Arena Top Player 5

Mighty King Rabbit Owo was hacking away, chasing Shell Taizong across the arena. It had been a long time since Shell Taizong had looked this panicked. It was like when other players hit Shell Taizong, the hits barely stung, but when Mighty King Rabbit Owo got a hit in, sparks flew.

Put-All-Points-Into-Defense didn't want to be this embarrassed, but compared to his earlier confidence, all he could do now was scramble to dodge Mighty King Rabbit Owo's attacks. Xu Lingqu strolled after him, as patient as death itself, waiting for the moment when his energy flagged. When that opening came, she struck.

Her long sword slashed twice at his half-shield, and Put-All-Points-Into-Defense's hands went numb from the impact. His other defensive weapon was an umbrella-like device that could absorb laser cannon fire when opened.

'Her left side is exposed right now. If I could use this weapon offensively...' Put-All-Points-Into-Defense decided to go all in. He raised his shield with his right hand and pushed forward, trying to knock Mighty King Rabbit Owo off balance and get at her left side.

But Mighty King Rabbit Owo sidestepped to his right in a strange, fluid motion, and his attack missed. In the same breath, she drove her long sword deep into his right arm.

The laser cannon on her left shoulder fired again, this time at point-blank range. There was nothing to block it. The blast hit his mech's head directly, and the system declared him defeated.

He had lost. The number fifty had lost to this monster newcomer who had just achieved a ten-win streak.

Put-All-Points-Into-Defense was stunned. He sat there for a moment, letting it sink in.

Meanwhile, the arena was roaring with cheers. The spectators who had come to watch the excitement hadn't expected Mighty King Rabbit Owo to be this strong. Those who had doubted her, claiming she was just showing off for attention, now shut their mouths. Even the famous Shell Taizong had been cleared in five minutes—what more could anyone say?

Xu Lingqu shook her hands. That Put-All-Points-Into-Defense had been like an eel—slippery and hard to catch—and he'd used his defensive weapons well. Good thing she'd picked the Speed model; if she'd gone with the Strength model, she might have been chasing him forever.

"That number fifty guy isn't bad—a lot better than the last one," Liu Ming commented, glancing at the audience. "Oh, you're blowing up now. The arena is packed, and I bet your matches are being broadcast everywhere."

Before it could keep chattering, a challenge request appeared in front of Xu Lingqu.

The number one on the Imperial Sky Network's interstellar mech arena leaderboard, Ming, had sent a challenge to Mighty King Rabbit Owo—unprovoked.

The entire arena erupted.

The mech arena section of the interstellar forum went wild too. Ming hadn't shown up for a while; he was always mysterious, without any military academy certification, supposedly just an ordinary person, yet he had outshone all the academy students to take the top spot.

Many people couldn't believe it. How could someone so skilled not be a military academy student?

But Ming had covered his tracks well. No one had uncovered his identity, and everyone just watched him hold the number one spot for nearly two years.

He had deep knowledge of all five virtual mechs, and he often produced fresh playstyles that were a joy to watch. His control was so fluid that you could never spot a hint of stiffness, and he preferred the three offensive mech types. Several of his edited videos on the network carried the keyword that defined him: aesthetic violence.

And now this cold, mysterious Ming had taken the initiative to challenge the newly risen Mighty King Rabbit Owo.

Word spread like wildfire across the arena forum and livestream channels. Even mech enthusiasts outside the network at that moment were watching the broadcast on their personal devices.

At Crescent Moon Military Academy in Star System No. 4, a group of students was huddled together, watching the broadcast with rapt attention, completely unaware of their black-faced principal, the embarrassed system governor, and Liu Zheng's expressionless face.

Liu Zheng had earned a mech soldier spot at Moye Military Academy, one of the six major academies. Returning to Star System No. 4 was a bit like coming home in triumph. The governor of Star System No. 4 had arranged for her to visit Crescent Moon Military Academy that evening—partly to show her the spirit of the current students, and partly hoping that Liu Zheng's presence might inspire them.

But they walked in on this scene.

The students felt a chill run down their spines, but it was already too late. The principal's face was as dark as a pot's bottom. They scrambled to their feet and stood in a line, too afraid to keep watching.

Liu Zheng, however, took the initiative to ask: "What are you watching?"

The students exchanged glances, not daring to speak. Finally, the one who had led them all in watching was pushed forward to talk to her: "It's... the interstellar arena broadcast from the network..."

He explained while watching Liu Zheng's expression. Her face remained a cold, expressionless mask. When he realized this god-like senior didn't seem angry, he grew bolder and began describing Mighty King Rabbit Owo's legend in detail.

As Liu Zheng listened, a sudden sense of familiarity struck her. The name popped into her head instantly.

Xu Lingqu.

But that name...

"What is a Rabbit Owo?" Liu Zheng asked, puzzled.

The student rubbed his nose. "It seems to be a character from some interstellar cartoon, hahaha. I'm not really sure either..."

A cartoon character. Xu Lingqu wouldn't watch something like that. She must not be the one.

Liu Zheng thought this, but she still sent a friendly message to Xu Lingqu on her personal device.

"What are you doing?"

Xu Lingqu stared at the three words that suddenly popped up, so very characteristic of Liu Zheng, and fell silent.

"They all agreed to message me tonight?"

"They miss you," Liu Ming said dismissively, urging her on. "Just accept Ming's challenge already. That guy seems seriously strong, and he's number one. Beat him and you're done!"

Xu Lingqu had originally planned for two days for this arena grind since it used a points system, and even with the ability to jump ranks, reaching the top would've taken a while unless the number one accepted a duel.

To her surprise, Ming had come knocking on her door first. It was like someone handing you a pillow when you're dozing off. Xu Lingqu replied to Liu Zheng first with two words: "Training." Then she immediately accepted Ming's challenge.

The moment she entered the arena, a man with unremarkable looks appeared, and the audience burst into thunderous cheers.

This was the number one of the network's mech arena—a legendary existence.

"Whoa, so having a plain avatar is the silent agreement between true experts?" Liu Ming stared at Ming, stunned.

Xu Lingqu didn't say a word. She chose the Strength model mech. She was already locked in.