Chapter 22

In today's human civilizations, various virtual network mecha combat tournaments are constantly emerging. From teenagers to the elderly, from commoners to the aristocratic elite, all social strata are extremely enthusiastic about this game.

This enthusiasm is partly due to external pressures and the deliberate support of governments, combined with the martial spirit of the human race. This ensures the vigorous and prosperous development of various mecha tournaments, which have thrived for a thousand years without decline.

Qin Huang decided to enter the network to hone his mecha combat skills because his current source energy index is not far from that required for a formal mobile warrior. Therefore, by training in the virtual reality network, he can comprehensively improve his mecha combat control skills, laying a solid foundation for his future path to strength, making it a reasonable choice!

Moreover, as long as his combat skills reach a certain level, he can participate in some prize tournaments. If he can secure a high ranking, the prize money will be substantial.

By enhancing his strength and earning star coins, he can exchange for the cultivation resources he urgently needs, achieving two goals at once.

The next day, after finishing his homework, Qin Huang went to the virtual combat hall in the teaching area. To avoid the attention of certain people, he chose a private booth at a rate of two star coins per hour.

The optical brain started. Data update and对接, allocation of computing resources, identity verification, system self-check... After a series of standard procedures, the familiar interior of the mecha cockpit reappeared before him.

"...Please enter your personal login password!" A transparent login box, glowing like a ruby, appeared before him, and the system's gentle voice sounded.

He thought for a moment and decided not to use his old account. Instead, he created a new one with the ID "Hermit of the Gods."

Simulation setting: 95%.

Scene selection: System random.

Mecha model: Void Hunter Type 3, Bronze Rank 1.

The light and shadow in front of him changed, and a slight dizziness came to his mind. In just one breath, the familiar system prompt sounded: "Please choose your opponent!"

In virtual mecha combat, opponents can be randomly assigned by the optical brain or freely chosen. As long as both parties agree on the detailed rules and the stakes under the system's supervision, the battle can begin!

Of course, the optical brain will automatically scan and evaluate the strength of players entering the network, then arrange them into different levels based on their strength. Matches are generally between players of the same level.

Unless both parties actively request it, it is unlikely that a mecha expert will easily crush a new player.

Qin Huang chose to designate his opponent himself. A large projection screen immediately appeared before him, filled with identity markers, most of which were Level 1 or 2 mobile warriors, with the highest not exceeding Level 3.

After scanning for a while, he sent a challenge request to one of the players, setting the stakes at 100 star coins and standard weapons.

Several seconds later, the optical brain prompted: "The opponent has accepted your challenge. You will enter the map in ten seconds. Please prepare!"

In the upper left corner of his view, the pale red numbers began to flash: "9, 8, 7... 3, 2, 1!"

The scene in front of him suddenly darkened, then brightened again.

One second later, he could clearly see the scene before him.

A vast, boundless green prairie stretched out before him, extending to the horizon! Despite the lack of large trees or rocks to obstruct the view, the dense, several-meter-high grass made it impossible to know what deadly things might be hiding within.

The positions of the combatants are randomly chosen and deployed by the optical brain. On the same map, they might be very far apart. This is the most ideal situation, as both sides have enough time to adapt to the environment and choose their preferred tactics based on the actual situation.

However, if the optical brain malfunctions and both sides are thrown into the same area, or even face-to-face, the experience for both combatants will not be pleasant!

In such a frustrating situation, it all comes down to adaptability and reaction speed. The one who reacts first and initiates the attack is likely to be the victor, while the loser can only blame their bad luck!

Various thoughts flashed through Qin Huang's mind like lightning. Without hesitation, he immediately chose to control the mecha to lie flat and hide in the dense grass.

Without confirming the opponent's exact position, this was the safest course of action.

The environmental analysis module on the mecha had already activated, displaying important data such as gravity index, air composition, magnetic field strength, and soil density.

This was a planet with an environment similar to Earth, which would not significantly affect the mecha's performance, so he could fight without restraint! He quickly came to this conclusion.

The Arayashiki mind technique was fully activated, combined with the mecha's reconnaissance and detection modules. Two seconds later, he had located the enemy.

"Whoosh!"

About six kilometers away, the tall, dense grass suddenly changed, like a dark green wave breaking on a calm lake, or a dragon emerging from the water, leaving a wide, several-meter-long trench as it rushed toward his position at lightning speed!

"It's a missile!"

The alarm in the cockpit sounded sharply, and Qin Huang immediately reacted. The mecha leaped up and retreated quickly into the depths of the grass.

Just as he stood up, two small, high-speed armor-piercing missiles, trailing faint white trails, skimmed the grass tips and approached from both sides!

At that moment, his peripheral vision finally caught sight of the enemy, with the ID "Cave Man." The opponent was standing steadily, the laser gun on the mecha's left arm aimed and locked, the 12mm barrel beginning to glow blue, ready to fire a lethal energy beam!

"Indeed, a tough opponent!"

Qin Huang understood this, and his hands did not stop. The mecha performed a series of standard tactical evasion maneuvers at a dazzling speed, directional electromagnetic interference was activated, the energy shield was set to maximum strength, and he did not forget to lock onto the opponent and fire two high-speed anti-radiation missiles. All actions were performed smoothly, forcing the opponent to change position to avoid the attack.

A few seconds later, both sides' long-range attacks missed, and all missiles were detonated. The resulting pale white shockwaves spread rapidly, shredding the grass within a few hundred meters, revealing the black soil surface, and almost all the unknown small animals hiding in the grass were not spared.

Seeing Qin Huang's decisive counterattack, the opponent was not surprised. With a light "puff," dense white smoke completely obscured his figure.

The white smoke spread rapidly, covering an area of a hundred meters in just a few breaths.

"Hmm?" The young man frowned slightly. The opponent's special smoke screen could significantly interfere with the "Void Hunter's" radar detection system, making it extremely difficult to sense anything in the smoke with instruments alone!

However, the opponent chose the "Shadow Wolf Type 2" mecha, known for its strong anti-interference and advanced long-range detection capabilities. In this situation, he was not significantly affected, putting Qin Huang at a significant disadvantage.

If it were an ordinary player, they would likely have to concede in such a difficult situation.

At this critical moment, Qin Huang remained calm. After confirming that the detection module was basically ineffective, he decisively controlled the mecha to move at high speed around the smoke-covered area.

The enemy, hidden in the smoke, showed great patience and did not rashly attack, to avoid being locked onto by this equally skilled opponent.

The player named "Cave Man" checked his remaining energy reserves and weapons, finding that he could support two more long-range multiple attacks and still have enough energy for a high-intensity close combat.

However, before he could decide on his next tactic, the young man outside the smoke screen made a move that surprised him.

The Void Hunter roared into the smoke screen, and more smoke grenades were thrown, expanding the smoke-covered area even further!

"What is this kid up to? Does he think that by stirring up the water, I won't be able to deal with him?" Cave Man frowned, thinking to himself.

In the same level of Bronze mechas, his Shadow Wolf Type 2 was not the most powerful in terms of attack, but it was renowned for its strong detection and anti-interference capabilities. Even in such a disadvantageous environment, the detection module could still function at nearly 60% efficiency. As long as the enemy dared to approach within a hundred meters, he could definitely lock onto and attack them!

The Void Hunter, on the other hand, was far inferior in this aspect, with a detection range of only about thirty meters. Even if it had stronger attacks, it would be meaningless if it couldn't detect the enemy!

So this was bound to be an asymmetric confrontation.

However, the next second, he found himself unable to laugh!

A thick, white beam of light tore through the dense smoke and struck the energy shield on his mecha's chest, causing violent ripples!

He was startled and quickly maneuvered the mecha to retreat, avoiding the focused energy beam.

"This kid is just lucky today!" He cursed inwardly, checking the energy shield's strength and finding it not significantly depleted, he breathed a sigh of relief.

Yes, it must have been a coincidence! The Void Hunter hadn't come close to his detection range, so this kid couldn't have really found his position! He consoled himself.

However, fate seemed to be against him. Just a few seconds later, another blinding beam shot over, striking the energy shield on the mecha's chest again!

This time, the attack was even more powerful, causing the energy shield's strength to drop sharply, forcing him to quickly evade.

After two consecutive surprises, he finally felt that something was wrong! But he couldn't figure out what the problem was.

Could it be... that this kid has some unknown means to detect and lock onto his position? Or is he cheating?

No one answered his question. From the depths of the smoke, the terrifying focused energy beams continued to shoot at him, and no matter how he evaded, it was useless!

After more than twenty seconds of relentless attacks, the energy shield of the Shadow Wolf mecha finally shattered, and the final beam penetrated the outer armor, mercilessly killing him!

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