Just now, the seemingly dead silent universe began to flow again after Bo Tang confirmed his login.
It was not as magnificent as the universe he had seen in books or photographs in his previous life, which Bo Tang defined as his life on Earth. The universe before him was cold. Even though light radiated here from a star resembling the sun, Bo Tang could still feel the chilling emptiness permeating the surroundings.
“Swallow, is this a simulation of the real universe?” Bo Tang asked.
Yes. This place was constructed based on the memories of retired soldiers.
“In other words…” A red dot appeared on Bo Tang’s radar, and he shifted his gaze toward it. “Is this a reenactment of an actual battle?”
Swallow did not respond.
Bo Tang did not press the matter and flew toward the red dot.
After connecting to the mecha’s operating system, firing and defense could be controlled with nothing more than a thought. As a mecha resembling a scout flew past, Bo Tang raised his gun and aimed at the cockpit.
A pale blue flame flashed from the hand cannon, and it fired silently.
The red dot flickered twice before disappearing from the radar.
One shot, one kill.
Beside him, a golden mecha flew over a moment too late. The black haired alpha inside the cockpit glared at him angrily.
Bo Tang smiled gently.
Yes, this was a competition, not an individual battlefield.
More and more red dots appeared on the radar, while thirty-five green dots also appeared behind Bo Tang.
Iman was stationed inside their own mothership, watching the students’ performance on the large screen. He saw Bo Tang’s almost invisible mecha flying toward the enemy mecha formation like a ghost.
As an instructor, Iman naturally knew that this was a recreation of a real battle from a soldier’s memories.
A hundred years ago, a surprise attack had truly taken place in the Comm Galaxy. The Federation had chosen the moment when most of the forces in the Comm Galaxy were engaged in fighting the insect tide. Using thousands of highly mobile mechas, they broke through a gap in the air-defense shield of this border galaxy and subsequently occupied half of its territory.
In order to break through the defensive shield as quickly as possible, these mechas, which combined the functions of scouts and assault soldiers, had naturally been equipped with ample firepower, even at the expense of part of their life support systems.
As a result, many Federation alpha soldiers ultimately died from suffocation rather than gunfire.
, Of course, that was all in the future.
Since this battle did not involve too many complicated military units or formations, and the Federation had prioritized speed and avoided prolonged combat, Bei Da had chosen it as the first lesson of military training for new students.
Iman had already drafted his surveillance report, but had not yet decided whether to submit it.
It would be safer to observe for a little longer, he told himself.
On the thirty-six split screens, Bo Tang’s figure was leading the way.
Iman could clearly see that he was unfamiliar with the mecha system. It was a kind of youthful clumsiness that could not be faked. Perhaps Bo Tang truly had never used one before, or perhaps he had made himself “forget” his memories of operating mechas.
Yet while clumsily becoming accustomed to the system, Bo Tang’s accuracy with every shot grew increasingly precise, and every swing of his light sword became increasingly ruthless.
On the heart-rate and mental-strength fluctuation charts transmitted by Swallow, Bo Tang’s data remained remarkably steady.
Inside the cockpit, Bo Tang wore a gentle expression, showing no sign that he had already destroyed more than a dozen mechas within forty minutes.
At this point, ECTS23 had only suffered a few scratches.
The score displayed in the upper right corner of the mission screen had already reached 178.
“Swallow, can you see the scores of the others?” Bo Tang asked while dodging a shot from behind.
The mecha swarm was simply too dense. Even though thirty-six people were fighting together, they still had not managed to break through the mecha blockade.
It was not that nobody had thought about attacking the higher-scoring ships, but merely shaking off these enemy mechas that clung to them like cockroaches was already difficult enough, let alone reaching the supply ships and escort ships behind the sturdy defensive shield.
At this rate, completing 1,000 points was simply impossible.
“Sorry, that involves private information. I cannot disclose it to you.”
“Okay.”
Bo Tang seized an opportunity, stepped onto the chest armor of a mecha, wrapped both legs around its head, and used the force of his waist and spine to tear the enemy mecha’s head from its body.
He was still thinking about the mission requirements.
Since this was only the first combat lesson, Iman should not have made the task too difficult.
Besides… if the students were simply required to destroy mechas, why make them compete for kills on the same battlefield?
Bo Tang looked into the distance. Two alphas had already begun tripping each other up because they were competing for kills.
Judging from their behavior, even if they could not complete the mission themselves, they were determined not to let the other side have an easy time either.
Not to mention that among the alphas, there were also B-rank individuals who were not particularly strong, despite the fact that Bo Tang was currently disguised as a D-rank beta. Fighting mecha soldiers continuously for two hours was already exhausting even for those alphas. How could they possibly reach 1,000 points?
Simon piloted his mecha over and sent him a private message:
Are you still holding up? Do you need help?
No, I…
Bo Tang paused. A certain nerve in his mind suddenly seemed to be plucked.
You’re right.
Simon: Hmm?
Bo Tang glanced at the remaining life support energy of his mecha and asked Simon:
How much energy do you have left?
Simon: 72%. Why?
I have an idea. Simon, are you willing to help me?
At Bo Tang’s command, Swallow had already converted 30% of the life support energy into cannon energy.
Simon destroyed a mecha beside Bo Tang, seemingly somewhat hesitant.
Bo Tang said.
How far are you from 1,000 points? Even if you exhaust all your energy, can you kill a hundred mecha soldiers?
Simon, whose physical fitness was only average. …No.
Before that happened, he would pass out from mental strength exhaustion.
Bo Tang stepped on the head of a mecha soldier and rose slightly higher into the air. He casually sent Simon a message:
Your physical endurance is better than mine. I need you to attract the attention of at least five mecha soldiers. Simon, reduce those mecha soldiers’ energy to below 30%. Don’t let anyone else destroy them. Can you do it?
Simon: Maybe? But I want to know what you’re planning.
Do you think it’s faster to catch the insects one by one, or herd them into a net and burn them all at once?
Simon spent more than ten seconds processing the message before suddenly understanding.
I get it. Wait for me.
The red mecha activated its acceleration engine and charged recklessly through the swarm of mechas. That completely heedless momentum successfully drew the attention of several enemy mechas.
Seven mechas with damaged parts or armor followed closely behind. A web of cannon fire surrounded Simon.
Simon did not fight back. Instead, he transferred all his energy to the thrusters, maintaining a distance from the mechas behind him that was neither too far nor too close. Occasionally, he would find an opportunity to turn around and fire a couple of bursts.
The other alphas watched with bewildered expressions.
Why… why does this feel so much like walking a bunch of dogs?
Iman noticed the scene, and a hint of interest appeared in his eyes.
This batch of students was catching on pretty quickly.
Simon strictly carried out the task Bo Tang had given him. When he estimated that the mecha soldiers’ energy had been rapidly depleted to around 30% due to the continuous bombardment, he changed direction and flew toward Bo Tang.
During this time, Bo Tang had not stopped attacking either. He had also attracted the attention of several mechas, and the two soon met up.
The place where they reunited happened to be within the range of the other students’ cannon fire. The enemy mechas pursuing them were instantly battered by the concentrated barrage.
After defending themselves for a minute, several mechas decisively turned around and flew toward the supply ships.
Previously, the alphas had fought individually, stubbornly clinging to every target and refusing to let go once they had identified ten points as their prize. Even when an enemy mecha’s energy was severely depleted and it wanted to return for supplies, the alphas would often chase after it relentlessly because they were eager to claim the points.
But now, under Bo Tang and Simon’s deliberate restraint, these mechas finally had a chance to receive supplies.
If Bo Tang’s guess was correct, the defensive shield would only open at the moment an enemy mecha returned.
And that moment was the opening Bo Tang needed.
Bo Tang piloted ECTS23 closely behind the last enemy mecha, while Simon stayed beside him and blocked some of the incoming fire.
At that moment, ECTS23 weaved through the gunfire, rising and falling in the air. It looked exactly like a real swift darting through clouds and lightning.
The last enemy mecha finally reached the defensive shield.
As the enemy granted the mecha access, Bo Tang raised his hand cannon and fired continuously at the opening in the defensive shield.
The shells concentrated on a single point like flowing water. Since the entrance had just been opened for an allied mecha, that section of the defensive shield was at its weakest.
After enduring the relentless bombardment, it finally could not withstand the pressure and cracked open.
“Simon!” Bo Tang shouted.
The red mecha followed closely behind and raised its larger caliber hand cannon, firing continuously at the crack.
Brilliant orange-yellow flames erupted!
The crack became an opening. Bo Tang tucked in the shoulders of his mecha and, like a real swift, spun rapidly as he drilled through the defensive shield.
The high-value ships hidden behind the sturdy defensive shield were now exposed directly in front of Bo Tang.
Bo Tang swung his light sword and hand cannon, the smile on his face growing deeper.
“That’s fast.” Iman pursed his lips and glanced at the time. There was still one hour remaining before the mission ended.
Behind Bo Tang and Simon, the hole blasted into the shield was already healing at a speed visible to the naked eye.
When the other alphas saw the two standing securely inside the defensive shield, they shouted loudly:
“Holy shit! Those two got inside!”
“Isn’t this like a rat getting into a granary?”
“Bah, how can you describe an ally as a rat… But damn, that really does feel like it!”
“They’re working their asses off pulling weeds while the other side just goes over them with a humming weed killer. How is that fair?!”
The alphas, absolutely unwilling to admit that they had not been clever enough, exchanged glances.
At this moment, all thoughts of competition and the desire to outdo one another were thrown out the window.
They now had only one thought.
They absolutely could not let themselves be outdone by this beta!
What? He looked good?
That did not matter either!
With no man in my heart, my sword becomes divine!
The alphas who had previously been secretly fighting one another now turned their guns in unison and began imitating Bo Tang and Simon’s actions, herding the enemy mechas around… er, not walking dogs, but herding enemy mechas.
Moreover, since there were so many of them, once one person had herded an enemy mecha for long enough, another person would take over. The previous person would then move to the back and fire at the enemy mecha.
Soon, the enemy mechas displayed warnings that their energy was nearly depleted and prepared to return.
After all, this was only a simulated battle. The enemy mechas had not learned from the experience of their predecessors. They still foolishly returned home with a string of mechas following behind them, all ready to strike.
Iman crossed his arms and snorted with laughter.
Even though the alphas had united, while they were busy herding the enemy mechas, Bo Tang and Simon had already accumulated nearly 300 points.
The supply ships carried a massive amount of energy, so their built-in defensive shields were naturally extremely sturdy.
But Bo Tang took an unconventional approach. Instead of attacking them directly, he focused solely on the energy-transfer interfaces between the enemy mechas and the supply ships.
His performance against stationary targets had already been outstanding. At this point, there was no need for him to conceal his abilities.
After rapidly emptying his magazine, the unstable interface finally exploded, taking out a supply ship and several critically damaged enemy mechas in one strike.
Simon followed his example, and the two soon destroyed several supply ships each.
The enemy was not stupid either. After losing several supply ships in succession, they dispatched escort ships with stronger defenses and more powerful weapons.
Bo Tang put away his gun and immediately ran, treating the escort ship like another enemy mecha to be herded around. From time to time, he fired a few surprise shots at the supply ships.
The black mecha, resembling a swift, soared and swooped through the air. It kept its distance while carefully timing its movements, silently counting down in his mind.
On his final turn, as the escort ship passed by the supply ship, the supply ship exploded.
The enormous explosion blew a large hole in the escort ship’s port side.
Bo Tang seized the opportunity to switch to a larger caliber hand cannon and calmly unleashed a barrage of shells toward the control room.
Brilliant blue, orange-red, and golden light suddenly exploded before his eyes, like the most dazzling fireworks, illuminating the features of the black-haired beta inside the cockpit.
Amid the flames of explosions filling the sky, the beta lowered the cannon. With his left hand, he swung the light sword in a cold arc, as though casually flicking away nonexistent blood.
“Holy shit… so cool…”
Someone murmured on the public channel.