"Meisel failed. Just as expected, what an idiot."
Meister glanced toward Derek Su and Purple Lightning, his expression dark.
It was exactly as he had expected.
Derek Su was definitely not some pushover anyone could casually walk over. Anyone who thought he was just a lucky young racer who had stumbled into his current achievements would only end up being made a fool of by him.
There was one thing Meister hadn't expected, though.
For the second section, Derek Su apparently had no intention of playing it safe by fielding Imperial Scale, a combat-type Mecha Girl. Instead, he was sending out the skill-type Purple Lightning.
As far as Meister was concerned, that choice bordered on sheer arrogance.
Still, it worked in his favor.
"Black Fortress, you'll get your chance to put on a show soon." He turned and smiled at the Mecha Girl beside him.
Black Fortress stood a full 1.9 meters tall even without heels. Her skin was a wild wheat-brown, and compared to Gray Castle, another member of the HB series, her presence felt even sharper.
"Tch, boring." Black Fortress snorted and looked away from Derek Su and Purple Lightning. "I thought I'd finally get to test myself against Imperial Scale, but that kid just had to do something unexpected."
Meister knew that ever since Gray Castle from the ESW club had lost to Imperial Scale, Black Fortress had been unable to let it go. She had been waiting for a chance to reclaim the honor of being the number one combat-type Mecha Girl for the HB series.
This provincial-level track was exactly the opportunity she had been waiting for.
The stage was big enough.
Defeating Imperial Scale here would obviously carry far more weight.
But no one could have predicted things would turn out like this.
"We'll have other chances to face Imperial Scale. For today, just make sure we give them a proper warning." Meister smiled reassuringly, only for something unbelievable to catch his eye.
"Is that a robot?"
A woman walking on eight mechanical arms was heading toward Derek Su and Purple Lightning. The bizarre sight left Meister staring in disbelief.
Chloe Qin wasn't a famous competitor like Derek Su, nor did she have any noteworthy achievements to her name. Even her title of Queen of the Track was self-proclaimed, so Meister had no idea who she was.
"This is the first time I've seen a pilot modified like that." Black Fortress narrowed her eyes. "Don't tell me that thing is an ally of Derek Su and Purple Lightning."
"She certainly looks like one." A cold glint flashed through Meister's eyes as he nodded.
What were the Panlong Mountain organizers thinking? Wasn't there supposed to be a rule that competitors had to be human?
Why were they letting a cyborg participate?
"Mecha Island recently released several AI products, including AI mechanical cores." Black Fortress curled her lip in disdain. "I haven't heard of many people buying them yet. Surely nobody seriously thinks an AI mechanical core can replace a pilot? She's probably just trying to exploit a loophole with one."
"Heh." Meister gave a cold laugh. "Come on. Let's head to the starting line and get ready. We can deal with this robot lady properly once the race begins."
...
Chloe Qin had no idea that before the race had even started, she had already drawn the attention of a racer from one of the world's top ten clubs.
At the moment, she was busy making her presence known in front of Derek Su and Purple Lightning with Viper at her side.
Beating Derek Su in the overall standings was out of the question, but she still had a chance to defeat Derek Su and Purple Lightning on the second section.
After all, she now knew Derek Su's techniques, and Viper's performance was superior to Purple Lightning's.
More importantly, she wanted to use this opportunity to shake Purple Lightning's confidence.
"Derek Su, I really can't believe a racer as strong as you would choose Purple Lightning." Chloe Qin met his gaze and spoke calmly. "Don't get too full of yourself. I'll make you understand that choosing Purple Lightning for the second section will be the biggest mistake of your life."
"I'm not full of myself." Derek Su frowned and stepped protectively in front of Purple Lightning.
Chloe Qin lifted her chin. "Your arrogance and contempt for everyone around you disgust me."
"Seriously, when did I suddenly become arrogant again?!"
"Just wait until you fall from your pedestal. Your blind arrogance will drag you straight into the abyss!"
Chloe Qin snorted, turned around, and scuttled away on her eight mechanical arms.
Beside her, Viper kept her head lowered, occasionally glancing up and repeatedly blinking at Purple Lightning.
As if she were silently begging, Save me, save me...
Unfortunately, Purple Lightning could only give her a helpless look.
"Has Chloe Qin completely lost it?" Derek Su stared speechlessly at Chloe Qin's retreating figure, then reached over and patted Purple Lightning on the head. "Don't pay attention to anything she said. We'll shut her up once we get on the track."
"Master, I don't care."
Purple Lightning looked up at Derek Su.
Beneath her bangs, her amethyst eyes reflected both the sky and his figure.
"I only have one enemy in this race. Myself."
Derek Su paused, then nodded gently.
For Purple Lightning to have reached that kind of resolve was no small thing.
Perhaps defeating an opponent had never been the hardest thing for her.
The hardest thing was defeating herself, the version of herself that had once been trapped in darkness and mire.
"Come on. Let's head to the starting line too."
"Okay!"
...
Kool Kenny's flamboyant figure appeared on the giant screen in the distance.
Less than twenty minutes remained before the second section began.
It was time for him to announce the rules.
...
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