Chapter 25

Chapter 25

"It's deliberate! Shengshan Academy is rigging the draw!"

Donald's provocative gesture successfully enraged a crowd of Artemis students!

The typically genial expression on Yan Yan’s face turned noticeably indifferent.

He hadn't expected Donald's accusation to be of this nature, implicating maneuvers not on the field of play but beyond it.

"Quiet down, the principal is already aware."

The teammates on the field could only temporarily suppress their rage, fists clenched tightly.

Carl, standing on the high platform, his facial scars contorting, said with a sneer to the principal of Shengshan Academy, “Your students at Shengshan Academy have quite the tactics.”

The principal of Shengshan Academy struggled under Carl’s gaze, stiffly retorting, “This is a student competition, not a battlefield, Principal Carl. There’s no need to be so stringent. Isn’t it normal for Artemis to have many advancing students potentially facing each other?”

Carl scoffed, “Indeed, such a scenario would never occur if Shengshan Academy hadn’t been entirely eliminated, would it?”

The principal of Shengshan Academy maintained a rigid expression.

No one else showed any inclination to defuse the tension.

Shengshan Academy was at fault to begin with, and offending Carl over this issue was not worth it.

The emperor, resting his chin on his hand, instructed a confidant, “Go see what the crown prince is up to. If he’s unoccupied, have him come to watch the match.”

The confidant acknowledged and withdrew.

With the draw results already announced and the live stream on StarNet underway, a redraw was impossible.

Otherwise, it would turn into transparent manipulation.

The competition proceeded as planned.

A tacit understanding prevailed among the other three military academies.

Before returning to his seat, Milton Su deliberately said to Lin Fu, “You look a bit pale. Can’t handle the intensity?”

Lin Fu responded with a smile, “No need for concern.”

Milton Su, with lifted red lips, quipped, “Then I’ll extend an early wish for your successful advancement to the finals.”

Not only Milton Su but everyone from Artemis had noticed Lin Fu’s pallor.

As the team moved along, Yan Yan switched places with a teammate to walk beside Lin Fu, whispering out of camera view, “If you can't hold on, forfeit early. The principal won’t blame you.”

Lin Fu replied, “It won’t affect me.”

He was resolute in his decisions, so Yan Yan refrained from further persuasion.

The giant projection screen displayed Lin Fu’s pallid face with striking clarity. Noticing the keen interest many had in Lin Fu, the flying camera swooped down a few meters, fixating on Lin Fu’s face for an uncomfortably close half-minute shot.

His enlarged face filled the entire screen, his irritation evident as he frowned at the stray hair falling over his brow, his raven-like lashes half-lowered, concealing most of his pupils.

Realizing the intrusive camera angle, his eyelids swiftly lifted, revealing a pair of pitch-black eyes shimmering in the light.

“Holy shit! Save me!!!”

“What should I do, I find myself so smitten!!!”

“Damn, damn, damn, that look just killed me!!”

“My God, he really hit me hard!! I just realized how handsome he is!!”

“I apologize, I can’t bring myself to criticize him anymore! How can I even start?!!”

“I'm starting to feel sorry for him too, his complexion looks terrible!!”

Cheng Jiu, gazing at the projection screen, unconsciously sat up straighter from his slouched posture.

The moment he saw Lin Fu look up, it felt as though their eyes met.

Instinctively, he recalled the look Lin Fu had given him on Monroe Star.

It was indeed captivating.

Numerous thoughts raced through his mind in an instant, but his attention was quickly drawn to the unnatural pallor of Lin Fu's lips.

He had been brimming with vitality just yesterday.

It was implausible for a mere simulated team battle to have weakened him to this extent.

It must have been poison administered by the Lin family.

He decided to have Jing Cun thoroughly investigate upon their return.

The competition officially commenced.

The protective barrier is activated to safeguard the audience from the impact.

As wave after wave of participants descended, Lin Fu watched the arena closely, scrutinizing the combat styles of the three military academies.

Students from the same academy, tutored by the same instructors, inevitably exhibit similar styles, leading to shared weaknesses.

When it was Yan Yan's turn, Lin Fu's attention became even more focused.

Yan Yan's opponent was Milton Su.

It must be said that this was all too convenient for Milton Su, making it difficult to rule out collusion involving the other academies in this opaque maneuvering.

Zhong Si leaned in close to Lin Fu and Tang Qian, murmuring indignantly, "Now I understand why Senior Yan said our school was being ostracized! This must have happened many times before; they're ganging up on us! How can they call themselves reserve soldiers!"

Tang Qian consoled him: "Our school ranks first."

Being targeted doesn't change this fact.

Zhong Si was not consoled, growing even more indignant: "That just proves our school could be even more formidable!"

Lin Fu rested his hands on his abdomen, his right fingertip caressing the little finger of his left hand, the cool touch of the signet ring sharpening his focus.

"Their alliance is nothing but a loose sand, lacking in true unity; it's not worth fussing over."

Zhong Si's indignation froze as he asked, puzzled, "Is that so?"

Lin Fu replied, "Yes."

Yan Yan and Milton Su had already entered their respective mechas.

Milton Su's mecha was a fiery red, stripped of all thermal weaponry, save for a large saber.

Yan Yan's mecha was a smoky blue, its weapon was □□.

In a sense, these two represented the pinnacle of the younger generation's combat prowess, drawing exponentially more attention.

Yan Yan said amiably, "After you, Mr. Su."

Milton Su, unceremoniously, gripped the saber with both hands and, in a flash, covered the distance between them with a horizontal slash. The upward-tilting tip of the blade compressed the air, emitting a faint popping sound, and ferociously aimed straight for the vital points.

The entire mecha blazed like an exploding fireball, sparks flying, filled with a ferocious will to fight!

The smoky blue mecha retreated swiftly, stepping into a safe zone through the gaps. Its left hand wielding the □□ swept across, momentarily suppressing the large saber and causing a tremor that briefly numbed Milton's arm.

She switched hands, slamming the tip of her blade into the ground for leverage, displacing the □□ and with a backhand flick, she shattered the clamp and leapt toward the neck of the smoky blue mecha.

Her saber techniques were wide and fierce, giving no quarter. In her presence, Yan Yan’s □□ failed to gain the slightest advantage.

He was violently shaken off, crashing against the protective shield. Milton seized the opportunity, her saber cleaving into the energy store.

Yan Yan rolled awkwardly to dodge, his □□ piercing through Milton's right arm, the clanging sound accompanied by the dance of electric arcs.

The severe damage to Milton’s entire right arm, coupled with the feedback of excruciating pain from the mecha's neural link, froze her momentarily, her movements delayed by the agony.

The next instant, she switched hands and, disregarding her impaled right arm, lunged forward ferociously, her blade cleaving down on Yan Yan. The immense inertia tore her entire right arm asunder, and in a brief moment of shock, Yan Yan too suffered a blow to his energy store.

With a "click," the mecha was rendered inoperative.

The battle was over.

Milton laughed heartily, "Yan Yan, I've won!"

*

Lin Fu exhaled.

Even by his standards, Milton was ruthlessly efficient.

Her mastery of the saber was exceptional; compared to her, Yan Yan's spearmanship paled.

She truly was a formidable opponent.

Both retrieved their mechas and returned to their seats among the audience.

The ordinary spectators who had purchased tickets to watch the event live were ignited with enthusiasm, continuously chanting Milton Su's name, in turn amplifying the cheers for the Hui Lion Academy!

Although it was a pyrrhic victory, it did not change the fact that she had defeated Artemis.

This generation was finally witnessing the rise of the Hui Lion as the sovereign!

The students of Artemis Military Academy appeared disheartened, but faced with Yan Yan's pale smile, they couldn't help but rally their spirits.

He smiled reassuringly, "Don't be disheartened. Who says one can't lose? Milton is strong. You can help me win back what's lost. Keep your spirits up for what's next."

Next up was Tang Qian.

He was paired against an A-level sentinel from Men Carlton Academy.

Both being of A-level, the major difference between them lay in the duration of their training at their respective military academies.

Just before taking the stage, Lin Fu grabbed him, whispering, "Don't go head-to-head with them."

Tang Qian nodded, "I understand, don’t worry."

The student from Men Carlton Academy entered the arena with a smile at Tang Qian, exuding confidence in his impending victory.

Tang Qian nodded in return, exchanged polite greetings, and then boarded his mecha.

This match took everyone by surprise, ending unusually quickly and cleanly.

The moment the match began, Tang Qian rushed forward, plunging his blade neatly into the opponent's energy store, leaving himself unguarded and allowing his chest to be pierced in return.

It was a risky one-for-one trade-off, but his mecha remained operational. Enduring the excruciating pain, he could easily claim victory.

The student from Men Carlton Academy emerged from the cockpit cursing, "Damn lunatic! Are you out of your mind?"

Tang Qian, pale as a ghost and looking like he might collapse at any moment, swayed as he nodded, politely bidding farewell, and withdrew his mecha to return to the audience seats.

Lin Fu opened his mouth to retort but ultimately held back his words, "You go rest."

Tang Qian shook his head, wanting to watch Lin Fu's match, but a look from Lin Fu was enough.

Reluctantly, he complied, "Okay."

A senior who had already completed his match escorted him away.

Next was Zhong Si.

With Tang Qian's example fresh in mind, his opponent did not underestimate Zhong Si.

Unfortunately for the opponent, Zhong Si was of S-level, while they were only A+; and within the S-rank, Zhong Si was among the elites.

Had he not chosen to compete in this school anniversary tournament prematurely, when he reached the same grade, he would likely become a team leader like Yan Yan, emerging as a new pinnacle of strength for the next generation of Artemis.

It was a tough battle, but victory was secured without any real danger.

With two consecutive wins from the newcomers, the expressions of Artemis Military Academy's students improved considerably.

Lin Fu looked up at the big screen where the names of the contestants were flashing, then rose to head toward the arena.

The crowd from Artemis whispered words of encouragement: "Good luck!"

Lin Fu's opponent was not particularly strong.

The opponent probably thought that, as a mere guide, Lin Fu wouldn't require a formidable challenge. He was just a shoo-in.

Lin Fu found this assumption to be a shoo-in as well.

Clutching the necklace storage device he had received from the instructor, which contained his mecha,

he prepared to deploy the academy's communal mecha.

The moment it was released, not only the opponent but also the spectators were taken aback!

"What’s going on!? That mecha is ancient, battered and peeling. Isn’t he the young master of the Lin family?"

"Oh man, I feel so bad for him, really!"

"Has the child suffered some abuse? It’s bad enough being a guide in a military academy, but to compete with such a dilapidated mecha?"

"It’s over. Being a guide, he’s already at a disadvantage in strength, and now his mecha is far inferior. He’s bound to lose."

The moment Cheng Jiu saw the full view of Lin Fu's deployed mecha, he couldn’t help but sit up straight, his lazy demeanor vanishing, and his brow furrowed in concentration.

This change lasted only a few seconds; he soon leaned back in his chair, picked up a fruit, and began peeling it slowly, his eyes not returning to the projected screen.

Once the initial shock wore off, Lin Fu's opponent was completely reassured.

With such a decrepit mecha, even a miracle couldn’t secure a win.

It seemed he could coast into the finals.

Lin Fu, catching a glimpse of his opponent's relaxed demeanor, composed himself and boarded his mecha.

A mental link was established in an instant, a state with which he was long familiar.

The dull headache persisted, but it didn't hinder his performance.

As the battle commenced, it was a complete domination.

The old mech, its paint peeling and an eyesore to behold, was pinned down and struck repeatedly, barely able to retaliate.

Cheng Jiu, hearing the noise, glanced up briefly and then resumed peeling his own skin, seemingly indifferent to the match.

Yet, his frown deepened.

It shouldn't be like this.

"Thud!" Another muffled sound echoed.

The mech was dragged and forcefully impaled into the ground, the impact scraping against the eardrums.

Some couldn't bear it.

"What's the deal with this Carlton? Can't he just end the match? Does he think he looks cool by beating him up like this!?"

"My heart aches, my beauty is already under the weather, damn it!"

"This is the most frustrating match I've ever seen. Can't he just finish it with one blow!?"

"My fists are clenched."

"Thud—" Another sound resounded.

But this one was particularly loud, its noise traveling far and lingering long.

Then, the black mech remained standing while the opponent inexplicably fell, motionless.

Smoke billowed from the energy chamber.

The black mech's cockpit opened, and the pilot emerged, his fine hair damp with sweat, sticking in strands to his temples and forehead.

His complexion was deathly pale, but a feverish flush tinted the corners of his eyes, and his chest heaved with his breaths.

It was a pitiful sight, yet possessed a peculiar beauty.

Especially when displayed on the big screen, every bead of sweat on the tip of his nose was crystal clear. The intensity of his gaze was so captivating that it was impossible to look away.

He stood atop the mech for two seconds, agile in his movements like a cat, then leaped down, landing gracefully on the ground.

A pyrrhic victory.

However, upon seeing his final posture, Cheng Jiu's eyes softened, and he leaned back in his chair in good spirits. He tossed a piece of fruit into his mouth, the sweet juice overflowing.

The kid's pretty skilled.

Lin Fu's victory, somewhat inexplicable, garnered countless cheers.

At first, seeing a guide step onto the arena, most were dissatisfied, even angry. Now, they were utterly captivated by his victorious demeanor.

The change in attitude was perplexing, yet it seemed entirely justified.

*

After the match, on the way back, Yan Yan glanced at Lin Fu and smiled.

Lin Fu met his gaze.

An expression of innocence covered his face.

Yan Yan's smile grew more helpless: "Tell me if you need anything, I'll help."

Lin Fu didn't refuse: "Thank you, senior."

Returning to the villa, Lin Fu rubbed his neck, exhaling a breath.

It still hurt quite a bit.

But the effect was good; he could tell by the expressions of the others as he left.

There was no doubt at all about his victory.

Those who haven't spent much time with Lin Fu would find it hard to gauge his true level.

Moreover, after the preliminaries, his pale complexion had surprised many by managing a narrow victory.

With this, tomorrow's victory will come much more easily.

Underestimation, in the midst of battle, can be fatal.

After his shower and changing into fresh clothes, he lay in bed, replaying the battles he had witnessed that day.

Suddenly, the window rattled, and the system's notification followed: [Host, there has been an intrusion within your living area.]