In a remote corner of the holographic simulated starfield, two mechas emerged from a teleportation gate, carefully concealing their tracks. Before them lay a scene of feverish military preparation.
Across a vast plaza, rows of combat mechas stood ready for deployment, while columns of engineering units marched in disciplined formation. Neatly arranged ranks of small combat corvettes filled the space, to say nothing of the interstellar warships slowly ascending in the distance.
This was the enemy’s rear command—the armory and logistics zone for the "external forces" simulated by the holographic system.
Feng Zhixi: "..."
Ji Yeran: "..."
In the interest of fairness, the organizing committee had mandated that every participant start with an identical "white-tier" mecha. However, the greatest expression of "fairness" lay in the fact that the starting locations for each team were assigned entirely at random.
Sometimes, luck was simply another form of justice.
As the only two participants from Ben Military School, Feng Zhixi and Ji Yeran had been randomly dropped directly into the heart of the enemy’s base camp. They were the only team among the thirty participants to receive such a "distinguished" honor.
This meant that while the vast majority of participants were busy brawling with one another, these two had already successfully infiltrated the enemy’s headquarters. It was truly a cause for celebration.
Feng Zhixi and Ji Yeran, who possessed nothing but two white-tier mechas: "..." Could this get any more ridiculous?
In the context of the competition, the "white-tier mechas" provided by the system were the most basic models imaginable. This meant that aside from being able to fly, they possessed no weaponry, no equipment, and no special performance capabilities.
Want to fight? You’d have to rely on manual maneuvers. Ever heard of mecha-on-mecha brawling?
Feng Zhixi and Ji Yeran: "..."
Just then, at the tail end of a passing column of engineering mechas, the last unit seemed to sense something. It began to turn its head.
Before the AI-simulated engineer could see what was behind it, a blur flashed past. Silent and efficient, the strike was a clean execution.
The red light in the engineer's optical sensors flickered out. The towering mecha collapsed, dissolving into a stream of data that vanished into the air. Almost simultaneously, its "brother-in-arms" directly in front of it—who hadn't even turned around—vanished in the same fashion.
"Move." Having dealt with the two simulated units with practiced ease, Ji Yeran signaled Feng Zhixi. They slipped into the column, masquerading as members of the engineering squad.
This was only possible because these units were automated system simulations. If the old principal’s suggestion had been accepted—allowing the twenty-nine team instructors to act as the external force—the difficulty would have been doubled.
Fortunately, these low-level engineering grunts had limited intelligence. The squad was heading toward the reserve armory, which was exactly where they needed to go. They had to upgrade these white-tier mechas first.
The external forces simulated by the system followed a standard Federal military structure. Since it was a replica of the Federation's system, the basic layout and protocols were predictable.
In a Federal combat system, the rear logistics and armament headquarters were just as vital as the forward starship command. Consequently, the system had prioritized placing its two highest-intelligence AI units in the forward flagship and the rear armory base, respectively.
By the time the two mechas slipped away from the engineering squad and emerged from the armory, they looked entirely different from their previous "white-tier" state.
Having completed their upgrades, the two mechas prowled through the darkness. Their new target was the heart of the logistics base: the logistics flagship where the Chief of Armaments resided.
Feng Zhixi and Ji Yeran knew full well that they were a team of only two. No matter how skilled they were, trying to take on a full Federal-style logistics department in a head-on confrontation was pure fantasy.
Therefore, their best option was a sudden decapitation strike.
As Ji Yeran sped through the night, he familiarized himself with the mecha systems Feng Zhixi had just modified. Feng had upgraded them to the teeth, installing a staggering variety of weapon systems.
Back in the armory, watching Feng Zhixi's professional, almost predatory efficiency as he looted the place, Ji Yeran—whose day job was a prison warden—couldn't help but feel a flicker of suspicion. Such practiced, expert movements... what exactly had Feng Zhixi gone through after leaving the Federation in his future?
The last news Ji Yeran had heard regarding Feng Zhixi was his exile to the Death Star. Ji Yeran had always assumed that was when Feng Zhixi had traveled back to the past.
But now, it seemed that might not be the case.
Suppressing his doubts for the moment, Ji Yeran’s gaze sharpened as a massive flagship loomed ahead. They had arrived.
On the mecha’s holographic display, a gargantuan ground-based vessel appeared. This was the Logistics and Armament Coordination Headquarters—a star-class vessel on par with the forward combat flagship.
A defining characteristic of the Federal military structure was the "dual flagship, dual leadership" system. If the primary combat flagship was destroyed, this logistics vessel would launch into space, taking the full weight of the military's reserves into the fray to serve as the new command center.
One should never underestimate a student from the logistics and armaments track; they were trained according to the standards of interstellar combat commanders.
Since the logistics flagship was a secondary command vessel capable of replacing the primary, its surrounding security was naturally airtight.
Observing the dense, overlapping patrols, Ji Yeran quietly held his position. He had to admit Feng Zhixi’s craftsmanship was superb; the interference devices Feng had rigged onto the mechas allowed them to remain effectively invisible to the patrolling units.
"Ready," Feng Zhixi’s voice came through the comms. "In ten seconds, toward the southeast. You’ll only have a ten-second window."
Feng Zhixi noted that with the limited tools on hand, he couldn't bypass the flagship's constant energy shield without an access code. He had finally managed to force a temporary breach, but it would only last ten seconds.
"That’s enough." Ji Yeran watched the timer on his screen. The moment it hit zero, he shot forward like an arrow from a bow. He cleared the breach just as the energy shield hummed back into place.
The shield, briefly punctured and then seamlessly mended, continued its rhythmic flow. The patrols maintained their regular routes. No one noticed that two enemy mechas had just slipped silently into the heart of the primary vessel.
Once inside, Ji Yeran glanced at the mecha that had entered almost simultaneously with his own. He let out a short laugh. "Not bad." Though a certain someone usually moved at a snail's pace in daily life, his mecha piloting was surprisingly swift.
Detecting the hint of mockery in Ji Yeran’s voice, Feng Zhixi gave a soft huff. He knew exactly what Ji Yeran was thinking.
When he was modifying the mechas, he had designed them with completely different philosophies. Ji Yeran’s mecha was built for close-quarters combat and heavy-duty weapons of mass destruction, while the one Feng operated was a high-speed, long-range combat model.
However... Feng Zhixi cast a subtle glance at the other mecha, a private smile touching his lips. He had left a "little surprise" for Ji Yeran. He wondered when the man would discover it.
On the other side, unaware of the hidden "easter egg" on his mecha, Ji Yeran pressed forward toward the bridge.
***
Meanwhile, on the other side of the holographic starfield, the two top-tier schools—the First Federal Military Academy and Lanli Academy—had actually chosen to join forces upon encountering one another.
"Let’s cooperate," suggested Ji Wei, the leader of the First Military Academy.
Thirty schools, one free-for-all.
As an elite raised under the tutelage of the Ji family, Ji Wei had been immersed in strategy from a young age. The moment he heard the rules, he sensed the hidden danger.
A swarm of ants can kill an elephant.
The First Military Academy and Lanli Academy were the heavy favorites to win, which also made them the primary targets for everyone else.
In previous years, the rules involved rounds of elimination until only four teams remained, allowing them to test their true strength against one another. But this was different.
With thirty teams in total, no matter how strong they were, they only had fifteen people and fifteen mechas. If the other schools formed a massive coalition against them, they would be overwhelmed.
Understanding this perfectly, Ji Wei reached out to the only team he considered his equal—Lanli Academy. They were the only ones worth partnering with.
"Agreed," said Benjamin, the leader of Lanli Academy. He had been thinking the same thing.
He didn't agree because he thought the First Military Academy was invincible, but because he knew Ben Military School would never ally with them. In that case, it was better to clear the "small fry" off the board first.
Thus, the leaders of the two top schools quickly reached an agreement: they would cooperate until the field was cleared of distractions, then settle their own score.
The participants in the Joint Competition were the top elites from thirty academies across the galaxy. Many leaders shared the same mindset as Ji Wei and Benjamin. Consequently, the viewers on the Star Net witnessed the most complex web of alliances in the history of the event.
Team 1 and Team 30 teamed up; Team 5 and Team 20 joined forces; Teams 7, 8, and 9 formed a trio... even more absurdly, one coalition consisted of five different team numbers, lining up their mechas like a professional vanguard strike force.
Star Net users: "Whoa!"
Amidst all this, the only team that hadn't joined an alliance stood out like a sore thumb: Team 18.
It was only then that the audience noticed this team consisted of only two mechas.
The viewers were baffled. "Did they get scrapped down to two units before the match even started? How are they supposed to play?"
However, it didn't take long for sharp-eyed netizens to spot something strange. "Wait, Team 18 hasn't lost anyone. No casualties!"
On the Star Net, while viewers couldn't see the total roster size of each team from the numbered list, they could see real-time casualty reports. If a team lost a member, a notification would appear next to their number.
Currently, several teams had indeed suffered minor losses. But Team 18 remained at "Full Strength" according to their status.
Given the starting condition of one mecha per person, and the fact that Team 18 only had two mechas but was listed as "Full Strength," the conclusion was obvious: one school had sent only two students to compete.
The netizens who deduced this were stunned. "Which school is this ballsy? Is this supreme confidence, or have they just given up on life?"
Whether it was confidence or despair, the two members of Team 18, Feng Zhixi and Ji Yeran, had already successfully stormed the bridge. They had neutralized the AI staff, including the highest-ranking officer—the Logistics Chief of the Military Department.
The virtual Logistics Chief—a high-level AI—flickered its eyes and spoke: "I surrender. Do not harm my subordinates."
As the words left the Logistics Chief's mouth, the holographic system sensed the reversal of the situation. With a sharp *ding*, a system notification popped up, startling Feng Zhixi and Ji Yeran.
Because the Logistics Chief had surrendered, the entire Logistics and Armament Department automatically joined the side of Team 18. In other words, the two of them were no longer a "two-man army."
However, the AI robots merged into Team 18's command were reverted to basic units—they could faithfully execute orders but possessed no independent adaptability.
This was the system's way of maintaining balance. Students could seize enemy forces for their own use, provided they had the capability to command them. These basic robots would only follow direct orders: one command, one action.
If one gave vague orders or expected the robots to act autonomously, they would turn into "artificial stupidity," causing chaos within their own ranks.
"They can surrender?" Feng Zhixi and Ji Yeran looked at each other through their mecha screens. So... it could be played this way?
Interesting.
Identical fox-like smiles appeared on both their faces. The little "easter egg" the old principal had painstakingly added had finally been found by his students. Truly a cause for celebration.
***
**Glossary**
Enjoying the story? Rate this novel:
Starry Rebirth: The Warden and the Outlaw’s Interstellar Revenge | Chapter 24 | The Hidden Easter Egg | Novela.app | Novela.app
