Chapter 91

Chapter 91

The individual competition progressed orderly into the third round. Before the official matches, under Duan Chenlin's pressure, the First Military Academy of the Empire's team had to publicly issue an apology for injuring the players from the Dark Star Military Academy, broadcasted live online.

“I personally feel very sorry for this incident. It not only violated the principle of fair competition, but also...”

Felix's voice was filled with reluctance. His furrowed brows and eyes brimming with hostility and resentment mirrored his persistently somber expression.

While reading the prepared statement, his fingers were clenched so tightly that the paper nearly crumpled.

Everyone knew Felix wasn't sincerely sitting there, but no one dared to say much. Several times, the team's coach had to subtly signal him to hold back, allowing the apology to continue.

In the eyes of the Empire's citizens, the First Military Academy symbolized absolute prestige and superior genetic status. Students admitted to this top-tier military school were either exceptionally talented or descendants of distinguished nobility, incomparable to ordinary people.

To them, the Dark Star Military Academy seemed nothing more than a makeshift group formed in exile, hardly significant. Except for Queqiu, the other players were viewed as no better than vagrants.

The contrast between the two was stark and overwhelming.

Therefore, it was almost comical to hear such disparate institutions, which would never intersect in a lifetime, being mentioned together by Felix, the top combat student of the First Military Academy, as he apologized to the Dark Star Military Academy. It attracted many eyes and was undeniably comedic.

Many abandoned watching the upcoming matches to witness this top Alpha's spectacle. Seeing him grimacing yet forced to sit in front of the camera and complete his public apology was a satisfying moment for many: Thrilling!

Finally, as the script ended, Felix didn't linger for even a half second longer and promptly left. However, both his and the school's reputation were tarnished, and soon, the star net forums were awash with posts about him.

Star Net>>>Hot Discussions>>>Across the Star Domain>>>

Topic: [Breaking! Felix, the top combat student of the First Military Academy of the Empire, just read his apology live! Video in main post!]

Main Post: "Hahaha, what goes around comes around, nobody escapes karma. Who would've thought that the haughty and arrogant top student of the First Military Academy would see such a day! Shared joy is double joy, everyone hurry and watch, archive it if needed, in case it gets deleted later."

[Video Link]

1L: "This story teaches us not to be too arrogant in life. Leave some leeway for future encounters."

2L: "I don't know what exactly happened, but why do I feel inexplicably happy seeing this guy getting a taste of his own medicine?"

3L: "Wonder who the brave soul was that managed to make this high and mighty Alpha swallow his pride and read an apology. Truly admirable!"

4L: "Hilarious, he looked like he wanted to flip the table but couldn't, forced to sit there like a good student and read his own apology."

……

87L: "Jeez, the guy just made a mistake, right? He did apologize. Are you all reveling in his misfortune? You're just jealous that Felix is a student of the First Military Academy and an S-class combat Alpha."

88L: "Classic, he almost didn't survive but 'I made a mistake and apologized' right?.jpg"

89L: "How are there fans here? Felix himself apologized, what's with the whitewashing?"

90L: "Might not be fans, could be the real deal showing up."

……

342L: "I watched that match. Although I'm not a fan of Dark Star, that Dark Star player named Dole was respectable. Despite the power gap, he refused to give in. Felix deliberately took out his frustrations on him. Dole was almost beaten to death by the end of the match, and with little popularity and general dislike for Dark Star, no one on Star Net stood up for him. Even as someone who supports the stronger party, I think Felix got what he deserved this time. Fans, stop trying to whitewash him with the blood of an innocent Alpha."

343L: "The incident with Dark Star Military Academy is a wake-up call. If Felix can abuse his power over weaker opponents like those from Dark Star, what happens when someone like me faces him? I definitely can't beat someone from the First Military Academy, and there are few in the Empire who could. Do we just deserve to be bullied at will?"

344L: "The previous post is overly anxious, surely it wouldn't go that far?"

345L: "Of course it matters. Otherwise, why would so many people be eager to see Felix mess up? Are people really that idle, ignoring exciting matches just to watch this turkey stumble through an apology?"

……

With more and more posts like this, the threads were on the verge of turning into arguments. It wasn’t until Queqiu's match was about to start that people hurried back to the live stream to watch his game.

After completing his public apology, Felix had a match to play. Fuming internally, he used his unsuspecting opponent as a vent for his frustration, overwhelming them effortlessly. Fortunately, the opponent forfeited in time, and considering the previous incident with Dole, Felix had been strictly warned not to be excessively aggressive, or it might have ended worse than Dole's ordeal.

However, a group of journalists, seeking excitement and not minding escalating the situation, saw Felix on the edge of erupting and still provocatively asked sharp questions to extract newsworthy content.

"Why did you act so aggressively against the player from Dark Star Military Academy in your last match? Was there a personal grudge?"

"It’s reported that due to your misconduct in the match, all individual competitors from the First Military Academy will start the elimination round with a three-point deduction. With such a disadvantage, do you and your teammates still have confidence in advancing?"

"Has this incident caused personal animosity between you and Dark Star Military Academy?"

Hearing the words 'Dark Star', Felix, already at his wit's end, snatched the microphone and, looking into the camera as if it were Queqiu, said fiercely, “Even if we start with a five-point deduction, the First Military Academy will easily advance to the finals. We're not some trash school that needs to resort to gimmicks for attention. Everything is based on strength!”

Gimmicks???

The journalists exchanged glances: Isn’t this the controversy and traffic we were looking for?

Their eyes gleaming, they crowded Felix, microphones and cameras almost poking his eyes.

“Felix, do you think Dark Star Military Academy’s decision to let Omegas join the combat unit and participate in individual matches is just a publicity stunt?”

“As an S-class top combat Alpha, how do you rate Queqiu's strength? Can he make it to the finals?”

“In that case, do you have anything to say to Queqiu from Dark Star Military Academy?”

The reporters all assumed that Felix’s mention of "special measures" was an innuendo about Dark Star Military Academy pushing Omegas to the forefront, not thinking any deeper or having access to more detailed information.

They were merely trying to stir up controversy between Alphas and Omegas, using Felix's words to create sensational stories for traffic.

Hearing the last question, Felix couldn’t help but snort coldly.

His appearance was quite handsome, but his eyes, filled with hostility, cast a gloomy and intimidating aura, making others keep their distance.

“Queqiu? He’s just a defective, healing-type Omega. He can't even fulfill the primary role of an Omega. What does it matter if he has some combat ability?”

As he spoke, Felix let out a scornful laugh: “Besides, he only won a few easy matches, showing no real combat strength, yet the media hyped him up as the strongest combat Omega. It’s simply ridiculous. Just a piece of trash…”

The more Felix spoke, the more heated he became, nearly letting slip the term "trash planet." Fortunately, he stopped himself in time, awkwardly changing his phrasing to avoid another blunder.

“Tch, just a popularity tool pushed forward by an insignificant planet for fame and profit.”

Felix's words stirred up a whirlwind of reactions. Discussions about Queqiu, which had been subsiding, were reignited by his interview, sparking renewed controversy.

And this time, the debates seemed to be intensifying.

The reason was not only due to Felix, an Alpha, criticizing an Omega's choice, which was controversial in itself, but also because the First Military Academy of the Empire, in an attempt to divert attention from the negative impact of his public apology, had deployed an army of online supporters to shift the focus to Queqiu.

As a result, in just half a day, Star Net was flooded with posts about Queqiu again.

However, the overall direction of the discourse didn’t follow the anticipated Alpha vs. Omega battleground as Felix and the First Military Academy had expected.

Instead…

It turned into an overwhelming outpouring of sympathy for Queqiu.

Moreover, the first to post about this wasn’t an Omega; it was an Alpha.

Star Net>>>Hot Discussions>>>Across the Star Domain>>>

Topic: [Wuwuwu, my poor wife, how much suffering have you endured TT]

Main Post: "Wifey wuwuwu (crying) wuwuwu (wiping tears) waaaaaah (hugging wifey and crying) wuh wuh wuh (kneeling and crying) my poor, unfortunate wife (hating the whole world for my wife)"

1L: "Excuse me, but who is your wife?"

2L: "Is this some Omega celebrity getting married and now their fans are going crazy?"

3L: "Isn’t your wife the same as mine?"

4L: "So, is 3L's wife, the original poster's wife, and my wife all the same person?"

5L: "What on earth are my upstairs neighbor and my upstairs neighbor's upstairs neighbor rambling about…"

……

56L: "Crying about their wife at this time... I think I get it. Wuwuwu, crying with the OP, my wife is so pitiful and unfortunate wuwuwu QAQ"

57L: "So, can someone please decode who their wife actually is?! I'm going insane!!"

58L: "To 57L, the OP and everyone crying here are probably talking about Queqiu. Felix's interview just came out, and everyone just found out he's a defective healing-type Omega."

59L: "What??? My wife is a defective Omega??? Wuhuhu noooo, my wife!!! Wife!!!"

60L: "...And there goes another one."

……

134L: "Are you kidding? Is this the first day you guys found out Queqiu is a defective Omega? I knew it when he first became a big topic on Star Net! That’s why I never criticized him, I thought his story was quite inspiring (?)."

135L: "Help... this is actually the first time I'm hearing this. No wonder Queqiu chose the combat unit, it’s because... I feel so guilty for not knowing this before."

136L: "It's not surprising these 'wives' are only finding out now. Queqiu's information was publicly available before, anyone could look it up. But probably because of the competition, Dark Star Military Academy has hidden his info on their official website and encrypted their internal forum, making it hard to find out through individual efforts."

……

421L: "I'm guilty, really, I'm kneeling on the ground, slapping my own face as I reply to this post."

422L: "What has my beautiful and delicate wife suffered... Felix, I'm coming for you!"

423L: "My wife has both top beauty and strength, obvious to anyone with eyes. Felix is just a blind fool!"

424L: "I equally despise anyone who has hurt my wife, whether in words or in action (mercilessly) (holding a lotus)."

As the discussion evolved, it didn’t go as the First Military Academy had hoped, with Queqiu attracting all the heat. Instead, Felix got dragged back into the spotlight.

Felix’s careless remarks didn’t hurt Queqiu; they put himself in the hot seat. Especially after Queqiu's old posts were unearthed, Felix became a universally condemned villain in the hearts of Alphas and Betas.

Star Net>>>Hot Discussions>>>Across the Star Domain>>>

Topic: [I’m a student from Dark Star Military Academy, and I want to tell you how excellent the ‘defective’ healing-type Omega in Felix’s mouth really is]

Main Post: (Important point: Please, don't focus on my background or badmouth Dark Star; this post is for the top student)

"You should know from those old posts that the top student once provided mental counseling for over twenty Alphas. He is also the top student in the combat unit of Dark Star Military Academy, so I won’t repeat that. You can search for those posts on Star Net. I'm writing this to share some important things you might not know.

When the top student first enrolled in Dark Star Military Academy and chose the combat unit, our reaction was similar to yours upon learning he was a combat Omega – it seemed unbelievable and absurd: Why would an Omega, suited for healing, choose the strenuous combat unit in the Empire?

Almost no one understood him, and many expected him to leave and return to where he belonged. To discourage him from staying in the combat unit, the academy didn't allow him to stay in the Omega dorms but placed him in a four-person Alpha dorm. Most Omegas would’ve been overwhelmed, but he didn’t blink an eye and just continued living there. For us Alphas and Betas, who hardly ever see an Omega, living and training with the top student was like living a dream!

He didn’t have the typical temperament of other Omegas (no offense, just stating facts), looked like he was born into luxury, but didn't require any special treatment or protection.

He might seem unapproachable, but whenever we faced difficulties in training or daily life, he always tried his best to help.

He's an Omega and naturally weaker than Alphas and Betas, unsuited for combat. Yet, he excelled in the combat unit, outperforming even senior Alpha students.

He faced a swarm of insects in the final practical exam without fear, leading the weakest team to victory without losing a single member.

He doesn’t brag about being more popular among Alphas and Betas compared to other Omegas. In fact, he gets along well with other Omegas in the school. Contrary to some speculations, Omegas actually like him a lot, constantly telling us Alphas are deceivers.

You might know him for his mental counseling for Alphas and Betas, which is indeed remarkable. But our fondness for the top student isn’t just because of his healing ability.

He has many more wonderful qualities that make us like him.

Even though Felix labeled the top student as a defective healing-type Omega, he does possess healing abilities, so you don't need to pity him or anything. In fact, I don't like it when you talk about him in a pitiful, sympathetic tone."

The top student is not pitiable at all; he just appears delicate and in need of care at first glance. In reality, he is incredibly strong-willed. His personal charisma outshines his physical appearance, and I deeply admire and respect him from the bottom of my heart.

1L: "After reading this, I have only one thought: Felix, you really deserve what's coming to you, and so do I for mindlessly badmouthing Queqiu before."

2L: "Felix, you truly deserve what's coming to you, and so do I for blindly echoing the criticism against Queqiu before."

3L: "Felix, you really deserve what's coming to you, and so do I for thoughtlessly joining in the bashing of Queqiu earlier."

4L: "Felix, you definitely deserve what's coming to you, and I also do for thoughtlessly following the crowd in denigrating Queqiu previously."

……

101L: "Having read everything... I’m feeling a mix of emotions. Now I understand why there were always people from Dark Star Military Academy watching Queqiu's matches, and why they always wore gold ribbons around their wrists."

102L: "So Queqiu really is the salvation of Dark Star Military Academy, I totally get that feeling."

103L: "Wuwuwu, why doesn’t my school have such a sweet little Omega, enviously crying stupidly tt."

……

351L: "I declare Queqiu as my new wife. If anyone dares to question him, they’ll have to deal with me!"

352L: "OP is spouting nonsense, Queqiu is obviously the princess of Dark Star Military Academy, not just the top student. Change all references in the main post to princess!"

353L (OP) replying to 352L: "Top student, top student, top student, I'll plaster those two words across your face!"

354L: "Why is there even a mudslinging war going on here, I'm dizzy. You Dark Star Military Academy folks play really twisted games (secretly observing.jpg)."

355L: "More of this drama, please. I love watching it, hehe (drooling)."

……

702L: "After reading this, not only has my view of Queqiu changed, but my perception of Dark Star has improved a lot too. Can I say that?"

703L: "+1, same here."

704L: "Who wouldn’t love such a resilient and beautiful wife? So, Felix, you really deserve what’s coming to you."

After this post topped the hot charts, people of the Empire gained a more comprehensive understanding of Queqiu and started to dislike Felix even more.

So when Felix returned to his station and opened his star-net to see a screen full of posts titled "Felix, you really deserve what's coming to you," he was initially dumbfounded, then furiously enraged.

He angrily confronted the team coach, demanding an explanation, but the coach was hesitant and stammering, unable to articulate a reason.

He certainly couldn’t say that the school had intended to divert the disaster elsewhere but ended up messing it up.

Nor could he admit that many had high hopes for Felix in the individual competitions, but now they were only interested in how he would meet his downfall.

After much deliberation, he reluctantly used very diplomatic language and a helpless tone, saying, “Well... you might need to prepare for a second public apology.”

He also tried to reassure Felix, telling him to calm down: “This time we have experience, it should be more successful.”

Felix was so furious he was practically jumping with rage.

"Who the hell decided that we had to be the best at messing up like this?!"

While the First Military Academy and Felix were swamped with negative sentiment on Star Net, Queqiu was enjoying a series of victories, effortlessly and stress-free, securing another win in his match.

The people of the Empire were somewhat dumbfounded. They were still teary-eyed from sympathy, and here he was, achieving a hat-trick of wins.

Uh... everyone on Star Net was crying their eyes out with worry, but the person in question seemed completely unaffected and unbothered?

After a moment of silence, posts first congratulated Queqiu on his successive victory, then the sentiment shifted again, eventually turning to betting.

Initially, when they learned an Omega was participating in the military academy’s individual competition, most people were just waiting to see a spectacle.

But after these matches, they began to realize that Queqiu wasn’t just playing around – he was serious.

Coupled with the many developments in just half a day, Star Net started betting on whether Queqiu would make it to the elimination rounds.

They began to take it seriously: this Omega from Dark Star might really bring about a miracle.

Author’s note:

It's said that nutrient solutions expire at the beginning of the month.

So...