Elimination Round Opens

This world is naturally divided into those who prefer unchanging comfort and those who live for the thrill of the unknown.

Zhou Yi was clearly the latter. Since transmigrating to this world, she hadn't experienced any discomfort. Not only had she perfectly integrated here, but she was also looking for ways to find some fun for herself.

The live broadcast of the Interstellar Competition was like a stimulant, making Zhou Yi's scalp tingle with excitement as she stared intently at the video.

"It's so awesome to compete with so many A-class and S-class mechs!"

Zhou Yi's eyes were practically shining. She could already imagine how happy she would be if she were there in person.

"Every year, quite a few students get injured in the Interstellar Competition, and there are even cases every year where both the pilot and the mech are smashed to bits."

Hu Manduo wanted Zhou Zhou to calm down. Her current expression seemed even more fervent than his own had been earlier.

Hu Manduo's love for mechs was from the bottom of his heart, equally sincere and passionate, but he wasn't a practical fighter. He preferred to do work behind the scenes.

"Getting injured is normal. If it's too comfortable in the mech cockpit, you won't have any sense of connection, and you'll lose a lot of sensitivity during actual combat."

In mech combat, pilots in the cockpit can feel thirty percent of the pain. If it's too intense, strong collisions can also cause injury.

If it were even more intense and the mech were destroyed, the exposed pilot would also be in grave danger.

Therefore, humans in combat almost always avoid attacking the opponent's mech cockpit.

After all, they are all of the same kind. Everyone's goal is the same: to fight against alien races and protect their homes.

Because it was the elimination round and there were many people, there were hardly any hosts to introduce characters or provide commentary.

There were five elimination round stages, proceeding simultaneously. The five separate camera feeds were also being broadcast live, and viewers could choose whichever they were interested in.

Hu Manduo casually picked a feed, and the three of them began watching with great interest.

The reigning champion voluntarily took the stage and waited for challengers. Winning three matches meant direct advancement and exiting the stage.

If they lost at any point, they were immediately eliminated and removed from the arena.

The first feed Zhou Yi and the others were watching featured a burly blonde man. He looked quite fierce, completely unlike someone still attending a military academy, more like a student's parent.

The mech he deployed matched his temperament perfectly; it was also a heavy-duty mech, entirely golden, making it look extraordinary.

The man's chin was perpetually raised, his gaze fierce, sweeping directly at the audience below.

"That's terrifying!"

Lu Xiaoxiao rarely saw such a fierce person.

"This is probably a tactic, to intimidate enemies with an imposing appearance. If no one dares to challenge him, he'll advance directly through a bye."

Hu Manduo analyzed seriously.

"This might work in front of a group of weaklings. But this competition is a gathering of elites. Pulling a stunt like this will likely earn him no favors."

Zhou Yi held a different opinion.

With so many people and only five stages, there were many formidable individuals below each stage. If they were scared off so easily, they might as well have stayed home instead of coming to compete, especially after traveling so far.

"That makes sense... Here comes someone!"

Soon, a petite girl jumped onto the stage and extended her hand to release her mech from her mech ring.

It was a lightweight mech, appearing like a child in front of the blonde giant's mech.

"The size difference is too huge, can she do it?"

Lu Xiaoxiao exclaimed. The girl who came up was very beautiful, with long brown hair.

Girls can often empathize with each other easily.

Clearly, this obvious disparity made many viewers share Lu Xiaoxiao's thoughts. Countless comments flew across the screen.

(This girl is too overconfident!)

(I think that big guy can swat this little one away with one hand.)

(Hurry up and get down, this match has no suspense, it's really boring. I'm going to watch another stage.)

(Hey guys above, wait for me, I'm leaving with you.)

(??? Do the people upstairs really not know who this girl is?)

(OMG! Does anyone not know Xixi from Meg Military Academy?)

"Who is Xixi?"

Zhou Yi quickly caught this crucial piece of information.

Meg Military Academy, as one of the three major military academies in the Interstellar Alliance, had produced many famous figures.

Since enrolling at Huadun, Zhou Yi felt busy every day and hadn't had time to learn about the affairs of those major military academies.

"She was ninth place in last year's Interstellar Competition. Although it was ninth place, she was only a first-year student then."

When it came to the Interstellar Competition, Hu Manduo, a fervent fan, was like a walking encyclopedia, seeming to know everything.

Being in the first year, as a mech pilot, she hadn't yet undergone systematic combat training. To be able to compete with many senior students and achieve a top-ten result was indeed not to be underestimated.

"Then what was the blonde guy's ranking last year?"

Lu Xiaoxiao pressed for an answer.

"Hmm... if he participated last year, he would have been eliminated in the qualifiers. I have a pretty good memory of those who made it to the group stage, and I've watched the live replays several times."

As it turned out, this big blond guy wasn't as strong as he appeared.

Before the match even began, seeing Xixi take the stage visibly upset him.

"He's not going to win this match."

Zhou Yi didn't know them, but he had already reached a conclusion.

He had lost the battle before it even started. Seeing his opponent's aura weaken on its own, it was impossible to win.

As expected, the result was just as Zhou Yi predicted. The match lasted less than ten minutes before Xixi emerged victorious.

Zhou Yi watched the few minutes of the match with extreme focus.

Like Xixi, she had also chosen a light mech.

She had been observing how Xixi could maximize the mech's power to defeat a heavy mech.

Even though Xixi's S-class mech was clearly superior to the blond guy's A-class mech, the difference in strength was still very apparent.

But skill could compensate for strength. Xixi, relying on the agile movements and dodges of her light mech, successfully evaded the larger mech's attacks time and time again. Then, through hit-and-run tactics and surprise attacks, she struck the larger mech's right knee joint.

The hit mech immediately knelt on one knee, losing its mobility and becoming like a fish on a cutting board, waiting to be slaughtered.

Zhou Yi could tell that Xixi's mech had undergone many modifications, each one cleverly designed to maximize the advantages of a light mech.

These designs and precious materials were not something a second-year girl could have accomplished on her own.

She was likely a girl from a prominent family, trained with heavy investment.

However, possessing such quick reaction times and adaptability in combat wasn't something just anyone could do.

Zhou Yi praised her inwardly, unable to resist the urge to reach through the screen and touch her mech.