Mecha Era: Ascending to Godhood Alone

Lin Qin's ten-man team was indeed extraordinary.

In just three minutes, they completely overwhelmed a four-man group. Their attack was so one-sided that the most any of them suffered were minor scratches from retaliatory strikes.

It was a clean and efficient sweep.

To top it off, they intentionally left one opponent alive for Lin Qin to face in single combat.

The remaining fighter was tall, agile, and clearly the strongest of his group. His movements exuded a ferocious precision, and even under the pressure of nine adversaries, he managed to hold his ground.

Though his clothes were disheveled from constant dodging, his breathing remained steady, his focus unwavering, and his form unbroken. It was clear he still had plenty of fight left in him.

Li Yi, watching from the sidelines, observed the scene intently.

Lin Qin approached her opponent, stopping six meters away. She sized him up, clearly displeased at being dwarfed by his towering height—at least three heads taller than her. Her lips curled in a faint sneer.

Then, she leaned forward, planted her right foot firmly behind her, and launched herself forward with explosive speed.

Her petite frame propelled forward three to four meters in an instant. In just two steps, she was within striking distance.

Her opponent's eyes widened in shock, caught off guard by her incredible speed. He instinctively crouched and threw a punch aimed at her face.

But Lin Qin's slender leg shot out from beneath her red dress, intercepting his attack. Her kick struck his abdomen with devastating force.

Boom!

The man was sent flying four to five meters, disintegrating into particles of light midair.

That seemingly delicate body concealed astonishing explosive power!

Her single strike had instantly eliminated her opponent. Clearly, her technique went beyond a simple kick—it carried deeper, more advanced mechanics.

This display alone proved that Lin Qin's combat skills surpassed everyone Li Yi had encountered so far, including Luo Cheng.

Of course, Li Yi didn't include himself in that assessment.

Even so, he raised his level of caution toward Lin Qin. He wasn't afraid of her in a one-on-one fight, but the presence of her allies significantly increased the risks.

It was no wonder she had climbed into the top three rankings so quickly and assembled such a formidable team.

To make matters worse, another member of Lin Qin's team had just entered the top ten, their chest number beginning to glow.

Now, her group had three top-ten players.

Their efficiency was staggering. Even Li Yi couldn't help but find it absurd.

"This level of coordination and success… Someone in this group must be familiar with Base 11's layout—or perhaps Lin Qin herself. Otherwise, there's no way they'd be this effective."

Base 11 was a sprawling, labyrinthine city with interlocking buildings, walls, streets, and alleys. Navigating it without getting lost required either intimate knowledge or meticulous planning.

Now that Lin Qin's team had cleared their opponents, the pressure shifted to Li Yi. With such a large, cohesive group, how could he efficiently divide and conquer them?

"Beautiful. Lin Qin's combat skills are breathtaking."

"Ha! Li Yi finally hit a wall. He's clearly too scared to engage her ten-man team!"

The spectators erupted with mixed reactions.

Apart from the Mech Squad leaders and lower-ranking officers, the audience also included former contestants who hadn't yet earned the right to pilot a Divine Mecha.

For these fleet members, long voyages often meant isolation from the Solar System's virtual networks, leaving them with few forms of entertainment.

As such, the Newcomer Combat Tournament was a rare, highly anticipated event that drew widespread attention.

Spectators could either watch live from the stands, where the Yaochi Qingguo AI projected the action in real-time, or stream the matches from their quarters.

Seeing Li Yi remain stationary, his detractors seized the opportunity to mock him.

"Ha! Picking on the weak and avoiding the strong. And people said he was a role model for mech pilots?"

"Temporary first place means nothing. Liang Shaocong will overtake him soon."

"Li Yi's arrogance will be his downfall. Trying to take on Lin Qin's ten-man team? He's doomed to be a flash in the pan."

"Such a shame—I had high hopes for him earlier. Now he's only one point ahead of Liang Shaocong."

Even some of Li Yi's earlier supporters began to waver.

"Lin Qin's team is too strong. Li Yi shouldn't waste time here. He should target weaker groups and secure his spot in the top ten."

"Li Yi's style isn't the problem—it's his lack of allies. Going solo might work early on, but it's unsustainable as the tournament progresses and fewer players remain alone."

"He should form alliances with reliable teammates to solidify his position in the top ten."

Among the audience, independent analysis and diverse opinions continued to flow.

Meanwhile, Luo Cheng let out a sigh of relief.

Moments ago, Liang Shaocong's three-man team had obliterated a five-man group. Liang Shaocong alone earned five points, propelling him past Li Yi to claim first place.

"Four to five hours into the tournament, the momentum is clearly shifting toward skilled players with strong teams. At this stage, most contestants have at least two points. Eliminating someone now yields double or even triple the points compared to earlier rounds."

"If Li Yi continues solo, he'll drop out of the top ten soon enough. Even if he hangs on, Lin Guotao's plan to keep him in the lower ranks of the top ten should work out just fine."

Forty-five minutes later, Li Yi began executing his plan to hunt Lin Qin's team.

He had been tailing them, waiting for the perfect opportunity to strike.

His expertise extended beyond combat and parkour—he was also proficient in throwing weapons.

Gathering a stash of hard stones, he loaded them into a makeshift pouch. With precise aim and technique, even simple rocks could yield significant results.

While alleyways would have made ideal ambush points, this was Lin Qin's territory, and such an approach carried risks.

Instead, Li Yi sought an open area with no obstructions—a perfect setting for his throwing skills.

Finally, Lin Qin's team entered a spacious plaza.

"Now's my chance."

Li Yi climbed a wall 30 meters away, using a tree for cover. He steadied his breathing, focused his strength, and cocked his arm back, aiming for a glowing-chested target.

With a fluid motion, he released the stone.

Whoosh!

The rock struck its target's

throat with pinpoint accuracy. The unfortunate team member collapsed instantly, disintegrating into light particles.