Chapter 27: Evenly Matched? No, I Want Absolute Domination!

Just after the semester started, encountering such an event was utterly thrilling.

This time, Xiong Zhan's teacher didn't stop the two. He knew Xiong Zhan's strength—within the same tier, he had almost no rivals.

Yet, he couldn't shake a lingering unease.

The two had already signed a contract: the loser would forfeit half their Combat Energy. The consequences of losing were unthinkable.

"Demonic Bear Mech!"

A hexagram array appeared beneath Xiong Zhan's feet as a massive, burly mech slowly materialized behind him.

The mech was deep yellow all over, with a broad double-edged battle axe on its back that could also serve as a shield. Its head resembled a demonic bear, its metallic face bearing a scar intrinsic to the mech.

The Demonic Bear Mech was clearly a heavyweight—powerful in strength and unparalleled in defense.

"Fire Thunder."

Zhou Luo smirked disdainfully.

Behind him, a vibrant crimson mech also appeared. Since it wasn't yet time to reveal Swift Blade, Fire Thunder emerged carrying Swift Blade's battle intent.

Fire Thunder stood atop flames, wreathed in thunder, radiating divine might.

Two rare, violent energies actually coexisted within a single mech, and it seemed the mech had complete control over both thunder and flame.

No wonder Zhou Luo was so formidable—his mech was equally fearsome.

Both combatants exuded peak first-tier auras. Zhou Luo was true to his word.

"Three moves."

Zhou Luo's voice merged with Fire Thunder's, sounding utterly indifferent as he raised three fingers.

The crowd was baffled by his gesture.

Only Meng Li guessed what Zhou Luo intended.

"What do you mean? Looking down on me?" Xiong Zhan felt provoked and had already drawn the hefty axe from his back.

"I'm giving you three moves. After that, you won't stand a chance." Zhou Luo's tone was icy, as Fire Thunder's Combat Energy surged violently.

"Arrogant!" Xiong Zhan roared, leaping into the air with a Mountain-Splitting Axe Technique strike. The terrifying force split the air with a howl, faint white air currents visible in its wake.

Zhou Luo sneered, pressing four buttons with his hands.

Under his control, Fire Thunder merely shifted its stance, sidestepping effortlessly to evade the devastating axe swing.

Undeterred, Xiong Zhan followed up with a sweeping strike meant to fell a thousand foes.

His intentions were good, but he underestimated his mech's sluggish speed. Fire Thunder seized the opening, saw through his technique, and kicked him back seven or eight meters.

"Two moves."

Zhou Luo had already deciphered Xiong Zhan's moves. He could have comboed Xiong Zhan into submission right then, yet he held back.

The spectators, both in the arena and outside, fell into stunned silence.

Xiong Zhan was, after all, from a prestigious family, wielding an eighth-tier potential mech. The Xiong family's Mountain-Splitting Axe Technique had been seen through.

Could the gap between geniuses really be this vast?

What tier of genius was Zhou Luo, then? And what tier was his mech?

"Even a clay man has three parts temper! You've gone too far!"

The Demonic Bear Mech's eyes blazed with crimson light, its metallic gaze burning with endless battle intent as a low, guttural growl erupted.

The next moment, the ground of the Combat Tower began to tremble as strands of deep yellow energy converged from all sides toward the Demonic Bear Mech.

The mecha suddenly swung its thick arms, the massive axe blade cleaving through the air with such terrifying force that a faint sound of space tearing could be heard.

"Mountain-Splitting Axe!"

The Demonic Bear Mech had exhausted its Combat Energy with this strike, having poured everything into it.

"Bring it on!"

Zhou Luo faced the colossal axe blade without fear. Fire Thunder's legs bent as his entire body tensed, and under the astonished gazes of the onlookers, he raised his right hand to summon an Energy Defense Shield!

In the blink of an eye, the two mechas collided.

An astonishing burst of Combat Energy erupted from the point of impact, scattering wildly—far beyond what a first-tier mecha should be capable of releasing.

The teachers were slightly taken aback.

"What?! How dare he?!"

"This is way too arrogant."

"Hmph~ I thought Zhou Luo was someone special, but turns out he's just an idiot. This fight is pointless—he's just digging his own grave."

Some senior students seemed certain of the outcome and were about to stand up when a voice rang out.

"Is this... your full power?"

"It's decent, I guess, but still pretty weak!"

The Demonic Bear Mech's all-out attack, its ultimate move, was only comparable to Fire Thunder's normal state at 80% power.

At that moment, an endless surge of extreme fire-attribute energy flooded into Fire Thunder's body.

With the Mech Battle King's traits and the Blazing Sun energy amplifying his power by a full sixfold, Zhou Luo couldn't see any way he could lose.

"H-how?!" Xiong Zhan inside the Demonic Bear Mech was stunned, feeling a deep sense of helplessness yet unwilling to accept it.

His full-force strike hadn't even broken Zhou Luo's Energy Defense Shield, and he could still sense Zhou Luo's aura remained at first-tier peak.

Not just Xiong Zhan—this scene was like a series of slaps to the faces of the senior students.

Call Xiong Zhan weak? He was the top genius of Raging Wave Base City, surpassing all these seniors at his age.

Call him strong? Yet his full-power strike couldn't even breach his opponent's defense.

"Picking a fight with me is the greatest regret of your life."

"You took a swing at me—now it's my turn."

Fire Thunder erupted again, repelling the massive axe. With one hand, he grabbed the Demonic Bear Mech's arm and hurled it away. From the thunderous energy, the Frost Moon Blade emerged.

The 3.5-meter Frost Moon Blade sent shivers down Xiong Zhan's spine.

"Thunder Crescent Slash!" Zhou Luo didn't even bother gathering extra energy—he simply swung the blade with his own Combat Energy.

Having already exhausted himself with his ultimate move, Xiong Zhan was at his limit. If Zhou Luo had gone all out, Xiong Zhan would've been reduced to a box.

Faced with this terrifying slash, the Demonic Bear Mech curled up defensively.

The moment the blade connected, Xiong Zhan felt an overwhelming force spread through his entire body. The next instant, he was sent crashing uncontrollably into the Combat Tower's wall, collapsing weakly onto the ground.

The Demonic Bear Mech trembled, arcs of electricity flickering across its body.

The thick armor on its arms was shattered beyond recognition.

As per the pact, a large portion of the Demonic Bear Mech's Combat Energy was forcibly extracted and absorbed by Fire Thunder. Zhou Luo's combat level only rose by one.

Deprived of over half his Combat Energy, Xiong Zhan felt utterly drained, as if every bone in his body had shattered. Regret and bitterness filled his heart—why had he ever provoked this madman?

Now he had dropped straight from level 18 to level 9. It would take over a month at least to catch up.

Fire Thunder domineeringly stepped on the chest of the Demonic Bear Mech.

"The top genius of Raging Wave Base City? Sorry, but this so-called genius is just a one-hit wonder before me, Zhou Luo. Next time, send someone stronger."

"What I want isn't an even match—it's absolute domination!"

"So what if I, Zhou Luo, want to suppress all freshmen? Prepare your Combat Energy and come fight me anytime. I'll be happy to oblige."