Close combat approaching ranged combat would always end in tragedy.
The soul cannon, after firing ten times, required a three-second cooldown. Gu You had already figured that much out about this standard-issue cannon.
Not very powerful, and full of quirks.
While thinking that, he activated his booster.
The booster, mounted on the back of the mecha, could assist in flight and rapid movement.
Typically, melee mechas were faster than ranged ones. Despite their size, melee mechas were actually lighter since they didn't need to carry large soul power batteries for sustained ranged combat.
Gu You's booster had just fired when the opponent's also activated. If he had been a moment slower, he would have taken a direct hit.
Their figures streaked past each other mid-air and created distance again. This time, both were airborne.
The melee mecha reacted immediately. When it failed to land a hit, the heavy sword in its hand was thrown straight out.
It spun through the air like a streak of black light and caught Gu You just as his booster finished firing and his speed dropped. The timing and precision of the strike could only be described as flawless.
'This AI is that good?'
Gu You was genuinely surprised. But his reaction didn't lag behind. According to the rules of mecha combat, if the mecha was destroyed—even if the soul master inside still had power—it would count as a loss.
He bent his waist, and his ranged mecha executed an unusual maneuver. The entire body twisted in midair, performing a sideways roll. With a flick from the butt of the soul cannon, he lightly batted the heavy sword aside.
But just then, the melee mecha launched a second booster burst, charging directly toward Gu You.
Boom!
Six flashes of light erupted from Gu You's cannon in perfect sync.
He had fired while mid-flip, without fully regaining balance.
The six cannon shots blocked the melee mecha's path completely.
He hadn't fired the moment he dodged the sword. Instead, he waited until the enemy used a second booster burst. During such high-impact moves, changing direction was extremely difficult for melee mechas. Doing so would impose immense strain not just on the mecha but on the soul master inside. Only those with elite control and durable machines could handle it.
The melee mecha didn't change direction—it tanked the hit.
A ranged cannon couldn't destroy a melee mecha's shield with just a few shots. The pilot only slightly adjusted their angle, avoiding four of the six blasts. Two hit the shield, causing it to flicker violently, but it held.
The force did stall the charge, though, giving Gu You time to pull away again.
After a brief pause in midair, the melee mecha didn't pursue. Instead, it dove toward the ground to retrieve its sword.
Without a weapon, a melee mecha was at a disadvantage—especially against a ranged opponent like Gu You.
That burst of six perfectly timed cannon blasts had made it clear: this target wasn't easy prey.
'Is this a person or AI?'
Gu You was honestly unsure. It felt like a bot, but something about it said otherwise.
Boom!
A shot flew out, precisely aimed—not at the enemy, but at the sword lying on the ground.
It struck the hilt, launching the heavy sword into the air.
Then three more cannon blasts fired in a triangle pattern, blocking the melee mecha's path to the sword.
The opponent dipped low, avoiding the shots, but the sword had already flown dozens of meters up.
Gu You's mecha surged forward. With a boost of acceleration, he reached the sword first and snatched it midair with his left hand.
The melee mecha reacted instantly. Its boosters flared at full power, closing in like a bullet. It was aiming for the sword no matter what—willing to take hits if necessary.
Suddenly, the melee mecha's body lit up. Dozens of ice spikes formed around it, shooting out toward Gu You like a storm.
'Finally lost your patience?'
So it was a real person.
Gu You smiled faintly.
Most top-tier mecha pilots were soul masters too, with soul skills of their own. Choosing a melee-type mecha meant the pilot's martial soul likely complemented close combat. But in mecha duels, whoever used a soul skill first usually lost—because it revealed their martial soul.
The spikes filled the air, covering his field of vision.
Gu You didn't summon his martial soul.
Instead, he slashed with the heavy sword in his left hand, slicing through the incoming spikes.
Three-foot arcs of sword light danced in the air, cutting down every spike. Explosions of icy mist filled the sky.
At the same time, ten cannon blasts exploded through the mist and surrounded the melee mecha.
The ice fog had hidden Gu You's movements. The melee mecha couldn't even see the shots coming.
Its own ice attack was meant to delay Gu You long enough to close the gap.
But even while grabbing the sword, Gu You hadn't retreated. He used the blade to deflect the ice, and the cannon to unleash an ambush at point-blank range.
The melee mecha had practically rammed itself into the barrage.
Explosions boomed one after another. The combined impact knocked the enemy clean out of the air. Its shield strength dropped over 80% in an instant.
Gu You finally turned and ran again, increasing the distance and giving his cannon time to cool down.
The fallen melee mecha was fuming with frustration.
This was what all melee pilots feared most: being kited by someone they couldn't reach.
"I surrender."
The enemy vanished in a beam of light. Gu You's score updated.
2 Wins, 0 Losses.
Mecha combat and soul master combat both counted toward the same win record.
Gu You exhaled slightly, finally relaxing after that tightly controlled skirmish.
He didn't expect such pressure from a supposedly early-stage trial. Whoever was piloting that melee mecha wasn't just experienced—they were precise.
'I hope I don't run into that guy again in the real bracket,'
he muttered to himself.
He stepped back from the arena simulation, letting the cooling sequence complete before logging out.
Back in the central plaza of the Star Dou Battle Network, his vision adjusted. The nickname "Purple-Gold King" hovered brightly above his head with a glowing "2 Wins, 0 Losses" beneath.
He flexed his fingers slowly.
'This is only the beginning. Time to push for the top.'
(End of Chapter)
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