There were only three days left until the national league, and everyone had entered the most intense phase of preparation.
According to the NCLM competition format, the group stage consisted of solo PKs and team PKs. Winning a solo PK earned 1 point, while winning a team PK earned 3 points. The team with the higher total score would advance, and this format continued until the semifinals.
For the semifinals and finals, a 6v6 positional battle was added. A new event introduced in recent years to more comprehensively evaluate military academy strength.
Based on the combat abilities and styles of the team members, Richard divided them into two 3-person squads and three solo competitors, with Yun Xingze being one of the solo players.
Solo battles often leaned toward quick, decisive engagements, demanding high levels of mental focus and physical stamina. As a result, Yun Xingze spent most of his training time honing his individual combat skills.
Today, as soon as Yun Xingze arrived at the training hall for his morning run, he ran into Luo Wenchuan, whose expression was darker than usual.
Luo Wenchuan always had a poker face, but today, the icy aura around him was even more piercing.
He must be in a bad mood.
Ke Lei whispered a warning to Yun Xingze, “Da Chuan had a bit of a rough day yesterday, so try not to provoke him.”
It seemed Ke Lei had already been frozen out by the iceberg.
Yun Xingze nodded, feeling uneasy.
A rough day?
It must have been because he lost to some ill-mannered player in Mecha Star.
Just as Yun Xingze pretended not to notice Luo Wenchuan and prepared to train, he suddenly heard his voice call out, “Yun Xingze.”
Hearing his name, Yun Xingze had no choice but to stop and turn around, calmly asking, “You needed me?”
“Mn.” Luo Wenchuan replied in a low voice. “Come here.”
His clear black eyes fixed on Yun Xingze, carrying a probing, unreadable depth.
Yun Xingze’s heart skipped a beat.
Still, having lived two lifetimes, he had some acting skills to fall back on.
Composing himself, Yun Xingze walked over and cleared his throat. “Do you need me to modify your mecha?”
“I do.” Luo Wenchuan said impassively. “Tonight.”
Yun Xingze exhaled in relief, it seemed Luo Wenchuan hadn’t suspected his identity.
He nodded. “Alright, I’ll take a look at your mecha later to see what adjustments are needed.”
After speaking, Yun Xingze wanted to make a quick escape. Luo Wenchuan’s gaze was far too unsettling.
But before he could get far, another question came from behind:
“Do you play Mecha Star?”
Yun Xingze froze mid-step, eyes widening instantly.
No way. Had Luo Wenchuan actually recognized him?
Their first match had only lasted five minutes. Could he really have figured it out that fast?
This…
Yun Xingze didn’t know whether to credit Luo Wenchuan’s sharp intellect or his unnervingly thorough understanding of him.
Keeping his expression neutral, Yun Xingze turned back with a puzzled look. “Mecha Star… that really popular game?”
Luo Wenchuan’s eyes bore into his as he replied, “Mn.”
“I used to have an account,” Yun Xingze scratched his head, “but I haven’t had time to play recently. Training’s been exhausting.”
Hearing this, Luo Wenchuan’s suspicions faded.
Moreover, the person with the ID “I’m So Fragile” had been disrespectful to him, which didn’t seem like something Yun Xingze would do.
“It’s fine, I was just asking.” Luo Wenchuan’s tone remained calm, his eyes devoid of emotion.
Yun Xingze swallowed nervously; his tense shoulders gradually relaxing.
However, Luo Wenchuan’s next words made him tense up again:
“Let’s play together next time we get the chance.”
“…” Yun Xingze confirmed that Luo Wenchuan wasn’t joking. Thinking that he could always use an alternate account, he smiled and replied, “Sure, let’s play together.”
Only then did Luo Wenchuan let him off the hook.
After morning training, Richard appeared in the training hall and gathered everyone. Behind him were a group of staff members from the coaching team, whose job was to record the training progress of the team members daily and assist Richard in their training.
“The school held another meeting with the coaching team today,” Richard said with a serious expression. “As you know, our first-round opponent is Gikot First Military Academy—last year’s third-place winner. To be honest, our chances of winning are less than thirty percent.”
To many, Starsea Military Academy facing Gikot First Military Academy was akin to an egg striking a rock.
Originally, the school hadn’t held much hope for this match, but…
“If we lose the first match, it’ll definitely demoralize everyone,” Richard said, his sharp eyes scanning the group. “So, we’ve specifically studied Gikot’s team members this year and adjusted our combat strategy accordingly.”
Adjusting the lineup and order for team and solo matches was a common tactic in the league.
Richard opened his holographic screen and pulled up the meeting notes.
Then, his gaze settled on Yun Xingze as he slowly said, “Yun Xingze, you won’t be participating in the solo matches.”
Yun Xingze froze upon hearing this.
Over the past ten-plus days, he had been training his individual combat skills. Although he had dabbled in team battles and 6v6 matches in the Mech Star game, he had clearly spent far more time on 1v1 matches.
A member of the coaching team added,
“Based on our evaluation, Yun Xingze’s overall strength is relatively weak. A-rank in mental energy and B-rank in physical ability, ranking at the bottom among both Gikot First Military Academy and Starsea Military Academy’s team members. Meanwhile, Gikot’s overall strength this year is even stronger than last year. Aside from Cheng Jun, who just advanced to SS-rank, and Qiu Yuan at S+-rank, they’ve recruited a new genius freshman named Hebrew.”
“From what I understand, Cheng Jun and Qiu Yuan are calm and steady, while Hebrew is unruly and arrogant,” Richard said, looking at Yun Xingze. “For Gikot to maximize their points, Cheng Jun and Qiu Yuan are undoubtedly the best choices for solo matches, while Hebrew’s temperament makes him unsuitable for team battles. He’ll likely be in solo matches too.”
After listening to Richard’s analysis, Yun Xingze found it reasonable.
However, what he hadn’t expected was that the composed Cheng Jun’s in-game ID was “Don’t Provoke Me If You Can’t Handle My Temper,” while the unruly Hebrew’s ID was “Let Me Treat You to Shaved Ice.”
It seemed that in-game IDs really didn’t always reflect a person’s actual personality.
“I accept the coaching team’s arrangement,” Yun Xingze nodded under Richard’s gaze. “I agree to participate in the team matches.”
Richard had expected Yun Xingze to object, given his history of mocking the young man. To his surprise, Yun Xingze seemed quite composed about the arrangement.
Truthfully, Yun Xingze simply thought that after so many solo matches, participating in a team competition might be a refreshing change.
However, Richard’s next words instantly made Yun Xingze reconsider: “He Haoming, you’ll be separated from your original three-person team to compete in singles. As long as you don’t face Cheng Jun, you stand a good chance. Yun Xingze, you’ll take He Haoming’s place in his former team.”
He Haoming immediately responded, “Understood, Coach.”
Yun Xingze’s lips twitched slightly.
He Haoming’s original teammates were.
Caleb and Chi Yu.
One was a red-haired lunatic who’d tried desperately to dismantle him during matches, while the other was already Yun Xingze’s most despised person—no contest.
Teaming up with these two.
As Yun Xingze parted his lips to speak, Richard anticipated his thoughts and quickly interjected, “No teammate swaps allowed.”
The other three-person team consisted of Ke Lei, Sato En, and Ou Rui. Yun Xingze thought that even if he could only swap one teammate, replacing Chi Yu would be acceptable.
But Richard dashed even that hope.
Luo Wenchuan’s brows furrowed almost imperceptibly upon hearing Richard’s arrangement. His already grim expression turned frosty in that moment.
Yun Xingze and Chi Yu on the same team?
Luo Wenchuan strongly wanted to voice his opposition, but he knew this was the coaching staff’s collective decision made for the sake of the school team’s victory and honor.
After all, the three from Gikot were no pushovers, and sending a freshman Omega like Yun Xingze against them was indeed risky.
Chi Yu’s eyes, however, lit up with unexpected delight. He never imagined he’d get the chance to team up with Yun Xingze.
Caleb approached Yun Xingze, pressing his lips together. Beneath his red bangs, his eyes appeared cold. “Never thought I’d end up on your team. What a surprise.”
Yun Xingze looked up at him, the corner of his mouth quirking slightly. “This time I’m your teammate, so no dismantling me, alright?”
“Don’t worry,” Caleb replied with an arrogant, triumphant smile as he looked at Yun Xingze. “Big bro here will carry you to victory, little junior.”
Naturally, Chi Yu wasn’t pleased to hear Caleb’s words.
In terms of skill, he was no worse than Caleb.
So, he stepped forward and said earnestly to Yun Xingze, “Xingze, since we’re teammates now, I’ll definitely protect you.”
Yun Xingze ignored him completely, turning and walking away without a word.
Chi Yu gritted his teeth, watching Yun Xingze’s retreating figure with undisguised frustration. “Yun Xingze, this is a competition. Your only option is to cooperate with me to win. Don’t bring your personal grudges into the match.”
Hearing this, Luo Wenchuan closed his eyes briefly, his frown deepening as he looked between Chi Yu and Yun Xingze with unreadable emotions.
Though Caleb disliked Chi Yu, he had to admit the truth in his words.
Even though Chi Yu’s deliberate loss last year had cost Caleb his chance to join the school team, he still had to work with him now to secure victory.
Yun Xingze glanced back at Chi Yu when he heard this.
His eyes betrayed no emotion whatsoever.
He parted his thin lips slightly, his clean-cut profile sharp against the light, delivering words that stunned Chi Yu: “Chi Yu, don’t flatter yourself. What personal feelings could I possibly have for you?”
Chi Yu’s pupils trembled faintly. He had always believed that even if Yun Xingze didn’t like him, at the very least, he cared about him even if it was dislike, it stemmed from the fact that the Yun Xingze of the past had loved him too much.
Chi Yu’s Adam’s apple bobbed: “You—”
“To me, you’re nothing more than a teammate I’m not particularly close with.”
With those words, Yun Xingze turned away to prepare for the team training session.
And true to his word, for the rest of the day, Yun Xingze showed not a trace of personal emotion toward Chi Yu.
The team training took place in the school team’s dedicated simulation room, designed to build synergy among teammates.
Yun Xingze remained silent throughout the entire session. Though he cooperated with Chi Yu during combat, once the battle ended, he reverted to treating him like a stranger.
This was even more painful for Chi Yu than outright indifference.
Even when he could feel Yun Xingze by his side during the match, it was as if an invisible wall stood between them, preventing any further closeness.
After the training ended, Yun Xingze left the simulation pod. Chi Yu wanted to ask him to grab a meal together, only to find he had already hurried away.
For a moment, Chi Yu’s heart felt as if it were being squeezed by an invisible hand, the pain unbearable.
Yun Xingze wiped his sweat with a towel, exhausted. The coaching staff had demanded extra practice, so it was already late when they finished. As soon as he stepped out of the simulation room, he ran into a familiar tall figure.
Yun Xingze paused in surprise: “Senior Luo… you’re still here?”
Luo Wenchuan looked at him, his bangs casting shadows over his forehead, his expression unreadable.
After a moment, he pressed his lips together, his brow furrowing slightly as he asked in a low voice:
“Why did it take so long?”
His tone carried a hint of barely concealed, sullen jealousy.
