Chapter 122: Winning the Decisive Victory of the First Duel

Despite the Relic Maintainer's best efforts, the *Daxos Shield* still failed to make it in time for the final push to suppress the beast tide.

Having lost the assessment of repair speed, Suo'er fell silent for a moment; he realized that Gabriel was a powerful master technician and a formidable opponent.

The Relic Maintainer decided to add a logical factor of victory to his triumph, using his communicator to contact Bowen, a Knight apprentice of the Delixia Family.

"Bowen, the Delixia Family is a loyal servant of the Vickstrix Family, and the most glorious among the many families sworn to the Knight King."

"You are the best of the Knight apprentices, so I have decided that you shall pilot the sacred *Daxos Shield* to win this duel and defend the honor of the Knights."

A Knight and their mech are a single entity; an excellent Knight will greatly please the ghosts within the Mechanical Throne and perfectly unleash the mech's capabilities.

"My lord, I am willing to serve you."

Bowen's tone was firm, "I will certainly pilot the *Daxos Shield* to win victory for you and for the Vickstrix Family."

The next day, the remaining forty-two Knight pilots arrived at the Qishi Xunlianchang on the west side of the mountain where the Vickstrix Family resided, watching nervously as the two new Knights who had just completed their knighting ceremonies stood by.

The Qishi Xunlianchang was built inside a valley.

The Knight King stood between the *Daxos Shield* and the *Shengsheng Mars Hao*; he glanced at Ninglu and his subordinates, his gaze lingering for a moment on the black-armored Warrior with extended servo-arms, before turning his attention to the two standing Knights.

"Your responsibility today is to verify the repair effectiveness of your mechs on the training ground."

"You must follow the requirements of the Knight Code and give it your all."

"Understood, my lord."

After the two Knights performed the master-servant salute, they climbed into their cockpits, coupled with the neural interfaces, activated the power transmission units, and maneuvered their mechs to stand within two red circles that lit up with detection runes.

Campbell looked at Ninglu, "If you have nothing else to say, we shall begin."

"Of course."

The Knight King immediately issued the order: "Initiate the test sequence."

The Relic Maintainer's mechanical tentacles tapped against the control panel.

A moment later, with a rumbling sound, two test targets made of mountain stone rose up; they were sixteen meters thick and five meters in length and width.

Campbell pointed to the two test targets and introduced them to Ninglu.

"These two test targets are made of the sturdiest turquoise from Dakesuosi A'erfa."

"Only the thermal cannon of a Knight Mech can destroy these test targets."

Seeing Ninglu nod, he issued the order to the two Knights.

"Fire!"

A'erwalesi obeyed the order promptly; Bowen had always been the best among the Knight apprentices, and though he felt no pressure, the pride of a Knight drove him to strive for the best.

As power was input, the thermal cannon on the right arm of the *Shengsheng Mars Hao* activated, the earth trembled beneath his feet, and the target data for the test target two hundred meters away flooded his mind.

A flash of light tore through the valley, and the scorching explosion of superheated energy instantly engulfed the test target, melting it away.

At the same moment, the thermal cannon of the *Daxos Shield* also destroyed its turquoise test target.

"Second test, prepare."

"Third test, prepare."

Three times in a row, the thermal cannons of both Knight mechs successfully completed the test.

It appeared to be a draw, with both mechs in good condition, yet a smile of certain victory appeared on Ninglu's face.

The Primarch's superhuman senses had keenly captured that the *Daxos Shield*'s power system was already overheating; its weakness had emerged.

"Proceed to the next test, Reaper Chainsword."

The Reaper Chainswords on the left arms of both mechs roared to life, and they began to run at a sprint.

In an instant, they reached the first turquoise test target, swinging their blades to shred the massive stone blocks.

Neither Knight mech stopped, continuing to charge toward the next test target.

Just as the *Daxos Shield* had taken two steps, Bowen suddenly noticed a red light flashing on the power system of the control panel in front of him.

【Temperature overheating.】

【Cooling system failure.】

【...】

Suo'er hesitated; he should stop immediately and have the Relic Maintainer perform repairs.

But he knew the consequences; his father, the Patriarch of the Delixia Family, had sought him out before the battle and instructed him that he must achieve victory to defend the honor of Daxos.

Suo'er also felt the roar of the heroic spirits echoing in his ears.

"Boy of the Delixia house, do not fear; it is stronger than you imagine."

"..."

The clamor of ghostly voices made the young Knight decide; he charged forward and cleaved the second test target in two.

【Only one left.】

Just as Suo'er thought this, the red light on the control panel flashed urgently.

"No!"

The young Knight cried out in frustration as the *Daxos Shield*'s power system failed, and the sprinting Knight mech crashed heavily to the ground.

The loud thud also struck the hearts of the many Knights and attendants; they had not expected the Relic Maintainer to fail.

The Relic Maintainer stood stunned for a moment before realizing the reality, then ran quickly toward the *Daxos Shield*.

Campbell's gaze darkened; he stepped before Ninglu and spoke.

"You have won the first duel."

The Relic Maintainer had been utterly defeated by the "Knower" in his most familiar field.

His repair time was ten standard hours later than the Techmarine's, the stability of his repaired weapon systems was inferior, and the mech's operational endurance was far shorter.

Ninglu turned, looking at Gabriel with appreciation.

"Well done."

Gabriel received the Gene-Father's praise, and a smile could not help but appear on his face.

"Father, I have not failed the mission."

Only then did Ninglu turn around to look at the Knight King.

"For the second round, how do you wish to compete?"

Campbell was silent for a moment; after re-evaluating the strength of the black-armored Warrior and iterating a new plan, he spoke.

"I wish to conduct a team confrontation; a Knight of the Hitra Family and his two squires will face your progeny."

"In Daxos, we typically operate with Knights and squires working in coordination."

Although the Knight King discovered that the Astartes possessed powerful combat strength, they were still no match for a Knight Mech in one-on-one combat.

To demonstrate fairness, he had once considered having one Knight lead ten squires into battle, but after witnessing the combat strength of the Astartes, he decided to limit the number to three.

Between three and ten squires, the difference in combat strength is not significant; the core of the combat strength is the Knight Mech, while the squires only serve to cover the flanks and provide other auxiliary roles.

However, based on the tactical reports he obtained and his assessment, there is a great difference between three Astartes and ten.

Ninglu glanced at the number of Knight Mechs and understood that the reason they did not use mech formations, but instead used mixed formations of Knight Mechs and squires, was because their numbers were too few.

"Very well," he turned to look at Bukayo, "you shall go into battle; choose two others to join you."

"As you command, Father."

"Nightmare" bowed and replied.

(End of chapter)