A smile tugged at his lips as he looked up at Luo Wenchuan. When their eyes met, those long, captivating eyes his heartbeat quickened once again.
Chi Yu stood to the side with a deeply displeased expression.
Having just suffered a crushing defeat in the team competition, where he completely failed to showcase his abilities, and now having to watch Yun Xingze and Luo Wenchuan being so intimate, his mood was naturally foul.
Apart from Chi Yu, the rest of the teammates were in high spirits.
Thanks to Yun Xingze’s victory, the arrogance of St. Clythus had been significantly dampened.
In the next team match, Aixili led Ou Rui and Sato En to face St. Clythus’s second team.
Before stepping onto the field, Aixili said to her two teammates, “Junior Xingze fought hard to turn the tide in the toughest match. We can’t let his efforts go to waste; we have to give it everything we’ve got. Winning this one is our only hope of advancing past the group stage.”
The two nodded solemnly in agreement.
Once the second team match began, the momentum of Starsea Academy’s team was completely different from before. Every member seemed electrified, even taking the lead against St. Clythus in the speed phase!
This was partly due to the inspiration Yun Xingze’s tenacity had given them, and partly because of their own resentment toward St. Clythus.
Soon after, the blue beam of Starsea Military Academy lit up ahead of schedule.
After a fierce struggle, Aixili’s light remained on until the very end.
“Let’s congratulate Starsea Military Academy for securing another victory, bringing the score to 3-3! This team has once again staged a comeback, pulling off a miracle!” the NCLM commentator exclaimed excitedly. “Next up is the deciding match.”
Back at Starsea Military Academy’s sports field, the match was being broadcast live.
When Starsea had been suppressed and even humiliated by St. Clythus earlier, everyone’s expressions had darkened.
But after Yun Xingze’s victory, the cheers from Starsea’s students were so loud they seemed capable of shaking the grass beneath their feet.
Now, with the score tied, hope for a comeback victory burned even brighter!
“This is insane! They actually managed to tie it!”
“I thought Yun Xingze was done for in his match. He’s seriously amazing!”
“Aixili, forever the queen! Ahhh—!”
“From 0-3 to 3-3, victory is within reach!”
“Starsea Military Academy is the absolute best!”
At this moment, whether male or female, Alpha, Beta, or Omega, everyone was brimming with anticipation for the impending victory.
Because if they could defeat St. Clythus, Starsea’s team would have a strong chance of advancing past the group stage.
If last year’s qualification had been a pleasant surprise, this year, everyone wanted to witness the miracle firsthand.
Lu Ranxu sat among the crowd in the stands, watching the 360-degree live broadcast screen while barely containing his excitement. He kept spamming Yun Xingze’s messaging account: “Ahhh I’m so happy, I’m so thrilled!”
A closer look revealed he had already sent dozens of messages, practically turning into a human comment barrage.
One moment it was “I’m so nervous I could cry,” the next “St. Clythus can go die,” as if he had multiple personalities.
Yun Xingze, upon seeing them, couldn’t help but laugh and replied, “Save the celebration for after we win.”
The students of Starsea Military Academy had every reason to be elated not only had Yun Xingze’s victory marked a turning point, but Aixili and the others had also lived up to expectations by securing another win.
And most importantly, the final deciding match would feature none other than Luo Wenchuan.
The man who had never lost in NCLM.
Actually, St. Clythus initially planned to employ the “Tian Ji’s Horse Racing” strategy ending their strongest contestant to snipe weaker opponents in the first solo match. For the final round, they anticipated Luo Wenchuan would take the stage and held little hope of winning.
Once the decisive match began.
Within the first minute, Luo Wenchuan entered the “Man-Machine Unity” state.
By the third minute, his opponent was fleeing in disarray.
At the six-minute mark, the referee began the countdown.
Six minutes and ten seconds, match over.
Luo Wenchuan controlled the entire rhythm of the game, leaving his opponent no chance whatsoever.
“Score 4:3! Congratulations to Stellar Naval Academy for winning the second round of group matches.”
The broadcast announcement sounded somewhat unreal to Yun Xingze’s ears. Though he still hadn’t achieved Man-Machine Unity this match, watching his teammates embrace each other in exhilaration filled him with warmth.
For the first time, Yun Xingze felt his efforts and sacrifices held real value.
Shortly after the match concluded, Stellar Naval Academy trended across StarNet.
Accompanying hashtags included “Yun Xingze,” “Comeback from 0-3,” “Bai Jiashi’s Hide-and-Seek,” “Bai Jiashi’s Prematch Boasting Backfires,” and “Luo Wenchuan.”
If their previous victory over Gikot had been an upset, this comeback against St. Clythus from a 0-3 deficit instantly became legendary within NCLM circles.
As spectators heatedly discussed the match, Yun Xingze emerged as the undisputed protagonist of these conversations.
When a bored netizen posted a forum poll asking who shone brightest in Stellar Naval Academy’s performance, Yun Xingze dominated the nominations, followed by Luo Wenchuan and Aixili.
“Everyone performed well, but Yun Xingze’s defeat of Bai Jiashi completely shifted the momentum.”
“Exactly right! Yun Xingze played the match point. Had he lost, Stellar’s qualification hopes would’ve been slim this year.”
“Momentum and confidence are everything for a team.”
“What exactly goes on in Yun Xingze’s mind? How did he think to modify a mechanical beast into something resembling yet surpassing, a Shadow Mech?”
“That ugly cat of his rivals Hebrew.”
“Hebrew, Gikot’s official team member, aka Yun Xingze’s little mechanical beast.”
“Pfft—wonder what Hebrew would think seeing this.”
These words soon reached Hebrew’s ears delivered mid-match by his opponent during Gikot’s competition against Yuanshan Academy.
“They’re saying you’re inferior to a mechanical beast.”
Gritting his teeth in fury, Hebrew snapped, “Did Yun Xingze send you to provoke me?!”
Another grudge against Yun Xingze was firmly recorded in his mind.
The morning after Stellar’s victory over St. Clythus.
With accumulated tension needing release, Coach Richard exceptionally granted the team half a day’s rest. As Yun Xingze left the hotel to run errands, he was intercepted by Ming Xiao himself.
“Congratulations on working another miracle,” Ming Xiao said with a smirk, his fashionable emerald curls framing his handsome features as he approached. “More good news. Dean Cheng has agreed to meet with you.”
Yun Xingze was momentarily stunned. He had thought this matter would be difficult, never expecting Dean Cheng Yuan to agree so quickly.
“So now, please come with me,” Ming Xiao said in a lowered voice.
Yun Xingze nodded and followed Ming Xiao’s lead.
Since the Research Institute was willing to negotiate with him, he might as well give it a try.
They boarded an aircraft, and after a period of flight, it landed in a dense forest in the suburbs. Among the trees stood a building coated with stealth materials. This was the Imperial Research Institute.
Under Ming Xiao’s guidance, Yun Xingze passed through layers of security and identity checks before arriving at the core area of the institute.
This place was far larger than the materials room he had seen before. Everyone moved with purpose, large machines hummed ceaselessly, and mecha models and components of various sizes gleamed under cold lighting.
Beneath the white fluorescent lights, the space resembled a sealed, massive factory isolated from the outside world yet nurturing the future of the empire’s mecha technology.
“Before meeting with Director Cheng, you’ll need to undergo a mental control assessment,” Ming Xiao said to Yun Xingze.
Yun Xingze raised an eyebrow. “That can actually be tested?” He had assumed the institute’s current capabilities couldn’t produce such a sophisticated instrument.
“The Research Institute has been working on developing a system to measure mental control,” Ming Xiao explained. “As people increasingly recognize its importance; it represents the efficiency of one’s psychic energy utilization.”
Yun Xingze nodded and, following Ming Xiao’s lead, underwent the assessment.
Before the results were ready, he was taken to the director’s office, where he met Cheng Yuan in person.
Yun Xingze had seen Cheng Yuan on the Star Network, but the man appeared more energetic in real life. Early in the morning, Cheng Yuan was listening to the latest viral girl group song from across the Star Network. The upbeat rhythm caught Yun Xingze off guard.
Noticing Yun Xingze’s arrival, Cheng Yuan quickly paused the music, stopped swaying to the beat, and tilted his chin up. “You’re finally here.”
His expression shifted seamlessly from musical euphoria to stern professionalism, and Yun Xingze pretended not to have heard the song.
After sitting down, Ming Xiao excused himself, and Yun Xingze got straight to the point. “Director Cheng, I can assist the institute in completing the experiment, but I have one condition.”
“I’m all ears,” Cheng Yuan replied bluntly.
“I want a laboratory with full access to its resources,” Yun Xingze said slowly, meeting Cheng Yuan’s gaze.
Cheng Yuan hadn’t expected this military cadet who excelled in competitions to be so mature in negotiations, boldly making demands without hesitation.
Cheng Yuan asked with interest, “Do you truly understand what the Imperial Research Institute represents? A place pioneering technological revolution—and you, a mere cadet, dare to ask for research resources?”
“No lab, no deal,” Yun Xingze said calmly.
Cheng Yuan smirked. “You’ve got nerve, just like during your matches.”
“You’ve watched my matches?” Yun Xingze raised an eyebrow.
“I have.” Cheng Yuan poured him a glass of water and pushed it toward him before crossing his legs. “Your mecha beast’s cloaking maneuver was particularly impressive.”
Leaning forward slightly, Cheng Yuan continued, “I know your mental control is strong. I can offer you many things except a lab. And you should know, the military has no shortage of powerful individuals with greater control than you.”
“Then there’s nothing more to discuss.” Yun Xingze stood to leave.
Cheng Yuan’s Adam’s apple bobbed slightly as he frowned.
This young man was still too impulsive, hardly fit for great undertakings.
Just as Cheng Yuan was about to play the girl group song again, his assistant handed him Yun Xingze’s mental control assessment report.
The primary reason Cheng Yuan had initially favored Yun Xingze wasn’t because he was irreplaceable, but because as a military academy student, he’d be easier to control and less likely to leak secrets.
Besides, how strong could his mental control really be? SS-grade strong?
Not long ago, many high-ranking military officials had participated in evaluations using this very machine, and those who reached SS-grade mental control were as rare as phoenix feathers.
“Since Yun Xingze refuses to cooperate, there’s no need for this report,” Cheng Yuan said slowly. “Destroy it, along with his personal records.”
After speaking, he picked up a cup of coffee and began sipping it leisurely.
“D-Director…” The assistant’s voice trembled. “P-Perhaps you should take a look…”
Cheng Yuan frowned. “Why?”
“Yun Xingze… his mental control grade is…”
The assistant slowly unfolded the report before Cheng Yuan’s eyes.
Clatter—
The coffee cup slipped from Cheng Yuan’s hand and shattered on the floor, spilling coffee everywhere. Yet, in his overwhelming shock, he didn’t even register the searing pain from the scalding liquid on his ankle.
