Chapter 25

After a long day of battle, Du Nan had a deeper understanding of mechs.

Unlike the battery-powered civilian mechs, the mana mechs were at least ten times stronger, capable of sweeping across the battlefield. Dealing with soldiers without mechs was like a flexible heavy tank facing a group of soldiers with guns, a one-sided slaughter. Some small hunter bugs did little damage to the mechs, only the large bug soldiers posed a threat.

"Brother Du, be careful during the grading. The mana network grading only uses mech vs. mech."

Before parting, Li Wenfu gave a meaningful reminder. Du Nan appreciated the kindness but didn't take it to heart. In the previous battle, he hadn't used his full combat power. The power of the ice mana hadn't been truly utilized. If he had gone all out, the battle would have been much smoother.

A mechanical voice: "Do you want to make the battle recording public?"

For the first time as a 'captain' entering the arena, a strange prompt sounded.

"No!" Du Nan didn't want to cause trouble.

A mechanical voice: "Do you want to save the battle recording?"

"Explain in detail." Du Nan found a satisfactory option.

A mechanical voice: "Saving the battle recording allows you to watch it freely after the match. This recording is only available to the account owner. With the account owner's consent, it can be submitted for others or the public to watch. The recording can be modified or the name hidden, but the battle process cannot be altered. Do you want a detailed demonstration and explanation?"

"No." Hearing that it was only for his own viewing, Du Nan understood.

This was a private recording.

For the losers, it was a good tool to replay the battle and reflect on tactics.

For the winners, it could be used to show off.

A mechanical voice: "What method will you use for the grading? One, single combat, one-on-one. Two, team battle, choose one of six positions. Note one, if the user does not have enough companions, the system will automatically supplement the team members, with the same combat coefficient as the opponent. Note two, if the user is a shield, cannon, or exploration type, it is recommended to use the team battle method."

"One."

A mechanical voice: "What environment will you choose for the arena? One, a hundred-meter stage. Two, a random ordinary terrain. Three, a random harsh environment."

"One."

A mechanical voice: "The match has been set up, starting in ten seconds. Note to participants, do not trust any personnel, do not trust any good intentions, do not trust any voices. The match is decided by life or death, all means are possible, please judge what you see and hear. Good luck, countdown, ten, nine, eight..."

Hearing the prompt to 'not trust anyone,' Du Nan was slightly surprised but quickly understood.

On the stage.

There was no 'trickery' between the two sides. If random terrain or harsh environments were chosen, various situations could arise. Some simulation devices could 'mimic' the appearance of other mechs, becoming your 'teammates' to approach. Some voice simulation devices could even become your 'superior' to issue orders. In such a situation, one needed to judge for oneself. Trusting the eyes and ears too much could lead to death without knowing what happened.

Ten seconds later.

Du Nan appeared on a hundred-meter-wide stage, with floating swords, shields, and other six types of combat equipment available for selection.

In the center of the stage, a transparent force field like crystal separated the two.

On the opposite side.

A mech of a different color was quietly waiting.

He hadn't chosen any combat equipment, and neither had it. When he selected a pair of giant cannon-like gloves, it immediately chose the same equipment.

"The match begins." The prompt sounded, and the central force field dissipated. The opposite mech immediately raised its cannon gloves, quickly charged, and rushed forward at the fastest speed, using the cannon gloves' propulsion energy to bombard Du Nan. This stage was a direct confrontation, with no courtesy.

Boom!

Du Nan raised his giant glove, blocking the attack.

The mech on his body lightly trembled, and a few small cracks appeared on his wrist.

With a 'squeal,' the enemy mech's feet emitted propulsion energy, made a sharp turn, and attacked Du Nan from the side, aiming to defeat him in one blow.

"This combat power is too boring." Du Nan mocked, sidestepped, and swung his cannon glove. The enemy mech didn't have time to react and was immediately punched in the head, flying and falling to the ground. After a few small explosions, it shattered into pieces.

A mechanical voice: "One-third of the match, victory."

A mechanical voice: "Do you want to rest or proceed directly to the next match? Note, winning three consecutive matches will complete the grading. If there is one win and one loss, the matches will continue until one side wins three consecutive matches. If the enemy mech wins three matches first, the grading will fail."

Du Nan didn't hesitate: "Proceed directly to the next match."

He already knew that the grading matches had no 'damage retention' or 'loot retention.' Each match was a fresh start. If anything affected him, it was only his mood. Another point was that the grading matches had no difficulty adjustment. The enemy's white iron first-class soldier was always at the same level. He had the ability to instantly kill it, and in the next match, it would fight just as hard.

Du Nan chose the cannon gloves.

This time, the opponent chose a sword, seemingly making a small change. Unfortunately, in terms of strength, speed, accuracy, mana capacity, and skill application, Du Nan far exceeded 'it' by several times. After a head-on collision, the enemy mech's head exploded again.

A mechanical voice: "Two consecutive wins, congratulations 'Traveler.' Do you want to rest or proceed directly to the next match?"

"Continue."

In the third match, Du Nan still chose the cannon gloves, and the enemy mech used a shield, which lasted less than ten seconds...

A mechanical voice: "Three consecutive wins, congratulations 'Traveler' for obtaining the white iron second-class soldier qualification."

A mechanical voice: "Data has been updated. Do you want to exit the arena? Do you want to continue the grading matches? Note, you can change the arena environment."

After several prompts.

Du Nan thought for a moment and decided to continue: "Continue grading, change to a random ordinary terrain."

Ten seconds later.

On a grassland, Du Nan faced a green mech.

In the first match, the green mech chose the same cannon gloves as Du Nan. In the second match, it used a sniper rifle and immediately retreated, trying to use the sniper rifle to gain an advantage. Unfortunately, its speed wasn't fast enough, and its aim wasn't accurate enough. It only escaped for six seconds before Du Nan caught up and punched it to pieces.

In the third match, it chose a stealth component.

The result... A mechanical voice: "Three consecutive wins, congratulations 'Traveler' for obtaining the white iron third-class soldier qualification."

After another round of prompts.

Du Nan continued the grading.

In the third match, he chose the sniper rifle first. The enemy mech also chose the sniper rifle. After a victory, Du Nan switched to a shield, and the enemy mech hesitated for a moment before choosing a heavy war hammer, seemingly without a targeted strategy.

A mechanical voice: "Three consecutive wins, congratulations..."

After three consecutive matches, Du Nan had a deeper understanding of mech battles.

By this point, Du Nan knew that the mana network had no 'intelligence.' The enemy mech changing to a favorable combat equipment was due to the 'recording' of the same match. It felt that using the same equipment didn't give it an advantage. When he chose the same equipment, it changed to a different favorable equipment. However, when he changed to a different equipment, it was confused and couldn't keep up.

If two people trained for hundreds of matches, one win and one loss, it would receive countless 'recordings' and might have a targeted strategy for each type of equipment.

With only one or two matches, it couldn't understand him.

More importantly, once he reached the next level, all the recordings would disappear. A brand new, higher-level enemy mech would have no 'recognition' of him. In the battle, it would have to repeatedly test and find favorable strategies. No wonder Li Wenfu said: the more matches in single combat training, the more difficult it becomes. With equal strength, after dozens of matches, it would be harder than challenging the next level of combat soldiers.

A mechanical voice: "Three consecutive wins, congratulations..."

A mechanical voice: "Three consecutive wins, congratulations..."

A mechanical voice: "Three consecutive wins, congratulations..."

After half a day, the continuous mechanical voice prompts, Du Nan fought until he reached the white iron ninth-class soldier before stopping. When he tried to continue, he received a new prompt: "Application invalid. Network domain detection, the account owner has not fused a two-star source core, and does not have the qualification to challenge the bronze area. Solution, the account owner fuses a two-star source core and then applies for grading. Note two, free competition has no restrictions, the account owner can apply for a bronze-level match. Cross-level challenge, the failure rate of this method is 93%, not recommended."

Hearing this, Du Nan didn't think much and exited the Cyan Blue Network. He hadn't fully understood the free matches between people. Before consulting Li Wenfu, he wouldn't act rashly.

At this moment, he didn't know that the Blue Sea Federation's various departments were in chaos.

"Are you all idiots, not even a bit of information? He applied for the bronze area grading and didn't pass, definitely a one-star level. In less than an hour, he went from a white iron first-class soldier to a white iron ninth-class soldier... In our territory, we have such a genius, and you don't even have a bit of information?"

The superiors were shouting.

The subordinates were depressed. They couldn't download information from the mana network, and the grading recordings weren't made public... What could they do?

"I don't care, name..." The superiors, regardless of reason, ordered the subordinates: "At least get an account name. If the Cyan Blue Network has such a genius, the major federations definitely won't miss it. On our own territory, we can't let others get a head start. Contact the people in the bronze area, he will definitely participate in the free matches. If the data can't be found, at least know what account name he uses, quickly, go find it."

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