Chapter 97: Assessment (Part Eight)

Chapter 97: Assessment (Part Eight)

Hua Oulo's arrogant demeanor was directed equally at everyone.

Rong Mi fell silent for a moment. He hadn't researched the joint military academy examination methods, but now he was quite certain.

The assessment for mecha pilots focused on mecha operation, mental power usage, and combat skills.

Otherwise, the Silver Star badge wouldn't have ended up in Hua Oulo's hands!

"Cowards! Look at us—" Hua Oulo's starship executed a stylish maneuver, swooping close to Rong Mi's ship, forcing Phil to alter his course to avoid collision.

"Watch! There's going to be a hunt right here! —"

"F*ck your hunt!" Phil cursed, jerking the steering wheel. "What the hell do you think you're doing, interfering with my course?"

Their two starships had come dangerously close just then, so much so that Phil could even see the face of Hua Oulo's pilot through the cabin window!

Hua Oulo: "...”

Two starships cruised side by side, and he caught a glimpse of Rong Mi in the command cabin of the adjacent vessel.

The young man tilted his head slightly, gazing at him through two layers of portholes. Hua Oulo's flamboyant tone stumbled when their eyes met, Rong Mi's dark irises piercing into him.

For some reason, he found the gaze unsettling.

So much so that he momentarily forgot what instructions he was about to give to the pilot.

His starship thus sailed peacefully alongside Phil's.

Phil was puzzled, but since Hua Oulo wasn't causing trouble anymore, he reoriented their trajectory, intending to follow the original plan and head for the resource planet.

Rong Mi, however, gave him a glance and signaled a change of plan.

"Wait a moment," he said to Phil, then switched the communication to the public channel.

"Hunting," Rong Mi's voice echoed, "Hunting Ice Butterflies?"

"You have an Ice Butterfly trap?"

Phil: "..."

The occupants within the starship: "..."

Aboard this starship, both Phil and Chen Shu had once served in the Legion, where they had witnessed the spectacle of the Legion entrapping and exterminating the Ice Butterflies.

As for Gu Ming, he had undergone the Icefire Tournament...

As the Frost Moth on the desolate star chased after Rong Mi, Gu Ming sought shelter behind her.

Later, he would recall that moment countless times. If not for Rong Mi standing in front...

He would have been devoured by the ice butterflies clean!

Thus, he held immense gratitude and admiration for Rong Mi.

For if it were him standing there... he likely wouldn't have lasted even a minute.

At the same time, Gu Ming personally experienced just how terrifying it was to have a massive swarm of ice butterflies converge in one place.

And that was in the Safe Star Domain!

The Barren Planet of the Icefire Tournament had become an Ice Butterfly Planet due to the Ice Butterfly Symbiosis Association's scheme. However, there was a limit to how many ice butterflies a planet could accommodate, and the number of high-ranking ice butterflies that could survive on it wouldn't be too great.

But they were deep within a war zone, close to the Ice Butterfly Star Domain.

Even if these were just low-level ice butterfly traps, uncontrolled numbers could spell trouble.

Chen Shu felt like screaming in his heart!

The Third Legion would deploy at least a few large warships, equipped with two or three squadrons of mecha pilots for a concerted assault, making meticulous preparations and under the command of an experienced officer.

Yet, all they had were two small candidate warships!

Though Hua Oulo's group wasn't alone, there should be other candidates coordinating with them in the vicinity...

...It was still utterly absurd!

In the pilot's seat, Phil was drenched in sweat and itching to curse.

Despite not knowing the exact effects of the Ice Butterfly Trap, Anna could tell from the reactions of those around her that it wasn't something to be trifled with.

The Meteor Rabbit in her arms had already stiffened, curling up into a grayish-black ball of fur, clearly uneasy.

"Hua Oulo," Rong Mi said coldly, "Report the model and power output of the trap."

"There's no specific model; we made it ourselves... Why are you questioning me like that?" Hua Oulo realized halfway through his sentence, "You better not go tattling on me this time! We made this trap on our own! It didn't come from the military academy's equipment department!"

"We based it on a standard trap design, but simplified! We haven't tested the power, but it should work well enough...!"

"How about it! If we attract the Ice Butterflies, let's see who can kill more?" Hua Oulo grew increasingly excited, already rubbing his hands together in anticipation of entering the mecha preparation chamber.

"Our team is quite impressive, isn't it? Not just anyone can make something like this!"

Rong Mi felt a headache coming on.

Hua Oulo's group, much like himself, possessed decent strength, but their brains seemed to be inversely proportional to their brawn, making one wonder how they had managed to survive into adulthood.

Being able to privately create an Ice Butterfly Trap was indeed impressive! But it was also a genuine headache!

Non-standard traps are even more troublesome than standard ones!

Without rigorous control and testing, no one knew what kind of Ice Butterflies this trap could attract.

Rong Mi could certainly report the situation and leave for the resource planet, but he genuinely feared that Hua Oulo wouldn't be able to handle the aftermath here.

Rong Mi: "The Ice Butterfly trap is on your warship?"

"No," Hua Oulo answered instinctively. "We played rock-paper-scissors, and A Fu and A Ye won, so we had to let them... But I made a deal with them. Since they're doing something as thrilling as luring Ice Butterflies, I get to train first."

"Since we've run into you, why don't you join in?!"

"We agreed beforehand. Neither side's warships or other mecha pilots will intervene at first, acting as backup. We'll have a one-on-one match! Whoever can't hold out and calls for assistance first loses! No showing off! If you can't handle it, call in your warship – after all, it's not good if lives are lost in the process..."

Rong Mi sneered, too annoyed to bother with him anymore.

As Hua Oulo enthusiastically issued a challenge for a killing contest, both gem rabbits on the warship turned their heads simultaneously towards the port side.

"Chirp! — Chirp chirp!" Damon sounded the alarm first.

Chen Shu embraced the rabbit tightly, swiftly grasping Damon's meaning as he said anxiously, "Damon has spotted a swarm of ice butterflies heading this way! There are quite a number of them! There might be high-ranking ones in the rear!"

"It's several large 'Butterfly Crafts'—"

"Chasing after two candidate starships heading this direction!"

"The candidate starships in front have activated their mental shield layers; they seem to be coping for now…"

Most low-level ice butterflies wouldn't leave their native planets unless commanded by high-ranking ones to venture into space for hunting.

When a large number of ice butterflies entered the universe, their energies intertwined to create a space that sustained their survival, forming a narrow corridor of movement known as a Butterfly Craft.

As Chen Shu spoke, he felt a little more reassured.

Three Butterfly Crafts weren't an insurmountable problem.

…After all, Rong Mi was here!

"More might be coming from behind," Rong Mi stated succinctly.

Despite currently being only three, no one knew how many more Ice Butterflies might be on the way.

It wouldn't be impossible for them to attract a few Level 4 Butterflies, just like in the Ice and Fire Tournament.

Not to mention, during their journey, the soldiers of the First Legion had mentioned the accelerated reproduction of the Ice Butterflies, as well as the emergence of high-level ones nearing the abilities of an Abyssal Butterfly.

As he spoke, he tapped a special button on the starship's weapon control panel.

Spiritual energy guidance lines illuminated around the starship, and secondary cannons rose, firing unique signal flares into the dark universe, warning other competing starships of a large Ice Butterfly activity in the area and suggesting they detour.

"Contact the proctor," Rong Mi patted Phil on the shoulder. "I'll go out and take a look first."

"Gu Ming will remain on the ship, keeping an eye on the surroundings."

"Hey, Rong Mi! Say something! How about my proposal—" Hua Oulo continued shouting persistently through the public channel.

Rong Mi's expression was cold as he said impatiently, "I'm too lazy to play house with you in this competition."

Rather than waiting for the swarm to charge into their sector, Rong Mi preferred to confront them head-on!

His spacecraft launched its mecha ejection bay, extending into the vastness of space.

Hua Oulo noticed his movement and chuckled, unaware of Rong Mi's intentions. He said, "Preparing to exit so early? Don't rush, the swarm won't reach this sector for at least another three minutes."

As he continued his chatter, a bright light streaked from the tail end of Rong Mi's spacecraft.

It was the brilliant energy flame from the thrusters as the mecha ejected into space.

In the void, the black mecha flipped its thumb downward, aiming at Hua Oulo's spaceship, giving him an extremely disdainful gesture.

"Shut your mouth."

"There's no need for a reckless contest that risks your teammates' lives," Rong Mi said with a forced smile, his voice cold. "If you insist on verifying my abilities in person, then watch closely right here!"

The black mecha accelerated forward, leaving a shimmering trail of purple spiritual energy in its wake.

This mecha's performance was evidently outstanding. Under the boost of Rong Mi's spiritual energy, it sped towards the front, its exhaust blasting in Hua Oulo's spaceship's face.

"Hey!" Hua Oulo suddenly panicked amidst the construction. "What are you doing?! There are still two other spaceships over there, but it's too dangerous for you to go alone—"

"Ahua!" He promptly patted his pilot. "Then let's hurry over there..."

"Boom! ——" Before he could finish speaking, a thunderous explosion rocked the side of their spaceship.

A sudden burst of silver energy cannon fire illuminated from below, cutting off Hua Oulo's path.

The spaceship that Hua Oulo was in tilted abruptly, barely dodging the barrage.

However, the energy waves from the cannon still engulfed the ship's hull.

A thin layer of frost, as delicate as a cicada's wing, coated the spaceship's exterior, causing the engines beneath the wings to shut down.

"One to four engines have lost power!" Ahua, the pilot, cried out in alarm. "Initiate engine restart procedure!"

Hua Oulo: "...?!"

Hua Oulo's eyes widened in confusion and astonishment as he glanced at the detection screen inside the spaceship.

"...Pirates attacking?!" he exclaimed, bewildered. "Why now?! Didn't we not detect any pirate activity up until this point?! Did they just happen to be patrolling our area? Or did Rong Mi's signal attract them?!"

"{Hua Oulo} murmured, feeling uneasy. He had some common sense and knew that although luring the Ice Butterfly wasn't explicitly forbidden in the exam rules… getting caught wouldn't be a positive outcome.

The reason it wasn't listed as forbidden was likely because the proctors never imagined anyone would attempt it!

Hua Oulo didn't wish to violate the exam rules, so he had taken advantage of a loophole.

However, the proctor's sudden appearance clearly indicated their intention to intervene and deal with the Ice Butterfly from their spaceship.

Hua Oulo: "…The proctor arrived awfully fast!"

"…And…"

…This mental energy blast was incredibly potent, causing the spaceship's engines to shut down instantly.

…Why is this proctor so difficult to deal with?!