Chapter Seven: Entering the Fray

As the words fell, not only was Shangguan Mulong struck dumb, but Nangong Yuchen and Nangong Kexin were also staring in utter shock.

"Angel, you've broken through to the first tier as well?"

The two of them had already found their own sudden breakthrough to the first tier utterly baffling, and now hearing that Angel had also reached the first tier naturally left them stunned beyond measure.

"What? Are only the two of you allowed to break through to the first tier, while I'm not?" Angel asked with a playful smile.

"Uh..."

"Phew!" Shangguan Mulong finally recovered his wits beside them, taking a deep, shuddering breath to suppress the shock surging in his heart as he said, "You... the three of you, follow me!"

With stiff steps, he led the trio to the very room at the end of the corridor. Pointing to the physical fitness testing apparatus inside, he instructed, "Step up and take the test one by one!"

The three of them could well understand Shangguan Mulong's reaction; after all, advancing to the first tier all at once was indeed rather unbelievable. Nangong Yuchen offered a confident smile and stepped forward, taking the lead as he lay down upon the testing bed.

"Swoosh, swoosh!"

His physical fitness data appeared in moments. The red, blue, and yellow energy tubes surged instantly, climbing all the way to 150 before finally coming to a halt!

"Gasp! He really has broken through to the first tier!" Seeing the actual data, Shangguan Mulong drew in a sharp breath. After just a single night apart, his three core physical stats had jumped straight from 99 to 150—right between the first and second tiers. Had he not witnessed it with his own eyes, he simply would not have believed it!

"Kexin, you test next!" Nangong Yuchen stepped off the machine and called out to his sister.

Hearing this, Nangong Kexin stepped onto the testing bed with a look of excitement; she was eager to find out her own physical stats.

As Nangong Kexin's data appeared—red physical strength at 30, blue speed at 109, and yellow neural reflex at 25—the corners of Shangguan Mulong's eyes twitched once more. Yet another first-tier warrior!

Finally, beneath Shangguan Mulong's shell-shocked gaze, Angel lay upon the testing bed to begin her examination.

"27, 124, 116!"

Having reviewed the final set of data in a state approaching numbness, a storm of epic proportions raged within Shangguan Mulong's heart. He found it nearly impossible to fathom how all three had crossed into the first tier overnight, but with the hard data laid bare before him, he had no choice but to accept this staggering reality!

When he gave it further thought, combining Nangong Yuchen's three attributes with Angel's two, this ultra-overpowered combination would represent absolute annihilation if deployed onto the battlefield—sweeping aside all first-tier fierce beasts!

Though this squad had just stepped into the first tier, they were undoubtedly the undisputed uncrowned kings of their tier, not to mention their boundless potential for the second and third tiers and beyond...

"Instructor, can we go reinforce sectors C and D now?" Nangong Yuchen asked, noticing him frozen in place.

Hearing this, Shangguan Mulong did not answer immediately. Instead, he let out a heavy breath, and only after subduing the turmoil in his chest did he reply, "Not yet, because you don't have your own mecha equipment yet."

"Mecha? But the principal isn't at the academy, and he's the one who promised us those twelve mechas..." Nangong Yuchen said, glancing at Angel. He realized then how truly brilliant the girl's decision back then had been; had they needed to purchase twelve whole mechas out of pocket, just how astronomical would the cost have been!

"Then we'll wait until the principal returns tonight. Without mecha, how can you fight fierce beasts relying on physical stats alone?" Shangguan Mulong reasoned. "Besides, you lack combat experience. You should hone your skills in the virtual battlefield first!"

With that, he turned to lead the three of them back to the classroom.

Just then, Nangong Yuchen spoke up, his voice tinged with agitation: "Instructor..."

"Hmm?" Shangguan Mulong paused in his tracks.

"Let us sortie as well! As members of the human race, as part of this city, I want to... I want to join the upperclassmen in defending our home! Besides, the catastrophe has already descended, hasn't it? I no longer want to stand idly by and watch human lives perish in the bloody maws of fierce beasts!" The more Nangong Yuchen spoke, the more impassioned he became. He recalled the dream that had burst forth within his heart the previous night—even with the body of an alien race, he would protect this land, let alone now that he had regained his human form. How could he possibly be willing to sit back and wait for death any longer?

"To protect?" Shangguan Mulong trembled slightly. Frozen in place for a full five seconds, he finally turned around, his expression solemn as he stared into Nangong Yuchen's flushed, agitated face and met his unwavering gaze.

Another few seconds ticked by. Just as Nangong Yuchen's heart began to flutter with nervous apprehension, Shangguan Mulong's stern expression dissolved. Slipping back into his usual unorthodox demeanor, he chuckled and said, "Since you insist on it, follow me!"

"Oh..." All three felt somewhat unaccustomed to his abrupt shift in mood, but they followed him back to the classroom with lingering suspicion.

Shangguan Mulong walked up to the podium and pressed a button on the controller in his hand. Instantly, the screens displaying sectors C and D on the surrounding walls vanished, replaced instead by rows upon rows of mecha equipment displays!

"Whoa! Instructor, this... this is too..." Nangong Yuchen, Angel, and Nangong Kexin stared at the various models of mecha, their jaws dropping in astonishment.

"These are all the mechas stored within the entire Technology City. Take a close look, and once you've made your choices, I'll have them delivered!"

The three of them were overjoyed, rushing over to press against the wall as they eagerly searched for the mechas of their choice.

"The Silver Dragon Piercing Spear! Isn't this the one I used in the Illusion Realm Island?" Nangong Kexin suddenly spotted the familiar spear amidst the dazzling array of weaponry.

"The Ice-Blue Bow?"

"The Thunder Sword Curtain?"

Nangong Yuchen and Angel, too, successively discovered the mecha weapons they had once wielded.

Silver Dragon Piercing Spear — Price: 330,000!
Note: Upgradable and modifiable. The spear comes equipped with the lightning-element energy skill "Thunder Penetration!"
Thunder Penetration: Consumes a massive amount of physical energy per use. Power: Capable of piercing through targets within a five-meter radius under a single thrust!

"Yuchen, Angel, look! It comes with a skill!" Nangong Kexin called out as if she had discovered a new continent.

Without needing her reminder, Nangong Yuchen and Angel had already noticed. After a dozen minutes, the three finally completed their selections, turning to gaze at Shangguan Mulong with burning anticipation.

"Since you've selected your mechas, then you'll... hehe!" Shangguan Mulong abruptly activated the virtual battlefield, swiftly kicking the three of them into it one after another with maximum speed, shouting, "Don't come out until you've killed ten fierce beasts!"

Having done all this, he dusted off his hands and retrieved a communicator from his spacetime ring.

With a light tap of his finger, a contact interface materialized in mid-air. Selecting the avatar of a middle-aged military officer, he initiated a call.

Ten seconds later, the virtual contact box in mid-air sharpened into focus, displaying a middle-aged man in military uniform.

"Mulong, why are you contacting me at a time like this? I'm busy dispatching troops!" the man said in a stern voice.

"Hehe, Major Mu, don't be hasty. Did you receive the message I sent you?" Shangguan Mulong asked casually.

"Are you talking about those twelve mechas? Did more cadets from Star Academy break through to the first tier?"

Shangguan Mulong smiled and nodded.

"Since it's a legitimate matter like cadets breaking through, I can have them delivered for you later. But you'll have to pay me those 3.8 million," the man stated.

"Ha, only 3.8 million? Very well, bring along three medals, three spacetime rings, and three communicators and deliver them all together!" Shangguan Mulong declared magnanimously.

"That comes to 4.5 million in total. Regarding this money..." The man brought up the financial matter once more.

"Principal Yang is in the conference room; you can go find him directly. This whole affair was arranged by him!" Shangguan Mulong said with a straight face.

"Very well, I'll have someone deliver them in half an hour!" At that, the man suddenly asked, "Twelve mechas? These three medals and three... wait a minute, the list you sent..."

Before he could finish his final sentence, Shangguan Mulong cut the video feed and walked over to the glass-tiled wall, gazing out in a trance at the azure sky beyond...

Half an hour later, Nangong Yuchen and his companions were teleported out. Seeing Shangguan Mulong waiting for them, they excitedly announced, "Instructor, we've completed the trial!"

"You've completed it!" Shangguan Mulong's voice suddenly turned somewhat gratified, and with a faint smile, he said, "Here, these are the mechas you each selected."

Nangong Yuchen, Angel, and Nangong Kexin accepted the spacetime rings, but before they could inspect them, they heard Shangguan Mulong continue: "These are the exclusive medals belonging to first-tier mecha warriors. Today, here, I formally bestow them upon you on behalf of Star Academy. May you become the hope of our Ruxia!"

With that, Shangguan Mulong stepped forward and pinned a blue starlight medal onto the left chest of each of the three. Atop the crystal rested a brand-new, gleaming red pentagram.

"Instructor!" Nangong Yuchen called out respectfully, his expression solemn.

"Mm! From now on, you are truly the fifth mecha warrior squad of Star Academy! Take these three communicators as well. Aside from being somewhat useful within Ruxia City, regular phones lose signal outside the city walls, so the communicator will be your sole lifeline from now on. Remember not to lose them!" Shangguan Mulong patiently instructed them on their operation.

At that moment, he looked like a father seeing his children off on a distant journey.

Seeing that they had mastered it, Shangguan Mulong let out a soft sigh, then suddenly flashed a wide grin, revealing dazzling white teeth as he said, "Go on! Fight in the name of Star Academy, and remember: you are cadets of Star Academy!"

The three acknowledged the command in unison, then bolted excitedly and passionately out of the villa toward the academy gates.

Watching them quietly depart, Shangguan Mulong muttered under his breath, "It seems I should do something as well!"

In the teaching building district, Le Han was working alongside his teachers and classmates on the reconstruction efforts when three figures suddenly flashed past ahead. He shouted softly, "Nangong!"

At the same time, Chu Huiyan from another class also caught sight of them. With a somewhat haggard face, she murmured toward the fading figures, "Kexin!"