C22 The Jungle Simulation Battle

After leaving the Military Equipment Department, Zhuge Yao ran into Li Lingtong, and together they headed back to the recruit training camp to hand in their passes. The trip had been a resounding success; not only had he obtained the much-desired Dragon Soul Chip, but he also earned a second-grade Refiner badge, along with a plethora of other rewards and benefits.

Due to the barracks' rules against keeping personal belongings in the dormitories, Zhuge Yao thought of the warehouse as a suitable alternative for storage. Considering the clutter already there, his items wouldn't make much of a difference.

At the Tank, a spirited discussion was underway regarding the selection of participants for the upcoming simulated jungle battle. The norm had been to choose the winners of the Mecha Competition, but this year's circumstances were unique. Tang Hao and Zhuge Yao's impressive performances had disrupted the standard selection process, causing Lee Feng and Zhao Peng a fair amount of frustration.

"Division One is organizing the simulated jungle battle tomorrow. Are you really planning to follow tradition and let the new recruits from Battalion Three Company Three Class Ten participate?" Zhao Peng questioned Lee Feng, absentmindedly holding a teacup without drinking from it.

Pacing back and forth in his office, Lee Feng wore a look of hesitation but finally remarked, "Though it's a Machine Maintenance Class, having Tang Hao on board should ensure it's no less competitive than in previous years."

The two fell silent again, until a captain walked in. It was none other than Lee Congfeng, returning from his examination. Lee Feng and Zhao Peng looked at each other and nodded in agreement.

"Congfeng, you've arrived at just the right time. I have a matter I'd like to consult you on," Lee Feng said invitingly as he ushered Lee Congfeng into his office.

After hearing Lee Feng out, Lee Congfeng pondered briefly before replying, "The matter at hand isn't too difficult. Rules are set by people, and they can be modified as needed. The prizes for the winning class have been distributed, so there's no issue there. The jungle simulation battle organized by Division One is more complex than usual. I suggest Xia Bing take the lead, accompanied by the top ten new recruits based on their Combat Strength Value."

Lee Feng and Zhao Peng shared another glance and nodded, effectively finalizing the decision. Lee Congfeng allowed himself a smug smile, silently gloating, "Zhuge Yao, what do you think you are? Showing off your skills in front of me, I won't even give your class the opportunity."

It was uncertain whether it was intentional or coincidental, but Zhuge Yao received the notification for the simulation battle right in the middle of the evening class meeting. He had just finished installing the Dragon Soul Chip into the Dragon Soul's control circuit board, powering it with dual chips. He then deployed the Small Yellow Man and installed the Glory 8000 control system, followed by a meticulous inspection of the Mecha's condition.

The other members of Class Ten had also been given Level Two Chips by Zhuge Yao, and they were both appreciative and thrilled. With these chips, their Mechas' Combat Strength Values would see a significant boost.

After attending to his tasks, Tang Hao took Zhuge Yao aside to go over some details. Zhuge Yao's tenth-place ranking among the new recruits' combat strengths had qualified him to participate in the upcoming jungle simulation battle.

His classmates were brimming with pride for Zhuge Yao, rallying around him with spirited encouragement. Tang Hao wanted to offer some words of caution, seeing their fervor, but he held back, concerned that the young recruits might be too impulsive.

Organized by Division One of the Dragon Knight Army, the jungle simulation battle was a set of training exercises centered on engagements with Devil Beast Men. Xia Bing, piloting a Mecha called Snow Girl, model Sky Arrow No. 51, had arrived early at the Simulate Center.

Much to her surprise, she found that all the top ten new recruits were already there waiting. Lee Xinru, who was ranked eighth, had also secured her spot in the training and was conversing with another female soldier. Gongsun Ce, ranking just above Zhuge Yao at ninth, was particularly arrogant today.

Zhuge Yao was preoccupied with maintaining his Mecha. This simulation battle was different from the previous Mecha Competition, which had used the Simulation Chamber. Due to the large scale and comprehensive nature of the training, they connected their Mechas directly. To better simulate real-world conditions, the configuration data for each Mecha was uploaded to the super brain's cloud space.

"Your name is Zhuge Yao, right? I'm Wanyan Feixiong, ranked second in combat strength value. I'd like to talk to you," said a muscular young man, approaching Zhuge Yao and speaking softly.

Zhuge Yao, curious about the sturdy youth, nodded his head. It appeared that the other was looking to form a team, and his mention of his combat strength ranking was a clear indication that he intended to lead.

Without applause or astonishment, Wanyan Feixiong felt a bit disheartened. After all, he was the second-ranked individual, and here was someone ranked tenth who didn't even offer a word of flattery. Despite feeling sullen, he thought it best to express what was on his mind. "Once we're on the battlefield," he continued, "I'll be responsible for protecting you, ensuring you make it through to the end unscathed."

"And then?" Zhuge Yao inquired cooperatively, ready for the other party to state their demands.

As expected, Wanyan Feixiong's eyes sparkled with excitement as he rubbed his hands together and said, "Protecting my comrades is part of my duty, but you can't expect me to work for nothing, right? Twenty or thirty thousand should do it. Don't act like you're penniless—I've seen that Level Two Blacksmith badge on your chest. There's no mistaking it."

Zhuge Yao smiled and nodded in agreement. The eagerness in Wanyan Feixiong's eyes was as intense as Lei Xun's when he sees a beautiful woman. After a brief pause, Zhuge Yao added, "I don't have the cash on me, but I can give you a treasure of equivalent value later on."

The two reached a cheerful consensus, and the simulated forest battle entered its preparatory stage. Liu Mei directed everyone to board their Mechas and, following her instructions, connect the Simulate Center's data line to their Mecha's interface.

Following Xia Bing's guidance, after plugging into the Simulate Center's data line, Zhuge Yao saw a vast jungle displayed on the three screens before him. The scene was filled with towering trees and endless marshes. Allied Mechas raced past, each class forming a squad, led by their respective leaders, surging forward. The jungle ahead evoked a sense of déjà vu in Zhuge Yao, as if he had been there in a previous life.

*Beep! Beep!* As the alert sounded, Zhuge Yao saw a mission order from Division One appear on the left screen.

"Attention, everyone. Our squad's codename is Young Bird. Our mission is to protect the heavy truck transport team. Please respond if you receive this," Xia Bing's image appeared, her expression serious as she relayed the orders to the team members.

"What, we're just here to be onlookers? How boring," Gongsun Ce complained, his face showing a mix of disdain and indifference.

"This is an order. Everyone, stay alert—especially you, Gongsun Ce, and Zhuge Yao. I don't want any shenanigans," Xia Bing said sternly, her chilling tone making everyone's hair stand on end as they nodded in acknowledgment.

"Boom, boom." As the Mecha battalion advanced, the sound of explosions echoed from the front, signaling that the battle with the enemy had already begun.

Zhuge Yao, attuned to the sounds of warfare, sensed an underlying threat. His instincts, honed from past experiences, identified these as danger signals inadvertently revealed by the adversary. With the realization of an imminent ambush, he sprang into action. Swiftly tapping into the public communication channel, he issued an urgent warning: "All escort squads, be on high alert. An enemy Devil Beast Herd is approaching. Prepare for combat immediately."