Chapter 182

Chapter 182

As time passed, the day of the second round of the competition quickly arrived.

Fifteen military helicopters lifted off simultaneously, transporting fifteen student teams randomly to different drop points. Before departure, each person was issued a competition wristwatch containing pre-downloaded electronic maps, point rankings, exchange stores, and other features. Although restricted to marked areas, the zone designated by the organizing committee was vast, making it impossible to accidentally leave.

One thing matched Eve's expectations: Santa Star lacked surface water sources and had no exotic beasts or plants for hunting. To ensure basic survival, they had to rely on the system store for supplies.

In addition, each team was only allowed to carry initial supplies including mechas, five Three-Star or lower Alchemy products, necessary wilderness survival gear, one lightsaber per person, and two daggers. All other items, including materials needed by the team's alchemist, could only be obtained through the store or by gathering them manually.

"The items in the store are bizarre... they even have a pedestal-mounted synthetic ion cannon and a small starship, seriously?"

Jessica swiped through the wristwatch, browsing nearly a hundred pages of exchangeable items almost in one go. The store listed more expensive items toward the end. When she saw the last item, even she couldn't help her voice faltering for a moment: "One Four-Star Alchemy artifact! Did the organizing committee win the lottery? How bold."

"Moreover, the items sold in this store are available throughout the entire Five-School League. That means if you buy a synthetic ion cannon in this round, you can have a super-powered ion cannon right at the start of the next round. Players can even take it with them after the competition. Someone is bound to save up points to buy it!"

Nearby, Tachibana Maki picked her ear, unsurprised: "I heard that for this year's Five-School League, a very influential alchemist sponsored it. Alchemists are all rolling in money—these things are just pocket change to them."

"It's a pity I don't have the talent to be an alchemist," Jessica said enviously. "They earn so much."

"Not bad, little princess. Your talent for reincarnation is pretty good too."

"How can relying on allowance from others compare to earning money with your own skills!"

"Can you two shut up? All this noise—are you here for the competition or a field trip?"

From the moment they boarded the helicopter, Cecil had been enduring these two chatterboxes. Now that the competition had officially begun, they were still discussing meaningless topics. He finally lost patience, furrowing his brows as he turned to glare at them: "You're driving me crazy."

Scolded by him, the two guiltily averted their eyes.

Meanwhile, Eve and Lorca had already begun surveying the surroundings. The competition area was divided into low-risk, medium-risk, and high-risk zones based on the number and level of Zerg in each region. According to the electronic map, their team had been dropped in a low-risk zone.

Fortunate yet unfortunate—the safer the area, the fewer points available. As far as the eye could see, there was only gentle grassland swaying in the wind. Not a single Zerg, nor even a living creature, was in sight.

Less than three minutes into the competition, three teams had already appeared on the point rankings: the Second Team of the First Empire, and the First Teams of Imperial Arts and Sciences and Imperial University of Science and Technology.

Zhou Huixue and Yang Haibo? If memory served, both were intelligence-based players.

"This place doesn't have many Zerg to hunt," Lorca concluded similarly.

"Right, so let's change locations first," Eve put away the electronic map and turned to instruct: "Everyone summon your mechas. The Second Team is currently in a medium-risk zone not far from us. Let's rendezvous with them first."

No one objected to her decision, though Cecil frowned briefly when he noticed Eve's new mecha. He seemed to have guessed something but kept his thoughts to himself.

The performance of Mythological Mecha was extraordinary. Soon, the team followed the map's guidance, swiftly crossing most of the low-risk zone and arriving at the medium-risk zone. Along the way, they killed a few unlucky low-level Zerg, earning just enough points to exchange for that day's survival supplies.

The danger level in the medium-risk zone was incomparable to the low-risk zone. Even the grass had turned from emerald green to withered yellow—a result of Zerg venom contamination. As soon as they entered the area, two winged Zerg, half a person tall, lunged at them.

Jessica cheered excitedly. Her angel-type mecha, adorned with pink and white gems, elegantly raised its sword and cleanly sliced one Zerg in half without a drop of blood staining it. The other was promptly crushed by Eve, who snapped its deformed head with a casual grip.

Both were medium-level Zerg, offering considerable rewards. The team's points jumped sharply, instantly multiplying several times.

Tachibana Maki, who had only half-drawn her sword: "...Huh?"

Wait, according to the principle of average distribution among main attackers, shouldn't the other Zerg have been hers?

"Opportunity waits for no one, but it's fine," Lorca comforted her. "There are plenty of Zerg in this area. Chief Tachibana, you'll have many chances to show your prowess."

Tachibana Maki grudgingly sheathed her sword: "Thank you, Lorca... though I'd be more grateful if you hadn't said the first part."

Lorca responded to her complaint with a light laugh.

Unnoticed by others, Cecil also pretended nonchalance as he sheathed his half-drawn sword, acting as though he were merely a healer indifferent to fame and gain.

Despite the two medium Zerg, the team's ranking on the scoreboard remained low. Their unfavorable drop location had cost them the early advantage. Eve's casual kill somehow struck a nerve with Tachibana Maki, who spent the latter half of the journey possessed by a killing spirit, brutally slaughtering every Zerg that approached from the front lines.

Initially, Jessica competed with him for kills, but as Tachibana Maki's mecha became increasingly splattered with yellow and green Zerg blood—as if she'd fallen into some unmentionable pit—Jessica disdainfully went to guard the other side. Infected by this unexplainably fervent atmosphere, even someone as peaceful as Lorca couldn't resist personally killing two Zerg.

The team's points skyrocketed like a rocket. By the time they met up with the Second Team, Eve's squad had already secured a spot in the top three.

"Finally here," Grace waved smilingly from afar at the five approaching mechas. "Luo Lin said earlier that your drop location must've been poor, otherwise you wouldn't have taken so long to accumulate points after the competition started. You must've killed many Zerg on the way here?"

The Second Team consisted of Luo Lin, Grace, Dick, Luo Wenzhou, and Song Xingxing—all top talents in their respective fields, balancing their own strength while supporting the First Team.

As a seraph-type Mythological Mecha, Haniel was equipped with the best flight engines among the mechas, so Jessica landed first: "Not bad, but the medium-risk zone feels just so-so. If we want to earn points, we should head to the high-risk zone."

Besides, Mythological Mecha were developed specifically for combat against Advanced Zerg.

She asked: "Where's the Third Team now?"

The competition wristwatches only had basic functions—no positioning or communication features. Other electronic devices weren't allowed, so teams relied entirely on their own alchemy items for communication. Each team could bring at most five alchemy products: two communicators and three potions was the limit.

The First Team's two alchemy products were provided by Eve and Lorca, so ownership naturally remained with them.

"Ten minutes at most," Grace said. "Luo Lin just exchanged for some materials and is preparing potions. Would Chief Lu like to prepare in advance as well?"

Everyone's attention turned to the white mecha nearby. It was only then that Grace noticed with some surprise that Eve wasn't piloting Hecate.

...Where did this mecha come from?

Eve was currently pondering the system store. The types of materials available for exchange far exceeded what was typically needed for healing potions. Some of those materials... should be highly toxic, right?

She uncertainly raised an eyebrow, wondering what the organizing committee was up to.

Hearing Grace's question, she turned around. She was about to speak when she had a sudden thought, changing her question: "Sure, where is she now?"

Grace pointed toward a petite figure under a tree, looking especially small next to the tall mecha.

Field conditions were no match for a laboratory. Even though equipment could be exchanged from the store, to save funds, Luo Lin had only acquired the most basic burners and containers. She measured and prepared the most complex materials by hand through feel, while Luo Wenzhou—who knew a bit about alchemy—assisted her.

Eve stored her mecha and leaped down. Before she could approach, Luo Lin handed her the freshly prepared mental recovery potion in a thin tube, then shoved the remaining materials into Eve's hands, saying tersely: "Your turn."

"Great minds think alike," Eve chuckled behind her silver mask. "As expected of my Vice Chief."

Nearby, Luo Wenzhou looked confused: "...Huh? What riddle are you two solving?"

"They're testing whether materials purchased with your team's points for Chief Lu count as a violation," a clear male voice came from an approaching mecha— unmistakably Lorca. He patiently explained to his foolish cousin: "If the rules allow it, then most likely items exchanged by other school teams can also be used by us."

His explanation was clear enough that Luo Wenzhou immediately grasped the sinister scheme behind it, stammering: "So... even though the competition doesn't allow direct harm or stealing points, seizing exchanged items is permitted, right? This is still encouraging vicious competition!"

"Correct."

Lorca was pleased he was finally recognizing the world's dangers, but after nodding, he added: "However, it's difficult to control the degree of harm during cross-team seizures. Rather than that, the organizing committee is likely encouraging different teams from the same school to pool their point resources."

Eve twitched at the corner of her mouth, quite amazed that Lorca could phrase it so elegantly—"pooling point resources" indeed. Simply put, it meant spending the other two teams' points to save one team specifically for climbing the rankings.

The Third Team of First Empire Academy arrived soon after. With the full team assembled and the medium-risk zone nearly cleared of Zerg, the group headed toward the nearby high-risk zone.

There are only five high-danger zones on the entire map. The two closest ones require crossing a low-risk zone and a mid-risk zone respectively. Relying on their formidable strength, the First Empire team naturally chose the latter without a second thought.

"Clang!"

The protruding exoskeleton of the mid-level Zerg was as hard as high-density refined iron, but it still seemed incredibly fragile under the strike of a top-tier mech.

Tachibana Maki swung her lightsaber, easily took out the last of the small Zerg nest. She raised her wrist and exclaimed in surprise, "Wow, we've actually moved into first place."

"We've cleared almost every Zerg nest we could find along the way, crossing one low-risk zone and two mid-risk zones, and we're only barely ahead of Imperial University of Science and Technology by 200 points," Cecil said dryly over the team channel. "Don't celebrate too early."

A massive clematis appeared above the team, its silver glow faintly shimmering down.

"Got it, the young master—" Tachibana Maki drawled, her tone dripping with sarcasm. "Frontline fighters are busy; support should stay quiet."

Cecil's indicator light flickered on the team channel before dimming again. He probably wanted to say something but couldn't be bothered to argue with Tachibana Maki, so he simply left the channel.

Grace remarked, "Cecil's really grown more patient lately. If this were before, I could already picture our chief getting his head smashed in."

"...Do you think I can't tell you're insulting me too with that comment?"

After flickering twice, Cecil's indicator light lit up again. Seeing that she had successfully provoked him, Grace giggled and quickly made up an excuse to slip away.

"But is Imperial University of Science and Technology really this strong in the group stage?" Amid the noise, Cecil's comment got Eve thinking. "Their specialty is weapon development. They should perform better in the third round when equipment restrictions are lifted. Why are they so far ahead in this round?"

"Maybe they landed directly in a mid- or high-risk zone," Luo Lin suggested.

It was possible, but Eve remained skeptical.

The high-risk zone was even more desolate, resembling sandy terrain rather than grassland. A few clusters of withered grass drooped with slender leaves, and the parched, yellow soil lay exposed like wounds stripped of protective skin.

The surroundings were dead quiet, with only the howling wind. The destructive power of the Zerg was laid bare before these young students. Even the usually flippant Tachibana Maki set aside her casual attitude, stepping solemnly into the marked high-risk zone.

*Click-clack, click-clack.*

The sky was dimming, and since they still needed to prepare for tonight's campsite, the students of First Empire Academy didn't dare go too deep into the high-risk zone.

The team formed a tight formation, with the medical students protected at the center. The Investigation Department scouts took the outermost positions, while students from the other four departments were evenly distributed at the front, middle, and rear. Confident in her abilities, Eve did not stay with the other medical students under heavy protection. Instead, she joined the outer scouts, carefully scanning the barren hills and withered shrubs.

*Click-clack.*

Eve suddenly spoke up, "Did any of you hear a strange sound... like nails scraping against wood?"

Without waiting for the others, she swung her sword horizontally at a nearby shallow cave. *Boom!* Amid the flying yellow sand, the cave collapsed, revealing its true nature—a nest of sand centipedes.

The centipedes' long, segmented bodies intertwined, roughly seven or eight of them. Their overlapping legs, red and yellow mixed together, created a horrifying visual. Startled by the sudden sunlight, they scrambled out of the collapsed cave with their many legs.

Jessica let out a disgusted sound. Without needing further instructions from Eve, she and Tachibana Maki dove in with their mechs. To intentionally let the first team take the points, the other teams stood by and watched as the first team collected the decent points from this nest of mid-level Zerg.

"That must have been the sound these Zerg were making, right?" Jessica shook her sword. "So many legs—it's creepy. Good thing we dealt with them."

But Eve's expression remained still troubled.

"There's still a sound," she said, looking around and pacing carefully to locate the source. Suddenly, her expression changed. "No, the sound is beneath us!"

She shouted urgently, "Spread out—!"

*Click-clack!*

As if responding to her words, the dry ground split apart, sand and soil flying everywhere. A massive sand centipede, about over ten meters long, burst out from underground, raising its upper body high enough to almost block the sun.

It let out a roar, spraying venom from its grotesque mouthparts, which the students narrowly avoided.

Someone recognized the Zerg: "It's the Sand Centipede King! An Advanced Zerg!"

The students of First Empire Academy were highly trained. Though the sudden appearance of the Sand Centipede King startled them, they quickly snapped into position.

Emerald vines sprouted from the ground, entwined with faint mist, climbing up to tightly bind the massive Zerg. See-through mayflies carried venom in a semicircular assault. The cry of the Three-legged Golden Crow mixed with the intense fragrance of exploding wind chimes. Amid the blazing crimson flames, a pure white mech descended like a falling white bird, sliding down the writhing Zerg's head and along its spine—smooth and precise, like a goddess's flowing sleeve. The lightsaber dug deep into the Zerg's bulging muscles.

The Centipede King had been struggling and twisting, but as Eve reached the ground, it stiffened like a statue. A moment later, the pure white mech tightened its grip on the bluish veins and pulled hard. With a thunderous crash, the Advanced Zerg went limp and collapsed, the twitching flesh around the wound on its back still twitching with residual life.

A huge point bonus poured into the accounts of all three teams for successfully hunting an Advanced Zerg. Before their smiles could fully form, Tachibana Maki's exclamation shattered the victory excitement:

"Oh no! Imperial University of Science and Technology just passed us!"