It was announced that the top three teams could choose their supplies for the next round of the mecha competition.
But Qilin, as the third-place team, didn't really have much of a choice. They just had to wait for the first two military academies to pick and then take whatever was left.
Still, having something was better than nothing. Couldn't they see the other two military academies watching eagerly from the sidelines?
Valk remained aloof; even after losing second place, they didn't glance at the other teams once.
The organizing committee announced the venue for the next mecha match: Planet Kashile.
It was a planet completely covered in black sand, with massive amounts of rare ores buried deep underground!
However, due to its harsh climate, perennial drought, extreme temperature differences between day and night, and its close proximity to a black hole, it was frequently invaded by star beasts and mutated beasts, making the entire planet unsuitable for human habitation.
Only when the Federal Resource Department came to mine ores would they request a military armed escort, bring supplies, and stay there for a few months.
And this period happened to be the mining off-season.
The Third Military Region had been notified in advance to lock down Planet Kashile. Although they dispatched personnel to garrison and observe, they hadn't cleared out the star beasts for a month.
They would also provide full protection during this competition. These star beasts and mutated beasts were perfectly suited for the military academy kids to practice on!
The Qilin team members could hardly conceal their excitement upon hearing this news!
They were intimately familiar with desert arenas! If you hadn't been in a desert, you'd be too embarrassed to call yourself a Qilin!
Who among them hadn't been swallowed by quicksand, swept up by sandstorms, chased by mutated sandworms, or knocked out by the sun a few times!?
Black sand was still sand! Wouldn't this be their home turf!?
Chao Hao tried to use his eyes to tell the students to hide their emotions! Don't show your happiness too obviously, or the others might gang up on you later!
Wang Tianwei held it in so hard that her face twisted into an expression of deep bitterness and resentment...
On her first day in the mecha department, the maintenance class had taught her how to clear out sand and seal mechas!
Later on, every mecha she built had dust prevention as its primary consideration!
During the pre-match special training, who knows how many days the four of them had spent in the desert!?
Wasn't this playing right into their hands?
Hahahaha! No, I must stay serious! I can't let others see how happy I am!!
Except for Huang Yan, the faces of the other three were more or less contorted.
When Fu Manli turned her head, she was startled. She quickly walked over to Zhang Lyra and the others, lowering her voice,
"Can you hold it? Wait until Huang Yan finishes drawing the supplies before you go to the bathroom."
"...Teacher, it's not like that."
The reporters on the perimeter hadn't stopped taking photos and recording,
"Isn't Qilin based on Planet Shuomo? Why does everyone on the fourth squad look like they're constipated?"
"Did they get constipated just thinking about the desert?"
"Look at those two teachers, they're the same. Are they confident or not?"
Did Chao Hao hear that?
He did, but how was he supposed to explain it now?
It was hard for him to guarantee he wouldn't laugh out loud! Heaven was finally smiling upon Qilin for once!
After the competition rules were explained,
"Would the First Military Academy, which scored the highest points in the last match, please come forward to give a speech and select their supplies."
"They get to give a speech!?"
Wang Tianwei wasn't very satisfied. Weren't they supposed to just pick their stuff and leave? Why was there time to show off?
He Siyu walked steadily to the microphone, her dark brown eyes looking straight ahead. Despite her young age, she had already formed her own unique aura.
"The First Military Academy is ready to face all challenges, and next, we will show everyone our victorious bearing."
The standard white school uniform made the young girl's figure look tall and straight, adding a bit of credibility to the words coming out of her mouth.
After her speech, the people below applauded spontaneously.
Wang Tianwei's eyes burned brightly,
"When we take first place in the next match, we're going to show off big time too! Sir Huang, remember to think of a speech in advance!"
Huang Yan raised an eyebrow,
"Just focus on winning. Leave the rest to me."
Jian Jingyu chuckled twice,
"Don't worry, Sir Huang can definitely show off better than them!"
Zhang Lyra looked at the First Military Academy team below the stage,
"Umm, so are we going to have to keep a straight face the whole time like them?"
"I don't think that's appropriate. Let's discuss this in detail later..."
Their conversation was completely captured by the reporters on the side!
Hey, he was a fan of Qilin!! This segment absolutely had to be broadcast!
After He Siyu finished speaking, the First Military Academy began to select their supplies, and everyone craned their necks.
There were three cards placed on the long table. From a distance, it was impossible to see what they were.
He Siyu approached. One card read "Protective Shield (per person)", one read "Mecha Energy +1 (per person)", and one read "Nutrient Fluid x21 (per person)".
With the competition venue on Planet Kashile, protective shields and mecha energy were both essential items.
According to the rules, each person could only carry one backup energy block, but Planet Kashile had extreme temperature differences between day and night. Plus, they had to earn points by killing star beasts and mutated beasts, and finally, they had to find the academy button worth 300 base points. It really might not be enough...
The protective shield could protect their personnel and mechas from sand and dust, whether they were on the move or resting, but it could only protect against sand, dust, mosquitoes, and other small animals.
Nutrient fluids were the first to be eliminated. This competition allowed contestants to bring their own water. Over seven days, even if they didn't eat anything, they wouldn't die, let alone with so many star beasts around?
After thinking it over carefully, He Siyu chose the mecha energy.
This match was an eight-to-five elimination, based on a point system.
Leola and Lucas were both skilled enough. If they stayed for a short while in the early stages of entering the desert, making a few modifications to the mechas would prevent a lot of sand and dust from getting in.
Their goal was to continue taking first place, and having an extra energy block would be much more useful.
"The First Military Academy selects 'Mecha Energy'."
He Siyu picked up the sign and turned around. Teacher Selena nodded slightly, very satisfied with her choice.
The second-ranked Santorini didn't need to give a speech. Elizabeth, wearing a dark blue uniform, stepped forward, looked at the remaining two signs, and chose "Protective Shield" without hesitation.
She walked over to He Siyu with a smile,
"Thank you for leaving the protective shield for Santorini. We were just lacking this."
He Siyu's eyes didn't waver,
"You're welcome."
Huang Yan didn't need to choose. He stepped forward, saw the last sign for "Nutrient Fluid", and couldn't help but twitch the corner of his lips. He held it up and waved it at his teammates,
"Yes! Yes!! Beautifully done!"
"Sir Huang, this is great!"
"I knew it! With our godfather here, he'd never let us go hungry!"
Shobu Yusei from Valk heard the noisy sounds and cast a cold glance over. A motley crew.
The top two teams couldn't help but look sideways as well. Was the leftover nutrient fluid really worth them getting so excited about?
Lucas was always suspicious,
"What's going on? Are they acting for our benefit already? Are there no star beasts in the desert? Or can they not find anything to eat?
Isn't Qilin very experienced... Are we really going to starve for seven days?"
Xu Mo glanced at him,
"Bring more water. With sugar and salt, you won't die if you don't eat for seven days."
Wang Kaiyu understood his sister's obsession with food, so he knew they were genuinely happy...
"Don't worry, we'll dig up a few sandworms when the time comes. Roasted into jerky, they'll be enough to keep you fed for days."
"...Gag."
