Wow! The item-dropping rate is really high!-Chapter 1052 - 720: The Onset

During the advance, the team encountered some deep-sea creatures put in by the Competition Committee as environmental factors—

Glowing schools of fish, crustaceans camouflaged as rocks, and at one point, a giant shadow passed by in the distance.

Based on experience, Bai E judged, "These creatures may be attracted by the energy waves from the mecha, or disturbed by the battle. We need to avoid unnecessary energy release and steer clear of them as much as possible."

"Got it."

Just as the team gradually adapted to the environment and proceeded towards the "Heart of the Deep Sea" beacon point as per the map, an ambush occurred as they passed through a relatively narrow trench passage.

The "Deep Blue Guardian" didn't wait for them at the scheduled "Heart of the Deep Sea" beacon point but ambushed them halfway!

Several high-speed torpedoes shot out unexpectedly from the shadows of the reefs ahead, almost skimming the seabed, and were detected by the sonar warning signal only at point-blank range.

Meanwhile, the originally calm currents suddenly became chaotic, with multiple undercurrents surging from the gaps in the rock walls, trying to disrupt the mecha formation.

"Enemy attack! Scatter!" Catherine's command barely transmitted through the noise-filled communication channel as the battle erupted.

The four underwater special mechas of the "Deep Blue Guardian" emerged from various hidden positions like true deep-sea predators.

Their attacks were precise and lethal, clearly exploiting their perfect prediction of New Bauhinia team's advance speed and route, along with their absolute familiarity with the underwater terrain.

Even more terrifying, they seemed able to foresee New Bauhinia team's every move, always launching attacks at the most uncomfortable positions, striking swiftly and retreating without engaging.

"Maintain contact, don't get cut off," Catherine's voice echoed in the static-filled communication channel, striving to keep command.

However, underwater, the transmission and execution of orders became extraordinarily slow.

Ares' "War God" mecha, due to its relatively large size, became the focus of concentrated attacks, quickly immobilized by several adhesive underwater mines, and the leg thrusters were damaged.

Zero's "Silence" attempted to assist Ares, making precise shots, but the trajectory of the special armor-piercing rounds was severely disturbed by the water flow.

Most shots missed while revealing its own position, and it was targeted by the opponent from the flank using high-pressure water cannons, damaging the main sensor array.

Another player's "Wind Patrol," utilizing high mobility, tried to harass by circumnavigation, but the opponent also had a high-speed tracking-type mecha assigned to engage him closely, greatly limiting his agility with underwater resistance.

The only one performing as expected was Bai E.

He piloted the newly underwater-adapted "Dawn's Edge · Tidal" type mecha, maneuvering like a cunning fish among the jagged reefs and deep sea canyon.

He narrowly avoided the opponent's ambush several times and even successfully sabotaged a hidden sonar array of the opponent.

But alone, he couldn't turn the entire battle around.

"Deep Blue Guardian" clearly studied New Bauhinia's previous match footage.

They avoided confronting New Bauhinia head-on, continually using the environment for attrition and focusing their attacks on the relatively clumsy Ares and the position-establishing Zero.

By the fifteenth minute of combat, Ares' mecha, having repeatedly endured multiple high-pressure water blades and torpedo attacks, suffered severe damage to the leg thrusters, greatly reducing mobility, and was lured into an area filled with sharp crystal clusters, immobilizing the unit.

Subsequently, Zero's mecha, while trying to assist Ares, was locked on by several intelligent tracking torpedoes from the flank.

Although Zero skillfully evaded most, one torpedo hit the main sensor array on the mecha's back, greatly reducing Zero's vision and target recognition capabilities.

Catherine's mecha also suffered multiple disruptions, leaving its shield energy below thirty percent.

Only Bai E, relying on his underwater familiarity, maintained relatively high mobility and stealth, but he too was struggling just alone.

The opponents clearly noticed this troublesome "fish" and started separating a specially skilled high-speed tracking mecha to encircle and intercept him.

The situation rapidly deteriorated.

New Bauhinia lost its frontal foothold and long-range threat, with limited command and reconnaissance capabilities, while its only guerrilla force was under heavy surveillance.

Meanwhile, near the "Heart of the Deep Sea" beacon point, "Deep Blue Guardian" had already established a preliminary control zone.

The spectators and commentators in the stands, along with online opinion, almost unanimously believed New Bauhinia's defeat was certain.

"Indeed! Without Bai E, New Bauhinia is nothing underwater!"

"Professional is professional, extreme environments cannot be resolved by brute force."

"It looks like the dark horse's journey stops here, making it into the top sixty-four is quite good."

Even some neutral observers shook their heads, thinking that New Bauhinia was overly complacent in its personnel arrangement and underestimated the tactical disruption caused by the environment.

Inside the observation room of the seventh zone of the International Pavilion, the atmosphere dropped to freezing point.

Kuang Xin, Rose, Gu Lan, and others clenched their fists, their faces pale.

Gong Yan bit her lip.

Elorin scholars furrowed their brows, quickly analyzing data, looking for any possible turnaround.

…

Seeing their teammates being trapped one by one, formations cut off, communications intermittent.

"This can't go on!" Bai E felt anxious inside and attempted to suggest to Catherine, "Captain, we must forcefully break out into open areas! We are completely countered by the terrain and the opponents here!"