Chapter 1

Chapter 1

On the capital planet of the Changhua Empire, a bus pulled into a station, and several passengers got on, their eyes instinctively drawn to a particular spot.

There sat a young man in a white shirt and black pants, neat and handsome, his calm profile as he looked out the window giving off an aura of serene tranquility.

However, his inner world was anything but peaceful.

Bai Xingshu was a post-apocalyptic veteran selected by the system to come to this world for a mission, with the special ability of metal manipulation.

Such an expert could be persuaded to come here because the system promised that the new world would be peaceful.

For Bai Xingshu, who had grown up in a post-apocalyptic world, this was an irresistible offer.

At that time, he was on the verge of death and readily agreed to the system's proposal, coming to this world to fulfill the original owner's wish.

The original owner had been cruelly betrayed by a wealthy Alpha, so the wish was straightforward: to marry into a wealthier family than the scumbag Alpha and utterly humiliate him.

Bai Xingshu only learned of this wish after crossing over. Without going into how dumbfounded he felt, the most annoying part was the system, which had botched the timeline.

They had arrived four years earlier, just as the original owner was about to start school and before he had met the scumbag Alpha.

That was frustrating enough.

What Bai Xingshu didn't expect was that even the system's claim that "this world is peaceful" was a lie.

Among the passengers who had just boarded was a bandit concealing a knife.

Bai Xingshu thought to the system: [This world isn't peaceful.]

[Host, how did you know?] the system asked in surprise.

Bai Xingshu: [I used to have metal manipulation abilities.]

The system had nothing to say.

Anyway, the world is a chaotic place, and since they were already here, they might as well make the best of it.

Despite thinking this, Bai Xingshu still turned to look at the bandit.

For some reason, the bandit's heart skipped a beat when he met Bai Xingshu's calm gaze, and he quickly averted his eyes.

Realizing he was nervous, the bandit grew angry and glared back at Bai Xingshu.

This pretty boy, with his soft skin and delicate features, what was there to be afraid of?

He must have been coddled and raised in a comfortable environment.

If this guy died, his family would be heartbroken and bitter, just like him.

[Host, he's got his eye on you,] the system warned quickly.

[Yeah,] Bai Xingshu replied casually.

He wasn't taken aback.

He has always been good at provoking hostility.

Bai Xingshu scanned the bus, his gaze finally settling on the bright yellow handrail beside him.

The bus stopped and started again.

The crowd dwindled as people came and went on the bus.

The thug, who had been standing the whole time, seemed to eye the empty seat behind Bai Xingshu and started walking toward him.

When he was just a step away, he drew a blade.

"Die!" the thug snarled. His face was twisted, his eyes filled with cruelty, self-satisfaction, and... enjoyment.

He reveled in the panic and fear of others.

But Bai Xingshu looked up, his gaze calm and utterly unperturbed.

With a thud—the terrifying sound of metal screeching echoed through the bus.

The last thing the thug saw was a flash of bright yellow before everything went dark.

The thug's body slammed into the ground with such force that it bounced slightly.

However, this was not the end of the ordeal.

Not only did the thug bounce, but so did the blade in his hand.

The dagger, now out of his hand, hurtled toward the passengers in the back.

Bai Xingshu’s movements were seamless; he swung the handrail in his hand, intercepting the flying blade.

The dagger was deflected.

At the same time, a strong and steady hand reached out and... caught the blade.

Blood dripped onto the floor.

Bai Xingshu was taken aback.

It was a striking young man with sharp eyebrows and piercing eyes, his posture tall and confident.

Thus, the bloodied hands stood out starkly against his otherwise pristine appearance.

Bai Xingshu muttered an apology.

If not for his swing, the young man would have grabbed the handle and avoided injury.

"I overreacted," the young man said, frowning at his wounded hand.

They had at least ten minutes until the next stop.

He was figuring out how to deal with the wound when he heard a tearing sound.

In the blink of an eye, Bai Xingshu had already crouched down and ripped the thug’s clothes off.

The passengers on the bus, whether they had reacted or not, fell silent upon seeing Bai Xingshu's pure and flawless face alongside his rough and direct actions.

"Let me bandage that for you," Bai Xingshu said, holding up a torn piece of cloth.

"...Okay."

As the bandaging was underway, the system spoke up, introducing the identity of the young man before Bai Xingshu.

[Shen Geng, age 18, a native of Capital Star, from an ordinary working-class family, excelled in studies from a young age, with good physical fitness, undifferentiated, genetic test results show a 75% Beta, admitted to the Combat Command Department of Capital Military University with a score of 712...]

After reciting the information, the system couldn't help but ask, [...How did you do that...]

[We didn't bring your supernatural abilities over when we crossed over!] The system exclaimed.

Bai Xingshu coughed dryly: [I feel like it's not completely gone, maybe some are ingrained in my soul.]

The system felt like it was about to explode.

No wonder it was so strenuous when it brought Bai Xingshu over!

After finishing the bandaging, Bai Xingshu glanced at the unconscious thug: "What should we do with this now?"

Shen Geng looked at the thug, who was still unconscious with his eyes rolled back: "...Someone has already called the police, they'll pick him up at the next stop, you might need to make a statement." After saying this, Shen Geng also looked at the floor, at the handrail Bai Xingshu had casually discarded, and the two new holes in the bus.

"We'll also need to change buses..." This bus was in need of repairs.

"Oh." Having received his answer, Bai Xingshu responded casually, then heard the system's faint reminder.

[Today is the university registration day, you only have two hours left to check-in!]

[Military academies are all about discipline and punctuality, absolutely no tardiness is allowed.]

Bai Xingshu hesitated: [...]

The time wasn't too much, nor too little, but as a visitor from the apocalypse, he really couldn't say how long he would need to cooperate with the police, or if he would say anything suspicious.

He remembered the system's introduction, Shen Geng was a local...

Bai Xingshu quickly grabbed Shen Geng: "I'm a new student at Capital Military University this year, it's my first time on Capital Star, I'm completely lost, can you accompany me to make a statement?"

Caught off guard by Bai Xingshu's request, Shen Geng paused.

A bit surprised that this 'strongman' guy needed someone to accompany him to make a statement.

But... it wasn't a problem.

"Okay," he said. After pausing, he added, "I'm also a new student at Capital Military University."

"My name is Shen Geng," he said.

"Bai Xingshu," Bai Xingshu smiled.

Since Shen Geng agreed to accompany him so readily, it meant it wouldn't take much time... or so he thought!

In the last ten minutes before the registration deadline, the two made it to the gate of Capital Military University.

The registration office was about to pack up when they saw the two arrive at this time, and were a bit stunned.

However, seeing the two's impressive looks, they didn't say much, registered them, but the free dormitories were all arranged, and the teacher, seeing that both were unclassified Betas, assigned a double room for them.

However, Bai Xingshu didn't have much money on hand. After the semester fee of 1000 star coins was deducted, he watched his account balance drop to double digits.

Fortunately, the military academy waived all tuition fees and provided all necessities like food, clothing, and accommodation. Otherwise, Bai Xingshu would have to worry about his next meal.

Shen Geng also saw Bai Xingshu's balance and was a bit embarrassed: "Sorry, I didn't know the statement would be so complicated."

If they had arrived earlier, they could have gotten a free dorm spot, and Bai Xingshu wouldn't have had to spend this money.

Bai Xingshu, however, took it in stride: "No worries. If it weren't for you, I definitely wouldn't have made it to registration."

"And a double room is much more comfortable than a six-person room."

No point dwelling on the past. Bai Xingshu closed the payment page, "Let's head to the dorm, roommate."

Finally, the two found their double dormitory in some out-of-the-way spot.

It was far from the teaching buildings, the playground, and the training fields.

It was only close to the faculty area.

The kind of place where teachers could easily catch you and put you to work.

Both fell silent.

They quickly realized why the teacher had been so kind as to offer them a discount.

Upon entering the dorm, Bai Xingshu didn't have much to unpack and was soon done, starting to read the Freshman Must-Read Manual.

Freshman Tournament? Class Division?

In the military field, might makes right. After the competition, top students from each department naturally join their department's best class.

[Coming in first is a bit tough.] Bai Xingshu frowned.

If it were hand-to-hand combat, Bai Xingshu, born in the post-apocalyptic world, wouldn't be afraid of anyone in this world. But the problem with the interstellar era is that everything's gone high-tech.

Different departments have different competition content. For example, the Combat Department competes in mecha piloting.

This is something Bai Xingshu really has no clue about.

[Why go for first place?] The system didn't follow Bai Xingshu's train of thought.

[Isn't it about marrying a powerful Alpha noble?] Since he agreed to fulfill the original body's wish, Bai Xingshu was determined to try. [As long as I am strong enough, plenty of wealthy nobles are bound to like me!]

Bai Xingshu was full of confidence.

This was the lesson he learned in the post-apocalyptic world.

When he became a big shot, top figures from various factions were always fawning over him.

As for Bai Xingshu's thoughts, the system's response was—

Pfft.

This era isn't the post-apocalyptic world; personal bravery no longer determines everything.

[So how do I learn to pilot a mecha?] Bai Xingshu didn't pay attention to the system's attitude and began pondering his own problem.

[Host, the Mecha BattleNet in this world has basic mecha operation tutorials...] The system quickly provided a solution to the difficulty and outlined several paths for Bai Xingshu to successfully obtain login credentials at Capital Military University.

After listening, Bai Xingshu came to a conclusion: according to the system, there was no chance he could learn to pilot a mecha today.

Bai Xingshu turned to his roommate and asked, "Shen Geng, tomorrow is the Freshman Tournament, and I've never piloted a mecha before. Do you have a login device for the Mecha BattleNet?"

"You've never piloted a mecha?" Shen Geng was stunned. "Aren't you from the Combat Department?"

"I'm from Xitu Star," Bai Xingshu replied with an answer that seemed a bit off-topic.

At this, Shen Geng looked slightly embarrassed, as if he had said something inappropriate.

Xitu Star—the empire's most backwater planet.

Without pressing Bai Xingshu further, Shen Geng took out a pair of high-tech goggles and handed them to him.

"This is the login device."

The system, after droning on about the plan for over ten minutes: "[...]"