Chapter 42 – Retrospection

Chapter 42 - Retrospection

Rong Mi jests with words, but he does not underestimate Gu Hong.

He never underestimates any opponent.

This competition doesn't allow for the selection of mecha models; both contestants have a standard A-class close combat mecha in their respective preparation zones. The left hand is equipped with a short-range palm cannon, and each arm has a weapon slot, allowing the mecha pilots to add weapons according to their preferences.

It's a very straightforward competitive setup.

The terrain is simple, without any special features, and the mechas of both sides are similar in design, making it the ideal backdrop to test a mecha pilot's piloting skills.

When every mecha pilot first begins their training and engages in human-mecha battles, they use this configuration.

Rong Mi moves swiftly.

While they talk, Rong Mi has already chosen the weapons to be loaded onto the mecha.

The most conventional combination of short and long laser blades are equipped, followed by an inspection of the mecha's energy storage, swapping out any energy blocks that aren't fully charged.

A flood of viewers poured into Gu Hong's live stream.

In the starship, Lu Yi put down his manual on mechanical theory, activated his screen, and searched for Gu Hong's live stream to join in as well.

Inside the club, both competing mechas had already confirmed their readiness.

Before Rong Mi, a screen popped up, displaying a thirty-second countdown to the start of the match.

The ceiling above the arena split open in all directions, revealing cameras that could capture the entire scene or zoom in for crucial action replays.

"AI commentator 01 at your service."

The club's built-in AI commentator began, "I will provide key data on both competitors and replay the highlights of the mecha battle—"

As the countdown reached its final moment, the metal partitions in front of the mecha staging areas rose upward.

"Mecha Pilot: Goddess, versus, Mecha Pilot: MI."

"The match begins!—"

The AI commentator announced the match title with an overly dramatic electronic voice, and Rong Mi's holographic screen displayed the armaments of both mechas.

His gaze flickered slightly as he saw Gu Hong's mecha pilot's codename.

"The name is quite popular," the young man murmured to himself, recalling the name of the main ship he had once lived on.

In that era, this name held a certain ineffable faith among people.

Each individual in the Interstellar Nomadic Age had a close connection to their home ship.

The central computer of the main ship was responsible for resource allocation, education, training for various professions including therapists and mecha pilots, as well as recording fleet contribution values.

Rong Mi's initial foray into mecha piloting had begun with the training materials provided by the Divine Maiden, the ship he had started on.

The Divine Maiden had guided them through space, seeking a future path.

His thoughts lingered in the past for a fleeting moment before swiftly returning to the match at hand.

Gu Hong's chosen weapons were also the most basic, a pair of short and long laser swords.

As the partition wall rose, Rong Mi focused intently, his fingers hovering over the mecha control panel.

The instant the barrier lifted fully, both mechas sprang to life simultaneously, their thrusters pushing them to maximum speed!

"The instant boost!" the AI commentator announced dramatically. "Both mecha pilots have started at full throttle!"

Jet streams of heat burst from the mechas' feet, and the seat restraints tightened, pressing Rong Mi firmly against his seat as he hurtled forward.

Moving at identical breakneck speeds, they were mere blurs to the eye.

The spirit energy indicators on the arms of both mechas lit up in unison.

Purple and orange energy connected to the palm cannons of the mechas' hands.

In the midst of their high-speed maneuvers, a barrage of cannon fire erupted, targeting the opposing mecha even as their own mechas executed an arcing step to evade.

"Amazing speed! Both mechas are traveling at five hundred stellar miles per hour! That's the maximum measurable speed by the arena's sensors!" The commentator displayed a virtual screen in the arena, showing real-time data for both mechas. "This is the first time this commentator has witnessed someone, other than the pilot operating the mecha manipulated by the Goddess, reaching the upper limit in this arena!"

"The standard mechas provided in this arena can only achieve a maximum thrust of two hundred stellar miles per hour. The remaining acceleration is achieved through the pilots' use of spirit energy."

"Based on the data analysis of this system, other contestants do not opt to accelerate beyond five hundred stellars because the standard mech becomes exceedingly difficult to control after exceeding three hundred stellars per hour. The likelihood of losing control and crashing during maneuvers or evasions significantly increases beyond that threshold,"

The mechs converged at the center of the arena.

Purple and orange projectiles, imbued with the pilots' mental power, resembled two serpents weaving their way, flicking their tongues as they sought to bite into their opponent's mech.

The barrage intertwined, detonating with explosive roars.

Gu Hong narrowed his eyes, then raised an eyebrow.

Rong Mi's oppressive presence was more intense than she had anticipated.

Watching Rong Mi in a live stream replay was an entirely different experience from standing across from him as his opponent.

The young man's reaction speed, mental acuity, the timing of his attacks and evasions... all demanded great respect!

Gu Hong's expression turned grim, and he mustered his full concentration to counter.

The two mechas darted and weaved with lightning speed, leaving ephemeral gray shadows in their wake on the battlefield.

"Amazing speed..." The stream of comments kept rolling. "It's been ages since I've seen Sister Hong push her mech this fast! This has to be over five hundred stellar miles per hour, but the sensors can't keep up! Rong Mi is truly impressive to force Sister Hong into this situation!"

"Are they at a stalemate? Do you guys think... could Sister Hong possibly lose this time? I watched Rong Mi's previous streams. He's incredibly skilled!"

"Someone upstairs must be a fake fan of Sister Hong! Where's your faith? My Sister Hong would never lose!"

"I also believe she won't lose. Fighting an Ice Butterfly is different from mech battles. Rong Mi himself mentioned in his live stream just now... there are tactics to deal with low-level Ice Butterflies. Their intelligence isn't as high as that of advanced or sub-advanced ones, nor is it on par with humans. But Sister Hong isn't someone who can be dealt with so easily."

"The two mechs are both trying to break the deadlock!" the AI commentator exclaimed dramatically. "Both contestants are searching for opportunities to charge at each other!"

The distance between the mechs was indeed narrowing.

Close-range firing and evading required even greater speed and precise mech maneuvering.

Rong Mi murmured, "Truly impressive."

His soft words were drowned out by the roar of the mech thrusters. At high speeds, the metal hulls sparked against the air, turning a fiery red amidst the gray backdrop.

Both mechs had long exceeded their designed speed limits, yet neither pilot showed any sign of slowing down or retreating.

In mere seconds, the distance between the two mechas had been stretched to its limits amidst the vibrant hues.

Almost simultaneously, the flashes of light from their palm cannons flickered out.

Too close, too close for the use of such weaponry.

They were so near they seemed on the verge of colliding.

The AI commentator warned, "Caution—"

Just as collision seemed inevitable, both mechas shifted to either side, creating a narrow sliver of space between them.

It was as if life and death hung in that slender gap.

Rong Mi's right-hand short blade flashed brightly, stabbing towards Gu Hong's chest. At the same instant, Gu Hong's laser blade in his right hand slashed towards Rong Mi's throat.

Both strikes targeted the vital points of their opponents' mechas.

The chest housed the cockpit; in a match, slicing open an opponent's armor to expose the cockpit was akin to damaging it in actual combat, which could serve as grounds for declaring one side victorious.

The head and neck are equally crucial.

This is where the mecha's various circuits converge. A severed cable would render most of its functions obsolete, either causing it to lose balance and fall or turn into a powerless, immobile hunk of scrap metal. Both scenarios would virtually seal victory for the opponent.

All spectators watching the match held their breath. The live chat froze, while the AI commentator continued its oblivious, loud commentary on the energy levels of the two mechas' laser blades.

"The laser blades of MI contestant and Goddess contestant both reach the maximum allowed intensity for this match," the AI exclaimed. "Both blades, augmented by mental power, can pierce through a mecha's energy shield in one second and its metal armor in another second—"

The two mechas moved swiftly, and the energy they gathered in their laser blades was formidable.

Yet, none of them found themselves completely overwhelmed.

Perhaps during their earlier high-speed approach, they had already anticipated and prepared for this moment.

Rong Mi raised her left-hand longsword vertically, crossing it before her chest, clashing with the laser blade in a burst of intense energy sparks.

At the same time, Gu Hong deflected with her own laser sword, pushing back Rong Mi's assault.

In that fleeting instant, the two mechas interlocked in a swift advance and counter, passing by each other in a blur.

A decisive, perilous moment slipped by, as if a thunderous downpour had produced no tangible outcome.

Yet, just as the mechas crossed paths and the clash seemed to have concluded, Rong Mi abruptly sensed an unusual energy fluctuation around him.

He couldn't quite articulate the nature of this peculiarity.

The energy ripple clearly originated from Gu Hong.

Her short blade shimmered with an orange glow that rippled through the air, creating an eerie undulation.

The mental energy intensity on these ripples wasn't substantial; upon touching Rong Mi's mecha's protective layer, it was automatically dissipated by the defensive energy waves.

However, Rong Mi felt as if his mecha resonated with those orange ripples, trembling for an instant.

Time seemed to freeze, pulling him back into the instant before in this strange oscillation.

Rong Mi had never believed in time reversal; he couldn't fathom why he was experiencing such an illusion.

Yet, his combat intuition told him that this was an ominously perilous sign!

The purple spiritual energy threads around the mecha flared to life as Rong Mi's spirit energy burst forth. Though he was still unclear about what was happening, his spirit energy had already formed a protective energy field outside the mecha's defenses, ready to fend off any attack that might come from an unknown direction at an unforeseen moment.

"Zzzzt—"

The moment Rong Mi unleashed his spirit energy, the sound of energy intersecting echoed outside the mecha.

It was a shrill noise, indicating a light blade piercing through Rong Mi's spiritual shield.

Effortlessly, smoothly, swiftly.

Then, it was the mecha's defensive layer and the outer shell...

The next second, a piercing alarm sounded within the cockpit.

"Alert—All primary mecha systems compromised—..."

The alarm within the mecha abruptly ceased.

In that very instant, Rong Mi's mecha came to an abrupt halt, its torso severed from its head.

The mecha's head tumbled to the ground, while the body, propelled by inertia, rushed forward in a frenzied dash.

In the cockpit, Rong Mi instantly knew what was happening when the alarm sounded.

His lips were pressed together, yet his demeanor and actions radiated remarkable composure.

A rich violet aura spilled from the damaged pipes at the neck of the mecha, resembling a grappling hook that dug deeply into the arena's floor, anchoring the charging mecha in place just as it was about to topple forward.

A tremendous force exerted by the restraints in the cockpit pinned Rong Mi firmly to his seat as the mecha suddenly came to a halt.

The virtual mode of the Star Network likewise simulated the intense gravitational force experienced by the body at this moment.

Rong Mi felt a constriction in his chest, and he couldn't help but emit a muffled groan.

Rong Mi: "..."

Fortunately, he had been diligently training these past few days, enhancing the physique of his original body.

Otherwise, that sudden emergency stop might have had him spitting blood and reaching for a healing potion.

"Nice braking skills, Handsome," came Gu Hong's laughter through the comm, punctuated by labored breathing.

Her words betrayed a struggle, suggesting her condition was not as casual as her tone implied.

The first match had concluded, and support drones entered the arena to retrieve the immobilized mechs back to the staging area.

Rong Mi exhaled, dismissing the first part of Gu Hong's Mandarin banter. He released the restraints, relaxing his body.

Despite his defeat, he wasn't overly frustrated or discouraged; instead, he was mostly surprised and intrigued.

"What was that? Your final ace in the hole?" Rong Mi asked, genuinely curious. "Time... reversal?"

He was certain he had blocked Gu Hong's attack and moved out of her striking range. Yet, the instant he lowered his defensive sword and after that bizarre energy fluctuation, it felt as if his mech was pulled back to a previous moment.

However, the state of his mech didn't align with the position he was in just before that instant. It remained in the posture of a completed block.

This allowed Gu Hong's energy dagger to pierce smoothly into his mech's throat.

"Macroscopic time reversal is indeed impossible, a fact long proven by scientists," Rong Mi stated.

Due to the nature of her unique mental power, Gu Hong temporarily muted the live stream's audio.

"I don't mind telling you, but keep it under wraps. I still have to compete in the Mecha Club," she said with a smile.

"Although there are a few who have witnessed this ability, they've all had their speculations, but I've never officially disclosed it."

"In a small area centered around myself, I can... genuinely impact your timeline and your state within it."

Rong Mi's brow furrowed in disbelief. "A domain field?"

...This was truly an extraordinary mental power!

Gu Hong: "You're familiar with it? Domain fields and human's second awakening, as compiled by Sen Wenzheng."

"Each person's second awakening manifests unique abilities. Of course, only those who have undergone a second awakening possess such specialized mental powers."

"Just like how Ice Butterflies evolve into Subbutterflies, their mental energy acquires additional properties beyond venom."

"How about it, handsome?" Gu Hong smiled. "Do you have any means to crack it?"