Counterfeit Hero

Of the two Mechas facing off, one is the classic model [Divine Armor], a highly formidable Private Mecha designed by the Binart Empire’s Royal Mechanic Master Pallas one hundred and twenty years ago. This was the only Private Mecha in his lifelong designs, originally used as a private practice Mecha for the Royal Family. It has been officially disclosed and mass-produced for a hundred years now, which means that after being used by the Binart Empire Royal Family for twenty years, it was still competitive enough to be produced on a large scale, demonstrating its immense power.

The other Mecha, piloted by Margaret, is [Hawke]. Though not as renowned as [Divine Armor], [Hawke] is a product from more than eighty years ago and from every aspect, it is no less formidable than [Divine Armor].

The battle between these two Mechas captured almost everyone’s attention. They fought in a valley map, using the dense forests and complex terrain to their full advantage. Both sides moved rapidly; one attacked while the other defended. [Divine Armor]’s powerful and swift attacks were not as flashy as Tian Xingjian’s fast-paced maneuvers, but just one glance, and Tian Xingjian knew that [Divine Armor] was undoubtedly superior. Each attack targeted [Hawke]’s vital points with surgical precision, like a master surgeon wielding a scalpel.

It may appear slower than Tian Xingjian, but that doesn’t mean it actually is.

The Mecha control system, established over thousands of years, comprised a classic setup of one control stick combined with a command keyboard. Regardless of the Mecha, this system was the standard design. Most trained people could achieve ten movements per second; twenty movements per second were harder to reach. If both hands operated in balance, the left hand would make ten directional changes with the control stick while each finger of the right hand made two movements. Without rigorous training, it was virtually impossible for an average person to accurately control a Mecha at that speed, let alone at a terrifying pace of thirty movements per second.

The current [Divine Armor] could definitely move at thirty movements per second!

With each movement issuing one command, thirty movements included ten directional changes from the control stick, leaving twenty movements for commands. These twenty commands formed combinations, and Mecha control combinations were a core learning module for every Mecha pilot. They had to memorize thousands of combination codes. Specific Mecha maneuvers were executed through these command combinations. For example, to make a Mecha leap in mid-air and kick with the right leg, the required commands were: three movements with the control stick (two direction changes and one lift), maintaining body balance and direction. The command keyboard would include two leg movements (bend and leap), and another two movements for the right leg to kick (recoil and strike) mid-air. This adds up to seven movements. At a hand speed of ten movements per second, this maneuver would take 0.7 seconds; at thirty movements per second, it would take 0.23 seconds.

How significant is this difference? The 0.23 versus 0.7-second gap means that one could issue several more commands per second!