TSA Chapter 52

Zhang Ling chose the lightweight K17 battle armor, which balanced mobility and attack power, and was equipped with an impact cannon with auto-lock functionality and a light secondary weapon.

Surprisingly, Ruo Yan opted for the heavy X5 battle armor, the same model series that Sa Wei had chosen earlier. It sacrificed speed in exchange for superior defense. However, her weapon choices were a light blade and a long-range ray gun. The light blade excelled in close combat with strong penetration power, while the ray gun had an extremely long range and high damage output. However, it required a charging period, could only target one enemy at a time, and lacked continuous fire capability, making it a somewhat impractical weapon.

This was nothing like what people expected a girl to choose. The freshman spectators looked shocked, while the senior students remained unfazed and watched with amusement.

Despite Ruo Yan’s stunning appearance, she was actually a hidden powerhouse. Anyone who underestimated her would suffer a terrible fate.

Sure enough, when both contestants exited the preparation room, Zhang Ling froze for a moment at the sight of Ruo Yan in her X5 armor.

Taking advantage of his distraction, Ruo Yan sprinted away at an incredible speed. The heavy X5 armor seemed weightless on her.

“What kind of tactic is this? Running away because she can’t win?” Zhang Ling, being one of the top ten freshmen, quickly snapped back to reality. He lifted the impact cannon onto his shoulder, locked onto Ruo Yan’s retreating figure using his targeting scope, and prepared to fire.

However, through the scope, he saw that Ruo Yan had already run several hundred meters away and was now lying on the ground, setting up her ray gun.

A chill ran down Zhang Ling’s spine as an overwhelming sense of danger washed over him. Instinctively, he pressed the fire button. The cannon shell shot out, automatically tracking Ruo Yan’s position, the recoil so strong that it made Zhang Ling stagger.

Ruo Yan, however, remained calm and pulled the trigger. Her highly penetrating energy beam reached its target first, piercing through the energy shell before continuing straight through Zhang Ling’s forehead. The impact cannon shell exploded less than fifty meters from Ruo Yan, creating a massive shockwave, but thanks to the X5’s superior defense, she emerged from the virtual battlefield unscathed. Meanwhile, Zhang Ling was automatically ejected from the simulation, still looking utterly dazed.

Ruo Yan’s effortless control of the heavy battle armor, combined with her frighteningly precise predictions and aiming skills, left no doubt about her strength. The training hall erupted in cheers.

Despite losing two consecutive matches, the freshman team was not discouraged and remained determined to turn the tide.

However, as the matchups continued, each senior who stepped onto the battlefield was stronger than the last. The relentless defeats crushed the confidence of the once-eager freshman top ten.

“And now, for the final match!”

A young man with black hair and black eyes slowly stepped onto the platform. His features were strikingly handsome, and though he wore the same uniform as everyone else, he exuded an air of natural nobility.

“Ahhhhh! Han Xiao! Han Xiao! Han Xiao!” The moment he appeared, the training hall erupted into deafening cheers and screams.

At the sound of this name, the faces of all ten freshmen changed.

Every student admitted to Imperial Star Academy was an elite among elites. The fact that they had made it through the rigorous selection process to stand here meant they were the best of the best. Even knowing they would face upperclassmen in the finals, they had not felt the slightest fear. They had been eager to prove themselves.

After all, just because the seniors had enrolled earlier didn’t make them unbeatable. In the end, it all came down to skill.

When they entered the academy, they had heard stories of a freshman team that had crushed the upperclassmen by a huge margin, earning the right to represent Imperial Star Academy in the national league—and ultimately winning the championship.

They had thought they could do the same. What they hadn’t expected was that the very person who had led that legendary freshman team to victory years ago… was now their opponent.

“Mecha Combat Department, Year 4, Class 1. Han Xiao.” Han Xiao introduced himself concisely.

“Mecha Combat… Year 1, Class 1… Zhou Kan…” Zhou Kan stammered, “P-please take care of me.”

He had never imagined that his opponent would be his idol.

In the Mecha Combat Department, the name Han Xiao was practically legendary. His double-S Level talent had already set him apart, but he had also held the top rank in the department for years, sweeping all four of the empire’s major mecha tournaments. Whether it was long-range, close combat, or reconnaissance mechs, he mastered them all with ease. In his hands, these lifeless machines seemed to come alive—deadly and unstoppable.

Han Xiao nodded at him as a response, and the two entered the training pods together.

They were transported to the virtual mecha platform, where they could freely select a basic mecha from the platform’s database.

Zhou Kan chose a speed-type mecha with stealth capabilities—agile and lightweight, equipped with various light weapons to launch surprise attacks on enemies. It was clear that facing Han Xiao put immense psychological pressure on him; he didn’t dare engage in direct combat and could only wait for an opportunity to strike.

Han Xiao, on the other hand, chose a close-combat beast-type mecha. Its massive metallic body was tough and heavy, sacrificing speed for powerful defense. As a close-combat mecha, it was equipped entirely with melee weapons—sharp spikes that could shoot out from its back, a photon whip tail, and razor-sharp steel claws.

By coincidence, his mecha happened to perfectly counter Zhou Kan’s mecha. But no one truly believed it was just a coincidence. Clearly, Han Xiao had assessed Zhou Kan’s strengths just from their brief encounter earlier and had chosen accordingly.

The moment Zhou Kan entered the battlefield, he felt a primal fear—as if he were being hunted by an ancient beast. He immediately activated his stealth mode, trying to create distance from Han Xiao.

However, Han Xiao didn’t hesitate at all. He piloted his mecha and charged straight in Zhou Kan’s direction. The supposedly cumbersome beast-type mecha moved with incredible agility in his hands, running like a true predator. The photon whip tail swung in wide arcs—if Zhou Kan’s mecha got hit, his stealth mode would be forcibly deactivated.

From the spectators’ god-view perspective, they could see the entire battlefield. Han Xiao maintained complete control of the fight, while Zhou Kan, who should have been the one launching surprise attacks, was instead being relentlessly pursued, forced to dodge in a desperate scramble. His light weapons were nearly ineffective against the beast-type mecha’s formidable defenses. Worse still, using them might expose his location, making him even more hesitant to attack.

He kept trying to widen the distance, but Han Xiao never gave him the chance. The photon whip tail swung fiercely, completely cutting off all his escape routes.

As time ticked by, Zhou Kan grew anxious. He threw out three small bombs, attempting to mislead Han Xiao with a feint.

But Han Xiao saw through his plan instantly. As the explosions rang out, the spikes on the beast-type mecha’s back extended and shot out in a different direction—piercing straight through Zhou Kan’s mecha in an instant. Forced out of stealth mode, Zhou Kan immediately unleashed all his weapons, launching a desperate counterattack against Han Xiao.

Han Xiao dodged all of his attacks with unbelievable speed before slamming straight into Zhou Kan’s mecha. Zhou Kan felt as if a speeding truck had hit him—the system blared a piercing damage warning.

Before he could regain his footing, Han Xiao lashed him with the photon whip again, dealing another devastating blow, further worsening the damage to his already battered mecha.

With just two precise strikes, Han Xiao had already secured victory.

The senior team, led by Han Xiao, had defeated all their opponents and secured their place in the next stage. They would represent Imperial Star Military Academy in the upcoming league matches.

The host originally wanted Han Xiao and his team to say a few words on stage, but Han Xiao quickly excused himself, saying he had training, and left in a hurry.

With the regional tournament fast approaching, preparing early made sense. The host didn’t question it and let them go. What he didn’t know was that instead of heading for training, the group went straight back to their dorms—to log into the game.

******

Night Owl and the others had gone offline to participate in the academy’s final selection, leaving Ran Qi and Gu Le with nothing much to do. So, they grabbed some fishing rods and headed to the beach to fish.

The fish they caught could be used as cooking ingredients for meals or exchanged for contribution points at the guild—either way, it was useful.

They had expected Night Owl and the others to be gone for at least half a day, but to their surprise, just over two hours later, they saw them logging back in.

Gu Le quickly asked in the team chat, “Huh? Why are you guys back so soon? Don’t tell me… you lost?”

“Don’t jinx it! How could we possibly lose?!” Soul Chaser snapped.

Plume Ink added, “Exactly! We all made it through. See you in Central City the day after tomorrow!”

The regional tournament would be held in Central City, the capital planet’s largest city. The top ten students from all the major military academies would gather there. Each school would also send a group of students to cheer for their team, making it the liveliest event of the year in Central City.

“Awesome! See you in two days!” Gu Le grinned excitedly, then turned to Ran Qi. “Ranran, did you book our spaceship tickets and hotel?”

“Yeah, all set.”

Sword at Fleeting Time asked in surprise, “You guys booked your own tickets? You’re not traveling with the school team?”

“Yeah, we want some extra time to explore on our own.”

Zhang Shuo had also made it through, meaning he would be traveling with the school’s team. If they went with the official group, they’d have to be around Zhang Shuo and his annoying crew the entire time, which would be unbearable.

If it weren’t for their plan to meet up with Night Owl and the others, Ran Qi probably wouldn’t even have wanted to go.

Soul Chaser scratched his head. “Makes sense. It’s more fun to go on your own. Send us your hotel info later!”

“Will do.”

“Can’t wait!”

Whether they were more excited about meeting in person or the food, only they themselves knew.