The training room was filled with people, teachers standing in a line. Behind each of them stood a student, with only Teacher Xin having two students behind him, one male and one female.
Teacher Wang, Meng Huai, and Zheng Yiran stood opposite them, creating a stark contrast. Not only were they outnumbered, but the people opposite them glared at Meng Huai, seeing the freshman laughing and joking with Zheng Yiran and the others. They wondered how this newcomer had so quickly integrated into their group!
Meng Huai's whisper to Zheng Yiran was precisely: "Why is that teacher here with two students?"
Zheng Yiran then explained to Meng Huai. Teacher Xin was a teacher in the second-year single-soldier department. Fortunately, his class had two 3s-level single-soldiers. Unfortunately, the league last year had the same participants as usual. With no graduating or problematic students, there were simply no selection slots available. These two students therefore lost their eligibility, and this year's slots were awarded to the first-year freshmen. Teacher Xin was the first to stand up in opposition. At the same time, he knew that one person's strength was limited, so he found teachers from other grades and classes to join him in protesting. And so, it became this situation.
Meng Huai nodded after hearing Zheng Yiran's explanation. "It truly is a pity."
However, Teacher Wang then asked the group opposite, "How do you teachers plan to compete?"
Teacher Xin no longer consulted with anyone and directly stated, "We'll have a duel. The last one standing is the victor."
"Oh? Then you won't have our classmate Meng fight first, and then you'll wear her down with successive battles?" Teacher Wang almost blurted out, "Your plan is so obvious, I can hear it clearly from across the room!"
No one among the teachers spoke. They did indeed want to engage in a war of attrition, and more importantly, no one wanted to be the first to step forward. But the male student behind Teacher Xin directly stepped forward, looking at Meng Huai and saying, "What? Without even this much strength, you dare to represent the academy?"
Jing Yuancheng couldn't help but laugh softly. He whispered to Hui Xingxiu, "Why does this junior look so silly? He even dares to provoke Meng junior sister."
Hui Xingxiu covered his mouth and whispered, "Junior sister, show him some color." Hui Xingxiu did not believe that these people could defeat Meng Huai even with successive battles, given Meng Huai's unfathomable strength. Not to mention her peculiar formations and talismans, even in a one-on-one fight, these people wouldn't be her match. Therefore, Hui Xingxiu and the others directly found comfortable positions to sit down, waiting to watch Meng Huai teach these arrogant fellows a lesson. It seemed the first one to be taught a lesson would be this second-year student who was 'unlucky and didn't get to participate in the selection matches.' Because the slots were full last year, this person never had a chance to participate in the selection. He had been harboring resentment, feeling that he was born at the wrong time. Now, with his junior sister taking his place, how could he be reconciled! This person then directly stepped forward. Opportunity must be fought for, and he was confident that no one present was his match. It was simply a matter of defeating this junior sister and then continuing to defeat everyone else in this classroom! He believed he could do it! Thus, this student stepped forward directly, ignoring the signals his teacher was making to him.
Meng Huai heard Hui Xingxiu's words and also stepped forward, "Alright, how shall we fight? Mech combat or direct engagement?"
The student was surprised by this question and immediately replied, "Let's go with mech combat!" This was because his mech was custom-made, and he had spent a lot of money on it. Moreover, he had been adapting to his mech for over a year, and he was very confident in mech combat. Therefore, upon hearing Meng Huai's question, he instinctively said what was most advantageous to him. However, after saying it, he regretted it, feeling that he had been ungraceful and petty.
"Or, junior sister, you can say what you prefer, and I'll agree." So, he added another sentence to rectify his mistake.
Meng Huai then said, "Then mechs it is, I'm okay with anything."
"Okay."
Thus, the two directly revealed their mechs. Teacher Wang said, "Use the virtual mode for mech cannon fire, don't actually injure them." Injuring any of them would be a loss to the academy, especially since Meng Huai still had to represent the academy in the league. Getting injured in an internal academy dispute would be counterproductive.
"Alright."
"Understood, teacher."
Teacher Wang received affirmative responses and then said to the others, "Then let's move aside and give them some space." Although this training room was quite large, it felt much smaller with so many people occupying it. However, after Teacher Wang spoke, everyone moved to the corners, clearing space for the two of them. Zheng Yiran and the other three, who had already walked to the corner and sat down, clearly occupied the best viewing spots.
As soon as the signal to start was given, the student who had challenged Meng Huai made his move. He first fired several shots towards the spot where Meng Huai was standing. Although they were virtual mode shells, if they hit a mech, a display would show it. However, Meng Huai's movements were faster, and he instantly teleported away from the areas targeted by the cannon fire. As the two had just begun their engagement, Hui Xingxiu said to Rong Feifei, "Your mech is made well, its mobility is excellent, very agile!"
Rong Feifei nodded and said, "Of course, it uses the latest technology."
Jing Yuancheng, sitting on Rong Feifei's other side, complained, "No, classmate Rong Feifei, that's not right! We've been teammates for so many years, why don't you get us the new technology too!"
"Exactly, exactly," Hui Xingxiu chimed in.
Rong Feifei, however, said, "Hah, if it's suitable for you, wouldn't I give it to you? Am I that kind of person? Are you mech specialists or am I? Don't question my judgment, alright?"
"Exactly!" This time, it was Zheng Yiran who agreed with Rong Feifei's words.
While they were exchanging a few casual remarks, Meng Huai had already closed the distance to the challenging student's face. The student immediately drew his short knife and aimed it at the neck of Meng Huai's mech. However, his movements were too full of flaws for Meng Huai. Not only were his movements slow, but the direction of the knife and the point of force were also incorrect. Meng Huai directly struck the mech's elbow on the arm wielding the knife, without even using a weapon. The mech's senses were linked to the pilot's, and this instantly made the student feel as if his entire arm was numb. The short knife in his hand slipped and fell to the ground due to the arm's weakness. This move caused Teacher Xin to frown. Why did his prized student look so weak? He wasn't usually this incompetent.