I Can Do This Move Too

"What is that?" Mu Fan naturally knew nothing about the PO Battle Network.

"The PO Battle Network, the most thrilling, most fun place there is! How could you not know about it? Are you from the countryside?" When Fatty saw Mu Fan nod, he just gave up and patiently explained. "You know the PO Cross-Galaxy Group, right? No? Forget it, pretend I didn't say anything. Anyway, it's a virtual network. Besides relaxing and chatting inside, you can also engage in all kinds of battles—from human combat all the way to mecha combat. It's a comprehensive battle network!!"

"Network?" When Mu Fan heard this word, he suddenly tilted his head. "Is it related to a light brain?"

"Yeah, you don't know? I thought you bought a light brain just to get into the PO Battle Network. Through a light brain, you can enter the battle network, use some basic functions, and do low-level fighting. But I don't recommend you try higher-level combat, because it's not a virtual pod—there's no neural link to your body. Anyone entering through a light brain has the same stats—the lowest level. Only your reaction speed and awareness differ. If you use a light brain to PK someone in a virtual pod, you'll just get crushed." Fatty got excited just talking about the PO Battle Network. He plopped down on the edge of the training field and started guiding Mu Fan, this pure newbie. It was rare to have someone so humble and eager to learn from Brother Fatty—this feeling was way too comfortable.

"I need a light brain, but I don't know about this battle network you mentioned." Mu Fan answered very seriously.

"No problem! You don't know it, but this young master will take you in, and then you'll know!"

"Sorry, I need to earn money. I don't have more time to play."

"Earn money!?" Fatty was stunned by this word, which felt so distant to him. "Earn money! Sure, you can go fight. Whether it's human combat or mecha combat, lots of people watch. We're in the Star River Federation Fourth District's battle network. It can't compare to the top three districts, but the number of people is still beyond your imagination. If you fight well, you can sell your videos. Even if each person pays just half a Star Coin, you could make ten thousand a day! And the videos of top-tier fighters have way more viewers than that! ... Uh, Brother Fatty here can also earn his own money if he tries a bit harder."

"Ten thousand a day... ten thousand a day..." Mu Fan didn't hear anything else—only those four words echoed in his mind like a morning bell or evening drum.

"Wake up, wake up! Come on, big bro will show you first. We don't have a virtual pod or a head-mounted light brain right now, but I've got a Sky Communicator you can look at. There are some real experts in there, I'm telling you! Don't get dazzled!" Fatty's palms itched just thinking about the PO Battle Network, and he had no mind for practice. He grabbed Mu Fan and dragged him toward the door where the Sky Communicator was kept.

The two sat on the floor in front of the lockers, heads crowded together in one direction.

"Sky Communicator?" Mu Fan saw this obviously high-end gadget for the first time. It was palm-sized, with a silver-white body studded with a few shiny buttons. The middle part was a three-dimensional imaging device. Fatty pressed a button to start the Sky Communicator, and a foot-square image formed in the middle. Then, his fingers deftly tapped the air a few times, and he was already in the PO Battle Network's forum. In the forum, interstellar lag didn't affect players as much, so everyone could watch expert videos from other battle zones.

Fatty first opened the video of that fantasy-style move, Lotus Fall, for Mu Fan to watch. He figured this kind of flashy, imagination-only move would definitely stun this country bumpkin.

Sure enough, he turned his head and saw Mu Fan staring straight at the mecha in the image, his face glowing like a starving ghost seeing meat.

In every man's heart, who hasn't dreamed of piloting a steel giant among the stars? Who hasn't wished to drive a mecha and fight fiercely on a battlefield? Mu Fan's eyes didn't blink as he stared at the image. The dazzling, chaotic movements filled him with admiration! No wonder he was an expert—using a mecha so freely and imaginatively! Poor Mu Fan had no idea Fatty was tricking him with special moves that didn't exist in reality.

"So? Cool or what!?" Fatty showed off smugly, as if the red-and-white mecha in the image were him. Seeing Mu Fan nod affirmatively, he closed it and prepared to open another video.

Mu Fan clearly wasn't done with that fantasy-style video. He frowned slightly when Fatty closed it.

"Check this out. That mecha stuff is still a bit far off for you. Let me show you something familiar—watch some expert-level combat!" Fatty's face flushed with excitement. Even though he played fantasy-style, he loved watching this kind of real, flesh-and-blood fighting—a realm he could only touch in his dreams.

Fatty opened the Real Combat section of the forum and clicked into it without looking back. "Basically, all mecha experts have some combat skills. If you don't have any combat skills at all, you can't pilot a mecha. Of course, there are also some freaks who are great at combat but terrible at piloting. But these moves are definitely worth referencing. Come on, look at this—it's an expert from the Star River Federation, Dark Right Foot. He's got a new video out."

"This Dark Right Foot is said to be a military combat expert, a Diamond 5-Star in the combat zone. He doesn't hang around the mecha zone much—probably a marine. This guy's moves are always known for being high-difficulty and flashy. This time, he's up against a Diamond 3-Star challenger!" Fatty excitedly clicked open the video, muttering, "It's paid—20 Star Coins. Bought it. Let me open your eyes."

Mu Fan didn't feel much from all that talk, but when he heard "paid," his heart ached. 20 Star Coins, just like that.

The scene in the video was a closed martial arts dojo, shot from a God's Perspective at the top. On the left, a figure in a white martial arts uniform with a shadow mask was labeled by the system as Dark Right Foot. His build was well-proportioned, and he stood there without a single unnecessary movement, like a cold, humanoid weapon. As if to match his name, the right pant leg from the knee down was covered in intricate dark patterns. Even without the name, you'd know who it was.

On the right, the other man had his fists wrapped in cloth strips, his stance solid and steady. His face was blurred, but it was clear he was staring at his opponent, not daring to make any other move.

The countdown hit zero. The challenger attacked first. His right fist seemed slow but was actually fast, shooting straight for Dark Right Foot's throat. A beautiful afterimage left Fatty no time to gasp. Then, under the battle network's slow-motion replay, the punch suddenly changed direction mid-strike, aiming for the collarbone instead. The fist technique was truly seasoned! In that instant, which no normal person could see clearly, it already proved the style of a Diamond-level fighter.

Mu Fan squinted, watching the video. Dark Right Foot sidestepped, the fist grazing past his left arm. Then, in an instant, his entire movement turned brutal and fierce. Using his left foot as a pivot, he lifted his right leg and delivered a swift knee strike, meeting the challenger's hidden left punch. As the opponent retreated to defend, he pressed forward, bent down, pulled back his fist, and pressed his left elbow down to counter another punch.

In just a few seconds, the two had exchanged over a dozen blows. According to the system's damage calculations, both had already lost a good chunk of their stamina. When stamina hit zero, it was defeat.

After another rapid exchange, Dark Right Foot took a small step back, steadied himself, and lifted his right leg. "He's about to use his ultimate move!! He's about to use his ultimate move!!! Look, look, what is it this time!" Fatty's eyes went wide as he pounded his fist into his palm.

Mu Fan still squinted at the video, his face expressionless.

The opponent clearly sensed something unusual, his eyes flicking toward the raised right leg. The dark patterns on the pant leg seemed to flow. But the moment the challenger's eyes shifted, that raised right leg moved. It shot out at a speed the opponent couldn't react to, kicking away the left fist still in midair. Then the left leg followed, blocking the opponent's right fist. Suddenly, the right leg snapped back, and Dark Right Foot twisted his body with force. Fatty could almost hear his own muscles creaking and grinding. Then, like a black lightning bolt flashing through daylight, the man launched himself into the air, his leg driving his body. His left foot pulled back, and his right leg carved a massive, semicircular black afterimage through the air. Boom! A deafening sound. The black lightning stopped abruptly at head height. The challenger, still frozen in the pose of a punch he hadn't retracted, exploded into mist. Stamina hit zero!

"Ah!! That's so intense!!! Is that even a human move?! Did you see that?! Crescent Wind Remnant!! Crescent Wind Remnant!!" Fatty was nearly screaming, his eyes still glued to the Sky Communicator, but he couldn't help shaking Mu Fan beside him.

But Fatty quickly noticed something was off. Mu Fan didn't let out any of the expected gasps or praise—not even a sound. Was he stunned? Fatty turned to look at Mu Fan.

With the same wooden expression as when they first met, Mu Fan was also looking back at him, as if asking what was wrong.

"Did you watch the video just now?" Fatty thought Mu Fan hadn't been paying attention and got a little annoyed.

"I watched." A concise answer.

"So? What did you think? Why no reaction!!" Fatty's brows furrowed together.

A hint of curiosity flickered in Mu Fan's eyes as he glanced at Fatty, then back at the frozen final frame in the Sky Communicator. His lips moved.

"That move... I should be able to do it too."

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PS: Thanks to fellow reader "Discrete Math" for the 100 Star Coin tip. I'm reading every one of your comments carefully. Thank you for your continued support.