While she waited for the match to begin, Xiao checked everything on her cattlemech one last time. She checked the gambling odds for her match and, unsurprisingly, the armadillo was the undisputed favorite. A few people gambled on her but she suspected those to be gamblers with some money to spare. Regardless of what match, there were always those betting on the underdog to pull off a miracle. Such miracles could turn a person's fortune around, though she doubted it would happen this day. Xiao knew that she needed more than a single miracle if she wanted to win her next match.

  “The match has begun! Try your best!”

  The tone from the headset was that of pity which Xiao expected. She didn’t have time to feel sorry for herself though as the armadillo mech was already bearing down on her. Unlike a turtle mech, the armadillo could get up to decent speeds that were considered average among medium mechs. The cattlemech raised its shield and charged back at the armadillo. Somewhere along the way, a few missiles came at her but Xiao was ready to intercept them with her shield.

  Xiao expected the missile blasts to push her cattlemech back somewhat but she barely felt the impact within the cockpit. A quick scan at her screens also indicated that her mech’s speed remained constant. Seeing this, the young woman kept the momentum going by pushing her mech forward as she had to get into melee range. She thought her opponent would do the same but the armadillo stopped just before the two mechs collided and let loose its arsenal.

  Talk about a difference in firepower.

  The difference between the arsenal packed between the light and medium mechs was massive. Xiao was certain that a direct hit from all those weapons on her hornet would have spelled the end of her mech. Only the ridiculous amounts of armor on her cattlemech kept her still in it. However, she felt she was getting nowhere. In response to the armadillo weapons, she tried to land a hit with her pitchfork but all of her attacks hit nothing but air. Her opponent didn’t have jump jets and apparently only needed to sidestep to avoid her weapon. This was becoming a very one-sided battle where nothing she did could yield results.

  How is that armadillo not overheating? Does improved cooling make that big of a difference?

  The amount of attacks coming her way was terrifying, making Xiao wonder if she was facing something closer to the heavy mech that had more mobility. While her screen indicated that her armor was steadily stripped away, she took several deep breaths to stop herself from hyperventilating.

  Slow and steady! One jab at a time!

  Xiao had positioned her shield to protect the cattlemech’s head. The head might have more armor than usual but, if it had taken similar hits as the rest of her mech, it would have been taken clean off already. At least with this approach, she could last long enough to maybe land a hit or two. When her next couple of jabs all missed, Xiao recalled a video she watched. The main damage from the pitchfork came from prongs but it could still serve as a blunt weapon if it was swung at an enemy.

  Let’s see how you dodge and maintain your attacks when I swing this pitchfork!

  After her next miss, Xiao didn’t withdraw her pitchfork. Instead, she swung it briefly away from the armadillo before smashing the weapon into the armadillo’s leg. A few swings later, she finally forced the armadillo to back away, giving her a bit of breathing room. Five seconds later, she went charging in once again. If her opponent did build up heat, she couldn’t afford the armadillo to cool down and resume its attack.

  Eventually, the battle developed into the cattletech charging at the armadillo with its pitchfork swinging back and forth in front of it. The two mechs had similar speeds when the armadillo was forced to back away so Xiao was able to keep up the pressure with her attacks. During her countless swings, she managed a few lucky hits that allowed her to take out some of the medium lasers on the armadillo. After the destruction of those weapons, the young woman grew more and more confident in her chances.

  This tale has been unlawfully obtained from Royal Road. If you discover it on Amazon, kindly report it.

  Maybe I found the way to win this!

  As Xiao strategized on how she could pull out an unlikely upset, her screen suddenly went black. It took her a full minute to realize that her head was taken out.

  How?

  Xiao was certain that the cattlemech head, with its extra armor, could take many hits before it got taken out. She wasn’t sure what her opponent could have done, especially when she had her opponent on the ropes. At least, she thought she had her opponent on the ropes. In the end, it was she who was eliminated and she had no clue what finished her off.

  “That was a good try! Be honored that you were taken out by a quick draw.”

  Quick draw?

  This wasn’t a term she was familiar with. Xiao made a mental note to look into what a quick draw was so she could use it in the future. True to the term, it was far too quick for her to realize. The match was just shifting in her advantage when it was over by what she assumed was a single blow.

  A few minutes later, she exited her cattlemech to see plenty of technicians waiting nearby. Their job was getting the mech repaired as soon as possible for her next match, whenever that might be. As soon as she got off her mech, one of the technicians walked over.

  “Missus, the armadillo pilot wishes to see you. She’s waiting in the guest room C.”

  The technician then joined the others in working on the cattlemech. Xiao pondered on the matter briefly before she made her way to the guest room. She had a lot of questions for the retired pro but she wasn’t expecting to be summoned this way. As soon as she entered the room, she found herself facing four bodyguards who towered over her. They all wore full combat gear including the helmets and weapons in plain sight. As she wondered if she entered the wrong room, the bodyguards stepped aside to let her pass.

  “I do apologize for them! They are meant to keep me safe from any strangers.”

  The voice came from a woman sitting at the table, sipping some beverage. She gestured to Xiao to sit down in the seat opposite her. Normally, the young woman would be fine with such a request. However, she could feel the eyes of the bodyguards which made her swallow her spit. After a few second of silence, Xiao slowly walked over and sat down as directed.

  “Anything to drink?” asked the woman.

  After Xiao shook her head, the woman went down to business. She introduced herself as Kristina Mahler, a retired pilot. After retirement, she still traveled between the planets to participate in small competitions or some shadow competitions like the fighting ring. She claimed that she did this to fight boredom.

  “I wouldn’t say beating boredom was my main priority. You see, I’ve had a rival when I was a pro and he had recently taken up a student. He loves boasting about how good his student would be. He goes as far as claiming that his student will surpass anyone I teach. Thus, I’ve been keeping an eye out for a successor.”

  Kristina then pressed a button on the table which turned on the screen. Xiao watched as a highlight compilation of her matches played on the screen. Given the quality of the video, she had to assume this was made by one of her fans. The good intentions and efforts were there but the quality had much to be desired.

  “I came across this by accident. Intrigued, I came to watch your match against the hare mech but I had to fight you personally. That was why I requested a match with subcomponents that are too alluring to refuse.” Kristina pressed another button on the table, changing the content from the video to a page filled with plenty of text. “I won’t bore you with the details as you can figure them out during your own time. These are the rules for the relegation matches. If you become my student, I will not only provide you with the training and resources to get through the relegation matches but you will also make it to the top three leagues.”

  Top three leagues?

  As someone who would have been content in making it to the top six leagues, Xiao had never dreamed about herself participating in the top three leagues where one needed so many things lining up to achieve. Studying the woman before her, she didn’t think Kristina was just making an absurd claim. Here was a woman who was confident she could make it possible.