It wasn't until the early hours of the morning that the number of star beasts landing on Planet Kashile finally decreased. According to the safety instructor, this was because reinforcements from the Second and Fourth Military Districts had arrived.
"Thank you for your hard work, everyone. Our people will take over now, and you can go rest."
The soldiers of the Third Military District had just been transferred from the front lines. After a night of fierce combat, everyone's eyes were bloodshot.
"Sir, we can still keep going."
Fu Xingyuan was the first to speak up.
They were just cleaning up the ones that slipped through the net; how could they possibly be more tired than the frontline soldiers?
"Even if you aren't tired, you need to rest. Today's shift change is at exactly 11:00 AM.
Before eleven, everyone is to finish their personal matters and assemble here on time. That is an order."
"...Yes, sir."
After Third Military District Second Lieutenant Ling Yingzhe finished speaking, his gaze swept over the young girl standing at the very front of the Qilin team. So this was the cross-grade super-class mech designer who could create transforming mechs. He finally got to see her in person!
The moment the transforming mechs appeared in the live broadcast, they were heavily monitored by the Third Military District.
After last night's star beast extermination operation, the safety instructor reported that their squad performed outstandingly in combat, rescuing people, escaping, and even attracting star beasts!
The switching between the various forms of light and heavy mechs was also incredibly practical, catching those star beasts off guard. The lethality was beyond question; even he was extremely envious!
To be honest, who wouldn't want to pilot a mobile fortress at any time and show those star beasts a thing or two?
It was just that the military district hadn't obtained the authorization yet, so they didn't dare ask the mech designer for the blueprints for the time being, and they truly didn't have the time right now either...
The soldiers all knew that the scale of this star beast tide was massive, and the situation on the front lines was not optimistic. Even with the reinforcements from the other two military districts, they could only barely hold them off, reducing the number of star beasts falling onto the surrounding planets.
Moreover, almost every star beast coming out of the M19 black hole this time had mutated. One careless move, and a person could be splashed all over with the flames or venom they spewed.
Just defending against the first wave of the beast tide left many mechs in need of major overhauls...
Their main purpose in being sent back, aside from protecting the kids, was to clear out a safe zone on Planet Kashile that could be used for soldiers to take shifts resting, repairing mechs, receiving medical treatment, and resupplying.
As for the Third Military District's vital resources, things like starships and high-performance thermal weapons had to be prioritized for the front lines!
He had also seen the children's requisition list. 80 percent could be transferred over, though a few high-spec parts couldn't be found for the moment, which he had just informed everyone about.
"Second Lieutenant, I had Pingle escort the students to the resting area."
That area was one they had just cleared out. They set up a special-grade energy shield around it and temporarily designated it as Base Camp.
Ling Yingzhe shook his head.
"Understood. Distribute nutrient solutions to the soldiers. Tell everyone to push hard; if we hold out for another half day, we can rest."
"Yes, sir."
The students from the six military academies dragged their exhausted bodies back to the camp.
They had just been acting tough saying they weren't tired, but in reality, the moment they touched their sleeping bags, they couldn't get back up.
After fighting all night, Mika's nasal passages and throat started feeling uncomfortable again, but she forced herself to endure it without saying a word.
Compared to her, the soldiers of the Third Military District clearly needed the medical pods more. A condition like hers was hardly worth mentioning in a war.
"Cough, cough, cough."
Squad leader Elizabeth listened to the sounds coming from the person beside her and said worriedly,
"Let's go to the medical pod again tomorrow, okay? I'll talk to the safety instructor."
"Cough, cough, I'm fine. I'll be better after a sleep."
"...Sigh."
"Excuse me, is Mika here?"
Zhang Lyra's voice came from outside the tent. Elizabeth stood up, walked over, and lifted the flap.
"Hello, I'm looking for Mika. Your teammates said she was in this tent."
"...Uh, yes."
Elizabeth stepped aside to let Zhang Lyra in.
"Mika, someone from Qilin is looking for you."
Mika had already wrapped herself in her sleeping bag. She coughed for a good while with her back to the two of them before opening her eyes and turning around, only to find Zhang Lyra crouching beside her.
"Your ears are drooping. You're pretty sick."
"...Cough, cough, you're too close. Can you Qilin people have some sense of boundaries? Cough, cough, cough."
Zhang Lyra didn't say anything and handed over a blister pack of pills.
"Specific medicine for the respiratory system of demi-humans in desert regions."
Mika's eyes lit up. There was actually such good stuff!?
"Where did you get this?"
"It's a must-have for Qilin demi-humans. One of the students at our school comes from a family with a long medical history. I had him prepare it before coming here."
Only then did Mika reach out her hand to take the medicine, but she paused halfway.
"...Are you really that kindhearted?"
Zhang Lyra tilted her head in confusion.
"Hasn't the competition already ended? Or do you feel more at ease paying for it?"
"...How much do you want?"
"I'm joking..."
Zhang Lyra handed the medicine over, turning around to leave the Santorini tent.
Who knew how much Zhu Yu'an's family sold their medicine for to outsiders? Anyway, she had always gotten it at a friendship price. If she asked for too little, her classmate might be unhappy about it later...
"We are comrades now. If the medicine doesn't work, tell me. See you at 11."
"...Okay."
Elizabeth stood at the entrance of the tent and heard their entire conversation.
Looking at the retreating back of Zhang Lyra, and then at Mika, who was staring at the pill, unable to snap out of her daze for a long while, she asked,
"What are you thinking about?"
"Captain... she is kind of cool."
Elizabeth took out a waterskin and handed it to her.
"A little bit, but those guys from Qilin all love to show off... just take your medicine first."
"That is true..."
The mecha engineers from the five squads were frantically taking notes on their optical computers!
When questioned by the safety instructor today, Wang Tianwei said that the reason she could achieve cross-level super-grade was through continuous, unrelenting practice.
Not by slacking off in her comfort zone every day, but by pushing herself towards things she found challenging.
Every single day!
And that transforming mecha she designed—they really wanted to tear it apart and see how it works!
"Wang Kaiyu, put in a good word with our sister and let me dismantle one of the mechas to take a look! I am dying of curiosity here, seriously!"
Lucas shared a tent with Wang Kaiyu, and he had only gotten halfway through his notes before he started pestering Kaiyu to plead his case.
Kaiyu's sister was his sister!
He had just heard Wang Tianwei say that if she had time tomorrow, she would help Kaiyu upgrade his mecha's energy system. He was dying of envy!
If Sister Ma did not dislike Fu Xingyuan now, he would even be willing to risk a severe beating to offer the guy up on a silver platter! All just to get a few more looks at that transforming mecha!
"...That is my sister!
If you want to ask, go ask her yourself. Things are so busy lately, and the competition isn't even over yet. How could Qilin possibly let you dismantle their mecha?"
"Ugh, as a mecha engineer, who could possibly hold back?
Didn't you see it today? Do you know how massive the strike range of Zhang Lyra's mobile artillery battery is!?
And your sister's fighter jet... Ah, why isn't she my sister?"
"Stop dreaming and just go to sleep."
