BATTLE FOR STARS

As for the weapons...

After thinking it over, Emperor Hogan quickly understood Ding Yufei’s intentions.

Having watched the previous match, Ding Yufei was clearly deeply impressed by Lina’s high-frequency blade. That was why he requested daggers instead of longer weapons—to limit Lina’s combat style.

Still, Hogan didn’t believe it would make much difference.

In terms of overall ability, Lina would still likely win.

As for banning engine bursts—

People who didn’t regularly operate mechs generally couldn’t use that technique at all. Even among mech fighters, very few could employ it as flexibly as Lina.

So Ding Yufei’s condition was obviously another attempt to weaken Lina’s advantages.

But if one side’s strength far exceeded the other’s, reducing a few smaller advantages wouldn’t truly affect the bigger picture.

“No problem.”

Having reached that conclusion, Emperor Hogan agreed immediately.

“When will the match be held?” Belina asked.

“How about today? A little later should be fine,” Balk answered quickly.

He absolutely didn’t want Lina to have a chance to privately discuss tactics with Ding Yufei.

If the two of them came up with something unexpected, things could become troublesome.

Belina turned toward Ding Yufei.

Ultimately, the timing depended on when he felt ready.

“I don’t mind,” Ding Yufei replied calmly. “But your fighter just finished a match. Does she need time to rest?”

Balk looked at him and smiled.

“No need. Preparing the mechs will take a while anyway. That’ll be enough time for her to recover. Mech fighters sometimes compete in several matches a day.”

What Balk said was only half true.

It was true that mech fighters occasionally fought multiple matches in a single day.

But those were usually entertainment exhibitions.

Official matches rarely exceeded one per day.

Still, Balk was certain of one thing—

Lina had not taken any enhancement drugs.

So there would be no neurological exhaustion.

After a short rest, she would recover most of her condition.

Even at only eighty percent strength, Balk still believed Lina’s victory was guaranteed.

Seeing that Belina raised no objections, Emperor Hogan nodded and approved the arrangement.

Once both Hogan and Belina agreed, Balk immediately began issuing orders.

“Lieutenant General Frederick, please inform the mech fighter downstairs. I’ll go prepare the competition mechs.”

Balk deliberately avoided meeting Lina himself.

The two had met before, and he worried unexpected complications might arise.

Frederick, meanwhile, was already handling the starship negotiations. Having him explain the situation to Lina would ensure she fully understood the importance of the match.

“I’ll send someone with you to inspect the mechs,” Belina said. “And I want at least five or six units available for selection.”

She simply didn’t trust Balk.

“No problem,” Balk answered immediately.

This time, he genuinely had no intention of tampering with the mechs.

Belina could inspect them at any moment, and with the Kramic Kingdom’s level of technology, any hidden tricks would almost certainly be discovered.

“Sade, go with General Balk,” Belina ordered. “If any testing equipment is needed, have our people deliver it immediately.”

She deliberately emphasized the equipment.

She didn’t want any “accidents.”

“Yes, Princess.”

Sade saluted, then followed General Balk out of the room.

Very quickly, news spread throughout the gladiator center—

A mech fighter match between the Resk Empire and the Kramic Kingdom was about to begin.

Although nobody knew why the two sides were fighting, people naturally stayed whenever there was excitement to watch.

Many audience members remained inside the arena.

Within a very short time, new betting odds even appeared on the Resk Empire’s official network.

Of course, this wager was unusual.

Very little information existed about the Kramic Kingdom’s fighter, Ding Yufei.

That made the outcome difficult for gamblers to judge.

Still, driven by trust in Lina—and perhaps a sense of pride in the Resk Empire itself—the overwhelming majority chose to bet on Lina.

Only a tiny minority decided to gamble on Ding Yufei.

Naturally, the largest wager of all belonged to Belina herself.

After all, the ownership of more than two thousand starships depended on this result.

“Ding Yufei, are you confident you can win?”

Belina and Ding Yufei had already arrived at a private waiting area before the match.

“Not completely,” Ding Yufei admitted honestly. “But I do have some confidence.”

Belina thought quietly for a moment before asking:

“You really don’t have any other intentions?”

“I know what you mean,” Ding Yufei said softly.

“The values I grew up with taught me that life is priceless. That every human life matters beyond measure.”

“But after everything I’ve experienced along this journey, I’ve realized something.”

“To oneself, life may be priceless.”

“But to others, it always has a price.”

“Just like the slaves in the Resk Empire.”

“So don’t worry.”

“I won’t do anything foolish.”

“Good.” Belina nodded slightly. “Then can you tell me your plan?”

Ding Yufei glanced around.

His lips moved, but no sound came out.

“I’ve already blocked any possible surveillance nearby,” Belina said.

Even so, Ding Yufei still didn’t speak.

Instead, he gently took her hand and wrote three words onto her palm.

“I doubt anyone in the Resk Empire understands Chinese from Earth,” he said quietly.

Belina looked down at the words on her hand.

“Mm... in that case,” she said softly, “I’d like to give you a little extra help.”

“What do you mean?”

Belina didn’t answer.

She suddenly stepped forward, wrapped her arms around him, and kissed him deeply.

At first, Ding Yufei almost laughed internally.

So this was the “extra help”?

The two of them had kissed countless times already. He doubted it could suddenly provide some magical boost.

But just as he found the idea amusing, something inside his mind suddenly seemed to awaken.

The world around him instantly became astonishingly clear.

Every sound.

Every movement.

Every detail.

Ding Yufei immediately realized—

There was no way a kiss alone could cause this.

Finally, the two separated.

He stared at Belina with puzzled eyes.

Belina merely smiled faintly.

Then she blinked playfully and said:

“Do your best.”

Ding Yufei looked at her for several seconds.

Then he nodded.

“I will.”

“And the rest... I’ll leave to you.”

“Mm.”

After saying goodbye to Belina, Ding Yufei headed toward the arena.

Overall, Balk’s efficiency was impressive.

In less than an hour, seven or eight training mechs had already been transported into the arena.

Of course, the gladiator center itself possessed plenty of training models.

Lieutenant General Frederick had already explained the situation to Lina.

Naturally, he didn’t tell her who the opponent would be, nor what exactly was being wagered.

He simply informed her that if she won the next match, she would regain her freedom.

All prize money would belong entirely to her.

But if she lost—

Her life would end there.

Frederick didn’t believe Lina would refuse to fight seriously.

For her, this shouldn’t have been difficult at all.

It was merely one extra match.

And after witnessing the strength Lina displayed earlier, he believed defeating the opponent would be effortless.

Lina had already selected her mech and was waiting quietly nearby.

She wanted to see who her opponent would be.

Despite participating in countless matches over the years—

The moment Ding Yufei stepped into the arena, Lina still revealed a look of complete shock.