Counterfeit Hero

"Very good!"

Seeing the blue light film of the energy shield covering the activated combat mode [Vajra], [Apollo] turned his head. Reinhardt's cold voice came through the loudspeaker, "I didn't expect the weak country of the Leray Federation to produce a Mecha Warrior that would surprise me!"

As he spoke, [Apollo]'s figure flashed and in an instant, he was in front of the battered [Magic Beast], landing a punch!

This is standard Mecha Fighting — Charge Punch!

This punching technique is one of the only five fighting skills that run through the Mechanical Control from beginner to top level! It is the simplest yet the toughest basic Mecha Fighting skill!

It is said to be simple because every Mecha Warrior learns this basic fighting skill when practicing Mechanical Control and combat. It is said to be tough because even top Mecha Warriors don't dare to claim they've fully mastered this technique!

Starting the mecha, charging, and punching, these three steps seem very simple. However, to truly master this fighting skill, without sufficient hand speed accumulation, its true power cannot be unleashed!

In the hands of a master, the power of this punch is completely different from the stiff collision like that of a novice, akin to hitting with a stone.

A Mecha Fighting Master can utilize every bit of kinetic energy from the mecha's engine, joints, and charge. Then, they can concentrate the mecha's speed, inertia, weight, and power generated from cooperating body joints into the tip of this punch during high-speed movement, finally exploding at the moment of contact with the enemy's body!

To reach this level, it not only requires enough hand speed to gather all the mecha's power at the moment of activation but also demands a precise grasp of the punching timing!

Reinhardt practically perfected the essence of the Charge Punch!

With his hand speed exceeding fifty moves per second as a Level 9 Mecha Warrior, [Apollo]'s body joints seemed to flow, with power visibly transmitting and concentrating. His right punch ignited a flame in the air, crashing into the battered [Magic Beast] like a cruise missile!

Just standing up from the ground, [Magic Beast] only had time to curl up his body, protecting his chest and head with his arms, when "Boom!" — a loud noise was heard, and [Magic Beast] was sent flying by this fierce punch. The mecha's two feet dragged short grooves on the ground before tumbling several times and finally coming to a stop!

Bonnie and Osullivan to the side were completely shocked by this ferocious punch. A sense of fear and helplessness welled up from within. Though they had seen Reinhardt in action countless times, it wasn't until they became his enemies that they realized how terrifying a Level 9 Mecha Warrior could be!

With the same Mechanical Control, he was always faster, his movements always stronger, and his fifty-move-per-second hand speed always ensured his actions were more perfect! You might try to resist, but he was always faster, his strength always pressing on you, adding pressure bit by bit until you were completely crushed!

Bonnie and Osullivan were both stunned to discover that Reinhardt's hand speed was absolutely not just the fifty moves per second typical of a Level 9 Warrior — he might have already surpassed fifty-three and reached fifty-five moves!

Overwhelming hand speed, on Reinhardt, meant overwhelming superiority!

Here, who could defeat him?

Seeing [Apollo] move to attack the still-struggling-to-rise [Magic Beast] again, Bonnie gritted her teeth. [Vajra] shot out like lightning, executing a side kick towards [Apollo] with a series of leg strikes!

"Hmph!"

Reinhardt let out an angry snort. [Apollo] lifted his right leg, bent his knee, blocking [Vajra]'s attack. In that instant when both mechas momentarily froze, [Apollo]'s body twisted. Without letting his right leg touch the ground, his left leg, grounded, swept counterclockwise fiercely at [Vajra]. Amidst a clang of metal, the trying-to-flip-away [Vajra] was forcefully smashed to the ground by this kick.

This kick was so clean and crisp that Bonnie didn't even have time to follow up with any subsequent maneuvers!

This is the overwhelming advantage of the Ninth Generation Mecha over the Eighth Generation, and a Level 9 Warrior over a Level 7 Warrior! [Vajra] didn't want to dodge or fail to roll after a flying side kick; rather, there was simply no chance to perform these moves in front of [Apollo]!

Reinhardt's control was simply too fast!

Just as [Vajra] heavily fell, [Apollo] without any pause, took advantage and stepped onto [Vajra]'s left arm with one foot, the other foot fiercely stomping down towards the mecha's cockpit.

"Crack!" With a sound, the right mechanical arm covering [Vajra]'s cockpit was deformed under the stomp in a desperate attempt to protect it.

"Run!"

In critical danger, Fatty's voice sounded in Bonnie's ears. Then, with a "Boom," a blur passed before her eyes, and [Apollo] was already knocked away by the battered [Magic Beast] horizontally.

[Vajra] stood up. Bonnie focused her gaze. Not far away, [Magic Beast] and [Apollo] were fighting vigorously, both mechas displaying their maximum speed, attacking each other with punches and kicks, with only phantom-like shadows barely visible between their blows.

Bonnie could hardly believe her eyes — in this bout, the battered [Magic Beast]'s action speed matched [Apollo] step for step!