Mars Dad

At this moment, Li Hao had thoroughly enjoyed his dinner, consuming three to four times the average portion, which further strained his already limited finances. If possible, he would apply for a "big eater's relief fund."

That evening, well-fed and refreshed, he hurried toward EMP, determined to take the bleem task seriously. Upon entering the EMP building, he was greeted by a chorus of fervent shouts and curses, which delighted him, indicating there were available slots. Despite the crowd, as members of a mecha team, they held priority access.

Meanwhile, a live streaming room on Mars displayed a "hot" symbol, featuring the "Old Man from Mars—Guiding Neighbors to Progress." A part-time streamer, he had an unpredictable appearance but a distinctive style, known for stirring up trouble in the high-ranking zones of USE with his aggressive fighting style.

After achieving three consecutive victories, his popularity soared to over five hundred thousand, especially after he decisively defeated a top contender from North America's Los Angeles A-Class Military Academy, causing a spike in viewership.

"Brothers, long time no see! Today, I'll make sure you all have a great time!" the Old Man from Mars bellowed.

ID: Old Man from Mars, ROM Academy's Stein, a third-year student selected for the S10 Solar System Mecha Championship, currently boasting a score of 1659 in EMP.

Among the four federations, it was widely accepted that NUP's prestige outweighed that of ROM, which in turn surpassed USE, followed by Titan.

"Truly, there's not a single worthy opponent in sight. Is there really no one substantial to challenge?" Stein expressed his disdain, not out of contempt for USE, but due to the apparent lack of skill among the A-Class Academy participants. Notably, many renowned experts from USE hesitated to join due to the high stakes.

As the battle zone selection process commenced, numerous challenge invitations flooded in. Stein frowned; those with scores below fifteen hundred were hardly worth considering. In USE, only elite players from top institutions typically reached the two-thousand mark, making it unlikely for them to appear in such live settings, fearing the loss of reputation.

Despite some top-tier experts having the potential to defeat Stein, they would rather not risk their accolades on what could be perceived as an easy victory against lesser opponents.

Perusing the challenge list, Stein remarked, "Brothers, it seems Earthlings are rather timid today. Looks like there are no skilled fighters around. I still have team training later, so let's finish off with a random match and see if any capable adversaries show up."

The screen lit up with an array of gifts, including a towering Olympus mountain valued at ten thousand federal credits.

As the match selection began, the pairing was set: Mars Old Man vs. Puppet.

Stein furrowed his brow. Puppet? Although he enjoyed dominating USE, he wasn't foolish. He recognized the names of notable opponents, but this "Puppet" was unknown to him. Nevertheless, as he matched up with Puppet, his viewership skyrocketed from fifty thousand to seventy thousand.

In the streaming zone, what was once a hub for Mars supporters now saw an influx of Earth fighters, igniting a wave of excitement.

Stein chuckled, suspecting Puppet must be a notable streamer as well—this could prove entertaining.

Meanwhile, Zhuang Zhou clenched his jaw, having spent a hundred credits to enter the live stream, allowing him to witness the holographic battle. The price for holographic views varied from ten to over a thousand, depending on the match's popularity, but he was willing to pay for Puppet's match.

Supporters of Puppet largely came from the virtual zone, with dedicated fan sections popping up in USE's communication channels, rallying around the title "Puppet vs. Mars Old Man."

Among them were two lunar residents, Alzi and Fyman, who had endured a grueling few days, haunted by visions of their defeat. If it were anyone else, it would be bearable, but facing the elusive Puppet made it particularly difficult for Fyman.

"Though Stein boasts, he has the skill to back it up. If he utilizes the Armor Dragon, it could overpower Mars's beast-style mecha," Alzi remarked with a laugh.

"Not necessarily."

"Why? Are you intimidated? He may be strong, but combat requires experience. He's only played a handful of high-stakes matches; he might be a first-time opponent for Mars."

Every planet had its own combat style, and mecha designs varied significantly. The most popular among Mars inhabitants were the beast-style mechas, known for their ferocity and dominance in battle.

Fyman remained silent, yearning for the chance to fight, yet his instincts warned him of impending defeat. He resolved to seek out his opponent's weaknesses, convinced that if there were a flaw, he could exploit it and triumph over Puppet.

In the arena, the T-Wolf V6 beast-type mecha weighed in at 80 tons, equipped with dual-engine nuclear fusion, quad-axis drive, and retractable laser cannons, along with titanium claws.

Puppet, on the other hand, confirmed his choice of mecha—the Armor Tiger.

The first-generation heavy-duty mecha weighed 120 tons, featuring dual-engine nuclear fusion, laser guns, and the intimidating titanium overlord cannon.

Upon this choice, the comments section erupted, with Martians laughing uproariously.

"Is this the Fat Tiger? I haven't seen one in years!"

"Seriously? This is part of the 'while it's still in existence' series? I can't believe it hasn't been retired!"

"Ha! Earthlings' disgrace; seeing that titanium weapon again is outrageous."

"What's this Puppet thinking? Choosing such a clumsy relic against a beast-style mecha? Did he pick wrong?"

"Ha, clever; he's already prepared his excuse for failure."

"The most cowardly are Earthlings. I bet the battle will be over in under a minute."

The Martians reveled in their taunts, while the Earth supporters remained disheartened. Many had invested in watching this battle, yet the clumsy Armor Tiger—an embarrassment even among Earthlings—seemed a poor choice.

It's worth noting that heavy mechas were relatively scarce on Earth; after all, size didn't always equate to superiority. The Armor Tiger was once viewed with high hopes, designed for balanced control and armed with a formidable titanium cannon, yet in practice, it proved cumbersome and unsuited for melee combat.

Across various tests, the Armor Tiger consistently ranked among the underperformers, better suited for combating Titan's colossal mechas. Its development had ceased, leaving only the first generation available.

In contrast, beast-style mechas matched the innate ferocity of Mars's inhabitants, exhibiting agile maneuvers and superior control. If not for the lunar light mechas countering their strengths, Martians would dominate the battlefield.

Against Earthlings, however, it was like a father overpowering his son.

As the combatants entered the arena, some Earth supporters had already retreated. Those who purchased holographic viewing rights likely wouldn't engage in self-torture for entertainment, while the immersive experience of holograms offered a more visceral connection to the battle.

Zhuang Zhou, however, remained resolute. He sensed depth in Puppet's choice despite its initial appearance of foolishness.

Holding his breath, he observed as the T-Wolf mecha sprang into action, its powerful limbs propelling it forward with a resounding roar. The complexity of the quad-axis control posed significant challenges, demanding physical resilience, but once mastered, it allowed for seamless, omnidirectional attacks.

The Armor Tiger made its entrance, boasting an impressive aesthetic—tall and imposing. As it extended its right arm, the titanium overlord cannon sprang forth with a resounding clank, a once-majestic maneuver now transformed into a source of shame for Earthlings.

With a flourish, Puppet twirled the cannon before pointing it toward the ground. This prompted a frenzy of mockery in the comments section, while Stein, facing the opposite end, momentarily hesitated, feeling an unexpected sense of caution.

Although streaming was merely a hobby, he was a qualified contender for the Solar System Mecha Championship. Despite Puppet's apparent casualness, he sensed something unusual in the air.

Steeling himself, Stein propelled his T-Wolf mecha forward, initiating an aggressive advance.

The T-Wolf surged ahead, and as it closed in on the Armor Tiger, its rhythm shifted—

—Beast-Style Variation Step!

This movement deviated dramatically from the humanoid mecha's typical pace, making it difficult to predict. The onlookers erupted in laughter, perceiving this as a display meant for entertainment rather than a serious challenge. Several Martians began to shower gifts in appreciation.