Chapter 685: Chapter 686: Happier in Defeat than in Victory
Half an hour passed in the blink of an eye.
When the host’s voice resounded in the center of the arena once again, every Mecha Controller had their mecha proceed to the center of the field.
At this point in the center of the field, there were only a hundred mecha, making the entire area seem somewhat empty.
"Please take your places. Now, I will announce the competition rules."
"This advancement round will reduce the competitors from one hundred to fifty through a draw, with two rounds of one-on-one battles. Contestants who win two rounds advance, and the losers will be eliminated."
"Next, please have contestant number one come forward to draw their opponent."
After the host finished speaking, Ji Sisi drove, or perhaps more accurately, wore her mecha toward a table in the center of the field.
With agility, she reached her hand into a box with a hole and drew a spherical object, showing it to everyone.
"Contestant number one against contestant number forty-eight."
Ji Sisi placed the drawn sphere into another box and stood aside in the combat area, waiting for everyone to finish drawing.
Each person could draw a sphere, and in this way, each contestant chose an opponent and was chosen by another, ensuring two battles. Those who won both battles would certainly advance. The remaining competitors would continue this process until fifty remained.
"Contestant number two will battle contestant number eleven."
The mecha belonging to contestant number two, also known as Ji Tiantian, moved to the combat area to await their opponent.
However, the person controlling the mecha wasn’t Ji Tiantian, and so she stood outside the field, somewhat anxiously looking in Ji Sisi’s direction. She wanted her mecha crew to say something to Ji Sisi but didn’t know what would be appropriate.
The drawing went quickly, and ultimately Ji Tiantian remained silent. She had her own view; maybe Ji Sisi would simply not lose.
When she didn’t know the black mecha belonged to Ji Sisi, she thought it could lose, but once she found out it was Ji Sisi’s, she had her doubts about that conclusion.
Because she knew one thing for sure: Ji Sisi was a perfect Balancer.
Now, on the field, twenty-five large stages had appeared, surrounded by protective covers.
"Will the first twenty-five pairs of contestants please enter the ring."
As the host’s words faded, fifty mecha showed off their tricks, ascending to the platforms, almost all jumping or flying up.
There was but one mecha, so conspicuous — it was ascending slowly.
Ji Sisi, who was climbing the steps, mumbled to herself in confusion, "Aren’t there stairs right here?"
Everyone waited for Ji Sisi’s mecha to climb the steps and stand on the platform. Her opponent made a contemptuous gesture toward Ji Sisi, signaling his disdain.
Ji Sisi didn’t speak; she merely stood on the stage. Mr. Nian had taught her not to waste words — go up and deliver a fatal blow.
With a somewhat fierce glare fixated on the opposing mecha, Ji Sisi analyzed, looking for its weak point.
Her skills were exceptionally high; in just one glance, she could spot many flaws on the opposing mecha.
Weak point found.
"Beep beep—"
The whistle sounded, signaling the start.
As everyone’s gaze was fixed on their own mecha, Ji Sisi charged out at an illogical speed, aiming a blow directly at the vital spot.
The opposing mecha wasn’t defenseless either. Seeing a swiftly moving black shadow attacking its weakness, it quickly reacted, protecting its vulnerable spot.
"What can a little thing like this really do?"
Just as he let his guard down a little, Ji Sisi’s fist connected.
"Ah—"
"Boom—"
The protective cover sparked as it was struck, and a spot on the mecha dented terribly out of shape, even revealing its internal structure.
Ji Sisi waved at the referee outside the ring, and walked off the platform, in the stunned referee’s gaze, waiting for her second match.
Meanwhile, Ji Tiantian finally had time to glance at Ji Sisi’s match. She’d been focusing on her own match at first, and after a few looks, seeing no issues, she immediately started to look for Ji Sisi.
But after a full circle, she only saw an empty platform with no mecha in sight.
Was it over?
That quickly?
This wasn’t just Ji Tiantian’s confusion but also that of the spectators beside her. Had there been a match on that platform?
They had only looked away for a moment — how could it be that someone had already finished their match?
The only ones who had been watching Ji Sisi’s platform the entire time were Nian Shutong and his group, as well as the person next to face Ji Sisi.
At this moment, that person looked at the empty platform with a pained expression, woefully muttering, "Wasn’t it supposed to be an easy victory? Why didn’t you play by the script?"
Even though the match hadn’t started, he felt his chances shrinking.
More importantly, what state was the previous mecha left in; how much would repairs cost?
After the outcomes on the twenty-five platforms were decided, a new batch of mecha entered. When this round ended, it was time for the second set of matches.
This time, Ji Tiantian didn’t even bother to watch her own mecha; she went straight to find Ji Sisi’s platform.
The same movement, the same climbing of steps, an old man’s pace, neither rushed nor slow.
When Ji Sisi took her place on the platform, she saw the opposing mecha seemed to be trembling slightly. Could its balance be that bad?
Was it unable to even stand steady?
"Beep beep—"
Another whistle blew, and Ji Sisi, with her fists ready, charged toward the opponent. Yet, suddenly, the opposing mecha yelled out, "I concede!"
Those two words, "I concede," made Ji Sisi immediately withdraw her fist, stopping a mere two punches away from the opposing mecha.
"You’re conceding?"
"Yeah, I’m conceding."
The opposing mecha conceded immediately because the designer didn’t want to have to repair the mecha after a loss. Besides, it had won the previous round, so it was better to concede this one and have another chance later.
If it got damaged, participating in subsequent matches would be problematic.
Ji Sisi was reasonable; if the opponent conceded, then there was no need to fight.
Both competing mecha looked dumbstruck at the referee below, who had no choice but to announce the outcome. Both mecha seemed unexpectedly happy as they left the platform.
The referee himself was witnessing a contestant who seemed happier in defeat than if they had won.
And so, from a distance, Ji Tiantian, who had been watching intently, saw nothing of Ji Sisi’s mecha’s strength. She only observed that people were advancing without even having to fight.
It was indeed quite vexing. When she turned her attention back to her own mecha, it was the first time she truly felt worried.
By this point, her mecha had sustained damage. The opposing mecha, which was clearly no match for hers, was still stubbornly fighting as if it was a battle to the death, refusing to concede. It seemed determined to inflict damage, even if falling seemed imminent.
Ji Tiantian’s hand tightened involuntarily. The strength difference between a damaged mecha and one without damage was worrisome.