What was originally a 3v3 match had now become a 4v4. Both squads had already suited up in their mechas in the preparation area.
The large screen began broadcasting the introductions of both sides. The previous seven players were already quite familiar to the audience. When it came to Huang Yan, the person on the screen, wearing a weasel mask, crossed his arms and tilted his head.
"Next up is the new member of 'QL's Greatest Threat'—Daddy's Got You!"
Such a name, paired with that cheeky mask, was simply arrogant to the extreme!
Wang Tianwei's team immediately let out a series of wolf howls to cheer Huang Yan on.
The members of the Guerrillas were already used to the style of QL's Greatest Threat.
"They added a new guy too? Is he also a commander?"
"Probably, but even with an extra person, they still won't win."
"Every time I see their photos and names, I just want to throw caution to the wind and beat the crap out of them!"
Their commander chuckled.
"They just want to provoke us, right? After all, they were almost pissed to death by us in the last two matches."
"Hmph! Whatever, we are going to stall this match until they lose!"
"Yeah, keep using the stalling tactics. Pin down Goldfish, and the other two won't be much of a problem. If that new guy is a commander, his combat power shouldn't be high. Nothing to be afraid of!"
"Got it!"
The large doors in front of them slowly opened, and the four Qilin mechas walked in while warming up.
With their team finally welcoming its backbone, Wang Tianwei and the other two had never felt so reassured!
The entrance sound effects, mixed with the applause and cheers from the audience below, sent a bizarre tingling sensation shooting straight from Huang Yan's tailbone all the way to the top of his skull...
"The match is about to begin..."
"Wang Tianwei, get ready."
Huang Yan's voice came through the comms channel. Inside her mecha, Wang Tianwei smiled deviously.
"Copy that."
"...2, 1, 0."
The members of the Guerrillas and Greatest Threat moved at the exact same time!
The opposing light mecha tossed out shielding particles. The center of the arena was instantly enveloped in a hazy gray cloud, blinding any mecha caught within it.
The audience in the stands, however, could still see the situation on the field thanks to ultra-high-frequency cameras.
"Shielding particles again? That's their opening statement, huh?"
Last time, the three Qilin members had to rely on thermal imaging and infrared to fight.
They could see the enemies' outlines, but their judgment of subsequent movements wasn't very precise.
But today!
Just as the opponent scattered the particles, Wang Tianwei thrust out her right hand.
"Didn't see this coming, did you? I've got new gear!"
A palm plate flipped open on her mecha's right hand. The shielding particles in the arena quickly rippled in concentric circles, churning before settling uselessly onto the ground.
"Resonance disintegration? Not bad, Greatest Threat came up with a new trick!"
"This is way better than infrared!"
"Of course! Psychologically speaking, infrared only lets you see what you're focusing on, but who knows what's hiding in the blind spots you don't have time to check? Otherwise, those three wouldn't have fought with their hands tied like that."
"Bro, how many of their matches have you watched?"
"Hahaha, I've been here since their very first match!..."
Seeing their shielding particles fail, the Guerrillas didn't panic. Their light mecha leaped up and charged straight at Huang Yan.
"Heavy mecha, cover me."
Zhang Lyra shifted two steps forward, shielding the commander behind her.
At this moment, Jian Jingyu had already penetrated deep behind enemy lines!
He was currently entangled in a fierce, inseparable brawl with the opponent's two medium mechas.
Wang Tianwei provided covering fire from the sidelines while dodging the firepower of the enemy's heavy mecha. If a B-class like her got hit, she'd be in danger!
Huang Yan merely observed for thirty seconds before forming a general assessment of the Guerrillas.
However, the enemy light mecha was kiting Zhang Lyra like walking a pet bird, and the half-beastman's mentality was on the verge of collapsing.
"Wang Tianwei, fall back first and help take down that light mecha."
"Okay."
No one questioned Huang Yan's command, even though Wang Tianwei's departure meant Jian Jingyu would have to face a three-on-one siege alone!
Huang Yan stepped up to fill Wang Tianwei's position himself, providing fire support for Jian Jingyu.
"Damn! How is that weasel's aim so accurate!?"
"I can't take this, boss! I need to take out that commander first! He's playing too dirty!"
The Guerrillas' commander had also been hit by Huang Yan several times. Fortunately, the guns used by these students didn't deal too much damage to the mechas.
"I'll do it!"
The commander closed his eyes, attempting to use his mental power to harass the opponent.
Huang Yan sensed a sliver of mental power probing over. Just an ordinary A-class? He ignored it completely, simply forging a mental barrier while his hands never stopped shooting and laying down suppressing fire.
With his support, Jian Jingyu still had the strength to fight back in a one-versus-three scenario, while Wang Tianwei and Zhang Lyra were on the verge of teaming up to eliminate the light mecha!
"I can't hold on, boss! I'm about to be eliminated!"
"Use that move!"
Pushed to a dead end by Zhang Lyra, the light mecha leaped high into the air and crashed toward the transparent energy shield!
A one-minute pause! That would buy the commander more time to think and interrupt their combo!
Doing this a couple more times would shatter their mentality... Wait! What was this black net that suddenly appeared!?
Wang Tianwei aimed at her target and fired the large net she had crafted at Huang Yan's house yesterday!
Right before it could touch the energy shield, the light mecha was ensnared by the massive net!
"Zhang Lyra, eliminate him."
Huang Yan's voice was steady. Piloting her heavy mecha, Zhang Lyra grabbed the corner of the net, casually swung it twice, and before the opponent could switch to another weapon, hurled him into the trench below the platform!
"!!"
The light mecha was spun so hard the pilot was dizzy, lying on the safety mats unable to get up for a good while.
The Guerrillas were finally down to just three people!
"Heavy mecha, go help Goldfish. Zebra, fall back, watch your distance."
After Zhang Lyra joined the fray, Jian Jingyu's pressure plummeted, and the opponent's kiting tactics were no longer viable!
"Attack the joints of their mechas!"
The enemy commander ordered through gritted teeth.
But QL had two medium mechas standing far away! They kept firing from the perimeter and absolutely refused to engage in close combat!
With only three of them left, their numbers advantage was gone... Soon, the Guerrillas' commander was also eliminated.
The heavy mecha finally managed to break through the encirclement, seeing that his side had no chance of winning!
Gritting his teeth, he pulled out a heavy sniper rifle and aimed at the enemy's new guy, who had been hiding in the very back from the start!
"I have to take down at least one of them no matter what!"
Huang Yan locked his mental power onto the Guerrillas' heavy mecha, and its pilot instantly felt his movements stagnate.
"Argh!!"
"Goldfish."
Jian Jingyu spun around and executed a sliding tackle, knocking the heavy mecha to the ground. Then, with a flying kick, he violently booted the opponent entirely out of the match area!
By this time, the last medium mecha on the field had already had its energy core pierced by Zhang Lyra's long blade...
"It was you. You were the one who kept targeting my mecha's joints last week, weren't you."
"..."
"Do you have any idea... how much money I spent on my mecha's maintenance!?"
Wang Tianwei and Jian Jingyu couldn't help but shiver... Can't help you there, buddy. You're on your own!
"The winner—QL's Greatest Threat!"
"Woohoo!! This match was pretty interesting!!?"
"That new guy is definitely the commander! Didn't you see he barely moved?"
"Their teamwork is much better than the last two matches!"
"Brilliant, brilliant! Two more matches and they should advance, right!? Let's check the schedule for their next match..."
