Genius Mechanic: Chapter 195

Slared Contaminated Zone(Star Alliance Mission)

195. Breaking Through the Asteroid Belt.

Proofread by Cloud Chip Cake and An Zheee 

At the mecha docking area of Gale’s spaceship, the staff had already prepared the mechas. The mecha pilots, still in disarray, were hurriedly putting on their combat boots as they boarded their mechas. As the docking platform opened, one mecha after another flew out in an orderly manner. Upon entering the vast expanse of space, they could see numerous mechas descending from the ends of starships and spacecraft.

As Ying Chenlin flew into space, the mission system for the Star Alliance Special Mission connected to the control panel inside his cockpit. He noticed the blue boundary line on the radar map and a countdown timer for the opening of the defensive line.

“Is there a need to roll around like this!? Aren’t there still two hours before the mission starts?” Ji Qingfeng was still putting on his shoes as he operated his mecha, and when he connected to the team channel, he could hear various rustling sounds.

Lin Yao had just finished putting on his clothes. “There’s no prior notice, and we’re in such a hurry!” 

As the mecha pilots flew out of Gale’s spaceship, they turned around and saw the ship rapidly turning. In less than two minutes, it had vanished from sight. The group snapped out of their dazes, and Zhao Lejie stared at their rapidly departing spaceship. “What the heck just happened?! Did they ditch us and run?”

Ke Lin looked into the distance, noticing that not only their ship but also many of the other mecha bases’ ships were retreating. “Something’s wrong. The ships and mechas are separating.”

With the situation becoming unusual, Dawn Galaxy’s mecha pilots couldn’t afford to stop.

They had no time to linger; the countdown that popped up made everyone feel the urgency.

In the spaceship’s cockpit, Gale’s old captain was deftly maneuvering the ship, agilely squeezing it into a stream of reverse-traffic vessels. Jiang Simiao didn’t blink as he assisted in finding a safe docking point within the chaotic asteroid belt.

Shen Xingtang and the others didn’t have time to explain much to the mecha pilots, as the mission’s pace was entirely different from anything they had previously known. “Beyond the defensive line, that should be the mission area.”

Zhang Ge, who had just taken some seasickness medication, was barely able to stand in front of the Star Alliance’s Special Mission System. Only now did they realize how difficult a Star Alliance Special Mission really was. “Is the difficulty of the Star Alliance’s missions this high? Do the mecha pilots have to enter the Contaminated Zone from here?”

Under normal circumstances, missions were carried out after all ships arrived at an assembly point, where they would use the Management Bureau’s warp point to enter the Contaminated Zone and assist in clearing the mission targets assigned by the bureau. This was the case for both Tianyu Star and Coria.

However, Slared’s Chaos Zone lacked a Management Bureau. Shen Xingtang and the others had initially thought there would be a unified launch process once they reached the assembly point.

But there wasn’t. Slared, without a Management Bureau, had no rules, and the Star Alliance couldn’t provide any guarantees to the teams.

The old Contaminated Zone had already fallen, with a large amount of pollutants and pollution sources leaking out. By the time Gale’s spaceship approached Slared’s Chaos Zone, they had already entered the Contaminated Zone. The final boundary was marked by the blue line.

Shen Xingtang looked at the system in front of her. “The mission has already begun. The mecha pilots must enter the Slared defensive line on their own.”

The information was far too outdated.

Everyone in the cockpit realized the problem—other strong teams were already prepared, while they could only react passively to the information deluge.

Jiang Simiao’s eyes were strained as he saw that none of the radar signals indicated a safe position. “The environment here is far more complicated than the information we previously had. At this rate, we might not even be able to secure a docking spot.”

“If we can’t judge, then don’t.” Shen Xingtang quickly stepped up to the radar, “We’ll follow E.M.”

Zhang Ge looked at Shen Xingtang in confusion, “E.M???”

“That’s right.” Shen Xingtang took on the role of observer, “Isn’t it just a docking spot? Other teams have such rich information, so we’ll just follow them. They know the safest place.”

The person in charge of YDS hesitated, “Even if we follow them, our speed may not match theirs.”

Shen Xingtang looked at Gale’s old captain, “Then we’ll force our way in.”

Gale’s old captain, now full of adrenaline, flipped the controls with his left hand, making the ship do a 180-degree turn. Zhang Ge, who had just managed to stand up, was thrown aside and had to kneel again. “I’ll force our way in, no matter what.”

—

While Dawn’s Gale spaceship was desperately fighting for a docking spot, the twelve mecha pilots in the Chaos Zone were already charging towards the blue boundary line. They had no time to contact logistics; seeing so many mechas rushing forward in the Chaos Zone, they knew their top priority was to not fall behind.

“Everyone, gather around.” Qi Sicheng immediately switched out his weapon, equipping the Spatial Acceleration weapon from Gale’s Medical. He set the Spatial Acceleration weapon to its maximum and swiftly led everyone towards the blue defense line. “We don’t have time; we need to match the others’ speed.”

All the mechas quickly closed in on Qi Sicheng, racing towards their designated positions within the spatial acceleration field.

However, their path was soon obstructed by the surrounding asteroids, making it difficult for the mechas to stay together.

Ying Chenlin, positioned toward the rear, had a broader view, allowing him to better assess the chaotic situation. He had already pulled up the corresponding map of Slared, aligning it with the location information provided by the mission system. He quickly compiled an overlay map.

“We haven’t fully entered the mission area yet. The Slared Chaos Zone described in the Star Alliance’s mission system is deeper inside.” As they flew, Ke Lin checked the map information and quickly reported, “The defense line separates the Chaos Zone from the Contaminated Zone. If the duration of the defense line’s opening is limited, we need to get in before it closes.”

Slared, being an out-of-control Contaminated Zone, was now defended only by the outermost Slared Defense Line, maintained by the Star Alliance.

As they spoke, the blue boundary line on the radar turned green, and all the mecha pilots received the latest alert from the Star Alliance’s mission system.

[The Slared Defense Line is now open. The opening duration is 10 minutes.] [Please act quickly; the next opening time is in 24:00:00!]

Zhao Lejie: “Damn, if we don’t make it in 10 minutes, we’ll have to wait an entire day to get in?”

With the Star Alliance’s special mission lasting only a few days, losing a day would significantly widen the gap between them and the other teams.

“At this distance, it’s possible to barely make it at full speed, but damn, this place is full of asteroids!” Ji Qingfeng calculated the time and speed, his head aching. “We don’t have enough speed or time.”

The asteroid belt greatly increased the flight’s difficulty for the mechas, and they also had to avoid the effects of nearby reverse-moving starships.

Every mecha kept moving, but all 12 couldn’t possibly fit into Qi Sicheng’s spatial acceleration field simultaneously. Whether flying in parallel or separately, it was challenging to balance safety with the need for rapid acceleration.

Suddenly, several asteroid clusters, affected by the reverse-moving starships, began to hurtle toward the KID mechas.

Noticing the approaching asteroids, You Su immediately raised his Sniper Cannon and fired at the distance. Simultaneously, Wen Yi and Huo Luobu also took action. The three Artillery mecha pilots quickly formed a defensive formation to protect their teammates, blasting away the asteroids about to collide with them. But the further they advanced, the denser the asteroid field became, making acceleration increasingly difficult.

“If speed isn’t enough, take a straight line.” After blasting the asteroids, You Su stabilized his flight. “Lu Xi, follow me.”

“The faster mechas go first,” Ying Chenlin instructed as he watched the other mechas getting farther away. “Captain Qi, take as many as you can. We’ll clear the path from behind. Zhao Lejie, follow them and deploy your shield!”

The 12 mechas quickly split into two formations. Qi Sicheng and Ke Lin led the way, taking Zhao Lejie, Ji Qingfeng, Lin Yao, and Chi Lizi with them.

“I’ve activated the shield, now what!?” Zhao Lejie immediately deployed the shield, covering all his teammates. Just as the shield was activated, a commotion arose from behind. He turned sharply and saw KID’s trace and Lucy simultaneously raising their cannons.

Ji Qingfeng yanked Zhao Lejie down. “Duck!”

As Zhao Lejie ducked his head, an Enhancement and a Sniper Cannon fired simultaneously, unleashing immense destructive power that shattered the asteroids in front of Zhao Lejie’s shield.

With the asteroids forcibly cleared, Qi Sicheng and Ke Lin immediately found a path forward. Wasting none of the time their teammates gave them clearing the way, they quickly surged ahead. In the midst of the chaos, Zhao Lejie found his rhythm for protecting his teammates, keeping the shield firmly in place to prevent collisions with the asteroids. He muttered, still shaken, “Couldn’t you guys give a warning before you fire?”

Lin Yao: “Didn’t they? Chenlin told you to raise your shield.”

Zhao Lejie: “…”

After the blast, You Su frowned slightly as he peered through the Sniper Cannon’s scope at the increasing number of asteroids ahead. “The firepower isn’t enough. The path we’re clearing is too narrow.”

“Then fire a few more shots,” Ying Chenlin suggested, turning to Wen Yi and Huo Luobu beside him. “With three Artillery mechas plus the Enhanced Cannon, it should be enough to clear the way.”

Wen Yi asked, “How much charge?”

Ying Chenlin replied, “100%.”

Participating in this kind of operation for the first time, Huo Luobu hesitated at the mention of 100%, shivering slightly. “Isn’t that a bit too much?”

Ying Chenlin made a brief sound of consideration before giving a simple explanation. “As long as the direction is controlled, it should be fine. The explosion point will be at the asteroids directly in their path. Zhao Lejie’s shield has high defense, and with his level of skill, he should be able to handle the impact’s damage.”

Theoretically, it was sound—the equipment could handle it. If anything went wrong, it would likely be due to the Tank’s operation.

Time was running out, and the command had already been issued. The three Artillery mechas, along with Lu Xi, began charging their weapons as they flew.

Wen Yi was silent for a moment. “Lizi, stay clear.”

“Captain Ke, you too,” Huo Luobu added with a hint of schadenfreude. “Sorry, Lao Zhao.”

Ji Qingfeng: “Why does it sound like you’re settling a personal grudge?”

Zhao Lejie: “…”

He didn’t have the chance to argue—any failure would reflect poorly on Gale.

The artillery charge was quickly completed. The three Artillery mechas’ Sniper Cannons and Lu Xi’s Enhanced Cannon fired simultaneously, their immense destructive power smashing into the asteroids directly in front of Zhao Lejie. Qi Sicheng seized the opportunity, using the explosion’s force to propel them forward, pushing the spatial accelerator to its limit. As soon as the first blast was over, the second one followed. With You Su leading the charge, the other Artillery mechas had no choice but to keep up with his pace.

Just as Zhao Lejie had managed to dodge the first blast, another one came right after, giving him no time to rest. The KID mecha pilots were already used to this rhythm; they didn’t even bother telling Zhao Lejie to dodge anymore. Watching Zhao Lejie awkwardly evade, Ji Qingfeng kindly offered some tips on how to avoid the blasts.

In Slared’s Chaos Zone, a large number of mechas were racing toward the blue defense line. The sound of explosions in the asteroid belt quickly drew the attention of other mechas flying in the area, but none of them paid extra attention to the teams behind them.

With the information on the blue defense line having been announced, it was as if every mecha had hit the acceleration button, all rushing to enter Slared’s defense line.

Qi Sicheng led one group forward while Wen Yi assisted You Su in clearing their path. The remaining calculations fell on Ying Chenlin’s group, which was composed of slower-moving mechas. They followed the path cleared by the first group, and in the blink of an eye, five minutes had passed. A quick glance at the surrounding mechas revealed that a few had already pulled ahead, while the majority, like them, were trailing behind.

Ying Chenlin’s gaze fixed on the radar distance. “At this rate, we won’t have enough time. We’ll be short by one minute.”

Huo Yan commented, “There’s no helping it. We’re in space, so a Sniper Cannon’s power is limited. The explosion’s shock waves also affect the flight of the mechas ahead.”

The explosion affected not just the mechas but also the forces acting on them. Fortunately, with Captain Qi’s accelerator, they could mitigate some of these effects.

“Blasting the front to clear the path is simple, but the recoil’s impact is significant too,” Wen Yi noted. “Still, our speed should be faster than the other mechas.”

“Then let’s reverse it,” Ying Chenlin immediately decided. “Blast behind us—use the asteroids behind us to push us forward.”

Blasting the asteroids to push them forward? Wouldn’t that just send them crashing into the asteroids ahead?

The mecha pilots in the front group were baffled: “?”

Zhao Lejie’s hand trembled slightly as he held his shield. He glanced at Ji Qingfeng. “Bro, are you trying to wreck my shield right from the start?”

Ji Qingfeng reassured him, “Don’t worry, Chairman Li said he’d cover repairs.”

Zhao Lejie: “Do I look like I lack money for equipment repairs?”

“It won’t be destroyed,” Ke Lin, who was carrying the Conduction Chain Spheres and Electromagnetic Cannon, interjected. “I’ll clear the path ahead with Chi Lizi, Lin Yao will deploy the spatial field as a shield to reduce the impact, Captain Qi will control the speed and direction, and Ji Qingfeng will keep an eye on the path.”

Qi Sicheng pushed the spatial accelerator’s threshold to its limit. “Alright, I’m speeding up.”

The mecha pilots didn’t have time to ponder the feasibility of the plan. As soon as the commanders made their decision, a massive force exploded behind Zhao Lejie. Lin Yao quickly used his feet to open up a large space, taking the brunt of the first wave of impact as everyone was propelled forward. The space around them fractured on impact, and Qi Sicheng seized the split-second opportunity to lead the team through the narrow gap.

Every second, Zhao Lejie felt like his back was on fire. In all his years as a Tank mecha pilot, he’d never imagined his teammates would blast him forward.

As Ying Chenlin and the others saw the path ahead clear, their radars quickly recorded the route Qi Sicheng and the others had taken, and they rushed to follow.

They hadn’t planned on using such a reckless approach, but if they didn’t make it past the defense line, their trip would have been in vain.

Huo Yan: “Can we make it?”

Ying Chenlin: “We can just make it.”

On the outskirts of the Chaos Zone, reverse-flying starships had quickly found docking points. One by one, the ships hovered in the safe area outside the asteroid belt, watching the mecha teams in the sky scrambling around. The elite mecha squads observed coldly, showing no emotion. Seeing many mechas falling behind, they already knew the outcome for those teams.

Inside E.M’s starship, as it docked, E.M’s coaching team had already begun analyzing the mechas parked around them.

“After entering the defense line, the mecha pilots will likely head to the old Slared Management Bureau site for a break.”

“The Slared Defense Line hasn’t been opened in a long time, and there are a lot of competitors this year.” The coaching team quickly identified their rivals based on the starship emblems around them. “Most of the top ten bases in the Star Alliance are here. They might not be in full battle formation, but this year’s scale is the largest we’ve seen so far—”

The head coach pointed to a ship on the screen. “This emblem is unfamiliar.”

Among the familiar starships, the E.M coaching team suddenly noticed a small ship squeezed between their starship and the others. The ship was so small that they almost overlooked it, but it had managed to edge into the safe area. “I’ll identify it right away.”

Within seconds, the emblem on the ship was identified: it belonged to the Gale team from the Dawn Galaxy in the First Star Domain.

The head coach commented, “They reacted pretty quickly.”

Inside the Slared Defense Line was the now uncontrollable Slared Contaminated Zone.

At this moment, at the old Slared Management Bureau site, several mechas were either hovering or parked at the docking point. The differing appearances of the mechas indicated that they came from various powerful teams across different Star Domains. The mecha pilots didn’t exchange many words, but their gazes were all focused on their surrounding opponents.

[Team Number 054 (The Aegis Team from the Aries Galaxy, First Star Domain) has arrived]

Among the strong teams, the Aegis Team from Aries Galaxy in the First Star Domain hovered outside the docking point. Wu Qingshuang’s gaze swept over the mechas, finally resting on the area outside the defense line, her brows furrowing slightly.

As all the mechas arrived at the old Slared Management Bureau site, the Star Alliance’s mission system displayed the team numbers and names of those who had entered the mission list. Teams that didn’t enter the defense line within the allotted time were not permitted to undertake the mission.

With only one minute left before the defense line closed, no one paid attention to the mechas still struggling outside the defense line.

Many mecha pilots regarded this situation with indifference, not even sparing a thought for the teams that hadn’t made it inside. There was no need to think too hard; it was clear that these lagging teams were mostly first-timers with no experience, falling behind right from the start.

These were not their competition.

“Every year, some small galaxies participate, but most can’t even pass the first test.”

“Get used to it. The mission will be announced soon.”

“The top five in the Star Alliance are here this year, so we should steer clear of them.”

As the defense line closure countdown entered the final 30 seconds, all the mecha pilots’ attention was on the Star Alliance’s mission system inside their mechas.

[Current Team Arrivals: 69/354]

Suddenly, an explosion lit up the outer perimeter of the old site, drawing the attention of the hovering mechas. As the light flashed, a few mechas squeezed into the blue defense line within the last 20 seconds before it closed, charging directly toward the old Management Bureau site.

The sudden commotion caught the attention of the mecha pilots, who backed away, watching as six mechas with unfamiliar patterns rushed onto the hovering platform.

Though the explosion had initially drawn attention, the sight of these six mechas quickly lost their interest, and the focus shifted to other discussions.

“Did another galaxy manage to break in?”

“Which galaxy are they from? I haven’t seen these mecha designs before.”

“Spatial speed weapons? Not bad.”

“It’s hard to bring many mechas through the asteroid belt. Since only six mechas made it, they probably had to leave some teammates behind.”

“They won’t make it. The defense line is about to close—” One mecha pilot was mid-sentence when they suddenly noticed a red circle of light surrounding those mechas. In the next second, within the circle’s range, more mechas abruptly appeared in front of everyone. The original six mechas were joined by six more.

For a moment, the expressions of all the mecha pilots watching their opponents changed.

[Team Number 125 (The KID Team from the First Star Domain’s Dawn Galaxy) has arrived]

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