremor suddenly appeared in the large figure.
And this trembling grew more significant, to the point that the heavy armor on his body was shaking.
Heh…
Heh heh…
Heh ha ha ha ha!
“Ha ha ha ha ha, don’t you think, this style is more fitting for us Solomon?” Andumari laughed wantonly. “I, Andumari, only wish to avenge my loyal subordinates. Joe, if you died, I, the lord, would launch such a grand assault for you.”
Andumari’s unrestrained laughter made the subordinate kneel down hastily, and Joe, the man addressed, had tears in his eyes as he pledged, “Willing to serve my lord unto death!”
Having followed Andumari for many years, he had never seen the lord break a promise when it came to his own people.
The large figure casually waved a hand, signaling Joe to rise.
“I have already reviewed the data on the Mecha Bodies participating in the Combat Competition. Among them, five S-grade Mecha Bodies, and not a single one assessed as a standard S Mecha, which is not even enough to pick my teeth for one belonging to the seventy-two Gateposts’ Strangling Demon Snake!”
A brutal yellow light shined from Andumari’s eyes as his icy voice continued to emanate from behind the metal mask: “The only High Tier Mecha Bodies at S+ I need to guard against are the Flowing Light Heavenly Eagle and the Federation’s Thunderhawk.”
“However, for Mecha Bodies that have already advanced to the pinnacle of the S+ grade Super Series, the idea of completely destroying them is laughable. Let’s wait until they grow to SS-grade. As the Strangling Demon Snake of the seventy-two Gateposts, famously known as Ghost Snake, isn’t it very normal to strike down those who are unnoticed by the eyes of many?”
Andumari spread his hands, and Joe finally touched his forehead to the ground to signal obedience.
Solomon, doing as their heart desires.
Yawning, Andumari’s large body rose from his seat. Before standing up, he cast a casual glance at the screen showing a black figure running with a gun; the yellow pupils in his eyes were as calm as a still lake.
The Strangling Demon Snake needed to warm up now.
The huge black shadow eventually disappeared within the command room.
…
About 120 kilometers ahead of that swiftly moving black figure, there was a clear lake, reflecting the azure sky, surrounded by lush trees.
Under normal circumstances, this should be a place of breathtaking beauty, but at this moment, the air above was filled with intense tension.
A silver Human-shaped Mecha was being cornered against the lakeshore by two other Mecha Bodies, one large and one small.
The silver mecha’s most striking feature was the translucent disc weapons on its hands.
Like a disc magnified dozens of times, but the color was a faint, translucent blue.
Both discs spun rapidly in the palms.
Two other mechas cornered the silver mecha by the lakeside, leaving it unable to move an inch.
One, an orange-red heavy mecha, wielded a massive particle jet hammer and violently hammered down in a relentless assault, while the other, a light brown human-shaped mecha of a slightly smaller size, stretched out its hands, firing tricky electromagnetic pulse bombs in succession.
Every time the hammer struck down, one of the silver mecha’s palms would always appear just in time beneath that terrifying heavy weapon.
The translucent disc met the blow with precision.
With a boom, the area around the silver mecha seemed patterned with shattered glass.
The silver mecha briefly crouched then rose again, having withstood the heavy strike.
The disc in its hand remained translucent, but the sensation of broken crystal surrounding the body didn’t fade.
The electromagnetic pulse bombs constantly shot by the light brown mecha didn’t seem to head towards the silver mecha at all, but magnetic storm glows exploded in the vicinity.
They outlined the invisible crystalline contour, which looked like an inverted bowl.
With each explosion, more cracks appeared on the crystal body.
Now the two mechas were taking turns attacking, seemingly intent on breaking this invisible shield in one fell swoop. Moreover, looking at the firepower of the attack, it seemed… they wanted to completely destroy the silver mecha?
“Macka, I never expected such a coincidence – enemies crossing paths. Hahahaha, where’s the other mecha from Southern Country Industry? Were your drop positions too far apart? I’d really like to see how long your Original Crystal Force Field can last!”
“Aren’t solidified ion fields supposed to be amazing? Why don’t you fight back? Why standing here like a turtle? You could also retreat into the lake, hahaha, you’ll be the first corporate young master in history to drown.”
The light brown mecha’s head-mounted speaker emitted a harsh laugh.
With that, the identity of the silver mecha’s owner was exposed – it was Macka, the young master of Southern Country Industry from Tech Star Capital!
At this moment, Macka watched gravely as alarms started to sound throughout the cockpit.
[Original Crystal Force Field decaying…]
[Force field sustenance at 47%.]
[Force field sustenance at 46%, generation insufficient, please evade attacks promptly.]
Damn, I want to evade the attack too!
Wu Ping, where the hell are you?
Unfortunately, communications between mechas had been blocked by the Mecha Association using special means, leaving him unable to contact his partner.
The Original Crystal Warrior lifted the disc in its hand to block another hammer strike, and the crystalline body around it cracked once again.
Such bad luck, to encounter Southern Country Industry’s sworn enemy – Qi Fire Military Industry – on the way to the number 14 throne. His own father had died in a competition against them.
Of course, he had already killed three of their Chief Mechanical Masters.
What he didn’t expect now was that during the throne competition, the enemy’s two mechas had managed to meet by chance.
The beleaguered Original Crystal Warrior had to rely on its unique force field to stubbornly hold on.
“You Qi Fire wastes of space – wait until you break through my force field!”
Macka spat out the words bitterly.
“Hmph, still so tough even at death’s door. Killing you in this competition will be the greatest gain for Qi Fire. Hahaha, I’ll take care of Southern Country Industry for you!”
The head of the light brown mecha emitted brazen laughter as electromagnetic pulse bombs fired from both arms again.
This laughter, amplified through the head-mounted speaker, spread clearly.
Meanwhile, less than three hundred meters away in a stretch of woodland, a mecha bearing a long spear and in the midst of a charge suddenly stopped.
Southern… Country Industry?