Rebirth: The Universe's Hidden Heiress-Chapter 32: Mountain Marshes (2)

"Okay team, we’re up against a premade squad," Roukujou announced. "I don’t know if you guys caught their previous matches, but they’re seriously tough cookies, and they work together like they’re telepathically linked or something."

[Huh? Isn’t Pinky’s team just a bunch of randoms? Why are they facing off against a premade crew?]

Catching a glimpse of the live comments, Roukujou chimed in, "That’s how the team battles roll here... If you don’t want to get creamed, better form your own dream team and get in sync before hitting the arena."

"Here we go," Roukujou said, turning back, a hint of nerves in his voice. "Pinky’s heading towards her teammates!"

On the field, Shawn was chatting with his crew.

"Ban, where you at?" Shawn called out.

From somewhere among the rubble, Ban’s laid-back voice came through, "Oh, I’m over by these rocks... Holy smokes, we’ve got company!"

Shawn’s expression tightened, about to respond, when suddenly a weird sound interrupted.

BEEP—

The next second, Shawn realized he was trapped in a circle of light, like those positioning markers they use before the match to freeze players in place.

He tried to move his leg, but it was like it was glued to the ground.

"What’s going on? Is the system shutting down?" he yelled.

[Attention all players in the team battle mode. To spice up the game and make it more of a spectacle, we’re rolling out the new Team Battle Rules 2.0:

1. New Defense Points. Both teams get a fixed point to guard, visible on the map (and yes, the enemy can see it too!). Each point holds a virtual Oniyon, worth a whopping five points. If you swipe the enemy’s Oniyon and keep it safe at your point till the end of the match, you score those five points.

2. We’re extending the match duration from 30 minutes to a full hour.

3. No more pre-match freeze. Players can roam free three minutes before kickoff, but no fighting till the game officially starts, or you’re out.

4. The winning team now scores 30 points, that’s 10 per player. Oniyon points are extra, awarded even if a team gets wiped out.

5. All other rules stay the same.

Good luck, and may the best team win!]

[Due to the sudden change, we’re giving everyone a chance to vote on whether to play by these new rules. If more than half agree within fifteen seconds, the rules will kick in.]

[Please make your choice.]

Yuka’s cockpit lit up with a pale blue holographic screen. A 15-second countdown timer appeared, but Yuka didn’t hesitate for a moment and promptly hit "Agree." When the countdown ended, Guidance Min announced, "The rules are now in effect. Players, you have three minutes to move. Make it count."

Glancing at the three-minute countdown, Yuka zoomed off once again.

"Number 3," Ayoi adjusted her sniper rifle, "I’ve got an enemy from the blue team here. He spotted me and bolted. Should I chase?"

"No need," Alex advised. "Number 2, the defense point is right behind you. Guard it and hold your position for now."

"Got it," replied Ayoi.

"Is Number 1 there?" Alex asked.

"Here," Yuka responded. "I’ve arrived. I see you, are you in that golden mecha?"

"Yes," Alex replied, waving an arm in greeting to Yuka.

"Number 1 and 2, here’s what I’m thinking," Alex started. "It’s our first time playing with these new rules, so I say we play it safe, focusing on keeping our lives and the Oniyon secure. What do you think?"

Ayoi cheerfully said, "Works for me."

"I might take the offensive against the other team," Yuka added.

"Then Number 2 and I will back you up as best we can," Alex said.

"Great. Didn’t Number 2 mention enemies near the rubble? They can’t be far. I’ll go after them," Yuka decided.

As the three-minute countdown ended and one hour remained in the match, Roukujou slapped his thigh in exasperation. "Why’d they have to change the rules all of a sudden? Anyway, Pinky’s teammates are staying put for now, while Pinky... Pinky’s heading towards the enemy."

"The blue team seems to be playing it safe, spreading out their forces. They’ve left two to guard their point, and another blue mecha is on its way back. Looks like these new rules are really throwing everyone for a loop, making them hesitate," the commentator observed.

On the field, Yuka spotted a flash of blue. She narrowed her eyes and hurled her boomerang with all her might.

Ban, hearing the whooshing sound behind him, instinctively turned. "Damn!" he exclaimed, ducking just in time to dodge the incoming boomerang.

As he crouched, Yuka charged, aiming a punch at his mecha. Ban leaned back, scrambling backwards frantically to avoid the blow, and quickly got back on his feet, raising a short cannon towards Yuka.

CLANG—

The boomerang returned, embedding itself into Ban’s mechanical arm, causing his arm movement to falter.

Shawn, hearing the commotion through his headset, frowned and asked, "Ban?"

But Ban was too occupied to respond.

Seizing the moment Ban’s movements hesitated, Yuka kicked his mechanical arm. The impact drove the boomerang already lodged there deeper in, and Ban heard a grating noise from his left arm, cursing inwardly at his bad luck.

Roukujou, watching from the sidelines, slapped the table in excitement. "Folks, we’ve got our first clash between the red and blue! Red’s Pinky just disabled an opponent’s arm with a boomerang. The guy’s lost connection to his short cannon and is now duking it out with a saber... But Pinky isn’t giving him a chance – what a stunning judo throw!"

Ban, dizzied by Yuka’s throw, wailed, "Shawn! Is this pink mecha a monster or what? Can you believe I just got judo thrown?"

Shawn paused, "Pink mecha?"

"Yeah, the same one you fought before!" Ban yelled, clumsily dodging Yuka’s incoming punch and rolling on the ground. "Damn, she’s about to smash my cockpit!"

Roukujou stood up, thrilled, "Pinky lands a powerful blow! The cockpit’s shattered, but the opponent isn’t completely out of the match yet. We see Blue’s teammate hurrying over, while Pinky’s teammates haven’t moved an inch."

Roukujou’s eyes fixed on the green mecha. "Blue’s teammate... the former No. 100 player, going for a long-range attack! Has he decided to abandon his own teammate?"

On the field, Shawn calmly aimed at the blue dot where Ban was and fired a shot from his left arm.

"Ban," Shawn instructed, "Run. Now."

Ban paused, looking up just as Yuka did. A shell, speeding through the air, was about to hit their location. Yuka immediately let go of Ban’s shoulder and sprinted backwards.

"Number 2, cover me!" Yuka shouted.

Ayoi, spotting the incoming shell, readied her sniper rifle. "Got it!"

Ban yelled in disbelief at Shawn, "Dude, I thought we’re going to make it together!? You’re willing to sacrifice me to take down the enemy?"

Shawn ignored him and addressed another teammate, "Hobble, get ready for a second long-range shot."

BOOM—

The explosion lit up the area, sending stones flying. Yuka dove forward a second before the blast hit the ground, shielding her cockpit as best she could. The blast rolled her mecha a couple of times on the ground, but when the dust settled, she was unscathed, not hit by a single stone.

THUMP—

Ayoi blew away the last stone heading for Yuka and touched her nose, saying, "Number 1, you’re clear."

Yuka’s smile widened. "Thanks for the cover, Number 2."

Not far away, Ban, his mecha’s leg crushed by a huge rock, wailed, "Shawn! Have you no heart? Do you have any idea what we’re up against? A close combat beast plus a sniper who never misses! We’ve hit a tough nut! That pink mecha didn’t even get a scratch, and I’m almost toast!"

Roukujou, watching from the sidelines, couldn’t help but rub his eyes.

"My gosh," he said in disbelief, "Pinky’s teammates are something else. The accuracy of that brown mecha must be over 95%, right? That’s seriously like having a guardian angel. Wait, Pinky’s back on her feet and heading towards the blue one. She’s taken Blue’s saber... Typical Pinky, always grabbing the enemy’s weapons."

"Pinky ends Blue’s run with a single strike," Roukujou sighed, settling back into his seat. "The saber vanishes with Blue, and Pinky picks up her boomerang again. Folks, the Blue team is down one member. What will be their next move?"

On the field, Shawn’s expression cooled as he watched the blue dot representing his teammate disappear from the map.

Meanwhile, Alex said to his team, "Judging from the direction of the last cannon fire, the remaining two members of the blue team are probably guarding their point near the swampy forest in the south. I’m going to fire a shot towards their defense point. Number 1, what’s your next move?"

Yuka twirled her boomerang, pondering for a moment, then said, "I’ll raid their base."

"We need to move as well," Alex noted. "Number 2 and I have been exposed. We’ll follow you for a bit. I suspect the enemy has another shot coming."

"Got it, I’m heading out," Yuka nodded.

Alex raised his right arm and fired a preemptive shot towards the blue defense point.

On the other side, Shawn suddenly said to Hobble, "Hold off on firing, let’s go."

Roukujou stroked his chin. "The red team’s golden mecha also used a long-range attack, aiming for the enemy’s defense point. But the blue team anticipated it and moved away from their point first."

"Pinky, along with the golden and brown mechas... let’s call them Goldie and Brownie... they’ve also left their defense point following Pinky. Both teams are now converging. Are they seeking a direct confrontation to end the match quickly?"