Chapter 2

Chapter 2

Bai Xingshu looked at the login device in front of him, felt the system in his mind instantly go silent, and smiled.

[This identity comes in handy.] Bai Xingshu clearly remembered all the information about his mission, which was a basic survival skill in the apocalypse. Of course, he wouldn't forget that the original owner came from a remote star system.

At that time, Bai Xingshu thought that all the ways he didn't fit into this world could be attributed to his remote origins.

No one would bother to verify that, and some people might even feel that mentioning Bai Xingshu's origins was like reopening old wounds, so they wouldn't dare to say much.

Shen Geng's behavior only confirmed Bai Xingshu's thoughts.

System: [...]

This identity wasn't supposed to be used this way!

"Thank you." Bai Xingshu took the login device and noticed the bandage on Shen Geng's hand. "Will your hand be okay for the Freshman Tournament?"

"It should be fine. I'll get it treated at the school clinic; it should be better by tonight," Shen Geng replied.

Bai Xingshu nodded, making a mental note of this world's advanced medical technology.

The transition was swift. After a moment of darkness and then light, Bai Xingshu found himself in a mecha cockpit, hearing the Mecha BattleNet's generic welcome message for newcomers.

[System?] Bai Xingshu called out.

[Here.] The system replied promptly.

Bai Xingshu wasn't surprised that the system could follow him into the network. After all, no matter how simple it was, it was still a real system.

[Show me how to pilot the mecha.]

Early the next morning, Bai Xingshu returned the login device to Shen Geng.

Shen Geng took it, initially planning to toss it back into the cabinet. But as he watched Bai Xingshu's back as he went to wash up, he instinctively checked the login device's usage log.

—Xing Ze Jiang Zhi: 11:42:48

Shen Geng was taken aback.

These numbers weren't a timestamp but the user's total login time. The name 'Xing Ze Jiang Zhi' was the user's nickname.

Nearly 12 hours—Bai Xingshu had been in the BattleNet nonstop since Shen Geng lent him the device.

Even during what should have been his sleeping hours.

Moreover, the login device indicated that 'Xing Ze Jiang Zhi' had logged out at the starting area.

The starting area was only available during the initial login.

In other words, Bai Xingshu had spent the whole night solely focused on mastering mecha controls.

Just grinding through... the Mecha BattleNet's beginner tutorial...

Shen Geng didn't know what to say.

This kind of basic training was mind-numbingly dull. The fact that Bai Xingshu could immerse himself in it without a break for so long made Shen Geng realize how someone from a remote planet could get into the empire's top military university.

(Note: "Xing Ze Jiang Zhi" roughly translates to "If you set out, you will arrive," reflecting Bai Xingshu's determination.)

To achieve such a level of diligence is indeed another form of talent.

However...

It's rare to find someone like Bai Xingshu, who, despite never having been exposed to mechs, managed to get into the Combat Department of a military university.

With less than 12 hours of learning... it’s tough to make much progress.

Would I have to say goodbye to my roommate just a few days after enrollment?

Shen Geng seriously recalled whether Capital Military University had any regulations regarding freshmen dropping out.

Bai Xingshu, oblivious to Shen Geng's concerns, continued his training. By now, guided by the system, he had mastered the mech's basics.

Now that he knew how to operate the mech, wasn’t the real challenge his combat skills?

In terms of mecha combat, Bai Xingshu didn't have much experience, but neither did the group of seventeen or eighteen-year-old freshmen. When it came to other combat skills, Bai Xingshu had plenty to draw from.

Bai Xingshu strode calmly into the Combat Department’s gathering point.

The originally somewhat restless gathering place suddenly fell silent, with everyone looking in surprise at Bai Xingshu who had just entered.

All the freshmen were in uniform by now, but on Bai Xingshu, it looked strikingly different. The uniform’s collar framed the delicate curve of his neck, while the tailored fit accentuated his slender waist.

Bai Xingshu stood tall, exuding an air of grace that made it hard to stare for too long.

The sudden attention made Bai Xingshu pause. He glanced at the sign to make sure he was in the right place.

Bai Xingshu raised an eyebrow, silently questioning the stares.

As Bai Xingshu moved further in, someone approached him cautiously. "Uh, hey, are you the new instructor?"

"No," Bai Xingshu replied with a slight shake of his head. "I’m Bai Xingshu, a freshman in the Combat Department."

Encouraged by Bai Xingshu’s calmness, the person grew bolder, chattering away. "How come I didn’t see you at registration yesterday? Someone like you would’ve stood out!"

"Enough! Quiet!" a sharp voice cut through the chatter. "Show some respect!"

The chatterbox pouted slightly but stayed quiet.

Bai Xingshu turned to see a young man with an unmistakably arrogant expression. His clean buzz cut gave him an intense look.

[That’s Lin Lie. He became an Alpha last month, and as the second son of the 4th Legion’s marshal, his family’s four-century legacy places them among the empire’s top ten noble houses.] The system quickly reported the person's identity.

Bai Xingshu couldn’t help but glance at Lin Lie a few more times after hearing the system’s explanation.

An Alpha, no less, and from one of the empire’s most powerful families.

Could Lin Lie be the perfect candidate for his mission?

No matter how strong the family of a scumbag Alpha is, it wouldn't reach this level.

Lin Lie prided himself on being the leader among this year's Combat Department freshmen. Upon learning that the seemingly delicate Bai Xingshu was a member of the Combat Department, he immediately labeled him as a drag and instinctively felt displeased.

He wanted to scare Bai Xingshu a bit, but Bai Xingshu's intense focus on him, as if admiring him, slightly soothed Lin Lie's displeasure.

Even more than slightly.

Lin Lie looked away, then clicked his tongue in annoyance, his displeasure growing.

This kind of delicate flower only knows how to wield its beauty as a weapon.

He wants to make him understand that the Combat Department is not a place for child's play!

[Host... he seems to despise you so much that he can't even bear to look at you...] The system, which also thought it had found the ultimate solution, was dumbfounded by Lin Lie's reaction.

Bai Xingshu ignored this and quickly averted his gaze, flexing his wrists and ankles briskly: [No worries, I'm a pro at handling this type.]

[Huh?] The system was puzzled.

[Just crush him.] Bai Xingshu said confidently, [Once you crush him, this type will always orbit around you.]

They didn't linger at the freshman gathering point for long, and soon the freshmen were ushered to the competition venue.

Rows of mechas loomed before the freshmen.

The rules were straightforward: in this free-for-all arena, survival of the fittest reigns.

The competition kicked off with a twenty-minute safe period, allowing them to hide, ambush, set traps, and more, all based on their own strategies.

Grasping the rules was a breeze for Bai Xingshu.

The real challenge for him was...

Bai Xingshu, now inside the mecha cockpit, stared at the control panel before him, lost in thought.

This control panel... it's nothing like the one on Mecha BattleNet.

At that moment, the teachers in the monitoring room, observing the scene, chuckled at the sea of bewildered freshmen.

"Hahaha, this is the moment I eagerly anticipate every year."

"They don't even consider what kind of top-notch equipment would be handed over for a bunch of kids to tinker with."

"On Mecha BattleNet, even the most basic models are post-27th generation mainstream units. These freshmen have likely never laid hands on a 13th-gen machine."

"Mainstream mechas all share a common lineage, with many controls remaining universal. Now, it's a race to see who adapts quickest."

"A7's on the move—that's Lin Lie, isn't it? Impressive, just what you'd expect from Marshal Lin's son."

"His target should be Zhao Gao... Wait, no, where's he headed? Is he making a move on Zone C?"

"Zhao Gao's on the move too, charging straight for Lin Lie. It's still the safe period—should we issue a warning, team leader?"

"Warn them, and make sure that troublemaker gets an extra lecture afterward!"

"Hehe, roger that."

Many freshmen noticed the two leading mechas, poised for battle, suddenly freeze, as if locked in a stalemate, each refusing to yield, both itching to retreat in frustration.

Instantly, the rest of the freshmen grew restless.

They all knew that the longer they delayed, the greater the disadvantage. There'd surely be ambushers lying in wait beyond their starting points, ready to pick them off.

In their panic, some freshmen even forced their mechas into action, charging ahead recklessly.

The teachers in the monitoring room watched the freshmen's mechas lurch and stumble in every direction, thoroughly entertained.

In the hearts of the freshmen, the Freshman Tournament was crucial for class division, but in the eyes of the teachers, it was a chance to remind them just how inexperienced they truly were.

However, they did not forget their duties and were keen observers of all the freshmen's actions.

"Huh, why is C16 completely motionless?" a teacher exclaimed in surprise.

C16 was the designation for Bai Xingshu's mech.

Amidst a group of anxious freshmen, Bai Xingshu was a calm presence.

He calmly worked on debugging and testing at the control panel, his mech standing steady while other mechs moved about.

Bai Xingshu showed no sign of hurry, but the system, noticing that others had already begun to act, grew anxious and reminded him: [The safe time is almost up.]

[I know, don't rush.] Bai Xingshu's lips curled into a smile as his hands continued to move, his bright eyes keenly observing all the movements of the other mechs outside.

Finally, the buzzer heralding the start of the hunt blared.

Bai Xingshu's eyes reflected the mechs charging towards him, his smile widening.

[...Who said that only setting up an ambush outside counts as an ambush?]