Lin Hua's words were like a bombshell among the crowd. Indeed, in the second round, the competition followed a one-on-one elimination format. After each match, a rest was necessary; otherwise, continuous activity would overwhelm both mind and body.
Li Yi's one-hour-plus startup time meant he would need to stay continuously active to ensure participation in the next match. Failing to restart within the allotted time would result in elimination.
Dragon Guanshan glanced at Lin Hua, suspecting she was deliberately stoking the competitive spirit of those with above-average combat skills and startup performances, including the strongest rival, Liang Shaocong. If it hindered Liang Shaocong, all the better.
Zhong Xiufa watched the Pluto mech intently without speaking, while others displayed varied expressions, each contemplating their own strategies.
...
Hovering above the Pluto mech, Honghulu Fairy AI sat on her gourd, her eyes flashing with excitement as she waved her arms.
"Move, Li Yi! The Celestial God Series has immense combat potential. You can amplify your combat skills through Pluto!"
"Why so sluggish!?" she exclaimed, voicing her impatience as she buzzed around the mech.
...
Inside the cockpit of the Pluto mech, Li Yi was enveloped in a pale red fluid. Surprisingly, instead of suffocating, he found his breathing more effortless. The fluid absorbed the mech's violent movements, syncing his mind and body with the Pluto mech.
His perspective encompassed a 360-degree panoramic view from the mech's head. The dense sensory information—sight, sound, touch—made him feel like a 43-meter giant. Despite the faintness, Honghulu Fairy AI's voice was clear.
"Don't just stand there—get moving!" she encouraged.
Li Yi wasn't being idle; the Pluto mech's systems hadn't fully initialized. While its eyes opened quickly, other movements were sluggish, like an old computer booting up.
"Forced memory acquisition has only slightly improved compatibility, but at least it started. By continuously capturing piloting memories, my startup speed will improve. These memory fragments, affected by divine radiation, should enhance efficiency."
Calculating his next steps, Li Yi began maneuvering the Pluto mech's body.
After about four minutes, the mech moved fluidly. The ground trembled with each step, prompting speculation below.
How long could Li Yi keep the Pluto mech active on his first try? Although his combat skills were renowned, this was a chance to gauge his true strength, given activity duration correlates with physique, mental resilience, and self-control.
...
"He's surpassed seven minutes."
"Matching Liang Shaocong's time should be no problem."
"I predict thirteen minutes."
"More—a hundred-point lead suggests at least fifteen minutes!"
"You're overestimating Li Yi; his high score was luck. Eleven minutes would be impressive."
This was Xie Zhenye, growing louder as he spoke.
Lin Hua frowned, "A mere twenty-point opportunist like you shouldn't mock someone with over three hundred points."
Xie Zhenye fell silent, his face darkening. Others were surprised. Hadn't Lin Hua been skeptical of Li Yi earlier? Why the sudden change?
Dragon Guanshan saw through it. Lin Hua doubted Li Yi's final performance but acknowledged his capabilities. To her, Li Yi was the real threat, Dragon Guanshan mused.
...
Reality exceeded expectations. Over half an hour passed, and Li Yi continued executing increasingly rapid and complex maneuvers in the Pluto mech.
Finally, at the 41-minute mark, the mech halted abruptly.
Boom!
The insertion pod ejected, landing on the ground.
"Forty-one minutes—surely not enough for Li Yi to make the finals? The matches should last at least an hour and a half," someone speculated.
"Impressive."
"If Li Yi can last an hour, he might clinch first place with quick matches."
"An hour is tight; previous shortest records are around one hour and thirteen minutes."
Many below were troubled. Regardless of Li Yi's chances of winning, his 41-minute activity time was perplexing. How could there be such a gap among non-evolved individuals?
Nearby, Honghulu Fairy AI opened the pod, releasing the fluid.
She touched the fluid, pondering, "Only twenty percent spiritual element consumption? I expected more."
"What's a spiritual element?" Li Yi, covered in fluid, emerged from the pod.
"The main component of this fluid. It's strange; with your activity time, it should consume more."
Honghulu Fairy AI wiped Li Yi's face with a small hand.
Allowing her to clean him, Li Yi asked, "Is it better to consume more or less?"
"Less consumption means your body withstands the Pluto mech's load better."
Honghulu Fairy AI blinked, puzzled, "But it's odd. Such long activity should deplete more spiritual elements."
Li Yi replied, "People's physiques vary; don't overthink it."
"Alright, let's leave it at that," Honghulu Fairy AI agreed, letting the matter drop.
Li Yi chuckled, knowing he could have continued for another twenty minutes. He stopped early to avoid drawing too much attention.
Understanding the data he'd reviewed before entering the Pluto mech, he realized how alarming his performance was.
Honghulu Fairy AI turned to the others, reminding them, "If you're rested, continue practicing with your divine mechs. You have forty hours until the second round; don't slack off!"