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Chapter 64: God of the Dark

Translator: Abyssruler Editor: Lucas

The two mecha retreated simultaneously and disappeared into the dark. Just before the Wargod No. 1 retreated, he had turned off his infrared vision system as well.

Everyone was completely dazed at such an action.

Why did the Wargod No. 1 do something like that? He didn't have other auxiliary systems to assist him.

Was he trying to admit defeat?

However, there was no other choice. The infrared light was too bright; it was as good as painting a target board on himself in the darkness.

One had to know that the Dark Hunter had a defensive shield. No matter how hard he cut it, it was not impossible for the Wargod No. 1 to win in a brawl.

Even if Skeleton's close combat skills were very strong, in such a situation, the opponent had already proven his ability to match him blow for blow.

Regardless of whether one had watched many of such shows or if it was their first time, everyone held their breaths in excitement. Both of the commentators were very quiet. Such a battle did not require their comments. Knowing when to speak was one of the most basic skills required of a commentator!

This was the two competitors' showtime!

Although this battle was not as lively as a normal battle, the atmosphere was way more tense and hair-raising.

The Wargod No. 1 had been pressured into a dire situation, and this was the first time a competitor had ever completely suppressed Skeleton!

This was Qiangsen Duoma.

This was the might of the Europe Region's Dark Lord. This was also why he was famous yet enigmatic. In the high level arenas, so long as the map was similar to Lakato, his win rate was 100%!

Moving forward, a legend would only create another legend.

The Dark Hunter emitted a dense amount of killing intent. The prey had already been located. To Qiangsen Duoma, finding his opponent was no different from a finding a firefly in the dark.

In a Wargod's Covenant Net Café in Europe.

A middle-aged man was currently engaged in a battle. The only thing was that everyone there knew that the boss unfortunately possessed a lazy eye.

This was the legendary Dark Lord.

No one knew where he came from. Beside the middle-aged man sat a young man. He was the real owner of the Shadowhunter Lord ID.

This ordinary-looking Net Café boss used to be a soldier in the Sol Federation Federal Army. He was the ace of the black ops combat team back then. Once, when he was carrying out his duties, he had been subject to a large amount of radiation and was hit with a debilitating physical injury. At the same time, he was afflicted with amblyopia and had to retire.

Some individuals might have chosen to stay in the army in another capacity, while the more exceptional ones would choose to live in peace back home.

However, during their peaceful lives, they would often recall their glorious memories as a warrior. Only death would truly bring peace to the blood boiling inside them.

Qiangsen had not had such a feeling in ages. Although he did not know who the opponent was, excluding the physical factors, the enemy's reactions and ability to pilot the mech would definitely place him as an expert in the army.

It was not that he did not want to attack relentlessly. It was that the opponent left no flaws to exploit. All of the openings were clearly traps to be exploited by him! If he wanted to take advantage of those openings, he would have to pay a price!

At the same time, Wang Zheng could feel that the opponent was an extremely experienced export. Such experience in battle could only be obtained through battle.

The enemy was constantly probing him with his attacks.

In the darkness, the Dark Hunter renewed its assault and numerous clashing sounds could be heard. However, one could not identify where these sounds were coming from. The Dark Hunter could move unhindered, and with its claws, it could attach itself to the top of the cavern.

Without being able to locate the enemy, the laser could be used. At the same time, the Dark Hunter had finally revealed its skills. The agile movements of the mech could could scare a kid to the point where he pissed his pants.

The Wargod No. 1 was motionless, as moving randomly would only lead to his death. He was trying to determine the location of the enemy.

Without a godly sound isolating system, only echoes could be heard. If one could only hear such sounds in the deathly stillness of the dark, it would no doubt cause them to build up terror, anxiousness, and helplessness.

In the end, it would cause one to collapse.

Even the surrounding audience members felt dazed and helpless. If they were in the same position, in such a situation, they would probably be so afraid of the opponent that they would have surrendered.

In reality, most of the competitors would also choose the same option.

Fighting Qiangsen in such an environment only proved that one had a problem with their heart.

At this point in time, the stationary Wargod No. 1 suddenly slashed viciously towards his right side into empty air.

But…

F**k!

This was the position that the Dark Hunter was moving to!

Foresight!

This was the rhythm of a god! He could even foresee something like this!

This was not by chance!

Rumbling noises were heard.

The two mecha exchanged a flurry of vicious blows. It was as though the darkness did not affect either of them.

These were experts who could fight in the darkness.

In such an environment, their hearts were even clearer!

Wang Zheng was extremely happy. He had finally found a worthy opponent!

Qiangsen closed both his eyes and the corner of his mouth shifted into a gratuitous smile. He had been hoping for a battle like this even in his dreams!

Leaving the battlefield was a fate worse than death for a warrior at the peak!

Regardless of the opponent, he would give it his all!

The ultrasonic system was turned off. It was meant for newbies. Using it to make decisions would cause one's reaction time to lag by almost a third of a second.

The opponents' movements and choice of systems could all be seen on the screen.

Neither of them were using any assisting systems; they were freaks who could fight in the dark.

The alloy knife and the claws clashed in a firework of sparks. The rough terrain and obstacles in the dark were unable to obstruct the two individuals. In fact, the battle between the two became more and more intense.

Even the audience was feeling asphyxiated at this exciting sight!

This was a battle at the level of the military!

The audience on the Moon and Mars were absolutely dumbfounded. Was this the standard of Earth?

The controller of Dark Hunter was a freak, and the one who used the Wargod No. 1 was a freak as well. What kind of monster could use the Wargod No. 1 to such a level with such life-like movements?

In actuality, humanoid mecha could also perform beast-mecha-like movements. Humans evolved from animals after all, so even though the four limbs might not be as nimble, they could still suffice.

Bang…

After ten consecutive exchanges, the two mecha separated and disappeared into the darkness. This was the movement of experts. They moved like rabbits before becoming absolutely quiet.

The mecha became completely silent. In Qiangsen's ten odd years of army service, of all the experts he had ever met, the one in front of him was truly the most skilled.

Because he had not exercised properly in a long time, he wondered if he could still execute that particular set of moves.

The Dark Hunter increased the engine to the max, and Qiangsen could feel every cell in his body beginning to feel excited. It was as though he was back in the past.

The Dark Hunter suddenly lunged forward. Pitter patter pitter patter… what were these movements?

The Dark Hunter's four limbs were now moving independently of each other. However, even its position, direction of assault, and the angle which it came from could not be determined.

The slight movements which increased in erratic frequency did not cause a large disturbance; it was all contained in a small area. In the darkness, it was a completely unpredictable attack.

If the Wargod No. 1 did not move, it would definitely be destroyed. It was impossible to predict the opponent's trajectory of movement, so he could not block it like he did before.

At this point, the Wargod No. 1 started to move. The two of them began to move in the complicated terrain in absolute control.

The Wargod No. 1 also began to vary its movements to the same frequency as Dark Hunter!

How could he do that with just two limbs???

However, observing the Wargod No. 1's movement would cause one to feel slightly disorientated.

Yet this was only possible through the conversion to an erratic frequency of movement!

The distance between the two gradually decreased, and the Dark Hunter struck first. As a result, he managed to gain the initiative.

Only those who could not see would feel calm. Only then could one truly observe what was happening!

The erratic movements were ineffective!

Young Deer's heart was roaring in excitement. This bastard was considered a god? Ruin him!

First strike!

The Dark Hunter unleashed a crazy claw attack.

He was hopping from left to right while his claws were slashing crazily. It was as though there were innumerable claw attacks coming at the Wargod No. 1.

The Wargod No. 1's titanium knife could only passively defend as he parried the attacks coming at him. However, the Dark Hunter had already become completely insane and was attacking wildly. One could now see the advantage of having four limbs to traverse the terrain.

The hind legs could grip the terrain firmly and allow the front limbs to attack stably! However, the Wargod No. 1 was already wavering unsteadily as the battle progressed.

Honestly speaking, even if another mech was used, it's energy shield would have long dissipated.

How could the Wargod No. 1 survive for such a long time?

Bang Bang Bang Bang…

One of the arms of the Wargod No. 1 exploded!

Even when one passively defended, there would still be a price to pay! Under the relentless assault, the Wargod No. 1 had already exceeded its limits.

This was the Dark Lord!

Even if you were a god, you would still have to bow your head in his presence!

A few individuals began to roar loudly. There were cheering for the victor. On the other side, some of the members of the Skeleton Corps even had the urge to commit suicide.

What could be done??

Bang…

The titanium knife had been knocked away!

The Wargod No. 1's defense was already collapsing. What was Skeleton doing? Why was he not dodging? Why was he stubbornly facing death? The disadvantage in mech capabilities was clearly displayed here.

At this point in time, it had to be said that the Dark Hunter ha not even activated its energy shield.

He was going to lose.

The prey was already on the point of collapse. Qiangsen was waiting for this moment. He had completely destroyed all forms of resistance.

The Dark Hunter sliced out in a cross-shaped fashion.

The twin claws slashed across. At this point in time, Qiangsen's body surged with his long lost energy, the energy of a warrior.

Under Qiangsen's control, the speed of the claws was so high that it even caused a slight brilliance to shine out in the darkness.

This was a blow that would completely destroy the opponent.

At this point.

A red light flashed out and the Wargod No. 1 disappeared.

What followed was the sound of an explosion as fireworks blanketed the cavern.

Skeleton WIN!!

What??

What happened?

Young Deer was the first one to jump up. He had completely forgotten his role in commentating. "What happened? Did the Dark Lord disconnect? How did Skeleton win? Who is trying to fool around?"

At this point, the slow motion kill camera was replayed.

As the Dark Hunter rushed over, the entire environment suddenly lit up. Everyone finally understood why the Wargod No. 1 had refused to move. That was due to the fact that right behind him protruded a stalactite.

At the moment the Dark Hunter unleashed it's vicious attack, the red light from the infrared vision system lit up. Because everyone was in darkness, the sudden light caused them to be completely blinded. Individuals who were adapted to the dark were affected even more.

When Qiangsen realized what had happened, it was already too late. In actuality, when he had executed his attack, he had felt that he was going to lose.

This was the intuition of a warrior.

What had defeated the Dark Hunter was an enormous stalactite.

The two claws could not defend in time before the mech had already been impaled.

When the audience noticed the Wargod No. 1's movements, a chill could be felt.

The Wargod No. 1 had merely side stepped and watched the entire thing unfold.

Chapter 65: A Warrior's Dedication

Translator: Abyssruler Editor: Lucas

In the net café of that small town, the boss of that café was considered their god. He was their most famous expert, despite his bad eye.

He was no different from a god. A true god.

Even in their dreams, they could not imagine that in such a battlefield, Qiangsen would lose.

That Wargod No. 1 stood quietly in the darkness. It was no different from the scariest demon that ever existed.

"Teacher… How could this be?"

Ah Luo was completely shocked. How could there be anyone in this world who could use a Wargod No. 1 to beat him? Furthermore, it was in this dark terrain.

Qiangsen removed the game headset slowly, and his eyes slowly opened. Looking at this foreign world, his eyes blazed with a slight wisp of passion.

His mouth gradually turned into a wry smile. Sometimes, defeat was a form of fortune.

Watching the flaming carcass of the Dark Hunter, the Wargod No. 1 gave a salute with his remaining arm.

Warng Zheng was very sure that his opponent was a soldier. Only a soldier who had personally experienced hundreds of battles would have such a battle aura.

This was worthy of respect. Being able to exchange blows with such an opponent was his honor.

If Qiangsen was the Dark Lord, then Skeleton would be considered the God of the Dark!

The Wargod No. 1 was not a god. Even if a god were to be used in such a terrain, they would still be inevitably limited by its technical specifications. However, this was not a requirement for winning.

In the battleground, one's state of mind and the environment allows them to grasp hold of victory.

Everything that was done beforehand was for the sake of that final exchange.

This id what caused the entire audience to become silent.

What kind of mental quality was necessary for one to face such a situation so calmly?

A marching theme began to play loudly.

Numerous sounds of different animals could be heard. All of it was coming from the Skeleton Corps. Even they could not believe that the situation would turn around at the last moment.

This was the most nail-biting battle that they had ever watched. The opponent was just too strong, and the advantage held by him was just too large! However, a god was a god! He would always win!

Numerous individuals were singing the battle anthem of the Skeleton Corps, and it resounded through the audience area.

Another group of audience participants, the ones that were more reasonable, could not help but sigh. This was just inexplicable.

If one's ability to pilot had a limit, then after analyzing both the bigger picture and the details specifically, the conclusion was that this was truly heaven-defying.

Young Deer had spoken way too much. Things were always too volatile, and even his mood had been affected. More recently, he could never feel happy and it was simply a tragedy.

"Uncle Old Deer, the man still lives! You have to believe in miracles!"

Bubbly Foam let out a radiant smile which warmed Old Deer's devastated heart.

Old Deer, who was still in the midst of broadcasting, felt a bit dizzy before he suddenly collapsed.

The broadcasting room burst into a flurry of activity. The ups and downs of the last battle were just too intense. Even the commentator, Old Deer, had been defeated by the excitement. He had immersed himself as Skeleton's opponent and had exerted all of his strength.

The number of VIP members watching reached 800,000, while the number of VVIPs reached 500,000.

This was a heaven-defying number of viewers!

Not long after, the officials released a video analysis.

"Tribute to the Immortal Spirit – Qiangsen!"

Indeed, the opponent was Qiangsen.

He was an individual known for numerous illustrious exploits as a Special Forces member. Although he had left the military, no one forgot his meritorious service.

Although he could no longer serve in the army due to his body's condition, he survived in spirit.

The audience finally understood why Qiangsen was able to win 100% of the time in Lakato. He was truly the Dark Lord.

Then in this case… who was Skeleton?

In this world, who could pilot the Wargod No. 1 and beat an actual military serviceman? What kind of monstrous judgment did he possess?

After that last battle, Skeleton once again proved his godly status by even saluting to the Dark Hunter.

This was the respect soldiers gave to each other!!

There was no angry roaring, no thunderous shouts. All that happened was cold, methodological combat. It was a competition of experience and one's judgment.

Their perception and judgment was truly frightening; they had shocked the vast majority of the audience. The majority of individuals would simply crumble below the pressure due to the environment.

Without relying on auxiliary systems while still possessing deep insight regarding the terrain, it truly caused everyone to feel disappointed at their inferiority.

After this match was publicized, it proved an important lesson. Regardless of who you were, what position you had, however strong your physical ability was, in CT, what mattered most was one's strength in order to gain victory!

"Let us surpass the gods together with Skeleton!"

This was the title of the analysis video released by the Skeleton Corp's chief of staff.

Many female students were currently discussing who among the guys was the most handsome, most muscular, had the most trysts, and other things. On the other hand, those in the male dormitory were currently wailing like ghosts and howling like wolves.

They had no choice but to wail and howl. If not, there was no other way for them to vent the fervour in their hearts.

This was an expert. Those who needed to rely on external equipment were weaklings!

Ye Zisu and the other two girls were looking at each other. Girls would not act the same way as guys. However, the three of them were momentarily stunned.

"Is this guy a human? How could he notice such an object even at that point in time?" Du Qingqing asked blankly. Even if Skeleton had not specifically noticed the stalactite, in the heat of battle, how could someone even split their attention to notice something so obscure?

"He was in control of the situation at all times. This is a necessary requirement of a commander," Ye Zisu said with a sigh. Although it was easy to say it, it was extremely difficult to execute it. In the history of mankind, only those who were exceptional were able to do so.

This was real strength. By being able to grasp the most crucial aspect in the entire situation, this was something that was most easily ignored in a battle.

"This is true talent!" An Mei sincerely exclaimed. "Hehe, even I have become interested in him!"

"Haha, be careful! You don't want Tyrant Su to break up with you!"

"Only if he has balls!" An Mei laughed. The relationship had caused An Mei to become invigorated and she seemed more and more radiant.

It was not wrong to say that a girl who was dating would be at the peak of her beauty.

"I am extremely curious as to who this Skeleton really is. Qiangsen was a true elite of the military. Even though his body suffered an injury, in CT, such an injury should not have affected him," Ye Zisu said. The other two nodded in agreement.

It had to be known that Skeleton was using the Wargod No. 1. It was a fatal gift to the opponent in a battlefield such as Lakato.

Without undergoing harsh training in night combat, one would not be able to adapt to the darkness.

However, this darkness seemed to be child's play. Compared to Bonehead's training, which fully exploited one's deepest, darkest fears, this darkness was considered a blessing.

To adapt so easily?

Once one feels that death is a luxury, to adapt to the situation is not difficult.

To Wang Zheng, meeting such an opponent was his blessing. It had allowed him to realize that all his efforts were not in vain. This was not merely a simple battle; it was a collision of wills!

He could feel his opponent's effort and determination. This allowed him to see the value in his effort and determination as well!

He was not alone!

The military salute was a form of respect for his opponent.

There were no losers here.

Bubbly Foam was truly a little girl. After experiencing such an intense battle, she was so moved that her eyes teared up. Lin Huiyin's NOTAFRAID was also playing in the background. In this world, if one was brave, there would truly be nothing to fear.

In the small town, the net café's patrons had only just found out about Qiangsen's background. They had always just thought that he was an individual who loved to play games and was half blind. Although he had lost, applause rocked the sky. Qiangsen was a true hero!

Bubbly Foam restrained her emotions. Last time, she had forgotten what she was supposed to do, but she would not make the same mistake again today.

"Contestant Skeleton, I represent all of the members when I ask you this question… do you have a girlfriend?" Bubbly Foam's face turned bright red. "Haha, I'm kidding. That was a question I wanted to ask. What the audience really wants to know is if you will continue to use the Wargod No. 1?"

The number of VIP viewers had already approached 800,000, and it was still increasing.

Lin Huiyin was lying on her bed while furiously writing something. Her face even looked as though she had just cried.

She felt that she had become more and more emotional. This was a real battle that demonstrated one's willpower and dedication. This new song would be one about persistence. She did not expect that even this battle would give rise to more inspiration!

That short three seconds before Skeleton replied were no different from three long days. Everyone waited quietly for his answer.

At this moment, right in front of the audience, the screen flashed four words: "Forever Free-to-Play"

Was this… the legendary reply of this super god?!

Solon almost fell out of his chair. He had guessed numerous explanations, but he felt that the most correct one was that only the Wargod No. 1 could allow one to demonstrate superior strength… in the end…

Although not everyone would take this seriously, some of the girls became crazy. Chen Xiu and Yao Ailun had realized that these four words had caused numerous female players to wish to join the Skeleton Corps.

What kind of situation was this?

To the girls, the cold and cool hero was only one that could be observed from a distance. However, a hero that had the sense of hero was someone that was truly perfect.

Meanwhile, the innocent Student Wang was currently thinking about the fight. This battle was very satisfying. The opponent's oppressiveness had forced him to observe the surroundings closely. Even though it did not seem possible to win, there was always a chance for victory. While everyone felt that the Wargod No. 1 was disadvantaged in such terrain, having the belief that one would win was extremely important.

As to that answer… it was truly the truth!

Free-to-Play was the hard truth!

In the Shangri-La Hotel, Aina was currently making a report on her activities. This was something she had to do as a princess. The freedom she had was relative. With regards to her strange request, it was originally rejected by the royal family. However, due to the rules that were in place, they could only reluctantly agree and hope that Aina would still maintain the decorum of a princess.

Although her identity was a secret, as a princess, there were some things that she had to do.

Furthermore, as Aina was the Milky Way Alliance's model princess, the people around here were not as worried. They took it as an opportunity for her to better understand the common man. Especially since Earth was mankind's home planet, it possessed a more fitting atmosphere.

After a long winded hour, she finally finished the report. Although Aina knew that she could finish this week's responsibilities, just thinking of the future gave her a headache. She knew that she was playing with fire. In fact, she was like a moth to a flame, yet she could not control herself.

At this point in time, she truly envied Huiyin. Both of them were princesses, but she could do whatever she pleased; she was able to live her dream as a singer.

However, it was her misfortune to be first in line to the throne.

Perhaps when that little girl came back, she could be placed in a staff position. This cousin of hers was famous for being an evil sprite. She was smarter than Aina when it came to numerous things, and even Aslan did not possess such strict criteria for their heirs. However, being a public figure was not easy. Huiyin had to spend numerous days to convince the royal family to allow her to become a singer. In fact, the royal family was extremely satisfied with her current contributions.

Chapter 66: New Challengers Arise

Translator: Abyssruler Editor: Lucas

Currently, inside Ares College's courtyard, Masasi and friends had already finished their final preparations.

Steel Leg Zhuo stared at the group of people. "I have watched you put in effort as you trained. For tomorrow's battle, I hope that everyone will have no regrets and fight to the best of their abilities!"

"Yes, Sir!"

"Zhang Shan, do you have anything to say?"

"Sorry, Sir, I hope that you can reconsider and let Wang Zheng be our team's reserve. We are lacking reserve members!"

Zhuo Mu was surprised for a brief moment. The student's scores were not bad. However, he had fallen sick on the first day of special training and did not participate in it. Furthermore, the principal had even recommended him just that morning.

"Are you willing to be responsible for your decision?" Zhuo Mu said, as he looked at Zhang Shan.

Zhang Shan was stunned. Although Wang Zheng's performance at military college was not bad, he had no foundation in it at all.

At this point, Meng Tian suddenly took a step forward. "Reporting, Sir! I would also like to recommend Wang Zheng!"

"Really?" Zhuo Mu hesitated for a moment.

At that point, Masasi also took another step forward and gave a wry smile. "Sir, we are currently lacking one member to act as a reserve. I feel that we should give Student Wang Zheng a chance."

"Masasi, you are the team captain. This matter is up to you. I will respect your decision, so he can be a reserve member."

Zhuo Mu waved his hand and dismissed the group, allowing them to go back and rest.

"Captain, I would like to thank you on behalf of Wang Zheng."

Zhang Shan said. He had never expected Masasi and Meng Tian to recommend Wang Zheng. However, he felt that Wang Zheng fit the Physics Department better.

"Hehe. I heard that Student Wang Zheng has recently made a large contribution in the field of physics. I hope that he will be able strengthen our team."

Masasi was always elegant, typical of a person from the Moon.

To Masasi, he hoped that this opportunity would allow him to gather first hand data. Wang Zheng was also one of the selected candidates. However, his weak constitution was unexpected.

As a soldier, one needed a strong body. If one were to falter at a key time, even if he was extremely strong, it would be useless.

However, the team happened to lack a reserve, and this would give him an opportunity to observe him.

The Tri-College Exchange was about to start. The three principals took turns to give speeches. Although Jamal and Adonis were away from their home turf, they did not act modestly, and they even tyrannically introduced their own colleges and their future goals.

Following them were the student representatives. Ares College sent Masasi. Zeus College sent Lear Cronos. Apollo College sent Campbell.

Masasi's style seemed as lively as spring. Campbell had an aura of tyranny developed from years of prestige.

Lear Cronos was also an unknown youth. Although he seemed to be satisfactory as a representative, his aura was not prevalent, and he had a slightly cold exterior. Like Masasi, he was a freshman student who was a captain.

To Wang Zheng and Yan Xiaosu, the most important thing was that Lear was currently Yue Jing's boyfriend.

Yan Xiaosu was a gentle person, so he had let bygones be bygones. Now that he had a new life with a new girlfriend, he even hoped that Yue Jing would have a happy life.

The first day was extremely lively. However, it was the start of a nightmare for the students of Ares College.

The first day was a competition of the representatives' physical condition.

There was an obstacle race and a three-target shooting competition.

The competition would take place in Ares College's Glory Stadium.

The first competition was the obstacle race. The entire team had to participate, and the individual results were combined for a final score.

The obstacle race was one kilometer long, and there were rope swings, wall climbing, single plank bridges, hanging nets, and more. It tested a soldier's fitness in every aspect.

The organizers, Ares College, were the first ones to participate. Numerous students were there to show support, and their cheers were earth-shaking. They had a lot of hope for this competition. Everyone was looking forward to their team winning grandly.

As the reserve, Wang Zheng was sitting at the reserve bench and clapping his hands loudly.

Chen Xiu and the beautiful girls were sitting on the first row. Tyrant Su had already bought all kinds of snacks and props. He was a professional.

When Masasi appeared, the entire stadium cheered raucously. After which, the referee introduced each member of the team. When he reached Meng Tian, the cheers were so loud that even the deaf could hear it. The allure of a beautiful lady was clearly significant.

At the Apollo College's team's seats, Lear gave an indifferent look at Meng Tian. Although Meng Tian could feel his gaze, she avoided it.

The competition had started.

Ma Xiao, being an experienced member and also the previous captain, was the first one to act. He was not unfamiliar with such an obstacle race. Although this year was harder, it was not particularly surprising.

3 minutes and 10 seconds was the previous record. Every time Ma Xiao's conquered an obstacle, the crowd would cheer. The cheers also encouraged him, causing him to perform quicker.

His final result was 3 minutes and 19 seconds. He was slower than the record by 9 seconds. However, the difficulty was significantly higher this time. This was definitely a good result, so the entire stadium applauded.

Next was was Jiang Bin's turn. He was slightly weaker and had a time of 3 minutes and 50 seconds, but it was still within 4 minutes, so Jiang Bin received quite a lot of applause.

However, the members of Apollo College and Zeus College already had looks of disdain on their faces. In fact, someone were already laughing.

When Meng Tian appeared, although there were less female members, no one looked down on the females. For a female to appear in a competition, they were definitely much stronger than normal men.

Meng Tian's movements were nimble and agile. They were very efficient with little wasted movements. This had a lot to do with her body size, as her long legs were used perfectly.

3 minutes and 2 seconds. Meng Tian had broken the school record for the previous competition. The applause was so loud. it seemed like the place had exploded. This was well deserved for the school's flower.

After the competition, Meng Tian coldly returned to her previous position.

When Zhang Shan appeared, Student Zhang waved his two hands and tried to hype the audience further. The audience gave face, especially those from the Physics Department; they cheered even louder.

In the end, Zhang Shan took 3 minutes and 9 seconds and had also broken the previous record. This led the males of the Physics Department to feel absolutely shocked.

It was too impressive.

Chen Xiu was jumping around at the side while screaming loudly. It looked as though he was trying to intimidate his opponents.

The last one to appear was Masasi. Everyone wanted to know how well this special genius would perform. Would he truly live up to his name?

The entire stadium was quiet as they awaited Masasi's performance.

Masasi had a result of 2 minutes and 50 seconds. It truly caused the students' passionate cries to flare up!

This was strength!

This was the standard!

This was the strength of Ares College!

When the results came out, everyone was feeling extremely confident, as their performance had improved significantly.

Even the weakest member, Jiang Bin, had managed to maintain the standard and not let the team down.

Next was Campbell's team from Apollo College.

Campbell picked up the microphone and spoke. "Dear students from Ares College. If our performance in the competition gives you a shock, I am extremely sorry. Please face reality."

What was this situation?

The competition had not started, but Campbell had already declared victory.

Apollo College's students had the exact same body physique. It was absolutely the gold standard with those defined muscles they possessed. One look and one could tell that these were model elites.

The first one had a result of 3 minutes and 5 seconds.

The second had a result of 3 minutes and 4 seconds.

The third one had a result of 3 minutes.

The fourth one had a result of 2 minutes and 50 seconds.

Campbell had a result of 2 minutes and 30 seconds.

2 minutes and 30 seconds! This was the ability of Earth's military colleges' number one elite!

The entire stadium had turned quiet. It was just as Campbell had said before the competition. If they felt shocked, he was sorry. This was reality after all!

The truth was that they were too weak!

Even if they had a Masasi, so what?

It looked as though this year would be Apollo's victory.

Following which was Zeus College. Zeus College's strength was not too disparate; it was only a bit weaker than Apollo.

Lear Cronos also had a few words to say. "The waves of today will push away the waves from before. A new group of people will replace the old."

This was a provocation directed towards Campbell.

Over the years, those who wanted to challenge him had only faded with the wind. In the end, only Campbell had remained with a smile on his face.

Zeus College's first member to turn out was a fatty, Luo Fei.

Damn, even someone with such a body could fit into a mech?

Was Zeus College trying to give Ares College some hope?

Very quickly the crowd was silenced.

He was truly a "flying" fatty. He was a high speed meatball. He finished the course in 2 minutes and 45 seconds.

Although he did not break Campbell's record, if the first member had such results, it gave the audience a lot of pressure.

Zeus College's situation was not the same; there were individuals of all shapes and sizes. There was even one who looked like a child. However, all of their results were under 3 minutes.

The last one to appear, Lear, caused everyone to become speechless. He moved like lightning as he weaved through each obstacle without losing speed at all. It looked as though he was extremely familiar with the course. It was as though he was in complete control of both the rhythm and his speed in the race. It was like watching a show.

At the end, he had actually decreased his speed slightly as he slowly took the last three steps across the finishing line. He had taken 2 minutes exactly.

This… demonstration!

Lear stood in the center of the stadium as he quietly looked at everyone. Although he was looking up at the audience members, everyone felt that he was the one observing them.

After refreshing the results, the one who had broken Earth's Tri-College Competition Record looked nonchalant. He could have cleared the course in less than 2 minutes, but he clearly chose not to.

Was it truly considered as a 2 minute record?

This was yet another blow to the confidence of the students of Ares College. The once confident students were now completely silent.

Lear once again looked at Meng Tian, but she looked away. She did not look surprised at the result.

Campbell was also shocked. He never expected to meet such an opponent. However, this was just the start; there would be plenty of opportunities later.

Just because one could run and jump did not mean that they were skilled in every aspect.

Waves had been stirred in the originally not suspenseful competition. It was as though a battle between old and new kings would erupt.

Campbell was the undefeated old emperor. Would this new individual by the name of Lear be able to ascend to the top?

The second competition, shooting.

In this sort of shooting competition, it was not merely just shooting targets. There were numerous people at the side attempting to distract the competitors by making noise. They would also wave their hands to do their best to distract. For the sake of fairness, only the opponents could create trouble for each other.

In such a situation, Ares College's results were even worse. Other than Masasi and Meng Tian, who still had decent results, the rest…

Zhang Shan truly hoped that he could beat up the opponent. That fatty actually went to bed a female in front of him. That bastard truly did not care about face. Even such methods were used.

Chapter 67: Sacrifice in Crisis

Translator: Abyssruler Editor: Lucas

Meng Tian was completely unaffected by the situation. Lear was sitting at the side like a gentleman, quietly observing her. However, her performance was just not as good.

When it was Zeus College's turn, Lear was the only who achieved full points.

Those that interfered with him felt as though they had been slapped across their faces. Lear did not react at all to their moves. Apollo College's students were quite insidious. They had even threatened Lear with knives. Although they were not allowed to harm other competitors, the knife was placed extremely close to the front of his face. Alas, it was of no use…

At that moment, a trace of ridicule flashed across Lear's eyes.

Campbell had only missed three shots and was ranked second.

He could finally feel the stiff competition awaiting him.

After the first day of competition, Ares College was completely relegated to a supporting role. Their performance was absolutely miserable. Jiang Bin had fired 50 shots in the shooting competition but missed 30 of them. He had set a new record for the worst possible performance.

At the end, even if one did not feel ashamed, everyone felt completely disregarded. It had completely turned into Lear and Campbell's fight. Even Masasi's performance only allowed him to take fourth place.

Before the competition, Masasi was the center of attention. Who would have known the result would have been so different?

The talent of the average individual on Earth was terrible. However, the cream of the crop was not at a point where they would be trampled by those from the Moon. From the beginning, Lear and Campbell had never put Masasi in their sights.

So what if he was an elite from the Moon?

The guests from afar did not give the organizer, Ares College, any face. After the two rounds of competition, Ares College was at the bottom for every event, and the disparity between the next place was immense.

There was one person who became famous after one battle, and that was Lear Cronus. He had managed to easily attain first place for both events while breaking existing records. At the same time, he had crushed Campbell underfoot. It was quite stunning. His performance in the competition had caused him to be firmly engraved in the minds of the journalists and military recruitment officers.

Gu Te's face was like the leaves swept away by the autumn wind. He could no longer even smile. Although Xiao Fei's theory had caused a large uproar, it only caused the media to scrutinize the school even more. Although this was supposed to be a good thing, it had ended up causing more trouble than good.

In the face of competition, feelings were unimportant.

What a military college needed was strength.

Everyone was originally cheering for the home team. However, towards the end, everyone felt quite listless, and a third had left because they could no longer bear to watch what was happening. They were being tyrannically oppressed!

Ares College was extremely quiet at night. Zhang Shan was just staring blankly into space. It was too depressing. They originally planned to show off their abilities during the competition but had instead been crushed. If it was not for Masasi's performance salvaging a scrap of respect for their team, they would have completely lost all face.

It could be said that Gu Te's plan for revival had a wrench thrown into it.

"Brother Shan, it's just the first day; there will still be opportunities for a comeback!" Chen Xiu consoled.

Zhang Shan's performance was still acceptable and was in the middle of the pack. Meng Tian also performed comparably. However, the problem was with Ma Xiao and Jiang Bin, who had dragged the team down.

Jiang Bin was, unfortunately, not skilled enough. Although he was considered outstanding during normal occasions, during the heat of the moment, he was unable to keep up. On the other hand, Ma Xiao was about to graduate. Thus, he was not as disciplined in maintaining his training. A single special training session was just not sufficient. Furthermore, Ma Xiao lacked tyrannical confidence for victory. To him, he had already lost three years in a row, and losing once more did not mean much.

Zhang Shan slammed his fist heavily against the table. "Damn it all! That bastard Lear is too arrogant. He does not even consider us an opponent!"

"It's not that he doesn't consider you an opponent, it's just that he doesn't consider anyone to be worthy of his attention. That bastard broke the records for both events in the competition. This is something we are just unable to match up with," Yao Ailun said as he shrugged his shoulders.

"Brother Ailun, don't be discouraged. It is at times like these that we have to support Brother Shan even more!" said Chen Xiu.

Yao Ailun stood up and patted Zhang Shan's shoulder. "I have to speak the truth to a brother. There's nothing exciting about this. The opponents are already so strong during the testing phase, can you imagine how ferocious they will be when they are in mecha? That bastard is just too strong. This just feels like adults bullying children."

Zhang Shan was extremely depressed. Before the competition, the instructor said that their current abilities would give them a fighting chance. However, this was in comparison to previous years' standards. Although they had improved, so had the rest.

Wang Zheng did not know what to say. For example, during the shooting competition, it was a competition where one had to shoot under pressure and distractions. Although Zhang Shan was usually quite an accurate shot, in that situation, his performance took a large hit. Compared to the opponents, who performed splendidly, especially Lear, they only showed how skillful they were.

The Skylink sounded. It was Zhuo Mu. Zhang Shan was too embarrassed to face his own instructor.

"Wang Zheng, Instructor Zhuo wants you to come as well."

As a team substitute, Wang Zheng had sat on the bench watching for the entire day. That taste of defeat was a bitter pill to swallow.

In the training room, all the members had arrived. It was completely silent as everyone hung their heads in shame.

Masasi was the only one with an expressionless face. However, he was still the Captain, and his team had lost spectacularly. He did not want to be too eye catching during the competition, but he did not expect the team to perform so badly. Regardless, he was still a member of Ares College, and if he lost too badly, he would lose all his radiance.

Although Meng Tian was still as icy as usual, her gaze held a trace of frustration.

Ma Xiao and Jiang Bin seemed quite nonchalant. They were used to it. It was said that repeated abuse would cause one to become numb, and this wasn't their first time.

After a period of time, the shame would gradually dissipate. This was their home turf after all, and they were still the kings here.

Wang Zheng did not even get the chance to perform today. After a short period of time, Zhuo Mu arrived.

Surprisingly, he was not thundering furiously. Instead, Zhuo Mu looked at the group and sighed.

"Tomorrow will be the last day I will be teaching at Ares College. Being unable to match up to others is not a humiliation. However, giving up after the first defeat is a sign of weakness. Regardless of the results tomorrow, I hope everyone will be able to demonstrate the full extent of their abilities. Don't have any regrets!" Zhuo Mu said calmly. With such results, he could no longer stay on, and dismissing himself was necessary.

Zhang Shan clenched his fist tightly. He could feel that Zhuo Mu was an excellent instructor during the period of training. Zhuo Mu's iron-blooded soldierly demeanor had boosted his morale, but he himself had not worked hard enough.

His gaze swept across the team. Even Ma Xiao felt slightly guilty. On the contrary, Jiang Bin was completely nonchalant.

"Instructor, during yesterday's testing, I injured my leg. I didn't realize it at first, but now it hurts. Can I be excused from tomorrow's competition?" Jiang Bin suddenly said. Everyone's gaze shifted over him. B**ch, what kind of bulls**t injury was he talking about? He was clearly trying to escape.

If it was the previous Zhuo Mu, he would definitely have flown into a rage. However, this time, he seemed unwilling to say anything. "One's path is chosen by oneself. You can go. Wang Zheng, do you want to give it a shot?"

The moment he was excused, Jiang Bin rushed out. For the entire first day, it was as though he was sitting on a pincushion. He had completely lost all face. The second day would only get worse, and he was unwilling to suffer to the end.

Wang Zheng saluted smartly. "Yes!"

His voice was extremely excited. Zhuo Mu stared blankly for a moment before shaking his head. "Kid, you will be using a real mech tomorrow. Are you sure you can do it?���

"Reporting to Instructor! I learned how to pilot a mech when I was at OMG. I think the controls should not be significantly different, and I am unafraid of humiliation!" Wang Zheng said directly.

Zhuo Mu gave him a bitter smile. Being able to pilot a mech and competing in one were two completely different things. The problem was that the competition mecha had been locked up and could not be used. Otherwise, even a few hours of practice on it would be good.

Right now Wang Zheng was the only choice he had, as the team could not be short of any members. Having stage fright was more shameful than losing. If news of this came out, Ares College would lose all respect. If they had lost the discipline of a soldier, such a military college should just close down entirely.

They might as well turn the college into a humanities college.

In fact, some individuals had already suggested doing just that. They would remove the military departments, as it could no longer maintain its status as one of the top three military colleges.

There were numerous colleges waiting for the spot to vacate and to take Ares' place.

Zhuo Mu was in no mood to continue admonishing them. There was no use in it. Although Masasi could perform better, because he was an outsider, he could not fully integrate into the place. It was nonsensical to suggest that he would give his heart and soul in competing for Ares College, and he was already performing excellently.

The students had left, leaving only Zhuo Mu. As he stared at the empty training field, his eyes became a little red. He had too many memories of this place. He wanted to do a lot of things, but in the end, he had accomplished nothing.

It was time for someone else to take his place.

But before that, he would stand proud for his last class.

Gu Te was also extremely depressed. The moment the competition ended, he had received numerous Skylink calls. Some wanted interviews, some wanted to ask questions, and some wanted to express their dissatisfaction.

Losing face was not a problem, but this time it was bad.

At times, the greater the expectations, the greater the sense of disappointment. He had great hopes for his little tricks, but it had brought about even greater disappointment. One had chosen to transfer schools, and while the other one had performed admirably, it was insufficient to restore the school from the brink of defeat. What was even more surprising was that the school's standards had actually dropped.

He did not know how the situation would have developed without Xiao Fei's scientific results. So many years of weakness had finally coalesced and exploded.

The parliament had also organized an emergency meeting. A single principal could not change the situation. Regardless of how brilliant he was, one had to know their limits. Although Gu Te was widely respected in the military and political circles, at this point in time, he should have voluntarily resigned instead of holding on to the end.

Although Xiao Fei's results were great, it would not restore a military college's splendor.

To Gu Te, this was also an extremely tough night. Many times it was harder to hold on than to give up.

On the second day, although the mecha competition was extremely enticing for the students, not even half the stadium was filled. Yesterday's defeat had sunk in deeply, so no one wanted to be further abused today.

Xiao Fei originally wanted to go to the Moon for a meeting on the Moon's Sol Federation's Federal Academy of Science, as her discovery was undoubtedly the most astonishing one of the year.

However, after yesterday's grievous defeat, she and Marcus had put their plans on hold. Regardless of the situation, they were still a part of Ares College.

The moment Xiao Fei appeared, the entire field burst out into applause. Perhaps only Professor Xiao Fei could redeem a shred of the students' dignities.

Zeus and Apollo Colleges' students had also stood up to applaud her. Xiao Fei's discovery had already been verified by the Sol Federation. Although it was being submitted to the Milky Way System for further verification, regardless of the situation, this was something that every student had looked up to.

Chapter 68: Threatening Cheers

Translator: Abyssruler Editor: Lucas

A string of armored soldiers stormed out from the entrance of the stadium. The crowd could not contain their excitement

The model used for the day was the military college standard Lingyun series WE training mecha.

The competition segment for today involved piloting through obstacle courses, shooting, and the most popular, mecha battles.

To lighten the atmosphere as well as to save a little face for Gu Te, Apollo College led the battle.

This phase of the competition tested the mech warrior's reaction speed as well as agility. After completing the obstacle course, the warrior would have to hit the target within three seconds of entering the region of assault.

After yesterday's mistakes, Campbell was deeply affected. He wanted to perform to his fullest potential in this segment, as it was his forte. Thus, he volunteered to be the first representative.

He was extremely familiar with the Lingyun series WE training mecha. He was also highly ranked in this competitive segment.

The students of Apollo college stood up and cheered upon Campbell's entrance. Upon the command, the WE mech rushed out. The feet of the mech pounded the ground with astounding impacts. Campbell's speedy advance, dodging, leaping, and transitions clearly showed the competence in his technique. This was not a game. Every action resulted in substantial pressure on the human body and would distort the actions of the mech if not controlled well. It was a balance of two different concepts.

At both sides of the stadium, soldiers controlled the laser attacks, which would cause the mech to halt upon contact. Campbell leapt into the sky in an aggressive somersault, successfully dodging the attacks. The crowd roared, and even the students of Ares College were impressed by his stunts.

Campbell successfully landed and slid forward on the mech's knees. Immediately, he took out the laser gun. Bang bang bang.

Bullseye.

The target was destroyed

In a single breath, a perfect run was executed.

Campbell emerged from the pilot seat and then waved to the audience. Beads of perspiration had formed on his forehead, but he was still in full spirits.

Mission complete, 2 minutes 10 seconds.

The other participants of Apollo College that followed all managed to complete their missions in about 3 minutes each, a far cry from Campbell's score.

The total score achieved by Apollo College was 14 minutes 23 seconds.

The two colleges with the best scores would advance into the final round of battle, while the last college would be eliminated from the competition.

As though it was a battle of the fittest, Zeus College too rolled out their best warrior first – Lear.

All eyes had been on this all-around genius, yet little was known about his mecha piloting skills.

"How I wish for him to mess up. A freshman like him should be weaker in this segment," Ma Xiao said.

Mecha control required both time and experience and thus, the freshmen tended to be weaker in this area.

"It is his strongest segment," Meng Tian said. The group stared at him speechlessly

"Cronos Group, PJ, is the largest military weapon supplier on Earth."

Everyone was in a daze. It was no wonder the middle name Cronos sounded familiar. Lear was of a different league altogether.

Lear had already entered the WE Mech. It was a relatively old model that he had stopped playing with when he was a kid.

Upon the gunshot, Lear's mech sprung into action. For an instant, the entire audience was dumbstruck.

This…

Everyone could only see a mech advancing in a straight, undisturbed line at the speed of lighting. The attacks were dodged with high frequency motion as though it was child's play.

No one had even noticed when the laser was fired. The blows were superimposed onto the target in three accurate fires.

1 minute and 45 seconds.

The pilot cabin's door bounced upon. Lear jumped out from the cabin and landed effortlessly on the ground. One could barely tell that he just completed the battle competition, as he looked totally fine.

Ma Xiao and everyone gulped. He was incredible; he definitely exceeded the ability of a normal human.

At this point in time, everyone seemed slightly disheartened. It was no longer an equal playing field.

Campbell maintained a composed face but was feeling worried and fearful deep down. Lear's experience with the mech exceeded his expectations. He could not imagine how one could complete a series of difficult maneuvers so effortlessly.

Masasi, on the other hand, was not dumbfounded. He knew that entering the list meant that one was a legendary existence, and he had set it as his goal.

Lear Cronos was truly using an ox's knife for this simple matter[1].

Lear Cronos' performance hyped up the morale of the Zeus College students. However, it could have been too early to start celebrating. The flying fatty followed behind Lear. He started off very well but messed up towards the end of the obstacle course, as he was trying too hard to show off his skills and did not complete his final attack within the three seconds limit. The punishment was another two minutes added to the score, bringing Zeus College's total score to fifteen minutes.

This was a huge set back, and it sent fists flying into the air for Apollo College. Although they had a lower individual rank, Apollo College's combined score defeated that of Zeus College.

The final battle was to follow. Campbell versus Lear. It was a match between a newcomer and an experienced player.

Campbell glanced at Lear, but Lear appeared disinterested in him as an opponent.

As they passed by Ares College's position, Lear looked at Masasi. "Tell Victor that Earth is my territory and that he should watch himself"

Masasi smiled faintly. "Senior, I hope you can make a trip to the Moon."

"Defeating him is only a matter of time," Lear said, in a calm and natural tone.

Masasi did not contest this statement, as it was not something that was worth arguing over.

Lear turned towards Meng Tian. "You should return if you are done exploring. Do not cause unnecessary trouble."

"Sorry, I do not believe you are that close to me," Meng Tian replied.

"Such a place will just lower your standards." Lear remained nonchalant. His statement must have greatly offended at least half of Ares College's students. However, he still had the skill to back his words up.

After returning to his seat, Lear stared coldly at Luo Fei. That fool had nearly messed everything up. Luo Fei recoiled in fear.

"Lear, you should pay less attention to girls; they do not cherish good guys."

Yue Jing spoke in the gentlest of tones and handed Lear a towel.

Lear ignored her gesture and looked her in the eyes. "I hope your advice works."

��Don't worry, I understand girls."

Yue Jing smiled charmingly. At this moment, she was behaving humbly and switching up the most benevolent side of her.

The last round was for Ares College.

The audience cheered for the home team. Ares College would try to secure the entry to the final round regardless of what might happen.

The first competitor was Ma Xiao with a below average score of 3 minutes 10 seconds.

Masasi followed behind with a close score of two minutes thirty seconds. Frankly speaking, Masasi had not fully adapted to the gravity of Earth. However, given Lear's achievements, it was not a valid excuse. Given that Campbell was the best competitor from Earth, they might have caused others to look down upon the standards of the competitors from Earth.

Meng Tian was up next. Zisu and the other girls formed a line at the railings to cheer for her.

True enough, Meng Tian's performance did not disappoint. She had a total score of 2 minutes 50 seconds. It was score worthy of envy by her fellow comrades. It was obvious that she was very familiar with her mech piloting skills. As an elite female competitor, she was much more flexible in her control compared to her male comrades.

Ares College was starting to see hope in the face of desperation. Zeus College's penalty gave Ares College a chance at entering the finals. Although Ares College may not surpass Apollo's score, it was still possible to defeat Zeus College's score.

All eyes were on Zhang Shan. Zhang Shan was starting to feel the pressure, but it was even worse in the face of hope.

The guys at 007 were anxiously waiting. Yao Ailun drew a cross across his chest. "Dear lord, please bless us till the end, we will win as long as our score is not the lowest. "

Zhang Shan strode forward in his mecha suit. Before he had even traveled ten meters, he was shot down by the first wave of attacks. The impact was heavily felt and his speed immediately declined. It was obvious that Zhang Shan was anxiously fighting against time, but he failed to dodge a second attack. In the end, the mission was successfully completed, but his score was a total of 6 minutes. Sighs traveled across the stadium.

Zhang Shan left the cockpit disappointed, pounding his chest in annoyance.

"It is normal to pay a price for experience, young man. Take it as a lesson learned."

Adonis smiled. To be frank, the results of the first three competitors frightened him. However, once they entered the finals, Lear's competency meant an easy victory. There was no room for mistakes.

Currently, the total score of Ares College was 13 minutes and 13 seconds. This means that the last competitor will have to finish his mission within 1 minute and 30 seconds for Ares to enter the finals.

This in itself was an impossible task!

Zhang Shan's head sunk into his hands. How could he lose his calm at this critical moment, especially after he had been boastful about his abilities?

"Are we still going to compete?" Jamal knew that it did not matter much at this point, as the outcome was almost certain.

"There is still a substitute competitor. To be frank, it doesn't matter now." Adonis felt at ease by the scores.

Even clay people would feel angry, but Gu Te felt extremely disheartened. "Take a look, the substitute competitor is Wang Zheng, whom you guys were extremely curious about."

"Eh, you mean the physics brat?"

"He is also interested in mecha?"

The curiosity of the two principals was stirred.

Zhuo Mu gave Wang Zheng a pat on the back. "You can choose not to compete."

To be embarrassed in front of so many people might lower his self-esteem and affect his future development. Moreover, Wang Zheng had barely gotten any specialized training.

"Sir, I would like to give it a try."

Zhuo Mu nodded. "Go ahead, give it your best shot!"

At the VIP lounge, spectators were exchanging whispers. It was such a pity, but this was fate. No matter how unfortunate, this was life.

At this instant, a clear voice shouted out from the audience. "All the best, Wang Zheng!"

Aina…

The students looked towards the direction of the voice in a daze. A journalist even took a photo with the title "courage in the face of despair" in mind for article.

But this wouldn't change anything.

It was only a substitute player. At this point in time, the audience paid little attention to him.

Another person from the VIP lounge stood up. "Wang Zheng, you rascal, give it your all. If you don't, don't even think about coming to listen at my lectures anymore."

Xiao Fei…

Wang Zheng touched his nose. Who was it that was cheering for him..

He jumped into the mech's cockpit. It felt exactly like his training, but Wang Zheng felt his blood running. He made sure that everything was connected properly and tried to lift an arm and move a foot.

Sigh!

This was too cool. It was actually a real mech. This was what he had been waiting his entire life for.

[1] It's a variation of the saying using an ox's knife to butcher chickens. It means that Lear's actions were just overkill.

Chapter 69: God's Rhythmn

Translator: Abyssruler Editor: Lucas

The force exerted when piloting a mech was very comfortable on the muscles. However, it was difficult to implement it in CT and hence could not be felt. To a fighter, enduring this force was another kind of satisfying experience.

As abnormal as it was, this was the spirit of a true soldier.

There were bursts of laments and chatter in the stadium. What was happening? Was it even possible that Ares College had no one left? Why was this kid dawdling about?

Wang Zheng randomly swung the mech's legs. His action looked hilarious, resembling a puppet.

At the end of the day, the commentator was still a member of Ares College and thus was quite forgiving of his actions.

"Seems like Wang Zheng needs to warm up. Since he's the last one to enter the stadium, can everyone give him a round of applause?"

Deep down, however, he wondered if this chap would instead run away from the stadium and oncoming battle…

The stadium resounded with applause.

Yao Ailun and Chen Xiu were already covering their eyes.

"F**k, this chap shouldn't act smart if he doesn't know anything. Our 007 Alliance is in jeopardy."

"Tyrant Su, what is wrong with Wang Zheng? Does he know what he is doing? Didn't you say he was skillful?" An Mei asked furiously.

Yan Xiaosu cowered a little. "My brother is passionate, but he didn't have any training previously. Perhaps he will create a miracle…"

Xiaosu's voice was getting softer. He was gradually losing his faith in Wang Zheng.

"Miracle your ass! It is going to be tomorrow's headline news!"

Everyone looked at each other. Some were watching blankly while some seemed to be in dismay. It didn't matter at this point; only with defeat would Ares College find the space and motivation to push for greater heights.

"Wang Zheng, are you ready?" The staff felt that the whole stadium was getting impatient.

Wang Zheng signaled with an "OK" hand sign.

Bang….

A gunshot was fired, the last run had begun!

Wang Zheng's mech engine roared while Campbell and the rest were caught off guard.

He was operating the engines at full capacity. This gutsy guy was not even trying to be careful.

With an explosion, the WE mech charged forward.

The chaotic stadium quieted down in an instant. What on earth was that thing!?

The mech soldier headed for the target in a beeline, totally disregarding the obstacles in his path.

Frequency shifting!

NO!

It was pressure shifting!

It was not a passive usage of frequency shifting but rather the active usage of frequency shifting to redirect the enemies' attacks. The attacks were completely wiped out as they hit empty air.

The roaring WE mech darted into the skies like a rocket. It was unstoppable! To reach the fastest speed, the WE mech did not make any large movements.

But what about the attack?

Time was almost up!

Bang….. Bang….

Only two shots were fired. One more shot was still required.

No matter how accurate they were, three shots were the bare minimum!

However, after the third shot was fired, it was definitely time out.

Bang…

A cold light appeared, hitting the target.

Boom…

Wang Zheng rotated at high speeds for four rounds before steadily halting.

After a split moment of bewilderment, the crowd cheered boisterously.

1 minute 29 seconds!

上帝啊!

My God!

All the students went crazy. At the crucial moment, Zeus College was eliminated from the competition.

Ares College had qualified for the finals!

In order to save the last few seconds, the laser was fired while a titanium knife flew alongside the shots for a distance of 30 meters to accurately hit the target.

When the two actions synergized, it was truly impressive!

Everyone was stunned.

Jamal and Adonis were in dismay. What was happening?

"Honestly, old friend, what was that about? Hiding such a talented student till the last moment."

Jamal laughed. He was truly jealous of Gu Te's capable student.

Not to mention, he was an earthling, a treasure to behold!

The most miserable was Adonis. At the last moment, the ambitious Zeus College was disqualified from the competition.

The teammates gave the fatty an earful.

Fatty burrowed his head underneath his arms while sitting helplessly on a chair. He had made a clown out of himself when he was only trying to put on a good show.

An Mei and the other beauties jumped up in excitement. " Wang Zheng, good job!"

"An Mei, you are pulling my ears? Please be more gentle," Yan Xiaosu said helplessly.

But very quickly, An Mei hugged Tyrant Su and planted a passionate kiss on him. Immediately, Yan Xiaosu grinned from ear to ear.

"Not bad, both of you are still quite reliable!"

Everyone's blood boiled, and they jumped around and threw punches into the air.

At this moment, something deep within everyone was awakened.

No one was born to be willingly stepped over!

Ares College's biggest problem was the lack of leaders!

They lacked people with leadership skills!

Ma Xiao was not qualified to lead, as he was too easy going and lacked ambition. Masasi couldn't be a leader either because was too distant from Ares College. The success or failure of Ares College was of no concern to him.

At this moment, the entire stadium was filled with cheers and applause.

The celebration was only a temporary one. The best had yet to come.

For the final challenge, each of the final two teams had to send one representative to enter a massive battle.

Apollo's team would surely pick Campbell due to his proven track record.

But what about Ares College?

Apollo's choice was clear: Campbell was their ultimate weapon. However, Ares College was having an issue choosing a representative.

In terms of mecha battles, Ma Xiao and Masasi performed the best, mainly because Ma Xiao had years of training and battle experience. While Masasi, on the other hand, was very strong. However, now there was also another element thrown into the mix: Wang Zheng, who appeared out of the blue.

Was it even possible to use a series of high level movements in a mecha battle?!

"It is safer to choose Masasi!"

"I support the decision to choose Masasi. Campbell will definitely crush Ma Xiao."

"Why don't we give Wang Zheng a chance? Just a moment ago, he was able to turn the tide!"

"Uh, having the ability to run fast doesn't mean he is able to fight well, so Masasi is still more reliable."

The students were having discussions of their own. It was unknown when, but the stadium had started to fill up with people. In fact, the whole stadium was starting to get jam-packed.

An unimaginable counter attack had played out at the last moment, and Ares's successful advance into the final battle was unbelievable, so many students had made their way back hastily to watch the rest of the battle.

Many of them had been playing CT. After suffering from such a shock, the battered students went on to CT to find meaning to their existence.

Zhuo Mu also felt that this was not an easy decision to make. "Wang Zheng, do you have any battle experience?"

"Nope, I only operated a mech once during my internship."

In fact, during the OMG internship, he had merely walked a few steps.

Masasi stood up abruptly. "Instructor, at the last moment, it was Wang Zheng who got us into the finals. Personally, I feel that he should be the one to finish the last battle."

Masasi volunteering to step back helped to hasten the decision process.

Wang Zheng himself felt nonchalant about the representation

In fact, Zhuo Mu thought the same. Masasi was indeed very talented, but winning or losing had little impact on him.

"It is decided. Wang Zheng shall be the one to represent Ares College. Wang Zheng, you have been given a chance to fight in the last battle, make good use of this opportunity. It doesn't matter if you win or lose, just fight for the sake of Ares."

Zhuo Mu gave Wang Zheng a hard slap on his shoulders to motivate him.

Campbell was already ready. He hoped that his opponent was Wang Zheng. It was surprising to not reveal such a talented soldier until the very end.

The crowd went crazy with cheers when Wang Zheng stood up from the players' seats. Although no one had high expectations, they cheered for him in encouragement.

Failing was not as scary as being seen as a coward.

The Zeus College students were feeling indignant. On the other hand, Fatty was still the attention of the crowd. Lear had calmed himself down and was looking forward to the battle.

Wang Zheng entered the mech's cockpit. He touched the screen window lightly and the external view was clear and distinct. The innovative touch system allowed a human to communicate with the mech to bring out its fullest potential.

.

Finally, he was going to battle.

"Wang Zheng, do not be nervous. Although Campbell's right hand skills are very impressive, you still have to be wary of his left hand.

"He is left-handed and possesses immense power in his left hand."

Although Zhuo Mu did not know if the information would be useful, he was still trying to fulfill the responsibility of being an instructor.

Wang Zheng paid no attention to these things. The outside world had vanished. He was focused and only knew that at long last, he was able to pilot a mech in a live battle.

The competition began with a resounding cheer.

The moment the titanium knife was held up, the stadium was filled with tension and excitement.

Humans are indeed strange lifeforms. The instinct to fight is deeply embedded in their genetic makeup.

The two mecha flew straight at each other. Bang….

A huge shockwave was created upon impact. Compared to CT, this was on a whole new level. During a CT fight, the body would not be able to feel the shockwave. However, the real-life collision caused the muscles to tighten, and the impact was felt throughout the human body.

Campbell immediately noticed that the opponent was not accustomed to the pressure and that his control was very weak.

The titanium knife dazzled under the sunlight as it lunged towards Wang Zheng. Campbell was known for being observant of the little details; he could immediately identify the opponent's capabilities and react accordingly.

This moment would allow him to show the world his potential and to pave a way for his future military prospects.

Campbell's WE mech jumped around the whole stadium. He had a thorough understanding of mecha fight. On the other hand, Wang Zheng only had the ability to pilot the mech but had not yet been defeated at this point.

The whole stadium cheered continuously, while Aina sat quietly, supporting her chin with both hands while looking at Wang Zheng battle. She knew that Wang Zheng's performance in CT was extraordinary, but how would he fare in reality?

Some people could be a God in a virtual world yet in reality were too afraid, unable to transfer their CT experiences to real life.

Aina believed that Wang Zheng was not that sort of a person, as Wang Zheng had previously saved her life.

Although he was in a disadvantageous situation, the Ares College students' cheering never weakened. It was all the students could do to give him strength.

Zhang Shan followed suit and waved his fists, forgetting about the previous setback.

"Wang Zheng, take control of the engine, withstand his assault! Get through this round and he is useless!"

Although Campbell's attacks were ferocious, Wang Zheng's staggered defense was not too shabby either. Of course, Campbell chose to perform spectacularly instead of merely trying to win. Winning was not an issue for him. His priority now was to leave a chance for the higher-ups to study his abilities comprehensively.

Little did he know that Wang Zheng's muscles were slowly familiarizing with and adapting to the battle techniques he used.

Bang…

A titanium knife stab disrupted Campbell's attention, then his WE mech staggered backwards and came to a halt

With this, the whole stadium cheered even louder. Wang Zheng knew that it was time for a counter attack.

Chapter 70: War Heroes

Translator: Abyssruler Editor: Lucas

Campbell was stunned by his opponent's strength to withstand his mech's attack.

Wang Zheng took the chance to rush forward while Campbell was still wondering what had happened.

He immediately executed a jump slash!

Bang….

When a mech leaps forward ferociously, its armor is placed under severe pressure. In CT, movements can be made easily, but in actual battle, it requires a tremendous amount of strength to do so. Simple movements are, therefore, the way to go, unless you are able to destroy the enemy in a single strike.

Bang…

Campbell had held the initiative for the whole fight, but that last ferocious strike by Wang Zheng caused him to lose his momentum for the first time in the competition. He immediately utilized a skillful kick to the side to restore his balance.

Both of the fighters kept attacking each other with no rest in between

Bang….

Campbell's mech swung to the left side as he was struck by Wang Zheng. Just as he was about to retaliate, an arcing light sliced towards him.

Bang…

They were exchanging blows with their titanium knives aggressively. Sparks were flying everywhere. After blocking a strong attack, Campbell realised that he could not afford to look down upon his opponent, Wang Zheng.

But it was too late.

A direct attack was about to hit him.

Crack!

Campbell's WE mech took a direct hit and staggered backwards a few steps. The last hit caused his mech's energy to decrease by one third. Considering how the last round of crazy attacks against Wang Zheng had only depleted Wang Zheng's mech's energy level by one fifth, he was clearly in a disadvantageous position.

Wang Zheng did not follow up with an attack but instead stabilized his mech soilder and stood there quietly.

The last strike by Wang Zheng had demonstrated his complete metamorphosis into a mech pilot. Perhaps not many of the people felt it, but to Wang Zheng, it was akin to the transformation of a butterfly from a caterpillar.

He could do it!

He was strong and almighty!

On the other hand, Campbell was feeling listless. Holding the titanium knife in his left hand, he was determined not to let it happen again.

Campbell's mech's shoulders drooped a little and he activated the engines again to signify the anger he held within him.

The audience could feel their hearts clench as they could feel the anger Campbell possessed.

Campbell's mech approached Wang Zheng thunderously with a totally different state of mind. Campbell was being serious this time round.

Campbell's mech treaded forward strategically, consistently weaving in and out and making it difficult to determine his attack pattern.

Bang….

His titanium knife swung towards Wang Zheng with tyrannical force. Three consecutive strikes were dished out.

With just three strikes, he was placed in an advantageous position. However, the real battle was yet to begin.

Campbell did not stop after three strikes. He continued attacking while holding his breath. This time, four streaks of light arced towards Wang Zheng.

One slash… Two slashes… Three slashes… Four slashes….

Campbell was unable to appease his own anger as he continued on with the attacks. This type of strategy would deplete an average soldier's stamina rapidly. But in Campbell's case, he was able to do so because his opponents, more often than not, ran out of stamina before he did.

His confidence came from his unrelenting amount of training every day, as well as his self-confidence!

Bang bang bang…

Another three slashes were directed at Wang Zheng… Wang Zheng's mech was under a high amount of pressure and was about to crumble. Most importantly, although he was able to withstand the attacks, the mech���s energy was depleted by half.

Eighth slash!

Bang….

Wang Zheng's mech soldier suffered a direct blow. Both Wang Zheng and Campbell's mecha were left with less than 50 percent of their energy. It was a battle of attrition.

Campbell did not seemed to be tired at all. He dished out another slash towards Wang Zheng in a straightforward manner.

The closest target was the pilot's seat. It could be extremely intimidating to witness the attack up front.

This was Campbell's signature Nine Lightning Strikes. It was unstoppable; no one could withstand it.

However, Wang Zheng's mech responded quickly and managed to retreat safely.

This defensive move required a high level of control by the mech pilot and an ability to work with inertia.

But at this distance…

Would he even be able to dodge?

Direct attacks were the most efficient and effective but also the easiest to identify.

The distance was perfect, and according to the speed of the attack, this final slash was bound to miss.

Was Campbell's signature Nine Lightning Strikes' unstoppable record about to be stopped?

No one understood more than Campbell that Wang Zheng was about to dodge the attack at this distance.

But he was Apollo military college's representative, Campbell!

Campbell's mech palpitated and unimaginably advanced forward for a second round of attacks, breaking through his own physical limit!

He had his target locked on, and he did not have to hide his attacks anymore

Tenth slash!

This was Campbell, an unrelenting champion who was always striving for self-improvement.

The 10th slash dazzled the inspectors, as they originally wanted to see Campbell's performance improving!

This was exactly what they had wanted.

A warrior that possessed immense talent and an unrelenting heart for self-improvement.

Bang…

The whole stadium was in shock. They were confused that Campbell's inexplicable follow up slash did not strike the target.

Wang Zheng's WE mech's right hand held onto Campbell's mech's left wrist tightly.

At this moment of desperation, how was he able to think of such a defensive tactic?

Even if he could, was his body fast enough to respond?

Zhang Shan was already drenched in sweat, and he was so nervous that he almost died when he saw Wang Zheng grapple with Campbell!

Wang Zheng exerted the mech's full power and wrenched strongly. Campbell, who was already unable to control his mech, was pulled along by Wang Zheng's sheer force. Taking advantage of the force of momentum, Wang Zheng dodged sideways, and Campbell's attack hit empty air. His mech had even lost its balance!

The two mech soldiers intertwined, and at this moment, Wang Zheng's backhand-gripped knife swung towards him!

A silver arc sliced towards Campbell.

Bang…

The mech's armor activated emergency deceleration as the defensive shield collapsed.

Both mecha stopped simultaneously. Everyone held their breaths, trying to digest what had just happened.

The hatch for the pilot cockpit opened abruptly and Campbell escaped before the mech's head detached from the its body.

Sparks flew in all directions…

The whole stadium was very quiet. The WE was a model developed specifically for practice. When the energy shield was completely depleted, it would activate an emergency mechanism that deactivated both dueling mechs. Evidently, even the system did not expect Wang Zheng's final strike.

During that final clash, Wang Zheng's backhanded attack was actually three slashes executed at a high speed.

Wang Zheng's unrelenting wrist and finger strength training had produced this minor technique.

In this battle, it was truly a critical move. It was nearly impossible to estimate the amount of damage that it had caused.

"Wang Zheng from Ares College has emerged as the victor!"

When the judges announced the result, all of the students in the stadium jumped and cheered joyously.

It was a play completely going against normal expectations!

Jamal stood up and approached Gu Te to congratulate him.

"Congratulations, perhaps Ares College has a chance to witness the rise of an extraordinary warrior."

"Thank you."

Gu Te finally came to his senses. Not even in his dreams would he had expected this spectacular result for today's competition.

"Old friend, you are being too petty. Not letting your best soldier fight till the final crucial moment, that isn't good." Adonis laughed.

"Haha, old friend, Lear will be the future genius. We look forward to the future battles between them!"

Both of them knew that with Campbell's graduation coming up, the new generation belonged to Ares College and Zeus College.

Adonis was feeling regretful. The stage was originally set up for Lear to perform, as no one was a match for him. But due to the lack of opportunity and luck, Wang Zheng took the stage and became the main actor.

However, this was good news to Lear. He was too powerful, so strong that he could not find an opponent of the same standard. This was an obstruction to allow him to meet stronger opponents and grow.

There would be many future opportunities for the two to fight.

Perhaps Wang Zheng could be the one to revive Ares College and bring it back to an era of glory.

Wang Zheng had been praised and hailed by countless of people.

Today, Wang Zheng was the hero of Ares College!

He had made a name for the age-old college and infused new life into it.

Amidst the crowd, Masasi faintly smiled at Lear as they exchanged glances with each other. It was a subtle agreement that something interesting was going to happen.

Masasi had completed his mission. Lear was definitely almighty and had a perfect character. Never once was he angry at his teammates when they made mistakes. Moreover, another target had been found – Wang Zheng.

They were the twin Gemini of Earth.

It was created with reference to the solar system. However, who was the real king of the star?

Masasi had only one king in his heart – Akerloose Victor!

For many years, Ares College had never tasted victory, so there was a huge celebration, and it was livelier than any other celebration in years.

Although Wang Zheng was the main actor, Ma Xiao, Masasi, Meng Tian, and Zhang Shan had played important roles as well. This was a team effort. Without them, they could not have achieved today's result.

After this battle, Meng Tian was acclaimed to be the goddess of war, a well-deserved title for a beauty.

All Wang Zheng wanted was to spend the rest of the time alone with Aina, but it was impossible with his sudden achievements.

Wang Zheng was the key person of the event. He was constantly praised and surrounded by people.

Away from the crowd, Aina grinned, as she was happy for Wang Zheng. Moreover, she believed that Wang Zheng would become even better and finally realize his dreams.

After all, it was inevitable that she would eventually leave his side.

Every girl dreamed of being in a relationship with someone she loved. Romance did not have to have an ending, and this was especially true for Aina's case.

She mustered up her courage and confidently withheld her own emotions. From a young age she was taught to control her feelings. It was part of her upbringing as the next queen to put her nation's interests first.

On the battlefield, Wang Zheng was brave and invincible. Yet now, Wang Zheng was looking around helplessly for Aina. She knew that he was looking for her, but she wanted him to enjoy the taste of victory that he earned.

Outside of the school, a seemingly normal, black car appeared out of nowhere.

"Your highness, are you planning to go back so early tonight?"

Aina quietly nodded. Sometimes she imagined what it would feel like to be a normal person, doing the things that she liked, being her rebellious self, and enjoying life.

Sadly, for a princess, self-indulgence was considered a luxury.

"Astonished? Meng Tian and Wang Zheng are too fitting as a couple. They are similar to a prince and a princess in fairy tales!" An Mei said.

It was wise of Principal Gu Te to organize a banquet. Although he was old, he was not old fashioned. Ares College's students needed a break to fully enjoy their victory.

Yan Xiaosu curled his lips. In his mind, he was thinking "what a pity," as his boss was already in love with a real princess.

"What kind of look was that? Aina may be pretty and has good qualities, but what use is it? Not that I am biased, but personally, I feel that she will not stay with Wang Zheng for long. Moreover, she is very mysterious. Speaking of which, where is she now?"