Resurrection Empire

Practice is the sole criterion for testing truth.

Truth lies within the range of artillery.

To date, Ren Zhong has fought countless battles, big and small.

He has also died more than a hundred and forty times.

However, since being wiped out alongside Zheng Tian and others at the hands of the Blade Mantis, he hasn't fought a battle where he knew absolutely nothing about the enemy.

This time, by chance, he finally got the opportunity to test his ability to face sudden encounter battles.

...

The peak of Qi Mountain's second summit.

The cliff is rugged and full of jagged rocks.

The strong wind howls, creating a bleak atmosphere.

Qi Mountain's second summit is not an ordinary high mountain, but an extinct volcano.

The summit is a volcanic lake about three hundred meters in diameter.

There is nearly a fifty-meter height difference between the lake surface and the summit cliff.

At the edge of the summit, Zheng Tian, Yujin, and several other Third Level Professionals from the Qi Mountain Tribe, including Shi Lin, each guarded a high point, responsible for vigilance, watching out for Yang Bingzhong's spies, or passing Hunters.

In the center of the mirror-like volcanic lake, Ren Zhong and Shi Xuan stood facing each other nearly ten meters apart, arms crossed, with their anti-gravity engines activated.

Ren Zhong, holding the Flame-cutting Giant Blade, was clad in a neat and tidy blue exoskeleton.

Shi Xuan's equipment appeared much more fragmented and worn.

Interestingly enough, Shi Xuan looked rugged and was of considerable size, but the armor on his body was very form-fitting.

His armor was not full-coverage like Ren Zhong's Balanced type.

The light blue metal armor fitted snugly, covering only 70% of the body.

There were hollowed-out sections at joints such as the neck, elbows, knees, and ankles.

Beneath the hollows was a Biochemical Combat Suit that should be worn by a Fourth Level Gunsmith.

The power output of Shi Xuan's armor formed a system through the metal connecting rods and bearings at the back of the armor.

This setup slightly resembled the mechanical arms that Wen Lei cobbled together from junkyard parts when Ren Zhong first used an exoskeleton.

Ren Zhong was observing Shi Xuan, and Shi Xuan was observing him.

Shi Xuan was puzzled.

"Mr. Ren, was it this Third Level exoskeleton you wore when you killed Lin Wang in direct combat?"

Ren Zhong nodded sincerely, "Yes."

Shi Xuan furrowed his brow.

He instinctively wanted to say it was unrealistic.

But that was a done deal.

"Was Lin Wang not at his peak condition then?"

Ren Zhong sincerely nodded again, "Yes, just before fighting me, he had a prolonged battle with a Legion Beast and was significantly injured. He also got caught in a close-range blast from an Information Flow Interference Bomb."

"What about your fight with Captain Ma?"

"She limited her carrying power to 300 kilowatts, and I limited mine to about 240 kilowatts. The power difference between us wasn't that big."

Shi Xuan nodded, "No wonder. I guess I was overthinking. Indeed, it's impossible for anyone to ascend to the Fourth Level in such a short time. We don't have to compete today. You're at most a Third Level Professional now, and I'm afraid I might not control my strength and harm you."

Ren Zhong shook his head with a smile, the Flame-cutting Giant Blade activated fiercely.

Seeing 7000 kilowatts of power displayed on the detector, Shi Xuan was bewildered, "This..."

Ren Zhong sincerely reminded again, "When I fought Lin Wang, I used two Third Level magnetic power javelins. I changed weapons then. I hadn't reached the Fourth Level at the time, but I have now."

"So that's it!"

Ren Zhong: "Shall we fight?"

Shi Xuan: "Fight. My equipment gives me the advantage, so I'll let you take some. You can clearly see that my attack-type armor can't hold much long-range ammunition. Besides the mortar on my arms, I'm mainly for close combat. I'll let go of two mortar shots, and you can freely use long-range ammunition."

Ren Zhong did not stand on ceremony.

"Alright!"

In the next instant, twelve weapon ports on his chest armor, arm armor, shoulders, flanks, and thighs opened simultaneously.

Various pointed, rounded, spherical, elliptical, and energy gun conical muzzles protruded all at once.

Shi Xuan was in a fog, waved his large hand, "Hold on!"

Ren Zhong: "What's the matter?"

"I thought it over; both of us are legitimate Mechanical Warriors. The characteristic that sets us apart from armed Gunsmiths on the battlefield is our significant threat as long as the armor can move and batteries are charged, even if we run out of ammo. I think we should focus on melee weapons. Long-range weapons are unnecessary as they won't accurately assess strength."

Ren Zhong agreed after hearing that, "Makes sense. So should we engage in close combat?"