Chapter 5: Black Gold, Section 1

The gap in mecha capabilities can be bridged through continuous reinforcement and substantial investment. But a technological gap is fatal.
If there’s anything worse than encountering a technician with exceptional skill who also harbors murderous intent toward you, the answer is undoubtedly encountering two such individuals.
Yet, as he focused his mind to the fullest, maintaining maximum speed and constant, erratic evasive maneuvers, a glimmer of hope arose in Hanba’s heart.
He knew that the blood-red mecha was running low on ammunition.
Energy weapons, like conventional firearms, require sufficient ammunition to function. However, due to the use of crystal ammunition, the consumption was extremely slow. But with the battle already lasting over ten minutes, even the most capacity-rich ammo magazines should be nearly empty. Hanba was even certain that the dense barrage from the Blood-Pupils would vanish entirely within the next fifteen seconds.
But could he really hold on through those short fifteen seconds?
Hanba himself doubted it.
Because through his vision crystal, he spotted the silhouette of that nightmare-like black mecha once again.
Like a reckless whirlwind, the little devil showed no sign of hesitation after just shooting down a massive mecha. Its huge steel ankles twisted abruptly, allowing it to break free from the recoil-induced stiffness. Sparks flew from the side of its auxiliary engines, filling the air with a burnt smell. Anyone with eyes could see that the little devil’s auxiliary engines must have been severely damaged in that single strike.
Yet it was precisely this overloaded drive that turned its retreat into a charge. Carrying layers of sand, it swept past the massive fireball. At the same time, it swung its right hand, and its sharp alloy claws emitted a cold gleam once more.
“Crack!!”
A clear sound of metal breaking. The rescue mecha that had tried to climb out from under the fireball didn’t even have time to react before its neck was sliced by a sharp alloy claw. Its huge metal head instantly separated from its body and rolled into the sky. Its massive frame wobbled a few times before collapsing back onto the desert. Countless sparks, large and small, burst from its neck cavity—clearly, it was done for.
Taking a deep breath, Hanba realized he truly had to rely on himself now.

Originally, he planned to delay until his Blood-Pupil ammunition ran out before joining forces with his still-capable companion to take a risky gamble. He didn’t seek victory, only to escape alone so he could return and report the situation in detail. But that terrifying black mech seemed to know his plans all along—preferring to damage its own auxiliary engine rather than let its companion die instantly. Such brutality and viciousness were unheard of and unseen before…

At that moment, the intense machine gun fire stopped abruptly. The purple-red projectiles in the air vanished instantly. The Blood-Pupil finally ran out of ammunition.

“An opportunity!”

A mouthful of blood gushed out from Hanba’s mouth. Having waited for this chance after struggling to dodge, he could no longer bear the immense mental pressure. In an instant, all engines of the Charge Type II were activated. The massive mech, as if pushed hard, accelerated again. The purple-red energy stream surging behind it was already three meters in diameter. The huge reaction force lifted sand and gravel from the ground, scattering them like bullets. At the same time, its right hand reached out abruptly to the side, firing all the remaining crystal ammunition from the magazine in one go.

The target was that pitch-black mech.

Such close range, such a sudden reaction. Hanba’s tactic had indeed succeeded. At least Hei Fa never expected him to ignore his companion and cargo and attempt to flee mid-battle. And because of this sudden change, he couldn’t adjust the mech’s trajectory in time. The storm-like purple-red barrage had already reached him.

What a man, Hei Fa—unwilling to spare even his own mech in such a critical moment. His wrist flashed across hundreds of buttons rapidly. Xiao Gui once again forced a turn mid-high-speed movement. One arm was raised abruptly to protect his vital areas.

“Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang!!!”

Explosions rang out, and debris flew everywhere. The purple-red barrage dealt severe damage to Xiao Gui. There were hundreds of holes of various sizes on its black shell. Blinding sparks erupted from them, and the shell of its left arm, meant for protection, was completely blown off, revealing the silver-white metal skeleton inside. Even its two massive shoulders were riddled with holes.

But it was precisely because of this cost that Hei Fa managed to break through the barrage without losing any distance. His only surviving right hand reached back and pulled out a dark shotgun from his backpack.

At the same time, on the hill…

Bloodpupil violently threw down the massive energy machine gun in his hands. He lay down, reached out, and grabbed the Starfire Sniper Gun that Blackhair had thrown. He pulled back the bolt, loaded the gun—all in one swift motion. As the engine behind him roared under the strain, a long plume of flame erupted from the barrel.

“Bang!!”

It was as if he had been struck hard by an invisible fist. Hanba, who was fleeing at full speed, suddenly felt darkness ahead. Severe pain overwhelmed him like an avalanche, forcing him to let out a shrill scream. He could no longer control the direction of the Charge Type 2, which tilted sharply to the side.

From the outside, one of its thighs had been completely blown off by the powerful bullets from the sniper gun, flying far away.

No one could have imagined that while Hanba chose Bloodpupil as his assault point, Bloodpupil was also scheming against him. The energy machine gun’s ammunition was indeed limited, but that didn’t mean Bloodpupil hadn’t planned ahead. Although he couldn’t wield the huge and heavy Starfire Sniper Gun, using it while lying down posed no problem. And the gun’s devastating firepower undoubtedly provided the best stopping power.

What a perfect irony. With blurred vision, Hanba stared at the red mech on the dunes, feeling endless bitterness.

In his vision crystal, a black figure suddenly appeared. Its rapidly moving body spun abruptly, stopping right in front of him without any hesitation. Amidst the flying sand, a dark gun barrel was pressed right against his face.

“Bang!!”

Hanba’s world… instantly plunged into darkness.