Chapter 7: Another Shock

Inferno Dual wasn't taking any chances. Anyone who could pull off a Thomas Spin Kill in a BS001 demanded respect, no matter the odds. Sure, he was a Lieutenant—and there were plenty of those—but this was his first time in the spotlight. He wanted to fight well.

The audience was a mix of pros and casuals, though many felt a pang of disappointment. Finn's fame mostly buzzed among lower-tier players; the elite barely gave him a glance. They'd only tuned in because of the hype. A BS001 against a fantasy-grade mech like the Wolf Demon V2? It was a mismatch. Fantasy mechs were easier to pilot, with enhanced stats and firepower. Real pros fought with comparable machines—or rare custom jobs. This fight? It was lopsided. Even if Finn landed another Thomas Spin Kill, Inferno Dual was on guard. No cheap shots this time.

The battle started with Inferno Dual playing it safe. Better to win ugly than lose flashy—that'd be a career killer. He leaned into the Wolf Demon V2's agility, zipping across the rocky terrain. The uneven ground gave him cover, and with the BS001's weak ranged attacks, he was almost too cautious. The Wolf Demon darted around, constantly shifting angles. The BS001 could barely keep up.

Inside his cockpit, Finn was calm as stone. He'd faced worse odds. His eyes stayed glued to the screen, subtly tweaking the BS001's stance. Chasing speed was pointless, but something about the Wolf Demon's leaps caught his attention. Despite the erratic jumps, there was a rhythm—a pattern. Most pilots had one, but Finn had never seen it so clearly before. It was like he could predict every landing. His mind churned, testing the theory. Twice, he nailed it. Why wait?

Restless viewers started grumbling. This Inferno Dual's too damn careful. The BS001 can't even match his pace—why isn't he attacking?

Inferno Dual noticed too, but he wasn't rushing in. Instead, he fired a probing laser from the Wolf Demon's maw. Just as he took aim, the BS001 spun around and unleashed its own laser.

Inferno Dual was mid-landing, his head lined up perfectly with the beam. It was like he'd flown into it.

Boom.

A direct hit—but the BS001's laser was too weak for a knockout. As Inferno Dual scrambled to counter, his external sensors fritzed. Wait… where'd he go? His visuals were gone.

Blind luck?

Heavy footsteps rumbled in his ears—the BS001 was closing in. Inferno Dual panicked, spraying lasers wildly. The crowd held its breath. Even blind fire could overwhelm a sluggish mech like the BS001. Finn might react fast, but could the machine?

Then, mouths dropped. The BS001 wove through the barrage with pinpoint dodges, barely moving more than it had to. In a flash, it was right on top of Inferno Dual.

But Inferno Dual wasn't green. He heard the steps, felt the threat. With a desperate burst, he lunged sideways, aiming for a mutual KO.

The Wolf Demon charged, speed maxed out. The BS001 had just dodged a laser, still off-balance. It was a perfect setup.

Finn had been here before—outgunned, outclassed. He didn't blink. Shifting his weight, he pivoted on the left leg, and the BS001 spun.

Good grief, a one-legged Thomas Spin Kill?

The Wolf Demon shot past, and Finn's titanium blade sliced clean through its neck.

Shing.

The headless Wolf Demon crashed into the dirt. Finn barely held his balance, the half-spin a last-second improvisation.

Over a million viewers sat in pin-drop silence, unable to process what they'd seen. Finn logged off fast, his pulse racing. This isn't luck. He needed answers.

His exit lit up the forums. The replay rocketed to the top of the official boards, racking up millions of clicks. Every online player was dissecting the footage.

If the first win was a fluke, this was proof of Finn's unreal skill. His physical control, piloting finesse, combat instincts, and split-second decisions were jaw-dropping. A prodigy among prodigies.

The fight looked straightforward, but anyone else in a BS001 would've been toast a dozen times over. Finn's cool-headedness under pressure screamed elite mental grit. That opening laser? It wasn't random. In seconds, he'd read his opponent's rhythm and struck with surgical precision. Understanding the move was one thing; pulling it off in a clunky BS001 was another. He'd timed it to the millisecond—on both ends. And if he'd aimed for the sensors on purpose… that was downright chilling.

The BS001's laser couldn't kill, forcing a close-up brawl. Finn's dodges were textbook—Flintspark Steps, the stuff of legend.

(Flintspark Steps: dodging with minimal movement.)

Not just anyone could do that—especially not in a BS001. And then, under pressure, he'd improvised a half-Thomas Spin Kill.

God, there's something off about this guy.