Today’s mecha competition was bustling with excitement in both Arena A and Arena B. Military academy students packed every seat to watch the matches, with many latecomers having to stand due to the overwhelming crowd.
One reason for the turnout was that this marked the final round anyone wanting to see another match would have to wait until next year.
The other reason was that Arenas A and B gathered the strongest S-rank elites of the entire school.
Arena A featured Ke Lei and He Haoming, while Arena B had Luo Wenchuan and Aixili.
These four had been core members of last year’s school team, leading Stellar Naval Academy to its best performance in nearly a decade, earning them widespread admiration.
Additionally, Yun Xingze in Arena A had emerged as a dark horse, drawing many Omegas to spectate.
Seated in the competitors’ waiting area, Yun Xingze watched the matches, his turn would come in the second round. The first round pitted Ke Lei against an A+-rank dual-star mecha pilot.
This match bore similarities to Yun Xingze’s earlier showdown with Su Zinan: a high-tier meteor mecha versus a lower-tier dual-star mecha.
Unsurprisingly, Ke Lei dominated from the outset with no intention of going easy.
His dazzling artillery barrage surpassed even Su Zinan’s earlier display like witnessing starlight at noon giving Yun Xingze his first glimpse of an S-rank meteor mecha’s terrifying firepower.
The dual-star pilot, likely having studied Yun Xingze’s tactics, attempted to replicate his close-quarters disruption maneuvers with a scout mecha but failed spectacularly.
Despite being A+-rank, precise scout mecha control proved beyond his capabilities.
Ke Lei secured victory in about five minutes.
Deafening cheers erupted across the arena, startling Yun Xingze. While applause was common, today’s enthusiasm was exceptional, the transparent barrier might as well not exist with the sheer volume.
The stands erupted in waves of screams:
“Ke Lei’s unstoppable! Meteor mechas reign supreme! The meteor never falls!”
“Congratulations Ke Lei for making the school team. Command Department stands with you!”
“Ke Lei is Command Department’s pride! So damn cool!!”
“Ten straight wins! Ke Lei’s victory streak will never end!”
Hearing the crowd’s reactions and surrounding chatter, Yun Xingze realized Ke Lei had become the first academy-wide competitor to achieve ten consecutive wins. Regardless of performance scores, his school team position was guaranteed.
No wonder the Command Department students were ecstatic.
Emerging from his mecha, Ke Lei shook hands with his opponent, flashing a brilliant smile and perfectly white teeth. He casually ruffled his flaxen short hair before turning to wave at the stands.
Spectators showered the arena with flowers while others set off miniature confetti cannons, creating a spectacle even more dazzling than the meteor mecha’s artillery display.
Fortunately, the transparent barrier intercepted the projectiles cleaning up would’ve taken ages otherwise.
Yun Xingze muttered under his breath, “So that’s another function of the barrier.” He mused that without it, underperforming competitors might face rotten eggs instead of flowers.
Though the floral tributes and confetti never reached Ke Lei physically, he basked in the adulation, reveling in the crowd’s roaring approval.
Yun Xingze was also swept up in the atmosphere, genuinely happy for Ke Lei.
At that moment, Yun Xingze and He Haoming were about to take the stage, and the referee instructed them to head backstage immediately for preparations.
Before leaving, someone said to He Haoming:
“Go for it, Haoming! You’re the pride of our mecha department!”
“The next ten-win streak will be yours!”
“Haoming, the crowd will be cheering for you just like last year!”
“Our support won’t lose to Ke Lei’s.”
Of course, some also noticed Yun Xingze’s presence and offered words of comfort:
“Junior Yun, even though it’s your first competition, don’t worry just being here is an achievement. Your results are already impressive.”
“That’s right. Even if you lose, you’ll probably still make the school team.”
“Being a substitute isn’t bad either. A nine-win streak already beats most people.”
“Junior Yun, for an Omega to reach this level is remarkable.”
Yun Xingze gave them a calm, indifferent glance and didn’t respond, heading straight backstage.
His aloof demeanor left the crowd somewhat awkward.
Someone muttered under their breath, “Sigh, he was a dark horse, but who told him to face He Haoming? What a shame…”
“Whatever, they’re both from the mecha department. It’s fine if Yun Xingze loses, no big deal.”
“Exactly. For a B-rank to even fight He Haoming is an honor in itself.”
After changing into their gear, Yun Xingze and He Haoming stepped onto the field.
As they shook hands, applause erupted from the stands, with many Omegas cheering for Yun Xingze, as he now stood a strong chance of becoming an official member of the school team.
Lu Ranxu, Orel, and Zhuo Feiyue had also arrived at the venue.
Orel asked Zhuo Feiyue, “As long as Xingze doesn’t lose too badly, he’s definitely making the team, right?”
Zhuo Feiyue nodded. “He won all nine previous matches with solid performance scores. Facing someone of a higher rank now, if he can hold out a bit longer, he’ll likely secure a spot.”
“Xingze might not necessarily lose,” Lu Ranxu said, watching the two on the field nervously but still praying for Yun Xingze. “Heaven help us maybe He Haoming will trip and fall.”
The surrounding Omegas shared Orel’s view.
Though they all believed Yun Xingze would lose, as long as he put up a good fight, they’d still cheer for his fighting spirit.
On the field, tension hung thick between Yun Xingze and He Haoming.
He Haoming’s grip was unnecessarily firm as he said coldly, “Yun Xingze, I won’t go easy on you. You might have some skill to make the team, but you’d better be ready to surrender.”
“Is that so?” Yun Xingze looked up at the tall, lean youth, noting the hostility in his eyes, and suddenly smiled. “He Haoming, is Su Zinan really worth avenging like this?”
He Haoming’s expression flickered at that, and he gritted his teeth. “If not for you, his results this year would’ve been better than yours.”
Yun Xingze released his hand and said lightly, “Too bad he won’t get the chance.”
The words infuriated He Haoming, his fists clenching as he silently swore to strip Yun Xingze of all dignity.
[Round 10, Arena A, Match 2 will begin in three minutes.] Soon after, He Haoming and Yun Xingze both deployed their mechas.
When the Tempest Mecha appeared, the audience couldn’t help but gasp in awe standing over fourteen meters tall, its components were significantly larger than other mechas, exuding an overwhelming sense of pressure.
As Yun Xingze’s Twin Star Mecha emerged, O’Reilly pointed at the scout mecha and asked, “Is it just me, or has that cat gotten chubbier?”
“Xingze’s focus this time was modifying the mechanical beast,” Lu Ranxu replied. “Though I’m not sure what materials he used, it must be some incredible upgrades. His win rate has improved quite a bit.”
“The larger and more complex a mechanical beast becomes, the higher the mental control requirements for the pilot,” Zhuo Feiyue said with a deep gaze fixed on the two mechas in the arena. “Xingze is taking quite a risk with this approach.”
Despite Yun Xingze’s numerous modifications, his mechanical beast still stood only about three meters tall. Positioned opposite the colossal Tempest Mecha, it created an oddly comical contrast.
Yun Xingze studied the mecha before calling out to He Haoming nearby, “Seems like you’re quite fond of Changsheng Corporation’s mechas?”
He Haoming froze momentarily before frowning in response. “Does it matter which company made it? Students from backwater planets only care about cost-effectiveness. What would you know?”
With that, He Haoming climbed into the Tempest Mecha, ready for battle.
Yun Xingze could tell that while the mecha’s components were of decent quality, its design seemed imperfect; a factor that might influence the match.
He then entered the Twin Star Mecha, and the audience fell silent in anticipation.
At the starting signal, the energy lights of both large mechas and the smaller one ignited simultaneously.
This time, Yun Xingze chose to take the initiative.
The Tempest Mecha favored a conservative combat style, excelling at defensive maneuvers to withstand attacks before countering when opponents were exhausted or distracted.
Essentially, it served as both a tank-like shield on interstellar battlefields and a lethal close-quarters hunter.
Yun Xingze’s mechanical cat charged forward first, with the main mecha following closely behind.
Both mechas drew their weapons in sequence, launching an assault on the Tempest Mecha.
The mechanical beast whipped out two photon whips, attempting to ensnare the opponent’s arms, while Yun Xingze’s dual light swords—one blue, one pink gleamed with deadly intent as they slashed toward the Tempest Mecha.
He Haoming remained motionless. The Tempest Mecha stood firm, then raised its mechanical arms just before the whips could entangle them. Two massive ultra-dense alloy Tempest Shields rapidly deployed.
“Clang—”
The mechanical beast’s photon whips were blocked by the shields, and Yun Xingze’s descending light swords were deflected with sharp metallic rings.
With just a slight lift of its arms, the Tempest Mecha effortlessly neutralized Yun Xingze’s offensive.
This very strategy had secured him victories against numerous opponents in previous matches.
Yet now, despite recent enhancements to both the mechanical beast’s photon whips and his light swords, they proved powerless against the enormous Tempest Shields.
The moment this move was executed, the few spectators supporting Yun Xingze felt their hearts sink.
In the next second, Yun Xingze distanced himself from the mechanical beast, attempting another attack.
The mechanical beast lashed out with an extended chainsword.
This time, however, the Storm Mecha blocked the strike before suddenly retracting its Storm Shield. Its massive hand seized the chainsword and effortlessly flung it outward, nearly slamming the ugly cat-shaped mecha to the ground.
Fortunately, Yun Xingze reacted swiftly. In the blink of an eye, the ugly cat curled into a ball, narrowly avoiding destruction.
The audience collectively mourned for Yun Xingze:
“The skill gap is a bit too wide.”
“No matter how fast Yun Xingze’s reflexes and speed are, they can’t match the absolute defense and power of an S+ Storm Mecha.”
“Feels like He Haoming is just toying with Yun Xingze.”
At that moment, two tall figures appeared inside the arena.
Aixili was drenched in sweat, fanning herself with the help of a small robot while shooting Luo Wenchuan a glare. “Couldn’t you have gone a little easier? Now I’m the lowest-scoring among the four S-ranks.”
“We agreed on eight minutes,” Luo Wenchuan said casually as he walked toward the spectator stands, his attention entirely fixed on the match.
Aixili’s almond-shaped eyes widened. “Who the hell agreed with you?!”
Luo Wenchuan and Aixili made their way to the stands, where they found Ke Lei, who had just finished his own match. The surrounding gazes instantly locked onto them, murmurs spreading:
“All four S-ranks are here?”
“Seems like it. Guess even they’re interested in He Haoming’s match.”
“Well, He Haoming is S+, second only to Luo Wenchuan. Of course, people would come to watch.”
Ke Lei nodded at the two, his expression grim. “Three minutes into the match, and He Haoming just had to activate his shield, Xingze has no way to counter it.”
