With the blessing of the Black Star Character Card [Undying Body], Frenzied Saber is like a god descending to earth, abandoning more than 80% of his defense and focusing on output.
Melee mechanical weapons slashed and swept wildly, carving deep trenches into the arena. They constantly switched between guns and cannons, firing swarms of homing Bee Swarm that triggered a series of deafening explosions. Clusters of orange-red Explosive Flame rose into the air, the temperature soared, and the air was thick with the smell of gunpowder.
The Captain Viking was in a sorry state, constantly rolling around in the bombardment area to avoid damage. He activated his Berserk character card, intending to go head-to-head with the Frenzied Saber. However, any damage he inflicted on his opponent with his battle Battle Axe was instantly healed, rendering his attacks ineffective. With such abnormal healing ability, charging in to fight head-on would only result in certain death.
With no other option, the Captain Viking had to adjust his tactics and switch to stalling for time.
The character card has a time limit. Although the Frenzied Saber's healing is powerful, his damage output hasn't increased. Captain Viking has given up on defeating the Frenzied Saber and is only thinking about stalling for time. The longer he can stall, the easier it will be for his teammates later.
The Captain Viking activated a special skill, turning his epic enchanted Battle Axe axe blue and transparent, as if it had become an ice axe. He transformed his physical basic attacks into icy slashing waves, thus slowing down the Frenzied Saber's speed.
Frenzied Saber relentlessly pressed forward. The mobility of a mech warrior far surpasses that of a martial artist, and even with a slight reduction in speed, the Captain Viking could not escape the close-quarters combat range.
With a click, his mecha arm transformed into a massive alloy cleaver, crackling with Mechanical Force and electric sparks, which slammed down with tremendous force.
Ding ding ding!
The alloy cleaver, wreathed in dazzling Mechanical Force, clashed repeatedly with the ice-like dual Battle Axe, producing crisp sounds and scattering large amounts of orange-red sparks and blue ice shards. Each impact also unleashed invisible shockwaves of air. The two figures were enveloped in a tornado-like ice storm and rampant Thunder, creating a spectacular visual effect.
It's at least Grade B, so the battle effects between players are much more visually appealing.
Captain Viking could only grit his teeth and endure, his health soon dropping below 40% and his condition declining. In contrast, Frenzied Saber remained vigorous, his attacks still at their peak intensity.
Kara!
Just then, the ground beneath Captain Viking's feet suddenly cracked open, and a burrowing spider burst forth, releasing a surge of electricity that converged on Captain Viking's feet. Captain Viking's feet went numb, and he entered a brief state of [movement paralysis], frozen in place.
During the fierce battle, Frenzied Saber secretly controlled the mech, using movement as cover to release burrowing mechanical spiders from the leg armor, sneaking up to the feet of the Captain Viking, and unleashing a control skill that caused the enemy to be fatally stunned.
Mechanized warriors have a wide variety of close-combat techniques, like a combination of weapon masters and hidden weapon masters, with a far greater number of control skills than martial artists.
Taking advantage of the opportunity, Frenzied Saber switched to his mechanical spear and thrust it out fiercely.
The Captain Viking could only hastily raise his double axes to parry.
Clang!
The mechanical spear slammed heavily into the overlapping axe surfaces of the double axes, sparks flying. The Captain Viking felt a surge of immense force, containing high-frequency vibrations, clearly indicating the use of a skill combined with weapon characteristics. The force of his double axes shifted, his blocking stance crumbled, and his defenses were wide open.
The next moment, the tip of the mechanical spear suddenly deformed, splitting into four spider-leg-like mechanical limbs. These limbs bent and pierced the Captain Viking's back with their tips, pinning him to the spot. It looked as if the mechanical spear had transformed into a claw and seized its target.
At the same time, the tip of the mechanical spear transformed into a dark cannon muzzle, surging with dazzling plasma light, aimed at the immobilized Captain Viking.
Brush!
A bright blue plasma beam shot out from it, instantly piercing through the Captain Viking's chest. The plasma beam extended for a meter, condensing without dissipating, as if it had transformed into a sword's edge—this was the weapon's form release, turning into a light spear.
Taking advantage of the opportunity, Frenzied Saber unleashed a dazzling weapon combo, depleting the Captain Viking's last bit of health and slaying him on the arena.
Because of the Black Star Character Card, he can abandon defense and focus on attack. Without the worry of low health, his margin for error increases dozens of times. He is more willing to take risks, and his personal skill level has risen to a new level, making for a very enjoyable experience.
"That combo was pretty cool; the Mech Warrior class is definitely stylish."
"I'm thinking of creating a Mech Warrior alt account."
"Stop daydreaming. A professional player's Mech Warrior and your Mech Warrior are completely different creatures. Don't drag others down if you're a noob."
The next contestant quickly stepped onto the stage. Even if he tried to stall for time like the Captain Viking, it was no use. Frenzied Saber became even more valiant, cutting down three Battle Axe contestants in a row.
The existence of the Black Star Character Card gives him an endurance far beyond imagination, making him almost a perpetual motion machine.
The Huaxia audience was thoroughly enjoying the show, but as Frenzied Saber continued to utilize the abilities of the Black Star Character Card, many viewers suddenly realized a strange problem.
"By the way, Black Star is supposed to be Mechanic Class, right..."
"Yes, this [Undying Body] ability is much stronger than the previous [Advanced Tenacious Life], it seems to be the core ability of a martial artist no matter how you look at it..."
"I get it! A mechanic who doesn't have stamina... has no soul!"
"Got it, got it! So tanking is the true way to play the Mechanic."
The Huaxia audience made sarcastic remarks.
However, it seems that Frenzied Saber uses Black Star's abilities in every tournament, and they have witnessed Black Star Character Card effects become increasingly abnormal.
From the first Mechanical Affinity, to the second Advanced Tenacious Life, and now the Undying Body, each iteration represents a significant leap forward.
--We've witnessed Black Star's rise step by step, haven't we?
Many people have this idea, feeling a sense of satisfaction as witnesses.
Frenzied Saber's combat power was overwhelming. He used all sorts of techniques to pin his opponent to the ground and grind him down repeatedly. The other Battle Axe didn't waste their trump cards either, letting Frenzied Saber single-handedly dominate the arena and gain another huge wave of victory points.
Although it was only a fleeting glimpse, the terrifying power of the [Undying Body] has already left an indelible impression on the minds of countless players.
Everyone was curious about what other amazing abilities Black Star possessed; he always managed to surprise everyone.
Looking at the discussions on the forum, Han Xiao could foresee that in the future, as long as legion players obtained Blank Character Card, they would probably all rush over to replicate themselves.
The subsequent capture-the-flag competition became Maple Moon's stage. She directly captured a fortress position at the flag point and unleashed Battle Axe to capture the flag, it would have to pay several times the price, causing the gap in capture-the-flag scores between the two sides to widen further.
Jiangcheng gave Battle Axe no chance to turn the tide and secured another victory.
Having won three consecutive matches, Jiangcheng had secured the victory, making the remaining two dungeon matches much easier, just a formality. The first game ended after five rounds, with Jiangcheng winning by Battle Axe victory over Zhanfu, securing the first win of the first round and a winning start.
The first round of the international finals was in full swing, with all eight teams giving it their all and delivering some of the most exciting matches of the season so far.
The results of the first round are in, sending all Huaxia viewers into a frenzy of excitement.
Jiangcheng defeated Swedish Battle Axe 3-1, Dynasty defeated the American Devil 3-1, Long Sky defeated Japan's Yamata...
In other words, the best-case scenario for Huaxia viewers has come true—all three Huaxia teams have advanced to the semifinals after the first round!
Last year's results were already excellent, and this year they have gone even further, occupying three of the four international top four spots. The only foreign team left out is the American team, KEY!
When the list was released, players from all regions were shocked. No one expected that Huaxia's performance this year would be so strong, truly demonstrating dominance!
This is a demon king!
This year's Huaxia teams are incredibly strong, and Team KEY is the only remaining representative, carrying the hopes of players from all other regions.
Apart from the Shattered Star Ring region, all other players are united in their hatred of the enemy, hoping that KEY can rise against the odds, break the blockade of the Huaxia Demon King, and become the vanguard in the fight against China.
Compared to the do-or-die mentality of foreign spectators, Huaxia players were overjoyed. With three of their players in the top four, they had essentially secured a spot in the finals, and this time, the chances of Huaxia team facing off for the championship and runner-up were even greater.
In the World Finals, it would be a tremendous honor if the final two teams were both from the same country. If Huaxia could be the first to achieve this, it would be a historic achievement with special milestone significance, and Huaxia players are eagerly anticipating it.
The eager anticipation of domestic audiences and the shared antagonism of foreign players put all the pressure on the Jiangcheng Team —the opponent that KEY drew in the semifinals was Jiangcheng.
If they beat KEY, everything will be great; Jiangcheng will become a history-breaking club and gain the opportunity to become a top-tier club...
But if they lose to KEY, they will waste this great opportunity to create a milestone, disappoint the domestic audience, and their club's hard-earned reputation will plummet... It's a double-edged sword!
For all the viewers, the match between Jiangcheng and KEY was essentially the final of this tournament. If Jiangcheng won, the championship would be Huaxia's for the taking!
On the Shattered Star Ring platform, numerous players spontaneously mobilized to collect information on the KEY team, analyze their opponents' tactics, and work together to help Jiangcheng analyze intelligence.
Although Jiangcheng might not necessarily need it, this enthusiasm greatly Inspiration Frenzied Saber and the others.
Amidst much anticipation, the international semi-finals began. The internal battle between the old rivals, Dynasty and Long Sky, attracted little attention; almost all the viewers were watching the duel between Jiangcheng and KEY.
In terms of team strength alone, KEY has core players transferred from the Devil, and their overall strength is definitely top-tier. Those who can break through from Group A are not simple, and the Americans are basically all demons, with strong talent.
KEY's team leader is Key of Solomon, who is an old rival of Frenzied Saber. The two faced off in the first individual tournament, where Key of Solomon lost to Frenzied Saber. Two versions have passed, and Key of Solomon has improved.
The match became incredibly intense from the moment the two teams started, with the score remaining close and fiercely contested. After four rounds of intense battle, the score was tied at 2-2, leading to the final match point.
Both Huaxia and foreign viewers were on the edge of their seats, their hearts rising and falling with the tide of the battle.
In the final round, neither the team battle nor the arena battle showed a clear advantage. However, in the subsequent capture the flag and dungeon battles, Maple Moon displayed her prowess, using all her trump cards and even bringing out the prototype of the Void Dragon Mechanical Suit, which laid a solid foundation for the team's victory.
The final score was 3-2, with Jiangcheng winning the semi-final. Maple Moon's contribution was immense, earning her a large number of loyal fans.
On the other side, Dynasty defeated Long Sky. The two teams faced off in an internal battle, just like in the previous competition. However, the result was the opposite. Long Sky was no match for the Dynasty this time and was eliminated in the semifinals. Dynasty had thus completed its Revenge.
The two Huaxia teams meeting in the finals marks a milestone for the professional league!
The Huaxia audience was excited but also relieved and satisfied.
Foreign viewers were very disappointed because KEY did not make it to the finals, and the final of the Huaxia derby received less attention than the semi-finals.
Both Huaxia teams had a strong desire to win, but they didn't clash with each other and played steadily.
Unfortunately, Jiangcheng was greatly exhausted in the semifinals and showed a clear decline, while Dynasty only played four semifinal matches and had more time to rest and recuperate.
In the end, Jiangcheng suffered a regrettable defeat, and the Dynasty won the international finals, allowing Huaxia to successfully defend its title!
The Huaxia audience felt triumphant, but not as surprised as when they won the championship for the first time last time. It was more of a sense of satisfaction that came naturally – Huaxia is now one of the top teams in the world, and winning the championship is something to celebrate, but it is not entirely unexpected.
Unlike in the past, now it's not the Huaxia team challenging others, but others challenging the Huaxia team. This sense of honor of being challenged as the Great Demon King is quite pleasing to many Huaxia viewers.
Because Jiangcheng achieved the milestone of reaching the finals, although they lost the finals, the Huaxia audience was very understanding and did not hesitate to give them applause and encouragement.
Those netizens who were skeptical of Huaxia's chances of defending their title before the competition had nothing to say; they all fell silent in the face of a hard-won championship... As for whether they were secretly pleased with the result, Han Xiao guessed they were.
Huaxia successfully defended its title, and excited Legion players cheered on the forums. Han Xiao was also quite happy, but in his opinion, it was a mixed blessing.
The league results will affect players' daily actions. In the next version, all major regions will gather to Shattered World. Huaxia, having won two consecutive championships, is likely to become the target of everyone's attacks. As the largest player faction in the Shattered Star Ring, the Black Star Army may face challenges and targeting from players of other factions...
Foreign clubs alone will surely unite to contain Huaxia clubs, seizing resources, tasks, and territory.
Version 4.0 is the version where players officially make their name and step onto the stage of the cosmic faction war. Han Xiao will not underestimate the suicidal tendencies of tens of millions of players in each region.
To address this, a vast foundation must be established in the Shattered World in advance during version updates.
This is where version 4.0 stands.
"This version update is crucial for my further development..."
Letting out a breath and composing himself, Han Xiao shut down the forum that was caught up in a frenzy, rubbed his chin, and pondered silently.