First Battlefield Commander! - Chapter 69
Chapter 69: Qixing
The initial configuration price of the Qixing mech wasn't expensive, but it was very famous among snipers. Its performance was relatively balanced in all aspects, with significant room for improvement. It could be equipped with flexible gun and ammunition options, but this didn't mean it was user-friendly.
The later investment cost of the Qixing far exceeded other mechs. Whether it was weapon replacement, bullet prices, or repair costs, they were several times higher than other mechs, making it a hidden luxury item.
This was exclusive to experts; newcomers dared not buy this thing. Without a base of ten thousand points, one simply couldn't sustain its consumption. Later on, possibly only an empty shell would remain.
While Fang Jianchen was explaining over there, Lian Sheng had already finished buying the mech. Fang Jianchen then started talking about later configuration enhancements.
"Enhance energy or add a new weapon? Qixing's initial configuration is just average. Oh, or you could choose thrusters. Qixing's initial speed is too slow; you basically can't escape if caught. Or strengthen the defense."
Talking like this seemed endless; every aspect seemed unsatisfactory and needed enhancement. Fang Jianchen struggled, "Ah, whatever! You have to decide this yourself. Any option is good; you'll need them all later anyway!"
Qixing's weapon wasn't a cannon, nor could its arms fire various shockwaves. It relied on detachable gun-type equipment. So distance, power, and range were all selectable.
Although cannons had high destructive power and a wide attack range, they were inconvenient to carry, had low energy reserves, and fired too slowly. It was easy for the opponent to detect the heat signature before the shot was even fired, making it a somewhat useless feature for snipers.
Qixing's destructive power was slightly inferior, but it was fast and highly concealable. The "bullets" it used were actually small chargers sufficient for several shots. High consumption, high price.
Lian Sheng bought enough ammunition and new thrusters. After equipping them onto the mech, she only had just over fifty points left. She immediately opened the arena and sent a challenge request to Jiang Feng Yuhuo.
"You really dare to come? And just bet fifty points?" Jiang Feng Yuhuo waited nearby, wanting to see what she would do. After receiving the invitation, he tilted his head, "Are you sure? So impulsive?"
Opening an arena with fifty points would most likely result in losing everything.
Piaoqi Great General: "Do I look like I'm acting out of anger?"
"It's people like you who are more likely to hit a brick wall because you never think you're wrong," Jiang Feng Yuhuo asked. "What mech did you buy?"
Piaoqi Great General: "My beloved mech, Qixing."
Jiang Feng Yuhuo paused, then looked her up and down sideways, "I say, Hundred Meter Flying Dagger really misjudged. How could he favor someone like you? Although you're a newbie, you should at least understand before making a decision. Just lost one match, and you're already losing your composure like this?"
She didn't even have enough for mech repair costs, completely unaware of Qixing's vampire-like point consumption. Using all fifty points to open the arena, she would have to stack points one by one initially, and her points weren't even enough for Qixing to fire a few shots.
Jiang Feng Yuhuo looked up and smiled, "But I think Hundred Meter Flying Dagger must be regretting it deeply now. You've ruined his reputation built over so many years."
Piaoqi Great General stretched her neck with one hand, twisting it, "That's why I said, I really hate it when people give me victory speeches before the end. Talk less, accept."
Fang Jianchen himself was still going on explaining, "Oh. But if using Qixing, at least keep five hundred points for repairs, otherwise it'll be tragic later."
He didn't need a response at all. After being interrupted, he remembered the main point, "Oh, my beloved mech isn't suitable for arena fights initially. I suggest you buy another mech as a backup, save up some repair fees for it, and bring it out later. But you seem to have no points left, so maybe don't buy Qixing first. Let me recommend a slightly cheaper mech, Wuxiu."
A message flashed directly across the channel.
[Announcement] System: Player Piaoqi Great General has initiated a personal arena. First challenger: Jiang Feng Yuhuo. The initial challenge will begin in the arena in five minutes. Players, please do not log off.
Fang Jianchen: "..."
After initiating the arena, both sides reselected their battle mechs. Lian Sheng entered piloting Qixing.
Her initial mech had practically become her signature; suddenly switching felt somewhat unfamiliar. When the crowd saw the mech type clearly, the entire place erupted.
Cheng Ze exclaimed in shock, "You actually recommended she buy Qixing? Malicious intent!"
Fang Jianchen pleaded innocence, "I didn't! I just introduced my beloved mech to her, but my main point was in the last two words!"
Zhao Zhuoluo said, "...You should really restrain this talkative habit of yours."
Hundreds of words of preamble, all nonsense, just to barely mention the name at the end. Who answers questions like that?
Under the condemning gazes of his three roommates, Fang Jianchen took a step back, crying injustice, "What! How did I know her hand was so fast! How did I know she was this kind of person!"
"Tsk..." Cheng Ze looked disdainful. "I see you're using public office for private gain. It's more straightforward to just admit it."
Fang Jianchen said, "She asked me what mech I pilot, I just told her. Can just anyone learn my 'Alliance Number One Cannon' skill? If she wants to learn, why blame me!"
The group turned their heads to look at the stage.
Ye Buqing glanced at the arena information, "Lian Sheng only has fifty points left..."
This sounded like a tragedy just waiting to happen. How long could fifty points last? It was purely a waste of time and energy, a thankless task. Highly likely she'd lose her points too.
When the onlookers saw the system announcement, they paused. Knowing she reopened the arena, they quickly applied, wanting to grab front-row seats to conveniently send points to the Great General.
This was their dedication as fans! This was love!
The opposing fans had the same mentality, scrolling down the list, fiercely clicking sign-up.
After completing this important task, they began discussing the current situation calmly.
"Why bother? Losing once, you can blame the mech. Losing twice looks bad."
"Fifty points, piloting Qixing, will look bad later too. Doesn't she know how expensive Qixing repairs are?"
"Damn, why choose Qixing? No matter what, she should have chosen Leibao or Pojun! Isn't she good at close combat? This is a sniper mech!"
"Did she miss a few shots just now, so now she's fixated on it?"
"Even with my eyes closed, I wouldn't choose Qixing. Isn't this the worst mech? She only has six points left!"
"I'm more curious, does she know how to use Qixing? Qixing is a mech outsiders can't handle."
"Serves her right! Jiangfeng, beat her down!"
"My male god, I love you! Male god, quickly beat down that jumping monkey opposite!"
It sounded like everyone didn't favor the Great General much.
Fang Jianchen remained unconcerned, picking his ear, "They know nothing about the power of the Alliance Number Two Cannon."
Cheng Ze said, "Yes. The Number Two Cannon has killed the Number One Cannon multiple times."
Fang Jianchen: "..."
Breakup! This damned plastic brotherhood!
On the arena stage, the two had been teleported back to the map. The same map as before. Covered in mounds and scattered rocks.
Surprisingly, the first to move wasn't Leibao, but the Great General's Qixing.
A sniper mech was actively approaching a close-combat mech.
The crowd below couldn't help but cover their faces at this suffocating scene.
Midway, the Great General raised her hand, placed the gunstock on her shoulder, and began aiming at the target.
This was the weapon she was currently most accustomed to; using it felt natural.
Cannons had high destructive power, so only wide-area aiming was needed. Qixing's weapon inherently consumed less energy; to ensure enough power to kill the target, precise shooting was necessary.
This map, with its many obstacles, wasn't suitable for straight-line shooting.
Leibao originally intended to approach her, then take her down in one move. But the opponent, without hesitation, used offense as defense, starting to shoot directly at him, forcing him into a near-miss dodge.
Thrusters at full power, he dodged behind a nearby rock. Without a moment's respite, the Great General, carrying her gun, pursued him to his side.
Leibao stabilized his posture, then began retreating again.
Just moments after the start, he had fallen completely passive. The opponent pressed relentlessly; he had no choice but to flee and dodge. This embarrassing situation was the complete opposite of the first round.
Only then did the onlookers understand: the initial approach was to close the distance, keeping the target locked within her line of sight at all times. Qixing wasn't just a sniper; it was also a long-range gunner.
Such aggressive and proactive attacks, precise shooting points – the Great General was clearly an expert!
"So the Great General... is actually a gunner?"
Having always seen her use close combat, they assumed she was a melee fighter. Turns out she wasn't. Thinking carefully, the initial mech didn't even have long-range options.
The crowd suddenly understood.
If she was a sniper who consistently won using close combat, how awesome was that!
Seeing this situation, the crowd from District Twelve swept away their gloom, spirits high. Suppressing the opposing voices, they cheered loudly.
"Awaken, Great General!"
"Great General, charge!"
"Who said it just now? Great General, quickly beat down that jumping monkey opposite!"
One problem that gave Lian Sheng the biggest headache when sniping was the heavy firearm. Did mechs have this problem? Non-existent. Running around with it was effortless.
She watched the opposing mech once again hide behind a giant rock, her expression gradually sinking.
Her ammunition was points, especially in the current situation of severe shortage. Although Jiang Feng Yuhuo had no room to retaliate, he wasn't an easy opponent to handle either.
His mech configuration was high, combat awareness good; Lian Sheng couldn't take him down quickly. Engaging in a protracted battle of attrition with him wasn't worth it.
Amidst the frantic pursuit, the Great General's offensive suddenly paused. Jiang Feng Yuhuo didn't know what happened, but instantly sensed it, seized the opportunity, and turned to counterattack.
Qixing was seen drawing an iron sword from its back with a reverse grip, simultaneously assuming a defensive stance.
Were the two mechs going to have a direct confrontation?
Qixing versus Leibao? Unsure what this maneuver meant.
The hearts of those below leaped, unable to resist shouting, "Don't get hit by Leibao! Run!"
But the people on the stage couldn't hear.
Lian Sheng was confident.
Although Leibao's speed was faster than Qixing's, she could already grasp it from the pursuit just now. Now she had sufficient energy and could also use thrusters. Moreover, her years of combat experience were definitely incomparable to this group.
Qixing held one hand behind its back, stood sideways, sword pointing straight ahead.
Swords weren't actually suitable for the battlefield. They lacked the dominance of sabers and the power of long spears; they required more skill and adaptability.
But the sword was the weapon she had wielded for over twenty years. It was with it on the battlefield that she had killed countless enemies.
She never denied her deficiencies in strength and explosive power. But she—
—had also never lost!
Leibao gripped its weapon with both hands and slashed down directly at her.
His movements were crude. Because each attack was forceful, aiming to take down the opponent, his speed was fast, but the tells were also obvious. His footwork and shoulders directly revealed his intentions.
The Great General lightly pivoted on her toes, retreating with ease.
Leibao turned sideways, slashing horizontally with one hand. The Great General had already retreated backward.
Jiang Feng Yuhuo frowned, lunged forward, and launched another diagonal power attack.
The Great General took step after step, moving with her own rhythm, seemingly circling, but always managing to narrowly dodge the opponent's attacks.
She circled to the side, delivered a seemingly light thrust with her sword horizontally, then quickly retreated. A flicker of electricity sparked on Leibao's shell, but there was no major damage.
The mech was thick, defense high. It needed to be broken down slowly.
Hit, Jiang Feng Yuhuo was greatly provoked, quickening his hand speed, lunging towards her.
Couldn't hit, couldn't hit at all. The opponent seemed able to predict his attacks.
The not-too-close, not-too-far distance, the occasional attacks, felt like mockery.
Jiang Feng Yuhuo gritted his teeth, roared, raised his sword high, put force into both arms, and swung down fiercely.
The Great General raised her sword, tapped the side of Leibao's sword blade, and sharply reprimanded, "Too much force!"
Having force was good, but force needed to be contained within the weapon. His entire body's movements expressed his offensive intent, so his attacks were fast, but changing moves was slow.
Jiang Feng Yuhuo angrily retorted, "Shut up!"
The Great General bent her knees slightly, already accelerating into a side slide, circling behind him.
Jiang Feng Yuhuo knew this was bad, but had no time to turn around; his back was exposed before her.
Qixing's sword, once again, thrust towards the mech's back. This time, it finally pierced through the chassis, penetrating the cockpit.
Leibao fell, challenge ended.
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Ty for the updateeee
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