Genius Mechanic: Chapter 250

Asta Contaminated Zone(Star Domain Tournament: Start)

250. The Powerful KID Team

Proofread by Cloud Chip Cake

Lin Yao asked, “So if I can deal with him, how should I proceed?”

“Actually, among those mechas, the easiest to eliminate is the Stealth.”

Ying Chenlin’s peripheral vision remained locked on his teammate. “I remember there’s a long path higher up on your side, isn’t there?”

On the other side of the third mine pit, in a frost-bound world, YOU’s captain continued to struggle against his elimination. He used his mecha’s angled positioning and traps to slow down his elimination, but even so, his depletion rate had already reached 69%. He was only 11% away from being eliminated.

Hearing his teammate’s arrangements, Su Jingming let out a sigh of relief. Seeing the opposing Medical mecha pause momentarily, he immediately knew their strategy was working. “Two mechas pin Trace down, let the Stealth deal with KID’s Guard—”

But just as he finished instructing his teammates, he realized Sink’s operations seemed entirely unaffected by the ongoing battle outside. Sink’s attack rhythm didn’t accelerate, nor did he seem eager to finish him off.

“Why isn’t Sink in a hurry!?” The livestream commentator was getting anxious on KID’s behalf. “The best approach now would be for Sink to quickly take down YOU’s Medical and break out of the ice to support his teammates. You have to understand, KID’s Guardian is clearly at a disadvantage going up against YOU’s Stealth!”

In the resting area outside the match, Zhang Ge also grew anxious. “Sink should be able to finish this off quickly, right?”

“You’ve worked with KID for so long, and you still don’t know? Sink’s high-intensity combat has a fatigue period. Yes, he could take down YOU’s Medical in one go, but the other side is opting for a do-or-die strategy. Taking him out is just a matter of time.” Gale’s head coach explained, “On the other hand, this space is also a safe zone for Sink. No one else can come here, so he can take this time to rest.”

“I get that he can rest, but if he doesn’t eliminate his opponent first, I’ll be more anxious than he is.”

Zhang Ge replied, “Lin Yao’s situation is tense.”

“You’re worried about Lin Yao? Haven’t you noticed that Lin Yao has only been using the Spatial Staff this whole time?” Gale’s head coach countered.

Zhang Ge was momentarily stunned. That seemed to be the case. Earlier, while dealing with the pollutants, Lin Yao had only used the Spatial Staff to toss pollutants over to Huo Yan. Wouldn’t it normally have been simpler to use his standard attack Long Blade? “But he specializes in using long weapons. Isn’t this weapon type ineffective against YOU’s Stealth?”

【YOU’s Stealth is so cautious!】

In the livestream, the commentators also noticed the cautiousness in the YOU Stealth’s operations. “KID’s Yao hasn’t used his secondary weapon. YOU’s Stealth is testing him to figure out what that weapon is. Without fully understanding his opponent, YOU’s Stealth can’t let his guard down.”

The audience, following the commentator’s observation, also recalled that KID’s Guardian hadn’t switched to a secondary weapon.

“But it’s also possible that KID’s Guardian’s secondary weapon isn’t as effective as the Spatial Staff he’s using now. Haven’t you noticed that although Yao has been taking hits, he’s been retreating every 30 seconds using spatial maneuvers?” said the weapons expert.

On the battlefield, the red-and-white Guardian mecha had indeed been using its Spatial Staff to slowly move away from its controlled position, retreating bit by bit. However, the direction it moved in was unusual. Normally, when given a chance to escape, one would head toward their teammates, right? But instead of moving toward his team, he retreated toward the wall inside the mining factory.

While the livestream viewers puzzled over KID Guardian’s movements, they suddenly saw him switch to an unfamiliar weapon. He now held a long staff with a silver body adorned with golden patterns. At first glance, it seemed identical to his original Spatial Staff. However, the difference lay in the weapon’s bottom end—not the usual rounded tip, but a chaotic array of thin, silver spikes made from some special material. These sharp strands were bundled together, rigid and fixed firmly to the staff’s base.

【WTF, is Yao changing weapons?】

【Looks like it… is that another polearm?】

【But what’s the point? Polearms are useless when you’re immobilized; you can’t maneuver with them.】

The commentator observed the weapon and seemed to recall something. “This appears to be another type of ancient Chinese cold weapon, doesn’t it?”

The weapons expert paused and corrected, “Technically speaking, the design of this weapon resembles a farming tool, also known as a broom.”

Before the expert could finish, the red-and-white Guardian mecha was immobilized again on the battlefield. Just as YOU’s Stealth approached to test his new weapon, KID’s Guardian suddenly gripped the broom tightly. As YOU’s Stealth drew near, KID’s Guardian swung the broom upward. The silver spikes at the broom’s base emitted a sharp, scraping sound, and a unique spiral force abruptly formed among the spikes, transforming into cutting wind blades that surged toward YOU’s Stealth.

The broom actually unleashed a wide barrage of wind blades?!

YOU’s Stealth, initially relaxed at the sight of a polearm, was caught off guard. The wind blades swept over, flinging their entire mecha into the air before slamming it against the wall with a resounding crash.

【???】

【What just happened? The broom summoned wind?!】

【Not just wind—it’s damaging wind!】

【Wait, isn’t a broom still considered a polearm? How does it have a ranged attack?】

The livestream chat: “???”

The commentators: “???”

The weapons expert’s expression grew serious. “This is technically a melee polearm, but it does have ranged capabilities.”

Gale’s head coach and Zhang Ge were both stunned.

Zhang Ge asked, “Didn’t they say Lin Yao couldn’t use ranged weapons?”

Gale’s head coach stared at the broom. “In a way… that doesn’t exactly count as a ranged weapon.”

Zhang Ge: “When did KID acquire so many anomalous crystals???”

The head coach replied, “You should’ve seen this one before. Back during the Coria mission, didn’t KID take down two mantises? We’ve seen the spatial displacement crystal already, and the other one came from the Wind Blade Mantis.”

Not far away, Jiang Simiao chuckled. “Our Lin Yao just doesn’t use cannons. If you turn a polearm into a ranged weapon, Lin Yao can still wield it just fine.”

On the battlefield, after KID’s Guardian pulled out the Wind Blade Broom, their attacks became fluid and seamless. With a single sweep, they knocked YOU’s Stealth out of the immobilizing magnetic field, freeing themself from its effects.

“Off you go!” Lin Yao charged forward, dragging the broom across the ground, covering a large distance. The wind blades swept upward, sending YOU’s Stealth, who had just gotten back up, flying again.

The livestream commentator was momentarily stunned. “What kind of bizarre weapon is this?”

The weapon expert, however, analyzed it seriously. “This weapon is extraordinary. Generally speaking, cold melee weapons are hard to use for control. Designers usually focus on the supply end of the weapon, like the blade of a sword. Even if they are designed as ranged weapons, swords typically only create linear effects. For example, KID’s Tank’s Void Shock Blade is a rare medium-to-long-range control weapon.”

“But KID’s Guardian’s weapon is different. The design’s focus is on the bottom of the broom, with minutely separated hidden spikes. The broom’s bristles can trigger the anomalous ability when sweeping, allowing it to be unleashed from its base. This way, the control is no longer a linear single-plane effect, it instead sends out multiple wind blades in a fan-shaped sweep from the weapon.”

“But control effects of a polearm-type weapon can’t compare to cannon-type weapons?” the commentator questioned in surprise.

The expert countered, “Not necessarily. Polearms aren’t inherently weaker—it depends on how the mecha pilot uses them. Did you notice it dragging across the ground? I suspect the designer of KID’s weapon might have incorporated friction-based energy accumulation.”

“Friction-based energy accumulation?” The commentator was still puzzled when Lin Yao dragged the broom across the ground again. With the swift upward sweep, fan-shaped wind blades surged forward, once again connecting with a control effect. This time, the wind blades were even stronger, increasing the YOU Stealth’s damage level by 3%.

The expert explained, “See that? Friction-based energy accumulation allows the weapon to naturally generate energy through one motion, and then further accelerates the energy accumulation through the friction with the ground, enabling a high-power control effect in a very short time.”

【WTF, what the hell is this weapon? A polearm weapon can be this powerful!?】

【…This isn’t even in the realm of standard polearm weapons anymore, right?】

【Who would dare to get close to Yao? Wouldn’t they just get swept away immediately?】

【I finally understand why he didn’t use this weapon against the pollutants. One sweep, and they’d all be blown away.】

“The sweeping control is one thing,” the commentator noted. “But doesn’t this mean Yao can’t attack his opponent directly either?”

Sweeping mechas away only serves as control, and attacking opponents with the wind blades from a distance lacks the flexibility of cannon-type weapons.

Meanwhile, KID’s Guardian hadn’t stopped moving on the battlefield. After one sweeping motion, they immediately followed up with another, perfectly sending YOU’s Stealth soaring to the upper ground.

YOU’s Stealth had never expected to encounter such a weapon. He hastily stabilized his mecha, analyzing Lin Yao’s movements to deduce that the weapon’s attacks originated from the broom’s bristles at the bottom. This meant that as long as he avoided the direction the bristles faced, he could evade the attacks. The drawback with polearm weapons compared to cannon weapons was the large movement range required for attacks, making their attack trajectories more predictable. Having frequently fought in melees, YOU’s Stealth naturally knew how to deal with this. Just as he prepared to land and dodge the KID Guardian’s next attack, a cannon blast suddenly came from behind him.

Wait—!

A red-and-white Artillery mecha calmly raised its cannon and fired. The Steel Wind Cannon hit YOU’s Stealth squarely, sending him crashing into the wall with a loud thud.

Seizing the opportunity, KID’s Guardian swept YOU’s Stealth into the air again. The red-and-white Artillery mecha retreated a few steps, hiding within the protective circle KID’s Tank formed blocking the intersection, and fired another powerful shot in the YOU Stealth’s direction.

【???】

The commentators: “…”

No wonder he retreated to a corner. KID had deliberately used the terrain to create an ideal cross-control point for Yao and Trace. This was a double wind-based control strategy!

The two were the primary output mechas within KID. While polearm weapons might not match cannon weapons in raw power, they didn’t require charging, only energy accumulation, allowing for much faster consecutive controls!

YOU’s Tank tried to step in to protect YOU’s Stealth, but Trace’s Steel Wind Cannon abruptly shifted its aim, blasting YOU’s Tank back.

You Su sneered, “Trying to save him?”

Lin Yao, holding his broom, said: “I’ll sweep him to death.”

YOU’s team realized too late that engaging KID’s Guardian had been a grave mistake. This Guardian was like a hedgehog—impossible to handle. Them bringing out such a powerful control weapon at this critical moment caught them completely off guard. If they had known he had this weapon, they wouldn’t have tried to engage in close combat!

“This weapon is indeed situational,” the commentator said gravely. “It’s useless at long ranges— the wind blades only work in close combat—but YOU’s two ranged mechas are positioned too high up on the conveyor belts.”

“YOU miscalculated. They shouldn’t have engaged KID in close combat. KID’s front liners are too strong in melees—”

At this moment, a new elimination message popped up on the screen.

[KID-Sink has eliminated YOU-Su]

This announcement further cemented YOU’s disadvantage.

YOU’s Artillery gritted his teeth, forced to make a tough decision. “Retreat.”

The moment YOU’s Medical was eliminated, YOU’s Control had no choice but to abandon their push against KID’s Tank. He leaped downward, activating his cloaking weapon mid-air, disappearing right in front of Huo Yan.

Huo Yan immediately reported, “They’re trying to escape!”

[Sink wasn’t intentionally slowing down just now, was he?] [It’s possible… YOU might have been aiming to make one last push. If Sink hadn’t slowed things down and they’d retreated immediately, YOU’s Stealth might’ve escaped.] [Sink was putting on a show! He deliberately slowed his pace to give his teammates time for continuous control.] [Exactly. If Captain Su had been taken out earlier, YOU wouldn’t have risked a push at all!]

As soon as YOU’s Control disappeared, their Guardian and Tank completely abandoned their offensive inside the mining factory. They tried to retreat and rescue their Stealth mecha from KID’s grasp. But KID’s Guardian and Artillery weren’t about to give them the chance. Just as YOU’s team was preparing to withdraw, KID’s two main mechas swiftly finished off YOU’s Stealth.

“KID is locking them down!” the commentator observed as Sink began breaking the ice and traps. “They need to retreat immediately—KID’s Medical is on the way.”

Dawn fans had gone from nervous wrecks to confident supporters. Watching the KID mecha pilots in action, their morale soared.

Of course, they weren’t letting YOU leave so easily. How could KID just let them walk away after all that? What about their pride?

[YOU wants to leave?] [Leave my foot! Cutting off someone’s financial path—do you think KID, this group of misers, would let them off?]

KID had no intention to let YOU retreat. YOU’s Tank and Guardian had no choice but to abandon the rescue and take another route to escape. However, even during their retreat, KID attacked them relentlessly, leaving only four YOU mechas to escape successfully. YOU’s Medical was eliminated by Sink, and YOU’s Stealth was locked down so thoroughly that it couldn’t break free, ultimately taken out by a cannon shot from Trace.

[KID is… too strong!] [Is this team really from Dawn?]

The traps left by YOU’s Medical did aid their retreat, but the cost was steep. Multiple mechas sustained damage rates of 40%.

The livestream audience watched this tug-of-war in disbelief. Despite being ambushed by YOU, the third strongest team in the Star Domain, KID not only survived with their entire roster intact but also heavily crippled YOU, taking down two of their mechas.

By the end of the third day, KID remained firmly at the top of the Zone C leaderboard, surpassing even the two in the Star Domain’s top four teams, ZUOY and YOU. 

—

Author’s Note:

The KID vs YOU battle concludes!

TN:

Picture Lin Yao’s weapon as something like this but made of metal.

If you're enjoying the story don't forget to support the author! You can also support me on KOFI for site maintenance, raws purchase or as an energy boost~ 

Join discord to get notified whenever a new chapter is uploaded since I'm  incapable of keeping up with a schedule~