"Unarmored Jude Advances to Finals!"
"Next up is the second round of battles!"
"A quick announcement."
"Following the second round, we'll have a two-hour break to give the finalists ample preparation time!"
...
As all eyes focused on the host,
Gu Ya rescued Wu Xuan from the wreckage of the Defiant's scrap heap,
And helped him walk towards the edge of the arena.
The two returned to the junkyard. Old Stickhead treated Wu Xuan's wounds. Emerging from the tent, he said to Gu Ya, "His right arm is fractured, and his left leg is still bleeding. He won't be able to participate in the finals."
Gu Ya nodded, swallowed his last bite of food, and entered the tent.
Wu Xuan lay on the bed, his right arm immobilized by a splint, his left calf wrapped in thick bandages.
Seeing Gu Ya, he said, "I'm sorry."
Gu Ya patted his shoulder and comforted him, "Rest up. I'll handle the final match myself."
...
Wang Panpan led over a dozen members to the General Security Department of the Power District.
Upon entering the office of the Chief of the General Security Department, the dozen people immediately knelt down, their movements synchronized and decisive.
The Chief of the General Security Department, exuding authority, roared, "Wang Panpan, what is the meaning of this!"
Wang Panpan raised his head, his eyes red and swollen, and said heartbrokenly, "Chief! My brothers voluntarily sold their mechs and motorcycles and pooled together 240,000 White Star Coins!"
"Chief! I beg you, let me redeem the Fierce Crocodile! That's the last memento from my parents before they died!"
Wang Panpan cried out, bowing his head to the ground.
The members behind him, seeing their leader so determined, followed suit.
Upon hearing this, the Chief of the General Security Department relented, saying earnestly, "Wang Panpan, you know that Power District 11 is a model security district. Therefore..."
Before long, Wang Panpan was led to the backyard.
The Fierce Crocodile mech's outer armor had been stripped off. It looked like a withered old man, its former robustness completely gone.
Wang Panpan's heart ached, but he gritted his teeth and endured.
He turned around, clutched his chest, and said painfully, "Brothers, if I go now, I will likely share life and death with Gu Ya!"
The members were stunned.
"Boss! What did you say?"
"Boss, don't go! Let's escape!"
Wang Panpan waved his hand, saying with tragic grandeur as if going to a single-handed duel, "Brothers, if Grand Mech Master Gu Ya learns that his sister was lost by us, he will never forgive us!"
"My purpose in going is twofold: to deliver the mech, and to atone for our sins!"
"He can kill me, but he must not harm my brothers!"
Hearing this, the members burst into tears.
"Our boss is truly righteous!"
"Boss! We'll be your members again in the next life!"
"Boss, we don't want the money anymore! Just go!"
Seeing the mood effectively set, Wang Panpan clasped his fists and said, "Brothers! Take care!"
With that, he skillfully entered the cockpit, activated the mech, and flew towards Light Industrial District 36.
Leaving his members wiping tears and waving farewell.
Wang Panpan sat in the mech, looking back at his members, and murmured, "Alas, perhaps one day, I will return."
...
Meanwhile, on the arena floor, "Pure White Knight" Chang Lang had decisively defeated "Desert Despot" Wan Chong.
Gu Ya watched the holographic television, his emotions a mix of despair and something unnamable.
He bowed his head sadly and helplessly, sighing repeatedly, completely devoid of spirit.
This was not Gu Ya's fault; the objective reality was laid bare before him.
The superior performance of the Pure White Knight and Chang Lang's steady yet formidable skill told Gu Ya one thing:
You will lose this fight!
What use were systems, or skills, when the opponent wouldn't give him any chance to get close?
Unarmored Jude, without a mech, could ultimately protect no one.
Old Stickhead, noticing Gu Ya's despondency, flicked his large pipe and asked, "Jude, are you scared?"
Gu Ya shook his head, feigning courage.
Old Stickhead saw through his pretense and said, "When I was your age, I was still striving to join the Wuhe City Mech Guard."
Gu Ya asked, "Wuhe City Mech Guard? What kind of organization is that?"
Old Stickhead shook his head and said, "It's not an organization, it's a group composed of people with faith."
"It's the purest, most sincere, and most righteous place in the great melting pot that is Wuhe City."
As Old Stickhead spoke these words, the corners of his mouth turned up, and his eyes were filled with light.
Gu Ya asked, "How can I join them?"
Old Stickhead looked at Gu Ya and smiled, "Hold onto unwavering faith, face death head-on, and constantly temper your will and skills in desperate situations!"
"They are the elite among formal Mech Masters!"
"The last guardians of Wuhe City!"
Gu Ya mused, "Face death head-on..."
Old Stickhead took a puff of his pipe and said, "That's right! The challenges they face are several times greater than yours right now!"
Gu Ya smiled faintly upon hearing this and said, "Old Stickhead, you're trying to encourage me!"
"Yes..." Old Stickhead said mysteriously, "Jude, kill that little boy!"
Gu Ya stared at Old Stickhead, frowning in confusion, "What little boy? What do you mean?"
Old Stickhead leaned closer and said, "A man must be ruthless to himself! Kill the little boy within you, and become a true man to face any adversity!"
"Face death head-on!"
Gu Ya's eyes widened. He hadn't expected someone from the slums like Old Stickhead to utter such philosophical words.
Old Stickhead nodded and patted Gu Ya heavily on the shoulder.
"Old Stickhead, who exactly are you?"
Old Stickhead smiled nonchalantly, with a hint of regret in his tone, "A failure."
"But I don't want to see any more young people defeated by their own inner selves!"
Indeed, when facing adversity, the greatest enemy is often one's own inner fear!
Gu Ya watched Old Stickhead's departing figure, his gaze gradually firming.
...
"Alright, esteemed audience members! The highly anticipated, most awaited 167th Mech Bounty Battle, the Grand Finale! It's finally about to begin!!!"
"Our arena will be the most simple and direct, a concrete battlefield!"
"Unarmored Jude! Versus! Pure White Knight Chang Lang!"
"Both sides enter the arena!"
This time, the spectator stands were completely full, and the forced silence was gone.
The deafening roars and cheers echoed within the tall walls of the arena.
Gu Ya purchased a set of exoskeleton armor from the bounty shop, including a helmet, chest protector, elbow and knee pads, gloves, and boots.
This armor could instantly enhance Gu Ya's strength, making up for his lack of a mech.
He also bought a metal long spear, which could launch a chained spearhead for surprise attacks.
These were Gu Ya's complete equipment.
In contrast, Chang Lang's Pure White Knight was as tall and robust as ever, its armor gleaming under the sun.
"Unarmored Jude! Finally willing to use your bounty, hahaha!" the host jeered at Gu Ya without restraint.
Many in the audience were also displeased, shouting:
"What unarmored Jude, he's lightly armored Jude, hahaha!"
"End this quickly, this bounty battle is completely unwatchable!"
"Pure White Knight, take him down in one move!"
...
Gu Ya activated the silent function of his alloy helmet, blocking out the surrounding noise, focusing only on listening for Chang Lang's voice.
His strategy remained the same: make contact with the Pure White Knight and then use his skills to disrupt it.
The absence of the code-glitch visuals on the arena was, to be honest, a significant disadvantage.
But there was no choice; the more difficult the situation, the more courageously one must challenge it!
"Alright, everyone, please keep your big mouths shut for now! Let us watch in silence!"
"The match, begins!"
As soon as the host finished speaking, the Pure White Knight initiated its burst thrusters and charged forward, wielding a long sword.
Chang Lang's voice came through the helmet, "Jude, I have thoroughly analyzed your combat tactics."
"I will not give you any opportunity to get close to me!"
Gu Ya replied, "Then let's find out!"
Saying that, he activated the jump function of his exoskeleton armor and leaped ten meters high, preparing to charge head-on at the Pure White Knight.
Seeing Gu Ya leap, the Pure White Knight's leg thrusters immediately activated, halting its momentum mid-air.
Simultaneously, it drew a mech-specific handgun from its leg armor and aimed at Gu Ya.
Gu Ya quickly activated the reverse thrust of his exoskeleton armor, falling downwards.
A giant bullet shot out, whistling past Gu Ya's head.
Soon, the Pure White Knight fired again!
The bullet was incredibly fast. Gu Ya couldn't dodge in time and was hit!
Fortunately, the alloy armor protected him. The bullet didn't penetrate Gu Ya but sent him flying towards the arena wall.
[Pain Immunity] activated!
The impact pain gradually subsided. Gu Ya used his reverse thrusters to evade the bullet and began to descend.
The Pure White Knight was already charging, raising its long sword.
"Jude, I admire your courage, but without a mech, it's truly impossible!"
The Pure White Knight's long sword directly pierced Gu Ya's alloy chest armor.
Gu Ya spat out a mouthful of blood and crashed heavily onto the concrete ground.
"Ugh..."
Although [Pain Immunity] prevented Gu Ya from feeling pain,
The metallic taste of blood, the weakness in his limbs, and other unpleasant sensations were reminders that he was severely injured!
I'm not dead yet!
Gu Ya coughed out the blood stuck in his throat, gritted his teeth, clenched his spear, and forced himself to stand up.
But Chang Lang would show no mercy. The Pure White Knight raised its long sword and charged forward.
The immense blade, carrying the fear of death, drew closer and closer.
The strong sword wind, carrying a howling gale, proclaimed an invincible intent!
Gu Ya no longer had the strength to dodge.
Suddenly, Gu Ya's ears were filled with silence.
It was as if the entire world had quieted.
A gentle, clear female voice resonated, so melodious:
[Host detected in a life-threatening situation]
[Condition for unlocking Advanced Mech Mechanic met]
[Congratulations, Host, you have been upgraded to an Advanced Mech Mechanic]
[New Skill acquired: Void Wrap]
[Void Wrap comes with a set of mech equipment, which will automatically attach to the mech upon use]
As the system's voice concluded, another roar came from the sky!
"Jude! I'm here to save you!!!"
Accompanied by Wang Panpan's shout, the emaciated Fierce Crocodile mech descended from the sky and punched the Pure White Knight away!
Wang Panpan positioned the mech in front of Gu Ya, emerged from the cockpit, and offered Gu Ya his most brilliant smile.
Gu Ya looked at him and smiled, shaking his head.
Immediately, Gu Ya's gaze became firm. He forced himself to stand, then crawled into the mech's cockpit.
As Gu Ya activated his [Void Wrap] skill, the Fierce Crocodile mech was instantly enveloped in white light.
When the light dispersed, a brand new mech, one never seen before, appeared on the battlefield.
"Alright, the real mech battle, begins!"