Matthew stared intently at the mech in front of him, his mind racing.
Standing ten meters tall, its humanoid design exuded a powerful sense of oppression.
The mech's left arm was equipped with a silvery-white arm shield, its surface flowing with a mercurial luster under the soft lighting of the room, as if it could withstand any attack.
In its right hand, it gripped a beam sword, its fiery red blade expanding and contracting like a tangible flame, revealing its immense power.
The main body of the mech was silver-gray, with sleek lines and an elegant design, resembling an armored noble prince, exuding both nobility and dignity.
The golden headpiece on its forehead shimmered brilliantly under the lights, like a bright pearl on a crown, catching one's eye and eliciting praises.
It was evident that this mech had undergone meticulous modifications.
Although the double uranium shield was only considered mid-to-high level among mech shields, its sturdiness was far beyond what Matthew's Blackbird mech's electro-magnetic sword could easily break through.
And the beam sword in its right hand, while only of moderate quality, could easily slice Matthew's Blackbird mech in half with just 2-3 swings.
If it struck a vital spot, even just a graze, Matthew would be helpless against it.
The main body of the mech followed a galactic design, which not only provided excellent defense capabilities but also performed well in weight control, not burdening the engine excessively.
Additionally, the mech had multiple hidden shooting compartments that could accommodate various long-range weapons, making it more versatile in its attack methods.
As the confrontation between experts was about to commence, Matthew could tell with just a glance that his opponent was exceptionally skilled.
"Balanced" was the only word that came to mind as he assessed the mech.
Despite its seemingly mid-range components, if used by someone proficient in both attack and defense, the mech's potential power would be astonishing.
Matthew speculated that the mech's engine was most likely a Thunder Power or a second-generation Fire Shark, as only these two engines could fully unleash the capabilities of its other components.
Capable of both offense and defense, with proficiency in both long-range and melee combat, this mech was undoubtedly a formidable opponent.
Matthew couldn't help but feel a headache, not expecting to encounter such a powerful enemy in his first battle.
However, Matthew didn't let this intimidate him.
He knew that in the junkyard planet where he survived, he often had no choice but to face powerful opponents.
At that moment, the only thought in his mind was how to defeat his opponent!
A hotline gun? Probably even if the opponent stood motionless, it would only spark a few sparks and cause no real harm.
An alloy dagger? Oh my, the one that would get blunted first by hitting the opponent would surely be his own alloy dagger, which was completely unreliable.
Fortunately, Matthew still had his electro-magnetic sword as a weapon.
Although it required three strikes in the same spot to pierce through the armor of a galactic-type mech's main body, it could at least leave some marks on the opponent.
However, hitting the same spot three times was easier said than done. Matthew couldn't help but shake his head and smile bitterly.
So, where was this mech's weakness? Matthew began to ponder carefully.
He knew that every enemy had a weakness, and by pinpointing it and delivering a fatal blow, one could often achieve twice the result with half the effort.
This was the key to overcoming a stronger opponent. The throat? Yes, the throat was a vital spot for almost all humanoid mechs.
Due to the dense array of light points in this area, any damage could potentially lead to a loss of mech control.
However, thicker armor around the throat would reduce the mech's agility, so apart from heavy firepower mechs, other mechs had to make compromises in this crucial area.
Nevertheless, almost every mech owner was well aware of this fact and would protect it vigorously.
Matthew quickly dismissed this idea. The cockpit? Forget about it. No one would disregard their own life!
Moreover, unlike the throat, the cockpit of a humanoid mech was located in the chest area, where the armor thickness was undoubtedly the greatest on the entire mech.
Looking at his own electro-magnetic sword, even if he could hit the same spot with every strike, it would take at least a dozen strikes to pierce through the cockpit.
Could he deliver over a dozen strikes in close combat without getting his limbs chopped off by the opponent's beam sword?
It was practically an impossible task! Time was pressing, and Matthew couldn't afford to keep pondering.
With a soft "beep" sound, the battle commenced! Matthew cast aside all distractions and focused intently on the fight.
Meanwhile, Jason sat leisurely in his mech. Under his high nose bridge, the corners of his mouth curled up slightly, revealing a charming smile; his naturally curly blonde hair was as noble and elegant as a prince in a fairy tale; every movement he made emanated an aristocratic aura.
"Ignorance is truly bliss!" exclaimed Jason, "Actually wanting to challenge my Apocalypse with a Blackbird! It seems I'll have to teach this overconfident fool a lesson today!" His words revealed contempt for his opponent.
Jason had made up his mind to teach Matthew a profound "lesson". As soon as the system prompt sounded, he manipulated his beloved Apocalypse mech and strode menacingly towards the Blackbird. He did not activate the firing system, nor even the double-layer uranium shield, evidently intending to overwhelm his opponent with pure melee skills.
The Blackbird stood silently, as if it had given up resistance, waiting for Jason's fatal blow. A sneer curled at the corners of Jason's mouth, and the malevolence in his eyes intensified. He had been feeling depressed these days and had finally found someone to vent his frustrations on. However, he did not intend to end the battle quickly but to torment his opponent slowly and enjoy the thrill of victory.
The distance between the two rapidly closed, and Jason's beam saber flashed with a red glow as he swung it towards the Blackbird with a mixture of real and feinted attacks. He imagined the look of horror and helplessness on the Blackbird pilot's face, as if he could already see the scene of the Blackbird's wing being sliced off by his blade.
Jason's triumphant smile could not help but spread across his handsome and somewhat devilish face. "The game has just begun!" he thought to himself, feeling pleased.
Matthew was puzzled. He could not understand why the opponent had chosen not to shoot, which was highly unexpected. According to common sense, shooting would undoubtedly be the fastest and safest way to deal with a mech like the Blackbird. Yet, the opponent had deliberately chosen a more complicated and difficult melee approach. Why?
As he watched the opponent slowly approach, Matthew felt even more perplexed. Giving up the speed advantage even in close-quarters combat seemed unwise. The opponent's actions were baffling, and Matthew wondered if he was dealing with a fool.
When the opponent's beam saber swung towards the Blackbird's left wing, Matthew was completely bewildered. Why attack an insignificant part like the wing instead of going for the mech's vital areas? Even more strangely, the opponent had not activated his double-layer uranium shield, leaving his chest wide open. The attack seemed flashy but harmless, posing no real threat.
Matthew could hardly believe that someone so skilled in modifying mechs could make so many stupid mistakes. But the opportunity was right in front of him, and he was not going to miss it!
The Blackbird instantly accelerated to its limit, and with a nimble sidestep, Matthew easily dodged the opponent's beam saber attack. Immediately, he swung his electromagnetic blade from below, slashing upward. With a faint sound, he left a deep, ten-centimeter-wide, and nearly two-meter-long scar on the opponent's mech. The scar gaped like an open mouth, mocking silently.
Without waiting for the opponent to react, the Blackbird's left wing collided forcefully with the opponent's chest. The two mechs collided at high speed, producing a deafening sound. The impact was so powerful that both mechs lost their balance and flew off in different directions.
For Matthew, who was well-prepared, the impact was not a big deal. He had learned how to quickly react after being hit in basic training. Almost instantaneously after the collision, he had already determined his next landing spot.
Matthew's hands flew across the control panel, and the Blackbird's auxiliary engines under its ribs flexibly adjusted their angles like dancing notes. In just 0.1 seconds, all twelve auxiliary engine nozzles were calibrated.
As all twelve auxiliary engines fired simultaneously, the Blackbird briefly hovered just 20 centimeters above the ground. Suddenly, the mechanical arm under its right rib extended its fingers and pushed off just before the mech hit the ground. At the same time, the Blackbird's wings changed their horizontal angle, and the entire mech seemed to take flight like a large bird skimming the surface of the water.
The Blackbird traced a graceful arc in the air, and the apex of that arc was the still unstable Apocalypse. Although the Apocalypse was an entry-level mech, its top speed was still impressive. However, in front of the Blackbird, it seemed hopelessly outmatched. In the blink of an eye, the Blackbird caught up with the Apocalypse.
By this time, Jason had been thrown off balance, and his mind was a complete blank. He had lost all control over his mech and could only watch helplessly as he became Matthew's prey. Matthew's eyes were fixed on the throat of the Apocalypse, like a venomous snake staring at its prey. He knew that this was the crucial moment to decide the outcome!
With a loud shout, Matthew thrust his electromagnetic blade with all his might and lightning speed, striking the throat of the Apocalypse. The force of the blow was far beyond Matthew's expectations, and the Apocalypse was flung away like a ragdoll. Its thick neck was reduced to a small stub connected to the head, and the wires and optical circuits inside were a tangled mess.
In this way, against all odds, Matthew emerged victorious in the battle, relying on his strength and wit. He had won!