The ace Mobile Suit pilot from Africa—I don't know who you are, but I will fight you." Qin Fen switched the communication channel to a special frequency, one only Clara could receive: "I hope you can give me a proper fight, so I can better gauge the level of my own strength."

Clara sounded slightly surprised. Where had this rookie from East Asia spotted his weakness? Or perhaps he had received prior intelligence?

"Are you ready?" Qin Fen adjusted his Red Lotus Phantom unit, confirming the African Military Region hadn't tampered with the machine further before stating, "I'm ready to start the fight."

Clara chuckled, also adjusting his comms, his voice carrying a hint of seasoned superiority: "Young man, you're still too green, or perhaps too confident. On the battlefield, knowing I am an ace Mobile Suit pilot, your wisest move would be to feign ignorance, deliberately show weakness, and then launch a surprise attack to seize victory. I suspect you haven't encountered the ace among aces yet, have you?"

"Senior, I am aware of all that. But..." Qin ফেন operated the Red Lotus Phantom, bringing the nearly five-meter-long, fifty-millimeter caliber super sniper "rifle" mounted on its back up to his shoulder: "If I did that, I wouldn't be able to measure my true strength, nor would I let your General accept defeat wholeheartedly."

"Arrogant!"

Clara chastised him. The left arm of the Galaxy Steel Soul raised a massive shield—a specialized metallic barrier designed specifically for protecting the machine.

That enormous metal shield struck the ground with a heavy thud, causing the hearts of the onlookers to flutter lightly.

Tuolahou tapped a button, and an electronic synthesized voice echoed across the field: "FIGHT!"

The battle commenced!

The GN-2 sniper "gun" on the Red Lotus Phantom's breech ejected a visible plume of vast white vapor. A Super Dragon Armor-Piercing round, capable of bringing down high-altitude fighters with ease, shot out with terrifying rotational velocity.

What?

A flicker of dread flashed in Clara's eyes. The massive Galaxy Steel Soul instantly vented two thick streams of white exhaust from its back thrusters. The alloy shield was pulled like a moving giant wall toward its right flank. Two grenade launchers and a small surface-to-surface missile pod popped out instantly from its left arm.

Boom...

A violent sound erupted from the Galaxy Steel Soul's right side as the alloy shield took the impact. The scattering sparks confirmed to everyone that Qin Fen’s Red Lotus Phantom had managed to land a curved-trajectory shot.

The rookie Mobile Suit pilot from Africa—as well as the rookies from the Americas and Europe—were utterly stunned. It seemed Qin Fen had never used his true abilities before. Otherwise, with just his marksmanship, he could have slowly dismantled every Mobile Suit out there.

Simultaneously, people watched the Galaxy Steel Soul with astonishment. How could an African rookie pilot possibly anticipate a curved-shot maneuver the instant the Red Lotus Phantom moved? And to counterattack while defending? The shield swing just now must have required the power core to be overclocked above 390%!

Ace Mobile Suit pilot? The eyes of several rookie pilots from the Americas and Europe widened in disbelief. Did Africa possess such a powerful rookie pilot?

Clara's uniform instantly soaked with sweat. Was this East Asian rookie truly that ferocious? If not for his rich experience and prior encounters with similar firing patterns, he would have truly fallen for it just now?

Boom, boom...

Flashes of fire erupted where the Red Lotus Phantom had been positioned. The missiles and grenade launchers on the Galaxy Steel Soul's arms showed no sign of stopping. Clara knew clearly that the Red Lotus Phantom, visible on his radar, had not disappeared; it was still cheerfully leaping around.

Truly the ace among aces! Qin Fen cheered excitedly. The Red Lotus Phantom’s speed increased relentlessly, punctuated by occasional shots from its hand, forcing the Galaxy Steel Soul to constantly shift its alloy shield.

How is it so fast? Clara grew more alarmed as the fight went on. The Red Lotus Phantom's speed had clearly surpassed 500% power core overclocking! This was a level only the true ace among aces could achieve in a short span.

The armor on the Galaxy Steel Soul’s left chest temporarily slid open, revealing dozens of surface-to-surface missiles nested inside. They roared to life, launching out with trailing crimson flames.

Clara knew perfectly well that maintaining over 500% power core overclocking was unsustainable, both for the pilot's mental state and for the Mobile Suit itself.

However, if he waited until the Mobile Suit’s power core was damaged by the overclocking before defeating his opponent, Clara's entire lifetime of military glory would vanish, becoming nothing more than a stepping stone for Qin Fen’s fame.

He must defeat Qin Fen before the power core failed, or before Qin Fen's mind collapsed! Clara’s mind cleared; his operation reached a level he had never conceived.

In less than half a second! The Galaxy Steel Soul shed all its external armor. Thousands of missiles, dual-jointed self-propelled cannons, and a sixty-four-barrel rotary cannon housed internally in its back all manifested!

Every weapon system of the Galaxy Steel Soul burst forth, almost simultaneously in under half a second, seemingly without any time lag...

An indiscriminate, chaotic bombardment!

The Red Lotus Phantom was fast, but... Clara understood that its armor was compromised. If struck by the Galaxy Steel Soul’s heavy firepower, even if not destroyed, it would be crippled.

In the instant all the firepower unleashed, the massive Galaxy Steel Soul, stripped of its heavy plating, resembled a naked man, and its speed instantly skyrocketed.

Power core overclocked to 527%! The Galaxy Steel Soul moved at high speed, leaving streaks of afterimages in the air—a speed almost unimaginable for the huge, cumbersome machine.

The massive shield was now deployed as a giant special club. Swung with thunderous cracking sounds, it hurtled directly toward the Red Lo—

No one had considered this possibility. If that shield struck the Red Lotus Phantom, that Mobile Suit, which appeared incredibly robust, would be reduced to scrap metal!

Victory! A cold smile touched Clara's lips. So what if the Red Lotus Phantom was a speed-type Mobile Suit? Against a true ace among aces pilot, it amounted to nothing! The armor-less Galaxy Steel Soul, under such supreme control, would completely outpace the Red Lotus Phantom!

"What?" Clara suddenly started, noticing two signatures for the Red Lotus Phantom on his radar! One was motionless directly ahead of him, while another was circling around from the flank at an impossibly high velocity.

This is...? There was no time to ponder. Clara’s massive shield slammed down onto the Red Lotus Phantom engulfed in smoke and dust.

Clang... Boom...

The sound of metal colliding resonated clearly—it was definitely the alloy shield striking armor, that much was certain! Clara was completely confident in that sound.

But... Clara's face instantly turned ashen. The resistance felt by the alloy shield upon impact was wrong! Even if the Red Lotus Phantom wasn't fully armored, it shouldn't feel as fragile as paper.

Ambushed! Three thoughts flashed through Clara's mind like lightning. He instinctively commanded the Galaxy Steel Soul to swing its arm, bringing the shield up to guard its right side.

Pfft... Clang...

A string of visibly dazzling sparks pierced through the Galaxy Steel Soul's alloy shield—a barrier that had not been breached since the battle began. The Super Dragon Armor-Piercing round effortlessly tore through the Galaxy Steel Soul, which lacked any defensive armor.

Clara felt a violent jolt run through his massive frame. The data on every touch display plummeted rapidly. In the blink of an eye, all data hit zero, and even the brightly lit Mobile Suit cockpit plunged into darkness.

Impossible? Clara swiftly activated the auxiliary backup power core. The machine shuddered again, and he felt the massive frame lean heavily to the right.

In just a moment more, he felt the machine begin to tilt to the left again...

The external audience was aghast. After piercing the shield with one shot, the Red Lotus Phantom had completely disabled the Galaxy Steel Soul, but it didn't stop attacking immediately. Instead, it casually fired two more shots, severing both of the Galaxy Steel Soul's lower limbs. Following that, two more shots cleanly severed the connection points between the shoulders and the mechanical arms.

In the blink of an eye, the "naked" Galaxy Steel Soul was reduced to a 'human stick,' lying on the ground, unable to move an inch.

At this moment, the Galaxy Steel Soul’s internal data flickered back online. Clara stared blankly at the feedback. He had lost? And he didn't even know how he had lost!

Clara's mouth, eyes, and even the skin on his scalp twitched uncontrollably. To be defeated without understanding how... This was only the second time in his entire career.

The last time, it was because of that reckless man from East Asia! And this time, he lost to an East Asian rookie! Clara’s fingers spasmed, and his muscle fibers contracted rapidly. Was East Asia his predestined nemesis?

This is...! The twitching in Clara's facial muscles stopped. He stared blankly, refusing to believe what he saw: the alloy shield held in the Galaxy Steel Soul's mechanical hand.

The massive alloy shield, after an incredibly fierce battle, still looked as if it were brand new, bearing almost no visible marks from the sniper rounds.

Having blocked over thirty armor-piercing sniper rounds, yet showing no signs of impact... A wave of icy chill washed up Clara’s spine. Could it be... could it be that every shot had landed on the exact same spot on the alloy shield? Is that why it was pierced?

How was that possible? How did he achieve that? Clara looked up at Qin Fen's Red Lotus Phantom. This required more than just excellent marksmanship! It demanded precise calculation, incorporating the opponent's reaction speed into the equation!

The Red Lotus Phantom was also completely stripped of armor now. Only then did Clara fully grasp why there had been two Red Lotus Phantoms moments before.

In that instant, the Red Lotus Phantom’s armor-shedding speed was even faster! So fast that the discarded armor hadn't even fully hit the ground or lost the general silhouette of the Red Lotus Phantom.

"Senior," Qin Fen stepped forward, the muzzle of his fifty-millimeter GNN super sniper "gun" pressed against Clara's cockpit hatch: "Do you still think I am arrogant now?"

With a single command to fire, the number one Mobile Suit pilot of Africa would cease to exist.

"No..." Clara weakly closed his eyes and sighed: "You are strong, stronger than me. But can you make me understand my defeat a little clearer? You are a rookie, not born from a military lineage, how do you possess such powerful Mobile Suit operation skills? Don't tell me you are naturally gifted; I won't believe it! Tell me, who is your master? I want to know whose successor I have lost to."

"I can, provided you keep this confidential. My instructor believes I have not yet fully graduated. If this gets out now, he will feel I have disgraced him." Qin Fen retracted the GNN Super Sniper "Gun" and slowly stated, "I don't even know my instructor's actual name. I only know that everyone calls him 'The Reckless Man'..."

What! Clara’s tightly shut eyes snapped open, the gleam within them seemingly brighter than the moon in the sky. The bitterness around his mouth and eyes looked sharper than chewing on Coptis root: "The Nemesis... It must be the Nemesis... Not only did I lose to him, but now I've lost to his apprentice... Is this perhaps retribution for participating in this tournament as a substitute pilot?"

With a creak, the Galaxy Steel Soul’s cockpit opened.

Clara leaped out, his face the color of dirt. Qin Fen was momentarily stunned by the move. Why did he voluntarily jump out? Wasn't he avoiding exposure of his identity from the very beginning?

The Mobile Suit pilots from the Americas, Africa, and West Asia were all dumbstruck. In their minds, a deafening realization struck... It was Clara from Africa!

Clara, the number one Mobile Suit pilot in Africa!

In the military, Clara might not have been sufficiently famous, but in the Mobile Suit world, especially on Earth, nearly every Mobile Suit warrior knew of Clara’s existence.

As the top pilot in Africa, he was an icon for many rookie Mobile Suit enthusiasts, a fan favorite for his brave demeanor and delicate, precise technique.

Clara ignored the shocked and scornful gazes directed at him. He looked up at Qin Fen and stated calmly: "Young man, congratulations. You have entered the domain of the Mobile Suit Ace World."

At these words, everyone refocused their attention on Qin Fen’s Red Lotus Phantom. An assessment delivered by the foremost Mobile Suit pilot of Africa changed the dynamic entirely.

Tuolahou’s forehead, which hadn't sweated in years, now produced a stream that would not stop. He stared blankly at Qin Fen. Had this East Asian rookie achieved this level of power?

Yang Lie gently rubbed his forehead, while Caesar couldn't stop clicking his tongue. A young man who was temporarily at the pinnacle of the martial arts rookie competition, yet possessed such formidable Mobile Suit skills—this was astonishing! He hadn't focused all his energy on martial arts, yet had reached such a high level there?

The main cannon of the Red Lotus Phantom swung toward the other African Mobile Suits. Qin Fen's calm voice, laced with an air of supreme authority, carried out: "Do any of you still wish to fight? If so, come at me together."

...

The ranks of the African Mobile Suits fell silent. After a brief pause of several seconds, someone slowly spoke: "We concede."

Fight? Are you kidding! Qin Fen single-handedly took down the number one Mobile Suit pilot of Africa; what was the point in engaging him? To invite humiliation? The African rookies might lack individual strength, but they weren't fools.

"Very well," Qin Fen's tone relaxed slightly: "Then, this warm-up is officially concluded. Let's begin tonight's main event."

Everyone present was startled. What? Wasn't the Mobile Suit duel the main event tonight? That brutal fight was merely a warm-up? What was the actual theme?

The cockpit of the Red Lotus Phantom slowly opened. Qin Fen leaped down to the ground, looked up, and swept his gaze over everyone present, stating in a level tone: "Gentlemen, I invited you here tonight not to watch a battle between Mobile Suits."

Tuolahou,, Old Man Zhao, and others were taken aback. Following Qin Fen’s gaze, they noticed that only the young martial artists participating in the martial arts tournament showed no change in expression.

Clearly, Qin Fen’s words were directed at them.

"Gentlemen, the initial purpose of the martial arts tournament is for everyone to spar with each other for mutual improvement," Qin Fen's words were affirmed by Bai Sheng, who had just walked in.

"But," Qin Fen’s eyes showed a hint of disappointment, "for me, a rookie competition like this is meaningless. Because sparring with you all, I gain little improvement."

These blunt words caused the expressions of the other seven rookie contestants in the top eight, save for Xue Tian, to shift abruptly, their eyes gaining a cold glint.

"So..." Qin Fen sighed: "Call me arrogant, call me conceited—it doesn't matter. I wish to settle things here with all of you. Me, alone, fighting all of you."

This declaration caused a small commotion among the Mobile Suit pilots. This was even more audacious than challenging a small Mobile Suit squad!

"Qin Fen... Don't forget," a European Mobile Suit pilot finally couldn't help but speak up for Caesar: "Our European Caesar is also an Eight-Star martial artist! Even if you reached Eight-Star a bit earlier than him, it doesn't mean..."

Qin Fen's mouth curved into a faint smile. Eight-Star? What about Eight-Star? Since his debut, he had grown accustomed to fighting opponents above his level. Even if a Nine-Star martial artist stood before him, he would still dare to challenge them.

Eight-Star? Qin Fen sighed again. For a martial artist accustomed to fighting across ranks, battles between those of the same rank held no anticipation whatsoever.

"Qin Fen, I know what you’re smiling about, and I know what you’re thinking," Caesar remained seated, propping his chin with one hand, exuding an indescribable air of nonchalance: "Perhaps you believe your control over force is extremely precise, surpassing many martial artists of your rank, allowing you to challenge higher-starred opponents to a certain degree."

Qin Fen nodded noncommittally. There was no need to hide that fact.

"But..." Caesar removed his hand from his chin and straightened up: "Don't underestimate the martial artists of the entire world. Among hundreds of billions of practitioners, geniuses are never scarce."

Caesar's tone hardened as he sat up straighter: "You are not the only one capable of challenging those above your rank. Setting aside Shangguan Chuanqi and Little Pluto on distant worlds, even I can do it! Yang Lie is capable too! Solomon certainly can as well!"

In an instant, the young martial artists in the audience seats all stood up, their eyes blazing with dissatisfaction and challenge.

The title of the top martial artist among the rookies had always rested on Qin Fen’s head, much to the annoyance of the other rookie martial artists.

"Is that so? If I have underestimated you all, then I apologize. But..." Qin Fen’s gaze turned sharp: "I do not intend to change my decision!"

The top eight rookie martial artists were all smiling. Not changing his decision? Who did he think he was? The King of Rookie Martial Arts? Why should they listen to him?

"I know you have all gradually embarked on the path of martial arts, possessing your own conviction. Nothing can shake your martial spirit. Therefore..." Qin Fen spoke slowly, gesturing with his shoulder: "I want to make a wager with you all. If you win, I will continue to compete, or I can withdraw—whatever. But if I win the wager, tonight you all fight me together."

A wager? Everyone present watched Qin Fen curiously. How was this wager structured?

"Three punches," Qin Fen held up three fingers on his right hand: "Any of the rookies present who can withstand my three punches without falling will mean I lose. If no one can withstand my three punches individually, then I win, and you all come at me together!"

Three punches! Three punches?

Some were shocked, others laughed. Any rookie who made it into the top eight, save for one perhaps relying on luck, possessed exceptional strength and the potential to win the championship.

Three punches? Many rookies were laughing. This wasn't arrogance anymore; it was ignorance!

Bai Sheng stared at Qin Fen, his eyes full of admiration. This East Asian rookie truly kept providing surprises. This agreement was interesting.

"Three punches?" Alice rested her hands lightly on the railing of the spectator stand, then flipped down into the center of the arena, her silvery laughter ringing out: "If I win, are you certain you will withdraw from the rookie martial arts competition?"

"Of course," Qin Fen tilted his chin up, shaking his index finger: "But you cannot withstand three of my punches."

"Does dodging count?" Alice gently moved her body, the twin peaks on her chest rising and falling rhythmically. Her movements resembled a beauty pageant dance rather than preparation for a fight.

"It certainly counts," Qin Fen replied dismissively: "Whether you take the hit or evade it."

"That’s good then," Alice moved around to Qin Fen’s left, subtly retreating backward, maintaining a safe distance being crucial.

Qin Fen kept his smile intact, not even bothering to assume a proper stance. He simply stood there casually and spoke, "Your movement technique is quite good. It absorbs the essence of the ancient Monkey Fist style while integrating the local war dances of your homeland in Africa. However, it's not enough; still not enough to withstand a single punch from me."

Alice's eyebrows shot up, her gaze a mixture of surprise and a flicker of anger. "Less nonsense! Bring it on!"

"I'll say it again: one punch is all it takes to beat you."

Qin Fen’s voice wasn't loud, nor did it carry the fierce dominance he usually possessed, yet a strange sense of conviction suddenly arose in everyone present, as if his words were the imperial decree of an ancient emperor, allowing for no resistance whatsoever.

Thump-thump-thump-thump...

Qin Fen’s footwork was no longer the explosive thirty-meter leaps he displayed earlier that day. Each step spanned barely ten meters. His arms swung as if a Luohan were treading upon thick layers of cloud in the heavens, crushing all the dark clouds beneath his feet.

Luohan Steps on Clouds!

The movement technique, born from a common fitness routine, took on an entirely different allure under Qin Fen's execution. Alice was momentarily mesmerized, losing track of the battlefield around her.

But she was also a top-tier martial artist among the new recruits. Her senses snapped back instantly, only to see Qin Fen already standing before her.

"Defeated!"

Alice couldn't tell in that split second whether she had heard Qin ফেন's word or read it in his eyes.

She merely saw Qin Fen flick his wrist, executing the most straightforward and direct strike in Luohan Fist: "Fierce Tiger Strikes Forth."

Crack-hiss...

Alice finally felt the true measure of Qin Fen’s strength firsthand. This seemingly simple, direct punch generated a sonic boom that actually surpassed the one produced when she had unleashed her ultimate techniques.

Dodge? In that moment, she finally understood why Qin Fen hadn't cared about evasion. His speed was astonishingly rapid, and the momentum of the punch seemed to fill the entire cosmos. To dodge was simply impossible; even the nimblest monkey could find no gap to slip through against this strike.

Block! It could only be the most basic, hard block! As for softening the hard with the gentle—perhaps a master versed in Tai Chi could manage that. For Alice, who had no Tai Chi background, attempting to yield to superior force would only spell self-destruction.

The fist arrived in the blink of an eye, leaving her no time for further thought. Almost instinctively, she raised both arms, crossing them before her chest to intercept the punch laden with terrifying power.

In that instant, wherever Qin Fen’s fist and arm passed, the air reacted with a series of dull thuds, like pedestrians struck down in a traffic accident, as if the surrounding atmosphere itself were being violently compressed.

Was this the punch of an Eight-Star Martial Artist? Alice had never imagined that an Eight-Star cultivator could manifest such a level of skill in a single strike.

The moment the fist connected with her arms, Alice felt as if Earth's gravity had suddenly vanished. Her entire body was struck by a speeding vehicle, and simultaneously, she felt like a dandelion seed caught in a gale, instantly lifted from the lovely ground.

The force exploded! Alice was sent flying backward through the air. The bones in her arms felt as if tens of thousands of ants were biting them simultaneously. In the next moment, her arms went completely numb, and she could only watch as the distance between her and Qin Fen rapidly widened, while Qin Fen himself remained perfectly still where he stood.

Bang! Bang-bang...

Alice’s feet finally returned to the ground. She tried to steady herself, but the powerful, inertial momentum had not left her body. The speed at which she was dragged backward seemed slower than the inertia itself. She skidded backward, her military boots immediately leaving trails that smelled of burnt rubber on the ground.

One second later, Alice stopped retreating. Her arms remained frozen in the defensive posture, not because she chose to hold them there, but because they had lost all sensation; she couldn't even manage to move them slightly.

"I told you, you couldn't take even one of my punches," Qin Fen declared, hands behind his back, sweeping his gaze arrogantly over the other new recruits. "Next."

With just a single blow, the eight remaining elite recruits shed all trace of their previous overconfidence.