C16 Mecha Competition Simulation

The Simulation Center at the Recruit Company was teeming with people. Recruits from all three battalions had congregated there, eagerly awaiting the start of the Mecha Competition.

"Just give it your all. Don't worry if it doesn't work out; there's plenty of time ahead," Tang Hao reassured everyone. The new recruits had been performing admirably over the last couple of days, and it was important not to let their spirits wane.

Members of Battalion Three Company Three Class Ten appeared weary, the result of the last few days' exertions. They felt so familiar with the process that they could disassemble a mecha blindfolded or reassemble it single-handedly. The intricacies of the Assault No.66 Mecha were etched in their minds, down to the smallest components.

"Exactly, Captain Tang is spot on. It's okay if the Machine Maintenance Class isn't as strong. Training comes first, rankings second. Don't dwell on it too much," chimed in Liu Jianfeng, the commander of Battalion Three. The news of Zhuge Yao outperforming Wang Kai in physical fitness and Class Ten surpassing Class Three had already made the rounds. With Class Ten excelling, he, as the commander, felt a sense of pride.

However, his words had the opposite effect. The Company Three Class Ten recruits seemed even more deflated. What did he mean by not minding? Did piloting a mecha mean there was no place for the Machine Maintenance Class? Even Zhuge Yao wasn't confident about the Mecha Competition, which pitted class against class.

"Hero Tang, so it is you. You've got some nerve leading new recruits. Just don't lead them astray," called out the voice of First Lieutenant Liu Mei from a distance, laced with sarcasm.

Since Tang Hao had returned from the front lines, his reputation within the Knights had suffered. Rumors abounded. Zhuge Yao recalled from his past life that Tang Hao had been pulled from the front due to an arm injury. The Empire, not wanting to lose a descendant of the War God, never reassigned him to battle. This might have been one of the factors that later led Tang Hao to strike out on his own, to preserve his formidable combat prowess.

"Our class leader is excellent; there's no need for your commentary. After all, he's a major and deserves some respect," Zhuge Yao shot back, unfazed by the fact that the other person was the battalion commander. After all, he wasn't from the Female Battalion.

"Hey, beautiful, talking about our class leader is such a drag. Let's chat about me instead—I'm single," Lei Xun said excitedly. He was drawn to such a charming woman, exactly his type. He didn't give a second thought to the battalion commander's status. His philosophy was simple: a beauty is a beauty.

Liu Mei had intended to come over and give Tang Hao a piece of her mind, but the commotion caused by Zhuge Yao and Lei Xun quickly dampened her enthusiasm. She turned and walked away with Xia Bing and Lee Xinru. Just catching a glimpse of Zhuge Yao acting normally was enough to put her mind at ease.

"Zhuge Yao! Don't chicken out; I'll see you in the ring later," Lee Xinru called out as she left, reminding him of their earlier agreement not to forget.

If she hadn't mentioned it, Zhuge Yao might have actually forgotten. He was surprised that she could hold a grudge over such a trivial matter for so long.

"Let's head out; the Mecha Competition is about to start. We'll all line up together," Tang Hao said, beaming with pride. He wasn't bothered in the slightest and led the new recruits to the Simulate Center to queue up.

It was the first visit to the Simulate Center for the members of Battalion Three Company Three Class Ten, and they all looked around with curiosity. Zhuge Yao gathered his courage, knowing that you have to try something to know the outcome, regardless of what others might say.

The entire Recruit Company was lined up here. The Tank didn't specifically arrange the order; each class would get a turn on stage and then randomly select an opponent.

"Don't be nervous once you're inside. It's just a simulation room. Just pilot the Mecha as you normally would, and you'll likely encounter no major issues," Tang Hao advised the group. He chose this moment to speak to prevent anyone from getting stage fright.

Everyone nodded in agreement. They had heard enough about the Simulate Center beforehand to come mentally prepared.

Flanking the entrance of the Simulate Center were two large LCD screens, showcasing the ongoing Mecha Competition. The Female Battalion's class was formidable; Lee Xinru, with nine female soldiers in tow, was locked in combat with a class of male soldiers. Lee Xinru unleashed her full arsenal, spear and cannon firing in unison, as the female recruits worked together to obliterate ten enemy Mechas.

"Boss, this doesn't look good. That woman is fierce, and her Combat Strength Value is about to hit 400. Let's hope we don't have to face them," Gongsun Yan remarked to Zhuge Yao, a hint of trepidation in his voice as he watched the battle unfold on the screen.

"No worries. They've already had their turn in the competition. We won't encounter them in the first round," Zhuge Yao responded coolly, unfazed by the prospect of meeting them. After all, they had competed before, and his martial arts skills had proven superior. He expected the Mecha Competition to be no different.

"The next match will be Battalion Three Company Three Class Ten versus Battalion One Company One. Please proceed to the Simulate Center to prepare," announced the broadcast, echoing through the space.

Hearing it was time for his class to compete, Zhuge Yao's spirits lifted. He briskly followed Tang Hao into the Simulate Center. Inside, the setup was starkly simple, with nothing but twenty Simulation Chambers. Zhuge Yao surmised that the simulation battlefield's supercomputer must be housed in a separate room.

The group that entered alongside them exuded arrogance, particularly Gongsun Ce from Battalion One Company One, who barely acknowledged Zhuge Yao and his peers. Zhuge Yao smirked inwardly; anyone who underestimated him was in for a rude awakening.

Lei Xun caught sight of Zhuge Yao's grin and felt a chill run down his spine, his throat tightening. He knew all too well that whenever Young Master Yao wore that smile, it spelled trouble for someone, without fail.

With no time to waste, the twenty competitors entered their respective Simulation Chambers, and the Mecha Competition officially commenced. Zhuge Yao settled into his chamber, fine-tuning the instruments to his liking. As the hatch sealed shut, the screens before him flickered to life, revealing an ancient Roman Colosseum awaiting his conquest.

Before Zhuge Yao had a chance to fully assess his surroundings, an alarm blared from the screen before him. Nine opposing mechas were simultaneously opening fire on his own. With lightning-fast reflexes, Zhuge Yao reached for the thrusters and maneuvered his mecha into a side leap. The barrage from the enemy fell short, failing to secure a quick kill and wasting a considerable amount of ammunition in the process.

Wiping the sweat from his brow, Zhuge Yao hadn't anticipated that Gongsun Ce's class would resort to such tactics, nearly causing him a disastrous upset. He quickly checked the energy shield, which had depleted to half its capacity, causing him a pang of distress. The display indicated that his allies had also engaged, unleashing a volley of their own.

"Boom!" The sound of an exploding mecha filled the air. His side was holding up well, having swiftly taken out an enemy mecha.

Zhuge Yao couldn't help but sweat at the thought of his inexperience; even his deceptive maneuvers were textbook. The mechas from the opposing class were uniformly armed with heavy cannons and laser guns, a classic long-range combat strategy. His own team, however, was a hodgepodge of different weapons. Despite the variety, they shared one common trait: a preference for long-range weaponry.

During the preparation phase, Zhuge Yao had opted for primarily close-combat weapons, with only a laser gun for ranged attacks. Long-range combat was the army's preferred strategy, so naturally, it was popular among the troops, who favored heavy cannons or electromagnetic cannons.

Lei Xun, witnessing Zhuge Yao becoming the focus of enemy fire, charged forward in his mecha. He deployed an electromagnetic shield, far superior to standard defenses, capable of withstanding intense assaults from three different directions.