Chapter 1162 - 363 - 370

Chapter 363: Solo

Translator: Abyssruler Editor: Lucas

Two to zero. The Solar System team had easily achieved match point.

While on the Hurricane team's side, they were in a state of crisis.

Jiang Chen had been found unconscious and was sent to the emergency room. The diagnosis revealed that he had fainted due to fatigue, and he had no wounds on his body. Perhaps it was due to the overuse of his Ability X?

"There were definitely fluctuations in the usage of his Ability X."

The Hurricane planet's information-gathering analysts swore that that was the truth.

"Right now, these things are not important. We have to win the following matches," Li Dongyang coldly stated. This was not the time to debate such matters; they had to focus on the upcoming competition. Or else, if they lost here, he would be finished when he got back!

This time, it was Solar System team's turn to send out the first participant. Li Dongyang's attention was all on Wang Zheng. Wang Zheng had already proven his strength with the Hercules. If Wang Zheng came up for the upcoming match, it would be necessary for him to participate too. Li Dongyang, together with his information collection and analysis personnel, had the most in-depth analysis of Wang Zheng. He had numerous predictions and theories, and was confident that he would be able to win.

This was match point, so once he lost, it would be immediate elimination.

Wang Zheng's eyes swept across the faces of the Solar System team, his eyes passing over Zhang Shan, who was pointing to himself eagerly, and landed on Masasi.

Wang Zheng grinned at him. "Masasi, this round is yours."

He was not randomly sending out his team members. Everyone had their own fighting characteristics. After the IG training camp, everybody had steadily progressed. This had to be reflected in the real competition, and the team captain should be able to understand each player's condition. Each captain's understanding of the IG was different; some liked to hide their strength, some wanted to remove their weak links, but for Wang Zheng, this was a dream, not for himself, but for everyone in the Solar System!

Additionally, if they wanted to progress further, they had to allow everyone to develop their abilities, and only then would they be able to cut through the powerhouses in future round. The IG was not about one's individual strength, but a showcase of one's abilities in team battles. Even if one of them was strong, he would only be able to win his own bout. Hence, the team captains of the IG, on top of their own strength, also had to have leadership skills.

Strength was easy to judge, but as for leadership…

Masasi simply smiled in response to Wang Zheng's decision. Wang Zheng had yet again chosen another member from the Moon. However, Lear and Lie Xin couldn't help but frown. It was obvious that Wang Zheng could end it immediately, yet he had chosen to drag it out.

Masasi, still smiling, nodded towards them. Without saying anything else, he entered the cockpit directly, choosing a mech for its familiarity and stability, the Moon Shadow Defender.

This was a mech with an emphasis on defense and the basics, allowing the pilot to convert his foundational skills into strength.

At the preparation area on the other side, Li Dongyang was ecstatic. The opponent had sent out a team member who had never participated before instead of Lie Xin or Wang Zheng!

Without a doubt, a chance for the Hurricane team had arrived. Honestly, he was glad not to risk his life fighting against Wang Zheng in the third round, as his chance of winning would only be fifty-fifty, yet now…

"Dennis, take this match. Be more careful, don't allow the opponent to use a trump card." Li Dongyang passed down an order.

Dennis was one of the three main forces of the Hurricane team, and he was Jiang Chen's best friend. They were sworn brothers that hung out and got drunk together all the time. When Jiang Cheng was sent to the hospital, Dennis was infuriated, and an angry Dennis was definitely the top fighter amongst the members of the Hurricane team.

Once he heard the command, Dennis immediately sprinted towards the cockpit and chose the advanced Hurricane Dragon mech. Its energy shield used a special energy transmission technology. Although it was not as defensive as other heavy mecha, it was still more resistant to damage compared to the average mech. The engine was also a newly developed model, the Wind Demon Type G, with a five-turbo transmission that allowed the Hurricane Dragon to have the flexibility to approach any assassin type mech with ease.

It was a well-balanced mech with great offense, defense, and mobility, so there was nothing to be dissatisfied about.

Masasi's Moon Shadow Defender VS Dennis' Hurricane Dragon!

Match start.

Both sides appeared within their starting zones.

Masasi was very careful, and the Moon Shadow Defender tended to be defensive, matching with his character and abilities. Such a combination usually gave his opponents headaches if they were unable to successfully break his defense.

Dennis was fully aware of the capabilities of the opposing mech. Although the Solar System was weak, the Moon has always attracted the attention of various countries. While others may not be too concerned about it, for the Hurricane planet, it was still worth learning and paying attention to.

Now everyone was looking towards every team member of the Solar System Federation. After all, both Achilles and Lear were very powerful in the previous two rounds. What kind of surprise would this bring?

Yet Dennis was still remaining arrogant, believing that he would be able to defend against the Moon Shadow Defender.

"Seems that they are still looking down on us of the Hurricane planet. Obviously, they have not collected any intelligence regarding us. Wanting to defend against our attacks? Are they brain dead?"

Dennis smirked and switched on the communicator to mock them directly.

In fact, this was due to the aftereffects of Lear's actions. No matter who the Solar System team sent out, or what mech they used, in the eyes of the Hurricane team, it was still filled with a sense of an insult.

Bang!

Moon Shadow Defender put up a defensive posture, a perfect angle for defending against the Hurricane Dragon.

"That's rather interesting, but it's a pity you're facing me. I'm the most experienced Hurricane Dragon mech pilot within our Hurricane planet. This is a mech that gathered the collective wisdom of our Hurricane planet's countless designers. It's not something that your mech, which was created by only one or two engineers, can match up to.

Dennis continued to ridicule the opponent in public.

Masasi frowned and changed his position, continuously searching for an angle of attack. This guy was full of crap. Was he trying to distract the opponent? It was a pity that it did not work on him.

At the Hurricane team's preparation area.

Hearing Dennis spout all sorts of nonsense, Li Dongyang smiled and took a deep breath. "I'm going to warm up, and I'll go next."

This was a definite win.

In the next match, it would be their turn to send their members first. Regardless of who the Solar System sent out, he had to be on the floor and tie the score at 2-2.

In the final match, perhaps Wang Zheng would participate. Even if he as the team captain was not able to face Wang Zheng, they had prepared a nice surprise to match against him. Originally, he was not supposed to be participating in this round.

"Captain? You're not watching this match?" one of the benched members asked. Even if he wanted to warm up, the competition still had not ended.

Li Dongyang smiled and reached out to pat him on the shoulder. "You probably haven't seen Dennis' state when he starts talking nonsense. Back at home, those who were able to cause him to talk nonsense were not many in number. Other than me, there's only… Ah, there's not much time left, it will be my turn soon."

Li Dongyang turned around, headed directly to the practice area, and started his warm up. He was extremely serious, and he wanted to let the people of the Solar System know that their era had long since faded. Arbiter, Aslan… these superpowers, watch closely. They were not the only ones at the front. The Hurricane planet was rising strongly. Whether it was in mecha technology or development, they would not lose to anyone!

This was the determination and confidence of Li Dongyang as the leader of the Hurricane planet team in the IG competition.

However, the substitute team members were still staring at him in confusion. What did he mean by not much time left? This roundhad only just begun, and the opponent was using the Moon Shadow Defender, which excelled at defending. The Moon's mecha were still considered decent, and even if the Hurricane Dragon mech would win, it would definitely still take some time.

Boom…

Hurricane Dragon started his assault, not having the patience to look for the defensive gaps of the Moon Shadow Defender.

While muttering insults on the public comms, he charged directly forward, showcasing the Hurricane Dragon's assault abilities.

Masasi faintly smiled as such an attack by the opponent suited him just fine. This was exactly the situation that he was most capable of dealing with. That fact that he chose the Moon Shadow Defender meant that he had full confidence in himself, and he was completely familiar with its defensive abilities. The opponent was still talking about how the Hurricane Dragon was the peak of their technology, but the Moon Shadow Defender also represented the pinnacle of the Moon's research. In his hands, this would represent the undeniable proof of the Moon's achievements!

Frontal assault? Then prepare to suffer some pain!

Boom!!!

Under the direct charge, the two mecha were like two bulls fiercely colliding, wrestling with each other for dominance.

Crack!

In an instant, the two sides crossed blows and separated, moving and changing their positions. At this moment, Masasi's eyes grew serious. He understood the opponent's strength. In the eyes of outsiders, he might have just had a brief collision. But in reality, throughout the duration of the collision, the Hurricane Dragon had made eleven separate attacks. The movements were extremely small and hidden, and they were executed with surprising speed. However, now was when Masasi was at the peak of his performance, so no matter how strong the opponent, he would never lose!

Masasi had absolute confidence. As long as he continued to maintain this state, he would never lose. Without breaking his defense, the Moon Shadow Defender would continue to hold, and he would show the wisdom of the Moon in this match.

Out of the Eight Stars of the Moon, he was the only one left after all the rest were eliminated…

It was cruel, but there was no choice as the results spoke for themselves. The Moon's natural arrogance allowed them to suffer in silence in the face of any agony, and to even remain smiling. This was the style of the Moon.

However…

Was it painful?

Yes!

And all of these burdens were carried solely by him.

After the IG training camp, the group from the Moon had disbanded. Originally, other than Achilles and him, all of them had to live their own lives. As none of them were considered common citizens, they were all busy every day. And as the heirs of various families, all of them had to undergo intensive training. However, during the daily practice, there was a small difference. Everyone had shown him their hidden abilities and their secrets, allowing him to practice intensely, all in order to defeat the enemy.

Hence, for this match, for his first appearance, he had to win!

Masasi inhaled deeply,

Roar…

This time, the opponent's attack was completely different from his previous style. It was no longer a series of small attacks, but a massive bombardment. A titanium blade lashed out, sweeping through the air whilst rotating endlessly.

Extremely strong, and with swift movements! There were also Ability X fluctuations coming from it!

The opponent's ability was rather similar to Pi Xiaoxiu's, able to control the battlefield with a type of mental assault, allowing him to direct the flow of the match.

Chapter 364: Team?

Translator: Abyssruler Editor: Lucas

Masasi was still smiling. Although the fierce vibrations transmitted by the mech had obviously affected his state of mind….

Milo, Dong Xiaosa, Pi Xiaoxiu…

One by one, their faces floated in front of Masasi. He had no idea if they were watching this match from the Solar System.

Roar~~~

The ability to control the momentum of the battlefield was indeed strong, but that was simply it. Everyone had neglected a single point: in combat, if there was offense, there would also be defense. If there was a rhythm for attacking, there would also be one for defending against such attacks.

Masasi was like a mountain. No matter how many attacks were made by the Hurricane Dragon, he remained motionless.

On the comms, the opponent was still blabbering away. Hurricane planet so and so, their designing time, the lack of any barriers, the intelligence of the group when gathered for a single purpose, unlike other places, just for the benefit of an individual, they had conflicted with each other…

The more nonsense he spoke, the stronger the attacks. However, Masasi could still withstand the assault, and then…

He would counter attack!

Masasi deflected one of his opponent's attacks and thrust his blade forward for his first attack. After the Hurricane Dragon had made at least 50 moves, the Moon Shadow Guardian finally made its first!

Sparks flew!

Boom… Just like a bolt of lightning.

Masasi's Ability X imbued his attacks with electricity that could inflict a certain degree of paralysis.

However, this lethal attack had missed…

After narrowly missing the cockpit of the Hurricane Dragon, the electricity did not result in any substantial harm, even though it had penetrated the opponent.

Suddenly…

If the blade had just been a little faster, it would have sliced through the Hurricane Dragon's cockpit.

At the same time, Dennis' chatter had vanished from the comms for the first time.

It was extremely quiet. At this moment, Masasi seemed to have felt something.

In the Hurricane planet's preparation area…

Captain Li Dongyang had finished his warm up and walked back from the warm up area. Although the fighting had not ended, the substitute member from before was looking back at him. "Captain, just now…"

"There's no sound."

"Huh?"

"Dennis's nonsense, it has stopped."

"What?"

Boom!!!

At this moment.

An explosion rose from the battlefield!

The Hurricane Dragon that had avoided the attacks was like an enraged dragon, slicing right into the cockpit of the Moon Shadow Guardian, executing a direct assault. Masasi was unable to defend. Both of the mech's limbs had been twisted away by the Hurricane Dragon. With such a powerful force, he simply had no time to react. This had no fancy techniques involved, only pure power.

You may be hardworking, but in this world, there are others who are even more hardworking than you!

The mech exploded!

Crack…

The Solar System team rushed over and opened up the cockpit . Masasi's face was pale, and he collapsed onto the group, both his shoulders still trembling.

He had lost just when he thought he had secured the victory!

Milo, Pi Xiaoxiu… once again, their faces surfaced in his mind. Only this time, all of them had disappointed expressions on their faces.

At this moment, a single hand stretched out towards him, held him up, and stopped him from shaking. It was Wang Zheng.

"I'm sorry, I've lost." Masasi also did not know what else to say. He had lost such a crucial round.

Wang Zheng patted Masasi. "Rest for a while. Victory and defeat are normal things. Leave the rest to us."

The atmosphere tensed up immediately, and the good mood was gone. However, the Solar System Federation still had the advantage. They just had to win the next round!

The captain of the Hurricane team was on his way up, trying to equalize the score. All eyes were on Wang Zheng. Would he send someone out, or would he come out himself?

Wang Zheng smiled a little, looking at Lie Guang, who was lazily resting on the benches. "Lie Guang, it's your turn now."

"Me? No problem. Interesting. Two to one, this is an opportunity to deal the decisive blow. I won't miss it." The listless Lie Guang immediately perked up.

Lie Xin furrowed her brows. Wang Zheng's judgment abilities…. If they sent Lie Guang up at this moment, his abilities would definitely not match up to the opponent; at best they could be considered equals. Although it was not a bad choice, the mistake that was caused by the last match would, in fact, cause Lie Guang to be under a lot of pressure.

"Seems like the captain of the Solar System team isn't confident. He is unexpectedly avoiding a confrontation…"

"Do you really expect the people from Earth to be brave?"

"Don't say that. They might have a trump card. This Lie Guang seems to be part of the Lie family from Mars, so perhaps he's their ace."

Li Dongyang chose the Hurricane Razor mech. In this match, it was the third appearance of this particular mech. At the same time, he had completely calmed down. This Wang Zheng was indeed too soft. A captain not only needed to have great strength; what was also required was to have great commanding abilities. A thousand soldiers were easy to find, but a leader was hard to get, and the Solar System simply could not match up with them.

The most popular mech of the Hurricane planet was also recognized by the public as the strongest dueling mech. According to the populace, this mech was absolutely suited for them. Indeed, there were mecha out there that had better performance, and for this occasion, they were under no restrictions to choose those mecha. However, performance did not signify everything. Under some circumstances, the history and details accompanying the mech was a more important factor.

Lie Guang's choice was the Flaming Mountain Eighth Generation. It was a balanced mech with average performance, but it was one that he was most familiar with.

However, Wang Zheng's choice still caused the team members of the Solar System to sweat a little. Once they were forced into a tie at two to two, the situation would be completely different, and the momentum would be given to the opponent's side. For the third match, Wang Zheng should not have let Masasi up. While his intentions to balance the team's internal factions were right, so as to win everybody's support, he should have been more demanding as a team captain. Was it a problem to face the frustrations of his team?

No matter what the choice was, the match had already started.

Lie Guang VS Li Dongyang!

Boom! The Flaming Mountain Eighth Generation brandished its titanium blade. Once Lie Guang was on the battlefield, he immediately unleashed his full power. Similar to the opponent, the Hurricane team members had never the thought of preserving their strength. Hence, he would also not hold back; furthermore, the direct and explosive approach was also one that suited himself.

Roar…

Boom…

"Flaming Sword!!!"

Looking at the stage, a sharp scream rang out.

The titanium blade of Lie Guang's Flaming Mountain had started burning with a strange flame. This type of Ability X was extremely obvious, yet it could not be completely defended against.

Lie Xin had also won using this tactic. The fire had penetrated the energy shields and pierced into the body of the mech. However, this flame did not comprise of a physical flame, it was more similar to a soul flame.

Yan Xiaosu stood up, waved his arms about, and started cheering.

"You don't have to be so flamboyant. I didn't even see you acting so enthusiastic before this." Bi Yuyan rolled her eyes at Yan Xiaosu, having been surprised at the sudden commotion.

Yan Xiaosu looked back and took this chance to look at Bi Yuyan directly. Such a pretty face, and a wonderful figure…..

Chapter 365: Victory

Translator: Abyssruler Editor: Lucas

Bi Yuyan was creeped out by Yan Xiaosu's gaze. "What's your problem?"

Tyrant Su immediately shook his head. "It is just an example of men's passion. You wouldn't understand it even if I explained it to you."

Bi Yuyan turned over to the other direction. "You talk as if I want to know."

Ye Zisu laughed and said, "I remember. Lie Guang promised to introduce you to a Martian beauty, right? Is it because of this?"

"Cough, cough. Little girl, don't expose others like that. I'm your second brother, you know?"

Yan Xiaosu instantly shut up.

Bi Yuyan instead became elated. "I thought that was why. A lady, and a beauty from Mars at that? Do you want me to introduce an Aslanian beauty too?"

"Really?"

"Watch the match first." Bi Yuyan immediately changed the topic. "Your Solar System team is indeed strong this time around. This Lie Guang, it looks like his chances of winning are rather high, and he looks handsome too."

"I'm handsome too, you know? And regarding the Aslanian beauty…"

"Shut up and watch the match."

At the preparation area of the Solar System team, Lie Xin was looking at the Flaming Mountain with a smile. Lie Guang had finally walked out of her shadow. In fact, he was even more talented than her in certain aspects. However, solely relying on one's talents was not ideal to remain strong. Although she was still the strongest within the Lie family, he could still be considered her right-hand man.

On the other side of the preparation area, the Hurricane planet analysts were constantly replacing their pairs of glasses. Each pair of glasses had different lenses, and were able to scan different Ability Xs.

"It's not a true fire, but a spectral phenomenon, with a fixed degree of offensive power, weaker than that of Lie Xin. However, the mech has undergone an abnormal strengthening process, and the volume of fluctuations emitted by the G material is huge.

"After analysis… it's not a direct attack type, but a type of penetrating power. The energy shield is unable to block this fire, and it is able to directly burn the pilot!"

"Captain Dongyang hasn't activated his Ability X."

"Not yet…"

Boom!

Before he finished his sentence, the Hurricane Razor rushed towards Flaming Mountain, its speed rapidly changing, feinting left and right.

The attack had begun!

Lie Guang's flaming sword swung forward. The blade was still burning with the G material, sending the flames that were generated from the Ability X straight ahead.

Boom…

It was evident that Lie Guang had no inkling of the word "fear." If the enemy wanted a fight, he would directly meet him head on. However, his attack was not a simple assault, but had been carefully panned.

The opponent was the captain of the Hurricane team, and his strength was obviously high. His only chance was to attack and grasp the rhythm of the battle. Then, in order to grasp a chance at victory, he had to constantly oppress his opponent and utilize his ability to directly scorch his opponent.

The plan was proceeding successfully, as Li Dongyang seemed to be considering the actual situation first. He had not immediately gone on the offensive, allowing Lie Guang to gain the upper hand. This was indeed an expected development in Lie Guang's plans. If Li Dongyang lost, the Hurricane team would be absolutely destroyed. Hence, once he was up, he would definitely first analyze the situation, and not rush into an offensive like the previous combatants. After all, he was still the team captain.

Boom! Boom! Boom…

The Flaming Mountain continued its frontal assault, and the Hurricane Razor was unexpectedly being suppressed. Once an assassin-type mech was in this state, it was unable to showcase its offensive potential, and would simply lose.

Lie Guang's eyes flashed for a moment, and after a wide swing, the Hurricane Razor's reaction time had slowed down for a second.

An opening!

However, Lie Guang suppressed the desire to attack into it, and stuck firmly to his strategy. By continuously maintaining an offensive, his flames were slowly entering the opponent's mech and were directly burning the pilot.

Perhaps it was an opening, or perhaps it was a trap. A man had to stick to his own path and not be tempted by others.

"Not bad, he didn't bite the bait. However, it's a pity. If he took the bait, at least he would have a chance of victory. Now it's impossible."

Li Dongyang's voice suddenly sounded in the public comms.

Boom!

A flash of light was emitted from the Hurricane Razor. This light was even more dazzling than the burning flames.

And in addition to the light…

Li Dongyang's Ability X – Light Burst!

This had an impact on both the visual and spiritual, a truly fatal blow!

Boom! The Hurricane Razor utilized a strange type of speed boost, and the whole mech had distorted and slipped past the center torso of the Flaming Mountain Eighth Generation.

Mech explosion!

Hurricane planet team WIN.

Roar…

The true victory celebration arose from the Hurricane team.

The captain was invincible!

Threes cheers for the captain!

Go to hell, Earthlings!

After hearing these cheers, the Solar System team directed their gazes at Lear. Obviously, they were called the Solar System team, yet why were they only scolding Earth? Lear simply sipped his water. What did this have to do with him?

However… Wang Zheng had to take responsibility for his choice. In the blink of an eye, the score had been tied two to two.

As the captain, Wang Zheng was quite incompetent!

Since Masasi and Lie Guang had both fought, all the members of the Solar System team had participated in a match. However, following the two losses, they had wasted a such a good chance. Being tied at two each, the competition had entered a decisive stage.

The only thing worth rejoicing was that the Hurricane team captain had competed, and Wang Zheng still had not.

"Wang Zheng is too conceited. He should have gone up for the third match and directly ended the match. Now he's give the opponents the chance for a comeback. Victory or loss is hard to determine; we might have lost the chance."

"That might not be true. Wang Zheng must have wanted to let the members warm themselves up and find their own rhythm and state of mind. Even though it is the fifth match, he must still be confident in his own abilities."

"This is the IG, and the so-called warm up has just exposed their own shortcomings. This is a waste of a good situation, and the captain has to be accountable!"

It was obvious that the current situation had brought about a fierce debate.

"Sigh. What's the point in doing this? This is simply playing with fire!" Indigo clenched his fists. The skill level of Lie Guang was obviously lower than Lie Xin's, and the usual problems of the Solar System team had once again resurfaced. After winning a point, they had begun to show off.

Old Ghost did not say a single word. He simply looked at the Solar System team, who were still relatively calm. It was obvious that they were disappointed in the losses of Masasi and Lie Guang, but they understood that they had lost to the Ability Xs of the Hurricane team.

Only, the competition had not ended. In many cases, it would only be a defeat if the king fell. Perhaps Wang Zheng was simply training his guys, but if they lost, he was just playing with fire.

However, from the perspective of the overall situation, the Solar System team still had the upper hand because the next player was the Shovel King, while the opponents had sent out their ace and captain in the previous matches.

Therefore, from an overall strategic point of view, Wang Zheng may have made a few embarrassing mistakes, but they could not say that it was entirely his fault.

At this moment, Li Dongyang's lips had curled into a smile. Although he did not expect such a tough fight from the Solar System team, victory was always a joy.

"Hesselink, it's your time to shine! Let those dunces from the Solar System witness the strength of our Hurricane team!"

Quietly sitting in a corner of the Hurricane team's area was a member that was wearing a hat. As he had remained silent throughout, the others on the team thought that he was only here as a cheerleader.

Hesselink?

To be honest, they all thought that at this crucial moment, with Wang Zheng personally coming out to fight, the Solar System would have a definite advantage. However, the Hurricane team was still full of confidence, and "Hesselink," this name was rather special as it was a type of name that was commonly seen on one specific planet.

Atlantis!

Hesselink took off his hat and revealed the pointed ears of Atlanteans. It was no wonder his face looked surprisingly delicate.

Hesselink was of mixed blood!

And from Hesselink 's appearance, although he wasof mixed blood, his genetic heritage from the Atlantean side was rather large. This meant that the Hurricane team had a member who was able to control an Atlantean mech.

At this moment, a flurry of discussion arose within the crowd. No one had imagined that the Hurricane team would reveal such a card for the final match.

There were very few mixed blood Atlanteans, and those who had inherited the genes and were able to pilot a mech were even fewer in number. Yet the Hurricane team had one such member.

This was the final trump card of Li Dongyang. Honestly, he had not intended to use this card, but he simply did not have a choice.

Yan Xiaosu was using his Skylink to carry out a text broadcast. However, even he had no idea how many people were watching his broadcast at this time.

In reality, the Ares College students, as well as countless CT fans, had almost crashed the Ares College campus network.

Under the advantage of two to zero, the score had been reversed to two to two. For the final round of the decisive battle, it was thought that the Solar System team would win with certainty, yet the descendant of Atlantis suddenly appeared.

Everyone knew that the level of Atlantis was generally higher than that of the Milky Way Alliance, but Atlanteans were absolutely prohibited to be citizens of other countries, unless they were… of mixed blood.

At the same time, a mixed blood Atlantean was the most direct way for humans to study Atlantean civilization.

Li Dongyang's face was full of confidence. What spinning shovel? Spin till your head falls off! The Atlantean mech will just destroy you!

When Hesselink was on stage, everyone looked at Wang Zheng. Now the Solar System's captain had to be responsible for his choices!

Initially, they had the chance to go three to zero. Yet now they were staring elimination in the face.

Who would have thought that the Hurricane team would have hidden such an expert? It was said that on the battlefield, you should never give the enemy a chance to breathe, as they would never provide you with the same opportunity!

Wang Zheng stood up. For this match, he would be more assured if he went up in person. Even Zhang Shan, who wanted to test his strength against the Atlantean mech, had wisely remained silent. This atmosphere was extremely uncomfortable. So what if it was an Atlantean? Was there a need to be so worked up?

For the average mixed blood Atlanteans, they could at most start up the mech, or had a certain degree of success in piloting, which was ultimately rather useless in the IG competition. However, if the opponent was willing to allow Hesselink to go up, it was likely that his lineage was rather pure, and at least he would be able to showcase the might of the Atlantean mech.

At the thought of this, everyone couldn't help but shudder. No matter the situation, an Atlantean mech would be able to render everyone helpless, as if they had been trapped in a dream.

Ares College, which had just gotten this news, was silent. Although it was only in a text form, it had still brought tremendous pressure to them.

No matter from which angle you looked at, the performance of the Atlantean mech could suppressed all others.

"Using an Atlantean with mixed blood is too shameless. If you're good enough, use your own people!"

"What does a mixed blood count as? Have no fear, just beat him up all the same!"

"Do you think he's a pig? A normal mixed blood is useless against him. Hasn't Skeleton exploded one of those mecha before in CT? However, in order to pilot an Atlantean mech in real life, Hesselink's genes have to be at least 70% Atlantean, and he could probably be considered a true Atlantean in that case. Together with the ability to learn human tactics, that's the part that is truly terrifying."

Huang Shi was also completely stunned as he had never imagined that the Hurricane team would drop such a bombshell, revealing such a trump card in the final round.

Chapter 366: Trouble

Translator: Abyssruler Editor: Lucas

It has to be said that these mixed blood people were rather intimidating. However, for those that were participating in the IG, they would not simply be unsettled by Atlantis' name. However, if the degree of genetic inheritance was high enough, the characteristics of Atlantis and humanity would definitely be combined, resulting in a tyrant.

This could be seen from the choice of Hesselink's mech. One who was confident in his own strength would definitely choose an Atlantean mech, which required a high skill level to pilot.

Will he?

Everyone on the field was aware, their eyes staring at Hesselink's choice.

When Hesselink chose his mech, there was only one reaction in everyone's hearts.

… We're done for.

Atlantis' Mirage Dragon.

An Atlantean mech. Whether he was able to control it or not, if Hesselink had dared to make such a choice, it indicated that he truly had sufficient ability.

Just the mech itself was domineering enough, yet the Atlanteans also had another specialty: their capability in resisting conventional Ability X effects were rather strong.

For example, humans may not be able to withstand freezing or burning, yet there would be minimal effects on an Atlantean pilot.

Many of the bureaucrats within the Solar System Federation were whispering to each other.

"If Gu Te fails, Wang Zheng has to take responsibility. Such a waste of an advantage!"

"Don't say that. I believe in Wang Zheng's strength. Let's look forward to his battle; he can definitely achieve victory!"

"Haha, that's true too. We're really curious what Wang Zheng's best mech is."

"What a pity. We've already come this far, yet unexpectedly there's such a situation. These Hurricane people sure are ruthless." Bi Yuyan shook her head in exasperation. "Wang Zheng, I think you should just admit defeat."

Tyrant Su laughed. "You want to show off simply with an Atlantean with mixed blood? This is far from enough!"

In his heart, Yan Xiasu believed that Wang Zheng's ace mech was the Wind God, and it had yet to been sent up. With Wang Zheng's ability to control the Wind God, its capabilities would likely not be too far off from the Mirage Dragon.

"Hmph, I really don't believe it. Si Jiali, tell me, does he have a definite chance of winning?" asked Bi Yuyan.

Si Jiali simply shook her head. "Let's talk after watching."

Bi Yuyan was shocked. She had never imagined that Si Jiali would actually have an optimistic view of Wang Zheng. This…

Of course, Si Jiali did not believe that a mere Hercules could beat the Mirage Dragon of Atlantis. However, she had been able to see firsthand that Wang Zheng was able to pilot the Phantom King from Atlantis.

That was the pinnacle of Atlantis' mecha technology.

However, Wang Zheng had no similarities to the characteristics of the Atlanteans on himself. If he was a true mixed blood, perhaps he had been too successful in that?

Unlike Hesselink, whose pointed ears could be seen immediately.

Everyone waited for Wang Zheng's choice, and a hint of a smile could be seen on Li Dongyang's face. Let me see how far you can push your Wind God!

Achilles also had the same look on his face. It was obvious that he had also received some intel from Milo. This Wang Zheng was indeed the most experienced with the Wind God mech.

The competition of the Solar System team was not limited to what was seen on the exterior.

Wang Zheng smiled and confirmed his own mech.

At this moment, everyone's jaws dropped to the floor.

Against the Mirage Dragon from Atlantis, Wang Zheng… had chosen the Hercules.

What the F$%#… Hercules…

The corner of Li Dongyang's mouth raised in a smirk, and he started coldly smiling. "He is really asking for it!"

Not to mention the opponent, even his own teammates were stunned. "Wang Zheng, did you choose wrongly? There's still time to change!"

Zhang Shan yelled out.

This idiot must be cracking a joke. Although the shovel of the Hercules was indeed decent, it would be useless against the Mirage Dragon no matter how he spun it. This was simply inconceivable.

Lear and Achilles looked at one another. They did not believe that Wang Zheng's strength equated to using the strength of Hercules. This was simply playing with fire, risking the whole Solar System on a gamble.

"Wang Zheng, this is the deciding match. As the team captain, you should reconsider."

Achilles couldn't restrain himself from saying.

Others were also puzzled, and Taros' gaze began to chill. If he had not lost a match, they would have already been celebrating right now.

Wang Zheng smiled slightly. "There's no mistake. Actually, the Hercules is rather decent against the Mirage Dragon. In the face of true strength, all these tricks are meaningless."

Hesselink on the opposite side started laughing. Even though he had heard that the Earthlings were arrogant, it was his first time seeing it.

Yan Xiaosu then broadcasted Wang Zheng's mech choice to everyone in Ares College.

Those of Ares College were silent for a few minutes…. Was it in order to challenge himself?

Even Chen Xiu and the rest were speechless. Old Deer was just like a hawk, watching each and every word intently.

He was simply not surprised, as this was just Skeleton's style!

Old Deer was not only a senior commentator of CT, but also a military fan. For such a cool mech that belonged to the Atlanteans, he definitely had a deep understanding of it. The Mirage Dragon's attacks were indeed similar to that of a mirage, and if Hercules were to confront the opponent, it would only be able to attack while defending, patiently waiting for a chance. However, the probability of winning was not high.

If it was CT, he might be more confident that Skeleton would be able to succeed. But to do this in the IG, this guy sure was brave…

"How does this man do this? Not using a stronger mech even when it's available!" Si Jiali could not help but comment.

The surrounding people simply stared at her. "My dear lady, are you that familiar with Wang Zheng? What do you mean by stronger mecha? What else would he know?"

Bi Yuyan asked.

Si Jiali realized that she had made a slip of the tongue and shook her head. "All I'm saying is, he's probably proficient in other mecha, yet he's still using that Hercules."

"Instructor, is it possible to win this match?" Indigo quietly asked.

Old Ghost took a quick look, disappointment evident in his mind. "What kind of a stupid question is that? Let's go back."

"Go back? The match hasn't ended, let's finish watching this," Indigo replied in a small voice. However, looking at the ferocious expression on Old Ghost's face, he could only nod.

The match started.

Wang Zheng's Hercules and Hesselink's Mirage Dragon took to the stage.

In comparison to the Mirage Dragon, the Hercules looked as if it was a typical country boy who had entered the city for the very first time and had met a successful businessman. Of course, while the looks did not matter too much, in terms of performance, it was thoroughly suppressed by Mirage Dragon.

The runes of the Mirage Dragon mech all lit up. This indicated that Hesselink's control over it was rather stable.

"No matter how many times you watch, the Atlantean mech's activation is sure like art."

"Yeah, the movement of the Mirage Dragon is like a specter, easily leaving behind ghostly images. It's so hard to catch up to it."

Wang Zheng ignored the outside world. In fact, in his opinion, using the Hercules to deal with the Mirage Dragon was better than using ordinary mecha. Even if it was the Wind God, it was not wise to attempt to best Atlantean mecha in speed, and it was a waste of effort.

The more troublesome issue was that the opponent could use his lasers to overpower him. That would not be ideal, but it was still something that he could cope with.

Unfortunately, Hesselink did not use any lasers at all. The location for the battles of the preliminary rounds was an empty area, and it was quite small. The chance of long-range attacks being used was extremely low. Unless the contestants were good at it, most of the combat would take place in close-quarters as only then were they able to show off their strength and passion. And since Hesselink was up against a Hercules, he had never considered using laser weaponry, as he did not think it would make any difference.

Additionally, since he had sent up his own Atlantean mech, it would be more satisfying to personally crush his opponent.

Whatever shovel, whatever techniques, those toys had been eliminated from the technological race for at least a few hundred years. Why else would the current Earth be so weak?

The engine of the Hercules roared, apparently ready for its offensive. The opposing Hesselink couldn't help but reveal a mocking expression, as he had never seen such a comical yet also serious sight in his life.

Whoosh…

Atlantis' Mirage Dragon started up like the wind. What the heck, that was a mech with a low altitude levitation ability. This type of engine of was completely free from any friction. While the Hercules was still emitting squeaking sounds during its activation, the Mirage Dragon had already commenced its attack.

Twenty meters…

Whoosh… Mirage Dragon split into two…

Everyone was stunned. Although they had heard of it, after seeing it, they felt absolutely helpless as it was not something that human mecha could not imitate.

Ten meters…

Damn, was this really possible!?

Two became four…

Four Mirage Dragon mecha with four beam sabers slashed towards Hercules at the same time.

Three mirages, one true body. The only problem was that the three illusionary bodies were capable of attacks. The ability to split itself, even though the offensive power was not high…

The engines of Hercules were still roaring, but no matter who was in Wang Zheng's position at this moment, they would all be paralyzed with indecision.

If it was Zhang Shan, he would immediately move away from this space. However, the problem was that Atlantean mecha could continuously lock on to him, and this was not within the capabilities of humanity's Ability X..

The shovel in the Hercules's hand started rotating.

The problem was, this guy was treating the shovel as an invincible weapon!

Boom… Boom, boom…

Chapter 367: That Shovel is Flying

Translator: Abyssruler Editor: Lucas

Three simultaneous explosions and three energy mirages rushed towards the Hercules, emitting a violent shockwave.

Without a doubt, the Hercules had used its energy shields to withstand the offensive. However, only a single round of attacks had caused the energy shields to break apart.

Hesselink had arrived, and within a single second, the beam saber had slashed towards the Hercules.

And this was met with the rotating shovel.

Li Dongyang's chest suddenly tightened. Danger!

However, Hesselink's reaction speed was even faster. He had not expected that the opponent would prefer to meet his attack head on in a desperate attack. Of course, he was aware of the prowess of that rotating shovel, but the Mirage Dragon was even faster.

Offense was switched to defense. The runes on the body glowed, and the Mirage Dragon rushed away from the opponent's range.

Although it was an exchange of blows, Hesselink had been forced to switch to a defensive state. After adapting to his opponent, he was confident in putting him to death with his split images.

Whoosh…

The beam saber did not rush directly forward, but merely scratched the side of the rotating drill…

Only a scratch…

At this instant, a fierce vibration shook the Mirage Dragon. It was obvious that there was a temporary stutter before it managed to fly backwards and regain its distance.

What a tremendous rotational force!

Upon the first contact with the Hercules, Hesselink broke out in a cold sweat. However, Atlantean mecha were indeed true to their name and possessed top tier performance. A normal mech would have been immobilized after suffering such a shock, but the Atlantean mech could still move a fair distance. This was a life-saver.

Yet at the next moment, Hesselink opened his mouth.

The Hercules mech's movement was steady and slow, a little like a dwarf, but this mech was unparalleled in terms of mitigating recoil. It was extremely similar to Arbiter's Overlord, except not as exaggerated.

Hesselink blankly stared at the incoming shovel lancing towards his mech!

Ka…boom…

The Mirage Dragon was struck directly, with a blow much harder than the one received by the Triumphant King. If the Triumphant King was a badminton shuttlecock, then the Mirage Dragon was like a tennis ball. However, the superior capabilities of the Atlantean mech had surfaced. After this fierce blow, although the energy runes on the surface had been blown to bits, the mech itself and the pilot were fine!

Hesselink, who had flown more than ten meters away, spat out a mouthful of blood and immediately took back control of his mech. The runes on its body flashed once, and the Mirage Dragon slowly stood back up. He simply had the urge to beat up his opponent!

Did he… want to… counterattack???

Just as Hesselink was about to charge forward, a black speck appeared in front of his eyes…

What the hell?

Boom…

Atlantis' Mirage Dragon was nailed to the wall.

Shovel!

Who said that the shovel could only rotate!?

It could also fly!!!

Outside the arena, Old Ghost was still trying to placate Indigo, who was devastated and was provoking anyone that came into his sight. What the hell was this Wang Zheng kid doing? He had spent so much effort inviting the instructor over, hoping to help him gain some fame. In the end, Wang Zheng's action had even caused him to encounter such misfortune.

At this moment, a series of cheers could be heard from within the arena.

Old Ghost and Indigo looked at each other, understanding that something was not quite right.

The faces of the Hurricane team members were all ashen. Li Dongyang had also suffered a severe shock. Had his ambitions been dashed just like this?

The delegation from the Solar System Federation all stood up and cheered. Who would have thought that they would advance?

Bi Yuyan simply gaped… They could even win in such a manner?

How was this possible? Had the Hurricane team purposely thrown the match!?!

"Heh heh. Beauty, just admit defeat. You've got to treat me to a splendid meal!" Tyrant Su laughed.

"Hmph, I won't renege on the bet!"

"Cousin, what happened? Did that Atlantean mixed blood pilot have diarrhea or something? He seemed a little strange….. "

Huang Shi simply ignored Muye and rolled his eyes. He was repeatedly watching the video recording of the final match, and muttered, "This is impossible. Without using any Ability X, an Atlantean mech was defeated. We've struck it rich!!!"

No matter the method or the result, it had exceeded everyone's expectations.

"Wang Zheng sure is brave. How did he know that his energy shield would last?"

"Maybe it was a coincidence? A last resort?"

"Who knows. Whatever, we've already won."

"The Earthlings sure are interesting, even able to win in this situation. Their luck sure is through the roof."

"A mixed blood is just a mixed blood; fake goods can never be exceptional."

Hesselink's face was pale. He had lost in his debut match, and in such a ridiculous fashion. How was this possible!?

Li Dongyang blew up. "Referee, I have to file a complaint. There is a problem with this match. Wang Zheng's energy shield should not have been able to block the combined attacks of the three illusions. In addition, when the mecha were clashing, the Mirage Dragon had obviously stalled for a moment. This is illogical. How could a broken shovel be so damaging? This match has major issues. If you can't give us a reasonable explanation, we will put forth the most serious allegations to the IG arbitration committee!"

Within the blink of an eye, the situation was out of control. Wang Zheng had indeed won this match in a ridiculous manner. Why was his energy shield able to block everything?

Why did the Mirage Dragon stop when it was merely scratched?

Why was the shovel so accurate?

Did they think that it was a laser rifle?!

That is true, how could Wang Zheng simply muddle his way through to a win? It seemed that everything was based on luck, but where would there be such luck involved?

The murmuring amongst the spectators had raged on, leaving the Solar System team looking at each other speechlessly.

Although Li Dongyang was rather unreasonable, he was still not giving up. In particular, his comments seemed to have aroused the sympathy of many people. Although the entire performance by Wang Zheng was indeed a bit exaggerated, the official IG referee did not pay any attention to the accusations.

There was an indifferent look on his face as he glanced at Li Dongyang and replied, "Your complaint has been received by us, but before the final results are out, we will maintain our original judgement. The Solar System team won and has successfully passed the first stage. Congratulations to Captain Wang Zheng and the rest of you."

Wang Zheng did a sharp bow. "Thank you!"

Who cares about what others think? This was the making of history for the Solar System Federation as the second stage of the promotion series was something unimaginable to them.

Although Meng Ao did not appear at the site, he was also watching the match. When Wang Zheng finally clinched the victory, Meng Ao also could not help but wave around in excitement.

"Wang Zheng, this chap, really likes to make people nervous!"

"This kid really wants me to get a heart attack."

"No matter what, a win is a win!"

Although there were still some doubts regarding Wang Zheng's leadership abilities, everything could be seen from another point of view. Wang Zheng was successful in training everyone, and he was able to gather the confidence of the team.

Looking at the calm and steady Wang Zheng, Meng Ao was filled with pride. This kid really had the demeanor of a great general. Although there had been losses, in some situations, a loss was more important a victory. It had allowed his team members to understand their shortcomings, and that the IG completion would not be a breeze.

Especially since the truly strong teams had not fought them.

Let's just forget about the second stage of the competition and just cheer for this brave kid at this moment!

The exceptions were Lear and Achilles, who were not enjoying the attention and cheering from their victory. Everything just felt natural to them. If they were unable to pass the first stage even with the current strength of their team, the Solar System truly had no hope left.

When the news of the third victory was sent to the embassy, the staff could not help but cheer loudly, as though a holiday had just arrived.

Three rounds, three wins. The Solar System team finally had a chance to breathe. If it was like the past, the delegation from the embassy would have been too embarrassed to leave, because they might meet with other delegates and compare their results.

This was the arduous victory of the Solar System. It took many years and was long overdue, and it made the staff in the embassy shed tears of joy. The Solar System Federation, which had been holding on to the image of a strong country, was overwhelmed by the skepticism and ridicule of others. To be perfectly honest, even their own citizens had almost given up hope, to the extent of having thoughts of withdrawing their citizenship from the Federation.

With outdated equipment, soldiers, and trump cards, it seemed that whenever the Solar System was mentioned, everything was said to be outdated. Within the Milky Way, there were still many medium-sized countries that were weaker than the Solar System, and even some tiny countries that had only a single habitable planet. Although the win in the IG did not count for much, its influence was truly large, and this victory had allowed them to breathe a sigh of relief.

"Ah, if I weren't on duty, I would have gone to the scene to watch. Old Zhang, say it again, how did the Hercules use a shovel to defeat the Mirage Dragon?"

"Haha, that was awesome. Don't you know, we all thought that Wang Zheng had already lost. The opponent was an Atlantean mech, and what did Wang Zheng choose? The Hercules! My God, we all thought he was a goner. I almost couldn't watch and was about to stand up and leave. Luckily, my seat was in the middle, with people on both sides. It was too troublesome to move, but luckily I hadn't…

In the embassy, the staff members who had time to see the match live were spreading the details excitedly, talking about how the Hercules had swept Mirage Dragon away and how the shovel landed for an insta-kill.

"The style of that shovel, oh, was like 'Do you think you are still alive and have an opportunity? In fact, you're already dead.' Was it like that?"

It was an exaggeration, but everyone preferred this refreshing feeling. This was what everyone had hoped and even prayed for. No matter how they narrated the match, it was still within reason.

The origin of the young man named Wang Zheng was also mysterious. After all, he was able to become the captain over Achilles, Lear, Lie Xin, and the others. Additionally, Wang Zheng's performance in the first three rounds were rather calm and steady. And at such a crucial moment, he still went with the Hercules in the last round, so it was evident that he was full of confidence.

No matter what, the winner was king.

The IG's first round only consisted of these three matches, and they would enter the second round after two days of rest.

As for the eliminated teams, they could only glumly leave the competition. There really was nothing more to be said. The existence of the IG was based on a cruel elimination bracket. Those who were not truly strong would never be able to win the competition. It was useless to have only one or two strong members, as this test was to determine each countries' elities and overall strength using realistic battles, and to reflect the standard of the younger generation and their potential.

Of course, the victors would acquire greater prestige and were able to celebrate.

Everywhere was a venue for celebration. Not only were the victorious teams celebration, the international students, those that were living in Aslan, had also left their houses to join others on the streets and in the pubs. Every location had their own style of celebration, both large and small. For some countries, it was only expected for them to enter the second round, so there was nothing much to be glad about, as it was just a matter of fact. For others, it was indeed something that was worth rejoicing for…

After the first round, there were still 128 teams left. What would be waiting for them?

Chapter 368: Does Kissing Taste Good?

Translator: Abyssruler Editor: Lucas

The celebration of the Solar System Federation was in full swing, and Meng Ao, Lie Wuqing, and Drachmach were especially agitated. All these years of preparation, in which they had endured enormous pressure just in order to pass their hopes on to this group of youngsters, were not in vain!

The embassy ballroom was crowded with people. All the IG members were the protagonists today, and some Aslanian officials had also been invited. It had been too long since the Solar System had achieved any results in the IG, and as they and Aslan were still in their honeymoon period, it was necessary to show their thanks.

The political undertones were extremely strong, and Wang Zheng was evidently not comfortable with such matters. However, both Achilles and Lear were like fish in water and had started attending to the guests.

Meng Ao lightly lifted his wine glass, and the entire hall quietened down. "Ladies and gentlemen, let's drink a toast to our brave heroes!"

"A toast to our brave heroes!" The venue erupted into cheers.

"I believe everyone here agrees that for this IG, our Solar System Federation has achieved a great victory. This is a collective victory. Whether you have defeated an opponent, lost to an opponent, or had no chance to participate, this is everyone's victory. It belongs to you, me, and every single citizen in the Solar System. This is a victory for the entire Solar System. Cheers!"

Meng Ao downed two glasses in succession. Looking at that group of youths, especially Meng Tian, he started reminiscing about the past, where the three great generals, heroic on the outside, had killed countless enemies in order to reform the military. Using both obvious plots and hidden schemes, they had trudged along whilst struggling, and had made compromises for the greater good. But today, it felt like it was finally worth the effort.

"The third toast. I wish you all to continue forward. For the Solar System Federation, as well as for yourselves, gain even higher glory and prestige!"

Everyone in the room raised their glasses, and the team members were elated. The banquet had started.

Meng Ao walked towards Lear and said a few words of encouragement. Lear simply listened and nodded in courtesy.

Both of them were on the spot. Meng Ao was aware of Lear's influence and knew it was useless to put on airs in front of him. Lear also knew Meng Ao's standing, and he gave him the proper respect he deserved.

Meng Ao merely exchanged a few words with him before walking over to the Ares College side. "Wang Zheng, Meng Tian, Zhang Runan, Zhang Shan. Your performances were outstanding, and you have not let me down. You are the pride of Earth!"

Although this was sid to everyone, his gaze did not linger on Meng Tian. Obviously, the general's effort to control his emotions was superb.

However, he was still her father. Meng Tian was able to feel her father's pride and concern from that little action.

Although she was a female, she would definitely not shame the Meng family.

Lie Wuqing and Drachmach had also separately congratulated Lie Xin, Achilles, and the rest.

"Masasi, losing a single battle is not the end of the world. Next match, I will still be anticipating your performance. As long as you stay in top shape, and just be more prudent next time, you can definitely do it. There will definitely be a spot in the army for you." Drachmach patted Masasi's shoulder, trying to get him to relax.

In the corner, with Lie Guang and Raston, Lie Wuqing was also comforting them. A loss was not the scariest thing; what's worse was if they were unable to get back up.

Meng Ao looked at Wang Zheng with complex emotions. For the others, it was necessary to give them confidence. But for Wang Zheng, Meng Ao sucked in a breath of air. "Wang Zheng, come over here for a moment."

A private talk.

Wang Zheng laughed and did a military salute. "Yes, Sir."

"Wang Zheng, when you're the captain, you have to be responsible for everything. Some things have to be said to you alone, you should be able to understand. Don't be overly stressed out, and don't look down on your opponents, especially for the upcoming matches."

Meng Ao shook his head. Using the Hercules to defeat his opponent…. When he was watching the broadcast, he had also stood up to cheer him on. Although it was indeed breathtaking, when Meng Ao thought back on it, he broke out into a cold sweat. All of Wang Zheng's opponents were strong, and if he had just been careless for a moment, the tables could've been turned.

The Hercules… shouldn't be relied on.

Wang Zheng was extremely serious and made a promise. "Yes, General, I will take every opponent and every match seriously.

"It's good that you know what to do. Go on, enjoy your victory today. Don't think too much."

Wang Zheng laughed an nodded. When he went back, he saw Ye Zisu and Yan Xiaosu. Both of them were filled with joy and pride.

"Boss, are you waiting for our congratulations?" Yan Xiaosu was the same as ever.

"Since you know, just say it out already." Wang Zheng laughed, matching with his frequency.

" I think it's still a bit too early. Perhaps later when you are the champions. How could merely a few small fries obstruct your path forward?" Yan Xiaosu blinked both his eyes. Regarding Wang Zheng, he was full of confidence.

"Damn, are you trying to kill me? Merely? If the people from Aslan and the rest heard you, they would totally kill you." Wang Zheng laughed. This chap's ambitions were surely large enough, although he too thought the same.

At this moment, Si Jiali and Bi Yuyan walked over together. Bi Yuyan glared at Yan Xiaosu. "Shameless! Right, Wang Zheng, congratulations."

Si Jiali smiled slightly. "Congratulations."

Bi Yuyan was not so reserved. She looked Wang Zheng up and down, "Boy, not bad. I couldn't tell that you had so much might inside that skinny body."

After saying so, she started pinching Wang Zheng's arm. "Hey, it really feels great."

Si Jiali quickly pulled away Bi Yuyan. "Don't be so love-struck, okay?"

"Zisu, OMG's Hercules was pretty amazing. I've heard that there are quite a few companies interested in it. Seems like we have to go back and make some adjustments." Bi Yuyan innocently smiled. "A shovel that can be used as a weapon, that's rather special."

"This doesn't have much relation to the mech; it depends on the pilot's skills." When she was with her friends, Ye Zisu was rather straightforward. This type of technique could not be imitated by others, even a talented pilot. OMG had found others to test it for them, to try to replicate this very same move. Unfortunately, using a rotating shovel was simply asking for death in reality.

Other than Wang Zheng, there were also people that were making other plans at this stage. For example, Luo Fei and Taros, both of whom followed Lear. Luo Fei was doing so due to his personality, while Taros was because no one had wanted to accept him. He had offended the people of the both Moon and Mars, and he wanted to rely on a strong figure. However, he had still lost his match, and as no one had bothered with him, he could only join up with Luo Fei.

"Wang Zheng sure has some dog s**t luck. He absolutely has no leadership qualities. However, I think that his growth will also stagnate, and Lear will replace him sooner or later," Taros said disdainfully.

"Ah, it's probably not as bad as you've said," Luo Fei remarked whilst eating.

"It was obvious that he could get a three to zero, yet he insisted on it becoming three to two. And he still dared to use the Hercules to destroy the enemy in order show off. Perhaps it will lead to his downfall one day." At any rate, in the eyes of Taros, Wang Zheng was unpleasant to look at.

Luo Fei still had a trademark smile on his face and declined to comment on it.

"Hey, you still don't agree? Do you think Lear is inferior to him?" Taros was obviously dissatisfied with the Fatty's attitude.

Luo Fei smiled. "Of course the boss is awesome, but one's importance does not rely on being a captain. Sometimes, the captain is a larger target."

Taros was conflicted in his heart. Originally, before participating in the IG competition, he was a celebrity within the Solar System. Who would have thought that after coming to Aslan, he would actually be a dispensable person? The gap was a bit large.

Regarding Wang Zheng's choices, Luo Fei did not have much of an opinion. Similar to the reactions of Achilles and Lear, those who were confident had already made their judgement when they were sent out. The choices of their mecha were also arbitrary. Hence, if Taros had such a violent reaction, it could only mean that his abilities were still too shallow and that he was worrying due to a lack of confidence.

In the midst of the celebration, Wang Zheng had already disappeared. The resting period was extremely short, and Wang Zheng and Aina wanted to treasure it.

The further into the competition, the less both of them would be able to secretly meet up.

Huiyin looked at the time, and it was already time to return. Even after urging her a couple of times, her cousin had still not returned. This really was worrisome.

There was no other choice; she could only personally go there herself. When she turned the corner, she was absolutely stunned.

Wang Zheng and Aina had also woken up from their sweet dreams and were staring at the dumbfounded Huiyin.

Huiyin shielded her eyes. "I'm not here to peep! Time's up, we've got to go back."

In reality, she was still peeking through her fingers, leading to a bout of laughter from Wang Zheng and Aina.

"Let's go!"

"Be safe," Aina tenderly said.

On the way back, Lin Huiyin couldn't help but ask, "Sis, is the taste of kissing good?"

Looking at her serious face, which even had a hint of anticipation, Aina was speechless…

Chapter 369: The Three Tiers

Translator: Abyssruler Editor: Lucas

The second round had a surprise for the participants. All 128 teams had been sent away on a military aircraft.

This was also a characteristic of the IG competition. They did not solely test the dueling abilities of the pilots. There was not much merit in this as pilots had to undergo a full range of tests in order to showcase their might. However, the fundamentals were also necessary to determine combat strength, hence the first round was designed as an entry-level test.

The Solar System team sat on the No. 6 transport plane. They were unaware of the destination and did not know what to expect. All of them had left without any form of preparation.

There were more than 1,000 participants amongst the 128 teams, and the No. 6 transport plane itself had more than 100 passengers. All of them were undoubtedly feeling a little proud of passing the first round.

The transport aircraft was not quiet and had quite a bit of chatter. It was clear that everyone was full of confidence for the second round.

One of them had a very loud voice, and soon people around him started listening.

"According to my past experience, the second round should involve actual combat. Hence, all of you should be prepared to risk your lives. Additionally, according to my sources, although Aslan and the rest of the countries were able to directly enter the main competition, even they have to participate in this second round. Hence, it is to our advantage that we are able to experience what they're capable of first-hand."

"I only know that the Atlanteans are indeed strong. As for the rest of humanity, who's afraid of whom?"

"That's true. We all have the same number of limbs as them! Who cares about their fame? When it comes down to the battlefield, it all depends on whose fists are stronger!"

"What Aslan? Even if it's Atlantis, they will still be subdued by us!"

"Right! I, your father, came here just to crush them!"

The atmosphere of the entire No. 6 transport ship heated up, but the person who had initially started the conversation instead laughed and shook his head in exasperation. This was not his first time participating in the IG. When he first came, he too was ambitious and self-confident, but soon, he was taught a harsh lesson. There were some things that they would never learn if they hadn't experienced it for themselves.

Aslan… Atlantis…. Indeed, they had the same number of limbs as us. But they were still monsters in human skin.

"Since everyone is on the same ship, it must be fate. Regardless of the future, if we become rivals, let's first get to know each other. I am Max from the Clark Galaxy."

At this point, someone had raised a suggestion. These youngsters preferred to be around crowds and to make friends. Crucially, all of them had passed the first round and were all secretly rather proud and confident.

"Haha, I'm the Flare Star's captain, Irles. Fate is just like a friend. However, when we meet each other later on, we from the Flare Star will not show mercy. When it's time to fight, we will. The Flare Star is the main capital for mecha, so we will definitely not profane the art of fighting. This is my teammate, Ptolemy…"

One by one, everybody introduced themselves, and it was the Solar System's turn. Wang Zheng smiled and started the introductions. "I'm the team captain of the Solar System team, Wang Zheng. This is Zhang Shan, Zhang Runan…"

Everyone had a look of admiration when they saw Zhang Runan, a mighty woman and a reliable female teammate. This was a perfect example. However, the closer to the end of the competition, the less everyone would be concerned about looks. After all, strength was still more important.

When Meng Tian and Lie Xin were introduced, their eyes immediately blazed up. In comparison, Lear, Achilles, and the rest were all ignored.

"Meng Tian sure is pretty, but she's a little too cold. Lie Xin's much better. Did you see her looking at me?"

"She was obviously looking at me. Honestly, Lie Xin's figure is totally my type. If I could spend a night with her, it would be worth it even if I die."

"She's a graduate from Academy X," a boy who had contacts in Academy X plainly said.

"Are you serious? What's her ranking?"

"I'm not sure. She doesn't seem to be very famous, so probably above 100."

"That's still not bad. Who's this Wang Zheng? Another one from Academy X?"

"Doesn't seem like it. I'm not too sure."

On one hand were the introductions, while on the other side the gossip had begun. Obviously, everyone was surprised that the Solar System team had actually passed the first round.

To make friends, it was also necessary to have certain classifications. Other than the beautiful female players, the other side of the Solar System was not very eye-catching. Not to mention the results of the first round of the Solar System team. They were not spectacular, as other than the first game, which they won 3 to 0, the next two games were 3 to 2 narrow victories. They were almost unable to enter the second round, and the last match even had a dispute?

Looking at the Clark Galaxy team and the Flare Star team, all three matches were three-zero record victories.

Finally, it was the turn for the first person to talk about his team.

"Ah, I'm called Le Gadamer…"

He had just stated his name, not even his origin, and someone had already exclaimed in surprise, "Are you serious? You're the Quick Blade Le Gadamer? The Thunder Republic's captain!"

"Damn, you're my idol!"

"Ranked 33 in the last IG. Just a little more and you would have entered the top 32."

"This is too cool! Last time's matches were so fierce, then this time round…"

It was obvious that everyone was interested in the rankings, but Le Gadamer shook his head. "This rank does not mean anything. A team can only select one person to participate."

Le Gadamer did not have the optimism of others. This ranking was merely to encourage and stimulate the youths. When he thought back about the monsters that were in his group, he was devoid of any joy.

In the cabin where Wang Zheng and the rest were staying in, there were about 60 of them seated, coincidentally equal to five teams in total. Rapidly, everyone had completed their introductions and started chatting with each other. After the introductions, the discussion topics became more diverse. However, on the Solar System's side, most of them were only approaching Lie Xin for a chat.

A beauty from Mars? I've heard that it was an open place? Do you have a Skylink number? Let's keep in touch!

If it was another occasion, Lie Xin would have ridiculed them. Only at this moment she was unfazed by such people as she was simply thinking about the second round and where they were heading to.

Lear and Achilles had the a rare moment of being ignored. Lear simply placidly kept himself calm, while Achilles's faces still remained full of smiles.

The beauty just adjusted to the atmosphere, and although everyone clamored loudly, in fact, the real concern was the Thunder Republic. They were the strongest amongst the teams here!

"Since we are here, we have to attain glory for our country. The competition will be challenging, and it seems that there are a few strong ones on this ship," Max from the Clark Star said, his heart full of ambition and his eyes filled with the glory of the championship title.

"Yeah, being able to enter the second round means you aren't weaklings. Besides, Lady Luck may not always be on your side!" It was also the same for captain Irles, who had reignited his confidence after a short moment of surprise. If you were able to make it on to this boat, it more or less said a few things.

Le Gadamer smiled and said, "Not that I want to dampen everyone's spirits, but the teams that entered the second round are split into three tiers. The first tier consists of Atlantis, Aslan and other superpowers, and probably only consists of ten or so teams. The second tier has the Maacah Republic, Collapsing Star, and a few others, with around forty teams. As for the third tier… we belong to the third tier."

Everyone was surprised. They were actually divided into teams at the bottom?

"What conditions was it based on?" Lear, who had been remaining silent all this time, suddenly spoke up."

"The previous round's results and the overall performance of the first round. They are, of course, only as a reference. Everyone should not be too disappointed."

Lear's mouth had curled into a disdainful arc, showing off his natural mockery. Of course, it was unknown whether he was mocking the elite teams or IG themselves.

"The Solar System team did a good job this time," said Le Gadamer, as if this was the first time the Solar System had entered the second round.

Others did not bother about the Solar System Federation. Other than the pretty lass, to tell the truth, there would always be weak teams able to surprisingly advance, so this was not a big deal.

"Captain Le Gadamer, you have participated IG before. In this second round, where will we be going?"

"The contents of each IG are different. However, according to past experience, the next stage is definitely real combat. But regarding the type of combat, I can't say for sure.

Le Gadamer seemed to be extremely easy-going, perhaps even lacking a bit of passion. However, his attitude was truly friendly, and he seemingly had nothing to hide from them.

"What's this shyness? Didn't he participate in IG once? If I could participate once more, I would be more handsome than him." Zhang Shan opened his mouth. Looking at him being so serious, having not spoken a word after his introduction, he was the world's rarest Ability X user with warp and displacement abilities, yet everyone just ignored him? What had this world come to?

"You. People call this confidence, and not everyone has the opportunity to participate in the IG twice in a row," Lie Xin said. "The title of 'Quick Blade' was one that he got in the last IG against Arbiter. Not many people know that in that match, he won Thunder's only victory for the republic, and is also known as the IG's potential new star."

Although everyone was discussing his former glory, Le Gadamer had always been indifferent. He was not acting proud, he had just been through it all. There would always be a price to pay for the ambitions and passions of the youngsters.

Time flew past, and the military transport ship shuddered to a halt. The sealed bulkhead opened and a blue-green planet appeared before their eyes.

Whoosh...

The spacecraft sent out a beeping noise, then a majestic voice came out from the loudspeaker. "We have arrived at the destination, planet No. 9. Please follow the procedures provided by the Skylink. Please note that from now on, it is actual combat, not a simulation exercise. Thus, please follow the procedures strictly."

Beep, a notification popped out on everyone's Skylink: After entering the planet, an airdrop will take place. Please prepare for airborne maneuvers.

Under everyone's seats were suits for the airdrop. Everyone immediately began putting them on. This was not a joke.

"Don't be nervous. If I'm not mistaken, what follows will be a test of survival. Airdrops may encounter various types of enemies, and they may also allow each team to match against each other. We will pay more attention to the information later." It was Le Gadamer who broke the tension.

Bang…

After a violent tremor, the military transport aircraft quickly passed through the atmosphere of the planet.

Chapter 370: Battle Start

Translator: Abyssruler Editor: Lucas

At this time, the front door of the cabin opened, and a Milky Way Alliance officer came in and looked at the crowd.

"Good, you're all ready."

The officer's cold voice sounded. "You are about to airdrop into the Zerg area. The mission is to arrive at the A9 planet base within ten days from now, in 240 hours… Each team's captain, please step up. "

Pa!

Wang Zheng and five other captains walked forward.

"This is the captains' exclusive energy bracelet. Planet map information is also included inside. Please input your passwords and wear it on your wrist. When you meet with danger, you can activate the energy shield on your bracelets. Within ten minutes, there will be air support arriving. However, please note that once it is activated, you have withdrawn from the IG competition. Is that understood?"

"Yes, understood!"

"Any more questions?"

"Reporting, I have a question." Zhang Shan raised his hand.

"Speak."

The officer did not become impatient, but nodded and motioned Zhang Shan to speak.

"Yes, if anybody in our ranks is injured and unable to act, will there be support?"

"This is actual combat. Everything is based on actual combat. Other than the 128 teams, there is no support – unless you give up the competition. Alright, anything else? I'll give you another minute."

"Reporting!" Max from the Clark Star raised his hand.

"Speak."

"Isn't it unfair that the team will lose the competition because of one or two players?"

"Have I ever said that I wanted everyone to arrive at the objective? If only five team members can arrive at the planet base on time without calling for support, then they will pass." The officer's voice was as cold as ice.

Everyone's faces changed. Should they abandon their players?

"Will the team members who were temporarily left behind to able to receive medical care in time?"

"Don't let me repeat my answer. Only the captain can use the energy bracelet to call for medical care or support. The only guarantee on our side is that we will arrive in ten minutes. The decision on when to use it should be considered and made by your captain. Of course, taking into account the fairness of the competition, there is also another revival round, which will also be undertaken by your team captain. If you are able to win the challenge, you will have the chance to be revived and continue to participate," the officer explained in great detail.

This was for teams that had protected their teammates, but had been delayed too much and were unable to arrive on time.

"Time's up. Five minutes from now, you will make an airdrop!" The officer performed a military salute and turned away. At the same time, four ports were opened on both sides of the cabin.

Revival round?

After hearing this, everyone's looks were a little better. "It sounds like the IG is still quite humanane, there is even a revival round."

Le Gadamer grinned. "You are all wrong."

Within a moment, the ship quietened down.

"For the military, completing the task is the first priority. Do you think the IG will be so kind? That revival round is simply to reduce our determination. There is nowhere to retreat to!"

After a long while, some people shook their heads. "Damn, we should stop scaring ourselves. It is not necessarily the case that we will encounter something major. At the very worst, we'll just take turns carrying our teammates."

"True. I can't believe it. The Zerg war zone? As long as you understand the Zerg's habits and perform your reconnaissance, plus a bit of luck, safe passage is possible."

Le Gadamer was still shaking his head, but he did not say anything more. Understanding the Zerg's behavior? How could the IG be so simple? Usually, most people had already taken on the Zerg for training. However, those Zerg were all experimental products controlled by humans, and could not be compared to this. However, he did not want to say anything more. On the battlefield, they were both comrades and competitors, so it was useless to say anything else. Although he had not thought about how much further he could go, he would at least not shame the Thunder Republic.

On the Solar System's side, everything was instead silent.

The airdrop into the Zerg war zone and the Demon Island training at the IG training camp of the Solar System were actually very similar. It was said that this test had not been chosen for more than 10 years.

Meng Ao, Lie Wuqing, and Drachmach had made almost complete preparations for this IG. In fact, they finally had an advantage.

The five minute preparation time soon ended, and the lights on the four dropgates all switched to green. At periodic intervals, each team jumped out of the transport ship one by one.

At an altitude of 10,000 meters, the transport plane began the airdrop. Each team left in intervals of three minutes in order to prevent different teams from landing in the same area.

"Clark Team, GO!"

Max led his teammates, and as the first batch to jump off the transport plane, they instantly disappeared into the clouds.

Three minutes later, Le Gadamer brought his Thunder team and rushed out…

The Solar System team was the last. Luo Fei's fat face was ashen and his knees could not stop shaking. Lear coldly glared at Fatty, and he immediately straightened up. However, just by looking at his face, you could tell he was definitely fighting back the fear.

In all likelihood, this was probably a fear of heights. At this altitude, Fatty's timid behavior had once again resurfaced. However, no one could be bothered with him. Even if he shut his eyes, he would still have to jump.

Wang Zheng took the lead and jumped out into the air. The unique coldness of the high altitude ran all over his face as if he was rubbing against rough sandpaper.

Looking down below, it was a pitch dark forest. The lush trees covered a vast area of ??the space. From a distance, he could spot a few rivers and lakes.

Wang Zheng's eyes were on the ground, constantly memorizing the direction and distribution of the landscape. There was only one opportunity for this high altitude observation of the terrain, and every detail must be carved into his mind as deeply as possible.

Whoosh!

At this moment, a fierce wind suddenly came from behind Wang Zheng, and a figure fell rapidly at an abnormal speed.

Too late to be surprised, Wang Zheng felt a sudden weight on his body. This was a familiar sensation. When there was a sudden increase in gravity within the gravity room, his body would have a similar sensation.

In an instant, Wang Zheng's falling speed doubled!

"Everyone, be careful! The planet's gravity is three times the standard gravity. F**k, that scared me." Zhang Shan's cry came from the communicator.

"Everybody, hold on, do not open your parachute yet…"

Wang Zheng started communications, but he hadn't even finished his sentence before he felt a sudden change in his body. The falling speed suddenly returned to normal. It felt just like an illusion, as if he was floating in the air, but in reality he was still falling.

The gravity had once again returned to normal.

"What the hell is this situation? Should we open the parachutes?" However, Zhang Shan's falling speed did not slow down, but instead had increased. It was as if the gravity at his position had increased even further.

"Calm down. The gravitational force of this plane is not stable. There are multiple pole interactions with high altitude gravity anomalies. It will stabilize after falling down to four kilometers, open the parachute at 2.8 kilometers!" Wang Zheng rapidly said.

Zhang Shan quickly calmed down. Sure enough, after falling for hundreds of meters, his speed was suddenly reduced to the standard gravity. "Seriously, there was a moment of weightlessness before the planet gravity continued to function. It was a bit like a magnetic levitation. A floating body? Cool!"

Zhang Shan, who had calmed down, even started playing around, doing cartwheels in the air. Wang Zheng smiled. It seemed that this planet was a big problem. If the gravity of the high altitude field was already changing, the gravity on the ground would definitely have its differences. From here to the destination, the Zerg would not be the only problem.

In the air, his gravity did not change until he fell to four kilometers, where it finally stabilized at 1.5 times the standard level.

The parachutes were deployed at 3.5 kilometers. The landing destination was an open clearing beside a small river.

From the moment their feet touched the ground, they had entered the war zone.

No one spoke at all and quickly stripped off their landing gear, shifting into their combat suits. Everyone had instinctively formed a semi-circular defensive formation on the side of the river.

"Gravity: 1.5 times the standard gravity. Air contents: oxygen content 29%, nitrogen 69%, no harmful gases, we can breathe freely. Humidity 61%, temperature 31.5 degrees Celsius…" Meng Tian was responsible for analyzing the surroundings and was constantly updating in real time.

Wang Hao took off the poisonous gas filter. As the oxygen content was higher, the body's muscles felt as though they could exert even more explosive strength.

Looking around, there was a lush forest next to the river, and all the trees were dozens of meters tall. Between the trees, there were only dense shrubs, and no traces of a road could be seen.

"Are there Zerg here? I don't think they would gather in a forest. There should be a few roads in this area." Zhang Shan frowned and questioned.

Wang Zhen opened the Skylink map, thinking that there would be a detailed map of the area. However, in fact, there were only two red points in the distance. That was the destination, and the entire journey was unknown.

"For the route ahead, we must first pass through this forest. Everyone, be careful." Wang Zheng calibrated the position and pointed the way forward.

Achilles looked at the energy bracelet on Wang Zheng's wrist and said, "Before leaving, I think we should arrange a combat team. The individuals with defensive abilities should stand in front and on both sides to protect the attackers. If we meet an enemy, they should go forward to block the attacks, but leave it to the attackers to finish them off.

"I will be responsible for offense." Lear has always been clear in his stance, and he glanced at Luo Fei, who was still breathing heavily. He immediately stood up straight.

Lie Xin scratched her chin. "I'm fine with anything."

Zhang Shan shrugged. Damn, it seemed that they would just be meat shields. It was only him, Wang Zheng, and Zhang Runan. This was discrimination against the people of Earth. "What's the problem? Its just a few bugs. If we meet them, we should just directly kill them. Why should we remain on the defensive?"

Masasi smiled. "I don't mean to say this. IG is not child's play. If we want to reach the planet base in the Zerg area within ten days without any support, we have to maximize efficiency, save our energy, and be ready to respond to anything."

It was obvious that the Moon people had quickly adjusted their states and were clear on the objectives and the method to proceed forward.