Gu Ya quickly exited the cockpit, grasping a lifting handle and descending to the ground.
The pilot of another mecha did the same.
The two stood silently beneath their respective mechas, waiting.
"Candidate number 12, name Gu Ya, first-year student from the Celestial China National Defense Academy. Piloting his exclusive mecha, a medium-sized close-combat mecha, model: Yue Ying."
"Candidate number 15, name Bao Yan, stationed at Cai Hua City, Fourth Division Mecha Mobile Brigade, Celestial North Frontier War Zone. Piloting his exclusive mecha, a light-type general-purpose mecha, model: White Wolf Type 37."
"Candidates, shake hands!"
Gu Ya and Bao Yan quickly walked towards each other and shook hands.
"Match rules:
The competition is point-based. Hitting the opponent's upper limbs earns 20 points; hitting the lower limbs earns 30 points; hitting the torso earns 50 points; hitting the head earns 50 points! Hitting the opponent's cockpit does not award points!
A contestant who reaches 300 points can use a mecha special technique! Each use of a special technique deducts 150 points!
Special techniques are not allowed before reaching the score threshold, or it will result in an automatic loss!
Unauthorized negotiation or malicious score manipulation is prohibited!
Special techniques that threaten the pilot's life are prohibited!
Flying out of the combat arena is prohibited!
Victory is achieved by being the first to disable the opponent's mecha, rendering it inoperable!
If an unknown external mecha appears in the combat zone, regardless of affiliation, prioritize its elimination!"
"Damn it..." Bao Yan muttered under his breath, "I wanted to finish him in one blow, but there are restrictions."
From his tone, he seemed very confident in his abilities.
It was understandable, as those who received an invitation to participate were all highly skilled mecha pilots recognized by the Celestial Xia high command, each with the potential to become a War God in the future.
Moreover, Gu Ya believed that long before this match, all of Celestial Xia's intelligence departments and strategic bureaus had been busy preparing for it.
Selecting and vetting over a dozen of the most skilled individuals from millions of mecha pilots was undoubtedly a massive and intricate undertaking.
If Fang Fei's strength was any indication, she could single-handedly take down five named rebel mecha pilots, which would be considered an exceptionally high combat power in a war zone.
Yet, she had not received an invitation.
"Gu Ya, right..." Bao Yan said calmly, "I've never heard of you. You're nobody."
Gu Ya scoffed inwardly. That was even better. He didn't care for the title of War God; he just needed to defeat his opponent.
"Are you thinking of saying something mocking?" Bao Yan continued calmly, "Villains always like to taunt their opponents before a match, trying to gain a psychological advantage, thinking they can crush them from a higher dimension. In reality, they're fools, and I'll be the one playing the humble fox to trap the tiger."
Huh? Is he mistaking himself for the protagonist? Gu Ya felt speechless. These should be my lines.
Bao Yan continued calmly, "Gu Ya, right? I don't care who you are, I've already won this match!"
Gu Ya turned and walked back towards his mecha. The author had already given the opponent the floor, so what else was there to say?
"Hey, who gave you permission to leave my side? Come back here!" Bao Yan shouted coldly.
Gu Ya replied as he walked, "Your dad did..."
"The ultimate taunt from the villain has appeared! Excellent, this gives me the absolute justification to defeat you! Just you wait, Gu Ya! You'll be kneeling before me within thirty minutes!" Bao Yan said coldly.
"Tch," Gu Ya sighed dismissively, "What kind of nonsense is this."
...
In the spectator room, Fang Fei watched Gu Ya on the holographic screen with excitement, her eyes shining. "So handsome..."
At this moment, two people behind her began to converse.
"Oh? Is that young Gu Ya..." a woman murmured softly.
The Celestial Xia War God said softly, "You know him too? Hehe... He's my protégé."
"You sparred with him once. What did you tutor him in?" the woman asked.
The Celestial Xia War God replied casually, "Ten thousand repetitions of each basic mecha movement."
"Pfft..." The woman chuckled, tears welling up, and whispered, "You actually dare to say that. How could that be possible in three months? From what I know, Bao Yan already possesses War God-level strength. Gu Ya's chances of winning are not high."
The man stated faintly, "Who wins and who loses, we shall see."
As part of Special Unit Nine, Fang Fei keenly sensed that the woman speaking was not ordinary; she was likely also a War God.
Since it was a War God speaking, it was definitely not a joke.
"Gu Ya... cheer up!"
...
In the combat zone, Gu Ya and Bao Yan had entered their respective mechas, setting them to warm standby, preparing for the match.
Both sides stared intently at each other, gritting their teeth, hands on the control sticks, ready to charge.
They were like two beasts encountering each other on a narrow path, ready to tear each other apart.
A voice suddenly came through the communicator: "Match, begin."
Bao Yan reacted swiftly. As soon as the words were spoken, he drew two beam short swords and charged forward!
His exclusive mecha was a rare light-type general-purpose mecha. The advantage of a general-purpose mecha was its ability to engage in both close combat and ranged firepower. This type was more commonly found in medium or heavy mechas, as light mechas carrying heavy firepower or ammunition would affect their charging speed.
Light mechas primarily relied on high speed and agility for close-combat assassination, much like the nightingale mecha.
The White Wolf Type 37's speed exceeded Gu Ya's expectations. Sonic booms erupted behind it, and its speed increased exponentially. Within two seconds, it had reached Yue Ying.
"Take this!" Bao Yan shouted coldly.
Utilizing its lower profile, White Wolf suddenly lowered its body and thrust its beam short swords forward!
It was attacking Yue Ying's torso from below. A clever strategy.
Before Gu Ya could even formulate a battle plan, his fingers had already manipulated the mecha to retreat consecutively, dodging the opponent's attack.
This was the result of Gu Ya's rigorous training, having formed muscle memory that allowed him to execute movements without conscious thought.
"Again!" Bao Yan yelled.
White Wolf surged forward with explosive speed, its sword tip aimed at Yue Ying's head, its body maneuvering from Yue Ying's left flank towards its rear!
The opponent intended to use his speed advantage to launch a double attack from front and back!
Gu Ya's eyes turned cold, and he rapidly manipulated the mecha. Yue Ying's right auxiliary thruster fired intensely, attempting to use its left shoulder to shove the opponent away.
"Too naive..."
Instead of retreating, White Wolf advanced! It raised its double beam swords and simultaneously thrust them rapidly towards Yue Ying's neck.
He intended to use the reaction force from Yue Ying's shoulder charge, leveraging it to strike! With both swords, he aimed to completely sever Yue Ying's head!
Gu Ya decided to play along with his plan. He bent his mecha's body, dodging the sword slashes, and simultaneously unleashed his thrusters.
With a "boom-thud!" sound, Yue Ying directly slammed into White Wolf, crashing it to the ground.
"Both upper bodies collided, each gaining 50 points!"
It wasn't over yet!
Yue Ying immediately raised its iron fist and swung it towards the opponent's head.
Bao Yan truly was a mecha pilot with War God-level strength. White Wolf's head tilted to the side, dodging Yue Ying's iron fist, while its dual swords thrust forward again!
"Clang—!"
Yue Ying's other hand grabbed one of White Wolf's arms, and it tilted its head, dodging the other sword.
This all happened within ten seconds. Manipulating such massive mechas, executing consecutive offensive, defensive, and counter-attack maneuvers, was a fierce competition of skill, intellect, reaction speed, and crisis response ability!
This Bao Yan is very strong! Gu Ya sighed inwardly. This was just a contest of basic mecha movements; without even using special techniques, he was already matching Gu Ya.
White Wolf forcefully straightened its waist, flipping out from beneath Yue Ying, and simultaneously its arm dipped, breaking free from Yue Ying's grip. Its two beam swords thrust forward from behind!
Too close!
Gu Ya had no time to think. He manipulated the mecha to press downwards, dodging the beam swords, and pushed with both hands, sending White Wolf flying dozens of meters away.
After another three seconds of engagement, the two mecha pilots, without using any special techniques, unleashed swift and deadly mecha moves.
In the spectator room,
The Celestial Xia War God murmured, "This Gu Ya... did he really complete ten thousand repetitions of basic movements in three months..."
The woman slowly spoke, "His technique has become even more refined than when we sparred before."
Fang Fei listened to the words of the two War Gods behind her and couldn't help but smile. Surprised? Gu Ya not only completed ten thousand repetitions, but fifty thousand! Fifty thousand in three months! His fingers are super flexible! Fang Fei's face suddenly flushed.
"Gu Ya, I underestimated you!" Bao Yan said calmly, "I will reassess you. You are qualified to fight me!"
Gu Ya hardened his heart. Why so much talk!
Yue Ying drew its beam sword and charged forward with a burst of aura.
Using special techniques was forbidden, but it didn't say that combat skills formed by combining basic mecha movements were forbidden! Gu Ya had fought against imaginary enemies in the mountain ravine for ten days, employing countless combined killing moves.
Moreover, he had learned in these simulated battles how to freely combine movements based on actual combat!
With 384 basic mecha movements, the number of kill combinations that could be arranged was infinite!
Yue Ying leaped high and plunged towards White Wolf. White Wolf rapidly retreated two steps, lowered its stance, and charged forward.
The two clashed in mid-air, their beam swords thrusting at each other. Each thrust was blocked by the opponent and immediately counter-attacked, only to be blocked again by the other, who then thrust their beam sword from an even more cunning angle!
They traded blows back and forth, locked in a fierce struggle. The afterimages of the beam swords drew countless dazzling light ribbons in the air. An ordinary person would be unable to discern the trajectory of the beam swords, let alone predict where the next strike would come from!
But Gu Ya and Bao Yan could not only see clearly but also parry the opponent's offensive and transition to attack in a very short time!
In the spectator room,
A burst of low murmurs of admiration erupted.
Even the Celestial Xia War God couldn't help but sigh, "Both young men are very good, evenly matched!"
The woman said, "But I still favor Bao Yan."
"Don't rush..." the Celestial Xia War God said, "Neither of them has used their special techniques yet. The real show is yet to come."