Outside the Psionic Energy Restriction Belt, Han Xiao and Viru floated in space, while a spaceship watched them from a distance.
The spaceship carried Clottey and several other Beyond Grade A members, as well as Ames, Iso, and their group who arrived later. Both sides watched the battle from the same ship.
"Long time no see, Iso," the Ancient Ones member greeted with a forced smile.
"Ravenlaude, you're still alive?" Iso said irritably.
"I haven't heard from you since you were kicked out of the Ancient Ones. So you went to the most remote Shattered Star Ring. What, couldn't make it in other star systems?" Ravenlaude said with a playful tone.
"You've lived too long, your brain is starting to forget. How come I remember voluntarily withdrawing from the Ancient Ones?" Iso glanced at him indifferently.
Among the Ancient Ones, Iso's relationship with this person was only so-so.
When Iso withdrew from the Ancient Ones, besides not wanting the title to hinder his own self-destruction, there was also the factor of his strained relationship with the Ancient Ones. As a powerful prophet, he didn't like using his abilities on unrelated people, and the repeated refusals became the root of the conflict.
Ames didn't recognize anyone and stood alone to the side watching the battle, clearly separated from Clottey and her group.
This was an opportunity to observe Black Star's strength. Apart from Clottey, who was not very interested, everyone else was on high alert, waiting for the two to fight.
Everyone knew Viru's strength; his combat power had been tested countless times and was beyond doubt. So the only question was how passively Black Star would be beaten.
Black Star is said to have the nickname "Undying Body," and his physical toughness seems to rival that of Tyrant. It's unknown whether he can withstand Viru's earth-shattering Blades.
Han Xiao activated his mecha, his helmet obscuring his face so no one could see his expression. Then, he spread his arms, and Secondary Dimension portal opened, unleashing a massive, dark mechanical army that instantly filled the battlefield.
"There are quite a few of them, but they're all just cannon fodder in front of me." Viru sneered inwardly, his muscles bulging as indigo flames surged and burned across his body.
He made a grasping motion with his right palm, and surging flames gathered in his palm, continuously extending and transforming into a blue energy blade hundreds of meters long, as if it had solidified into a physical form.
Based on their preferred martial arts style, the Pugilist Class also has different branches. The combat branch, as the name suggests, is good at using weapons in combat. This is different from the weapon warriors. Weapon warriors rely entirely on weapons to fight, using Mechanical Force to enhance the power of mechanical weapons. Martial artists, on the other hand, only use weapons to better exert their own martial arts skills. The power to kill still comes from their own martial arts aura.
With a surge of energy, Viru channeled his aura into his hundreds-of-meters-long sword, unleashing a series of blue light blades that continuously extended in length, sweeping across the mechanical legion's formation. The mechanical soldiers struck first shattered, while the power of the light blades gradually diminished. Although the mechanical soldiers behind were severely injured, they were merely sent flying, staggering about.
Han Xiao activated a series of buff skills, controlling the mechanical legion to surround and kill them.
Viru was surrounded by a dense mass of dark mechanical soldiers. His sword danced like a blue ball of light, and the radiating blades of light continuously tore through the mechanical soldiers' formation, causing wave after wave of massive damage, as if an energy tornado had appeared in the universe.
"This guy's firepower is indeed formidable; even Heber might not be as good as him." Battle information scrolled by like a river, and Han Xiao secretly clicked his tongue in amazement.
Compared to Heber's solid and imposing fist stance, Viru's combat style is characterized by speed and sharpness, with impressive AOE damage and terrifying single-target damage. Just now, a defensive behemoth hundreds of meters tall with its shield fully activated was still cleaved in two by Viru's casual slash, with no hindrance in his blade.
However, Han Xiao didn't choose this opponent randomly. While Viru had strong attack power, there was one area where he couldn't compare to Heber... that was, his durability was far inferior to Heber's!
Although this guy is a martial artist and possesses a ton of damage reduction feats, he lacks a crucial tanking ability... He doesn't have True Damage Immunity!
Viru has a feat that reduces true damage by 50%, which is much weaker than True Damage Immunity. Even with only half the true damage, the damage is still terrifyingly high compared to normal damage!
These two have different styles: a tanky warrior and a damage-dealing warrior. The former is like a piece of chewing gum, and you can only fight them with your bare hands. The latter is someone who is indirectly countered by Han Xiao!
Blades of light rained down, causing significant damage to the dense formation. The mechanical legion responded by spreading out and unleashing a barrage of long-range artillery fire.
As Psionic Energy cannons rained down, Viru's sword danced into a ball of light. He used some kind of martial technique to transform the sword light surrounding him into a special shield, blocking most of the Psionic Energy cannon fire. One after another, explosive balls of light were born and disappeared with the slashing of his sword.
However, the mechanical legion was too numerous, and with such a dense attack, Viru's defenses inevitably had gaps. The Psionic Energy cannon that managed to penetrate the shield of blades struck his body, causing his protective aura to fluctuate continuously.
As he sensed the annihilation of the cells within his body, Viru's expression changed.
"Such formidable power... A prolonged battle is not for me; I need to attack its main body."
Thinking of this, Viru's aura suddenly surged, and the protective shield of sword light that had been gathered around him expanded, transforming into a shockwave that sent the surrounding mechanical soldiers flying.
Immediately afterwards, he gripped the sword in a reverse grip, his entire body transforming into a blue phantom as he charged towards Han Xiao, leaving countless afterimages in his wake. He rushed to the front of the mechanical troops, then switched his sword from a reverse grip to a normal grip, delivering a thrust that seemed to merge all the afterimages into this single strike.
Star-Slashing Style Martial Art - Blade Shadow: Torrent!
Hundreds of light blades erupted simultaneously, spreading outwards like a dam bursting, instantly overwhelming one direction of the mechanical force's front line, penetrating several layers of defense, and shattering mechanical parts scattered everywhere.
Seeing this, Han Xiao clenched his fist, and blue-gold Mechanical Force shot out from the Void Dimension, like a lightning net, grabbing all the parts and sticking them together.
Scrap Modification!
Advanced Mechanical Generation!
The broken parts were restored into mechanical warriors.
However, in that brief moment, Viru's figure vanished, as if teleporting through the encirclement, and flashed in front of Han Xiao. The battle blade formed by his martial arts aura shrank from hundreds of meters to its normal size, its power becoming even more concentrated, and he slashed down!
"This isn't the first time I've clashed with a mechanic!"
Viru remained expressionless. It was no secret that the mechanic possessed the ability to Scrap Modification. He was experienced and knew the mechanic would definitely use this move. Taking advantage of this moment, he used his special movement skill to instantly close the distance. He was a martial artist with a swift style, and his methods of closing the distance were more diverse Heber's.
Brush!
The blade flashed across Han Xiao's body without any hindrance, as if cutting him in two. However, Viru did not feel any solid impact, causing his expression to change drastically.
The figure of "Han Xiao," which had been split in two, suddenly disappeared, while his true form was just over ten meters away, its position shifted.
Just now, Han Xiao used some kind of illusion field generator to mislead the martial artist's senses. It is very difficult to deceive a Beyond Grade A martial artist who can lock onto a target with his aura. This special illusion generator is one of the advanced machines that Han Xiao created. It can be used in Beyond Grade A battles to create an illusion that perfectly simulates even the fluctuations of one's own energy. It has a relatively long cooldown time.
Having missed his first strike, Viru didn't stop moving. In a hasty motion, he swung his sword again, the blade extending longer and faster, slashing towards Han Xiao's chest like a whip.
Star-Slashing Style Martial Art - Whiplash Slash!
The knife was originally aimed at Han Xiao's chest, but Viru shifted its direction and slashed at Han Xiao's head instead.
However, Han Xiao's response surprised him; instead of dodging or avoiding, he went straight to meet him.
The blade flashed and cleaved through the mecha's outer shell, slicing across Han Xiao's forehead, drawing blood.
Viru was startled and before he could sheathe his sword, Han Xiao grabbed his arm and punched him squarely in the chest, unleashing a powerful [Tiger's Roar] from the War Tiger mech.
Thump!
The shockwave reverberated through Viru's body, destroying a large number of cells, which were then rapidly regenerated under the nourishment of Viru's energy, in a continuous cycle that caused him waves of intense pain.
The attribute bonuses from [Mechanical Apostolization] and [Mechanical Force - Royal Authority] greatly increased Han Xiao's individual combat strength, and the power of this attack was also enhanced.
Immediately afterward, Han Xiao's bloody wound healed right under Viru's nose, and the mecha's nanoparticles repaired the gaping hole in the armor.
"This resilience..." Viru's eyes narrowed suddenly.
Just then, the mechanical legion behind Viru turned their guns and opened fire on the two of them.
Viru's expression hardened, and he was about to withdraw when two enhanced and modified Oathkeeper suddenly appeared beside Han Xiao and rushed up to engage in combat.
With a single slash, the blade struck the body of the Oathkeeper, but encountered immense resistance, failing to sever it in two. Blue-gold Mechanical Force flickered erratically within the wounds of the two Oathkeeper.
These two are super elite war machines that have received the [Emperor's Gift] buff; even Beyond Grade A cannot take them down in one shot.
Unable to destroy both Oathkeeper with a single strike, Viru reacted quickly, hastily using his energy to send the two mechanical warriors flying. However, he also suffered a counterattack from the Oathkeeper, being blasted in the chest by a series of Psionic Energy palm strikes, causing his movements to falter once again.
The Psionic Energy cannons behind him also opened fire, bombarding his back with a series of shots. In the rush, Viru was unwilling to give up the opportunity to get close. He turned his blade and slashed backward to create a defensive light shield, barely blocking the concentrated fire for a moment. Then he continued to slash and launched a fierce attack on Han Xiao.
The flash of the blade carried the two away from their original position, transforming them into shooting stars as they disappeared into the distance.
The two engaged in close combat, their blades flashing across Han Xiao's body time and again, tearing away pieces of mecha and flesh. However, his recovery speed was visible to the naked eye; his wounds healed completely in the blink of an eye.
As Viru fought, he became increasingly alarmed. He had heard of Han Xiao's nickname "Undying Body," but seeing it with his own eyes, he never expected it to be so terrifying.
Clottey, who had been watching the battle from a distance, had somehow abandoned his nonchalant attitude and his expression had turned serious as he intently watched the fight between the two.
Han Xiao's recovery ability also made him feel uneasy and uncertain.
In his memory, no mechanic had ever possessed such a strong physique, not even inferior to a martial artist.
"This level of combat power shouldn't be what a newly promoted rookie should have," one person exclaimed in surprise, echoing the thoughts of everyone present.
[Counter-Strike Thorns] and [Void Dimension Jump] were used in turn to neutralize the opponent's moves. The two chased each other and fought briefly. Finally, the layers of mechanical legions held back Viru again, allowing Han Xiao to break free from close combat.
Despite enduring Viru's relentless attacks, Han Xiao remained virtually unharmed; at least, no one could discern any damage on his face.
Han Xiao patted his chest and opened his arms to Viru.
Before Viru could react, the mechanical legion intensified its offensive, using various traps to suppress him, putting Viru on the defensive for a brief period.
At that moment, several massive heavy mechanical cannons deployed behind Han Xiao, Psionic Energy began to condense, emitting intense energy fluctuations.
"Star Destroyer Cannon!" Viru's expression changed. They actually brought out such a strategic weapon of mass destruction. This had gone beyond the scope of a mere sparring match!
Suddenly, hundreds of electromagnetic chains shot out from the surrounding mechanical legion formation, wrapping around Viru's hands, feet, and torso from all directions, binding him tightly.
Viru tried to break free, but was surprised to find that he could not break free of this control method at once. It was as if the control was elastic tentacles that knew how to deflect the force on their own.
The Electromagnetic Positioning and Capturing Device - Activated Type, a single-unit control type mechanical trap, is a mechanical device modified by Han Xiao using cutting-edge knowledge [Activation Theory]. It can also play a temporary control role against Beyond Grade A targets. It belongs to the category of advanced machinery. It was mixed in with the mechanical legion and launched a surprise attack, catching Viru red-handed.
The next moment, squads of mechs focused their fire on Viru, unleashing a barrage of Psionic Energy cannon fire like Rainstorm downpour!
The light illuminated Viru's drastically changed expression. He suddenly unleashed his full-body aura, which transformed into countless flame blades that spun rapidly around his body, forming layers of protective shields.
Blade Control - Qi Barrier!
The distant explosion sphere expanded, and Han Xiao controlled the fully charged secondary space-based star destroyer to fire. Several thick, dark blue beams of light shot out, heading straight for Viru, who was under concentrated fire.
The planet-destroying cannon had only fired halfway when suddenly clusters of dark energy appeared out of nowhere in front of it, blocking its path. They collided with the Psionic Energy beams, exploding into chain reaction explosions that continued to expand in the universe.
On the other side, barriers of dark energy blocked the legion's concentrated fire, giving Viru a chance to catch his breath.
He hurriedly broke free from the trap's control, activated some kind of movement skill, and transformed into a blue light, escaping the battlefield. He hovered to the side, looking disheveled and rather wretched, his face pale, as if he had suffered a serious injury.
If it were Heber, this attack would be nothing more than a tickle, but Viru is not Heber, and his health was significantly reduced by the true damage.
Han Xiao narrowed his eyes, signaling the mechanical legion to stop, and turned to look at the spaceship.
Clottey was standing behind the porthole, and at some point he raised a hand. The dark energy from before was controlled by him, and he intervened in the battle between the two.
"The sparring is over," Clottey said slowly over the communication channel. "This match... will be considered a draw."
A draw?
The expressions on everyone's faces varied.
They were all discerning people and knew that this was just a way of saving face for Viru. Judging from the situation just now, Han Xiao had undoubtedly won and had also demonstrated his fighting style.
With his powerful regenerative abilities, massive mechanical army, and bizarre attack power, this type of mechanic has virtually no weaknesses. Everyone was astonished and put aside their slight disdain for Han Xiao's newcomer status and his origins in the Shattered Star Ring.
Han Xiao's strength has earned them their respect.
Viru looked displeased. As the one being challenged, he had been full of confidence, but now he had suffered a humiliating defeat and been used as a target for a newcomer to establish his authority. He felt very embarrassed and unhappy.
However, since his opponent had the upper hand fairly and squarely, he had nothing to say and could only feel secretly annoyed.
Upon hearing Clottey's words, Han Xiao remained noncommittal and put away the mechanical legion.
The outcome doesn't matter; as long as he achieves his goal of demonstrating his strength, that's enough for him.
Moreover, if Viru disregards casualties and unleashes his full destructive power, his explosive force will be no less than that of Heber, and even with his strong recovery ability, he will not be able to withstand it.
The reason he had the upper hand in the sparring was partly due to the advantage of his ability, and partly due to the nature of the battle. It seemed like he was completely dominating, but if they really fought, Viru might not repeat his mistakes. His chances of winning were not stable.
"I still need to improve my strength," Han Xiao thought to himself.
Among the Beyond Grade A, he excels in attrition warfare, but he cannot achieve overwhelming superiority through sheer strength.
He has accumulated a lot of experience, and once the experience penalty period is over, he can usher in a new round of leveling up.
By then, I estimate I'll be able to rise one level within the Beyond Grade A group.
Back on the spaceship, as I entered the cabin, everyone greeted me.
Han Xiao noticed that the gazes of the crowd had shifted from scrutiny to a degree of respect, and he nodded secretly.
Only after this exchange, when my skills were recognized by everyone, could I be officially accepted into this circle.
Viru followed Han Xiao in, his face sour and sullen. He turned around and said in a deep voice, "We'll have another chance to spar another time."
"Then I guess there's not much of a chance." Han Xiao raised an eyebrow. He was joking. Why would I bother fighting you if there was no benefit in it? I'm not a battle maniac.
However, it seems that most martial artists are battle maniacs... Han Xiao couldn't help but think of Heber's muscular domain.