In the audience sat a male Alpha with dark green hair, his gaze fixed intently on the broadcast screen.
This was Ming Xiao, the volunteer who had greeted Yun Xingze at the spaceport a few days earlier a student from Noah Military Academy.
Though Ming Xiao had told Yun Xingze he would definitely attend the match, Yun Xingze had assumed it was just polite conversation.
Unlike others, Ming Xiao didn’t seem particularly surprised by Yun Xingze’s performance.
While the crowd debated how the mechanical beast could move so fluidly, Ming Xiao murmured thoughtfully, “Yun Xingze is even stronger than I imagined.”
When the three battle beacons of Starsea Military Academy lit up, cheers erupted across the venue.
Though few Starsea students had come to watch, the sight ignited their passion. They waved their school flags, the blue shield emblem shimmering alongside the three beams of light.
The Starsea team members couldn’t help applauding the trio.
“Xingze is incredible, he actually reached the convergence arena before Hebrew!” Oliar praised sincerely, eyes glued to the screen. “We’re definitely winning this round!”
This time, Richard didn’t pour cold water on his enthusiasm.
Yun Xingze’s performance on the speed track had genuinely exceeded his expectations.
It wasn’t their teamwork that stood out rather, Yun Xingze had carried the team single-handedly, blazing through eighty percent of the course.
A faint smile tugged at Luo Wenchuan’s lips, betraying his quiet satisfaction.
Meanwhile, students from Gikot First Military Academy wore grim expressions. They’d assumed Hebrew’s presence as a mecha prodigy made Starsea’ victory impossible, yet their rivals had reached the convergence arena first.
Having their thunder stolen so abruptly left Gikot’s students visibly displeased.
“What’s wrong with Hebrew? Conserving strength?” Cheng Jun frowned in confusion. “That guy’s usually ultra-competitive.”
Teammates speculated Hebrew might have underestimated Starsea, giving them this opening.
“Still, only twelve minutes have passed,” their coach remarked slowly. “Starsea seems slightly stronger than we anticipated.”
“Doesn’t matter, they’re barely ahead.”
“The real test is PK combat. We outclass them completely.”
Gikot’s team remained confident of victory.
Only Hebrew knew the truth; he hadn’t held back at all. This being his first NCLM appearance, he needed a spectacular win.
Gritting his teeth, he accelerated toward the three beams. His surprised teammates quickly followed.
Within thirty seconds, Gikot’s team arrived at the convergence arena as yellow beams lit sequentially.
Another wave of cheers swept the stands.
A deep mechanical voice echoed through the vast arena, ratcheting up tension: [Both teams have reached the convergence arena.]
With this announcement, combat could commence.
Smarting from their delayed beacon lighting, Hebrew’s team burned with determination as they assessed enemy positions.
The roar of engines now sounded like predators issuing challenges.
“Caleb, protect Xingze once fighting starts,” Chi Yu said seriously. “He’ll likely get targeted first.”
Caleb snorted coldly and said, “Don’t tell me how to do my job.”
Seeing Caleb’s refusal to cooperate, Chi Yu secretly rejoiced. This meant he’d be the one protecting Yun Xingze later.
Suddenly, Gikot’s side fired a few particle cannons at Yun Xingze’s team, officially igniting the battle.
Yun Xingze’s mechanical beast dodged the incoming fire while retaliating with particle cannons of its own.
Soon, Dane from Gikot, piloting his Storm mech, leaped to the center of the arena, deploying shields to block Yun Xingze’s attacks and scattering Starsea Military Academy’s formation.
Seizing the opportunity, Caleb spotted an opening in Dane’s defense and swiftly maneuvered past the Storm mech, heading straight for Anna of Gikot.
Anna, controlling a Meteor mech, had intended to hide behind Dane and take out Yun Xingze’s mechanical beast with a direct shot. But suddenly, a chain sword wrapped around her arm.
The tremendous pulling force nearly dismantled her mech, had it not been for Hebrew’s Shadow mech intervening just in time to save her.
Caleb’s deep incursion into enemy territory was a risky move. He could easily be surrounded and eliminated by all three opponents.
Gikot’s team clearly thought the same.
Yet before Hebrew could act, Yun Xingze’s mechanical beast, seemingly out of nowhere, leaped into the air and dropped two smoke grenades over the three opponents.
Caleb reacted swiftly and managed to retreat.
Their coordination was so seamless that even S-ranked Hebrew couldn’t react in time.
The cat-like mechanical beast seemed to be covering Caleb’s retreat, its agility and mobility dazzling the audience.
“So… so fast! Can mechanical beasts even move that quickly?”
“Is there someone inside that thing? How can it perform such intelligent maneuvers?”
“Is this the real way to play a Twin-Star mech?”
Starsea Military Academy students, already familiar with the “ugly cat’s” wonders, swelled with pride upon hearing Gikot’s shocked murmurs.
After all, Twin-Star mech warriors as strong as Yun Xingze were rare even across the galaxy.
After retreating, Caleb didn’t abandon his offensive.
Just as he prepared to lash out at Anna with his chain sword again, her particle cannons were already firing toward Yun Xingze’s position as if the smoke didn’t exist.
Bright particle beams cut through the haze, striking unexpectedly toward Yun Xingze’s face!
Outside the arena, Oliar’s eyes widened. “She can’t even see him! How is she aiming?!”
“A skilled Meteor mech warrior doesn’t fear smoke,” Correy, back in the waiting area, remarked while watching the screen. “Anna’s S-ranked, this level of skill is expected.”
The crowd held their breath as Chi Yu’s Storm mech rushed in front of Yun Xingze, deploying every shield it had to block Anna’s barrage.
Though his movements were quick and the defense flawless, Richard couldn’t help but frown. “Was it really necessary to use so many shields for that?”
Chi Yu couldn’t resist asking Yun Xingze, “See? Aren’t I reliable?”
But Yun Xingze had already moved away, assisting Caleb in launching another assault on the enemy trio.
Chi Yu felt a pang of irritation.
Unnoticed, Hebrew suddenly materialized behind Chi Yu.
Distracted, Chi Yu took a direct hit and nearly collapsed!
Gasps erupted from the audience.
Richard clenched his fists tightly, and the members of the Star Ocean Academy team were all extremely tense at this moment.
Hebei, failing in his attack, quickly entered a concealed state and retreated, giving Chi Yu no chance to counterattack.
Meanwhile, Yun Xingze and Caleb were locked in combat with the enemy.
Dane’s Storm Mech blocked them tightly, leaving no opening for attack.
At that moment, Caleb closed in on Dane. Seizing the opportunity, Dane retracted his shield and swung his electromagnetic axe swiftly at Caleb!
However, Caleb’s speed and reflexes had improved significantly. Using this chance, he dodged Dane’s strike and changed targets, charging toward Anna like an arrow loosed from its bow!
Dane cursed inwardly, wanting to intercept Caleb, but unexpectedly found himself entangled by Yun Xingze.
Caleb’s Comet Mech, at this moment, resembled a vicious wolf.
Hebei naturally wanted to assist Anna, but Chi Yu, who had been idling on the sidelines, finally proved his worth by tracking the movements of Hebei’s Shadow Mech and launching an attack.
Hebei had no intention of engaging, but Chi Yu clung to him like a stubborn burr, raising his shield to block his path!
Soon, Anna’s Meteor Mech’s arm was ensnared by Caleb.
The two medium-sized mechs engaged in a mid-air tug-of-war, their mechanical arms creaking under the strain.
The roar of their engines intensified in that instant.
All eyes were fixed on the chain sword wrapped around Anna’s arm.
Suddenly, a massive energy blade materialized out of nowhere, cleanly severing Anna’s mech arm!
“Nice one,” Yun Xingze praised Caleb while still locked in combat with Dane.
Seeing Caleb receive praise, Chi Yu felt a pang of irritation and muttered sourly, “Without my support, how could he have disarmed Anna’s mech.”
Anna, who had been relentlessly firing, finally ceased her barrage. Losing her balance, she collapsed to the ground, one of her yellow combat lights extinguishing instantly.
Just as the students of Star Ocean Academy thought Yun Xingze and his team had gained a significant advantage, Hebei slipped past the distracted Chi Yu and lunged at Caleb!
The Shadow Mech was incredibly fast. Caleb, having just expended considerable effort disarming his opponent, was unaware of the danger creeping up on him.
Before he could adjust his stance, Hebei lashed out with shadow chains from behind, locking Caleb’s arm joints and rendering him immobile!
Yun Xingze’s heart skipped a beat. While still fighting Dane, he dispatched his mechanical beasts to assist.
Several deceleration and particle cannons fired toward Hebei.
Yet, Hebei’s reaction speed was terrifying. Dodging the barrage, he wrapped an energy whip around Caleb’s mech and yanked him toward the ground!
With his mech’s joints locked, Caleb strained with all his might but couldn’t break free. Helplessly, he watched as he was dragged further from Hebei’s mech, the sensation of weightlessness preceding his crash onto the ground.
The ground was littered with shadow mines Hebei had scattered.
He didn’t need to use them. Caleb would have been eliminated upon impact.
But to avenge Anna, Hebei had covered the ground with shadow mines anyway.
Caleb shuddered violently as explosions wracked his body. Pain radiated from his back, cold sweat beading on his forehead.
“Are you okay, Caleb?!” Yun Xingze couldn’t help but ask, his voice laced with concern.
“Leave me alone!” Caleb gritted his teeth and said, “I’ve taken Anna out, Xingze. You must keep going.” Before he could finish speaking, he was dragged out of the arena by mechanical vines.
Chi Yu said solemnly, “Don’t worry, I’ll protect Xingze.”
Yun Xingze’s fingers unconsciously tightened.
Just as he was about to change tactics.
Hebrew’s Shadow Mecha appeared behind him like a ghost.
