Ash's last opponent demanded a rematch, but Ash ignored him. In his view, so many rookie mistakes should have cost his opponent’s life several times over. Ash needed a worthy adversary, someone whose skills would push him to improve, not a novice who was wasting his time.

Rune suddenly materialised beside him. “Not bad, I’ll give you that. Though, let’s be honest, the opponent wasn’t exactly up to par.”

Ash simply nodded, not bothering to deny it.

Rune went on, “But it seems that Blackbird isn’t really cutting it for you anymore. Fancy a new Mech?”

Ash’s eyes lit up. “A new Mech? Which model?”

Rune smirked. “What do you think of your opponent’s machine?”

“It’s solid,” Ash replied. “Balanced, with highly effective modifications.”

Rune explained, “For every match you win, you earn points, which you can trade for different Mechs or components in the Combat Zone’s repair bay. Customisation is allowed here. Though personally, I’d suggest waiting before diving into mods. Get familiar with a few standard models first, then see where you can make tweaks.”

Before Rune had even finished speaking, Ash had already rushed toward the repair bay. The expansive hall was lined with various Mechs, each one seemingly calling out to him. Like a starved wolf among prey, he inspected them eagerly, touching one here, another there, practically vibrating with excitement.

Each Mech had a point cost clearly displayed beside it. Realising he’d forgotten to check his own points, Ash fumbled around for his profile and finally found it: 1000 points. He breathed a sigh of relief. The Blue Wolf model had two variants, and both were only 300 points. Feeling pretty pleased with himself, Ash thought, I’ve got more than enough.

Remembering Rune’s advice, Ash resisted the allure of more advanced models and confidently chose a Blue Wolf Mark I.

The Blue Wolf resembled a fierce wolf in form, with four limbs on the ground and a laser emitter clasped in its jaws, capable of unleashing half-metre-long energy beams. Primarily a ground combat Mech, it lacked Blackbird’s side wings and couldn’t fly within an atmosphere. Its engine wasn’t much to brag about in space, either. But on solid ground, its explosive power, agility, and near-flight speed made it a popular choice.

The Blue Wolf came in two variants: Mark I and Mark II. The Mark I was a close-combat model, while the Mark II was designed for ranged attacks. The latter lacked the laser emitter but came equipped with a high-energy particle cannon and three high-calibre particle guns. It excelled at hit-and-run tactics in ground combat, making it ideal for guerrilla warfare.

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Compared to Blackbird, Blue Wolf boasted noticeable improvements in many aspects.

Rune reappeared like a ghost, observing Ash and the Blue Wolf crouched behind him. “Ah, a beast recognising its own kind,” Rune remarked with a sly grin.

Ash shot him an annoyed look. “Did you just compare me to a beast?”

Rune shrugged. “Aren’t you?”

“Absolutely not!” Ash retorted.

Rune raised an eyebrow. “Then what are you?”

Without hesitation, Ash declared, “I am the Beast King!”

Rune let out a mock groan, collapsing to the floor as though Ash’s words had physically struck him. Dazed, he mumbled, “Such... raw animal magnetism.”

Ash stood tall, hands on his hips, his stance filled with self-assured pride. In his mind, a triumphant chorus of wild beasts roared. But suddenly, the music twisted into the shrill, unnerving sounds of beasts mating. Instantly, Ash’s hairs stood on end as he threw up his hands in surrender, casting a wary glance at Rune.

Rune chuckled darkly, drawing out his words. “Beast... King…”

Ash winced, his defiance deflating like a punctured balloon.

Rune tossed him a list. “Here’s the roster of everyone with a win rate above 90% who’s trained here in the past three months. Challenge them one by one. Oh, and start from the bottom.”

Meanwhile, elsewhere in the training zone, Sarah and Lily were frozen, looking around the empty space with blank expressions.

“He’s gone!” Lily murmured, sitting stiffly inside the Blackbird’s cockpit. Silent tears traced lines down her cheeks, highlighting her delicate face.

Sarah was furious. “That guy is unbelievable! We’ve known him for so long, and he just up and disappears without a word. Next time I see him, I’m going to punch his lights out!” She conveniently forgot that Ash had once defeated her in a fight.

Grabbing Lily’s hand, Sarah declared, “Come on, we’re going to the Combat Zone to find him!”

They searched the Combat Zone, room by room, but Blackbird was nowhere to be seen, nor was Ash’s player name, YC. What they didn’t know was that Ash had already swapped Mechs and had left for Guteisda just moments before they arrived.

“Hey, Ash! Been a while, hasn’t it? Busy lately?” an old man called out to Ash on the street.

Ash gave him a respectful nod. “Good day, Mr. Hsu. You keeping well? I’ve been bogged down with training lately, so I haven’t been around much.” Ash held genuine respect for Mr. Hsu, an experienced engineer who had shared many insights with him. Ash had learned a lot from the old man.

Mr. Hsu chuckled. “What could be wrong with an old man like me? Same as ever, eh? Polite as usual. Those geezers at the discussion room will be thrilled to see you. But I’ll leave you to it—I have to be going now. Have fun, Ash!”

Ash nodded, smiling shyly. “Thank you, sir. Take care!”

Ash’s destination was a renowned discussion room called Aurora, located in the Guteisda district. Known far and wide, the room’s members were mostly retired senior Mech engineers and mechanics with profound expertise. The formidable group, with their extensive technical knowledge, could often be intimidating. Many companies sought their advice when they faced engineering challenges, only to find that money had no sway here. The retirees lived comfortably on their pensions, and it was their whims, not wealth, that dictated their assistance.

For those companies accustomed to buying their way out of problems, Aurora was both a treasure trove and a nightmare. Humbled, these executives had to set aside their pride, secretly cursing the “stubborn old fossils” while forcing polite smiles. Yet, these veterans saw through every facade, having long since mastered the art of reading intentions. They were immune to flattery and bribery, leaving many high-powered negotiators feeling like mice before a cat—trapped and outmatched.