The collision in the previous match had far surpassed the energy threshold a Three-Word Battle Armor Master could unleash. That was the true reason for the catastrophic incident. To compensate, the federation promptly refunded all ticket purchases and additionally issued a sum as psychological compensation to every viewer affected. It also officially announced that the upcoming Mecha Battle semifinals and finals, as well as the Soul Master Battle finals, would undergo structural reinforcement on the competition platforms to prevent such disasters from recurring.
Though the prompt response helped stabilize the situation to some degree, the trauma of that explosive battle had left a shadow in the hearts of many spectators. Even now, as the Mecha semifinal match was about to begin, the excitement in the air was interwoven with unease. People were interested, certainly, but they couldn't help but wonder—would today's match result in another overwhelming incident?
But when Gu You and his opponent walked onto the battlefield together, the mood in the stands finally began to lift. After all, this match would determine who would step into the ultimate mecha showdown.
Looking at his opponent in the distance, Gu You recalled the files he'd studied earlier.
'Bubbles, huh? This should be interesting.'
Gu You's opponent in this match was someone who had been dubbed the most unconventional contestant in this year's Mecha Battle Tournament—not because of his mecha control skills, but because his combat effectiveness stemmed almost entirely from his martial soul. His nickname? The Bubble King.
He was also the only contestant who hadn't equipped his mecha with any traditional weaponry. Instead, he'd opted to replace the weapon system with a secondary propulsion module, maximizing the speed and maneuverability of his mecha.
Mecha Masters like this weren't unheard of in the real world. Only those with overwhelming confidence in their martial souls dared such a build. But for one to make it to the semifinals using this strategy was astounding. It spoke volumes about just how formidable his martial soul truly was.
Some even said that with his bizarre abilities, he could have easily made it into the top sixteen of the Soul Master tournament too. But the Bubble King hadn't signed up for it—perhaps out of humility or strategy. Had he participated, his distinctive abilities would've undoubtedly drawn immediate attention.
Bubble King versus Spear King—semifinal!
Gu You raised his long spear slowly and pointed it toward his opponent.
"Five, four, three, two, one. Match start!"
With the sound of the countdown, the Mecha Battle semifinal commenced.
Gu You activated his propulsion system, his mecha shooting forward like a lightning bolt. His presence was overbearing and his aura explosive.
Meanwhile, the Bubble King remained motionless at the center of the arena. He seemed to be preparing something, though it was unclear what. Compared to Gu You's awe-inspiring advance, he appeared calm to the point of looking like a sacrificial lamb. The contrast between them couldn't have been more pronounced.
Gu You's soul power and bloodline aura were fully engaged as he adjusted himself for any counterattack. His opponent would obviously have something up his sleeve—it was just a question of what.
The distance between them continued to shrink. In mecha battles, even a few hundred meters meant only a matter of seconds at top speed.
Just as the gap closed, the Bubble King finally moved.
His mecha straightened, and a layer of shimmering pink light suddenly coated its surface. In the blink of an eye, that pink glow expanded into a massive bubble, more than fifteen meters in diameter, which enveloped his mecha completely.
Had Gu You not altered course, he would've collided directly with the bubble.
But this was exactly the sort of moment where a mecha master's control would shine. Without hesitation, Gu You shut down his propulsion and used his soul power and bloodline energy to guide a subtle shift in direction. His mecha veered off just enough to slide past the bubble instead of crashing into it.
As he passed, Gu You twisted his long spear and jabbed it toward the massive bubble that encased the Bubble King.
Pierce the surface at a single point.
The spear tip struck the bubble. The surface dented inward, but what met Gu You's senses wasn't a normal rebound—it was an elastic force, powerful and eerily sticky. Though he hadn't used any soul skills, the strength behind his attack was still nothing to scoff at. A standard mecha would've had its defenses shattered.
But something strange happened.
The moment his spear connected with the bubble, it stuck. No matter how he pulled, the bubble clung tightly to the weapon's shaft.
'That's... unexpected.'
Gu You maneuvered sideways, trying to pull free. Instead, the bubble detached from the Bubble King and stretched out like a strand of elastic goo, following the length of the spear and trying to wrap around Gu You's own mecha.
Anyone watching would know what that meant—if the bubble succeeded in wrapping him up, the match was effectively over. In the Bubble King's previous matches, no one who had been caught this way had managed to escape defeat.
'Brute force doesn't work. So what about finesse?'
Gu You's eyes narrowed. He stopped yanking hard and instead started making subtle, rhythmic pulls.
Then, like magic, the tight tension of the bubble loosened. A tear appeared on its surface, followed by hissing sounds as pressurized gas hissed out.
'Perfect.'
Gu You's expression turned cold.
With lightning speed, he thrust forward.
Spear of the King!
Colorful energy burst from the tip of his weapon. Spears formed from light rippled out in a flash, and the surrounding space trembled slightly before falling silent again.
The audience stared in shock. The Bubble King had been defeated.
Even he didn't seem to understand how.
Spear King wins!
...
After logging out of the Star Dou Battle Network, Gu You left his dormitory. He didn't go to the rest area—there were too many people there now. Almost everyone in the Blood God Army recognized him at this point, and peace and quiet had become rare luxuries. Not even the café provided the solitude he needed anymore.
Instead, he wandered aimlessly, admiring the snowfall.
Meanwhile, back in the command building, Zhang Huanyun stared at the updated match results.
"They both made it to the finals? Soul Master and Mecha Battle finals? This is... unprecedented."
A voice, half amused, half smug, interrupted from behind.
"Starting to believe my judgment now, aren't you?"
Zhang Huanyun scowled. "Could you knock before barging in?"
"We're old friends, aren't we? Wouldn't knocking be a little too formal?" Sitting comfortably across from him was none other than the infamous Unfeeling Douluo, Cao Dezhi.
Zhang Huanyun narrowed his eyes. "What exactly are you planning?"
...
Elsewhere, in the abyssal passage.
Dong, dong, dong...
A series of faint thudding sounds echoed through the tunnels.
Jiang Wuyue frowned, his gaze fixed ahead on the empty corridor. He turned to his deputy.
"You scanned everything thoroughly?"
"Yes, Commander. We ran a full sweep with the latest detectors. Absolutely no abyssal creatures detected. Our newest scanners can even detect Possession Demons. At least from our side of the passage, I can confirm—nothing's here."
Dong... dong...
The eerie thumping continued.
(End of Chapter)
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