The final decisive match officially began.
The students from Gikot Military Academy and Starsea Military Academy had their emotions ignited, loudly cheering for their respective sides.
Students from other schools, caught up in the atmosphere, also joined in the cheering. Throughout the venue, the number of supporters for Luo Wenchuan and Cheng Jun was almost evenly matched.
After all, Luo Wenchuan had made a name for himself last year. Although Starsea Military Academy wasn’t particularly strong, he was a rare SS+ level cadet who had achieved consecutive victories, delivering one astonishingly brilliant match after another.
Many had even come specifically to watch Luo Wenchuan’s matches.
As the battle commenced, two SS-level mechas appeared in everyone’s view. Just by standing there, they exuded an unparalleled sense of intimidation.
Luo Wenchuan’s pure black lightsaber mecha directly drew two lightsabers, ready for combat.
His opponent Cheng Jun’s purple Comet mecha also unsheathed its chainsword and beam saber, activating its engine to seek an opening for attack.
The tension was palpable, with an intense battle about to erupt.
Yun Xingze watched from the waiting area, an unexpected sense of nervousness rising in his heart.
This wasn’t his first-time watching Luo Wenchuan compete, and he knew full well of Luo’s formidable skills, yet he still found himself holding his breath.
When Cheng Jun’s mecha suddenly charged at Luo Wenchuan, he couldn’t help but let out a small gasp along with the crowd.
Cheng Jun’s Comet mecha came with overwhelming force, moving at incredible speed. Across the vast arena, it seemed to transform into a glowing purple comet, its chainsword whistling through the air the next instant.
However, just as everyone was stunned by Cheng Jun’s speed, Luo Wenchuan’s mecha moved.
With even greater velocity, it shot straight toward Cheng Jun!
“Holy shit, Da Chuan’s speed?!” Ke Lei stood up in shock. “How is he that fast?!”
Richard also raised an eyebrow, surprise flashing in his eyes.
On the battlefield, Comet mechas always held the advantage in speed. Moreover, Cheng Jun’s mecha speed ranked among the top of all military cadets.
Yet Luo Wenchuan was actually faster.
After a moment, Ke Lei suppressed his astonishment and slowly said, “His mecha must have had some critical component modified.”
As he spoke, Ke Lei looked at Yun Xingze, seeking confirmation with his eyes.
“Uh, not really,” Yun Xingze replied absentmindedly, his gaze fixed on Luo Wenchuan’s mecha. “Just made a small adjustment. With the tournament so close, I didn’t dare change too much in case he couldn’t adapt.”
A small adjustment.
These words left everyone present in stunned silence.
Ke Lei nearly dropped to his knees right then and there, begging Yun Xingze to “slightly” modify his mecha too.
But seeing how engrossed Yun Xingze was in the match, he restrained himself.
“Boom—”
Cheng Jun’s beam saber nearly struck Luo Wenchuan’s mecha arm, but the latter blocked it with his lightsaber at lightning speed.
The tremendous impact reverberated through the arena. Even through the transparent protective shield, the audience could feel the terrifying power of SS-level mecha warriors.
After blocking the attack, Luo Wenchuan immediately raised his knee, forcefully driving it into the abdomen of Cheng Jun’s Comet mecha, then swiftly raised his swords for a counterattack.
Taking the hit, Cheng Jun decisively abandoned his offensive and retreated.
Fortunately, his speed saved him. Otherwise, those two blades would have cleaved through him the next instant.
However, before Cheng Jun could even catch his breath, Luo Wenchuan’s sword seemed to have eyes of its own, curving mid-air to leave a deep gash on his shoulder, leaving him no chance to retreat unscathed.
Luo Wenchuan’s strike drew cheers and applause from the audience.
Yun Xingze had faced Luo Wenchuan twice in “Mecha Star,” and coupled with his understanding of the latter, he knew Cheng Jun’s chances of winning were slim. Yet, he couldn’t help but be pleasantly surprised by Luo Wenchuan’s brilliant performance.
But the good times didn’t last long.
Despite taking a hit, Cheng Jun remained unfazed, launching attacks even fiercer than before.
After a back-and-forth exchange, the rhythm of the match seemed to tilt in Cheng Jun’s favor, with Luo Wenchuan dodging several of his opponent’s strikes, making the crowd tense.
Seeing the situation improve, members of the Gikot Military Academy began cheering loudly for Cheng Jun.
“Go, Da Chuan!” Ke Lei and others shouted back, unwilling to be outdone.
The entire team rallied behind him except for Chi Yu.
Noticing this, Yun Xingze cupped his hands into a makeshift megaphone and, amidst the noise, yelled, “Go Da Chuan—senpai!”
Through the protective barrier and mecha, Yun Xingze knew Luo Wenchuan wouldn’t hear him.
Yet his gaze remained fixed expectantly on the lightsword mecha.
The next moment.
Under Yun Xingze’s hopeful eyes, Luo Wenchuan’s mecha suddenly leaped into the air, locked onto Cheng Jun’s position, and dove down with a poised slashing stance.
Cheng Jun reacted by jumping upward to evade.
But Luo Wenchuan abruptly changed direction!
In the next instant, the lightsword mecha swung its fist, landing a powerful blow squarely on the Comet Mecha’s chin. The force so great that Cheng Jun’s eyes widened in pain.
With Cheng Jun’s thrusters still active and the impact from Luo Wenchuan’s strike, the Comet Mecha was sent flying several meters upward.
It looked almost like an exaggerated scene from a comic.
The audience stared in disbelief, their jaws dropping wide enough to fit eggs.
Yun Xingze gaped at Luo Wenchuan’s move, unable to hold back a “Wow!” as he thought, That stance—it’s like One Punch Man!
Chi Yu, seeing Yun Xingze’s unwavering focus on Luo Wenchuan, felt a pang of bitterness, his fists clenching involuntarily.
As Cheng Jun’s mecha was sent flying, Luo Wenchuan pressed the advantage. His twin lightswords carved dazzling arcs through the air, slashing upward at the opponent’s mecha joints.
Every strike was as precise as if calculated.
Cheng Jun’s Comet Mecha clearly lost balance.
Though his exceptional equilibrium kept the mecha airborne, it continued to descend uncontrollably.
Luo Wenchuan gave no quarter, delivering a final, decisive slash that sent Cheng Jun’s mecha crashing to the ground.
The referee’s countdown ended, marking Luo Wenchuan’s victory in the deciding round.
The entire match had lasted fifteen minutes.
The audience, expecting potential twists, were stunned by Luo Wenchuan’s overwhelming dominance!
Once he seized an opportunity, the match was as good as over.
When the score changed to 4:3, Yun Xingze’s first emotion wasn’t joy but a sense of security.
Luo Wenchuan’s presence was like the team’s unshakable pillar.
Watching his teammates celebrate Starsea Military Academy’s first group-stage victory, Yun Xingze stood up, his gaze still fixed on Luo Wenchuan in the arena, awaiting his return.
Emerging from the mecha, Luo Wenchuan looked at the thoroughly beaten Cheng Jun and remarked calmly, “Good fight.”
Cheng Jun gritted his teeth. Though filled with resentment, he had to admit Luo Wenchuan’s skills were superior.
“It’s been a year, and you’ve grown stronger,” Cheng Jun said slowly, watching Luo Wenchuan. “I wonder if you’ll become the Empire’s next 3S-class mecha warrior.”
3S-class mecha warriors were exceedingly rare, not just in the Star Empire but across the entire Star Federation—only about a dozen existed.
The leap from SS+ to 3S was incredibly difficult, a bottleneck some could never surpass in their lifetime.
It demanded not only immense mental strength but also unwavering willpower, physical endurance, and tactical brilliance.
Luo Wenchuan didn’t answer. He merely nodded politely before striding off the field.
Seeing Luo Wenchuan completely ignore him, Cheng Jun pursed his lips, irritation simmering inside.
The members of the Gikot Academy team were caught off guard by their loss, a heavy sense of defeat weighing on them.
When Cheng Jun returned, their coach sighed and, after a long silence, said, “You did your best…”
Gikot had performed well today, with no major mistakes. Even Cheng Jun, despite being overpowered, had managed to pose a threat to Luo Wenchuan.
Silver-haired Hebrew sat on the bench, head bowed, elbows resting on his knees, fingers buried deep in his soft hair.
Cheng Jun couldn’t see his expression but knew the kid was drowning in self-blame.
“Hebrew, don’t take it so hard.” Cheng Jun walked over to console him. “We’ll win next time.”
Hebrew lifted his head, eyes red-rimmed, his voice hoarse. “I… I lost to an Omega. And I got caught in my own nanonet. I let you all down.”
“Look at it this way,” Cheng Jun said kindly, sitting beside him. “Even without that mistake, you still would’ve lost. By then, Yun Xingze had already taken full control of the match.”
Hebrew stared at him in disbelief. Was the captain actually trying to comfort him?!
He committed Yun Xingze’s name to memory.
He desperately wanted to know why had that guy been so familiar with his moves?
It almost felt like they’d fought before.
But where?
On the other side, the Starsea Academy team erupted into applause as Luo Wenchuan returned. Staff eagerly handed him water and towels.
Yun Xingze had prepared some too, but seeing Luo Wenchuan surrounded, he held back.
Yet Luo Wenchuan refused the offerings, his gaze cutting straight through the crowd to land on Yun Xingze.
The next moment, he strode toward him.
Yun Xingze froze briefly. By the time he processed it, Luo Wenchuan was already standing before him.
Luo Wenchuan lowered his eyes slightly, a faint trace of expectation in his narrowed gaze. His lips pressed together as he asked, as if casually, “Aren’t you giving it to me?”
Yun Xingze blinked at him, confused.
“That,” Luo Wenchuan said evenly, nodding at his hands, “isn’t it for me?”
Only then did Yun Xingze realize Luo Wenchuan wanted the drink and towel in his hands.
He hurriedly handed them over.
Watching Luo Wenchuan take the towel to wipe his sweat and then tilt his head back to gulp down the drink, Yun Xingze felt a surge of happiness in his heart.
The other team members watched Luo Wenchuan, feeling a sense of being treated differently.
While everyone else was celebrating the victory, Luo Wenchuan merely gave them a polite smile and tactfully declined their drinks.
Yet the next second, he actively walked up to Yun Xingze, asking for his towel and water, even speaking to him alone.
Wasn’t this way too obvious?!
“Tsk tsk tsk…” Ke Lei muttered under his breath, “Rushing back in such a hurry, I thought there was some urgent matter.”
Aixili knocked him on the head and whispered, “What’s wrong? Chasing after your crush isn’t urgent?”
Chi Yu, standing nearby, heard this, and his face darkened even more than the bottom of a pot. The scent of jealousy practically wafting from his nostrils.
A moment later, Luo Wenchuan set aside the drink bottle and towel, curling his lips slightly as he looked at Yun Xingze and said, “We won.”
Meeting those striking black eyes up close, Yun Xingze could see the faint beads of sweat at his temples, his handsome brows, the tall bridge of his nose, his sensual thin lips, and the prominent Adam’s apple.
Only at this moment did Yun Xingze truly feel the joy of victory.
Before this, what had occupied his mind were the process of piloting the mecha and the match itself.
But the four words Luo Wenchuan uttered “We won” made Yun Xingze’s heart suddenly race.
Then, under Luo Wenchuan’s gaze, Yun Xingze couldn’t help but curve his lips and reach out, giving him a big hug.
Yun Xingze’s embrace came so abruptly that Luo Wenchuan was caught off guard.
The usually composed Luo Wenchuan on the battlefield now found his mind blank, his breathing rhythm disrupted.
“Congratulations on defeating Cheng Jun. ” Yun Xingze hugged Luo Wenchuan, whispering happily in his ear, “We won.”
Luo Wenchuan could detect the faint, pleasant scent on Yun Xingze perhaps from shampoo or body wash making his thoughts wander.
Suddenly, the memory of holding Yun Xingze under the cherry blossom tree flashed through his mind.
Back then, Yun Xingze had been unconscious, clinging to him like a sloth.
But this hug from Yun Xingze now was just a gesture of encouragement between teammates. He knew it was merely a courteous embrace.
Yet his heartbeat was even more frantic than that day.
Luo Wenchuan swallowed hard, his Adam’s apple bobbing.
Yun Xingze noticed something odd about Luo Wenchuan.
He could feel the heat radiating from his body and the rhythm of his heartbeat, along with a slight stiffness in his posture.
The faint minty scent, mingling with the sweat, gradually cooled Yun Xingze’s excitement from the victory.
Only then did he realize how inappropriate his actions had been, and he hurriedly tried to pull away from Luo Wenchuan’s arms.
“Sorry,” Yun Xingze murmured hastily, “I—”
But before he could finish, before he could even let go—
The next instant.
A pair of strong arms had somehow already encircled his waist.
One of Luo Wenchuan’s hands gently pressed against Yun Xingze’s lower back, exerting just enough force to pull the retreating figure back into his embrace.
The other hand slid up his back before finally settling to softly ruffle Yun Xingze’s soft hair.
Yun Xingze was completely enveloped in Luo Wenchuan’s broad, warm embrace.
It was a hug filled with body heat and a faint trace of pheromones.
Beyond Luo Wenchuan’s usual gentleness and restraint, there was a faint hint of dominance.
