novelraw Chapter 61 : White Sand Sky Pillar Sea Domain
Chapter 61 : White Sand Sky Pillar Sea Domain
In the deep sea, an academy that had obtained resources from the competition committee was sailing on a committee vessel toward the island.
A navy blue mecha stood on the deck, looking far ahead at the black smoke rising from the island. Battle traces were visible, and the sea breeze even carried faint sounds of artillery fire.
"Fighting has broken out on the island."
A light, nimble female voice sounded as a mecha slowly walked forward to stand beside him.
Zhang Yingjie's eyes had undergone surgery before. Due to his body's strong mechanical rejection reaction, he couldn't have mechanical eye implants and could only see clearly through mechanical restraint-type image sensors.
At this moment, the sensor glasses screen displayed the scene before him.
He analyzed calmly: "The area around the island seems to be surrounded by something. This isn't something one or several teams could accomplish."
In the distant island, growths like iron pillars extended from all sides, eventually converging and intertwining in the sky above, turning the island into an inescapable prison.
From a distance, Xin Ming could only see what looked like a green reef like a huge rock. Looking closer, one could see that the green on this reef was still slowly writhing.
"That white tower should be the supply point location."
In front of the reef, a white spot was being entwined by green vines.
Xin Ming glanced at the vessel's speed: "Still some distance to go, should take about half an hour to arrive."
Zhang Yingjie nodded and turned to see a mecha walking up from the cabin.
Before the person arrived, a somewhat weak voice sounded first: "There are very strong energy fluctuations around."
Xin Ming approached to help him: "Little Yu, feeling better?"
Jiang Zhongyu's face still showed signs of illness, his lips unnaturally red. Hearing the concern, he tugged at his lips, revealing a gentle smile.
"Don't worry, Sister Xin," he said, glancing at Zhang Yingjie with a somewhat proud tone, "I won't get seasick on a boat. When Zhang Yingjie found me, I had been fishing on Mirror Water Star for three years!"
Jiang Zhongyu's words made Xin Ming relax a little as well.
His physical condition was poor. Before coming to participate in the Star League Competition, he had been nursed by Teacher He Lanyi for three years before gaining the ability to pilot a mecha in combat.
But contrary to his physical condition was his perception and control of energy.
From a far distance from the supply point island, Jiang Zhongyu just cast a fleeting glance and drew a conclusion.
"There's a high-level energy body on this island, advancing its stage."
Zhang Yingjie raised an eyebrow and looked again. The black smoke among the vines was getting thicker.
The barrage comments jumped between various livestream rooms, momentarily more lively than the battle on screen.
[My god, why is this energy body only attacking these few teams? Can't it see Zhu Jing Fu?]
[Zhu Jing Fu is disguised with energy body fluctuations, the energy body itself should be able to see through that, right?]
[It can see through it, but Zhu Jing Fu doesn't have enough energy. They're extremely stingy—the Commander and strong attacker have shut down, and the analyst and agile attacker barely use energy except for charging their artillery. As for the other teams... uh... that energy shield alone is enough for all five Zhu Jing Fu members to fire cannons]
[Wait, I just have one question—Zhou Chen is so far away, how can his shells still hit? Is he Hawkeye or something?]
[Front row, I don't understand this either, waiting for an explanation]
[My bold guess is that Zhu Jing Fu has a map of the island. Chen Sui reports positions from the front, and Zhou Chen just needs to determine the direction to fire]
[But that's too precise?! Is this reasonable? You still have to calculate for error]
[Holy shit, holy shit, this energy body is so helpful, it's directly surrounded the island]
[I checked other livestream rooms, Ink Hills is heading toward the island now!!]
[What? Will Zhu Jing Fu end up facing Ink Hills at the end?!]
[Damn, Zhu Jing Fu, hurry up! Zhang Yingjie and his team are coming!]
[Ink Hills just got energy from the random treasure box, they have much more reserves than Zhu Jing Fu]
[Really? Didn't Zhu Jing Fu get nine energy pipes?!]
[That's all they have. They have five mechas, not even enough to replenish energy. After this battle with Ink Hills, if they don't find more energy, the next fight will be difficult]
[I'm wondering, with the island surrounded like this, can Ink Hills even get on...?]
This wasn't a problem.
The energy body was even more troublesome than Chen Sui had thought.
The three teams' retreat paths were completely blocked by the energy body. With nowhere to retreat, they had no choice but to fight the energy body.
Spiritual bodies carried various energy storms, uprooting trees from the forest and lightning strikes creating deep pits.
Chen Sui dodged quickly and wasn't affected.
In the distance, hearing the thunder and lightning explosions, Zhou Chen couldn't help but peek out from the high ground, only to see black smoke rising from the forest.
"The fighting is so intense."
Chen Sui was aiming to snipe. Her movement speed was very fast. The energy body had increased the mecha deterioration, and with one shot, she filled the deterioration rate. After the protection device activated, Chen Sui also blasted away the vines that were preparing to attack the eliminated contestants.
The teams below fighting with the energy body had been secretly cursing the person firing from hiding, but were surprisingly discovering that this person would actually help fight the energy body.
Their hearts immediately felt as if their bottom line had been lowered, thinking this person wasn't so bad after all.
As the vines withdrew and before the next wave of attacks arrived, they were thinking of trying to join forces with the contestant in hiding.
The red mecha Commander looked around and raised his voice, trying to get Chen Sui's attention.
"Hey, friend, I see you're kind-hearted and even help us fight monsters. How about this: let's join forces. We don't want the energy crystal, we don't want the supply point resources. Once this energy body is dealt with, we'll leave the island immediately. What do you say?"
Chen Sui watched him with his back to her, not knowing which direction he was speaking toward.
Of the three full teams with fifteen people, only nine remained now.
From the team eliminated at the beginning, only the agile attacker and analyst survived.
The red team's Commander, strong attacker, foot soldier, and analyst all survived, but except for the analyst, the other three had deterioration rates approaching the critical value.
The silver-white mecha team's Commander, strong attacker, and analyst all survived with acceptable deterioration rates. When facing the energy body, they had shifted the damage-bearing part to the red team, preserving much of their strength.
Chen Sui's gaze locked onto the red mecha analyst in the center.
She only needed to save one person.
The others were all mecha points.
Her sharp eyes swept over each mecha one by one. The silver-white mecha Commander, who had proposed joining forces with the hidden team, felt a chill down his spine as he watched the red mecha Commander exposing his field of vision, his eyes surveying the area around him.
The silver-white Commander had his own little thoughts: if the other party agreed, that would be perfect; if not, he would just attack the red Commander.
Chen Sui didn't want to guess the intricacies between the Commanders below and directly maintained silence, never answering.
Not receiving a response, the red Commander knew the other party's answer and bit his teeth.
"It seems the opposite side has no intention of cooperating. This energy body—we still haven't found its main body yet. Just these vines are enough to trap us to death. We need to find a way to break the deadlock."
The analyst shook his head, his face also full of gravity: "Its main body fluctuations are too high, my threshold value can't sense the location."
At this point, the analyst bit his lip somewhat embarrassedly.
"Energy is distributed all over the island. My perception can no longer see outside the island. This energy body has sealed off the entire island."
This was undoubtedly bad news.
Both team Commanders looked somewhat grim.
But the surging energy storm from the energy body didn't give them much time to think.
Chen Sui turned her artillery toward the silver-white mecha team.
Artillery flying everywhere, it was an intense battle.
With attacks from both the energy body and the hidden artillery, the silver-white mecha team was surprised to find that their team's deterioration was about the same as the red mecha's, while the third team was even worse, directly eliminated from the competition.
Currently, only two Commanders, two strong attackers, and two analysts remained from the three teams, six people in total.
The silver-white Commander's face was gradually turning ashen gray.
Looking at the countless vines surging toward their position again, the charging light of his artillery flickered.
"I don't have enough energy."
He said in a somewhat hoarse voice, heard not only by his own team but also by the red mecha team.
The red Commander's face was flushed with anxiety, but surrounded both front and back, he really couldn't think of any way out.
They were just a small team. Being able to pass the Star Ring Selection to reach the elimination match was already not easy. Although they had prepared for elimination, they hadn't expected...
It would end so quickly.
The red Commander closed his sore eyes briefly.
Chen Sui had already put away her gun.
Zhou Chen's position had been detected by the energy body, and he was dodging the vines harassing him, running and cursing.
"These vines are too disgusting. How did they suddenly rush toward me?"
He was approaching Chen Sui's position.
Chen Sui watched below as the teams reduced their energy control due to insufficient energy. The vines had also sensed her position, but strangely, they ignored her.
It was as if her energy body disguise had fooled the other side.
But Chen Sui knew the reason.
As the vines passed by her, she suddenly propelled herself from the high treetop, rushing toward the crowd.
The six people were facing and resisting the vines with thick energy, when unexpectedly an ice bomb came rushing from behind.
Instinctively looking back, they saw a green mecha shooting like an arrow toward where the vines were converging.
The whistling wind sound from the mecha swept past, leaving the red Commander staring in shock.
The other's ice bomb broke the expanding trend of the vines, and the mecha quickly landed on the branches swaying in mid-air.
A crimson virtual image appeared behind her at the same time.
Beneath the mecha's feet, fierce flames arose.
The red Commander's brain went offline for a second, with emotion taking the high ground as he hurriedly exclaimed with delight: "Classmate! I knew you were a good person!"
He thought Chen Sui had listened to his earlier "recruitment" speech.
In the distance, the mecha jumped down agilely from mid-air, with her back to the teams and not saying a word in reply.
Chen Sui felt the powerful fluctuations surging toward her. Her palm slapped the ground, and the summoning body appeared behind her—a huge humanoid monster. The head on its chest slowly raised, while the head on top suddenly turned toward the back.
Seeing this, the red Commander had originally wanted to flatter with a few words, but when they reached his lips, they only merged into a vomit sound as he trembled uncontrollably, hiding behind the analyst.
As he moved aside, the summoning body's virtual image solidified. A flame centered on Chen Sui spread outward, smoke and fire reaching the sky.
The fire curtain, several meters high, rushed fiercely toward the vines.
The huge energy wave collided with the energy storm green with vitality. Red and green were distinctly separated for a second, then the fire suddenly intensified, overwhelming the vines.
The sound of plants burning and breaking immediately rose.
The vines somewhat humanly twisted and intertwined on the ground and in mid-air, forming various strange shapes.
However, once touched by the flames, they would quickly be burned to black ashes by the fierce fire.
Black smoke spread.
Gray dust and plant debris floated in the air.
The view became foggy.
The red Commander and analyst supported each other, exchanging a glance. Even through their mechas, they could see each other's shock.
"Holy... holy shit!"
The Commander in the red mecha stuttered: "Is—is it over just like that?"
The energy body that had fought with them for several rounds, nearly making him despair thinking his league journey had reached its end, was gone just like that?
The Commander felt as if he had been toyed with.
But looking up, he saw a large mass of energy rapidly approaching from the distance. Even from several dozen meters away, he could feel the high pressure of the energy surging toward them.
In front, the green mecha rose from a half-kneeling position. The red mecha Commander watched her tilt her head, seemingly saying: "More?"
Then, he saw a long spear appear in her hand.
As she shook the spear, a flame instantly covered its entire length, extending to the tip and continuing to burn forward, spreading to the ground, continuously twisting until it became an extremely long fire whip.
Chen Sui's mecha jumped toward the treetops. Just as she landed on a branch, she felt energy surging beneath her feet, as if something would soon emerge from the tree to entangle her, restricting her movement.
But she never intended to stay, and before the energy could emerge, she moved to another location.
Using the treetops, Chen Sui climbed step by step until she reached a high position, confronting the approaching energy mass. The massive energy mass was actually formed by various plant branches wrapped and intertwined into an expanding ball.
The ball split open from the middle, and countless wooden spikes shot out, carrying such powerful energy that they could almost pierce through the mecha, pinning it to the stone wall.
However, Chen Sui held her spear, waving it with wind and fire. The fierce flames, like a dragon, ran toward the energy mass. When it contacted the wood-attribute energy, it burned even more fiercely, with burning sounds audible from far away.
The flames encircled the energy mass, quickly spreading to the surrounding forest.
When Zhou Chen approached Chen Sui's position, she had already resolved the impending energy attack, and he happened to see her coldly waving her whip—no, her spear.
The flames on the long spear danced like a banner, becoming the only brightness in the mid-air.
At a glance, it was more dazzling than the rising sun.
Behind her was the plant energy mass with rising flames.
Rolling black smoke created a magnificent background.
Chen Sui had just turned around, her foot landing on the high mountain rock, when she noticed her teammate arriving on the other side. The sharp cold light in her eyes softened slightly.
"Eliminate the other team."
She reported positions to Zhou Chen.
Zhou Chen's vision had already caught the few remaining mechas. Hearing her report, his muscles reacted before his brain, his hand moving first.
Seeing Chen Sui directly confronting the energy mass, all six people from the two teams unanimously tensed up. The silver-white mecha Commander sensed a huge threat from her actions and hurriedly instructed the strong attacker and analyst to set up their guns.
"Can we eliminate her while she's distracted by the energy body?"
The strong attacker's cannon tried to aim at Chen Sui.
But she moved too quickly—even the energy body's immediate reactions couldn't catch her, making it even harder for the strong attacker's naked eye to see.
His palms were sweaty as he set up the cannon, his voice trembling as he replied to the Commander through the team channel: "I can't, I can't locate her, she's moving too fast."
The analyst felt the high-temperature air waves brought by the wind, energy fluctuations transmitting perception. "She's only using an S-level summoning body!"
The Commander was greatly shocked: "S-level? How is that possible?!"
"This energy body is definitely above S-level. How could a same-level summoning body's energy intensity suppress it like this?!"
He wasn't blind!
Chen Sui against the energy body's energy storm was simply one-sided dominance!
The analyst pressed his lips, his expression somewhat grave. He didn't understand either.
In summoning body theory, the use of summoning bodies was slightly inferior to spiritual bodies because the integration of summoning bodies itself had extremely low resonance, limiting the energy that could be utilized.
Fighting low-level energy bodies was fine, fighting same-level ones depended, but fighting one level higher was unheard of.
"Her resonance might be very high."
This was the only reason the analyst could guess, but he was equally surprised inside.
Just how high must her resonance be to fight an energy body one level higher?
Could this not be a summoning body but her spiritual body?
But energy fluctuations don't lie.
The analyst even momentarily doubted his own skills, unable to distinguish between summoning body and spiritual body energy differences.
The Commander inside the silver-white mecha looked even worse. Thinking that the other party had been sniping from hiding, preparing to eliminate them, and that after resolving the energy body, they would be next, the wariness in his heart surged like a tide.
"Find the right moment, aim at her, we must find a way to deal with her."
The Commander steeled himself.
The strong attacker received the order. Seeing the opponent eliminate the energy mass, wave her spear, and turn around, with the mecha just landing on a high rock, a flash of light passed through his eyes, tension and excitement surging simultaneously.
The silver-white Commander also felt he had seized the opportunity, aiming at Chen Sui. Simultaneously with the strong attacker, two cannons from two directions fired at the same spot, their trajectories gradually converging.
"Beautiful!"
Just as the shot was fired, before hearing any sound, the silver-white Commander couldn't help but call out dramatically.
His hand holding the cannon shook uncontrollably, his eyes not daring to miss a moment as he fixated on the shell's trajectory.
His pupils reflected a burst of sparks like fireworks.
The shells collided in mid-air, exploding into dazzling sparks scattering everywhere.
A small-scale mushroom cloud raised large amounts of dust.
The smell of gunpowder spread once again.
The Commander's vision was covered with a layer of dust, and he couldn't see clearly what the shells had hit.
A bad premonition swept over his heart.
A blue light like an ice crystal broke through the black smoke diffusing in mid-air, gradually expanding in the Commander's pupils.
"F*ck! How did you know someone was aiming at you?"
Zhou Chen saw himself firing toward the position Chen Sui had reported, only to collide with two artillery shells coming from another direction. His heart skipped a beat, feeling that Chen Sui was too daring.
"You dare to gamble like this—if you were a second slower or off by a bit, those two shells would have hit you dead on."
He spoke in the team channel. In the distant forest, Gu Qinxue glanced at Xie Chunshi, her eyes questioning the next step, and was calmed by the Commander's gaze.
Xie Chunshi waited for Chen Sui's answer, his gaze focused on the spreading energy body. They had just experienced a round of energy storms and were now in an intermission period. He lowered his voice, reassuring the somewhat worried Gu Qinxue: "Chen Sui can handle it, let's wait a bit longer."
Gu Qinxue's brow relaxed a bit.
Next, they heard Chen Sui's confident voice.
"Of course, with guns pointed at me, the hair on the back of my neck stood up."
She wasn't dead—she was more sensitive than anyone when someone aimed at her.
"Don't worry, it won't go off course. I calculated it well. No one understands artillery distance better than a repair technician."
And no one understands the best battle angles better than a vanguard.
As soon as she finished speaking, her tone was calmly arrogant.
"Continue, I'll control them, you eliminate."
After saying this, she immediately reported the position to Zhou Chen.
At the same time, Chen Sui readied her ice bomb, firing three consecutive shots at the positions of the silver-white mechas.
The shells penetrated through layers of gray smoke.
Precisely hitting all three mechas.
The silver-white Commander's reaction was a second too slow.
Seeing all three team members controlled, his mind momentarily went blank.
By the time a huge explosion sounded in his ears, he realized that his body was surrounded by the protection device.
—He was already eliminated.
A high-pressure cannon simultaneously raised the deterioration of three mechas.
White Sand Sky Pillar Sea Domain teams -1.