406 Steel Desolate Beast
Translator:Abyssruler | Editor: Lucas Sloughberg’s ambition, after finishing off his old rival, was rearing its head. He was also full of pent up energy he needed to vent. The Solar System was but a small pebble by the side of his path, and no obstacle. But, by crushing this pebble to dust, he could intimidate the huge tiger that was barring his path, and that was a separate matter. He believed that his own ability was invincible, and nobody in this world had a more fearsome power!
The Darkness Empire team’s mood had changed. It was time for them to shock the world.
Aslan team recess room…
Similarly, their intelligence analysts were detailing the Solar System.
“Is his turn rate really slow? My sense is that he’s controlling the rhythm. If he had followed the Radiant Wheel King’s movement and turned, he would have fallen into Vincent’s battle rhythm. This little bit of difference could have brought about a completely different result. At the same time, although he did not turn fully, but the Golden Wheel mech’s defense did not suffer because of it. Take note of this detail. The Golden Wheel’s hands and the Golden Wheel’s pre-emptive heat. A pity that Vincent’s attacks were too predictable. Although practiced attacks have more offensive power, but they are also easily blocked…”
“Keke, these are all unimportant. Oz, what do you think the answer is to him not retreating?” Aurora asked. Towards a weaker galactic ally, Aslan was quite curious as well.
Before the competition, the Solar System had actually come to greet them, saying something about taking care of them if the opportunity arose. Within Aslan, they had invited some taunts. After so many years, the Solar System Federation still had the same bad habits. Take care? How would one do so? The weak would always remain weak. But the way that things had turned out, the Solar System seemed to be just obligatorily offering greetings.
Oz lazily raised two fingers. Aurora smiled, and the rest pricked up their ears. In truth, even the Aslan people had been shocked by this move. Such a spectacular match was perhaps in part due to the opponent’s weaknesses. Thrashing noobs normally made for more entertainment, but Vincent was no noob.
“Movement and finger control. Watch the details. Every time the wheels close, his position, do you see that? This directional adjustment prepares him to receive the wheels. It means that he is utilizing the system of the Golden Wheel mech to judge, and then the re-firing depends on the agility of his hands. Of course, by redirecting the momentum, the recoil of the Golden Wheels is not as strong.” Oz smiled. “This guy is a genius, and really does have something about him. I hope to fight him.”
But Aurora shook his head. “Not exactly, and I don’t blame you. You haven’t piloted the Golden Wheel before. I have. Simply depending on the system judgement would not have made it in time. Although Vincent is a little frail, but his ability is still not bad, especially in his attack rate and speed.”
“You mean… he judges by eye… no, by feel?” Oz was a little shocked.
Aurora nodded. “If I’m not wrong, this guy is difficult to handle. A pity they are against the Darkness Empire. Against another opponent, they would stand a good chance of entering the top 8.
As for Immortal Barbarian Star… they could not be counted as opponents. They were not even a good warm up.
The Solar System’s analysis of the Darkness Empire…
Was similarly ongoing. The Solar System team mood was filled with confidence. The Aslan Federal Resident, Major Zhu Ziling was smiling slightly as well.
The Solar System Federation could take down Manalasuo. Such a phrase, if said a day ago, would have seen the speaker thrashed and laughed at. But now, it was a reality.
Furthermore, after taking down a mountain like Manalasuo, the upcoming Darkness Empire team did not give them a feeling that it would be very difficult.
“Regarding intelligence on the Darkness Empire, what we have collected is quite scant. The main points are their fights in IG. Before that they had been quite low profile. But in the showdown with the Immortal Fairy Star team, they showed quite a lot of their hand. The one who needs special attention is their leader Sloughberg Bonthe. He has the Darkness Screen ability, which is rumored to rob one of their sight, and sink the opponent into darkness…”
Nobody had expected the Solar System to win, and in such a decisive fashion!
Only, such last minute research on their opponent was clearly insufficient time to gather proper intelligence.
The Darkness Empire also trained their troops strictly. Furthermore, they had a more religious color compared to Arbiter. They worshipped the Goddess of Darkness, and believed that the night was eternal. Their team as a whole was very strong, from their reserve strength to individual ability. They were arguably no weaker than Manalasuo, and the key was their leader. This Darkness Screen ability was unbeatable. How could one fight without being able to see?
But even if it was her, she had no answers. There was virtually no way to defend against the opponent’s Ability X.
After Zhu Ziling had finished speaking, Meng Ao looked at them. “Wang Zheng, Lear, Achilles, you all speak your minds. If you have any thoughts, or any needs, speak freely!”
Lear’s expression was still indifferent. “If we meet him, just leave it to me.”
Meng Ao looked at Wang Zheng. He smiled. “I would like to test his Darkness Screen.”
Achilles also smiled and shrugged. He did not care one way or the other.
The Aslan military was rushing some secret preparation. The top 8 competitors arrived on schedule, at the base’s main training ground. All 16 participating teams had assembled. This time, they would be closely examined in front of all their potential opponents. Only those who were truly strong could endure until the end.
The most forward step of the amphitheater hall was reserved for the competitors. The middle was for the various representative groups, while the furthest were for the Milky Way personnel. Top 8 battles signaled IG’s move into a crucial phase.
There would be two battles a day. The first match was between the Ghana Star team against the Caragal Republic team.
Half of the Ghana Star representative group were aliens, exotic and filled with arrogance. The Ghana Star team was raring to go.
For the Caragal Republic team to have come this far was no easy task. The Ghana Star was not especially strong, and they had about 40 percent chance of winning. This was already lucky in the draw. Max hoped to lead his brothers into the top 8, and make history for the Caragal Republic, bringing glory to the closely-knitted nation.
Many of the strong teams were in the same room for the first time: Atlantis team, Arbiter team, Aslan team…
The Atlantis team still drew the most attention. Their appearance had immediately drawn the eye of all the teams. No matter how strong Atlantis was, they could not be regarded as the highest standard of mankind, because they were not human. Whoever managed to defeat Atlantis would win that title instead.
In this iteration, Arbiter, Aslan, and the rest had expressly come for this purpose. They wanted to fight the Atlantis team fair and square.
Among all these stars, the Solar System Federation team, led by Wang Zheng, was not so remarkable anymore. The philosophy of the strong was very simple. All those who lost were weak. Manalasuo was therefore weak, and winning Manalasuo was now no big deal.
In this venue, more than half of the people thought they were the best!
The two teams, as the main characters of the day, stood at the forefront, ready to prepare for battle. Both leaders, Max of Caragal and Adams of Ghana, stepped up. Adams had been chosen for captain because of his human status. After all, this was mankind’s IG.
Both sides drew lots. Ghana would start first.
Adams pointed at Gracholas. This was the Ghanaians’ point fighter. A ferocious Caucan, also called the rock people. Their ferocity was not just a pretense.
Caragal sent out their point, Rosseau.
Rosseau stepped forward, placing his right hand on his breast. “God provides life. God provides food. God provides strength in battle. For glory!”
“For Glory!”
All those of the Caragal Republic present stood at attention. This seemingly weak nation had wrought a miracle, simply on the basis of unity. Perhaps they were not that talented, but they had amply displayed the advantage of mankind.
Gracholas could not be bothered to wait for his opponent, or consider any battle strategy. He directly selected his mech – Steel Desolate Beast.
This was the Ghana Star’s unique mech, built especially for Caucans. It was not too suited for human usage, whereas Caucans could unleash the maximum potential of this mech.
The main practice ground where the top 8 contests took place was outdoors, to give the pilots ample room to maneuver. Of course, the corresponding increase in destructive power had also been considered.
Rosseau chose Caragal’s very famous Buddha series, Buddha Gen IV. This was a humanoid-type fighter mech. A standard beam saber, decent capabilities, and suited for both long range and close range fighting.
The two selected mecha were readily delivered. The Steel Desolate Beast was a shade larger. The Buddha Gen IV was a sword-and-shield mech, a titanium shield complementing the beam saber. It would block the Steel Desolate Beast’s attack and search for its own opportunity.
The half-beast Steel Desolate Beast was evidently intimidating. The Caucans had always reckoned that humans ruled the Milky Way not because they were particularly strong, but because there were so damned many of them. They reproduced faster than worms, and they did not understand why they reproduced and matured so quickly. On the Ghana Star, Caucans only numbered a little more than 10,000, and only warriors had the right to give birth.
With the starting gun booming, the battle started. Gracholas stared at his opponent, who had turned his full attention to defense, like a dog. He revealed huge teeth the size of boulders, and leaped at the biggest weakness. Rumble…
The Steel Desolate Beast rushed towards the opponent in large bounds. In truth, the Steel Desolate Beast’s speed and agility were very average, but the Caucans had a overpowering aura about them. Rosseau’s laser gun began firing. He did not want his opponent to get close at all.
The laser hit the Steel Desolate Beast’s energy shield, creating ripples. The Steel Desolate Beast was apparently not suited to evasion, or Gracholas was not even bothering to dodge. Mankind was small and wretched, and never dared to face them head on. The majestic and brave Caucans did not care about such ant bites.