Shock

After the intermission ended, Li Yi's opponent, Pang Haoren, was the first to appear in his Electric Surge Mech.

This mech stood roughly twenty-eight meters tall.

Compared to the other mechs, it was clearly somewhat "petite."

Its entire body was indigo, with a massive fleshy hump on its back. Its frame possessed a hybrid texture of biology and steel.

As the Electric Surge Mech entered, crackling sounds of electrical collisions rang randomly through the air, creating an imposing display.

Hovering above the fighting arena, Evergreen Fairy AI broadcast information about the mech to the crowd:

"The Electric Surge Mech appearing today has had seven pilots over Jade Pool (Yaochi) No. 7's nearly century-long history. One of them has already advanced to become a High-Level Mech Pilot and is currently stationed at Star Imperium Federation's No. 79 interstellar defense line."

"This is a Divine Mech with a glorious history."

"Let us look forward to the performance of the new generation's Electric Surge pilot, Pang Haoren!"

"Next, let us turn our eyes toward the western hangar."

"There stands Li Yi, the only person in Jade Pool (Yaochi) No. 7's past seventeen years to successfully pilot a D-rank Divine Mech as a non-Evolver. He achieved the historic top rank in the points tournament and holds the title of strongest rookie king of combat!"

"Today, he will meet all of you while piloting this Pluto Mech, which has never had a pilot since it was excavated!"

"Let us see what kind of spectacle will arise when the strongest rookie king of combat clashes with the D-rank Pluto Mech!"

Evergreen Fairy AI's voice had initially been cool and melodious.

But as the audience responded with growing enthusiasm and the atmosphere heated up, Evergreen Fairy AI's tone became increasingly passionate as well.

However.

The awkward thing was that after Evergreen Fairy AI finished her introduction—

The Pluto Mech still had not emerged from the side hangar exit.

Evergreen Fairy AI said:

"Let us welcome the first D-rank Divine Mech to appear in the martial tournament's seventeen-year history with our warmest applause!"

Clap, clap, clap.

Thunderous applause erupted from the venue.

One minute later.

The audience had nearly clapped their palms raw, and some had begun to feel dissatisfied.

What was going on? Was he putting on airs?

At that moment, Evergreen Fairy AI made a gesture of pressing a hand to her ear and announced:

"We regret to inform the audience that, according to footage from the hangar, the Pluto Mech seems to have encountered a minor problem during activation and has not yet successfully started."

The instant those words were spoken, boos rang out across the arena.

"Why hasn't it started yet? Shouldn't Li Yi have prepared in advance?"

Someone at the edge of the stands shouted loudly.

Others nearby joined in, jeering and questioning him.

Evergreen Fairy AI explained:

"I believe everyone knows that beginners piloting Divine Mechs generally need several minutes, or even over ten minutes, to activate them. Perhaps the previous fight ended too quickly, and Li Yi has not yet completed the activation."

"According to tournament rules, Li Yi still has three minutes of grace time. Once those three minutes are up, he will be directly eliminated."

That only made many audience members even more dissatisfied.

They had come precisely because of his title as the all-time points leader.

And now they were being told that the all-time points leader could not even enter the field and would be directly eliminated?

"He must have gotten carried away after finding success at such a young age. He underestimated his opponent and failed to plan his activation time in advance. Li Yi may be strong, but his character is still lacking."

"I bet he simply never took Pang Haoren, an opponent with barely more than ten points, seriously."

For a time, all sorts of noisy comments filled the crowd.

Quite a few of Li Yi's diehard fans spoke up in his defense, but to little effect.

After all, even diehard fans were a minority.

Most of the spectators were merely casual viewers who had come for his reputation. Since he still had not appeared, they naturally felt especially annoyed.

Evergreen Fairy AI also did not know that Li Yi actually required more than an hour to activate the mech.

That was something only Crimson Gourd AI and the other contestants knew.

"Please quiet down, everyone. There are still two and a half minutes of grace time. Let us give this strongest rookie combatant in history a little more patience. No matter how strong he is in battle, he is still younger and less experienced than many in the audience. A few mistakes are unavoidable."

Boom!!!

At that moment.

A deafening impact rang out from the western hangar, as though a heavy hammer had struck every person's heart.

Boom!!!

Another deafening impact followed.

Everyone's expressions changed.

What an overwhelming presence!

Had the Pluto Mech successfully activated?

The Deep Space Fleet was famous across the world for its abundance of Divine Mechs, and its citizens were naturally well-informed. Forget D-rank mechs—even C-rank and B-rank terrifying mechs had been witnessed by them in combat.

Yet purely in terms of the intimidation they exerted upon the human body, the Pluto Mech ranked among the top five the fleet citizens had ever encountered.

With those two thunderous impacts, the crowd's dissatisfaction diminished, replaced by heightened anticipation.

Everyone stared eagerly toward the western hangar, craning their necks in expectation.

One minute later.

By the time some people's necks had gone stiff and their eyes had begun twitching—

The massive mech finally stepped slowly out of the side hangar. It stood forty-three meters tall, entirely black, with prison-like colossal eyes and powerful, robust limbs.

An abstract, icy sense of suffocation instantly swept through the entire venue.

Beneath the stands, Zhong Xiufa covered her mouth, stunned. Was this a sign that Brother Yi was about to awaken its divinity?

In another corner, Liang Shaocong could not help but shake his head and sigh. "Can't compare. I really can't compare."

Evergreen Fairy AI spoke at just the right moment:

"What a delightful surprise. Although Li Yi's activation speed was somewhat slow, there is no doubt that he has already gained a profound understanding of the Pluto Mech. Otherwise, he could not have inadvertently stirred its divinity merely while walking."

"Though these are only subtle signs, there is no doubt that Li Yi has already taken the lead in awakening divinity."

The audience immediately erupted into fervent cheers.

At that moment, all dissatisfied voices vanished.

Audiences could be that straightforward. As long as what they were shown exceeded their expectations, they would not hesitate to offer applause and cheers.

"Since both sides have entered the field, Electric Surge Mech versus Pluto Mech officially begins!"

Inside the cockpit.

Li Yi let out a long breath.

Lin Hua's quick KO of her opponent had directly left Li Yi with at least five fewer minutes of grace time.

Because if it had not been a KO, they would have needed to fight at least three valid rounds.

And those five minutes happened to fall right on the edge of Li Yi's barely one-hour timeline.

To activate the mech quickly, he had taken a gamble and forcibly meditated on a large number of memory fragments.

For some of those fragments, he had focused only on digesting the portions related to piloting Pluto, leaving a great deal of redundant information unrefined and unorganized.

As a result, his brain had also suffered a considerable burden.

His later operating time would likely be somewhat reduced.

But it had also turned into a blessing in disguise.

Not only had he successfully activated the Pluto Mech ahead of schedule.

More importantly.

Digesting such a large number of memory fragments at once had actually caused his soul to "expand" in an instant, allowing him to faintly touch the divinity that permeated every corner inside the Pluto Mech!

That was also why, when he piloted the Pluto Mech out of the side hangar, a trace of divinity had leaked out and collectively shocked the tens of thousands of spectators.

It was a lucky accident. I found a way to activate divinity quickly ahead of time. As long as I replicate this method later, I'll become an Evolver even faster.

While silently counting his luck, Li Yi also began to focus.

The two Divine Mechs suddenly collided!

Bang!!!

A massive blast wave roared outward.

Immediately after.

The Electric Surge Mech, half the size of the Pluto Mech, was abruptly sent flying backward and slammed into the wall!

Even Evergreen Fairy AI was left staring in disbelief:

"What happened?"