Crows
In KID's channel, after the yellow smoke dispersed, Ji Qingfeng looked into the distance, "Really? Can't BZZL1 handle it? They just ran away!"
Lin Yao: "They ran quite fast, disappeared in a swoosh."
"Their retreat is normal. With the loss of one mecha, it's not a good outcome for us to fight them head-on," Huo Yan looked at his weapon's damage level and added, "But we didn't lose. Currently, we're leading on the battlefield."
Lu Xi: "How about finding a place to rest?"
Huo Yan nodded, flipped through the nearby map, "Yes, we need to save some energy."
After a brief silence, the commentator in the live broadcast coughed, "The battle between KID and BZZL1 has ended, and the situation is intense. Currently, BZZL1 has lost one mecha and successfully retreated from the battlefield."
After finishing the battle, KID's team didn't stay in place for too long. Those who were watching the match thought KID would follow BZZL1's direction, but unexpectedly, they turned around in place, then circled to the other side of the Qiu Jin Grand Canyon, finding a spot with some trees for cover and stopped there.
They didn't move.
Audience: ???
The commentator was at a loss for words, "Let's switch to other perspectives and focus on other teams' matches."
Inside the battlefield, other members of the YDS team were in another area of the Qiu Jin Grand Canyon. The only thing visible was the real-time updated performance list on the game system. Upon seeing BZZL1 lose one mecha, Ke Lin's expression became serious, "We need to be careful in this match."
KID ranked first, and they had studied this team. Their tactics were unconventional, often dividing the battlefield and fighting randomly. While dividing the battlefield wasn't ineffective in team battles, their chaotic style of combat tended to drag opponents into their rhythm, causing the collapse of their own strategies.
"BZZL1 is probably led by their rhythm. Sneaking around for a surprise attack and being discovered can easily be separated by their skillful division," Ke Lin quickly analyzed the information on the field. "It's just surprising to be eliminated so quickly. If you encounter KID, don't fall into their rhythm and be cautious of their weapons."
Teams currently participating in the match naturally noticed the refreshing of the match results. From the obvious changes in the results, it was evident that KID was facing BZZL1. However, most teams didn't expect these two teams to meet, and the fourth-ranked BZZL1 from the previous season unexpectedly found itself at a disadvantage, losing one mecha.
"Was KID's strength always this strong?"
"Something's off, be cautious of KID."
Outside the arena, Jiang Simiao, seeing this, didn't know whether to be happy or worried, "YDS is mainly on the other side of the battlefield. I wonder if they'll come over here anytime soon."
After saying that, he paused for a moment, "The results are also in, and they don't have enough energy. They need to rest and wait for an opportunity... They've grown."
With a three-day time limit for Limited Survival, all teams became wary of KID. However, KID chose a safe place to recuperate, avoiding combat.
But the mountains they bombarded were too conspicuous. Subsequent mecha teams passing through the area had to pay extra attention to avoid unforeseen circumstances.
On the first day, battles erupted in multiple locations. KID clashed with BZZL1 in one of them. To avoid elimination due to poor performance, participating teams opportunistically engaged in battles. After resting, KID had friction with two other teams, eliminating a total of two mechas. By the end of the first 24 hours, KID's performance was only second to YDS.
With all eight teams still in play, when the settlement took place on the first day, the team ranked at the bottom was forcibly eliminated according to the rules, forced to withdraw.
On the second day, the competition became even more intense.
"In fact, this rule is challenging. It's better to accumulate performance in the first two days. After the teams at the bottom are eliminated, only five teams will remain by the third day," Jiang Simiao analyzed, "This is different from a point-based system. In order to secure the advancement, the teams in the top four will be more cautious, while the fifth-ranked team will be more anxious. As it progresses, the probability of friction between strong teams will also increase."
Shen Xingtang: "With this rule, accumulating performance early on will be more advantageous."
Jiang Simiao pondered the rules, "If we make it to the top 8, the rules for the ranking match in the top 8 might be even more challenging."
Suddenly, another voice appeared in the venue. Shen Xingtang and Jiang Simiao, who were in conversation, were suddenly stunned. Following the sound, they looked at the central main screen. What popped up was the situation on another battlefield. The teams ranked sixth and seventh on the performance list were under attack by pollutants in the midst of intense combat!
Shen Xingtang was taken aback, "They were eliminated by pollutants?"
Since it was a polluted area, there must be environmental threats. Pollutants were the biggest threat in the polluted zone. In past leagues, there had been cases of pollutants attacking mechas. This was the default potential environmental danger in the league. Mecha pilots not only had to deal with hostile teams but also had to face threats from pollutants and eliminate them. However, rarely were mechas eliminated by pollutants.
Jiang Simiao stood up, and other team leaders in the rest area also stood up, "I'll go and inquire."
Soon, Jiang Simiao returned after asking, with a serious expression, "It's a Bloodeater Crow swarm. The Bloodeater Crows attacked the mechas in battle, causing problems in the engagement between the two teams. Two mechas were affected and eliminated. The league has initiated rescue efforts."
In the high-speed combat environment, any error in the field of vision could lead to problems for mechas.
Shen Xingtang was stunned, "Bloodeater Crow swarm...? Something's not right. Although Bloodeater Crows are social animals, they rarely attack mechas in groups. At most, two or three act together. A swarm of Bloodeater Crows?"
Jiang Simiao: "Yes, a swarm of Bloodeater Crows. But there's nothing we can do. This sudden situation is an internal condition of the polluted zone, considered an in-game situation. Elimination is elimination. We can only say that they were not sensitive enough to the environment."
The league's rescue was swift. They almost teleported to the scene through a fixed point within two minutes, retrieving the damaged mechas. The damaged mechas were immediately transported to the temporary repair point in the preparation area. The repair technicians from both teams acted quickly, heading to the nearby temporary repair point to repair the mechas.
An accident occurred, and naturally, the causes needed to be eliminated.
The Alliance's backstage monitoring team quickly took action and discovered a mutated Bloodeater Crow within the crow swarm, becoming the leader of the group. This led to the coordinated action of the large group of Bloodeater Crows.
Pollutants posed environmental dangers, and although mecha pilots were expected to solve the problem themselves, they only now identified this particular Bloodeater Crow.
Once the head bird of the Bloodeater Crow swarm appeared, the level of threat changed. They should have raised the danger level of the Bloodeater Crow swarm and issued a warning.
The backstage team discovered this leading bird based on the previous warning reports from KID's maintenance team and information about the actions of the Bloodeater Crows. However, two teams happened to be near the Bloodeater Crow swarm and couldn't avoid it.
The team leader said, "The Bloodeater Crow swarm has a leading bird, and the threat level is higher. They are still active, reminding other teams to be cautious."
But soon, another situation arose. Among the two mechas that returned from the rescue, one was severely damaged, and the mecha pilot was trapped in the cockpit.
"What's going on!?" The person in charge of the preparation area was surprised to see this situation, "Can't their maintenance team handle it? Let our staff assist them."
A staff member quickly said, "There's no way. The area hit by the Bloodeater Crows happened to be near the cockpit. If we forcibly break open the cockpit to rescue the person, it might lead to an explosion of the energy storage point below. Their maintenance team lacks experience, and there was an operational mistake."
"We can't move the mecha now, we can only perform on-site repairs."
"The damaged metal nerves are entangled. In this special situation, our backstage maintenance team doesn't have the expertise."
The team to which the mecha belonged was a new team that climbed up from the elimination rounds. The new team lacked experience, and the maintenance personnel were reportedly only intermediate-level technicians. Faced with such a situation, they panicked, mishandling the situation and completely sealing off the cockpit.
Encountering such a problem was troublesome. The team leader frowned. Rescuing the person was the top priority. "Go and request assistance from the maintenance teams of other teams."
The news that the mecha's cockpit was stuck quickly spread to the preparation area, coincidentally reaching the preparation area.
The repair technicians in the preparation area, upon hearing this news, wore expressions of difficulty. Such situations were relatively rare, and on-site repairs were the only option. A slight mistake could cause an explosion, and most were not confident.
Seeing the situation, Ying Chenlin frowned slightly. Bloodeater Crow swarm, did they indeed get attacked?
He noticed something was amiss when he saw a single Bloodeater Crow. Bloodeater Crows typically hunted in pairs or trios. If a single Bloodeater Crow appeared, there must be something unusual about the swarm.
Bloodeater Crows didn't have much attack power, and in a group, they were generally a minor issue that could be safely dealt with. However, it seemed that one team had been affected.
"What's the situation?" The speaker was a YDS maintenance technician.
The team leader immediately explained the situation of the mecha.
The YDS technician, who looked almost fifty, frowned as he listened to the situation.
"We can intervene, but there's a problem." The YDS technician said seriously, "There's a severe issue with the metal nerves inside. I can control one side of the situation, but the other side needs someone skilled in handling metal nerves to assist me."
His voice carried a hint of concern, "Moreover, this situation is a bit tricky, and the oxygen reserve has also been damaged."
If the oxygen reserve was damaged, it would be bad for the mecha pilot, and they needed to save the person quickly.
The nearby repair technicians looked at each other. Most of them were not confident in dealing with such complex metal nerves.
At this moment, a young voice spoke up, "I can help."
Seeing that other repair technicians were not moving, Ying Chenlin glanced at the detection platform. The KID's team currently didn't have any issues. "Hello, can you watch the detection platform for me? I can assist in the repair."
The nearby staff were momentarily stunned but immediately said, "Sure, no problem."
Ying Chenlin followed other staff members to the repair area.
The repair technician of the damaged mecha's team, seeing the situation, sighed in relief but not completely. He nervously looked at the two reinforcements.
The YDS repair technician looked at him seriously, then brought out the mecha blueprint he had received and said with some seriousness, "Let's keep it short. Let's first determine the repair plan."
Ying Chenlin nodded.
The person in charge stood outside, not disturbing the two repair technicians discussing the plan. However, in a short while, a staff member hurriedly ran into the repair area, holding a detection board, and anxiously said, "It's not good. The Bloodeater Crow swarm hasn't stopped, they are moving rapidly. The detected leading bird of the Bloodeater Crows has a possibility of mutation. Moreover, at this rate of advance, they will soon encounter other teams."
"What!?" The person in charge stopped, "Did you alert other teams?"
Upon hearing this, Ying Chenlin thought about mutation. He considered the likely direction of mutation for the Bloodeater Crows, and it probably involved enhancing their energy absorption capabilities.
Strengthening energy absorption meant strengthening-type mutated crystals, which were good materials.
The staff member said anxiously, "We issued a warning, and that team accelerated as soon as they received the news of the mutation."
The person in charge breathed a sigh of relief, "Thank goodness, accelerating to avoid is wise."
"No..." The staff member said, "They accelerated toward the direction of the Bloodeater Crows."
The person in charge said, "...?"
He took a deep breath, "Which team!?"
The staff member looked at the KID's repair technician next to him, "KID."
The YDS repair technician also heard it and looked at the young person next to him.
The entire repair area quieted down, and everyone looked at the young repair technician.
Ying Chenlin hung his tools at his waist, looked up at the YDS repair technician, and calmly said, "I'm ready."