Over the past two days, the students had quickly grown accustomed to their daily work schedules and tasks.
Times like now, when there weren't many star beasts around, were when everyone could take a short break and replenish their energy.
Everyone had a nutrient fluid pouch in their mouths; some remained in their mechas, while others headed to the temporary rest area to regroup.
Only the few from Qilin seemed to have an endless supply of brute strength, never resting from morning till night.
They didn't lack energy reserves. Jian Jingyu and Zhang Lyra piloted their respective mobile fortresses, luring the star beasts into one spot before following up with a barrage of artillery shells... They had perfected the art of baiting and slaughtering their enemies!
Huang Yan, on the other hand, focused on honing his mental strength. Locking onto a star beast, he would continuously torture it with his mental power. Afraid the beast might escape, he even asked Wang Tianwei for a large net made of some unknown material to trap it.
The students from the other military academies could literally read the phrase begging for life, unable to die on the hideous faces of those star beasts...
Once he tortured one star beast to death, he would move on to the next, never forgetting to carve out the usable parts of the beast as instructed by Wang Tianwei. Watching this, even Hiranuma Yusho couldn't help but twitch his mouth.
It was only because no one was supervising them right now. If they were on Planet Tianshu, with such twisted methods, Huang Yan would absolutely be sent to the psychological treatment room for a few days!
Meanwhile, Wang Tianwei drove her hovercar around collecting materials, and before she knew it, a crowd had gathered behind her.
Looking closely, they were all mecha mechanics from various squads. From time to time, safety instructors and people from the Third Military Region would also appear on the hovercar...
Don't ask why. If you ask, the answer is a gift from nature, it's free real estate! Didn't you see that even Leola from the First Military Academy's first squad was among them?
Initially, Leola, just like Wu Fangyu, looked down on these materials. Now, she was fiercely wielding a mace made out of star beast teeth.
Everyone's mechas had undergone some modifications to varying degrees. A large majority incorporated these pure, natural biological materials, while the remaining minority either hadn't lined up in time or hadn't found the right materials yet.
Wu Pingzhuo was drenched in sweat. Having used his mental strength too intensely while piloting his mecha, he had to step down into the tent to drink some water and catch his breath.
Beside him were several students from the same academy. Fu Xingyuan wiped the sweat from his forehead and, under the burning gazes of his teammates, spoke up.
No.
Tsk.
Wu Pingzhuo downed the rest of his water in one gulp.
I haven't even said anything yet!
You were looking at me like I'm a star beast.
Hehehe.
He Siyu, who was sitting opposite them resting with her eyes closed, laughed out loud upon hearing their exchange.
Wu Pingzhuo looked resentfully outside at the Qilin contestants who were still running wild all over the place.
Young people really do have great energy... and they don't have to worry about power reserves!
After speaking, he glanced at the white-haired Fu Xingyuan beside him.
Why doesn't she like you anymore? Did you get ugly?... You do look a bit tanner!
...
Captain, do you think if we sent Fu Xingyuan over, we could trade him for two transforming mechas?
Knowing that nothing good would come out of his mouth, Fu Xingyuan shot him a glare.
Do you think the captain is like you?
He Siyu waved her hand.
Don't flatter me.
If we could really trade for Qilin's ultra-S-class transforming mechas, I'd willingly drug you, wash you clean, and pack you off to the Wang family.
Although the aftermath might be a bit difficult to handle... it shouldn't be a big problem.
Elizabeth, who was resting nearby, also chimed in with a smile.
Aren't you going to break his legs? Wouldn't breaking his legs make it better?
First-year Ye Yingxuan adjusted the goggles on her nose bridge.
I can help with the aftermath. I just wonder how many mechas Wang Tianwei would be willing to trade for him?
Since the conversation had reached this point, Wu Pingzhuo regretfully pounded his thigh.
Sigh! Why doesn't she like him anymore? Girls change their minds too fast! Could she be faking it!? Should we test it out?
...
Expressionless, Fu Xingyuan stood up and walked toward his mecha.
Facts proved that one should never hang out with a bunch of black-hearted commanders... even if two of them were from their own school.
Wu Fangyu had completely let himself go.
At first, he merely experimented by making two saw blades out of a sandworm's serrated teeth.
Later, when Taylor found them useful, he simply started making chainsaws modeled after Wang Tianwei's saw sword...
This was a great thing about Qilin: they were generous to their comrades!
During this period, whether it was repairing mechas or modifying weapons, Wang Tianwei never hid anything from them.
Even though some of the things she made looked quite inconspicuous, every single one of them was incredibly practical in actual combat!
Sometimes he really wanted to crack open that person's brain just to see how it was wired inside!
This morning, the defensive shields they helped make out of star beast shells had already been taken by the soldiers of the Third Military Region to be tested on the front lines!
Although sometimes he felt a bit embarrassed... who would willingly give up such an opportunity? Didn't you see Leola and Lian Sheng following behind, handing over tools?
You have to understand that with Wang Tianwei's current skill level, if she returned to Planet Tianshu, she would definitely have a studio with dozens of assistants! Who knows when the next time they could learn from her at such close range would be...
He had already downloaded Qilin's recent livestreams as course materials, taking them out to watch frame by frame whenever he had time.
Although they were all fellow competitors, and he was even a year older than her, he dared say that among the six teams remaining on Planet Kashgar, there wasn't a single person who didn't respect Wang Tianwei!
An 18-year-old transcendent master-level mecha mechanic, heaven knows how she did it?
Even though, while watching the livestream replays, he was often shocked by her wild maneuvers, like driving his teammates through the mine shafts with a face full of excitement, ramming into bugs and drifting...
But then again, that guy Taylor's high-pitched screaming really was oddly addictive...
Wang Kaiyu, I found the right materials. Take off your mecha. Where is Lucas from your squad? Isn't he coming over to watch?
Coming, sis! He's busy over there...
Lucas? Who needs Lucas!? Don't you have me?
Wu Fangyu hurriedly chased after them, only to see that Leola, Lian Sheng, and Tabitha were already following behind Wang Tianwei.
Damn it... a step too late again! Are these three shadows!?
Wu Fangyu, you're here too. Want to join us? Let's finish up quickly; the commander said there might be another beast tide coming soon!
Yes, yes, yes! I'm coming!
Oh right, since you're all here, let me tell you something. You know Goldfish from our squad is having a birthday soon, right?
Are any of you celebrating a birthday soon? Well, you see, our Qilin squad has a tradition...
...Do we have to do it too?
As the safety instructor passed by on patrol, he looked at the group of mecha mechanics gathered together and nodded in gratification. It was truly remarkable that these kids could put aside their competitiveness at a critical moment to exchange experiences and learn from each other!
That was exactly how he had matured step by step back when he was a student.
