radicalducati Chapter 84 Rematch with Chen Mo
Chapter 84 Rematch with Chen Mo
The next evening.
Wang Xing sat at his desk and opened the Beidou Yuan Universe APP on his mobile phone again.
[Beep. Welcome to the Beidou Metaverse.]
With a crisp system notification sound, his consciousness instantly sank into the virtual lobby.
However, before he could even open the free match interface, a glaring red notification suddenly popped up in the system window.
[Notification: Player "Chen Mo" has sent you a private battle invitation. Do you accept?]
Wang Xing's finger paused slightly in mid-air, a look of surprise in his eyes.
"What's going on? Chen Mo actually challenged me to a challenge. What's going on?"
Although the two had clashed once in the metaverse, they also brushed past each other again yesterday in the "100-player battle royale".
But this is the first time they've ever proactively sent a challenge.
"Could it be that this guy has been secretly watching me too?"
On second thought, it makes sense.
Having just won the championship in the competition among 100 schools, and having inquired about his situation at the school of electromechanical technology, Chen Mo, with his keen senses, could not possibly have been unaware of these subtle developments.
Besides, the other party might have some connection with Sun Donglai. It's not impossible that they want to have some contact with me.
"accept."
Wang Xing murmured and lightly tapped the air with his fingertip.
The next instant, a stream of data poured down like a torrential rain, taking him into a dimly lit private preparation hall.
The hall was empty, with only two illusory mecha figures standing opposite each other.
The Black Star mech opposite stood silently in the shadows, its metal shell shimmering with wisps of dark purple light.
On the holographic screen, Chen Mo's virtual projection was clearly outlined, with a pair of deep and cold eyes.
He looked at Wang Xing and broke the silence first, getting straight to the point: "I didn't expect your mecha to break through to level eight so quickly... I noticed you during yesterday's survival competition."
"Your mech... has actually broken through to level eight. Yesterday in the 100-player battle royale, I saw you kill a level eight steel-armored earth lizard with a single strike. That was impressive."
"Likewise... So you came all this way just to verify?" Wang Xing smiled, "To see if I'm really that strong?"
"I suppose so." Chen Mo tugged at the corners of his mouth, a smile devoid of any warmth. "Besides... some things can't be explained clearly in the ring. Let's talk about it after the fight."
"Is there anything else?"
Wang Xing piloted the [Tiger-type] mech forward, its blade pointing diagonally at the ground, and said coldly, "No wonder you came to find me today... and your mech's power level seems to have improved as well, but... that aura is very abnormal."
Chen Mo's lips curled into a slightly self-deprecating smile, without any attempt to hide it:
"Distortion modification. Just like your old friend Sun Donglai, it was done at Meng Rui's shop in the old town."
As he said this, a hint of resentment and struggle flashed quickly across the depths of his eyes.
Wang Xing keenly captured that morbid thirst for power and the desolation of having to bow down to some unknown dark force.
"Sun Donglai is also with Meng Rui..."
Wang Xing's heart skipped a beat, and he was about to ask for details about the modification room when Chen Mo coldly interrupted him:
"Stop your curiosity. If you want answers, take them with your knife first. Beat me, then we'll talk!"
"boom!"
Before the words were even finished, the two auxiliary thrusters on the back of the [Black Star] mech instantly erupted with violent dark purple flames, and the entire mech transformed into a black lightning bolt that tore through the darkness, fiercely rushing towards Wang Xing!
……
"Well done!"
Wang Xing narrowed his eyes, and his blood and qi surged under the impetus of the "Myriad Manifestations Prajna Divine Power".
The [Tiger Style] mech emitted a deep roar from its joints, and the Taibai Tiger Striped Battle Blade drew a nearly full moon-like silver-blue arc in the air.
"clang--!!"
The two heavy weapons collided with a loud crash in mid-air.
The hidden force of gravity contained in the Taibai Heavy Blade and the corrosive purple ripples flowing on the Black Star Blade were locked in a fierce struggle.
The ear-piercing metallic scraping sound, accompanied by dazzling electrical sparks, instantly caused the surrounding virtual ground to crack inch by inch.
Chen Mo's offensive tactics were extremely unpredictable.
After incorporating modifications from monsters like the Bone-Splitter, his Black Star's movements completely transcended the physical boundaries of normal mechs... Every joint fold, every incredible sideways turn, resembled a true lone wolf in the wilderness.
"You've indeed become stronger." Chen Mo murmured amidst the flashing blades, his voice carrying a hint of indescribable感慨 (gǎnkǎi, a complex emotion encompassing both admiration and a sense of profound understanding). "Much stronger than last time...."
"You too." Wang Xing retaliated with a slash, the blade grazing Chen Mo's cockpit and leaving a charred mark on the metal shell. "But my progress far surpasses yours."
The dark golden power of the Divine Tiger Particles inherently possesses a domineering ability to suppress evil spirits.
"Swish! Swish! Swish!!"
Not to be outdone, Chen Mo's dark purple blade wove an impenetrable net of death in the air, leaving molten, charred marks on the [Tiger Style] armor.
However, Wang Xing remained unmoved.
His level 8.5 Qi and Blood had achieved a near-mythical resonance with the mecha. The Divine Tiger Particles were slightly warm at his fingertips, and surging power flowed continuously into the blade through the conduction source.
"The Three Forms of Breaking the Army - Cutting Off the Flow!"
Facing the barrage of blades, Wang Xing neither dodged nor evaded. He gripped the hilt of the Taibai Heavy Blade with both hands, exhaled sharply, and thrust the blade forward without any fancy moves.
This strike was extremely powerful and incredibly fast!
"Splash—!!"
As the battle blade sliced through the void, it subtly created ripples in the air. This was a manifestation of the power of the "Myriad Manifestations Prajna Divine Power" at its peak.
"boom!"
The battle blade, with an almost brute force, smashed a path through the purple shadows filling the sky.
"Splash—!!"
The violent blade of light not only deflected Black Star's blade, but its residual force also transformed into a silver dragon of energy, which slammed heavily into Black Star's breastplate.
The dull thud of bones breaking echoed in the preparation hall.
The Black Star mech was struck as if by a heavy blow, flying several meters backward and carving a deep trench in the ground. The distorted flesh and armor on its chest had been torn to shreds by the blade's edge.
[Match ended. Winner: Wang Xing.]
The system's cold, impersonal notification sounded.
Wang Xing stood in the center of the ruins, the transmission system of the [Tiger-type] right arm emitting faint blue smoke. That was because it had withstood a considerable load in order to withstand Chen Mo's desperate counterattack.
Although they won.
But it was a Pyrrhic victory.
However, it was able to defeat a double-level twelve-level aberration modification with a double-level eight rating.
This was absolutely a commendable match!
"I can now roughly estimate my true combat strength."
Wang Xing silently reflected to himself: "If I were at my current level, I could definitely fight against a normal level 12 opponent... and most level 12 opponents wouldn't be a match for me. After all, Chen Mo isn't a normal level 12; he has the amplification from the mutated modification."
……
"You win."
Chen Mo's virtual projection lit up again, and his machine data was slowly being reset.
He looked at Wang Xing, his eyes filled with even greater awe: "Your swordsmanship even seems to carry a hint of restraint against the mutated and modified form, or rather, an innate power that restrains the Abyss Monster."
"But... this is only in the metaverse."
Chen Mo's voice suddenly lowered:
"The simulation here is only 95% accurate. Many of the extraordinary characteristics and active abilities brought about by the Abyss Anomalies cannot be reproduced in the virtual world due to the underlying restrictions of Star Alliance law. If we were to fight in reality, your strike just now might not have been able to break through my mutated flesh membrane."
Wang Xing listened quietly, without offering any rebuttal.
He knew that Chen Mo was telling the truth.
The world of Beidou Metaverse is 70% similar to the real world, and it can achieve more than 95% similarity in virtual battles, but it is not 100%... Especially since the opponent has undergone distortion modification, the degree of realism is even more difficult to estimate.
Some of the mutated and modified abilities are so mysterious that their true nature can only be revealed on the real battlefield.
"So, you want to fight me in real life?" Wang Xing raised an eyebrow.
Chen Mo remained silent for a moment, then slowly raised his head, his eyes flashing with a complex light.
"Of course, this isn't my true strength, and I certainly don't want to lose to you like this."
"Of course, I'm not just here to spar with you. I can tell you about Sun Donglai's mutation secret... and also, some information about your father, Wang Zhan."
"What did you say?!"
If it were Sun Donglai, it would be fine, since Wang Xing knew that Chen Mo and Sun Donglai must have some connection. But he never expected that the other party would mention his father's name.
Upon hearing the word "father," Wang Xing nearly broke down, taking a sudden step forward and staring intently at the other person.
"Do you even know what you're saying? My father has been missing for eight years, how could you possibly know any clues about him?!"
"Tian Shu Mech Hunter, King Zhan".
Chen Mo uttered the long-forgotten name slowly and deliberately:
"I've crossed the border before, infiltrated the edge of the Black Abyss. I've personally seen records of this name in the secret files of some smugglers and the Black Armor Alliance there. It's in the Black Abyss region near the Forbidden Land of the Northern Desert. I can't be sure of much... but perhaps, he's still alive."
Chen Mo looked at Wang Xing, who was breathing heavily, and dropped the last bait:
"I need your help to free Sun Donglai and me from the Black Armor Alliance. Tomorrow night, late at night, at the abandoned power plant in the old city, bring your mech to me. I will give you the original file. Remember... come alone, otherwise, this clue will be lost forever in the abyss."
After saying that, Chen Mo's avatar instantly went dark and he exited the metaverse.
The hall fell silent once more.
…………
Wang Xing, who had just emerged from the metaverse, was drenched in cold sweat.
He stood barefoot on the floor, his chest heaving violently.
Bait.
This is definitely a well-designed bait.
At this critical juncture, the other party released clues about the missing father, with the sole purpose of luring this heavily protected "top student of all schools" out of the safe zone of Chengdu.
Although I don't know what the other party's purpose is.
But the other party dropped a single phrase: the Black Armor Alliance. Sure enough, behind many of the distorted modifications lay the shadow of the Black Armor Alliance…
"Is it because my brilliance is too dazzling? Do they want to force me out of Rongcheng's safe zone and completely annihilate this rising star?"
Wang Xing squinted, pondering, "But... what if it's true?"
Wang Xing braced his hands on the table, his teeth clenched so tightly they made a cracking sound.
The other party could say his father's name and even reveal his father's identity. If he really had even the slightest clue about his father... even if there was only a one in ten thousand chance, he couldn't just sit idly by.
And then there's Sun Donglai... Although he had officially severed ties with Sun Donglai, Wang Xing didn't want to completely ignore news about him.
"Calm down, Wang Xing, you must calm down..."
Wang Xing closed his eyes, forcing his brain to work at high speed under intense pressure.
If the other side has indeed set a trap, it would be foolish to walk right into it. But if they forcefully push through with the help of the Star Alliance, fearing the consequences, not only will Chen Mo die, but all clues about his father will also be completely erased by the Black Armor Alliance.
He needs a powerful ally who can both ensure his own safety and secretly tear this trap apart.
An absolutely reliable and capable ally that can operate covertly.
A name instantly flashed into Wang Xing's mind.
He strode to the table, opened his personal terminal, and entered a special encrypted code.
A moment later, the holographic projection lit up, and a somewhat unkempt young man, wearing baggy pajamas and carrying a half-empty can of iced cola, appeared on the screen.
It was his senior, Wang Yangming, a member of the Tian Shu Mech Hunters.
"Hey, Ah Xing? Why are you chatting with someone like me who got into university through a special program so late at night instead of sleeping?"
Wang Yangming took a swig of cola, let out a loud burp, and joked casually.
Wang Xing took a deep breath, his expression more solemn than ever before:
"Senior, something's happened. I need your help."
Seeing Wang Xing's almost ashen face, Wang Yangming's smile vanished instantly.
He put down his cola, his eyes instantly becoming as sharp as a falcon's, exuding the composure and murderous aura of the former champion of the Chengdu Hundred Schools Competition and the Tian Shu Mecha Hunter.
"explain."
……
Ten minutes later.
After listening to Wang Xing's account of his encounter with the metaverse and the clues about his father, Wang Yangming's brows furrowed deeply.
He paced back and forth in the room, his loose pajamas unable to conceal the chilling aura he exuded.
"Meng Rui... it's that old bastard Meng Rui again."
Wang Yangming spat, his voice as cold as ice:
"Our Tian Shu Mech Hunters have been secretly investigating the Black Armor Alliance's movements in Chengdu recently, and Meng Rui is one of the key suspects we've identified. The fact that Chen Mo is contacting you at this time is very likely a trap set by Meng Rui. They're in a hurry because your growth rate has exceeded their expectations, and they want to completely eliminate this future threat before the provincial exam."
"I knew it was a trap," Wang Xing said in a deep voice, "but they released information about my father."
Wang Yangming turned his head, looked at Wang Xing's resolute eyes, as firm as a rock, and sighed:
"You little rascal, you're really a handful... But you did a great job not hiding it from the school and the authorities and acting on your own."
He walked back to the screen and drew a few lines in the air with one finger:
"Listen, you have to go to the meeting tomorrow. Only when you make a move will Meng Rui's henchmen hiding in the shadows show themselves. But this isn't about throwing your life away; it's about 'luring the snake out of its hole.'"
"What does the senior mean?" Wang Xing's eyes lit up slightly.
Wang Yangming's lips curled slightly upwards, revealing an extremely dangerous smile:
"I am, after all, a formal Tian Shu Mech Hunter. Tomorrow night, you will go to the appointment as usual, make a big commotion in public, and attract their attention."
"As for the shadows... I'll always be there. My Demon Ape Mech has the means to conceal its presence. If Meng Rui and his mutant dare to show their faces, I'll blast them, along with that dilapidated warehouse, into the sky!"