Seeing his opponent's mech sent flying, Li Yi was momentarily speechless. He had used less than half of his strength, significantly holding back, yet the disparity was so vast that his opponent couldn't even react.
"It seems the base attributes of the Pluto mech are incredibly high, allowing me to crush my opponent without even utilizing my combat skills."
It was a bit regrettable, as it meant missing an opportunity to improve through battle. Still, ending the match quickly saved time.
Li Yi swiftly exited the arena with the Pluto mech. The crowd erupted into thunderous applause after the initial silence.
"Indeed, it's no surprise that a D-grade divine mech is being piloted by a non-evolved individual for the first time in 17 years. The dominance is clear."
"It seems there's no suspense about Li Yi taking the championship."
"Although the match was brief, a quick victory like this, especially with divine mechs, is quite rare."
"True, witnessing an instant win in these tournaments is a once-in-several-years occurrence."
"It's a pity the opponent was too weak to reveal the divine characteristics of the Pluto mech."
Amid the discussions, Qingguo Fairy AI drifted in front of the Electric Wave mech, inspecting it before explaining to the audience:
"Despite how unbelievable it seems, Li Yi's performance with the Pluto mech was indeed terrifying."
"Without any charging, just a normal strike sent the Electric Wave mech flying hundreds of meters."
"The fault isn't with the Electric Wave mech; it's just that the Pluto mech is exceptionally strong."
"We'll take a five-minute intermission before the next exciting match!"
...
After exiting, Li Yi remained in the Pluto mech, meditating to digest the memory fragments. Even in standby mode, there was still a significant influx of information and load, but it was manageable.
By meditating on the fragments, he could continue enhancing his compatibility with the mech and improve his mental resilience.
Although tempted to recreate that special state of divine activation he experienced when starting the Pluto mech, he decided it was unwise before the remaining battles. Better to wait until after the finals.
As for the ongoing matches, there was no need to watch. Actively monitoring external situations through the divine mech would only increase mental load.
...
In the giant arena, Zhong Xiufa piloted the Green Dragonfly mech. Though from a worker clan, her mother was a descendant of a noble family. This lineage granted her a high compatibility with the Green Dragonfly mech, awakening the Wind God series genetic skill.
After two days of training, she could seamlessly use it through the mech.
"My combat skills lag behind Liang Shaocong's. To win, I must seize my only chance to unleash the genetic skill," Zhong Xiufa thought, eyes shining with a desire to fight.
Meanwhile, Liang Shaocong piloted the Magnetic Abyss mech. Standing 36 meters tall, it was purple-green with a complex chestplate pattern, affecting even the overhead lights as it entered.
The audience showed moderate interest.
"Let's see what Liang Shaocong is made of. If he can win within ten collisions, he might stand a chance against Li Yi."
"The gap between Liang Shaocong and Li Yi is too wide. I can't imagine how Li Yi could lose."
"Not necessarily. The latest intel says Li Yi's mech startup time exceeds an hour, preventing rest. His maximum activity duration is just over forty minutes. If the finals proceed like this and opponents drag it out, Li Yi could be worn down by the duration!"
"What latest intel? Sounds like rumors. The slowest recorded startup time barely exceeded half an hour, matching the borderline compatibility."
"It's not a rumor. A top ten contestant leaked it, and many have corroborated it online."
"It's not just online. This live commentary mentions it too; it's spread widely."
With this revelation, audience interest piqued.
"Does this mean the championship is still uncertain?"
"Yes, the online prediction odds are adjusting."
"Wow, it's true! Li Yi's odds dropped from 95% to 20%."
"Liang Shaocong and Liang Xing rose to 82% and 43%, respectively."
"I must bet more work hours on this."
"Quick, I'm betting on Liang Shaocong too."
"I'm backing Liang Xing."
"Too bad for my darling Lin Qin. She failed to start her mech, or I'd definitely bet on her."
While gambling with money is prohibited in the deep space fleet, betting work hours is not. Each professional can trade or bet a portion of their weekly work hours in official wagers. This practice originated as an early fleet initiative to combat deep space isolation syndrome through entertainment.
With the spread of these rumors and the adjustment of online odds, many grew more invested in the outcome. If no surprises occurred, Li Yi was favored to win—a fact few doubted. With such certainty, the potential work hour gains from betting were reduced, diminishing the thrill.
Now, with great anticipation, the Green Dragonfly and Magnetic Abyss mechs clashed.
Boom!!!
At the first impact, the Green Dragonfly mech retreated a few paces.
The Magnetic Abyss mech pressed forward, executing a grapple, then lifting and slamming the Green Dragonfly mech with a back throw.
Boom!!!
The Green Dragonfly mech hit the ground headfirst, leaving Zhong Xiufa in the cockpit unaffected by the direct impact but feeling the increased bodily load, causing discomfort and a sensation of blood rushing to her head.
The sturdy arena platform shook, the vibrations reaching the stands and causing the audience to lose their footing.
Despite this, the spectators were thrilled. The sheer physicality of giant mech battles was exhilarating!
While mid-range divine skills dominated interstellar warfare, the visceral appeal of hand-to-hand combat was undeniable.
Amidst the growing fervor, the Green Dragonfly mech rolled on the ground, propping itself up against the Magnetic Abyss mech's foot. Its upper arms extended, striking at the opponent.
But then—
Crackle!!!
A bolt of electricity flashed, striking the Green Dragonfly mech's head with a resounding bang.
Though unharmed, the Green Dragonfly mech suddenly froze.
Clearly, the novice pilot had yet to achieve perfect synchronization, easily disrupted into a state of piloting rigidity. The mech remained intact, but the pilot's interrupted state hindered effective movement.
This technique, mastered only by seasoned noble families, seized the moment as the Magnetic Abyss mech hoisted the Green Dragonfly mech, tossing it toward the arena's protective barrier!
If it left the arena, it would be deemed a loss, regardless of combat capability!
"Is Liang Shaocong winning?"
As this thought crossed the audience's minds, the Green Dragonfly mech, just shy of the barrier, erupted with a powerful cyclone, rebounding back to the arena's edge to regain its stance!
"Wow, what a close call! I didn't expect Zhong Xiufa to secretly master the Wind God series genetic skill and amplify it through the divine mech."
Qingguo Fairy AI exclaimed in admiration:
"It seems this battle remains uncertain. Both contestants can fluidly unleash their genetic skills. Given time, they could soon become evolved beings. Truly exciting!"