Chapter 258 End of Main Text

Chapter 258: End of Main Story

The Anhua Commander squeezed his eyes shut, remaining that way for several long seconds before reopening them.

He took a deep breath and activated the broadcast channel, his voice hoarse with a growl: "The match continues!!"

"We... continue!!"

All the Anhua students bit back tears of frustration as they shouted in response: "Yes!!!"

Three hours later, this year's military academy league came to an end.

Capital Military University took the victory.

The two competing schools returned to the assembly area, met with roaring applause from the entire venue.

Bai Xingshu once again saw his opponents—all with red-rimmed eyes: "..."

Recalling how during all three league matches his opponents had been left in tears, he remembered the Anhua combat student's words before this match: "After this ends, all we'll want to do is give you a piece of our mind."

Bai Xingshu: "..."

He pondered.

He felt he should defend himself.

These last two times couldn't possibly be his fault, right?

...Though admittedly, at the very beginning, he had wiped out three of their engineer battalions in one strike, pushing them to desperate tactics.

But that was just the opening move!

Steeling himself with self-justification, Bai Xingshu watched as the Anhua representative—their Commander—came over with his team.

The Commander gave Bai Xingshu a complicated look before turning to Shen Geng.

Contrary to the Combat Department's threats about confronting him post-match, the Commander wasn't here for that.

He wanted answers.

"Sorry," he blurted out, the question burning in his mind, "how did you discover we were building a star-killer cannon?"

Off the battlefield, they were future comrades. Shen Geng answered frankly: "I never noticed your project. I just thought—with your strength—you shouldn't have been pushed back so far. And your engineer positions... they'd been inactive since Xingshu returned..."

After hearing Shen Geng's reasoning, the Commander let out a resigned sigh: "My planning wasn't thorough enough." He held out his hand. "Next time, I won't lose to you."

Seeing the rekindled fighting spirit in the Commander's eyes, Shen Geng took the proffered hand. "I won't lose either."

They both smiled.

Then the Commander turned back to Bai Xingshu. After hesitating, his gaze lingering at Bai Xingshu's throat, he disregarded Alpha-Omega propriety and asked with barely contained intensity: "Which legion are you joining?"

"Huh?" The question caught Bai Xingshu off guard.

"I want to go there too," the Commander stated plainly.

Though the question sounded a bit forward.

But...

Here’s the refined translation incorporating the expert suggestions:

He also wanted to experience the thrill of command!!!

Shen Geng, who had just finished shaking hands and hadn’t even withdrawn his arm: "..."

How dare someone try to steal talent right under his nose!

The scene instantly erupted into chaos, and soon students from other finalist schools swarmed around. Then... Bai Xingshu ended up with a stack of booklets all demanding his signature.

—The live broadcast had shown those Anhua Combat Department students getting his autograph earlier—everyone had seen it!

This was textbook broken window theory effect.

If no one else had done it, things might have stayed calm, but now everyone was itching to join in.

The organizers eventually rescued Bai Xingshu.

—The winning team needed to change from combat gear into formal wear for the awards ceremony.

Even so, Bai Xingshu was dragged along until last, only relaxing when he finally reached the changing room.

After a quick change, Bai Xingshu arrived at the prep area. With no overenthusiastic students around, he relaxed—then immediately noticed something wrong.

Why was everyone staring at him?

Remembering his earlier humiliating predicament, he glared back at his classmates.

Shoujun students: "..."

"Squad Vice," the Combat Department students said with utterly exasperated looks, "we're deciding who should accept the award."

Bai Xingshu instinctively turned to Shen Geng, his puzzled expression clearly asking, 'What's to discuss? Obviously him.'

The Shoujun students who witnessed this: "...."

They'd gotten an eyeful of PDA.

Only the Combat Command Department students felt vindicated.

Finally, they weren't the only ones unwittingly subjected to these lovey-dovey acts.

Misery loves company!

This wasn't Bai Xingshu's love-struck tendencies acting up again.

Shen Geng had always been their team representative, and... wasn't he planning to reveal his identity during the ceremony to announce joining the Fourth Legion?

Though the spoilers from the original timeline had played out differently in reality—like the final match opponents being completely changed—since they'd won, Bai Xingshu assumed Shen Geng would follow the original plan.

Meanwhile, Shen Geng was electrified by that glance. He fought to keep his expression dignified, but the spark that lit up his eyes betrayed him—if he'd had a tail, it would be whirling like a helicopter blade!

Their award recipient discussion wasn't meant to give these two a chance to show off!

Unaware of his classmates' speechless reactions, Shen Geng reveled in his happiness before gently nudging Bai Xingshu.

"Go on," Shen Geng said. "You're the obvious choice."

Here's the edited translation incorporating the expert suggestions:

Whether it was here—where everyone instinctively assumed Bai Xingshu should be the one to go up after the organizers' inquiry—or the scene outside where he'd just been surrounded by the crowd—

The answer was undoubtedly clear.

During freshman cohesion training, Bai Xingshu united students from every department, helping everyone get to know each other. By sophomore year, he'd rallied them to stand together against shared challenges.

By junior year, he'd outclassed everyone in combat, leaving them only able to gaze at his figure from a distance.

Who better to represent Shoujun than Bai Xingshu?

Watching Shen Geng's expression—radiating nothing but pride and adoration for Bai Xingshu—the other students: "…………"

Silence.

Contemplation.

Everyone exchanged glances.

Reached out.

Pushed!!!

Screw deciding who goes up!

You two lovebirds, drowning us in your PDA—both of you get up there!

They couldn't be the only ones in Shoujun stuck choking on your saccharine romance!

Completely caught off guard, Bai Xingshu and Shen Geng were pushed onto the award podium, trading baffled glances. Witnessing the chaotic scene from the Shoujun team, the other schools burst into good-humored cheers.

The mood shifted to unexpectedly celebratory and lively.

From the leadership seats, the military commanders watched the young energy with smiles, joining in the applause.

Then, music swelled through the venue.

The large screen behind the podium lit up, rolling a highlight reel.

It was a compilation of Shoujun's journey through the tournament.

Dozens of mechs launched into the sky, the faces of Combat Department members flashing across the screen. The scene shifted—Bai Xingshu smashed through the enemy mech's defenses, charging straight in as the music intensified. The rhythm grew tense as comms teams unleashed swarms of unmanned combat drones.

In the repair zone, techs worked around the clock. The medical team treated the wounded, their movements syncing with the music's beat. The camera pulled back, showing logistics personnel moving through command like a circulatory system.

Finally, the footage arrived at the command center.

The glow of surveillance screens illuminated the faces of the Combat Department's command team one by one. Then, the image abruptly changed—a massive "WIN" flashed triumphantly on the display.

A tight two-minute recap, capturing the journey of all Capital Military University's students.

The crowd watched transfixed, recalling a similar scene from the Freshman Tournament three years ago.

Back then, most of them had only watched others on that screen. Now, they had become part of it.

As emotions surged within them, the host's voice rang out.

"Congratulations to the varsity team of Capital Military University for their glorious victory—taking top honors in this tournament!" "Through months of tireless effort, with wisdom and sweat, they built this victory. Not only have they demonstrated the team's unity, but they've also shown us, through action, the unstoppable might of the Imperial Forces!"

"Now, please welcome the honored witness of this moment—our beloved Emperor, to present the championship trophy to our winning team!"

The cheers across the venue grew even louder.

Bai Xingshu clapped as he watched the familiar elder step onto the stage, his usually authoritative face now wearing a completely warm expression. The Emperor took the trophy from an attendant and solemnly handed it to the two of them.

Bai Xingshu and Shen Geng accepted it together, lifting their heads slightly to look at the Emperor, awaiting the moment he would announce Shen Geng's identity. But...

The Emperor placed a hand on each of their shoulders and spoke, his voice full of encouragement and pride: "The Empire’s future is in your hands now."

Bai Xingshu paused briefly before the roaring cheers of his classmates erupted behind him. Then, Shen Geng tightened his grip on their shared hold of the trophy.

Turning to Shen Geng, Bai Xingshu saw nothing but joy shining in his eyes. He understood the unspoken message in that gaze.

So, following Shen Geng's lead, Bai Xingshu raised the trophy high, basking in the celebration from the entire crowd.

Everything seemed different from the original plan’s details, but...

Who cared?

Bai Xingshu grinned, grabbing Shen Geng's hand as they leaped off the podium and joined their cheering classmates.

They’d won!!

Contents Previous Page