Chapter 1

The mecha roared, and the Yao Ying fighter and the Ming Huo fighter launched their attacks simultaneously. Basta's composure and Offee's agility were both exceptional. Both sides were vying for rhythm. There wasn't an absolute superior or inferior style, but rather, whoever could drag their opponent into their own rhythm would gain the upper hand in such a confrontation.

The Yao Ying fighter, with its speed advantage, had a greater edge in this aspect. Offee's Yao Ying Athena was the number one Athena in the Solar System.

Titanium knives clashed repeatedly. Offee didn't engage in a head-on collision with Basta, but instead used skillful maneuvering, constantly playing with space and position, searching for potential loopholes in the Ming Huo. The Ares Maxis was powerful due to its unstoppable attacks, while Basta was an unbreakable defense. However, the defending side adopted an offensive posture, while Offee, who was supposed to be attacking, constantly changed positions.

After a warm-up round, neither side found any obvious flaws in their opponent. Basta also discovered, through several defensive counter-attacks, that Offee's strength wasn't weak, and her resistance was also top-notch.

Unlike Robby's passion, both Basta and Offee were very calm. Both simultaneously entered a state of Burning Will. The Yao Ying fighter's Oathkeeper Sword pointed at the Ming Huo fighter, and the mecha roared.

*Tss.*

The Yao Ying fighter dashed forward, its engine roaring, launching a blitz attack. The Oathkeeper Sword in its hand exploded with red light, instantly enveloping the Ming Huo Genesis.

Athena Gale Assault!

Offee didn't possess the Gale ability, but her burst speed was faster and fiercer than wind ability controllers. Furthermore, it possessed an indescribable smoothness. Basta immediately raised his titanium shield, forming a double defense with the Ming knife in his hand.

A series of violent titanium collisions echoed. A dense rain of attacks constantly impacted Basta's defense system. Red flames exploded. The Ming knife and titanium shield formed an impenetrable defensive net. The Ming Huo fighter remained steady and advanced step by step, constantly changing positions to pull the Yao Ying fighter around. Likewise, the Yao Ying fighter wasn't disturbed by the opponent's defense system and techniques, and continued to seek opportunities.

*Boom.*

With a deafening muffled sound, the ground shattered. The titanium shield finally seized an opportunity and directly swept away the Oathkeeper Sword. The Ming knife radiated light and directly cut in. The Yao Ying fighter instantly dodged, but a follow-up kick struck, sending the Yao Ying fighter flying. The Ming Huo fighter advanced, its Ming knife aimed at the Yao Ying.

*Tss.*

The knife missed. The Yao Ying stomped, stomped, stomped, performing a three-stage kick, and then soared into the air. It then executed a swallow return in mid-air.

*Clang.*

The Ming knife blocked. At this moment, the titanium shield would obstruct the view, but in the next second, the Oathkeeper Sword had vanished again.

Athena Gale Assault Double!

Clang, clang, clang, clang, clang... Boom.

The Ming Huo fighter was finally blasted away, leaving a deep crack in the ground. Accompanied by the roar of its engines, the Yao Ying fighter arrived in front of the Ming Huo fighter.

A swift sword strike was launched. At this moment, the Ming Huo fighter could no longer keep up with the Yao Ying's speed.

Just at this moment, rays of light shone brilliantly. The Oathkeeper Sword emitted a strong white light. If Ma Long saw this scene, he would jump up in surprise. He wasn't the only one who could emit light.

Suddenly, with the intense light, Basta's blood-red pupils immediately contracted violently. The dazzling light directly caused his vision to disappear. *Tss...*

A guaranteed hit stabbed into thin air. Given Basta's physical condition, this blinding effect would only last for a second or two. The Oathkeeper Sword launched a frenzied attack. All the Earth Federation spectators in the arena were excited. They saw an opportunity to defeat the God of Fire!

Blindness plus a rapid sword – a perfect combination!

Tss, tss, tss, tss.

Red flashes pierced through, but at this moment, the Ming Huo fighter didn't use the titanium shield or Ming knife to defend. It was too slow; there wasn't enough time. The mecha suddenly swayed, and in a flash of lightning, all attacks missed.

Apex Sway!

And in the next second, Basta's eyes exploded with red light. The Ming Huo directly cut in. Boom.

The Yao Ying fighter's titanium shield blocked just in the nick of time, but the enormous force directly blasted the Yao Ying Athena away.

The two mobile suits retreated to create distance. The camera on the big screen focused on the two pilots. Neither Offee, who had just unleashed a violent attack, nor Basta, who had suffered a blinding attack, showed any expression. One couldn't even discern their emotional state. It was unclear what was going through their crimson eyes.

"These are simply two monsters."

"Damn, that Sway just blinded me. So awesome!"

"I feel the Wolf King is still a cut above."

"Hard to say. Offee is good at attacking, while the Wolf King is good at defending. Neither can do anything to the other right now."

"Both of them possess top-notch skills. Now it depends on whose Zone is more awesome, and who combines it better."

In the livestream, Kuang Wu Daren and Huo Nan were commentating on the match. Fans on both sides also began fiercely comparing the two.

"Offee hasn't changed at all. Just that one Gale Thrust. She's been thrusting for ten thousand years. She can't beat Basta at all!"

"The Wolf King only knows how to turtle. What else can he do besides defend and counter? Only he would use a melee-type mecha like the Ming Huo like this."

Both combatants in the arena were very cautious, whether attacking or defending.

"Offee's offense is very powerful. All of the Wolf King's defense is in service of offense. The fact that he's been forced into a completely passive position only shows that Offee's attacks are extremely, extremely dangerous," Huo Nan said, watching intently. "There's even an artistic beauty to that Thrust."

"Damn, Huo Nan, did you get paid to say that? You're actually speaking up for the Earth Federation, are you even a man!"

"You can question my gender, but never question my judgment," Huo Nan said. "Offee's thrusts are arrayed strikes, not just random stabs."

After a round of frenzied attacks, the two mobile suits separated. Offee, the attacker, hadn't gained any advantage. Basta had defended perfectly. But Basta hadn't seized any opportunities for an offensive counter.

Among the top tier of the Heavenly Kings, everyone had a different style. Shirian was unfathomable. Maxis had the will of a God of War, integrating offense and defense. Asahi Ryu and Van Fleet were innately talented and leaned towards offense. Basta, on the other hand, was as steady as Mount Olympus.

Offee also felt regret. She knew that Basta wouldn't give her any opportunities unless she used her full strength. Among the Heavenly Kings, Basta was the most stable.

The broadcast replayed slow-motion footage of Offee's Gale Thrust, highlighting the arrays. Each of Offee's attacks was a group of three swords, forming the signature triangular attack of the Thrust. In the previous round, she had unleashed ninety-nine swords, thirty-three perfect triangles overlapping each other, interlocking seamlessly. If Basta's defense was even slightly off in one area, all the triangular attacks would continue relentlessly until Basta collapsed.

Unfortunately, Offee had encountered the strongest defender, Basta.

The movement trajectories of the two mecha were displayed, one a perfect large arc, the other a perfect small arc, with countless semi-arcs combined together, resembling a blooming lotus flower.

Neither of the two mobile suits made a single mistake.

"The most meticulous attacker has met the most meticulous defender. The whole thing hinges on the details. But from this round, it seems that Basta has a considerable advantage. It's difficult for Offee," Kuang Wu Daren said. "When facing Basta, once anyone's attacks can't break through, their confidence and stamina will constantly decline. You have to know that while the Wolf King is known for his defense, his counterattacks are like the fangs of a wolf. Once he strikes, it's fatal."

"I wouldn't say that. The Wolf King is good at defending against brute-force type pilots. Blood Rose's offense is unique, her technique is the best, and her strength isn't lacking at all. Everyone is just misled by her agile maneuvers. During the offensive-defensive confrontation, take a look, during the confrontation, the Yao Ying Athena's center of gravity doesn't waver at all. It's as steady as can be. I've seen videos of Offee going up against light and heavily armored opponents in strength competitions. Don't be misled by Blood Rose's appearance!" Huo Nan said. "Steadfast defense, and she'll take this match!"

Huo Nan never underestimated his opponents. Everyone knew how to use poison milk, unless he ran into Mu Ou that X.

In the contestant stands, Dita watched in astonishment, Alexander.

"Boss, why are you so serious? Offee doesn't seem to have improved much," Erz said with a smile. "In the future, you'll be the number one Athena... Ouch."

Erz's head was nearly knocked into his neck.

"You don't even know how to flatter someone. Boss was already the number one Athena. Ouch," Feynman, with a straight face, was also knocked.

"Offee has always been the strongest Athena. She's become even stronger. It's not just a simple arrayed strike, but Weak Point Targeting!" Dita said. As the most proficient Athena user, Dita had been constantly learning and understanding Offee. She could basically achieve that level of precision as well, but it was hard to say whether she could pull it off against Basta. The same type of attack also depended on the opponent. "Did you think that just because Basta is good at defending, anyone can launch a complete attack in front of him?"

With one sentence, all of the Sky Star team members were stunned. This was the world competition. Logically speaking, Basta was a defensive counter-attacking type, not a punching bag.

"Weak Point Targeting?"

"This should be some kind of insight-based ability. I suspected it during previous sparring matches because when she wants to attack, she can't be stopped," Dita said with a hint of envy.

"Weak points, who would expose obvious weak points... Ouch," Erz said halfway before his head was knocked again. Was the boss in a bad mood because of the good grouping?

"She's seeing the weak points of the soul. Even the opponent themselves doesn't know."

That was why she was always suppressed when fighting Offee, and couldn't find the problem.

Red light flickered, spreading across the entire mecha, then gradually faded. Silver light gradually enveloped it, with hints of golden electric arcs within.

"Offee, your Weak Point Targeting is useless against me. I have no weak points," Basta said calmly. If there was one competitor whose style perfectly countered Offee's, it was Basta.

Offee pursed her lips. In her vision, the entire Basta was shrouded in a purple glow. The burning flames were completely integrated. There truly were no weak points.

Everyone had weak points. Li Hao didn't, because she couldn't see them, because the whole was too powerful. Even Asahi Ryu and Maxis would generate weak points under her ability. It wasn't to say she could definitely seize those weak points, but there would definitely be some. However, Basta's Zone didn't exceed her power range, but she really couldn't detect any.

Otherwise, in an even exchange, Basta would have been gone after that round.

Basta also saw this, and began a psychological attack.

"Just warming up. What's there to be nervous about, Wolf King?"

The flames on the surface of the Ming Huo fighter were also surging, turning purple. Basta didn't take it lightly. Both sides' Golden Zones were locking horns, vying for spatial aura, neither yielding. Both were elevated to Flowing Heart Martial.

The two's Flowing Heart Martial was so effortless and casual, forming a sharp contrast with everyone else's all-out efforts. This was pure mastery. They were probing each other's trump cards while trying to conserve their own as much as possible. This was just the round of sixteen. There were even more terrifying opponents ahead.

A smile appeared on Basta's lips. It was a smile of absolute confidence. He had no weaknesses. His aura was completely integrated. One could even say that this was one of the abilities brought about by his Golden Zone.

Amidst the silver light, the Oathkeeper Sword crackled with lightning, gradually spreading across the entire Yao Ying Athena. *Tss...*

A bolt of lightning struck the ground, blasting open a crack, leaving a patch of charred ground.

Lightning ability.

The entire Yao Ying fighter began to tremble. The roar of the engine gradually increased. Everyone knew that a new round of attacks was coming.

Boom, crack.

Athena Electric Waltz!

The entire mecha instantly charged towards the Ming Huo fighter. In an instant, purple energy soared from the Ming Huo fighter. Boom, boom, boom, boom, boom, boom.

A violent barrage once again enveloped the Ming Huo fighter. Each strike was accompanied by earth-shattering roars. Purple energy and silver light intertwined. In a flash, the Yao Ying fighter materialized, and the Oathkeeper Sword slammed against the titanium shield. Light exploded. The Ming Huo fighter was knocked away. In the next second, the Yao Ying fighter was already behind the Ming Huo, and the Ming knife blocked backwards, only to be knocked away again. The Yao Ying fighter followed closely, launching an impenetrable barrage, frantically suppressing the Ming Huo.

The spectators from the Earth Federation watched with burning passion. The entire Round Table Knight Academy was in a frenzy of cheers. Once Offee unleashed her attacks, the Solar System could only defend. With the blessing of the lightning ability, her charge-sword arrays had become even more ferocious.

In the world of martial arts, speed is supreme!

Offee's light was burning. She couldn't stop. She had to attack, keep attacking until her opponent revealed an opening. But under the constant barrage, the Ming Huo fighter looked to be on the verge of collapse, yet every attack was defended against. Most importantly, in Offee's Insight Eye, the Ming Huo fighter's weak point never appeared.

One sustained effort is followed by a decline, then exhaustion. Offee couldn't stop. Her Golden Zone continued to burn, enhancing the Yao Ying Athena's controls. The entire mecha was shrouded in silver light, unleashing indiscriminate encircling strikes against the Ming Huo fighter. The sounds of concussions reverberated through the sky. The Ming Huo fighter swayed back and forth amidst the attacks, its titanium shield and Ming knife desperately defending, feeling a bit flustered, but it just wouldn't fall.

*Boom.*

With a roar, the Yao Ying Athena and the Ming Huo Genesis materialized simultaneously. The titanium shield once again precisely blocked the Oathkeeper Sword's three-part combo strike.

But in the next second, the titanium shield shattered. Offee's powerful attack had finally taken effect. The engine roared. Flash Assault!

*Boom.*

The Yao Ying fighter was sent flying. Basta had begun his counterattack. One strike sent the Yao Ying fighter flying directly. Stomp, stomp, stomp.

Basta's Ming Huo fighter wasn't fast, but it advanced with steady and rhythmic steps, each step landing on the Yao Ying's evasion point. The Ming knife in his hand struck the Yao Ying fighter one after another, simple and unadorned, powerful and heavy.

*Clang.*