The 3 p.m. battle was known as one between Jerent, one of Hell's Gate's Heavenly Kings, and the Desert Storm.

On this day, there were a total of two advanced federal battles, but stationed at Hell's Gate, Jerent found it hard to laugh. Every gesture he made was heavy with emotion.

Desert Storm, renowned as a top-tier pilot, had a tough, formidable fighting style. This battle was a major test in his life, and it must be said he was quite unlucky. His target was the Revenge Shadow Rider, yet he ended up facing the equally strong Desert Storm right off the bat.

Of course, Desert Storm himself showed no emotional fluctuation. To him, winning or losing was but a game—perhaps even a deadly game. However, TK simply didn't care; after all, death was an inevitable part of battle.

TK didn't want to consider these things. His status as an elder of the Bounty Tribe had already accumulated a lot of debt for him. "Beautiful miss, bring me a glass of champagne, from '58."

TK casually swiped his glittering card. Under the brim of his hat was a smile that seemed to see through all hustle and bustle, as if everything was under his control—until the girl handed him the wine and suddenly screamed in alarm.

He was the notoriously brutal Desert Storm, one of the top four wanted criminals of the Saudi region. The girl, inside the upscale bar, reacted instinctively. She had grown up listening to tales about this terrifying leader, and never imagined being so close to him. Realizing the situation, she regretfully noted the expensive wine that was now… oh, this month's salary!

"What a shame to waste good wine—well, it's on me. Be more careful next time."

Desert Storm's voice was eerily calm, each word exuding the charm of a mature gentleman. He casually swiped his card again, left, and walked away leaving behind a silhouette that one couldn't quite grasp.

—20 minutes before the match in the federal contestants' area, Holy Sword Finis started its final adjustments. Recently, Ophelia had been trying to use long-range weapons. Although spears were not her primary equipment, as the old saying goes, there's no best equipment, only what suits one best. During her matches with peers, especially the one against Hugo, Ophelia was deeply inspired, hence she continued practicing with long weapons.

To know your enemy and know yourself ensures no peril in a hundred battles, but as Dilia's information was extremely limited, Ophelia started to feel indecisive about whether to use long or short weapons—crucial for her current situation since Dilia was her opponent.

During these turbulent times, there wasn't much combat data on Dilia, which troubled Ophelia greatly. With only 20 minutes left, Angelina seemed to notice Ophelia's concerns and, while supporting her delicate chin, observed for a while, "Worried about the upcoming battle?"

"Exactly. Having no combat records for my opponent is the most annoying part. I'm considering which weapon to use."

Angelina frowned slightly. "It's indeed a problem. Our information isn't exactly a secret, and Dilia's supposed 12-star status shouldn't be too simple either. Perhaps, we can refer to Blue Electric Rain."

"Blue Electric Rain…" Ophelia turned her head slightly.

"Yes, although we don't have data on Dilia, we can refer to the top pilot of the Diya Alliance, Blue Electric Rain. If I guess correctly, Dilia must have been influenced by Xuan Yu to some extent, and since Xuan Yu uses a sword, it's likely Dilia might too. Of course, anything our opponent has thought of, so have we. Hence, all guesses might not be accurate. Rather than considering the opponent, I believe maximizing our strengths is key."

Ophelia sighed deeply, let out a breath. It sounded easy, but once the fight started, selecting the equipment and configuring the mecha would become key factors in determining the outcome of a battle.

For instance, if the opponent used a heavy armor unit, firepower would be crucial. This is where details mattered. Considering the strong defense and lack of agility of heavy units, distraction tactics might be the best strategy. After all, not everyone is the Revenge Shadow Rider, and for most pilots, understanding the opponent's data and configuring equipment accordingly was all too important.

"Just go ahead and fight. Overthinking might affect your performance." Angelina could see that Ophelia was apprehensive, but what could be done? On this stage filled with stars, even top pilots could crash at any minute.

Perhaps you are extraordinarily talented and have caught many eyes, but in this stable and peak competitive environment, you must have a clear understanding of your position. Just thinking about how deep the waters are here can be horrifying. You do not know who your next opponent will be, it could be a nobody, or it could be Revenge Shadow Rider.

Fortunately, the fourth division where Ophelia participated was not a death group. The only two exemption spots, although strong, were not yet at a terrifying level. The most chilling aspect so far appeared only in three other divisions with exemptions—Division One, where Kexiao was, Division Seven, where Revenge Shadow Rider was, Division Eight, where Blue Lightning Rain was, and Division Fifteen, where Soaring Sword Dragon was.

Besides these, divisions like the one with Desert Storm and other top fighters were truly despair-inducing for contestants from various countries.

It can be said that everyone wanted to fight a warrior like Revenge Shadow Rider or Kexiao, yet no one wanted to end up in the same division as them. In other words, if you emerged as a prominent contender from the popular battles and the system placed you in Division Seven, then even if you fought to the end, your opponent would inevitably be Revenge Shadow Rider.

Thus, the early battles were essentially just light skirmishes; the real bosses awaited later. The so-called battlefield of Xiuluo was not as perilous here and would accumulate more precious experience for you during the fight. Maintaining a relaxed attitude in combat was crucial. As for how far you would eventually go, it was all up to fate—live in the present without questioning the future.

In the division where Diya participated, Dilia was not particularly restless. She was very aware of her strength. The Mecha Battle was a challenge for self-assessment for any contestant.

As a disciple, Dilia only sought advice from Xuan Yu in the name of a student whenever she was perplexed, even though their military duties differed. In her backup, Dilia was a disciple to Blue Lightning Rain.

Normally, Dilia was mature and elegant, advancing and retreating with ease, but today she rarely showed a bit of emotional fluctuation, silently stepping into Xuan Yu's room and said leisurely, "Sir, I wonder what I should be aware of in the upcoming fight."

Xuan Yu smiled slightly, "Are you troubled about the upcoming fight?"

"Yes…"

Xuan Yu paused for a moment and said, "We often focus too much on winning or losing and ignore the essence of the fight. The outcome of a battle depends on various factors: judgment awareness, nerve reactions, performance on the spot, and changes in mindset are all crucial. Just demonstrate your daily capabilities; thinking too much will only restrict your growth."

"I have learned my lesson."

Xuan Yu smiled slightly again, "By the way, don't you also wish to fight Revenge Shadow Rider and prove yourself? Just be your usual self, and it might not be impossible."

Dilia was slightly speechless. When had Mr. Xuan Yu also started to motivate others? Normally she did indeed consider herself excellent, but she knew the odds when it came to challenging Revenge Shadow Rider herself.

Yet, how many Revenge Shadow Riders could there be in the world? After a slight gesture, Dilia silently left the room, deciding to let go of everything and fight earnestly. Just being herself, she believed that advancing to the finals was not an impossible task. As for the choice of Mech model, she would use the Mecha she was accustomed to.

As 9 AM approached, the formerly quiet spectator area suddenly became bustling. Crowds supporting both sides greeted their warriors with great enthusiasm, while other major forces adopted a wait-and-see attitude, deciding to carefully note the characteristics of both sides in this battle.

Holy Sword Finis vs. Apocalypse

Engines fired, and in the void between, two super warriors suddenly appeared on the battlefield.

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