"...Wang Tianwei, what position are you even playing!?"
During the simulation exercise, Fu Manli's attention was mostly on Jian Jingyu and Zhang Lyra. Who would have thought the mecha engineer would hide in the back and snipe at her!? If she hadn't dodged fast enough, she would have been headshot!
This squad's fighting style was getting trickier and trickier... She really couldn't afford to slack off for even a second!
"Teacher Fu, leave me be! I'm playing flex!"
Missing her shot, Wang Tianwei quickly slipped away to find the next spot to provide support.
Over there, Chao Hao had just blocked Jian Jingyu's attack! Huang Yan appeared behind him like a ghost...
On his right, Zhang Lyra leaped high into the air, her lightsaber already closing in on his head!
Chao Hao clicked his tongue against his back molars. The last time he encountered such troublesome enemies was when he was fighting that gang of star pirates in the First Military District!
Pressing the "Transform" button, the golden mecha suddenly expanded, smashing Huang Yan's mecha into a "ball" with one punch, then casually swatting Zhang Lyra away, while his other hand thrust out a cannon barrel aiming at Jian Jingyu.
Over there, Zhang Lyra quickly stopped her backward momentum!
Landing with a roll, the "spikes" on her back all stood up, and over a dozen gun and cannon barrels of various types and calibers simultaneously aimed at Chao Hao!
If they kept fighting, it would turn into a heavy firepower bombardment...
"Alright, stop. We'll end it here."
Chao Hao stepped out of the simulation cabin and looked at Zhang Lyra speechlessly.
"You've added two more cannon barrels?"
Zhang Lyra stammered.
Well, they had won a few more matches, and with the prize money, she couldn't help but buy two discounted electromagnetic cannons...
Wang Tianwei had accidentally been kicked by Fu Manli earlier and was now limping forward.
"Teacher, you have to understand, we suffer from a fear of insufficient firepower!"
"You guys have beaten up all the sophomores and juniors... How did you even develop this phobia?"
"...There's always someone better out there!"
Chao Hao rolled his eyes.
"Fine."
Fu Manli got out of her cabin and asked with concern,
"You've all submitted your registration forms, right?"
"Don't worry, Teacher! Sir Huang submitted them on the very first day!"
"Well, this fighting style... although unorthodox, it will definitely catch people off guard in the arena!
After all, there aren't many teams where the commander and mecha engineer directly participate in individual combat...
However, Huang Yan shouldn't neglect his mental strength training. In these kinds of competitions, the clash between commanders is never easy.
The rest of you as well, don't neglect your primary roles!"
"Yes, Teacher!"
"Go on back."
After the four of them returned to their squad and sat down, Chao Hao walked into the middle of the students.
"I have an announcement. At the beginning of next month, the school will start the qualifying selections for the 'Fifth Military Academy League'.
The main content will be what we teach you in your regular classes: close-quarters combat, squad tactics, coordinated weapon operations... Those who signed up, prepare in advance."
"Yes!!!"
The students' roars almost tore through the roof!
"Class dismissed!"
The kids swarmed out, their chatter filled with discussions about either the Military Academy League or the school's internal challenge rankings!
It's finally here, the qualifiers!
Fu Manli watched the students' retreating backs.
"The spirit of this batch of students is really something else...
Haha, who would have thought that those few rich kids in your class wouldn't bring about a trend of extravagance, but instead spark a trend of intense studying and physical training?"
Chao Hao's face was full of satisfaction.
"With great power comes great responsibility... It's only good if they can keep it up. They're only freshmen right now."
Jin Xi had also just finished class. Passing by outside, he saw the two of them.
"Teacher Chao! Teacher Fu!"
He greeted them and pushed the door open to enter.
"I discussed it with Teacher Eugene, and we figure we'll get busy once the qualifiers start. Do you want to hang out before then?"
"Oh? Sure, what are we doing..."
**********
Jian Jingyu followed Wang Tianwei toward the mecha room.
"It feels like my mecha's joints need some lubricating oil; my movements weren't very smooth just now. Sister Zebra, can I borrow your tools to try it later?"
"No problem."
The two of them dove headfirst into the mecha design room, getting so busy they lost track of everything else.
Eugene nodded upon seeing the student earnestly working on a mecha. Then, looking behind her at the soldier who had dismantled his own mecha and was carefully applying lubricating oil, he fell silent for a long moment before ultimately choosing to leave.
Forget it, their squad probably had their own internal arrangements, right? A soldier dismantling a mecha... is actually somewhat reasonable...
"There's a challenge match at Zero Boundary this weekend. Besides the million-credit prize money, the reward also includes a rare material: Liquid Gold. Do you want it? @WangFamilyVaseDaughterAcrossTheHall"
By the time Wang Tianwei saw Huang Yan's message, it was already 6:30 PM.
Stretching her neck, she paused for a moment at the words "Liquid Gold," and then excitedly sent a voice message,
"Holy crap, Liquid Gold!! How much is there?"
"20kg."
"We are taking it!!"
That was Liquid Gold! Just hearing the name told you it was way more expensive than Liquid Silver!
A super S-grade material! Its ductility and hardness were extremely high, and it could even self-adhere!
She wouldn't even need to do any coating or reinforcement; she just needed to guide it with mental strength, and it would firmly attach itself to the required areas according to one's consciousness!
It could be drawn upon at any time during critical moments and could also be used as a shield or an offensive weapon!! It was simply top-tier material for ultra-high-level mechas!
The main point was that the production of this stuff was extremely rare, and it was very hard to buy! She had seen it auctioned a few times on the forums, and each time it was no more than 5 kilograms!
This time, there was a whole 20 kilograms!
Although her current mental strength wasn't enough to control this kind of metal, maybe by the time she finished Goldfish's S-grade mecha, she would be able to handle it?
Who would ever complain about having too many good materials!? She would definitely regret it if she missed out!
Huang Yan also knew this, which was why he sent the message. After seeing it, the two soldiers were also very supportive,
"For Liquid Gold! Let's go all out!"
"I think we can give it a try."
"Alright, the matches start at 9 AM and are expected to end before 6 PM. It'll all be done in one day.
Since the school is starting the Military Academy League qualifiers next month, I plan for this to be our last time competing at Zero Boundary this semester. Everyone, prepare in advance."
"Roger that!!"
Thinking about the properties of Liquid Gold, Wang Tianwei looked up a lot more information on the Star Network. The more she read, the more she felt she had to get her hands on it!
"I'll modify everyone's mechas again before the match! If we're going to fight several consecutive matches, we should use the best parts, right?! @Everyone"
"Agreed. My lightsaber also needs a new energy block."
"Remember to restock ammunition."
The four of them reminded each other in the group chat, and Wang Tianwei even made a special trip to the hospital to lie in a healing cabin before the match!
That morning, she also drank two types of nutrient fluids, all just to maintain peak combat condition!
Arriving at their squad's exclusive lounge at Zero Boundary, she was full of vigor and fighting spirit!
"Just do your best. It's a good opportunity to see where our true skill levels are at. Don't be stingy with the firepower today; I'm paying for all the ammunition!"
"Haha, Sister Zebra is so generous!"
When the light screen displayed the prompt for "QL's Greatest Threat" to enter the arena, Wang Tianwei couldn't wait and hopped on the spot a couple of times.
"Is everyone ready!?"
"Ready!"
"Let's go!"
