Trading Cosmic Battleship From The Start-Chapter 134 - 107: Common Knowledge of Interstellar War_2

The knowledge of interstellar war they acquired through the learning device comes from a civilization that leans more towards bio-mechanical enhancement, which is why they quite advocate for such bodily replacements, considering it the simplest, most direct, and most effective method of enhancement.

In popular terms online, it’s referred to as "flesh is weak, ascension through machinery."

Even though this doesn’t accord with Chen Feng’s preference.

But if there’s truly a need, he would likewise apply for modifications to himself.

Everything is for the sake of victory.

"There are still two hours until assembly time." Chen Feng checked the time through the projection on his retina, his fighting spirit growing stronger, "How about having a combat match?"

"Live ammo?" Sawyer’s eyes also lit up.

"Who’s going to apply?" Chen Feng was even more straightforward.

The surrounding spectators were getting excited one by one.

"Live ammunition combat match! At a time like this?"

"Such boldness."

"Those with little courage won’t make it to space."

"The higher-ups won’t agree, since Commander Shen will arrive soon."

"No, it’s already been agreed."

"That fast... Goodness, I’m starting to want to participate."

"..."

The speed at which the application was approved was faster than they imagined, and some seemed to realize something, glanced up at the sky, although there was nothing, they still lamented not stepping forward.

Yes, the application was approved by Shen Shi.

He had already arrived above.

Also wanting to see what level these elites among elites, selected from soldiers all over the world, had reached.

Judging by these people’s performance reports, Chen Feng and Sawyer weren’t even among the top-performing strong persons, merely mid-level, but they should still provide an observation.

No starting command was given, nor was there any preparation time. At the moment the application was approved, Chen Feng’s figure shot upwards, meanwhile, a barrage of miniature plasma bullets poured towards him densely.

Sawyer’s arm was actually equipped with such a weapon.

These plasma bullets essentially still fired bullets, wrapped in high-temperature plasma, as long as they hit, even a high-strength alloy plate tens of centimeters thick would melt a large hole.

And the external skeleton Chen Feng wore was incapable of blocking them.

As soon as he was hit by one, the combat match would be considered over, and Chen Feng would have to be immediately taken for bodily modifications to survive.

So——

The distance must be closed!

Chen Feng raised his hand swiftly, a micro high-explosive grenade darted toward Sawyer, simultaneously, Sawyer’s figure retreated explosively, but noticed his arm’s automatic interception system failed to respond.

He realized instantly.

The target of this high-explosive grenade was never him.

BOOM——!

The explosion’s effect was no less than a rocket shell detonating in the desert, the sand it kicked up instantly obscured everyone’s view.

Everyone knew Chen Feng’s intent, while Sawyer’s eyes spun fiercely, scanning systems fully activated, attempting to locate Chen Feng from among everyone around in the shortest time span.

In the next instant, his metal arm lifted sharply, followed by a dull impact sound, a vast field exploded, blowing away all the sand particles, exposing the two in the center.

It was Chen Feng and Sawyer.

"It’s over." Sawyer’s arm was already aimed at Chen Feng’s head, "At such close range, I’ve already blown your head off, Chen, you seem to have forgotten one of the interstellar combat basics, that in the absence of knowledge of the enemy’s equipment, you can’t rashly enter hazardous areas. My arm is equipped with an automated defense field, close combat wouldn’t work from the start."

He held the advantage in long-range, and he had prepared a trump card for close-range as well.

Rather, he had been luring Chen Feng close from the beginning.

"You’re absolutely right, the technology level on your arm far exceeds the external skeletal armor I’m equipped with." Chen Feng had been locked in target, yet his lips curved slightly, "Normally, when facing a technological disparity, I should strive to retreat swiftly while gathering intelligence, preparing more thoroughly for next time, but the combat match lacks a retreat option, so certain risks are obligatory. You depend on a higher technological level, yet forget another interstellar combat principle — as long as conditions are met, even lesser technology can achieve results."

Sawyer realized something, immediately scanned his entire body.

The corner of his eye twitched suddenly.

On his neck’s collar area, at some undisclosed time, a tiny white speck the size of a grain of rice adhered, a type of high-explosive grenade.

If this point detonates, his head is doomed.

Because of the defense field’s existence, for such an object to reach him must have occurred before the defense field was activated, meaning the previous attack was indeed a split-second feint?

"Have you never thought, what if I discovered your little trick?" Sawyer lowered his palm, bearing no regret, merely imprinting this moment’s result in mind.

"Then I would have lost." Chen Feng said calmly, "Making such a choice is based on the premise where escape isn’t an option. With that, naturally, I must use every method to increase my chances of winning, and I determined, there was a certain likelihood you wouldn’t instantly scan yourself when having a successful defense against an attack, a judgment based on the extremely short duration, if I was mistaken, then I’d fail, but judging by the results, I won."

"No, at most it’s mutual destruction." Sawyer shook his head, shifting his arm again, "This arm comes equipped with an auxiliary AI device, even if you blow my head off, it would do the same to yours."

"Indeed, but amidst such significant technological disparity, I still trade off the enemy, which already counts as a win." Chen Feng showed a hint of a smile.

Sawyer fell silent.

One of the interstellar combat basics is that technological disparity is one of the most despairing chasms in interstellar war.

Both able to wage space battles, yet when fighting, the weaker party sometimes appears as if brandishing a knife at a mech, even when the mech’s operator is a fragile, idiotic, stumbling ant, it’d still bring endless despair to the weaker party.

And their relentless training, only seeks to compensate for the technological disparity, even if just to ensure the possibility of mutual destruction.

So Chen Feng wasn’t wrong.

Upon confirming the technological disparity, lacking an option to retreat, gambling for a chance at mutual destruction is indeed a correct choice.

Especially since he succeeded in the end.

"Alright, you got lucky this time." Sawyer’s tone sounded a bit sour, "But I’ll soon win it back."

"Stop sulking, Sawyer, Old Chen is wearing training-use external skeletons." The surrounding crowd erupted in laughter.

"Last time I used this thing, I nearly tore a muscle."

"Bart, don’t be so crude."

"Apologies, beautiful King, but I genuinely mean it, Chen Feng truly is incredible, the training-use device he’s using and the equipment on Sawyer’s arm differ by at least ten technological gradients."

"If you mean carat gradients, I’d say it’s more than ten, Chen’s armor doesn’t even have a field generator, nor full coverage, as a technological application for external skeletons it’s exceedingly crude. Conversely, Sawyer’s arm is equipped with a field generator, miniature high-energy plasma weaponry, auxiliary AI programs, just these few features already span at least fifteen carat technological gradients..."

The so-called carat gradients are a widely used numerical standard within the Mude System for quantifying technological disparities.

It’s generally believed that a carat technological gradient reaching one hundred signifies it can no longer be compensated by factors beyond technology.