"Today is the promotion match! Sister Zebra, how did you sleep last night?"
Three pairs of eyes stared in unison at the person wearing a zebra headpiece in front of them.
This person had too little self-awareness. Jian Jingyu and Huang Yan were startled when they saw her dark circles hanging almost to her chin during class!
After asking about it, the group announcement was changed to "Wang Tianwei is strictly forbidden from staying up late to build mechas!"
"Relax, relax. I just got too intensely focused when modifying it that day... I slept well yesterday."
Wang Tianwei turned her back to the surveillance camera and lifted her headpiece.
"Look, if you don't believe me."
"At least you don't look so much like a ghost anymore!"
Jian Jingyu commented from beneath his Goldfish headpiece.
"..."
Ever since they caught her staying up late last time, these three had started monitoring her sleep... Not even Wang Yi had ever called her via video in the middle of the night to check up on her!
Huang Yan withdrew his gaze.
"Blame me..."
She usually looked pretty smart, who would have thought she was so stubborn?
There was no need to rush the mecha stuff. He really didn't know that his single remark would push Wang Tianwei to the point of not even sleeping properly.
Zhang Laila also blamed herself.
"No, blame me... If it wasn't for my mecha accessories..."
She knew how hard it was for Wang Tianwei, a B-rank mecha mechanic, to make A-rank accessories.
Some accessories would cost a fortune if bought outside!
Every time they ran into this situation, Tianwei would make them herself, then only charge her for the materials, claiming she was just practicing...
Over this long period, apart from her mecha looking increasingly square, its performance had gotten better and better!
It underwent a major overhaul a couple of days ago, and Tianwei was the one who found someone to help her...
"If we get promoted this time, I won't take the prize money. I'll give it all to you."
"What nonsense are you talking about? This is how the chosen ones make it through, alright!
When I become a premier mecha mechanic in the future, I can show off big time!
Besides, I really did sleep well last night, and I also finished the mecha design for Goldfish! I'll refine it next week and show it to you!"
Jian Jingyu's steady voice came from under the Goldfish headpiece.
"Mine isn't urgent. Anyway, there are still four years until graduation. Just make it for me when you have time."
"..."
You really dare to believe in me, damn it!!
Today, the team "QL Major Threat" was facing a squad named "Light of the Firefly".
Looking at their profile, it was a team formed five years ago. They hadn't participated in many matches, so they hadn't been promoted yet.
However, their win rate was almost one hundred percent, quite similar to theirs!
Having played matches in the Zero Realm for over two months, they had finally accumulated some fans.
"Major Threat versus Firefly today! Who are you betting on to win?"
"Firefly! They haven't lost a single match yet!"
"Emm, the Qilin side hasn't lost either, right?"
"But Firefly is a veteran team of five years! Their chances of winning should be a bit higher, right?"
"Hahaha, I wonder what tricks those few will pull today! Last time, the mecha mechanic of Major Threat dismantled the opponent's energy source!"
"The commander on Firefly's side is very formidable!"
"Yeah, an S-rank!"
Wang Tianwei stared at the character introductions. All four of their opponents were S-rank...
She turned her head, feeling stifled.
"Didn't they say A-ranks were rare? Why are S-ranks as common as cabbage in the Zero Realm? I haven't even seen many B-ranks!"
Huang Yan warmed up while piloting his mecha.
"Not many B-ranks come to compete, and even if they do, they can't make it this far."
There were no extra words, yet Wang Tianwei felt weirdly comforted... Then she was actually quite amazing!
Both sides stepped onto the arena, and the cheers from the audience surged wave after wave.
The four of them greeted the audience, and Jian Jingyu vigorously piloted his mecha to do a backflip!
"The B-rank mecha on the opposite side is well-designed."
Bei Liu, the mecha mechanic from the "Light of the Firefly" side, was quite intrigued.
It was rare to see someone put so much effort into a B-rank mecha. Looking at the luster of the materials, it must have incorporated spirit-alloy metal.
Its movements carried a uniquely human rhythm, unlike other mechas that were forced to dampen shocks due to overly heavy bodies, which showed that the smelting was quite perfect.
...It's just that making the face so square... Which old fogey's handiwork was this?
"QL Major Threat, the name is straightforward enough!"
"In the territory of Planet Shuomo, how many aren't from Qilin?"
"Hahaha, Yi Shao, it's rare for you to take a vacation! And you're actually willing to accompany us for a promotion match?"
"Isn't Qi Chengyan fond of collecting these? He'll keep thinking about it until he reaches LV2."
"...Aren't we bullying the kids too much today?"
Three of the opponent's mechas were the initial white issued by Qilin, and the only modified one was a B-rank mental strength... He felt a bit reluctant to strike.
"They look like students. Just try not to damage their mechas."
By now, the large screen had finished introducing the members of both sides.
"The match is about to begin, 5, 4... 1, 0."
The countdown reached zero, but no one from either side on the field moved.
Huang Yan sent a message in the team channel.
"Don't rush to attack yet... The opponents are veterans, let me observe first..."
"Oh ho, they're not moving!? Young people are getting smarter."
"Feng Yi, take two steps forward."
Feng Yi piloted his heavy mecha forward and stopped right in the middle. At the same time, following Yi Shao's instructions, he broadcasted his voice publicly.
"Let's not use firearms, alright? Are cold weapons okay?"
Jian Jingyu was dumbfounded.
"Sir Huang, what do they mean?"
Not using firearms reduced the lethality by more than just a little bit. Apart from their first match, they had never seen such a request.
For the opponent to say such a thing, it seemed they were already confident of victory...
Huang Yan pondered for a moment.
"Goldfish, Little Bear, you two go first."
"Alright!"
Jian Jingyu was someone who didn't know fear!
The two coordinated, one kicking the lower body, the other attacking the upper body!
Feng Yi grabbed Jian Jingyu's leg and flipped him backward, but Jian Jingyu surprisingly managed to land on his feet with a flip!
"This kid is good!"
Zhang Laila clearly kicked her target, but it felt like she had kicked a solid rock.
"He has gravity anchors on his feet! Aim somewhere else!"
Wang Tianwei followed Huang Yan to flank from behind. Seeing the equipment on the opponent's calves, she hurriedly called out a warning.
Huang Yan exchanged a few blows with the opponent and quickly realized something was wrong. The disparity in strength was too great... They couldn't win this round!
Firefly's light mecha came over to block his and Wang Tianwei's advance, and then a medium mecha separated the two.
At this moment, there was still one person on the field who hadn't moved, just standing there—it was Firefly's commander!
"You've got good moves, student. What grade are you in?"
The four of them had heard the same question countless times and had long learned to ignore it.
But this time, they couldn't help but want to speak!
Mental strength attack!?
Danger!!
Jian Jingyu and Zhang Laila gritted their teeth and refused to open their mouths, while Wang Tianwei was spared because she was further away.
Huang Yan immediately released his mental strength to protect the few people on his side.
"Ugh!"
Caught off guard, Feng Yi was kicked in the chest by the heavy mecha and sent flying several meters away.
"Damn! Feng Yi, can you handle this!?"
"Hiss! The opposing heavy mecha's brute strength is huge!"
