Chapter 612 Resource Battle? (1/2)
”Here will do.” Carroll brought the others to Bloodshed Land's Open Air Combat Training Ground No. 30 and stood opposite Han Xiao. He then moved a long distance away till Han Xiao became a small dot in his eyes.
Han Xiao looked around. This training ground was empty and unobstructed. Around its edges were tall mechanical towers connected by dozens of blue, high-temperature electromagnetic wires. It looked like a futuristic baseball field but many times larger.
The floor was made of gray metal plates. Burn marks left by explosions and slash marks could be seen all around the place, some pits too. Clearly, this training ground was often used.
”In my territory, you have to follow my rules.” Carroll's voice came from afar. ”First, the battle area is limited to this training ground. If you cause destruction outside of this, you'll bear the consequences. Second, causing severe damage to the opponent is not allowed. So, don't worry, your life won't be in danger.”
As Carroll spoke, he activated the training ground. The floor trembled. Pits appeared from the metal floor, and mechanical soldiers rose up one after another, surrounding Carroll.
Hum!
The mechanical towers at the edge of the training ground vibrated. A beam of light shot out from their peaks, gathering on top, forming a projection of a three-minute timer.
Carroll smirked and said, ”Don't say I'm bullying you. Before we start, you have three minutes to prepare. After three minutes, this place will be covered by a protective shield.”
Black Star was a guest. He would not have brought too many combat machines, and they would most probably be stored in his ship. By giving him three minutes to get the machines, after the shield covered the place, Black Star would be unable to receive external support and would only be able to fight with the machines in the venue.
As for Carroll, he had a continuous supply of armies because Combat Training Ground No. 30 was a facility that released machines from below to let people train with them. Many routes used to transport mechanical soldiers were hidden under the metal plates on the floor, connected to the logistics warehouse underground. This meant that even with the protective shield, Carroll could obtain a nonstop supply of backup.
Carroll knew that a battle between two Mechanics would most likely become a battle of resources. Black Star had limited resources while he had infinite, so he was already undefeated.
The protective shield was transparent. It was a perfect opportunity for him to publicly shame Black Star.
He could basically foresee the ending of the battle—Black Star's machines would be used up, scraps would be everywhere, Black Star himself would be surrounded by his army, and he could look down on Black Star from a high spot casually, making Black Star admit his defeat.
Ames wanted to let her subordinate vent her anger, so defeating her subordinate would make her even more embarrassed.
Furthermore, he did not hide his main stage advantage. If Black Star cowered from it and cancelled the challenge, knowing it would end in his defeat, Ames would lose face as well.
One way or another, he was only going to benefit from it.
Carroll smiled confidently.
On the other side, Han Xiao was not surprised by Carroll's main stage advantage at all. He contacted Risda and told him to bring the Blacklight Stealth over, airdropping his Army Boxes.
Ames was still standing by him. ”Black Star, are you confident?”
”A little,” Han Xiao replied casually.
”Then, I shall trust you.”
Ames' tone was gentle like the wind. Although Han Xiao challenging Carroll to a battle surprised her, it was clear that Han Xiao was doing it for her. She was happy for some reason.
She had always placed a lot of trust in Han Xiao, and this was no exception. She patted Han Xiao's shoulders and took Hila and Aurora out of the place. They went up the tall building beside the training ground and watched the fight from above.
Around the training ground, there were people climbing up the buildings to watch the fight every minute. There were hundreds of them, all Bloodshed Land officers or elite soldiers. Malekith and a few other Vanguard Officials were among them. They formed small groups and chatted.
The fight between Carroll and Black Star was not kept secret; the message very quickly got passed to the officers. They all came to the scene to watch the battle.
”Black Star is quite daring to challenge our officer in our territory,” a Vanguard Official said as he looked at the two people in the venue.
”He challenged Carroll because he's Floating Dragon's traitor?”
”Must be. A few days ago, Ames was forced to hold back by His Excellency Tyrant. She's probably resentful, so she let Black Star fight for her. Hehe, it'll be embarrassing to lose.” Someone looked at Ames who was also watching from afar and speculated, ”Maybe Ames will stop the fight when her subordinate is in danger.”
”Carroll's strength, tsk…” Malekith shook his head slightly.
The impression that the Vanguard Officials had of Carroll was very complicated. On one hand, he was a traitor. Although Tyrant was confident using him, him being a traitor still made others not want to get close to him.
On the other hand, Carroll was in charge of logistics and had almost no opportunity to fight. Unlike them, the Vanguard Officials, who were signatures of Bloodshed Land and all well known, Malekith and the others did not know Carroll's strength clearly. All they knew was that he was also Grade A.
”He has the location advantage no matter what, so he basically won't lose.”
…
In the palace, Heber was still casually chatting with Austin.
This time, Austin's expression suddenly changed, and he said in a strange tone, ”Tyrant, it seems that a problem is occurring in your territory.”
Heber frowned, took out his communicator, pressed a few times, and got the report from his subordinates.
”Black Star challenged Carroll?”
Austin cast a spell, and space rippled. A large mirror appeared, showing the scene of the training ground.
”It seems like they're about to fight. Aren't you going to stop them?” Austin asked.
Heber looked at the mirror, thought for a moment, and shook his head. ”Since Ames is not involved, I have no reason to stop a normal spar.”
”What if your man loses?”
”My Bloodshed Land is not one to never admit defeat.” Heber pointed at the mirror. ”Keep watching.”
…
At the same time, three party guests were following a Bloodshed Land soldier and touring the place.
The Purple Crystal Civilization's representative Ralph was walking side by side with a high-ranking Klent official and having a great chat. The relationship between Purple Crystal and Klent had always been good.
Behind them, the leader of a financial group followed. His name was Rossozzi. His business was huge and invested in both Star Clusters. He could be somewhat considered Ralph and the Klent high ranking official's friend.
The three of them were discussing business issues, when a group of people suddenly flew over them, catching their attention.
”Where are those people going?' Ralph asked curiously.
The soldier shook his head and said, ”I don't know. They seem to be heading toward Combat Training Ground No. 30.
Just as he was done speaking, another group of people bolted past them from above, and a dark spaceship quickly flew by.
The three of them were all knowledgeable people. They recognized that the spaceship was the Federation of Light's Stealth Grade spaceship. Of all the guests, it seemed like only one person had a Blacklight Stealth.
Floating Dragon's Black Star!
The Klent high ranking official was instantly interested. ”Looks like something happened. Let's go and take a look.”
Ralph shrugged and did not mind it, neither did Rossozzi.
…
When the countdown had about a minute and a half left, the Blacklight Stealth arrived above the venue. Six Army Boxes descended from above like meteors, dragging a long tail of flames.
Han Xiao raised his hand toward the sky, and a bolt of tree-shaped lightning shot up into the sky from the ground, hitting the six Army Boxes. They opened in midair, and compressed orbs fell like rain onto the floor.
Clank!
The instant they landed, the compressed orbs expanded and turned into six Mechanical Armies.