You said mechs were going to fight monsters, but instead you're destroying stars with your bare

Chapter 50 This mech is more than just for show.
After Li Zhe named the mecha, it was the other people's turn to summon it.

The summoning ritual is over, but there are still other procedures to follow.

Zhu Xingtuan stepped forward:

"The ceremony is over. All comrades who successfully summoned their mechs shall immediately proceed to the A-3 testing ground for a basic combat capability assessment of their mechs."

At the command, everyone immediately sprang into action.

……

At the A-3 testing site, rows of brand-new testing equipment are already ready.

"The basic combat capability assessment consists of three parts," an examiner announced loudly. "The first part is the basic output test! The second part is the energy beam accuracy test! The third part is the instantaneous maneuverability test! Now, according to the names of the mech pilots I have reported, please step forward in order!"

Reina Hanekawa, as the holder of the special recommendation quota, was the first to step forward.

The purple mecha she piloted was designated Demon Butterfly Queen.

Reina Hanekawa gracefully maneuvered the mecha to the output tester.

The mecha's slender arm pushed seemingly effortlessly.

“Haw—!”

The numbers on the display screen skyrocketed.

Finally, it came to a steady stop at a number that made everyone gasp in astonishment.

【1.30】!
"My God! The initial combat power is already 1.3! What kind of monster is this?!"

"This talent is terrifying!"

"The Abyss Watcher Project from the Featherbeak Group seems to have some merit!"

"Not only can it unleash a person's potential and grant them superpowers, it can even enhance the combat capabilities of the summoned mechs!"

Hearing the exclamations around her, Rena Hanekawa's confidence returned.

She piloted her mecha and glanced at Li Zhe's mecha not far away.

The pair of vision devices, emitting a faint purple glow, seemed to carry a hint of provocation.

Upon seeing this, Li Zhe's lips twitched involuntarily.

"What happened to the promise that it could filter out some provocations and troublemakers?" Li Zhe teased Xing.

"Commander, the mech pilot's mech has been affected by abyssal energy. It is speculated that his cognitive level has been reduced, and his mental cortex has become worn smoother... This makes him more prone to strong resentment and stress reactions when his limelight is stolen, leading him to exhibit this foolish and provocative attitude with self-destructive tendencies." Xing calmly analyzed.

"The Abyss has so many functions, it can even reduce people's intelligence... Anyway, it'll be our turn to keep a low profile in a bit."

"As ordered."

……

Next is the accuracy test.

The mech was required to shoot ten tiny bullseyes, each only 1 centimeter in diameter, with an energy beam from 800 meters away.

Reina Hanekawa's Demon Butterfly Queen mecha flapped its wings slightly, and ten precise purple energy beams shot out from her fingertips.

Accuracy: 98.00%!
Another amazing high score, drawing gasps of amazement from the entire audience.

The last item is the instantaneous maneuver response test.

The mech needs to complete a designated evasive maneuver the instant it receives the signal.

The shorter the time, the higher the score.

Reina Hanekawa's test results were still astonishing.

[Reaction time: 0.0845 seconds]!
After completing the three projects, Reina Hanekawa's overall score was far ahead.

She demonstrated her terrifying talent as a mecha pilot with an almost overwhelming advantage.

The mechs that were tested later did not reach this level of performance.

until……

"Next up, Li Zhe!"

Finally, it was Li Zhe's turn.

He piloted his star-shaped platinum mech and quietly walked to the testing device.

That sacred and majestic platinum appearance contrasted sharply with Hanekawa Rena's bewitching and eerie beauty.

"Commander, should I adjust the machine's performance to its optimal level to obtain the highest score?" Xing's voice sounded in my mind.

"I told you to keep a low profile..."

Li Zhe was only halfway through reading the message.

Suddenly, he felt the stars...

It seems that some kind of urge has been deliberately suppressed.

"Hoshi, don't you want to lose to Hanekawa Reina's mecha?"

"Ah."

Li Zhe's lips curled up slightly.

This was the first time Xing had proactively expressed a certain desire or request.

Li Zhe took a deep breath and relayed the instructions.

"Xing, you're right. It's not a bad thing to show our strength appropriately to deter petty villains."

"Since we've already provoked her, let's just increase the intensity a bit more."

"Xing, adjust the output power for me, and in every item, be only a tiny bit higher than her... 0.01 will do."

"Let her know that our mech is more than just for show!"

After receiving the instruction, Xing's tone rose slightly.

"Command confirmed! Initiating ultra-high precision calculations..."

"The goal is to surpass in all aspects, but only by 0.01 units..."

"Commander, the logic of your command is beyond the scope of my database."

"But...this seems quite interesting."

The first item: mecha output test. Li Zhe's mecha slowly raised its arm.

With an incredibly steady and effortless motion, it gently pressed itself onto the tester.

The numbers on the display screen started to jump.

Finally, under everyone's watchful eyes, it came to a steady stop—

【1.31】

The whole place was in an uproar.

"What? He's actually taller than Reina Hanekawa!"

"Only 0.01 higher? Hmm... a very evenly matched competitor!"

"Wonderful!"

Reina Hanekawa's brows furrowed instantly, a strange sense of irritation rising within her.

The second item is the accuracy test.

A flash of light appeared on the core of the mecha piloted by Li Zhe.

Ten beams of platinum-gold light, refined to the extreme, were instantly unleashed.

Accuracy: 98.01%!
The test site immediately erupted in chaos.

"What's going on? It's 0.01 higher again? Is he... is he deliberately controlling the score?"

"Impossible! If that's true, what terrifying control would that be!"

"To be ahead in both effort and accuracy by the same amount is even harder than getting a perfect score!"

Reina Hanekawa's expression turned somewhat unpleasant.

She stared intently at the white mecha, her eyes filled with murderous intent.

The last item is the instantaneous maneuvering response test.

The moment the signal was sent, Li Zhe maneuvered the mecha without making any unnecessary movements.

With just a slight tilt of the body, it perfectly evaded the attack in a mysterious manner.

[Reaction time: 0.0745 seconds]!
When the number appeared on the big screen, the entire venue fell into a deathly silence.

"Exactly 0.01 seconds short?"

"What the hell?!"

"It was intentional, it was absolutely intentional!"

Everyone looked up at the platinum mecha with the eyes of someone looking at a god.

This is no longer a simple "surpassing".

This is a complete and utter "playing games"!
It was in an extremely elegant way that they declared the insurmountable gap between them!
Reina Hanekawa's body trembled slightly.

It wasn't out of fear, but out of extreme anger and humiliation.

0.0745 second……

For the first time in her life, she experienced such humiliation!
The evaluation test has ended.

The examiner announced that the participants could disband on their own after completing the task.

Just as Li Zhe turned to leave in his mech, Yuukawa Reina's purple Demon Butterfly Queen suddenly appeared in front of him.

"You...how dare you play tricks on me like this!"

Reina Hanekawa's voice came through the mecha's loudspeaker, filled with barely suppressed anger.

"I... Hanekawa Reina, hereby formally challenge you!"

"Three days from now, right here in this test range, we'll have a one-on-one mech combat match!"

Her voice echoed throughout the test field, filled with an unquestionable arrogance.

"Do you dare accept it? Or are you just resorting to these low-level, underhanded tricks?!"

Faced with this sudden challenge, Li Zhe simply calmly controlled the mecha and tilted his head slightly.

The pair of golden visual instruments silently watched each other.

"why?"

His voice was so calm, as if he were asking how the weather was today.

This casual rhetorical question left Rena Hanekawa, who had prepared a whole host of challenge declarations, speechless.

"What do you mean 'why'! Of course, it's to prove who the real strongman is!" she said, somewhat exasperated.

"Oh." Li Zhe's voice remained calm. "I'm busy. Find someone else to play the match."

"What...what did you say?!" Rena Hanekawa could hardly believe her ears.

"I don't have time to play this childish game with you." Li Zhe's tone even carried a hint of barely perceptible annoyance.

"Instead of wasting this time, I'd rather go to the Abyss and kill a few more monsters, or think about how to make money."

"What good would it do me to fight you, other than waste my time?"
"I have no interest in this kind of pointless infighting."

After saying that, Li Zhe didn't even bother to look at her again.

He skillfully maneuvered his mecha around the Demon Butterfly Queen, which was frozen in place.

It flew straight toward the port.

Rena Hanekawa, left standing there, was trembling with anger.

Her mecha seemed to resonate with something as well.

Blood almost welled up in those purple electronic eyes.

The challenge was rejected...

And in a way that was almost disregard and contempt!
This humiliation was even more unbearable for her than the precise score manipulation she had just experienced during the test.

"Li Zhe... I'm not done with you yet!!"

(End of this chapter)