Super Mothership
Facing the unexpected sight of the Red Dragon, fully restored and at peak combat strength, Madman was stunned for a moment. But instead of panic, a trace of excitement appeared on his face.
"So the news that the Red Dragon's mech core was damaged was fake? I never expected Flint, who prides himself on planning everything so meticulously, to be completely played for a fool by you."
Madman could almost imagine how spectacular Flint's expression would be when he saw the Red Dragon appearing on the battlefield.
"Well... haha!" Faced with the misunderstanding, Red Dragon could only give an awkward laugh.
"That's even better, Red Dragon. Since your mech has been repaired, killing you now won't be an unfair victory!" Fighting spirit once again flared in Madman's eyes.
"Madman, after that fierce battle just now, you've probably consumed quite a bit of energy, haven't you? Are you sure you want another duel here, on my turf? If you run now, you might still make it in time."
The situation was completely different from their previous encounter.
Back then, both fleets had been locked in combat with each other. It was a battle of commander against commander and soldier against soldier.
This time, however, the Madman had already expended a considerable amount of energy during its assault. Even its crystallized shield had begun to dim.
On the other hand, Red Dragon's side not only had the fully restored Red Dragon itself, but also 300 warships and a large force of mech soldiers supporting him.
Although the Madman had carved through the intercepting mechs like a hot knife through butter, the damage it inflicted was insignificant to an entire fleet.
The claim that a legendary mech could single-handedly fight an entire fleet was, in the end, somewhat exaggerated.
"Your turf? It won't be for much longer!" Madman laughed as he pointed behind him.
In that direction, the Black Sail Fleet and Madman's own fleet were rushing toward them at full speed. It wouldn't be long before they entered combat range.
Madman wasn't stupid. He had no intention of foolishly fighting Red Dragon and an entire fleet by himself.
As long as he could stall for a little longer until his fleet arrived, it would be Red Dragon who would have to decide whether to fight or flee.
With the Madman, he was at least sixty to seventy percent confident he could hold out until then.
For him, that success rate was more than enough...
"Hah! As arrogant as ever! Then... I'll kill you first and retreat afterward!"
Red Dragon also knew there wasn't much time. He had no intention of engaging in an honorable one-on-one duel. With a shout, and under the cover of supporting fire from the surrounding fleet, he shot toward the Madman.
Inside the Madman's cockpit—
Faced with a deadly trap that resembled enemies lurking on all sides, Madman's eyes gradually turned red, and a bloodthirsty, crazed grin spread across his face.
"Inject the Desperation Serum!"
"Command confirmed. Injection commencing."
The mech's onboard AI responded coldly as a syringe filled with blood-red liquid emerged from the pilot's seat.
Hiss—
The crimson serum, resembling fresh blood, was injected directly into the nerves at the back of Madman's neck.
"ROAR—!"
Madman let out a pained howl. Every muscle in his body tensed as blood vessels spread across his eyes, gradually covering the entire whites of them.
The stinging pain transmitted from nerve endings throughout his body greatly enhanced his perception and neural response speed, causing his psychic power to surge and pushing him into a state similar to a berserk awakening.
BOOM!
The Madman's engines roared as its speed increased yet again.
Like a fish swimming through water, it weaved effortlessly through countless laser blasts. Its movements were completely different from before, and its evasive patterns became far harder to predict and lock onto.
Dense streams of gunfire chased after Madman's silhouette like stage spotlights pursuing a dancer, yet they always lagged one step behind.
The Wolf Empire had already achieved a preliminary understanding and mastery of psychic power.
The "Desperation Serum" was a drug developed specifically by the Imperial Royal Family for mech pilots, designed to stimulate latent psychic potential—essentially a super stimulant.
However, while it could dramatically enhance a person's combat ability for a short period, its side effects were equally terrifying.
In mild cases, it caused permanent nerve damage.
In severe cases, it resulted in immediate brain death.
Even for Gold-Class warriors who had undergone the highest levels of physical enhancement, using it would leave them weakened for a long period and cause a permanent decline in their strength.
For ordinary people, survival was simply impossible.
No one would use such a self-destructive drug unless they were driven into a corner. That was why it was called the "Desperation Serum."
Madman, however, was an exception.
He was not a naturally born human, but a test-tube baby created by the Wolf Empire using genetic fragments from a powerful warrior race.
Unfortunately, the experiment was terminated unexpectedly, and Madman was deemed a failure. He was sold into slavery and eventually ended up in the Shattered Star Region.
Perhaps it was a gift left behind by that failed experiment. During a battle in which he had been completely surrounded, Madman used the Desperation Serum and discovered that its side effects were nowhere near as severe for him as the rumors claimed. Even more surprisingly, after recovering, his strength seemed to have increased slightly.
This Saiyan-like physique became Madman's greatest cheat, allowing him to grow stronger with every battle in the Shattered Star Region and ultimately giving rise to the legendary tale of an indestructible underdog's ascent...
As a result, the Desperation Serum became one of his ultimate trump cards.
Although the Desperation Serum was a type of psychic stimulant, it did not cause its user to lose control. Instead, it suppressed emotions and pushed the user into a battle state as calm and precise as a machine.
At this moment, not only had Madman's combat power increased dramatically, but his battlefield judgment had also reached astonishing levels.
Instead of retreating, the Madman advanced.
While evading incoming attacks, it sheathed its greatsword and charged forward. In an instant, it slammed directly into the Red Dragon, deliberately closing the distance and forcing the battle into close-quarters combat!
Bang! Bang! Bang!
Punches, kicks, elbow strikes, knee strikes, headbutts—
Madman employed a mech martial art similar to Muay Thai, turning every part of his body into a weapon. His assault was ferocious beyond compare.
The two legendary mechs engaged in high-speed hand-to-hand combat, their positions constantly shifting and rotating as they became completely entangled with one another.
To outside observers, all they could see were two streaks of gold and red repeatedly colliding in the void, sending out wave after wave of energy shockwaves. It was impossible to tell which was which.
This dance-like close-range battle left the mech warriors on Red Dragon's side completely helpless. Even the supporting fire from the fleet's main guns fell silent.
They wanted to help, but there was simply no opening.
Anyone joining the melee would be killed instantly.
Those attacking from range risked hitting their own commander.
With his extraordinary combat instincts, Madman had found the only way to break the deadlock.
He had turned his greatest enemy into a living shield.
Red Dragon was practically furious.
Of course he understood the situation. He desperately wanted to create some distance and let his comrades gang up on Madman, but Madman clung to him relentlessly.
Bone-Severing Dragon-Grappling Hand, Coiling Dragon Palm, Dragon-Capturing Art...
Madman unleashed an entire arsenal of joint-locking techniques, grabbing onto Red Dragon and refusing to let him escape.
In any other context, the scene would have looked extremely questionable!
Madman's strength had already surpassed Red Dragon's by a considerable margin. Now that he had entered his powered-up state, he unleashed a storm-like barrage of attacks that left Red Dragon struggling just to defend himself.
Fortunately, the Red Dragon was no longer what it used to be. The defensive capabilities of its Energy Crystal Armor had increased dramatically. Otherwise, he would have been beaten into submission before long.
"Hey! Weren't you shouting about wanting a fight? The guy's right here, so why aren't you making a move?!"
Unable to endure any longer, Red Dragon finally shouted.
Hearing this seemingly nonsensical remark, Madman frowned in confusion while continuing his assault.
BOOM!
At that moment, both men caught sight of a gigantic, dazzling beam of light streaking toward them from the corner of their eyes!
"Holy shit!"
"Hm?"
Faced with the crimson high-energy warning flashing across their radar displays, both mechs instinctively retreated at maximum speed.
The massive beam barely grazed the noses of the two mechs as it shot past, startling Red Dragon so badly that his heart nearly stopped.
Looking toward the flagship's main cannon, whose energy glow had only just faded, he immediately exploded in anger.
"I told you to help! Why the hell are you shooting at me too?!"
A very serious reply came through the communicator.
"You told me to make a move. Besides, if I hadn't fired that shot, another combo from him and you'd probably be dead by now...
Relax. I'm certified Level 8 in artillery marksmanship. See? My aim's excellent."
Several black lines immediately appeared on Red Dragon's forehead.
I meant for you to help with your mech!
Where's your mech?
Wasn't it you who always got itchy whenever you saw someone stronger than yourself?
Wasn't it you who was obsessed with competing against powerful opponents?!
Show some of the pride and anger expected from the Number Two powerhouse, damn it!
TL Note- Sniper in a melee battle....
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