"The match begins!" The referee's voice rang out as the countdown reached zero.
In fact, before the announcement even finished, Tan Bingbing had already launched her attack. Her assault was fierce and relentless, like a storm that continuously battered Andre, forcing him into a defensive stance. Despite this, Andre appeared to have no intention of retaliating, skillfully maneuvering his mecha to dodge, though it was undeniable that his piloting skills were exceptional. His bulky mecha seemed surprisingly agile, evading Tan Bingbing's strikes time and time again.
"Go, Goddess! Take down the pretty boy!" The crowd erupted in excitement, their voices deafening.
"Watch out, Prince!" This cry came from the girls in the crowd, filled with concern.
As the minutes ticked by, Tan Bingbing's assault showed no signs of slowing, but Andre still dodged with remarkable precision. The boys cheered relentlessly for Tan Bingbing, while the girls continued to express their concern for Andre. Yet, a few discerning eyes had already begun to notice that the tides of the battle were turning in Andre's favor.
Almost every girl in the arena was supporting Andre, but two exceptions stood out: his classmates and friends, Anran and Amy.
Anran and Amy were both only Tier 3 Mecha Warriors, with average looks and unremarkable family backgrounds. Yet, despite their modest status, they had a surprisingly close relationship with Tan Bingbing.
"Amy, I think Bingbing might lose," Anran said, her face filled with concern.
"No way, she's been dominating the whole time!" Amy said, skeptical. "Bingbing has the upper hand!"
"Bingbing has been attacking for nearly ten minutes. While it may seem like she's in control, she's done no real damage to Andre. She's already running out of steam. Once Andre starts fighting back, she's in trouble," Anran shook her head, a seasoned observer of mecha combat despite her own limited abilities.
"So, what do we do now?" Amy, now convinced by Anran's assessment, was beginning to worry.
Anran didn't speak, but by the time she had finished speaking, the scene had shifted dramatically. Tan Bingbing's attacks were no longer flowing with the same smoothness, and although Andre was still dodging, he had begun to strike back, causing Tan Bingbing significant trouble.
As time passed, even the casual observers in the arena could see the inevitable conclusion: Tan Bingbing might lose. Andre had begun launching full-scale counterattacks, and the girl who had once been in the offensive position was now in full defense mode. The situation had completely reversed.
"Wow, my prince is amazing…" A girl sighed, starstruck, only to be immediately smacked by a group of her friends, who teased her: "See if you dare to call him your prince again!"
"Come on, Goddess, you've got this!" The boys continued their relentless cheers for Tan Bingbing.
But could Tan Bingbing turn the tide?
Endymion suddenly stirred awake, jolted by the intense vibrations. Looking around at the cramped cockpit, his gaze shifted to the seductive yet cold beauty beside him. He couldn't help but wonder if this was all some strange dream.
The process of modifying Tan Bingbing's mecha had consumed much of his energy, and he had taken a brief nap at Yuxue's place afterward. But now, waking up in such a confined space, surrounded by the alluring presence of Tan Bingbing, he could hardly believe it.
It took him a few moments to fully comprehend his situation. He was inside Tan Bingbing's mecha cockpit, and she was in the midst of battling in the arena.
"What's going on here?" Endymion thought, offering a wry smile. This mecha was specifically designed for Tan Bingbing. The cockpit was narrow, perfectly suited for her petite form, but now, with him crammed in there, it felt exceedingly tight. Every shift of the mecha brought him into close proximity with Tan Bingbing's curves.
A few moments ago, he had been somewhat indifferent, but now, as reality set in, his heart rate quickened, and the desire that had been simmering beneath the surface began to rise uncontrollably.
"You're going to lose if you keep this up." Pushing his desire aside, Endymion focused on the battle. Tan Bingbing was now clearly at a disadvantage, on the defensive with little room to counterattack.
"You're finally awake!" Tan Bingbing, now back to her usual icy demeanor, spoke with a hint of annoyance in her voice. "How can you sleep so much?"
"My health's always been a bit fragile," Endymion muttered casually, though it was true. Despite training in combat qi for the past month, his physical condition hadn't changed overnight.
"Forget about that for now. Can you help me win this match?" Tan Bingbing asked breathlessly, barely avoiding another lethal strike.
Endymion was surprised by her question. Just moments ago, she would have never sought his help. Yet now, for some inexplicable reason, she seemed to trust him.
"Hold on for one minute. Let me assess the situation." Endymion straightened up, positioning himself closely behind Tan Bingbing. His movements weren't out of any ulterior motive; he simply needed to see the battle from this angle to strategize.
A deafening crash shook the mecha as it was struck hard. Endymion lunged forward instinctively, wrapping his arms around Tan Bingbing's slender waist to steady her.
"Do you have a plan or not? I'm about to lose!" Tan Bingbing's voice was filled with panic. She seemed oblivious to the intimate position she and Endymion were in, her focus entirely on the match.
"Now, listen to my commands!" Endymion maintained his hold, but his thoughts were entirely focused on the battle. His excitement was palpable. "Rochus Spin!"
Since the rise of mecha warriors, many genius pilots had developed innovative maneuvers, each one named and passed down as part of the standard training. Rochus Spin was one such textbook defensive technique.
"Baronma Side Attack!"
"Feller Cleave!"
Endymion's voice flowed with a series of tactical terms, each one executed flawlessly by Tan Bingbing in an instant. Their teamwork was seamless, and before long, the tides of the battle had begun to shift.
"His weak spot is on the left. Feint right, then use Thunderclap Tri-Strike on the left. Good, we've won!" In one final flurry of attacks, Tan Bingbing's energy blade severed Andre's mecha's power transmission belt, securing the victory.
As the crowd held its breath, expecting Tan Bingbing to lose, she had turned the battle around in just three minutes and decisively defeated Andre. The arena was stunned into silence for three seconds before erupting into deafening cheers.
"Long live the Ice Snow Goddess!" The boys roared, ecstatic.
"Damn the Brooding Prince!" The boys who had once admired Andre now vented their frustrations.
"Wuwuwu, how could my prince lose?" A heartbroken girl wept openly.
Meanwhile, Tan Bingbing and Endymion celebrated in their own way.
This was Endymion's first real experience in mecha combat. Though he hadn't personally piloted the mecha, it had given him a newfound confidence. His understanding of mecha combat had always been theoretical, but today, he had seen his theories come to life.
When Tan Bingbing defeated Andre, Endymion couldn't contain his excitement. In that moment, he lost all sense of restraint, pulling Tan Bingbing into a passionate kiss. Tan Bingbing, seemingly overwhelmed by the moment, didn't resist. Instead, she kissed him back with equal fervor.
...