Chapter 26: Chapter 23 - A Step_1
Translator: 549690339
After ending the match with Robbie, Li Hao thought that while Robbie had indeed improved a bit, he continued with his old habit of only focusing on his own moves without considering his opponent. This could be both an advantage and a disadvantage. If he runs into it, it's fate. Whether he understands this or not is up to him.
Ding dong...
A friend request?
Li Hao usually wouldn't care, but since he had just finished a match with Robbie, he subconsciously opened the request. As expected, it was from Robbie. Li Hao responded with a small smile and clicked confirm.
"Big Brother Hao?" Robbie sent a message. Although he thought it might be Li Hao, it was strange to him since Li Hao had disappeared for five years.
Robbie was still a bit anxious. A response soon came, a fist. This was the symbol of their old Earth Crew.
Robbie was ecstatic. It was indeed Li Hao, still as aloof as ever.
Without saying much, Li Hao entered the match-making system. He planned to play his matches quicker from now on. It took too much time playing against one of his own since he didn't want to be overly harsh.
Ding dong, opponent matched.
Puppet (USE) vs Torres the Beast God from Military Academy A Level (ROM)
At this point, Zhuang Zhou had opened a trendsetting post in the featured section of his live streaming room— "Puppet Super God Special Show".
Note: I am a beginner streamer, only dedicated to Puppet.
Zhuang Zhou had collected a small degree of fame in both USE's virtual and real zones. His previous analysis videos, especially the screenshot of the Armored Tiger, had created quite an impact. The image had become many people's screensaver. If it had appeared in the Mecha Martial Arts Tournament, Puppet would have become a viral sensation. Everyone was hopeful for Puppet to keep rising, pushing his limits.
Despite all this, Zhuang Zhou was nervous since it was his first time as a streamer, a newbie, without promotional resources. But he didn't mind much. His primary intent was to give the fans of Puppet a place where they could watch him.
"Hello everyone, I am the Pirate King of Kepler, currently a journalism major at the Mecha Martial Arts news department in TianJing. I have been following Puppet for a long time now. Please support me."
Zhuang Zhou was a bit nervous. A few tens or a few hundreds of viewers would be considered good for a newbie.
... Only 3 viewers, all his roommates. Such a dismal turn out that even Zhuang Zhou, who had an excellent mental game, felt a bit demoralized.
Couldn't he even break into double digits?
"Fuck, Zhuang Zhou, did you not unlock the room? My buddy says that he can't get in."
"Oh, I forgot!"
Zhuang Zhou hurriedly changed the room settings, allowing non-followers and non-friends to enter.
With that, the viewer count in the live stream skyrocketed. Looking at the numbers, all the roommates were dumbstruck - the count had broken 60,000 in just a few minutes.
"Holy shit, Zhuang Zhou, are you going viral?"
"Hurry up, keep talking, don't stop. You are the streamer now. We got our very first streamer."
With Zhuang Zhou's existing minor fame, being unique, and his early association with Puppet, people didn't hesitate to follow his live stream. Especially after Puppet's incredible performance just now, there was nothing more to say. They were fans!
Meanwhile, the viewer count in "Fire Man Live" of Mars broke a million. There was no choice; once the replay video was out, Fire Man was slapped in the face. As a former military man, the humiliation was ruthless. But Fire Man kept a straight face, "Some audiences think I was wrong, actually I wasn't. Look, Robbie's moves were indeed pretty and chic. But all of them were instantly countered by the opponent's Swallow Flight Return. Why?"
Fire Man paused with confidence and a smile on his face, "Flash over substance! Robbie was out of steam after the Death God's Triple Strike, and he forced out the Swallow Flight Return when he had nothing left. It was just a show. At that moment, anyone could've won with one shot as long as they were ready. I can only say, that was a fight between weaklings. Some people might find it exciting, but you haven't seen real fights in the virtual zone. Real experts don't put on such exhausting moves. Back and forth like in a market? Close quarter combat is about finding the weak points to deliver a fatal blow, pulling and dragging would simply make the sniper's job easy on the battlefield. So, speed, accuracy, and ruthiness are everything. That's what we Martians do best. Earthlings and Moon people have a lot of issues, they like to show off. Here comes Torres, good, it's time to prove a point that needs no further introduction."
Torres is a first-year freshman in the ROM Beast God Military Academy A level, a promising newcomer. He was in the top three in the corresponding preparatory college and Beast God University offered him a special invitation because of his ruthlessness and crazy power. Currently, he ranks more than 1300 points, but these points are not representative of his true strength.
The EMP lounge in Tianjing was also abuzz. Unquestionably, everyone was on Puppet's side. Even if Puppet was not from Earth, he was definitely on the USE side considering his Mecha's style was more of classic influenced USE.
"This Torres is super fierce. He used to be a cage fighter in Mars's underground, seen blood before. Supposedly got noticed because of his nimble body."
"Mars Combat Championship, huh? That's touted as the most brutal fighting match in the solar system. People die all the time."
"The system in the Martian Federation is different from ours, especially in the gray areas where anything goes. They're really ruthless, Mars is eyeing the S11 championship this year."
"Puppet has to win!"
"Hey you guys, our school's news department is broadcasting a special on Puppet..."
Yoyou stood alone in a corner, quietly observing the bustling chatter. She had heard of Puppet, the virtual player who later took on challenges in the Real Zone, currently maintaining a winning streak, having faced warriors from all four unions.
But why did he choose to use armor?
Wouldn't a stronger Mecha be better?
Two mobile warriors are ready to go.
Battle arena, Puppet vs Torres.
Armor Dragon vs. Titan Wolf V6
This isn't the first time Puppet has faced the Titan Wolf V6. Only last time, he was using the Heavy Armor Tiger. Now he's using Armor Dragon, with no heavy armor for power suppression, how will Armor Dragon fight?
"Ladies and Gentlemen, this isn't the first time Puppet is going against the Titan War Machine. Last time he used Armor Tiger, overpowering it with sheer strength. This time it's Armor Dragon, its mobility has increased, but its suppression power has decreased. The Mecha performance of Titan War Machine still has a slight advantage. But we have Puppet Master. I predict that battle will end within a minute." Zhuang Zhou said. He didn't boast much. He didn't think Torres would be significantly stronger than Stane.
Meanwhile, the Fireman made his prediction. He also anticipated an end within a minute, "Armor Dragon is more agile than Armor Tiger, but more brittle. Some might say Stane lost rather humiliatingly, but this is different. Stane is a famous contestant and his moves have been studied rigorously in previous Mecha-War competitions. It's obvious that he'd be targeted. Honestly, I suspect Puppet has something up his sleeve, perhaps deliberately targeting Mars. But his opponent this time is Torres. Torres has no past data for them to study, I predict the match will end within a minute, Torres will take him down!"
No one knew if the EMP officials did it deliberately, but both live broadcasts were highlighted at the same time.
The two mobile warriors entered a state of readiness. The clash wasn't due to rivalry, but mere coincidental meeting during a USE match. Mars had a psychological advantage. As soon as the battlefield opened, Titan Wolf V6 charged towards Armor Dragon with a roaring physical attack, not even bothering to use its laser harassment. Seeing this, Torres thought it was strange. Typically, cowardly earthlings retreated while firing lasers, but this time none appeared. Not even a titanium knife?
Is he an idiot?
Just giving points?
Torres wasn't one to refuse such an advantage. With his engines roaring, Titan Wolf V6 leapt into the air towards his opponent.
This aerial assault exposed many flaws and the Martian audience started to worry. After all, Puppet was no rookie. Such a huge opening?
But if everyone else thought of it, wouldn't Torres also anticipate it? He was intentionally testing his opponent. Leaving an opening in the air, Armor Dragon still didn't react.
At the point when they were only five or six meters apart, Titan War Machine suddenly dived, landing ahead of schedule. After landing, with all its limbs exerting force and the engine bursting, it shot towards Armor Dragon like lightning, its titanium claws already out.
The sequence of movements occurred in a flash. And finally, Armor Dragon made a move. It was retreating!
Torres grimaced. Trying to run away now? Too late, lie down for me!
Boom...
The two Mechas passed each other. Titan Wolf fell on the ground in a flip, its own titanium claws plunged into its body. What ?!?
Torres felt dizzy due to the 90% realism in simulation mode. He bit the bullet, pulling himself together. As Titan Wolf attempted to pull out its claw, sparks flying, Armor Dragon had already approached. In that moment, Torres despaired.
A massive shadow of a foot filled his vision.
Boom...
Titan Wolf's head was smashed into the ground.
...
Gifts
-- Gift
received Weekly Power Status
-- Power
Ranking 
-- Power
stone