TSA Chapter 71

However, their movements had already been detected by Jiang Yue and Wu Fei, who were stationed outside the base. Wu Fei immediately devised a way to create a disturbance, luring a massive swarm of bugs to block the only path leading to the base.

If those teams wanted to pass, they would first have to deal with the bugs.

Rather than wasting energy fighting them directly, it was better to use their strength to clear out the bugs. By the time they were done, the battle inside the base would likely be over.

Sure enough, just as Jiang Yue and Wu Fei had planned, the mixed-team squad ran straight into the trap and found themselves clashing with a raging Zerg swarm.

The Zergs didn’t differentiate between prey—if it was edible, it was fair game. Without hesitation, they swarmed toward the assembled squad.

The surviving players from various teams had all made it to the regional finals, meaning their individual strength was formidable. These Zergs were no real match for them. However, no matter how strong they were, they couldn’t handle sheer overwhelming numbers. Jiang Yue and Wu Fei had pulled no punches in attracting the swarm, practically luring every Zerg they could find. The sheer quantity was staggering, leaving the mixed-team squad unable to break free quickly. They had no choice but to fight their way forward while searching for a path to the base.

If someone among them had been willing to stay behind and hold off the Zergs, the rest could have broken through to stop the Black Team and White Team. However, since they were only a temporary alliance, no one was willing to sacrifice themselves for the others. In the end, they could only grit their teeth and fight on.

Hidden in the shadows, Jiang Yue and Wu Fei sat back and reaped the benefits of their trap. Whenever they noticed the Zerg numbers decreasing, they would lure even more Zergs from around the base to keep the mixed-team squad struggling in misery.

******

Inside the base, Han Xiao’s squad was locked in a fierce battle with the remaining Zerg forces. The number of Zergs was staggering, and their variety was extensive. The ones drawn away by the commotion outside were mostly flying Zergs, while those left behind in the base were primarily beetles.

Although these beetles couldn’t fly, their combat abilities were terrifying.

The most troublesome among them was the Ironclad Beetle. Its exoskeleton was rock-solid, glistening with a metallic sheen. Its powerful mandibles, resembling two thick fangs, were lined with intricate rows of razor-sharp teeth, capable of chewing through steel with ease. If one of these creatures got too close, it could devour both a person and their mech, leaving nothing behind. Its three pairs of legs were incredibly strong, ending in hooked claws that could carve deep gashes into mechs with a single swipe.

However, they weren’t without weaknesses. Their bulky frames made them sluggish, and their underbellies weren’t as tough as their shells. The key was to blast them off balance—once their soft bellies were exposed, they became vulnerable to fatal attacks.

The mechs focused on bombarding them, while the armored warriors went in for precise strikes. Their coordination was seamless, quickly taking down over half of the beetles. The other beetles were much easier to handle, as high-powered ray guns and laser cannons could take care of them. The only downside was the significant energy consumption.

Unlike mechs, armored suits had limited energy reserves. Lin Mo and the others soon found their ray guns drained and had to switch to light blades.

“We’ll hold these Zergs off! Focus your firepower, and the moment an opening appears, charge through!” Wu Huan shouted.

Tang Man, Lin Mo, and Shen Ruoyan also stepped up, wielding light blades and energy whips, clearly sharing the same intent.

Han Xiao and his team gave them a deep look, then cranked their weapon output to the maximum. Through sheer brute force and relentless bombardment, they blasted open a path and rushed toward the base’s underground chamber. Thanks to the intel Tang Man had provided earlier, they knew exactly where to go.

Once inside, they quickly located the top-grade energy stones. Without hesitation, they grabbed appropriately sized stones and stuffed them into their mechs’ energy slots. It was a simple yet effective method.

Now that they had energy, it was time to deal with those damn Zergs properly!

Realizing that the food meant for their Queen had been stolen by the enemy, the Zergs let out piercing, frenzied screeches. Their cries carried a special frequency, traveling far and wide. The moment the sound reached the other bugs, they went berserk. No matter what they were doing, they immediately turned and charged back toward the base.

Even the swarms fighting the mixed-team squad outside did the same, reversing course the instant they heard the call, heedless of any attacks they suffered. Seeing this, the mixed-team squad knew they had no choice but to follow the Zergs toward the base.

Wu Fei initially wanted to stop them, but Jiang Yue held him back.

“It’s fine,” Jiang Yue said with a light chuckle. “Let them go.”

Those people had been following behind the swarm with ease, but the moment they entered the base, the Zergs immediately perceived them as being on the same side as the intruding humans. Without hesitation, the swarm turned and attacked them, catching them completely off guard. This, in turn, greatly reduced the pressure on Han Xiao and his team.

As the intense battle played out on the holographic screen, the arena erupted with excited screams.

“Ahhh! Han Xiao is so cool!!!!” A girl clutched her face, her eyes sparkling with admiration.

“This is the very definition of ‘one man holding the pass against ten thousand enemies’! Ahhhhhh!!!” A boy was just as excited, wishing he were the one piloting the mecha.

“Han Xiao piloting a mecha—he really has the presence of the Marshal back in the day!” Even some older spectators were nodding in agreement.

“Liu Nian and Lin Mo are amazing too! Every shot is a perfect headshot!”

Wave after wave of Zergs fell, their scorched or shattered bodies littering the base, filling the air with a pungent and nauseating stench.

By the time all the Zergs were wiped out, the scene could no longer be described as merely ‘devastated.’

Most of the mixed temporary team had been eliminated in the battle, leaving only two members from the Blue Team and three from the Yellow Team.

“Come on, who’s going first?” Han Xiao’s voice echoed through the mecha’s speakers, calm and unwavering.

The Black Team and White Team had also suffered losses—only the mecha department students had survived, leaving their numbers equal to those of the Blue and Yellow Teams.

Everyone knew that the final battle was at hand. Each team had suffered casualties, and whoever remained standing in the end would be the ultimate victor.

However, just as the audience expected an intense showdown between the mixed team and the Imperial Star students, the Blue and Yellow Teams suddenly turned on each other…

At first, the audience was shocked, but then they understood.

Although the Imperial Star team had taken some losses, the remaining members—Han Xiao included—were the top mecha students of Imperial Star. On top of that, they had replenished their energy using the energy stones. Meanwhile, the Blue and Yellow Teams were already exhausted, with little chance of gaining an advantage in battle.

After weighing their options, the two teams decided to abandon the fight against the Black and White Teams and instead compete for the final qualification spot.

In the end, the Yellow Team secured victory thanks to their numerical advantage.

With that, the final teams representing Capital Star in the national league were the Black Team, the White Team, and the Yellow Team—a total of fifteen participants.

As the referee announced the final results, the arena erupted into deafening cheers.

“Imperial Star! Imperial Star! Imperial Star!”

“Han Xiao! Han Xiao! Han Xiao!”

Han Xiao stepped out of the combat simulation pod, ascended the podium, and calmly raised his hand in acknowledgment of the wildly cheering crowd.

“Haha! Boss is just too cool! Absolutely stunning!” Gu Le excitedly grabbed Ran Qi. “Ranran, don’t you think so?!”

“Mm… very cool…” Just now, Han Xiao had been incredible. In battle, he made not a single unnecessary move, and every attack took down swathes of Zergs. His presence really did feel like the return of a war god, just as the audience had said.

Ran Qi never thought of himself as someone who admired sheer strength, but seeing Han Xiao piloting his mecha in battle was undeniably captivating.

Gu Le, satisfied with his friend’s response, turned back to continue clapping and cheering—completely missing the way Ran Qi’s ears had inexplicably turned red.

With that, the regional competition came to an end. The national league would take place in half a month.

“Ah… Boss and the others are heading back to school tomorrow, so I guess we’ll be leaving too, right?” Gu Le asked hesitantly.

Since all the contestants would be returning to their respective schools the next day, Ran Qi and Gu Le were no exception. Their long-awaited in-person meeting was about to come to an end.

“Yeah…”

Though they had only recently met in real life, their deep friendship—formed over countless hours in the game—made them instantly click. Now that it was time to part, a sense of reluctance settled in…

“How about we have a big feast tonight?” Gu Le’s eyes sparkled with excitement as he proposed the idea.

Ran Qi: “…”

Gu Le was truly a foodie—always thinking about eating no matter the occasion…

But… since it was their last meal before parting ways, they might as well make the most of it!