[Ding! Main quest activated: Defeat Axis Tiger in battle.]
[Quest reward: 700 System Coins.]
[Post-successful quest reward: Intermediate System Mall unlocked.]
[Increased rare item drop rate in the mall: 7%.]
[Reduced mall item cost: 10%.]
[After unlocking the Intermediate System Mall, every main quest completed will be rewarded with mall discounts.]
When Gu Ya returned from Axis Tiger's resting area, he saw Wu Xuan pointing a stick at him with a fierce, uncomprehending, and disgusted look.
"Don't expect me to understand you, no matter the reason," Wu Xuan said coldly.
Gu Ya replied, "After the battle arena, once you've avenged your hatred, you'll understand."
Wu Xuan, still skeptical, lowered his stick but maintained a distance from Gu Ya.
Gu Ya knew that his earlier attempt to ingratiate himself with Axis Tiger was indeed disgusting.
But he had no choice. When facing an opponent several times stronger than himself, and victory wasn't solely attainable through effort, resorting to minor tricks was necessary.
At this moment, on the battle arena, a female mecha technician from the Hecheng Society was wandering in the sandstorm, seemingly lost and looking around.
Suddenly, a dark shadow appeared behind her in the sandstorm.
Before Wu Ran could react, the shadow leaped out from the wind and sand, thrusting a beam saber into the neck of Wu Ran's mecha.
This female mecha pilot from the Hecheng Society was defeated so swiftly.
After the two contestants exited, the sandstorm on the battle arena suddenly ceased. The howling tornadoes and swirling sand all seemed frozen in the sky.
Slowly, the sandstorm disappeared, and sunlight once again illuminated the smooth concrete floor.
It turned out the entire spectacle was a massive holographic projection.
"Alright, everyone, the second match is up next!"
"Our arena will be... the Swamp!"
The floor of the battle arena cracked and sank, spewing muddy water, and in no time, countless uneven swamps formed.
The two contestants, believing it to be a holographic projection, paid no heed. As a result, both fell into the swamps, their mechas barely managing to fly out by gunning their engines.
"I forgot to tell you! This is our new technology, hahaha! Each patch of swamp is an ocean of code vulnerabilities. Mechas standing on them are like viruses, unable to move." The host said with a wicked grin.
After the host's reminder, the contestants finally began to take the terrain seriously.
Gu Ya, watching the matches, suddenly remembered he had something called a "System."
He had been busy with mechas for the past two days and hadn't paid any attention to his system.
At this rate, it should have already leveled up.
Gu Ya quickly activated his Mecha Master and Mecha Technician talents. Strangely, his experience points were stuck at 499/500, just one point away from leveling up.
Logically, Gu Ya should have leveled up long ago, having assembled a mecha, used the [Code Tampering] ability four times, and spent days rummaging through the scrapyard.
Gu Ya walked over to his mecha and used [Code Tampering]. His experience points indeed increased by 1, but his total experience remained at 499.
"Why is my experience stuck?" Gu Ya asked in his mind.
A line of text appeared in his mind: [Requires specific scenarios to unlock Advanced Mecha Master and Mecha Technician.]
"What exactly constitutes a specific scenario?"
Gu Ya was utterly baffled.
The second match concluded quickly, followed by the third and fourth.
Gu Ya's match against Axis Tiger was next.
Wu Xuan was already in his mecha, waiting.
Gu Ya performed a final check of his mecha's exterior before entering the cockpit, awaiting the start of the duel.
Perhaps it was the heavy atmosphere, or perhaps Wu Xuan was too nervous and needed to vent. In any case, Wu Xuan spoke first: "Gu Ya, fawning over Axis Tiger will only make him more arrogant and dismissive of you."
"I know," Gu Ya replied calmly.
"Are you deliberately being obsequious to make the opponent lower their guard?" Wu Xuan asked.
"You've only guessed half of it. I can't explain it clearly to you, you just need to know that everything I do is to win," Gu Ya said.
Wu Xuan nodded.
After the fourth match ended, it was finally Gu Ya's turn.
In the contestant's tunnel, Gu Ya heard an ominous and earth-shattering sound from the battle arena, like a stampede of ten thousand horses.
When he reached the entrance, he was stunned by the sight before him.
The battle arena had transformed into an ancient battlefield!
Countless ancient mechas were fighting on the field, and the wreckage of mechas littered every corner of the battlefield.
Gu Ya flew up and landed on the debris of a mecha.
If this was a holographic projection, no one would believe it; it was too real, too shocking.
At this moment, Axis Tiger also flew onto the battle arena, facing Gu Ya.
"Alright, contestants, I know you have a grudge and want to kill each other."
"But before the match, I must remind you of one thing!"
"Beware of those old relics holding weapons. They are images composed of bug programs that even top programmers cannot fix. Once your mecha touches them, it will permanently shut down."
"Do you know what to do, gentlemen? Then, let the battle commence!"
After the host finished speaking, his holographic projection immediately disappeared, and the drone carrying the projector flew to the outside of the battle arena.
Black Hound Beast raised its fists and pressed them down on both sides of its thighs. When it raised them again, its fists were covered in thick, spiky armor.
Its weapons were spiked gauntlets.
Gu Ya did nothing, standing still in his spot.
Earlier, Gu Ya had used [Code Tampering] to add a program to Black Hound Beast's system: "Once the radar detects an enemy within 10 meters, the system automatically shuts down."
This meant that Black Hound Beast could not approach him, no matter what.
However, due to Gu Ya's limited time, the added program had a problem: it was too easy to find.
As long as Axis Tiger brought up the program code, this conspicuous code could be found in the first few pages.
Therefore, Gu Ya had to seize the opportunity to resolve the issue immediately after the opponent's first malfunction.
Otherwise, if Axis Tiger found and fixed the problem, winning would become very difficult.
Black Hound Beast donned its gauntlets, but Axis Tiger did not rush to attack.
Through the mecha's external speaker, he said leisurely, "Kid, you said earlier you wanted me to kill you. Are you ready?"
Gu Ya sneered and replied, "Little tiger, what did you say? You want me to kill you? Alright, I'm happy to oblige!"
Hearing Gu Ya's words, Wu Xuan immediately chuckled.
Axis Tiger wasn't angered by this. He had seen plenty of trash talk and had never lost one.
"Jude, who was it that acted like a dog and begged me earlier?" Axis Tiger retorted with a smile.
"Ah, ah, I remember. It was me, the parent, checking if my son had been studying properly," Gu Ya retorted. "It's unavoidable; my son has been slow-witted since childhood, so I have to coax and trick him into studying."
"Jude, it's pointless to twist the facts. No matter how sharp your tongue is, you'll still get beaten up later." Axis Tiger said.
"Oh, good son, if you call me Dad, I might go easy on you," Gu Ya retorted without backing down.
This time, Axis Tiger did not speak. Less than three seconds later, the back thrusters of Black Hound Beast erupted with flames!
Black Hound Beast spread its arms and mechanical mouth wide, charging towards Gu Ya at an explosively fast speed.
Gu Ya let out a light chuckle and controlled his mecha, taking a graceful step forward.
"Jude, you're insane!!!" Wu Xuan exclaimed in shock.
In the blink of an eye, Black Hound Beast was right in front of him.
"Go to hell, Jude, hahahaha!!!" Axis Tiger's arrogant voice echoed across the battle arena.
But the next second, Black Hound Beast's back thrusters suddenly sputtered and died. It plummeted down in a parabolic trajectory, sliding to the feet of Gu Ya's mecha.
"What's going on! Black Hound Beast can't start!?" Axis Tiger's panicked shout was heard.
Gu Ya smiled and shook his head, saying sternly, "Little tiger, you've had your day!"
Gu Ya pushed the control stick and shouted, "Wu Xuan! Find the location of the ancient mechas and throw it over! Turn it into scrap metal for good!"
Wu Xuan was overjoyed and shouted, "You got it!"
Gu Ya and Wu Xuan acted with practiced skill and默契 (mòqì - tacit understanding/chemistry). They grabbed Black Hound Beast, aimed it at the group of ancient mechas fighting in the sky, and threw it with all their might.
Black Hound Beast, like a sandbag, was tossed into the air. After touching the holographic ancient mechas, it fell heavily to the ground under its own gravity.
"Ah! Why! Why!!" Axis Tiger's anxious and fearful cries were heard. "Don't come any closer! Don't come any closer!!"
No one listened to him.
Gu Ya and Wu Xuan controlled the Indomitable Resister, lifting their feet and stomping heavily on Black Hound Beast's head.
One stomp, two stomps, three stomps...
The immense force directly crushed Black Hound Beast's head.
Gu Ya said to Axis Tiger, "This is for my revenge. Next, it's for Wu Xuan!"
The Indomitable Resister sat on top of Black Hound Beast, grabbing the armor on its chest with both hands and pulling with all its might. It tore off the armor, revealing the cockpit.
"Ahhh! I was wrong, I was wrong! Spare me! Spare me!"
"Dad! Grandpa! Grandpa Jude! Grandpa Jude! Spare me, spare me!" Axis Tiger yelled in terror, pleading for mercy.
"Spare you?" Wu Xuan said hatefully, "Even if you go to hell, I won't spare you!"
Wu Xuan forcefully pushed the control stick, and Gu Ya quickly followed, pressing several buttons with his fingers.
Amidst Axis Tiger's shrill and desperate screams,
The Indomitable Resister raised its heavy mechanical iron fist and smashed down fiercely onto Black Hound Beast's cockpit.
The cockpit instantly flattened into a metal disc.
Wu Xuan let out a long sigh, stood up, and hugged Gu Ya.
Gu Ya patted his shoulder and said, "Alright, your mother's revenge is finally paid."
"Next, it's my turn."