CH 2

Li Hao didn't rush to open the door and enter the control room. He sat in the cockpit and the automatic door closed behind him.

"Bleem mission 127: six months, EMP3000 points."

Anyone else would have just deleted such a spam email, but the fact that someone could utter such words indicated that they were either insane or had forgotten to take their medication.

However, Li Hao didn't pay too much attention to it. He seemed more interested in the email itself. But when he tried to retrieve it, just like before, the email had disappeared from SkyMessage without a trace, not even a hint of its existence.

Li Hao had no idea who the sender was - whether it was a human, a ghost, or some kind of surreal existence - all he knew was that its code name was "Bleem".

The first time was on Li Hao's fifth birthday. Something had taken control of his dreams, leading him into indescribable worlds and subjecting him to all sorts of unimaginable training. The experience left him in a coma for a month, and the hospital, unable to find any cause for his condition, had informed the orphanage that they should prepare for the worst. Yet, when he woke up, Li Hao was completely cured and his body was healthier than ever before, except for a scar in the shape of a ring near his heart. If it weren't for the orphanage director's intervention, the hospital would have wanted to study him thoroughly.

For over a decade, Li Hao had grown accustomed to the presence of his enigmatic overseer. Though he suspected that this being had some ulterior motive for training him, there was never any malice directed towards him. At first, he had entertained the notion that he was being used as a test subject by some nefarious organization, but as he matured, he realized that his overseer's methods surpassed any technology he had ever encountered. What's more, as an orphan with no real value to anyone, he couldn't fathom why anyone would go to such lengths to experiment on him.

It wasn't until he turned twelve that the orphanage director gifted him with a SkyMessage and a message arrived in his inbox, containing the cryptic "Bleem mission". The tasks ranged from the mundane (such as tracking down pets) to the extreme (such as assassinations), but Li Hao was relieved to find that the targets were those he deemed deserving of such treatment.

For the most part, he and Bleem coexisted in a sort of peaceful symbiosis. However, Li Hao couldn't resist testing the waters. One time, he intentionally didn't complete a mission, and then his heart stopped beating. When he woke up, he received a message: "Complete mission number 200 and you will obtain the answer. If you fail again, you will be destroyed."

"Be destroyed...who do they think they're looking down on?"

Despite the danger, Li Hao repeatedly pushed himself to the brink of failure, eventually gaining a measure of control over his situation. As a result, the Bleem missions became less frequent and urgent.

Mission 126 was assigned a year ago - to gain admission to Tianjing. However, life before entering the military academy was far more exhilarating and diverse. Ironically, this past year has been the most leisurely for him.

Opening his eyes, taking a deep breath, a smile crept onto the corner of Li Hao's mouth. Bleem, which had been silent for a while, became active again, and he was ready.

The EMP system displayed Li Hao's record - ID: Puppeteer, Total Score: 853, Win Rate: 100%, Number of Matches: 4900.

The ID is accompanied by a full-color pentagram, representing survival, attack, team battles, individual battles, and mech pool.

Initially, Li Hao only intended to have fun, but he quickly became addicted. However, he must control his score before being given a task by bleem. He cannot attract too much attention, as he has caused trouble in the past due to his high-profile nature, almost jeopardizing a crucial mission.

Controlling the score is a technical skill, and he has found a bug in the system.

In virtual mode, whether it's a one-on-one or a multiplayer battle, as long as one person chooses virtual mode, the entire score is calculated according to virtual mode. Therefore, Li Hao fights almost exclusively in virtual mode while using real mode himself.

Therefore, Li Hao says that he is not using virtual mode, yet he is.

He managed to control his score just right - it's not impressive, just over 800, but it's still passing.

Li Hao selects the battle mode and enters the random team matchup in the arena.

Soon, an opponent appeared, who also kept their personal information hidden, with the ID: Eternal Starlight.

Li Hao didn't care about the opponent and both sides entered the countdown for selecting their mechas. Li Hao chose the random option.

Puppet vs Eternal Starlight.

Armored Dragon Fighter Generation III (USE)

Configuration: Medium-sized fighter, 80 tons.

Nuclear fusion-driven standard laser gun, titanium blade.

Silver Knight Generation V (NUP)

Configuration: Light fighter, 65 tons.

Nuclear fusion-driven silver laser gun, laser sword.

The two mecha pilots entered the arena, facing each other. A countdown appeared, three seconds.

3... 2... 1...

The battle began.

The silver fighter launched the first attack with incredible agility, showcasing the pilot's ability to handle this level of stress with ease. The fighter was fast and had room to spare.

The distance between the two mechas instantly closed to twenty meters, and the silver fighter's speed suddenly increased. The fighter's shoulders shook, not due to instability, but to confuse the opponent's judgment.

It was clear that the opponent in front of him was quite cautious.

The distance closed to ten meters, and Armored Dragon Fighter remained motionless while the silver fighter soared into the air, unsheathing the laser sword and striking down with full force.

At this juncture, evading with the Dragon Armor fighter was a futile endeavor. There exists a significant discrepancy between mechanized combat and human combat, with foresight and preemptive action being crucial. The entire Solar System Grand Mech Tournament underscores the significance of seizing the initiative to control the pace, with NUP being the exemplar in this regard.

The Silver fighter's pilot was not one to show mercy, with the laser sword's striking speed being alarmingly fast. However, at that very moment, the Dragon Armor fighter let out a muffled roar, trembling as it made a sudden lunge forward. With only a half-step, it pushed its left arm forward to intercept the opponent's laser sword at close range, diving in with its body and delivering a forceful upward elbow strike with its right arm at a forty-five-degree angle.

BOOM...

The Silver fighter jolted violently backward, the pilot struggling to regain control. Despite his efforts, the mech was knocked down, the engine roaring as they attempted to pull away from the ground and increase the distance. However, the next second saw a figure dart by.

BOOM...

Explosion.

The Puppet (Dragon Armor fighter 3rd Gen) wins!

With the match over, Li Hao was somewhat dissatisfied. In theory, the level in the Real Mode should be better, but why was it so weak? Perhaps it was because his score was too low, barely over eight hundred. It would improve in the future. Li Hao kicked his opponent aside and began a new match.

Meanwhile, on the Moon, at Tianxing Academy...

BOOM...

"TMD, they actually kicked me. Can't they handle a fair fight?" Feynman angrily hammered on the door. "I let my guard down, and they took advantage."

"Haha, Feynman, are you kidding me? There are so many experts out there, even if they haven't encountered it, they've all heard of it. The puppet, no matter how you look at it, is a newbie. Oh my god, hahaha, beaten by a newbie who didn't even use a weapon."

Alz, with her tall figure and sexy blonde curly hair, laughed so hard that tears streamed down her face as she sat ungracefully on the ground.

"Alz, that didn't count. I want to have another match!" Feynman ignored Alz's smugness and quickly issued an invitation.

"Puppet kid, do you dare to have another match? I was careless just now. This time, I'll let you use only one hand!"

System prompt: The other party has set a mute, and your message cannot be delivered.

Feynman was so angry that he hammered his thigh. He didn't know when Alz had already stood beside him, and seeing this, she laughed so hard that she rolled on the ground. "Oh my, our prestigious Tianxing Feynman has capsized. Tsk tsk, what did the captain say? Don't be blinded by victory. It seems like you had a really enjoyable vacation."

"Feynman, Alz, what's so funny? Let me be happy too." A crisp and decisive voice came, and Alz immediately stood up from the ground, while Feynman also stepped out of the cabin.

"Captain!"

Both of them stood at attention and looked at the heroic and beautiful girl in front of them with admiration and a little bit of hidden affection.

Tianxing Military Academy, one of the top ten military academies in the NUP, had a participant who was awarded the title of "Ace Pilot" in the recent Solar System Grand Prix. The captain of Tianxing Military Academy, the esteemed and charismatic Tita Montes, led her team to victory despite facing numerous challenges and close calls in every battle.

"Please tidy up your clothes, we have guests," Tita said with a smile. Being a star in her own right, Tita was a woman of beauty, intelligence, and strength, and her admirers were left in awe.

"Arths, come out. Although these two guys are a bit stupid, they still have some strength."

It was then that a figure in sportswear with sunglasses appeared at the door. As he lifted his head, Feynman and Alz were stunned, almost jumping out of their skins. Tita, who was standing next to them, coldly snorted, and the two covered their mouths, but still rushed up, "Arths, I've been your loyal fan for ten years, please give me an autograph!"

"Get lost! Arths has only been in the industry for seven years, three months, and eighteen days. I'm Alz, the sniper of the Tianjing Military Academy team. It's an honor to meet you, Your Highness Arths... Ouch! Captain, why did you kick me?" Alz exclaimed.

"My dear sister, you can't treat my fans so harshly," Arths said, her porcelain skin glowing.

Feynman and Alz were both exhilarated, their hearts melting at the sound of her voice. Her presence was truly captivating and endearing.

...Sister?

If they were on good terms, wouldn't it be appropriate to call her "big sister"?

Perhaps they were related by blood? They did bear a striking resemblance. Wow, what kind of lineage was this? The captain had been hiding a deep secret.

"Arths is my cousin. You two know that now. If a third person knows, you should consider the consequences carefully. She wants to witness your combat abilities." Tita said, knowing that she couldn't keep it a secret from these two curious fellows.

Instantly, the two men were ignited like fire, "I'll do it! With the grace of a shooting star and the power of the Sky Machine, I, the Gun God Alz, am at your service."

"What's the point of using a sniper rifle? Watch me, a real man faces his challenges head-on with real swords and guns. Arths, I'm the Vanguard, let me show you what I've got!" Feynman couldn't back down in front of his idol. He knew that this was his chance to impress her, and maybe even get an autograph from her.

"Give it a rest, Five-Second Man. Don't forget who got owned by a newbie earlier."

"Get lost! It was just a fluke... "

"Feynman, bring up the footage from the previous match." Tita said coldly, and the temperature in the room seemed to drop by a few degrees.

Feynman and Alz immediately regained their composure. Though she was a young lady, the word "gentle" had no place in describing the captain. Her commitment and rigor towards training were beyond imagination. Losing? Unacceptable.

Despite her reluctance, Feynman replayed her previous match. Arths also curiously observed the Mobile Suits' "real-life" experience, having studied many matches due to her enthusiasm for the Gundam Fight and even played in virtual mode. It was evident that the Silver Knight had taken the initiative, charging towards the opponent and taking control of the situation in mid-air.

However, what happened next was unexpected. In the blink of an eye, the Silver Knight was done for.

"Captain, I admit that I was careless. The opponent lacked sportsmanship and ran away after the fight. I request another chance..." Feynman trailed off.

"Feynman," the captain interrupted.

"Yes, captain?"

We are "pawread dot com", find us on google.

"If you maintain that attitude, the next fight will result in an even more gruesome defeat for you. USE lost, but more so because of their arrogance. The next tournament will be the true test. Three consecutive victories will go down in history." Tita declared.

Feynman and Alz were taken aback, looking at each other in bewilderment.

"Performance-wise, the Armored Dragon 3rd Generation is inferior to the Silver Knight 5th Generation, being thrice as slow. Although the opponent didn't move when you attacked, if you look closely, zoom in ten times, see that? His head moved slightly. He refrained from attacking because he believed he could see through you completely." Tita explained.

The Silver Knight attacked, and the Armored Dragon rushed forward half a step.

"Such a sudden outburst of force falls within the realm of strong control," Arths remarked, indicating that their opponent was definitely not a novice.

The following moves were crucial: a strong-controlled surge, a strategic positioning to block the laser sword with the left arm of the Armored Dragon, resulting in a loss of force and impact for Feynman's attack. To directly take down an armored machine, one must have complete command over both the angle and the force of the attack. Feynman's reaction was quick, as he attempted to maintain balance through strong control and then use kinetic energy to create distance. This was a textbook level of crisis maneuvering.

However, it seemed that their opponent had completely predicted this move. The moment Feynman created some distance, his weakness was exposed, and the opponent's advance was just a bit faster. But at the exact right moment, a kick was delivered, catching the Armored Dragon in mid-air and causing it to lose its balance. The slow-motion footage captured the moment of weightlessness in which the Armored Dragon's head was exposed, presenting an easy target.

The head of the Silver Knight was kicked off, and even in a lower-level competition, such a move was a humiliating and devastating blow.

The entire sequence of moves was swift, decisive, and ruthless, executed in one fluid motion, as if the Silver Knight was being toyed with.

Feynman and Alz were no longer joking around; they were both sweating profusely. As experts, they were both aware of the gravity of the situation. However, Feynman was still filled with anger; this type of attack was akin to dribbling the ball through an opponent's legs - it was no longer just about winning or losing.

Arths could understand some of what had happened, but the details escaped her. She looked at Tita with a perplexed expression.Tita dotes on her cousin Arths, who wouldn't be enamored with such a charming individual?

"Arths, the Silver Knight's defense is remarkable. Feyman is a vanguard, his defense and endurance are exceptional. Despite his carelessness, he wouldn't entirely lose his balance from a single elbow strike by his opponent. His reaction was commendable. It's generally impossible to kick a mecha's head off with one foot, but in that particular situation, the mecha had already lost its balance. Feyman seized the opportunity and used a swift side-kick to form a decapitating strike. Feyman, the opponent isn't disrespecting you, but rather insulting our Tianxing Mecha Warriors. We must reclaim our honor in this match!"

Feyman clenched his teeth tightly, "Yes, captain. It was my mistake, and I'm willing to accept punishment."

Tita nodded, as a captain, she must act decisively, "Later, you will receive your punishment, five times the gravity, ten kilometers, and Alz check check that person."

Alz next to her shrugged helplessly, "Captain, I've already checked. He's hidden his personal information, and we can only see his ID, which is called Puppet. We haven't heard of anyone like that in the past two years, and he kicked Feyman out of the match as soon as it ended. It feels intentional."

In EMP, some users go by their real names while others use IDs. Of course, there are many who conceal their information, but once they reach a certain level, it's impossible to remain anonymous forever. After all, what's the use of being young if you don't take risks?

"Feynman, continue to issue challenges. We must reclaim the arena of Tianxingjiwu. Alz, search for skilled users who specialize in the Armored Dragon. There will surely be traces left behind. Hmph, Earthlings love to use such sneaky tricks."

Top-notch players typically have proficiency in various mechas and must at least grasp their basic performance. Even if they don't use certain types themselves, they may still face them in the future. There are usually a few types that they excel at, and operating them well requires more than just accuracy and speed. The player and the mecha must be in sync, achieving a certain level of tacit understanding. Those who can use the Kailong to such a degree are most likely members of USE, and they are few in number.

"Yes, Captain. But it's a bit strange... Captain, he hasn't banned spectators..."

The other three present were also confused. Concealing personal information while allowing others to watch? What kind of strange ploy was this?

"Open it up and release it."