Xiao Ran maintained a high-frequency stream of inputs for Lancelot. Since the Mecha Performance could not compare to his current abilities, controlling the machine was exceptionally easy for him. Every step and every movement of his opponent was crystal clear in his eyes; he could even see what the opponent would do next. His responses always came later yet arrived first, ensuring Lancelot's high-vibration blade appeared exactly where it needed to be.
It could be said that the seemingly even battle was not merely because both sides had pushed their machines' performance to the absolute limit. Xiao Ran himself was holding back as well.
The current situation was like two people playing LoL with the same champion and the same items in their inventories. One was already at the highest rank, while the other was only around Gold at best. The gap in awareness, control, understanding of details, and combat meant that even with the same character, Gold could never be a match for the highest rank. The stronger player could keenly spot and seize finer details. In Xiao Ran's eyes, at least seven out of every ten movements made by the Lancelot pilot contained openings. Even the other three could be forced into revealing openings. They were simply not on the same level. Moreover, the other pilot did not truly understand Lancelot, and could not even achieve the eight-minute burst mode Xiao Ran could use.
If Xiao Ran had been piloting his own custom machine, it would have been even more outrageous. It would have been like a max-level champion with a full build facing an opponent who had only just left base at level one, with no minions to farm and no gold to earn—forever level one, forever stuck with starter gear.
Xiao Ran was not maintaining this