novelraw Chapter 56 : White Sand Sky Pillar Sea Domain
Chapter 56 : White Sand Sky Pillar Sea Domain
Both teams charged out. Xie Chunshi built an ice path to the sky from the seabed, giving Zhou Chen a large playing field. Shells hitting the ice path could be absorbed by energy.
The two teams were distracted by the black mecha in midair. While concentrating artillery fire, they failed to notice a red glow flashing beneath the sea.
Seeing the analyst and soldier approaching the island, Xie Chunshi looked back and nodded to Gu Qinxue, who instantly understood. Her mecha propulsion suddenly shot downward, the entire body launching upward.
Zhou Chen moved quickly along the ice path, his figure brushing past distant artillery fire. As scorching heat passed behind him, he felt the hot wind rushing by and reported in the team channel: "Ten o'clock direction, two people, energy cannon and control cannon."
Gu Qinxue's figure passed him from the front.
"Understood."
On the island heights, one output from each of the two teams was hidden behind rocks, watching the battle below with some gravity.
Just as one was charging his cannon, aiming at Zhou Chen, preparing to fire from both sides and force Zhou Chen to retreat to the middle.
A fire shadow fell from a distance. Before they could see clearly, the long whip had already swept to the front.
"Shit!"
The cannon-wielding person cursed in a low voice. His mecha cannon was coiled by the long whip, and his mecha was thrown to one side by gravity, violently dragging the other person out and smashing him into rocks on the other side.
[Damage level: 37%]
Seeing the suddenly appearing mecha avoiding the artillery fire from the teams below, the opposing Commander finally reacted.
"We've been tricked! Don't tangle with this person, blast the ice path first."
The ice path extended from the sea surface all the way to the island. They couldn't control the opponent's mecha, which would only divert attention, giving the other output an opportunity. Once the ice path was broken, when he was in the water, his speed would be severely limited.
Several cannon muzzles turned, immediately blasting toward the ice path.
On the other side, the output thrown by Gu Qinxue also reacted, his spiritual body rising behind him.
Seeing this, fire light gradually spread from Gu Qinxue's palm along the long whip.
Zhou Chen, seeing them turn their attention to the ice path, took advantage of the subsiding fire to quickly rush onto the island.
Xie Chunshi waited for his moment in the seawater. Seeing the island erupt in battle, energy factors gathering from spiritual bodies, he slightly moved his fingertips, and the ice path shattered in response.
As he emerged from the sea surface, it was like a signal.
Gu Qinxue grabbed the two outputs and threw them down from a height. Looking at the analyst landing from the other side, she exchanged glances with Chen Sui from a distance.
"Should we go help them?"
Puluo asked.
Gu Qinxue moved quickly from the heights. After smashing down the two outputs, both teams heard mecha damage degree warnings from front and back.
[Number 7303 eliminated]
[Number 5404 eliminated]
Three outputs faced the opposing two teams, eight people, in a subtle standoff.
"The three of them, the analyst isn't there."
In the opposing team's channel, the two Commanders urgently exchanged information.
"They want to land in batches. With the soldier and analyst not present, they must be finding a way to get onto the island."
The sizzling sound of charging cannons stopped, and the just-subsided battle ignited again.
Spiritual body shadows leaped.
From a distance, Chen Sui took a long look.
The coordination between the school team's outputs was extremely tacit. The three formed a triangular structure, with Gu Qinxue in the center as the output focus, while Zhou Chen and Xie Chunshi's energy bodies on both sides complemented well.
As a water screen rose to block energy attacks, lightning penetrated it, striking outward in all directions.
Having dodged the mighty lightning, they saw a mecha tearing through the rain screen, with a dragon-like long whip that swept in front, flames surging violently, shredding all exploring energy, with scorching high temperatures burning before their eyes.
"They probably don't need us. Two teams, they can handle it. Let's go to the supply point first. With elimination news out, plenty of people will be rushing here."
Chen Sui looked up at the surrounding sky.
Night was about to fall on the White Sand Sky Pillar Sea. The sunset afterglow was fading.
A blue tint gradually spread across the horizon, seemingly merging with the boundless sea.
The surrounding energy began to surge. Chen Sui sensed the energy bodies on the island becoming restless.
Their landing position had circled from the side to the rear. Although it took considerable time, they successfully avoided the first wave of artillery fire, completely bypassing the edge of the battlefield.
With an energy-isolating shield, their figures well-concealed, no one discovered the two mechas as they brushed past the thunderous, fiery battlefield.
The real island was extensive. At the edge, the mountain heights contained a supply point, and the surrounding chaotic rocks had been ambush points earlier.
The supply point was a small tower with three levels. At the top was a lookout platform. The exterior had an iron door that could be opened by the competition marker on the mecha, transmitting authentication information outside the field.
In the space station, a miniature camera floated, directly facing three people sitting in front of the monitors.
On the left, Jian Run had his Light Brain lit up. After casually glancing at the bullet screen comments, he smiled and said: "Well, the first supply point has been taken by Zhu Jing Fu."
[Zhu Jing Fu's luck is still as good as ever]
[Lucky again? Encountered a white sand island upon entering, then a sky pillar, energy bodies, two teams ambushing, and now people say they're lucky. That's rich]
[Zhu Jing Fu's strength is actually decent, not as bad as the forums said]
[Just average. They took so long with an S-level energy body, so slow. If it were other seven schools, they'd resolve it in minutes]
[Get it straight, in a water attribute environment, it's inherently difficult for a fire attribute output to mobilize energy. And don't forget Zhu Jing Fu had the motive of testing their weapons]
[Academy fans always have excuses. Zhu Jing Fu can only show off against weak teams. Just wait until they meet the seven schools, then we'll see]
[Don't just talk about the seven schools. First Ring Fourth Academy is already up. The heirs of the Gu family from two consecutive sessions—I want to see Gu Lingke and Gu Qinxue pull each other's hair]
Jian Run, seeing this, laughed out loud, not hiding his contemptuous tone: "Oh my, First Ring Fourth Academy still has some difficulty getting here. They're still being entangled with S-level energy bodies. Zhu Jing Fu is quicker."
"LOL, Director Jian, don't let your personal emotions show too much"
"Gu family head: Jian Run sleeps with one eye open at night"
Though in his forties, Jian Run was an active internet surfer and quite lively. He didn't feel offended by such comments, just responded sarcastically: "Mr. Gu is magnanimous and open-minded, he wouldn't care about such minor matters. Those with the Gu surname are all generous, don't misrepresent them."
[Generous × Shameless √]
[Director Jian being so sarcastic, hahaha]
On the other side, Zhao Loulan glanced over. The self-proclaimed righteous Border Army director remained silent, allowing Jian Run to tarnish the Gu family's image freely.
Only Ji Qing, sitting in the center, glanced left and right, finally confirming: right, he had entered a nest of Gu family haters.
"Ahem, this supply point for Zhu Jing Fu, the resource configuration isn't very good."
Ji Qing steered the topic away from the Gu family. As just the chairman of the Analyst Association, with the Gu family being a major financial backer of the association, he didn't want to be dragged into the council's mess.
Thus, everyone's attention returned to the Zhu Jing Fu screen.
Inside the supply point, different resource supplies were placed in several rooms. In the center was a supporting weight-bearing pillar, with communication signals to various base stations built outward.
In the corner of the weight-bearing pillar, she saw a mark light up, radiating several lines toward each room.
Chen Sui's eyes flickered. Something suddenly occurred to her, and she reminded Puluo to search the rooms for resources but not to take everything, then connected the supply point signal to her mecha.
She determined the base station signal location, completing part of the base station map.
"What's inside?"
Seeing Puluo come out, Chen Sui put away the mecha signal connection, noticing the mark had dimmed somewhat but hadn't completely gone out, then turned to ask him.
Puluo sounded somewhat disappointed: "Lots of water-resistant materials, and nutrient solutions. These items are enough for us to use for ten days with plenty left over."
"There are fewer water-resistant materials, about three days' worth, and five repair programs, but I didn't see any mecha energy or spiritual body nourishment."
Chen Sui also frowned: "No mecha energy? The Competition Committee is so stingy?"
Seeing this, Ji Qing couldn't help but defend himself: "There are 20 supply points, 50 scattered treasure boxes, and 70 resource points set up in the energy field, only 7 of which don't have mecha energy."
A one-in-ten probability, and Zhu Jing Fu had drawn it.
But Ji Qing, seeing the analyst's slightly thoughtful face, realized that the Competition Committee's small trap had been spotted by her. He didn't explain it to the bullet screen commenters, just continued smiling as he watched the screen.
Chen Sui didn't know about these things. No mecha energy meant Zhu Jing Fu would need more precise energy control going forward.
"Let's go help the outputs first."
Thinking of this, Chen Sui led Puluo down from the supply point.
The two teams had successively eliminated two people—one output and one soldier. Currently, the school team was in a 3V5 situation, with one output protecting the analyst while scanning the island surroundings.
"Shit, is Zhu Jing Fu's strength this strong? My cannon has been blown up."
The team Commander cursed under his breath. His hand that had been aiming the cannon was numb from the wandering lightning points and was currently trembling slightly.
Zhou Chen's four-sided mace swung with lightning. As night fell, the jagged electric light was like a meteor's flying electricity in the indigo sky, striking directly on the island, sending rocks flying.
Chen Sui, who had just crouched in a high position, peeked out to see this scene and couldn't help but open the team channel: "Zhou Chen, could you strike a bit smaller? You're about to split the island."
Zhou Chen was enjoying his new weapon immensely. Hearing this, he paused. "Eh? Alright then!"
The moment he paused, someone below mounted a cannon.
Currently, from the island's mountain top downward, there were Chen Sui and Puluo, the six remaining members of the two united teams, and the three Zhu Jing Fu outputs at the bottom.
Xie Chunshi's mind flashed to the distribution: "Analyst, the two analysts surrounded by the opposition, can you eliminate them?"
As he spoke, Chen Sui's vision caught the two mechas in the defensive formation below.
"I can."
She said confidently.
The mounted cannon was put away, her hand slowly gripping a long spear.
"Three minutes, Puluo, cover me."
Puluo was startled upon hearing this but still followed the Commander and analyst's arrangement: "No problem!"
Puluo's weapons were control projectiles and a shield. In umbrella form, the shield could rotate and move, shielding against bullets from the front, providing strong cover support.
Xie Chunshi narrowed his eyes, looking up to see the analyst's mecha slowly rising from among the rocks at the mountaintop.
"Lure away their outputs."
As Xie Chunshi's voice fell, lightning points and fire erupted among the crowd on the mountainside.
"Damn it, they're targeting our analysts."
The Commander hurriedly dodged, recognizing the opponent's intention.
The opposing Commander ordered: "Lure away their outputs, analysts follow the soldier, pay attention to cover."
The Commander designated a hiding spot. With two analysts exposed, they were in a very passive position. The analysts' spiritual body levels weren't high; once subjected to energy attacks, they couldn't intercept, and damage levels would immediately surge.
The analysts from both teams moved toward the concealment point.
Seeing the objective achieved, Zhou Chen and Gu Qinxue charged forward to engage in energy combat with the remaining three people.
As various energies gathered, Chen Sui saw that the distance pulled was sufficient. She leaped from the heights, activating acceleration. Her mecha moved like an agile rabbit, quickly jumping between rocks.
Just arriving at the concealment point, before the soldier could raise his shield, they saw a high-energy projectile swiftly blasting toward the analyst mechas from above.
"Boom!"
A layer of ice attached to the mechas' lower bodies, freezing the analysts' legs.
"F*ck, what the hell is this!"
A green shadow rushed down like a specter. The soldier's shield blocked her cannon fire from behind. A brown light lit up around him, and from his surroundings, huge stone spikes protruded from the mountain rocks, stabbing out in front of Chen Sui.
The mecha didn't stop, nimbly avoiding the earth spike trajectory.
In an instant, the green mecha was in front of the soldier!
"Thud!"
A massive impact!
The shield was struck several times.
The soldier's arm shook violently.
He cursed softly, then quickly requested support in the team channel: "Their soldier has appeared. Commander, go for their analyst!"
The soldier looked through the green mecha and saw the black mecha on the mountain top, aiming its cannon. He had an ominous feeling.
Before he could deduce the opponent's intention, the massive force hammering the shield suddenly lifted.
From a distance, an energy cannon charged toward the soldier, coming straight at his face.
"Boom!!"
The huge energy smashed into the shield.
[Damage level: 31%]
The green mecha quickly dodged!
Chen Sui brushed past the concentrated energy cannon!
The opposing soldier's hand trembled, a numbing sensation spreading throughout his body, causing him to momentarily pause.
Chen Sui turned and nodded to Puluo, "Beautiful! Keep firing!"
Her approving praise sounded in the team channel.
Puluo shyly smiled, his eyes brightening further as he mounted his cannon and continued firing.
The three people battling Zhu Jing Fu's outputs in the distance heard the soldier's message and immediately turned back, only to see the soldier take a control projectile head-on.
The close-range green mecha swung its spear, charging directly toward the two analysts.
The analysts, one on the left and one on the right, attacked Chen Sui with ice blades and whirlwinds.
The energy fluctuations were particularly weak, and Chen Sui understood inwardly.
—So this is what an A-level fluctuation should be like.
Her long spear, carrying green light, lifted into midair. With four blades spinning, the green light like a vortex shattered the ice blades layer by layer. A green beam shot through like an arrow, directly tearing apart the wind vortex.
The analyst grunted, drawing a light sword to block the long spear chopping down!
The soldier took out his weapon, and three mechas surrounded Chen Sui.
She tilted her head. "All of you together?"
The soldier gritted his teeth. "You're really arrogant."
After speaking, he drew his light sword and engaged Chen Sui in close combat.
However, the green mecha's attack was too fierce. Before the soldier could react, somehow he made a misstep, giving her an opening. She directly performed a midair flip, the long spear catching the light sword's trace, suddenly rotating in midair. Her mecha kicked violently, the spear spinning behind, with both spear tip and foot simultaneously dealing heavy damage to the soldier.
"Boom!"
The soldier's mecha was kicked away, crashing into a distant pile of rocks.
[Damage level: 54%]
The long spear carved through the air again, making repeated breaking-air sounds.
"Stop fighting, analyst!"
The Commander, glimpsing this scene from the corner of his eye, hurriedly broke through the huge net woven of fire and lightning, disregarding mecha damage and the pain striking his body. He tore open an exit, about to retreat.
The other two people were stunned, seeing the analysts surrounded by the green mecha. Gun blasts traced like streamlines, with the green mecha effortlessly maneuvering around. The analysts retreated step by step, while another mecha on the heights was aiming its cannon.
The Commander thought for just a second, then broke free and leaped toward the heights.
"Control their analyst first!"
The Commander's idea was good. If both sides captured the analysts, Zhu Jing Fu certainly wouldn't dare act recklessly.
However—
Seeing him attack toward Puluo's position, Chen Sui's green energy broke through the ice spikes and wind from the two analysts in front of her.
At the same time, a vine whip came from behind, violently sweeping toward her side, breaking through the earth wall built in front, stabbing toward behind the earth wall, wrapping up the approaching soldier mecha, and throwing it far away, smashing it down.
The sound of a heavy crash rang out again.
[Damage level: 85%]
This time she didn't drag it out. Ice projectiles fired three shots at the soldier: Bang! Bang! Bang!
[Damage level: 75%]
The soldier's four limbs were all frozen. Seeing his damage level about to reach the red line, he closed his eyes waiting for her next shot, involuntarily holding his breath.
Unexpectedly, after waiting three seconds, the final shot still hadn't come.
The soldier instinctively looked toward Chen Sui.
He saw her gaze fixed on the distant mountaintop and followed her line of sight.
The Commander, mistaking the analyst, had already brought down a heavy hammer. The opposing "analyst" raised an umbrella-like shield, with the massive iron hammer striking the metal umbrella surface.
Golden light rippled outward in layers.
He thought his teammates were holding the analyst, thinking that with the analyst in danger, this soldier would certainly retreat to defend. Just as he let out a sigh of relief.
He saw her turn back, notice him getting up, and suddenly say: "Oh, I forgot about you."
After saying this, a vine whip came from afar, violently sweeping down from a height.
Soldier: ......
[Damage level: 83%]
[Number 5405 eliminated]
The soldier felt pain throughout his body, hearing a hoarse female voice seemingly make a sarcastic remark.
"Your Commander doesn't seem very smart."
Soldier: ?
You're a bit too arrogant.
And personal attacks too, how dishonorable!
The Commander, who had approached Puluo, heard the elimination sound in his ear, gripping his hammer even tighter.
"Damn, your team's analyst position is so low? You don't even come to protect him in this situation?"
As an output pressing toward the analyst, the opposing output wasn't returning to defend?
Was this reasonable?
Puluo, hiding behind the shield, hearing this, confusedly peeked out, with golden light flashing from the shield again.
"Huh?"
He was puzzled.
"I'm not the analyst."
Puluo was very innocent.
Puluo was very helpless.
Seeing all three heading toward Puluo, the Seven Academy team also paused.
Zhou Chen looked at Chen Sui, who was eliminating the opposing analysts.
Then looked at Puluo, who was surrounded.
Somewhat awkwardly, he said: "Well, you've got poor eyesight."
As two consecutive elimination broadcasts sounded, seeing that Chen Sui had already eliminated the analysts and was turning to rush up to the heights, he finally swung his four-sided mace, with lightning striking the mountaintop, lazily saying.
"Brother, you've mistaken the person."
"Our analyst------"
"Is behind you!"
As his words fell, the opposing Commander hadn't yet reacted, barely beginning to turn around.
"Slash------"
His back was severely hit.
A long spear stabbed into him from behind.
He rotated the joint of his mecha's head bit by bit.
The cyan-green mecha raised its chin, a female voice with a trace of curiosity coming through: "You're looking for me? Something the matter?"
[Damage level: 54%]
Hearing the prompt, the Commander's back pain hadn't subsided, his words unfinished: "You are......"
An analyst?
Where the f*ck do you look like an analyst?
A fire light rushed from behind him.
In the camera frame, a huge beast-like figure appeared behind Chen Sui.
Blue-black skin, ugly fangs, a head on the chest rotating, opening its mouth to spit out a flame—this scene appeared particularly eerie.
Under the chilling summoned body shadow, the cyan-green mecha stood majestically. Clearly much smaller than the shadow, it emanated a magnificent aura. Where the spear pointed, flames like a dragon rushed toward the Commander's mecha.
In the burning blaze, the cyan-green mecha stood firmly in the fire wrap. The fire began to spread outward from it. The other two people who had arrived were entangled by the rapidly spreading flames, instinctively mobilizing energy to block.
The bullet screen exploded, watching the two teams being separately eliminated by Zhu Jing Fu, who had already gained the upper hand, still somewhat stunned.
[Wow, which one is Zhu Jing Fu's analyst?]
[The green mecha, their analyst is female]
[This summoned body... I find it somewhat disgusting]
[To be fair, the analyst seems quite formidable]
[This summoned body is genuinely revolting. Could a human even conceive this?]
[Although, analyzing the structure from the Analyst System perspective, while trying to ignore the disgust, the values are surprisingly balanced? Even balanced to a bizarre degree!]
[This green mecha is the analyst? This analyst feels strange]
[Try to understand, she's only been learning for three months. What do you expect in terms of analyst familiarity? Be grateful she hasn't been eliminated]
[You know what, you really know what, the analyst is actually quite fierce]
[Too aggressive. When she rushed out, I was completely stunned. Her teammates must have been panicked]
[Ah, why do I find Zhu Jing Fu's actions within expectations?]
StarNet bullet screen questions continued, but Chen Sui was completely unaware of these.
The Commander attacking Puluo was wrapped by her fire rope. Accustomed to using the wood-born flower's vines, Chen Sui used the flames as ropes, encircling the Commander and throwing him into midair.
Her teammates, already poised to strike, had been waiting for precisely this moment.
Zhou Chen pressed his lips together, his gaze slightly solemn. He positioned his four-sided mace vertically in front of him, with lightning lines surrounding it. As he thrust the segmented mace downward, it expanded in midair.
Seeing this, Chen Sui exchanged a glance with Puluo.
The soldier waved his hand, rotating the shield umbrella in front of him. The umbrella surface opened again, expanding by more than double, shielding both of them behind it.
Countless fine needles shot from the center of the four-sided mace, falling like a rainstorm of plum blossoms. The fine needles were connected by a silver thread, and as lightning struck down, countless lightning bolts erupted from the silver needle tips.
"Rumble------"
"Boom!!!"
Lightning clouds rolled in midair, with bolts of lightning striking down. The rumbling thunder drowned out the system's damage level broadcast.
Crackling sounds came from the umbrella surface.
"Phew......" Chen Sui silently inhaled, softly saying: "Fortunately, this is an insulated shield I made."
Puluo nodded with deep feeling, "Otherwise, we'd be electrocuted too."
Chen Sui was amused by his wording and smiled briefly.
As the midair lightning clouds dispersed and the dragon-snake-like lightning in the night gradually subsided, the system broadcast sounded.
Three light pillars rose.
[Number 5401 eliminated]
[Number 5402 eliminated]
[Number 7301 eliminated]
[Remaining teams: 94/100]
At the mountaintop, three mechas that had been struck smoking lay on the rocks. A rescue team from outside the energy field entered with flying vehicles, extracting the people from the mecha cockpits.
Chen Sui peeked out from behind Puluo's shield, gesturing to the Commander on the other side. The three descended from midair, quickly climbing to the mountaintop to reunite.
The Zhu Jing Fu school team of five stood on the mountaintop, looking down at the rescue team extracting people from the mechas, preparing to depart.
"Wait......"
The Commander who had been thrown by Chen Sui and then struck by lightning, still dazed, struggled to stand up from the rescue team's support, turning to look at the Zhu Jing Fu team.
"I have just one question."
The Border Army member supporting him had been watching the competition before entering, and hearing this, reminded him: "According to competition rules, you are now 'dead', and 'dead people' cannot speak."
Another person from the rescue team held back a laugh.
The speaking Commander paused, then bargained: "Can't I leave one last testament?"
Border Army: "I can relay it for you."
"Then help me ask, who is their analyst? I must know today, or I can't rest in peace."
He spoke loudly enough for everyone from here to the mountaintop to hear clearly.
Border Army: ......Why relay when he's shouting so loudly?
Five mechas crouched on the mountaintop, staring down.
Zhou Chen remarked in surprise: "Wow, this is my first time seeing a rescue."
Chen Sui nodded, observing the rescue team's walking posture: "It's the Border Army."
The Border Army member who was supposed to relay the last testament looked up: "So, will you respond to his last words?"
The Zhu Jing Fu members were silent for a second, with four people's gazes all on Chen Sui in the center.
She silently facepalmed.
"You were looking for me?"
The Commander widened his eyes, completely unable to believe that the one who had rushed up, quickly eliminating their soldier and then their analysts------
Was actually an analyst?!!!
He excitedly pulled the Border Army member.
"No way!"
"This isn't right!"
"Hahaha, an analyst rushing up to attack me?"
"My brain must be damaged!"
"I'm hallucinating! I need treatment!"
Chen Sui tilted her head, watching him fall onto the Border Army rescue team, clamoring about experiencing hallucinations.
"His brain really does seem off."
Chen Sui turned to her teammates.
Zhou Chen maintained his crouching position, looking at her with complex feelings against the light: "Is there a possibility......"
"That you're too unexpected?"
Chen Sui was silent for a second. "Really?"
Her teammates answered with silence.
The five members of Zhu Jing Fu rested in place, no one speaking.
The waters of the White Sand Sky Pillar rolled.
Under the pale moon, a layer of indigo crystal shimmered, seemingly bottomless at a glance.
The waves in the distance were urgent and fierce, striking the shore but leaving only gentle tides.
Chen Sui closed her eyes, her energy spreading outward.